Newswordy

Egregious

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

1. Outstandingly bad; shocking; 2. Remarkably good.

She was not the first woman to have endured indignities in the male-dominated world of science, but Franklin's case is especially egregious…

—Jane J. Lee, National Geographic

Entails

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Involve (something) as a necessary or inevitable part or consequence.

Dr Rose's approach entails a completely different way of posing your question, and it only works for certain questions.

—Alex Mansfield, BBC

Anticipatory

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

To feel or realize beforehand; foresee.

Just utter ‘OK Google’ and ask your question. Using the anticipatory knowledge graph Google will give you information based on your vocal search, utilizing hotwords.

—Evan Dashevsky, TechHive

Prudent

Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Acting with or showing care and thought for the future.

If people buy a pet but sit around all day, smoke, eat whatever they want and don't monitor their blood pressure…hat’s not a prudent strategy to decrease their cardiovascular risk.

—Glenn N. Levine, Director of Cardiac Care, Baylor College of Medicine

Hermit

Tue, 14 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Any person living in solitude or seeking to do so.

When a TMZ reporter confronted former basketball star Dennis Rodman on the street to ask whether he still communicates with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whom he met in a February trip to the hermit kingdom, Rodman responded, ‘Oh, absolutely.’ He also said that he would be returning to the country Aug. 1.

—Max Fisher, The Washinton Post

Obtrusive

Mon, 13 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Noticeable or prominent in an unwelcome or intrusive way.

Although I am happy that it has finally admitted to placing politics over policy, the IRS owes conservative groups far more than a mere apology for their unfair treatment. It is crystal clear that additional safeguards are in order to prevent this obtrusive behavior in the future.

—Rob Portman, U.S. Senator

Instigation

Fri, 10 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

fomentation: deliberate and intentional triggering (of trouble or discord).

Defense Distributed, the company that made the prototype, stated on Twitter that its project had ‘gone dark’ at the instigation of the government.

—Amanda Holpuch, Ewen MacAskill & Charles Arthur, The Guardian

Anachronistic

Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The representation of someone as existing or something as happening in other than chronological, proper, or historical order.

It’s all so chaotic that the fact that the soundtrack is filled with anachronistic songs by 21st century performers like Jay-Z and Lana Del Rey barely registers.

—Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Extrapolated

Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Extend the application of (a method or conclusion, esp. one based on statistics) to an unknown situation by assuming that existing trends will continue or similar methods will be applicable

From those percentages, the Pentagon extrapolated that 12,100 of the 203,000 women on active duty and 13,900 of the 1.2 million men on active duty had experienced some form of sexual assault.

—Jennifer Steinhauer, The New York Times

Abducted

Tue, 07 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Take (someone) away illegally by force or deception; kidnap.

Three women believed to have been abducted years ago were found alive on Monday at a Cleveland house a short distance from where at least two of them were last seen, and police said a school bus driver was arrested in connection with their disappearance.

—Kim Palmer, Reuters

Resignation

Mon, 06 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

1. An act of retiring or giving up a position; 2. A document conveying someone's intention of retiring.

Blood rose from my body in clouds, and a sense of resignation overwhelmed me. I've no idea how long we stayed under—time passes very slowly when you're in a hippo's mouth.

—Paul Templer, The Guardian

Pretences

Fri, 03 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

1. An attempt to make something that is not the case appear true; 2. A false display of feelings, attitudes, or intentions.

Whether in public or private, Hall would first approach under friendly pretences and then bide his time until the victim was isolated.

—Nazir Afzal, Chief Crown Prosecutor in northwest England

Inception

Thu, 02 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The establishment or starting point of something; the beginning.

Business has boomed since the company’s inception in 1996, according to its website. In its first year, it had four employees and produced 4,000 rifles for kids; by 2008 it had greatly expanded its operations, with 70 employees and an output of 60,000 rifles a year.

—Mark Follman, Mother Jones

Inexorably

Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Not capable of being persuaded by entreaty; relentless.

Obama and his White House aides have resisted, fearing a slippery slope that would lead inexorably to U.S. military intervention and the kind of messy Middle Eastern war he campaigned against in 2008.

—Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times

Dint

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

1. An impression or hollow in a surface; 2. Force of attack; impact.

And British movie stars, such as Ian McKellan and Rupert Everett, seem to have less of a problem talking about being gay (although McKellen is in his 70s and neither can open big-budget films by dint of his own stardom).

—Maria Puente, USA TODAY

Hardscrabble

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

1. Returning little in exchange for great effort; 2. Characterized by chronic poverty and hardship.

And while the differences between the showcase capital and the hardscrabble countryside grow starker, North Koreans feel the effects of authoritarian rule no matter where they live.

—Jean H. Lee, Associated Press

Exuding

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

1. (of a person) Display (an emotion or quality) strongly and openly; 2. (of an emotion or quality) Be displayed by someone in such a way; 3. (of a place) Have a strong atmosphere of.

Exuding a sense of impenetrable power, the headquarters of the National Rifle Association makes a big footprint along Interstate 66 in Northern Virginia.

—Cassie M. Chew, PBS

Siphoning

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Draw off or transfer over a period of time, esp. illegally or unfairly.

The provision was to be paid for by siphoning money from another part of Mr. Obama’s health care law, the Prevention and Public Health Fund.

—Jonathan Weisman, The New York Times

Quavers

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

(of a person's voice) Shake or tremble in speaking, typically through nervousness or emotion.

Market quavers after fake AP tweet says Obama was hurt in White House explosions.

—Dina ElBoghdady, Washington Post

Resolve

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Firm determination to do something.

Each and every terrorist arrest the RCMP makes sends a message and illustrates our strong resolve to root out terrorist threats and keep Canadians and our allies safe.

—James Malizia, RCMP Assistant Commissioner