Category word meaning

What are the meaning, origin and usage of word ‘Gambit’?

Meaning: A noun, the word gambit means a calculated move or a move to gain an advantage.

Origin: The word is borrowed from Spanish word "gambito", which is borrowed from Italian "gambetto" which means the "act of tripping someone". The word was first used in 1656.

Usage: The thrilling opening gambit by the jester’s son had everyone at their wit's end because no suitor could surpass what he had just done.

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What are the meaning, origin and usage of word ‘Soufflé’?

Meaning: This noun refers to a light food made from a mixture of beaten egg whites and other ingredients that is baked in the oven.

It can be either sweet or savoury.

Origin: This word has its origin in the French word soufflé, from the past participle of souffle, meaning "to puff up". This, in turn, is from Latin sufflare, from sub (meaning "up from under") + flare ("to blow").

Example: His chocolate soufflé is always incredibly delicious and light.

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What are the meaning, origin and usage of word ‘Treacly’?

(Pronounced tree-kuhl-ee)

Meaning: This adjective means dark and sticky, like treacle – a thick sweet syrup. Also, too pleasant or kind, or expressing feelings of love in a false way.

Origin: The word comes from treacle – a British term for molasses-originally "an antidote to poison", from the Greek root theriake, "antidote for poisonous wild animals". The sense of "molasses" is recorded from 1690s (the connection may be from the use of molasses as a laxative, or its use to disguise the bad taste of medicine). The use as "anything too sweet or sentimental" is from 1771.

Usage: The film is marked by a treacly sentiment.

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What are the meaning, origin and usage of word ‘Insouciance’?

(Pronounced uhn.soo.see.uhns)

Meaning: A noun, insouciance refers to a feeling of careless indifference. It is a lack of concern shown by someone towards something they might be expected to take seriously

Origin: Originating from the French insouciant in the late 18th Century, the word is a combination of the negative prefix in– and soucier, meaning "to worry or disturb." Soucier in turn came from the Latin sollicitus meaning "anxious". The word "insouciance" has been part of the English language since the 1800s.

Usage: She entered the meeting hall with complete insouciance to the fact that she was late.

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What are the meaning, origin and usage of word ‘Vicinity’?

(Pronounced vi-cin-i-ty)

Meaning: This word is often used as a synonym of neighbourhood meaning the area around or near a particular place. It can also mean the quality or state of being near or an approximate amount, extent, or degree.

Origin: Vicinity first appeared in English in the 16th Century. It comes from Latin vicus, meaning "row of houses" or “village,” by way of Latin vicinus, meaning neighbouring.

Usage: She lives in Los Angeles, or somewhere in that vicinity.

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What are the meaning, origin and usage of word ‘Oracular’?

(Pronounced as: o-ra-kyoo-ler)

Meaning: An adjective, "oracular” means resembling an oracle or of, relating to, or being an oracle.

Origin: The word is borrowed from the Latin word "oraculum" meaning a divine announcement or a prophetic declaration. Its first known use was in 1631.

Usage: The return of the gypsy to the king's court brought much cheer because if anything could save the king and the kingdom then it was the oracular pronouncements the gypsy would make.

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