/astir-meaning

/astir-meaning-etymology

-) Adjective.

-) Pronunciation and accent: əstɜː(r). 

-) Etymology: it is analysed into “a” (prep.) + “stir” (noun).

-) It is dated from 1800.

-) Meaning: -) 1. Stirring; in a state of manifest activity.

-) Found mainly in old-fashioned literature.

-) Synonyms: active, moving.

-) Antonyms: quiet, resting, motionless.

-) Translation: actif, in French; activo, in Spanish; attivo, in Italian.

All was astir in an instant. Robin Hood and his merry men, with the morris-dancers, rushed out of their bowers, and the whole churchyard was in agitation.

W. Ainsworth… The Lancashire Witches 1848

In the camp all was quiet—indeed, a stillness unusual and portentous seemed resting upon it. No sports were in progress, no one was astir.

J. Orton… Camp Fires… 1855

He rose, took his shoes in his hand, turned the key in the door with great caution, and crept downstairs. Nothing was astir there but the smell of coffee, wine, tobacco, and syrups.

Dickens… Little Dorrit… 1857

Virginia, Maryland, and the Carolinas were astir with warlike preparations.

W. Hunt… History of England… 1905

-) 2. In particular: (of someone after his night rest) out of bed, up.

-) Found mainly in old-fashioned literature.

-) Antonyms: abed, asleep.

… by daylight we were astir, and preparing for our expedition.

W. Thomes… The gold hunters’ adventures… 1890

Alan was astir early next morning. He made his toilet with unusual thought and care for his personal appearance.

E. Cox… Out of the Silence… 1919

 

/anorgasmic-meaning

/anorgasmic-meaning-etymology

-) Adjective.

-) Accent: anorgasmic.

-) Etymology: from the word “anorgasmia”, which is analysed in an- (privative prefix) + “orgasm” and -ia (suffix). It is identical with Spanish anorgasmico, Italian anorgasmico and French anorgasmique.

-) It is dated from 1900.  

-) 1. (Of a person) who does not orgasm for any cause (for sickness, dysfunction, inability, inhibition, bigotry, etc.)

-) Antonym: orgasmic.

… some women are totally anorgasmic; others are orgasmic during copulation, and others show frequent copulatory orgasm.

P. Slater… Stress… 1998

I was asexual and anorgasmic until I was thirty-two years old. Then I discovered my sexuality, my identity as an intersexed person, and I learned how to become orgasmic.

S. Preves… Intersex… 2003

-) 2. (Of a thing) characterized by anorgasmia.

-) Antonym: orgasmic.

Ejaculation is taken as external proof that a man has experienced an orgasm, despite evidence that men can ejaculate without orgasm, technically known as anorgasmic ejaculation.

L. Moore… Sperm Counts… 2007

-) English words derived from orgasm: orgasmic, orgastic, anorgasmia, orgasm (verb), orgasmically.

 

 

/acquainted-meaning

/acquainted-meaning-etymology

-) Participial adjective.

-) Pronunciation and accent: əkweɪntɪd.

-) Etymology: from ACQUAINT (verb) + suffix -ed. 

-) Word derived: acquaintedness.

-) Documented since 1200.

-) 1. Of a thing or an animated being: apprehended mentally; known from acquaintance.

-) It is obsolete or archaic. It was followed by the preposition “to”, or “unto”; as, a word acquainted to the children; a fellatrix acquainted to me.

-) 2. -) a. (Of an animated being) having acquaintance with (someone else); this is, having intercourse of speech or of treatment with someone else; personally known (to an animated being); cognizant of; more or less familiar with. -) b. (The subject: more than two animated beings) having mutual knowledge.

-) Antonyms of “acquainted”: stranger; unfamiliar; unacquainted.

-) Synonyms for “acquainted”: introducee; familiar; personally interrelated.

-) Translation: conocido, in Spanish; familiarizzato, in Italian; familiarisé, in French.

He did not even introduce me to his wife;--this courtesy devolving, per force, upon his sister Marian-- a very sweet and intelligent girl, who, in a few hurried words, made us acquainted.

Poe… The Oblong Box… 1844

I met him by hazard for a moment at Bethany; I neither asked then, nor did he impart to me, his name. How then could I tell you we were acquainted?

Disraeli… Tancred… 1847

When brought together, they acknowledged being acquainted, but each said the other was not the beloved one.

T. Carlyle… Fraser’s magazine, vol. 61… 1860

-) Particular syntax: with the preposition “with” + the noun of the person with whom one is in acquaintance:

I cannot […] remember how, when, or even precisely where, I first became acquainted with the lady Ligeia.

Poe… Ligeia… 1838

Residing in Paris during the spring and part of the summer of 18--, I there became acquainted with a Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin.

Poe… The Murders… 1841

The ladies of the different staterooms began to become somewhat acquainted with each other through Mrs. McGregor, who informed them of each other’s condition, and conveyed messages of politeness and good will to and fro.

J. Abbott… The Florence stories… 1866

When he came back from the Crimea, he became acquainted with me at my home in the north, and we were married within a month of first knowing each other.

T. Hardy… A Changed Man… 1913

-) 3. (Of an animated being) having acquaintance with something; this is, having experimental knowledge of something.

-) Antonyms: strange, ignorant, unknowing, uninformed; unacquainted.

-) Synonyms: knowing; informed; intellegenced; learned; understanding.

-) Translation: enterado, in Spanish; informato, in Italian; renseigné, in French.

-) Followed by the preposition “with” + the noun of the thing known through experience or instruction:

Man is made unwillingly acquainted with his own weakness, and meditation shows him only how little he can sustain, and how little he can perform.

S. Johnson… The Western Isles of Scotland… 1775

That these lines were written in English - a language with which I had not believed their author acquainted - afforded me little matter for surprise.

Poe… The Assignation… 1834

With the rest of the adventure I believe you are as well acquainted as myself.

Poe… The Gold-Bug…1843

-) Followed by the preposition “of” + the noun of the thing known, but not necessarily with the implication of experience or instruction:

You will be acquainted of the arrangements […]

C. Fox… Memorials and correspondence… 1853

-) Followed by a clause introduced by the conjunction “that”, where it seems understood the preposition “of”:

I know my love is above.--Let her be acquainted that I am here, waiting for admission to her presence, and can take no denial.

S. Richardson… Clarissa… 1748

How else […] should Mrs Miller be acquainted that there was any connexion between him and me?

H. Fielding… Tom Jones… 1749

-) Words derived from Latin gnoscere: unacquaintance, acquaintance, acquainted, acquaint, acquaintanceship, acquaintancy, acquaintedness, quaint (adj.), quaintish, quaintlike, quaintly, quaintness, inacquaintance, cognition, cognitional, cognitive, cognitively, cognitum, cognizability, cognizable, cognisable, cognizableness, cognizably, cognizance, cognizanced, cognizant, cognisant, cognize, cognise, cognizer, cogniser, recognizable, recognition, recognitive, recognitory, recognizability, recognizably, recognizance, recognizant, recognize, recognized, recognizedly, recognizer, recognizing, recognizingly, cognomen (n.), cognomen (v.), cognominal, cognominally, cognominate, cognomination, cognominity, cognominize, cognominous, cognosce, cognoscent, cognoscibility, cognoscible, connoisseur, connoisseurship, ignore, ignoble (adj), ignoble (v.), ignobleness, ignobly, ignominious, ignominiously, ignominiousness, ignorable, ignorance, ignorant, ignorantly, ignoration, ignominy, incognito, incognizability, incognizable, incognisable, incognizance, incognizant, incognoscent, incognoscibility, incognoscible, inconnu, narrate, narratee, narration, narrative (adj. n.), narratively, narrativity, narrator, narratory, narratress, narratrix, nobilitate, nobilitated, nobilitating, nobility, noble, nobleman, noblemanly, noble-minded, noble-mindedness, nobleness, noblesse, nobly, notice (n. v.), noticeable, noticeability, noticeably, noticer, notifiable, notification, notifier, notify, notifying, noting, notion, notional, notionalist, notionally, notionary, notionate, notionless, notorious, notoriety, notorify, notoriously, notoriousness, precognition, precognitive, precognizant, precognize, prognose, prognostic, prognosticable, prognostical, prognostically, prognosticate, prognosticated, prognostication, prognosticative, prognosticator, prognosticatory; reacquaint, reacquaintance.

 

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/accurate-meaning

/accurate-meaning-etymology

-) Adjective.

-) Pronunciation and accent: ækjʊərət. 

-) Etymology: from Latin accūrātus “performed with care, studied, exact”, preterite participle of accūrāre “to take care of”; from ac- “to” + cūrāre “to care for”; from cūra “care”.

-) Documented since 1600.

-) 1. (It is obsolete) executed with care.

-) 2. (Of a personal action) correct, as the result of care; having or implying accuracy; exempt from error or inaccuracy. Hence, corresponding with truth.

-) Synonyms for “accurate”: exact, precise, correct.

-) Antonyms of “accurate”: inaccurate, inexact, imprecise, erroneous.

-) Translation: précis, in French; exacto, in Spanish; accurato, in Italian.

I cannot doubt that all this has been stated with accurate truth by the venerable lady.

Scott… The Betrothed… 1825

“A fish is an animal inhabiting the water”. This is a definition, but it is not an accurate definition […], for some insects inhabit the water.

C. True… The elements of logic… 1840

The want of an accurate knowledge of distant countries.

Buckingham… America… 1841

It was not until after an extensive and accurate acquaintance with the details of chemical phenomena, that it was found possible to frame a rational definition of chemistry.

J. Mill… A System of Logic… 1843

We also measured the thickness of every book-cover, with the most accurate admeasurement.

Poe… The Purloined Letter… 1844

We obtain also a more just and accurate idea of the extent and dimensions of this immense building.

S. Haight… Over the ocean… 1846

-) 2. (Of a person, his memory, etc.) doing something with accuracy; performing an action correctly or without error because of his care.

Carilis was not quite accurate in her conclusions.

L. Hawkins… Heraline… 1821

As I wish to be extremely accurate in this part of my chronicle, I beg that this Jacob Van Tassel of the Roost may not be confounded with another Jacob Van Tassel.

Irving… Miscellanies… 1835

Let me be accurate in everything, for though you and I have seen some strange things together, you may at the first think that I, Van Helsing, am mad—that the many horrors and the so long strain on nerves has at the last turn my brain.

Stoker… Dracula… 1897

If my memory is accurate, I. W. remained with I. M. Hellman.

H. Newmark… Southern California… 1916

Somewhat less than six years after my arrival (or, to be accurate, on the fifteenth day of August, 1859 […]), I entered the family of Uncle Sam.

H. Newmark… Southern California… 1916

-) Words derived from “accurate”: accurately, accurateness, inaccurate, inaccurateness, inaccurately.

-) Words derived from Latin cura, see PROCUREMENT.

 

 

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/dull-meaning

/dull-meaning-etymology

-) Adjective.

-) Pronunciation: dʌl. 

-) Etymology: from Middle English dul.

-) Comparative form: duller. Superlative form: dullest.

-) 1. (Of a person) characterized by dullness or slowness; lacking acuteness or wit, but not so much as to be deemed fool; not prompt to learn, think, invent, etc.; slow of understanding; ineffective for using acutely his intelligence

-) Synonyms for “dull”: stupid, doltish.

-) Antonym: witty.

-) Translation: stupide, in French; estúpido, in Spanish; stupido, in Italian.

Every office has some little mysteries which the dullest man may learn with a little attention, and which the greatest man cannot possibly know by intuition. One paper must be signed by the chief of the department.

Macaulay… Critical and Historical Essays… 1860

How dull of him to misunderstand her!

G. Gissing… Born in Exile… 1892

-) 2. (Of a person or his/her senses) lacking sensibility or intensity of perception.

-) Synonym: blunted.

… she screamed into her grandfather's dull ear.

W. Howells… A Fearful Responsibility… 1881

The Lady Blanche looked at him with the dull eyes of a person who does not understand.

M. Ford… Ladies whose bright eyes… 1911

Tarzan crept stealthily among the branches of the tree above the well-fed, […]. He made no noise that the dull ears of man could hear above the soughing of the gentle jungle breeze among the undulating foliage of the upper terraces… 

E. Burroughs… Jungle… 1919

-) With the preposition “of” + noun or verbal noun, to specify the faulty sense:

Thou art dull of ear.

W. Scott… The Talisman… 1825

Captain Scoresby considers these animals extremely dull of hearing: for a noise in the air, such as is produced by a person loudly shouting, is not noticed when only at the distance of a ship's length.

J. Loudon… Natural history… 1832

We can not help thinking that men must have been singularly dull of comprehension, to find a difficulty in admitting what is to us so plain and simple.

J. Mill… A System of Logic… 1843

He could hear a new tone in his own voice when he replied, and was relieved to know the old man dull of perception.

H. Richardson… Australia Felix… 1917

-) 3. (Of a sensation, as pain, etc.) not intense; slightly felt.

… the discomfort then became merely a dull ache.

W. Howells… Indian Summer… 1885

-) 4. (Of a thing, an animal, etc.) slow in motion; not quick in action.

-) Synonyms: inactive, not brisk; sluggish, moped, inactive, slothful.

-) Antonyms: active, quick, cheery, nimble, sprightly, energetic, spry, perk.

So saying, and summing up the whole with a provoking wink, and such an interjectional tchick as men quicken a dull horse with, Petit Andre drew off to the other side of the path, and left the youth to digest the taunts he had treated him with, as his proud Scottish stomach best might.

W. Scott… Quentin Durward… 1823

Now they must plough at a dull pace through the encumbering snow, continually pausing to decide their course, continually floundering in drifts.

R. Stevenson… The Black Arrow… 1888

-) 5. (Of a trade, goods, merchandise, or the like) lacking commercial activity; not much in demand.

-) Synonym: brisk.

 Sales were exceedingly dull.

The Farmer's Magazine, vol. 24… 1823

The corn market was dull at prices as before.

The Farmer's Magazine

-) 6. (Of a person) being in no mood for cheerfulness; somewhat melancholic or sad.

-) Synonyms: dismal; dreary.

I felt myself dull and lonely, and was just thinking of you as you knocked at the door.

G. Reynolds… The mysteries of London… 1844

He was dull, except when he drank too much wine, and that, to be sure, was every day at dinner.

Thackeray… The Virginians… 1859

… all that evening he was dull and sorrowful,

M. Braddon… Birds of Prey… 1867

-) 7. (Of a thing) attended with dullness or irksomeness; causing no interest.

-) Synonyms: tedious, uninteresting, uneventful, cheerless; irksome.

-) Antonyms: exhilarating, interesting, eventful.

I have been thinking that this is a dull and lonely place for you.

G. Reynolds… The mysteries of London… 1844

He has the art of writing on dull subjects by no means in a dull style.

The Home and Foreign Review… 1864

I think it was the dullest little place I ever entered; and what with the monotony of an idle sea…

Dickens… The Letters… 1880

Then she and her aunt went into the large, dull library.

W. Howells… The Landlord… 1897

-) 8. (Of a tool, etc.) not sharp or keen; lacking sharpness; not keen in edge or point.

-) Synonyms: blunt, obtuse.

-) Antonyms: edged, sharp.

 I had three large axes, and abundance of hatchets […]; but, with much chopping and cutting knotty hard wood, they were all full of notches and dull.

D. Defoe… Robinson Crusoe… 1719

If there is anything more foolish than the custom of some farmers in using ill-shapen, badly-constructed and dull tools, […] we do not what it is.

The Valley Farmer, vol. 4-7

-) 9. (Of a color or a visual quality) -) a. Lacking brilliance. -) b. Lacking luster. -) c. Of little saturation. 

-) Synonyms: dim, tarnished.

-) Antonyms: bright, lustrous.

A dull lamp was upon the drawers.

Dublin University Magazine

There was a small dull fire in the grate; and in a comfortable arm-chair near it, was seated the inspector - a short, stout, red-faced, consequential-looking man, with a pen stuck behind his left ear.

Reynolds… The mysteries of London… 1844

This mode may do for large brushes that have to be employed in the dull colours of some kinds of backgrounds.

T. Fielding… Painting… 1846

I was up with the dull dawn, and, having dressed as quietly as I could, looked into his room.

Dickens… Copperfield… 1850

… the style of a dull mind will always be like the reflection of a dull mirror.

 Putnam's Monthly, vol. 8… 1853

And I see a watchmaker’s with only three great pale watches of a dull metal hanging in his window, each in a separate pane.

Dickens… Two Idle Apprentices… 1857

Her brown arms were bare and banded with bracelets of some dull metal.

B. M. Bower… The Phantom Herd… 1916

-) 10. (Of an auditive or gustatory quality, sound, taste, etc.) not intense; indistinct.

Suddenly, however, a dull sound arose within a quarter of a mile from the city gate, as of some feeble attempt to blow a blast upon a trumpet.

Quincey… The Masque… 1832

… the dull sound of hammers began to echo through the stillness.

Dickens… Barnaby… 1841

And have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over acuteness of the senses? — now, I say, there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton.

E. Poe… The Tell-Tale… 1843

At this idea I shrieked aloud, but the walls alone returned a dull echo to my cries.

W. Ainsworth… The Lancashire… Witches 1848

-) 11. (Of the weather) not clear or bright; cloudy.

During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens.

E. Poe… The Fall… 1839

-) English words derived from “dull”: dullness, dull (v.), dullard, dullardism, dullardness, dulled, dullify, dulling, dullish, dully (adv.)

 

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/desultory-definition

/desultory/

-) Adjective.

-) Pronunciation and accent: dɛsəltərɪ. 

-) Etymology: from Latin dēsultōrius (of or belonging to a vaulter, desultory), from dēsultor (a leaper), from desilire (to leap down), from de- + salire (to leap).

-) Documented since 1500.

-) 1. -) a. (Of an animated being) skipping from one place to another. -) b. (Of motion) shifting from one direction to another, as if by leaping.

-) Synonyms for “desultory”: devious; wavering, unsteady, erratic.

The first efforts of a child in reasoning, resemble those quick and desultory motions by which he gains the play of his limbs.

The Monthly Magazine… 1797

-) 2. -) a. (Of an intelligent process) performed discontinuously or with omission, as if by skipping from a subject to another, from a page to another, from a word to another, etc. -) b. (Of any process) performed intermittently.

-) Translation: incohérent, in French; incoherente, in Spanish; incoerente, in Italian.

-) Synonyms: intermittent, immethodical, incoherent, unmethodical, random, discursive.

-) Antonyms: incessant, unceasing, ceaseless, continual.

… the attention of the reader […] would be distracted by a tedious and desultory narrative.

E. Gibbon… The History… of the Roman Empire… 1782

… the advantage they gained by such desultory efforts did not deter the Roman general from pursuing his operations with unabated vigour.

D. Macintosh… History of Scotland… 1821

"To dream," he continued, resuming the tone of his desultory conversation, as he held up to the rich light of a censer one of the magnificent vases - "to dream has been the business of my life.

Edgar Poe… 1834

Our conversation during the evening was desultory and various.

J. Stephens… Incidents of travel in Egypt… 1843

I read much, but in a desultory manner.

The Irish Metropolitan Magazine… 1858

… an expression of desultory if not intermittent respectability.

H. Jackson… Glimpses of Three Coasts… 1886

-) 3. (Of a subject, comment, etc.) mentioned as a digression, or as a consequence of having skipped from the main subject.

-) Synonym: digressional.

My sister now and then wrote to me, her expressions were more kind, but the contents of her letters were always on desultory subjects, or of her little Hermine, whom she seemed doatingly fond of.

E. Parsons… The peasant… 1801

We must, however, desist from this desultory comment, and proceed to business.

The Eclectic review… 

-) 4. (Of a person) performing desultorily an intelligent act.

… with biographical and other matter, so as to render that which has hitherto been tolerable to the professor only, interesting to the most desultory reader.

The Edinburgh Review

-) Words derived from “desultory”: desultorily, desultoriness.

-) Words derived from Latin salire, see SALLY, noun.