Lexical Vexations disburse 1. v. to pay out (esp. from a fund), to pay (e.g., a bill). disperse 1. v. to break up, to spread something over an area, to make something evaporate. Words in the Wild: When the bank refused to disburse their life savings to the townsfolk, George had to call the police […]

Vest-Pocket Vocabulary Direp’tion, n. the art of plundering. Word in the Wild: After an unknown co-worker stole his lunch out of the communal fridge for the third day running, Amir posted a snarky note demanding the sneak cease all direption. I’m in favour of a world with a lot less sacking and pillaging, but I […]

Lexical Vexations coarse 1. adj. of a thick gauge; 2. adj. rough; 3. adj. unrefined, crude (of a person). course 1. n. a path or route followed by people or things; 2. n. a series of classes on a topic of study; 3. n. an established procedure or approach to something; 4. n. a part […]

Lexical Vexations palate 1. n . the top or roof of the mouth; 2. n. one’s sense of taste. palette 1. n. an easily held flat surface on which an artist mixes paints; 2. n. a range of available colours. pallet 1. n. a straw-filled mattress, a temporary (and often uncomfortable) bed; 2. n. a […]

Lexical Vexations This lexical vexation is for Colette, who understands the weighty responsibility of using wait and weight correctly. wait 1. v . to remain somewhere in anticipation of an event, to employ (varying degrees of) patience in anticipation of an event. 2. n. the duration of time that must elapse before an event takes […]

Lexical Vexations Lee requested this classic lexical vexation, one that trips up the best of us from time to time. Thanks, Lee! their adj. the possessive form of the pronoun they. there 1. adv. a word used to designate a location that is at a distance, near or far, from the one using the word. 2. […]

Lexical Vexations I don’t know how I’ve missed the grandaddy of  lexical vexations for so long, so thank you, Susan, for requesting this post. its the possessive form of the pronoun it. it’s a contraction of the words it and is or it and has. Words in the Wild: It’s my intention to see to […]

Lexical Vexations role 1. n . a part one plays in a dramatic production or in relation to other people in a real-life situation. roll 1. v. to move around a central axis. 2. n. a small bun served at dinner. 3. n. any number of other items that have been rolled up in their […]

Lexical Vexations wet 1. adj. soaked with or coverd by liquid. 2. v. to cause to be soaked with or covered by liquid. whet v. to sharpen, both literally (as in to whet a knife) and figuratively (as in to whet one’s appetite). Words in the Wild: Nancy’s curiosity was whetted when she saw the […]

Lexical Vexations defuse v. to disarm a bomb or, more metaphorically, a tense situation. diffuse adj. spread or scattered over an area. Words in the Wild: There wouldn’t have been a diffuse pink mist in the room if the secret agent had managed to defuse the bomb in time. Still vexed? You can find a […]