Word of The Day for Friday, February 4, 2011

caliginous

ca•lig•i•nous (kuh-LIJ-uh-nuhs)  adj

Definition:
misty; dim; dark; devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black
Origin:
1548; rom L. caliginosus "misty," from caliginem (nom. caligo) "mistiness, darkness, fog, gloom"

Related:
Synonyms: tenebrous, fuliginous, dark, dim, gloomy, misty, murky, nebulous, opaque, dusky, obscured, stygian


Sentence Examples:
• Alice looked into the Texan's face with a peculiar little puckering of the brows, and laughed: "See here, Mr. Tex," she said, "of course, I know that java must be coffee, but if you will kindly render the rest of your remarks a little less caliginous by calling the grub by its Christian name, maybe I'll get along better with the breakfast." - The Texan, James B. Hendryx

• A strange child,--fearless, and yet seemingly fond of things that inspire children with fear; fond of tales of fay, sprite, and ghost, which Mrs. Primmins draws fresh and new from her memory as a conjurer draws pancakes hot and hot from a hat.  And yet so sure is Blanche of her own innocence that they never trouble her dreams in her lone little room, full of caliginous corners and nooks, with the winds moaning round the desolate ruins, and the casements rattling hoarse in the dungeon-like wall. -The Caxtons, Edward Bulwer-Lytton

• "I am just admiring your gorgeousness!" said Telly in a musical tone of voice. "Are you the next TV heart-throb? The next Susan Lucci? Are you going to take the couch potatoes of the world by storm and make all of them yearn to be you? You could, you know. You surely are already the envy of everyone who has ever laid eyes upon you!"
The Witch looked at her prisoner. "What is this machine up to, boy? And you'd best not lie to me again!"
"Oh, no!" replied Graham. "I have learned my lesson, to be sure. I wouldn't think of telling another lie."
"Then what is this clinking, clanking, clattering collection of caliginous junk babbling about?" she sneered.
-Abducted to Oz. Bob Evans and Chris Dulabone

Sources: Free Dictionary, Dictionary.com, Online Etymology

Word-E: A Word-A-Day

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