#547 gape

gape- to stare in wonder of amazement, especially with the mouth open

C13 from Old Norse gapa; related to Middle Dutch gapen, Danish gabe

The audience all turned to gape as the royal procession started.

Companion site: quoteflections- a regular, eclectic mind fix

Tags: word of the day, best words, etymology, spelling, vital, useful, expressive, emotional, strategic, onomatopoeic, connotation, how to, English usage, language, learning, mnemonic devices, vocabulary, quoteflections, quotation, quotes

#546 gamut

gamut- entire range or scale, as of emotions; a musical scale especially in medieval theory one starting on the G on the bottom line of the bass staff

C15 from Medieval Latin, from gamma

Interpretations of that film run the gamut from a coming of age-story, to a healing of maternal bonds, to a scrutiny of the zeal behind technological advancement, and it goes on & on.

Companion site: quoteflections- a regular, eclectic mind fix

Tags: word of the day, best words, etymology, spelling, vital, useful, expressive, emotional, strategic, onomatopoeic, connotation, how to, English usage, language, learning, mnemonic devices, vocabulary, quoteflections, quotation, quotes

#545 gambol

gambol- to skip or jump about in a playful manner; frolic; a playful antic; frolic

C16 from French gambade

Rows of brick garden apartments all backed onto a massive common garden: a shared backyard for children to play, dogs to gambol, and families to eat picnics together.

Companion site: quoteflections- a regular, eclectic mind fix

Tags: word of the day, best words, etymology, spelling, vital, useful, expressive, emotional, strategic, onomatopoeic, connotation, how to, English usage, language, learning, mnemonic devices, vocabulary, quoteflections, quotation, quotes

#544 gambit

gambit- chess: an opening move in which a chessman, usually a pawn is sacrificed to to secure an advantageous position; an opening comment, manoeuvre

C17 from French, from Italian gambetto a tripping up, from gamba leg

The problem with the madman gambit is that you pretty much have to be a madman to do it.

Companion site: quoteflections- a regular, eclectic mind fix

Tags: word of the day, best words, etymology, spelling, vital, useful, expressive, emotional, strategic, onomatopoeic, connotation, how to, English usage, language, learning, mnemonic devices, vocabulary, quoteflections, quotation, quotes

#543 galumph

galumph- informal, to leap or move about clumsily or joyfully

C19 coined by Lewis Carroll; probably a blend of gallop+triumph

Galumph is "to prance about in a self-satisfied manner," 1872, coined by Lewis Carroll in "Jabberwocky."

Companion site: quoteflections- a regular, eclectic mind fix

Tags: word of the day, best words, etymology, spelling, vital, useful, expressive, emotional, strategic, onomatopoeic, connotation, how to, English usage, language, learning, mnemonic devices, vocabulary, quoteflections, quotation, quotes

#542 gala

gala- a celebration; festive occasion

C17 from French or Italian, from Old French gale pleasure, galer to make merry, probably of Germanic origin

The next fundraising gala is scheduled for October.

Companion site: quoteflections- a regular, eclectic mind fix

Tags: word of the day, best words, etymology, spelling, vital, useful, expressive, emotional, strategic, onomatopoeic, connotation, how to, English usage, language, learning, mnemonic devices, vocabulary, quoteflections, quotation, quotes

#541 gaga

gaga- informal, senile; doting; slightly crazy

C20 from French, of imitative origin

Lady Gaga is fast becoming a cultural icon.

(This word was too timely for me to ignore.)

Companion site: quoteflections- a regular, eclectic mind fix

Tags: word of the day, best words, etymology, spelling, vital, useful, expressive, emotional, strategic, onomatopoeic, connotation, how to, English usage, language, learning, mnemonic devices, vocabulary, quoteflections, quotation, quotes