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Propitious (adj.)

pro·pi·tious

prəˈpiSHəs/

adjective

adjective: propitious

1. giving or indicating a good chance of success; favorable.

   “the timing for such a meeting seemed propitious”

   synonyms:

   favorable, auspicious, promising, providential, advantageous, optimistic, bright, rosy, heaven-sent, hopeful; opportune, timely “the timing for such a meeting seemed propitious”

   antonyms:

   inauspicious, unfortunate

   • archaic

     favorably disposed toward someone.

     “there were points on which they did not agree, moments in which she did not seem propitious”

Origin

late Middle English: from Old French propicieus or Latin propitius ‘favorable, gracious.’

Bon mot (n.)

bon mot

ˌbän ˈmō/

noun

noun: bon mot; plural noun: bon mots; plural noun: bons mots

1. a witty remark.

   synonyms:

   witticism, quip, pun, pleasantry, jest, joke; informalwisecrack, one-liner; rareapophthegm, equivoque “the dialogue is dry—it’s mostly laughless bon mots about relationships”

Origin

mid 18th century: French, literally ‘good word.’

Demur (v.)

de·mur

dəˈmər/

verb

verb: demur; 3rd person present: demurs; past tense: demurred; past participle: demurred; gerund or present participle: demurring

1. 1.

   raise doubts or objections or show reluctance.

   “normally she would have accepted the challenge, but she demurred”

   synonyms:

   object, take exception, take issue, protest, cavil, dissent; voice reservations, be unwilling, be reluctant, balk, think twice; drag one’s heels, refuse; informalboggle, kick up a fuss “Steve demurred when the suggestion was made”

   • LAWdated

     put forward a demurrer.

noun

noun: demur

1. 1.

   the action or process of objecting to or hesitating over something.

   “they accepted this ruling without demur“

   synonyms:

   objection, protest, protestation, complaint, dispute, dissent, opposition, resistance; reservation, hesitation, reluctance, disinclination; doubts, qualms, misgivings, second thoughts; a murmur, a word “they accepted without demur”

Origin

Middle English (in the sense ‘linger, delay’): from Old French demourer (verb), demeure (noun), based on Latin de- ‘away, completely’ + morari ‘delay.’

Tête-à-tête (n.)

tête-à-tête

ˌtādəˈtāt,ˌtedəˈtet/

noun

noun: tête-à-tête; plural noun: tête-à-têtes

1. 1.

   a private conversation between two people.

   synonyms:

   conversation, dialogue, chat, chitchat, talk, heart-to-heart, one-on-one, confab; formalconfabulation “we enjoyed a private tête-à-tête on the patio”

2. 2.

   an S-shaped sofa on which two people can sit face to face.

adjective & adverb

adjective: tête-à-tête; adverb: tête-à-tête

1. 1.

   involving or happening between two people in private.

   “a tête-à-tête meal”

   synonyms:

   conversation, dialogue, chat, chitchat, talk, heart-to-heart, one-on-one, confab; formalconfabulation “we enjoyed a private tête-à-tête on the patio”

Origin

late 17th century: French, literally ‘head-to-head.’

Inveterate (adj.)

in·vet·er·ate

inˈvedərət/

adjective

adjective: inveterate

1. having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change.

   “he was an inveterate gambler”

   synonyms:

   ingrained, deep-seated, deep-rooted, entrenched, congenital, ineradicable, incurable “inveterate corruption”

   • (of a feeling or habit) long-established and unlikely to change.

     synonyms:

     confirmed, hardened, incorrigible, addicted, habitual, compulsive, obsessive; informalpathological, chronic “an inveterate gambler” staunch, steadfast, committed, devoted, dedicated, dyed-in-the-wool, out-and-out,diehard, hard-core “an inveterate liberal”

Origin

late Middle English (referring to disease, in the sense ‘of long standing, chronic’): from Latin inveteratus ‘made old,’ past participle of inveterare (based on vetus, veter- ‘old’).

Priggish (adj.)

prig·gish

ˈpriɡiSH/

adjective

adjective: priggish

1. self-righteously moralistic and superior.

   “a priggish little pedant”

   synonyms:

   self-righteous, moralistic, holier-than-thou, sanctimonious, prudish, puritanical, prim, strait-laced, stuffy, prissy, governessy, narrow-minded; informalgoody-goody, starchy “Miss Sinclair couldn’t possibly have been as priggish as she seemed way back then”

   antonyms:

   broad-minded

Convivial (adj.)

con·viv·i·al

kənˈvivēəl/

adjective

adjective: convivial

1. (of an atmosphere or event) friendly, lively, and enjoyable.

   • (of a person) cheerful and friendly; jovial.

     synonyms:

     friendly, genial, affable, amiable, congenial, agreeable, good-humored, cordial, warm, sociable, outgoing, gregarious, companionable, clubby, hail-fellow-well-met, cheerful, jolly, jovial, lively; enjoyable, festive “our convivial host”

Origin

mid 17th century (in the sense ‘fit for a feast, festive’): from Latin convivialis, from convivium ‘a feast,’ from con- ‘with’ + vivere ‘live.’

Kith and Kin (n.)

kith

kiTH/

noun

noun: kith and kin; noun: kith or kin; noun: kith; plural noun: kiths

1. one’s friends, acquaintances, and relations.

   “a widow without kith or kin”

kin

kin/

noun

noun: kin; plural noun: kins

1. 1.

   one’s family and relations.

   “he is expected to make a payment to his wife’s kin”

   synonyms:

   relatives, relations, family (members), kindred, kith and kin; More

   • animals or plants that are related to a particular species or kind.

     “dolphins, whales, and their kin”

adjective

adjective: kin

1. 1.

   related.

   “he was kin to the brothers”

   synonyms:

   relatives, relations, family (members), kindred, kith and kin; More

Origin

Old English cynn, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kunne, from an Indo-European root meaning ‘give birth to,’ shared by Greek genos and Latin genus ‘race.’

Pallor (n.)

pal·lor

ˈpalər/

noun

noun: pallor; plural noun: pallors

1. an unhealthy pale appearance.

   synonyms:

   paleness, pallidness, lack of color, wanness, ashen hue, pastiness, grayness, sickliness, sallowness “her dark hair accentuated her pallor”

Origin

late Middle English: from Latin, from pallere ‘be pale.’