adjective moving upward; rising.The mayor seems convinced that the fortunes of the city are ascendant. See the full entry
Word of the Day
Daily definitions and usage information for all who want to increase and hone their vocabulary.
Weekly Quiz
With the Wordsmyth Vocabulary Center activities, you can study the words of the week, play games with them, and assess your knowledge of their meanings with a quiz. Go to the Vocabulary…
malaria
noun a serious disease carried by mosquitoes that causes chills, fever, and sweating.Mosquito nets can be helpful in preventing malaria. See the full entry
inveterate
adjective persisting in a habit, action, feeling, or the like.She was an inveterate gossip and could never resist passing on whatever scuttlebutt she chanced to hear. See the full entry
impiety
noun lack of reverence or respect, especially for what others consider sacred.The young man’s refusal to bow his head in prayer at the table showed an impiety that was intolerable to his…