(adverb or adjective) in a diagonal or oblique position
she was seated near Martin, who was catercorner to her left
she was seated near Martin, who was catercorner to her left
(adjective) kind obliging / (adjective) dutiful / (adjective) volunteering one's services where they are neither asked nor needed; meddlesome / (adjective) informal unofficial
a woman brimming with affection, a woman so adroitly officious that she gave the impression of belonging to whomever she was addressing
a woman brimming with affection, a woman so adroitly officious that she gave the impression of belonging to whomever she was addressing
(adjective) fatty oily / (adjective) smooth and greasy in texture or appearance / (adjective) plastic / (adjective) full of unction / (adjective) revealing or marked by a smug, ingratiating, and false earnestness or spirituality
The unctuous voice, the complacent gesture, made Billy Doud seem asinine.
The unctuous voice, the complacent gesture, made Billy Doud seem asinine.
(noun) the act of performing more than is required by duty, obligation, or need
To reinvent the wheel of the rose window would be a supererogatory chore.
from a poem by Rachel Hadas
To reinvent the wheel of the rose window would be a supererogatory chore.
from a poem by Rachel Hadas
(adjective) favorably disposed; benevolent / (adjective) being a good omen; auspicious / (adjective) tending to favor; advantageous
The truth is that it was not the most propitious time.
The truth is that it was not the most propitious time.
(adjective) causing or tending to cause sleep / (adjective) tending to dull awareness or alertness / (adjective) of, relating to, or marked by sleepiness or lethargy / (noun) a soporific agent / (noun) hypnotic
an intelligent, amiable Greek whose soporific discourses on social injustice were his only fault
cute
an intelligent, amiable Greek whose soporific discourses on social injustice were his only fault
cute
strongly reminiscent or suggestive of
Mr. Christopher squinted against her redolent perfume as she breezed confidently into his living room
Mr. Christopher squinted against her redolent perfume as she breezed confidently into his living room
(noun) a thin watery or blood-tinged discharge / (noun) an ethereal fluid taking the place of blood in the veins of the ancient Greek gods
fill her blue cup with sunny ichor
fill her blue cup with sunny ichor
(relating to) a poem, speech, or song of lamentation, especially for the dead; dirge; funeral song.
into melody, retreat, begin again: threnody, aubade,
threnody, aubade, like a man who wakes up
into melody, retreat, begin again: threnody, aubade,
threnody, aubade, like a man who wakes up
(adjective) extremely loud
The doctor’s stentorian voice and overblown statements were starting to annoy him.
The doctor’s stentorian voice and overblown statements were starting to annoy him.