English Words in Action, Group W

A reference to a lack of intelligence or common sense: Hank stood there witlessly gaping with his mouth wide open like a fool when the clerk told him that he couldn't be served because it was time for the store to close.

1. A comment or statement which has the power to cause laughter: John Dryden, an English playwright, introduced the term witticism in the 17th century to depict a smart joke, pun, or jest containing a bit of irony or sharpness as well.
2. Clever or funny remarks: Mathew has a newspaper that often has witticisms to entertain its readers.
3. Etymology: from Old English wittig, "clever, wise, sagacious." © ALL rights are reserved.

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1. Descriptive of someone or something that causes distress; or which is aggravating or worrying: According to Jean, her boy is so worrisome that he'll be the death of her if she is not careful.
2. Lacking in assurance or confidence; showing anxiety: Uncle Al is so worrisome that he never seems to be calm or without stress about most things.

1. Concern, unease, or anxiety: The unpredictable boy caused his parents a lot of worry.
2. Vexation, dread, or concern: Cancellation of the game because of the weather was the team's main worry.

1. To be anxious or to have a reason for being uneasy: Mother always worries when her daughters stay out late.
2. To have concern or to be disturbed: A lack of rain is beginning to worry the farmers.
3. Etymology: the word worry now usually means "to be uneasy, to feel anxiety", but it came from a much more worrisome Old English verb, wyrgan, "to strangle, to choke", or "to tear at the throat with the teeth."

People still use the word in this original meaning when they talk about a cat worrying a mouse.

Someone who is overly pessimistic or who has a tendency to be needlessly concerned; especially, about unimportant things: Marvin's mother was a real worrywart because whenever he stayed out very late, she was sure that something bad had happened to him. © ALL rights are reserved.

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An argument or dispute that lasts for a long time: The employees have had a bitter salary wrangle with their company for over a month.

1. To dispute, to haggle, or to speak in disagreement: Two men were wrangling in the restaurant about politics and, when they left, they continued to wrangle in the parking lot.
2. To obtain something by a clever method or by persuading someone to do whatever is desired by another person: Ralph was able to wrangle a 10% discount for the fresh apples he bought from the farmer.
3. To care for or to control horses, cattle, etc. on a farm or ranch: Chad has been wrangling horses on his ranch for the last twenty-five years. © ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.

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Someone, like a cowboy, who takes care of horses and cattle on a ranch: Walt still enjoys being a wrangler near his community where various people keep their horses and ride them.

1. To twist and to compress something (wet cloth,hair, etc.) in order to force liquid out of it: Catherine's mother asked her to wring the towel out and hang it on the line to dry.
2. To extract something from a person with great difficulty: The lawyer was finally able to wring an answer out of the witness during the trial.
3. To cause a person emotional pain and distress: It was wringing Shirley's heart to see the destruction of the grove of trees that she loved as a child.

1. A reference to that which has been crafted, formed, or worked into shape: The author was credited with having published carefully wrought essays.
2. Relating to efforts to accomplish an objective with serious planning or procedures: Despite all of the arrangements for traveling to Canada during the summer, Jason's carefully wrought plans had to be cancelled because he lost his job and could no longer afford the costs of the trip.
3. Descriptive of something that has been shaped by hammering with tools; primarily, metals or metal work: While Mona was traveling in Europe, she purchased a delicately hand-made wrought silver tray.

Ted was a craftsman who made some finely wrought woodwork for an art exhibition.

4. Etymology: from Middle English, werken, "work"; an archaic past tense and past participle of the verb "to work"; thus, wrought iron is iron that has been worked, forged, or welded into various shapes or forms. © ALL rights are reserved.

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1. Referring to a twisted expression of disgust, disappointment, or annoyance: Wry humor and wit both describe a sense of humor that is a little twisted from what is normal.

A wry expression or wry humor shows that someone feels a situation is bad, but that he or she may also think it is slightly amusing.

2. Etymology: from Old English wrigian, "to go, to turn, to twist, to bend." © ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
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