arduous

Pronunciation: \ˈär-jə-wəs, -dyu� -, -jü-əs\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Latin arduus high, steep, difficult; akin to Old Irish ard high

Date: 1538

1 a: hard to accomplish or achieve : difficult <years of arduous training>

b: marked by great labor or effort : strenuous <a life of arduous toil — A. C. Cole> 2: hard to climb : steep <an arduous path>

synonyms see hard

articulate

Pronunciation: \är-ˈti-kyə-lət\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Latin articulatus jointed, past participle of articulare, from articulus Date: 1586

1 a: divided into syllables or words meaningfully arranged : intelligible b: able to speak c: expressing oneself readily, clearly, or effectively <an articulate teacher> ; also : expressed in this manner <an articulate argument>

2 a: consisting of segments united by joints : jointed <articulate animals> b: distinctly marked off

assail

Pronunciation: \ə-ˈsāl\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French assaillir, from Vulgar Latin *assalire, alteration of Latin assilire to leap upon, from ad- + salire to leap — more at sally Date: 13th century

: to attack violently with blows or words

synonyms see attack

astute

Pronunciation: \ə-ˈstüt, a-, -ˈstyüt\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Latin astutus, from astus craft

Date: 1565

: having or showing shrewdness and perspicacity <an astute observer> <astute remarks>; also : crafty, wily

synonyms see shrewd

attune

Pronunciation: \ə-ˈtün, -ˈtyün\

Function: transitive verb

Date: 1596

1 : to bring into harmony : tune2 : to make aware or responsive

<attune businesses to changing trends>

audaciousPronunciation: \o-ˈdā-shəs\ Function: adjective Etymology: Middle French audacieux, from audace boldness, from Latin audacia, from audac-, audax bold, from audēre to dare, from avidus eager — more at avid Date: 1550 1 a: intrepidly daring : adventurous <an audacious mountain climber> b: recklessly bold : rash <an audacious maneuver>2: contemptuous of law, religion, or decorum : insolent3: marked by originality and verve <audacious experiments>

august

Pronunciation: \o-ˈgəst, ˈo-(ˌ)gəst\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Latin augustus; akin to Latin augur Date: 1581 : marked by majestic dignity or grandeur <her august lineage>

auspicious

Pronunciation: \o-ˈspi-shəs\

Function: adjective

Date: 1593 1 : affording a favorable auspice : propitious <made an auspicious beginning> 2 : attended by good auspices : prosperous <an auspicious year>

synonyms see favorable

auxiliary

Pronunciation: \og-ˈzil-yə-rē, -ˈzil-rē, -ˈzi-lə-\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Latin auxiliaris, from auxilium help; akin to Latin augēre to increase — more at eke Date: 15th century

1 a: offering or providing help b: functioning in a subsidiary capacity

<an auxiliary branch of the state university>

2: accompanying another verb and typically expressing person, number,

mood, or tense3 a: supplementary b: constituting a reserve

<an auxiliary power>

aversion

Pronunciation: \ə-ˈvər-zhən, -shən\

Function: noun

Date: 1596

1 obsolete : the act of turning away

2 a : a feeling of repugnance toward something with a desire to avoid or

turn from it <regards drunkenness with aversion>

b : a settled dislike : antipathy <expressed an aversion to parties>

c : a tendency to extinguish a behavior or to avoid a thing or situation

and especially a usually pleasurable one because it is or has been

associated with a noxious stimulus

3 : an object of aversion <inconstancy is my aversion — Jane Austen>