week 13

austere

ȯ-ˈstir

adjective

very plain

Middle English, Latin, Greek

Though austere, their designs bring together function with beauty, making their objects http://www.themoscowtimes.com/arts_n_ideas/article/lessons-in-austere-dutch-design-at-moscow-manezh/489567.html#ixzz2kkNT0C2w

This room is very simple and austere.

http://uglyhousephotos.com/wordpress/?m=200905&paged=4

esoteric

ˌe-sə-ˈter-ik

adjective

difficult to understand

Latin, Greek

An IFA has raised concerns about people being advised to move their small pension pots into esoteric, illiquid investments.

http://www.moneymarketing.co.uk/news-and-analysis/pensions/ifa-raises-alarm-over-esoteric-investments-for-small-pension-pots/2003003.article

Some people find football to be an esoteric sport.

http://profootballcenter.blogspot.com/2012/07/three-best-stadiums-lambeau-field.html

facsimile

fak-ˈsi-mə-lē

noun

an accurate copy

Latin

A facsimile of a fifteenth-century manuscript, which contains the last copy of a famous medieval poem about King Arthur, has been given to The University of Lincoln by Lincoln Cathedral.

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/University-Lincoln-gifted-copy-medieval/story-20057565-detail/story.html#ixzz2kkOOj18b

Fax machines, or facsimile machines can send exact copies of documents across a country.

http://blogs.arrows3.com/sip/fax-over-ip/

grotesque

grō-ˈtesk

adjective

strange looking

Middle French, Old Italian

A French politician has slammed Britain’s “grotesque and hypocritical” immigration policies for leaving Calais overrun with migrants.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/442530/Britain-is-a-paradise-for-poor-migrants-say-angry-French

Most amoebas are grotesquely shaped.

http://www.passmyexams.co.uk/GCSE/biology/unicellular-and-multicellular-organisms.html

mesmerize

mez-mə-ˌrīz

verb

to fascinate

German

Mesmerizing, magical and imaginative, performing arts ensemble MOMIX defies categorization as easily as its dancers seem to defy gravity.

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2013/10/31/3278550/dancers-mesmerize-with-botanica.html

Mesmerizing people is an important part of mentalism.

http://samisosablogs.blogspot.com/2013_08_01_archive.html

metamorphosis

ˌme-tə-ˈmȯr-fə-səs

noun

a change in form

Latin, Greek

A 6-foot-1 scorer, Appling had to embrace becoming a full-time point guard after his freshman year as part of a four-year metamorphosis that continues to this day.

http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2013/11/keith_appling_gets_four-year_m.html

A caterpillar turning into a butterfly is an easy example of metamorphosis.

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorations/bug/libraryarticle.asp?ItemID=126&SubjectID=119&categoryID=4&SubjectName=Insects

notorious

nō-ˈtȯr-ē-əs

adjective

regarded negatively

Latin

Police in California says he’s a notorious con man with a history of scamming unsuspecting victims up and down the West Coast.

http://www.azfamily.com/news/Notorious-con-artist-may-be-lurking-in-Valley-231850481.html

Al Capone is a notorious gangster from the 1930s.

http://godfather.wikia.com/wiki/Al_Capone

perfunctory

pər-ˈfəŋ(k)-trē

adjective

uninterested

Latin

The writing was very perfunctory but because there were zombies in it, that grabbed my attention because zombies are hot right now.

http://www.heraldstandard.com/entertainment/movies/horror-film-to-make-u-s-debut-at-state/article_12d3fe61-3dc9-5268-b29b-e8522839b148.html

Exams sometimes seem perfunctory, like the doctor is just going through the motions.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/2817764/Doctors-face-the-pain-of-pricey-car-insurance.html

provocative

prə-ˈvä-kə-tiv

adjective

attention getting

Latin

To get noticed in what Mr. Baiocco refers to as the “world of competing sorrows,” some charities now resort to provocative advertisements and unconventional marketing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/08/giving/charities-try-provocative-ads-to-attract-attention.html?_r=0

Possible job candidates need provocative resumes to be considered by employers.

http://letsgotowork.wordpress.com/2013/09/19/3-steps-to-an-attention-getting-resume/

travesty

ˈtra-və-stē

noun

a joking, disrespectful imitation

French, Latin

Everyone who has a military family member or knows anyone who is serving and protecting our nation and our freedom should be as mad as I am over this travesty.

http://journalstar.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letter-travesty-on-military-equipment/article_216fd2bf-2b65-5880-8954-8712cda23e9a.html

Vampires Suck is a travesty of Twilight.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1666186/