e·bul·lient ih bUl yənt ih bU li ənt adjective 1. highly enthusiastic, happily excited, or spirited. examples: When he heard that he had broken the world record, he was ebullient. The crowd…

nominal na mə nəl adjective 1. in name alone. example: The former colony was given nominal independence but had no real government of its own. example: He’s a nominal member of the…

cross-grained kraws greInd adjective 1. of lumber, having a grain that runs across or diagonally to the length. 2. (informal) stubborn or hard to deal with.

gain·say geIn seI transitive verb 1. to deny or contradict. example: If a man of science says it is true, who am I to gainsay it? 2. to speak against; oppose.

shib·bo·leth shI bə leth shI bə lihth noun 1. a slogan, phrase, or belief that characterizes or is held devotedly by a group. example: “No new taxes” is now a shibboleth of…