One of the main bugbears of the project was the constant budget overrun that caused significant stress among the team members.
synonyms
boogeymanterrordread
word origin — The term 'bugbear' originated in the early 14th century, derived from the Middle English 'bugge' meaning 'a scare' or 'a bugbear', and 'bear', likely referring to a creature that would frighten children.
bugbear, compotation, parasigmatism, cenobite, trompe-l'œil: meanings and examples
Learn these 5 words from Word Ultra set 269. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.
bugbear · noun/ˈbʌɡ.bɛr/
a cause of anxiety or fear
One of the main bugbears of the project was the constant budget overrun that caused significant stress among the team members.
Synonyms: boogeyman, terror, dread
Origin: The term 'bugbear' originated in the early 14th century, derived from the Middle English 'bugge' meaning 'a scare' or 'a bugbear', and 'bear', likely referring to a creature that would frighten children.
compotation · noun/ˌkɑmpəˈteɪʃən/
the act of drinking together or consuming beverages in a social setting
After a long week at work, we decided to have a compotation at our favorite pub to unwind and enjoy each other's company.
Synonyms: drinking, libation, toast
Origin: from Latin 'compotatio', from 'com-' (together) + 'potare' (to drink)
parasigmatism · noun/ˌpɛrəˈsɪɡmətɪzəm/
a condition characterized by a disturbance in the perceptual processing of speech sounds
Children with parasigmatism often struggle to distinguish between similar speech sounds, which can significantly affect their communication skills.
Origin: The term 'parasigmatism' is derived from the prefix 'para-' meaning 'beside' or 'abnormal', combined with 'sigmatism', which comes from 'sigma', indicating a relation to sounds or pronunciation.
cenobite · noun/ˈsiː.noʊ.baɪt/
a member of a religious community living together in a monastery
The cenobites of the monastery dedicated their lives to prayer and communal living.
Synonyms: monk, friar, religious
Origin: from Late Latin 'cenobita', from Greek 'koinobios' meaning 'living in community' (from 'koinos' meaning 'common' and 'bios' meaning 'life')
trompe-l'œil · noun/trɑmp loʊˈeɪ/
a painted or sculpted representation that creates the optical illusion of three dimensions
The artist amazed visitors with her stunning trompe-l'œil mural that made the ceiling appear much higher than it actually was.