refract: \ri- ˈ frakt\ Function: verb (or verb construction) that requires an object Etymology: Latin refractus, to break Date: 1612 physics alter course of wave of energy: to alter the course of a wave of energy that passes into something from another medium, as water does to light entering it from the air A photographic lens will refract the light that enters it.

Quint: \ ˈ kwint\ Function: noun Date: : a combination of five of a kind 2 : one of five offspring born at one birth Sentence: Did you hear about the singing quintuplets?

bazaar Pronunciation: \bə- ˈ zär\ Function: noun Etymology: Persian bāzār Date: : a market (as in the Middle East) consisting of rows of shops or stalls selling miscellaneous goods 2 a: a place for the sale of goods b: department store 3: a fair for the sale of articles especially for charitable purposesdepartment store

ecology Pronunciation: \i- ˈ kä-lə-jē, e-\ Function: noun Etymology: German Date: : a branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environments 2: the totality or pattern of relations between organisms and their environment Sentence: I want to be an ecology major when I go to college.

insidious Pronunciation: \in- ˈ si-dē-əs\ Function: adjective Etymology: Latin insidiosus, from insidiae ambush, from insidēre to sit in, sit on, from in- + sedēre to sit — more at sit Date: 1545sit 1 a: awaiting a chance to entrap : treacherous b: harmful but enticingtreacherous : seductive seductive 2 a: having a gradual and cumulative effect : subtle subtle

ludicrous Pronunciation: \ ˈ lü-də-krəs\ Function: adjective Etymology: Latin ludicrus, from ludus play, sport; perhaps akin to Greek loidoros abusive Date: : amusing or laughable through obvious absurdity, incongruity, exaggeration, or eccentricity 2 : meriting derisive laughter or scorn as absurdly inept, false, or foolish synonyms see laughablelaughable

cardigan Pronunciation: \ ˈ kär-di-gən\ Function: noun Etymology: James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan died 1868 English soldier Date: 1862 : a usually collarless sweater or jacket that opens the full length of the center front Sentence: I bought my father a cardigan sweater.

Rubella : Pronunciation: \rü- ˈ be-lə\ Function: noun Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, feminine of rubellus reddish, from ruber red — more at red Date: 1883red a contagious viral disease that is a milder form of measles lasting three or four days; can be damaging to a fetus during the first trimester (German measles) Sentence: Rubella is otherwise known as the German measles.

sabbatical Pronunciation: \sə- ˈ ba-ti-kəl\ Function: adjective Etymology: Late Latin sabbaticus, from Greek sabbatikos, from sabbaton Date: 1599 Noun: a leave usually taken every seventh year adjective: of or relating to sabbatical leave (Example: "Sabbatical research project") adjective: of or relating to the Sabbath (Example: "Friday is a sabbatical day for Muslims")

interim Pronunciation: \ ˈ in-tə-rəm\ Function: noun Etymology: Latin, adverb, meanwhile, from inter between — more at inter-inter- Date: circa 1580 an intervening time : intervalinterveninginterval Tom Cable was named interim coach of the Oakland Raiders.