Neophyte

Pronounced < Knee-Oh-Fight >

It means:  Someone who is a beginner.

Daily use:  I am not a neophyte.  I've been doing this a long time.

Memory trick: 

Neophyte

 Neo (means)  =  New

phyte (sounds like)  =  fight

New + Fight  = a new fight

a beginner is someone who has a new fight

Listen: Neophyte

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Officious

Pronounced < Oh-Fish-Ish >

It means:  Offering unwanted help or advice; meddlesome

Daily use:  Stop giving me your officious advice.  I can choose my own tie.

Memory trick: 

Officious

 Off (reminds of)  =  Back Off

icious (reminds of)  =  Vicious = Angry

Back Off + Angry  = Back off,  it is making me angry

Back off with your unwanted advice,  it is making me angry

Listen: Officious

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Obtuse

Pronounced:
< ob-toose >

It means: 
Dull thinking.  Slow to understand.

Daily use: 
You are very obtuse.  Perhaps I can find you a tutor.

Memory trick: 

obtuse

ob (reminds of) = object
t (will remind of) = to
use (reminds of) = use

we OBject To USE when we do not understand

Listen: Obtuse

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Obdurate

Pronounced:
< Ob-jer-rit >

(looks like rate, but is said like rite)

It means: 

 Not moved by pity.  Stubborn against good advice.

Daily use: 
The obdurate boss would not listen to our complaints.  We still had to work late.

Memory trick: 

obdurate

ob (reminds of)  =  object or refuse

dur (reminds of)  =  duration or forever

ate (reminds of)  =  ate or already eaten

I object forever to your words, I have already eaten my own words

I reject your advice forever,  I have my own.

Listen: Obdurate

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Protean

Pronounced:
 < pro-tee-ann > 

It means: 
Changing in shape or character.  Very variable.

Daily use: 
The emails are very protean.  Sometimes they are short, and sometimes they are long.

Memory trick: 

Protean

Pro (reminds of)  =  Pro or professional or very good

tean (reminds of)  =  teen or teenager or someone who is changing

Pro teen = very good at changing

Listen: Protean

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Propitious

Pronounced:
<pro-pish-us>

Convenient. Favorable. Kind

 

My use:
The weather today is propitious.  A sunny day is always good for a picnic.

 

Literary use:
By Bront
The dew fell, but with propitious softness; no breeze whispered.

 

Memory trick:
prop . it. ious

prop (reminds of) = proper or correct
it (reminds of) = it
ious (sounds like) = us
proper it is to us

 

Listen: Propitious

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