Descriptionary

finesse n. (fin ESS) delicate skill. Some pitchers throw only fastballs, but others throw lots of differ­ent curves, relying more on finesse to strike batters out.

finite adj. (FIY NITE) limited. The earth contains only a finite amount of oil, and thus someday we'll be forced to develop an alternate energy source.

fission n. (FISH un) the splitting of the atom; a nuclear reaction. Fission is what makes an atomic bomb explode.

fixation n. (fix AY shun) a neurotic preoccupation or obsession. Some men have a fixation with blonds, while others go gaga over brunets.

flagrant adj. (FLAY grunt) glaring and outrageous. The star player was ejected from the game after com­mitting another flagrant foul.

flamboyant adj. (flam BOY unt) ostentatious; loud; showy. The flamboyant hostess caught everyone's attention the moment she entered a room.

fledgling n. (FLEJ ling) a beginner; a neophyte. She fell off her skates seventeen times, but she was, after all, just a fledgling.

flippant adj. (FLIP unt) disrespectful, irreverent. Any more flippant remarks from you and I'll ask you to leave.

flux n. (FLUKS) flow; constant flow or change. To keep production in flux, the assembly line must never be allowed to shut down.

foible n. (FOY bul) a minor weakness or fault. Nobody is perfect; we all have our foibles.

forlorn adj. (for LORN) hopelessly miserable.

After losing her job, she was forlorn for several weeks.

formidable adj. (FORM id uh bul) difficult to face, overcome, or measure up to; highly challenging. The champion's formidable opponent has won all of the matches he has boxed in.

forte n. (FOR tay) specialty; area of expertise. Everyone praises my roses and tomatoes, but that's no surprise; gardening is my forte.

fortitude n. (FOR tih tood) strength and courage, especially during a great challenge or difficulty. You need great fortitude to run a marathon.

fortuitous adj. (for TOO it us) occurring by chance or luck. Having an off-duty policeman just happen by as I was being mugged was fortuitous.

fraudulent adj. (FROD yoo lent) deceptive; dis­honest; illegal. Most of the swindler's wealth came through fraudulent means.

frugal adj. (FROO gul) thrifty; economical. The couple was so frugal, they were able to buy their first home with cash.

fruition n. (froo ISH un) completion and fulfill­ment, as the bearing of fruit. I brought my dreams to fruition the day I opened my own business.

furtive adj. (FUR tiv) secretive and sneaky. In a singles bar, men and women make numerous furtive glances at one another.

futile adj. (FYOOT ul) useless; in vain; producing no result. Our attempt at becoming rock stars was futile; we didn't even know how to play our instruments.