i love this word but i find it hard to use in English. it's somewhat of an awkward adjective. perhaps because i'm not used to using it?

hrm. that could work. interesting evolution, none the less.

i think about this word every morning when i do my eyes. mascara. obviously it sounds like mask but I did a little online research and found this: "Actually, mascara `eyelash darkener,' which entered English in around 1890 in the form mascaro, comes from Spanish mascara `soot, stain, mask,' fro...

So happy to see my suggestion featured as a good word! I discovered this word a while ago and have been seeing it in the press more and more lately. It's quite descriptive!
- christine

defined as irritable or short-tempered; irascible.

apparently this word is Germanic, as shown below. i'd love to know how this word worked its way into English.

From dialectal snark, to nag, from snark, snork, to snore, snort, from Dutch and Low German snorken, of imitative origin.

- c

Main Entry: lithe Pronunciation: 'lI[th], 'lIth Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Old English lIthe gentle; akin to Old High German lindi gentle, Latin lentus slow 1 : easily bent or flexed <lithe steel> <a lithe vine> 2 : characterized by easy flexibility and grace <a lithe dancer...