Words at Work

Merriam-Webster asked its readers for their favourite words -- and here are the top 10. Test yourself by seeing if you can match them up with their definitions. (If you're not sure, look them up at dictionary.com.) The Words: 1. juxtapose (juk-stuh-POZE) 2. serendipity (ser-un-DIP-ih-tee) 3. discombobulate (dis-kum-BOB-yuh-late) 4. plethora (PLETH-uh-ruh) 5. persnickety (per-SNIK-ih-tee) 6. callipygian (kal-uh-PIJ-ee-un) 7. kerfuffle (ker-FUF-ul) 8. flibbertigibbet (FLIB-er-tee-jih-bit) 9. defenestration (dee-fen-ih-STRAY-shun) 10. onomatopoeia (on-uh-mat-uh-PEE-uh) The Definitions: a. throw into a state of confusion b. the act of throwing a person or thing out the window c. words that imitate the sound of the thing they represent d. having shapely buttocks e. place side by side f. making a fortunate discovery by accident g. fussy about small details h. superabundance i. become dishevelled j. a silly, scatterbrained person