Word of the Day for Sunday, March 4, 2012
oracular \aw-RAK-yuh-ler\,
adjective:
1. Ambiguous; obscure.
2. Of the nature of, resembling, or suggesting an oracle.
3. Giving forth utterances or decisions as if by special inspiration or authority.
4. Uttered or delivered as if divinely inspired or infallible; sententious.
5. Portentous; ominous.
"If you want me to understand, you'll have to be less oracular," Daisy said, patience wearing thin.
-- Carola Dunn, "Mistletoe and Murder"
His demurrals, disclaimers, and protestations of ignorance were completely ineffective. Whatever guess he was finally strong-armed into hazarding was received as oracular.
-- Deborah Eisenberg, "Twilight of the Superheroes"
Oracular comes from the Latin word oracle, meaning "a message from god." The suffix -ar forms an adjective from a noun, like the word lunar.
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