I was - gasp - wrong!

I misspelled the word. I think I am getting in too much of a hurry, or maybe we need input from someone else?
Anyway, it is desiccate - to dry thoroughly.
Sorry about that.
I think it would be fun to change this exercise up a little. I was thinking about putting up two or three words with the same root in them and looking for the meaning of the root. What do you think, anybody?

Scabrous and New Word

Yes! to Tammy. Scandalous OR having a rough surface. 10 points, I believe?

New word: dessicate

Solon and new word

Okay, 10 points to Hope. I stand corrected!

solon - wise lawgiver, legislator (in Athens many moons ago). I have seen it used currently as a dismissive word for a politician who thinks he is of the privileged and better-informed elite.

New word: scabrous - actually not too far from how it sounds.

Kerfuffle and New Word

PDG! Okay, spot on for Hope, as far as I am concerned. 5 points. Kerfuffle is commotion, disturbance, outburst. Tammy, sort of in the psychological ballpark with "confuse," but not really correct. Great try, though.

New Word: solon

Trope and Word #15

Metaphor is exactly right. 5 points to Tammy! 1 to Hope for an amusing and appealing sentence!

Word #15: kerfuffle

BTW, Georgia has a neat grammar and usage book and has threatened to contribute some words, mostly to embarrass me, which it will! But I would love if you all were to propose some words, too.

Word #14

How was that an insult? I was informed by a highly qualified advisor that atavistic is too technical a term (although I do believe it is used more broadly than that).

10 points to Hope, notwithstanding the stage-whispered editorial aside, for two correct answers and sentences. 5 points to Tammy for great sentences.

Word #14: trope

Atavistic and Word #12

OK, that wasn't even fair. No obvious root word in it (I just looked it up - it is Latin atavus, meaning ancestor - who knew?). Anyway, it means throwback, as in a physical characteristic, like if a baby is born with a tail.

BTW, you all are very brave to respond in print when the word is so impossible!

New words - same root, so I thought two related words would be fun and would increase the likelihood of decoding them.

anthropo-morph-ize and meta-morph-osis

Chrette and Word Play #11

6 demerits for me for not confirming the meaning of a word before submitting it. I was led to believe charette meant a chat. Turns out it is a highly specialized word having to do with planning an architectural project. At least it involves having a meeting and presumably a chat!

New word: atavistic

Cerberus & Word #10

5 points for Hope - mythic monster is correct. He was the three-headed dog guarding the gate to Hades in Greek mythology (remember the "treasure hunt" at your apartment before your cruise?). Also, good call, Hope. It should have been capitalized - a typo on my part - so your analysis was also good. Yay Hope (as we would say to Alison here with us!).

Word Play #10: charette

I just learned this one the other day.