Word - 86

RECUSE \rih-KYOOZ\ verb

: to disqualify (oneself) as a judge in a particular case; broadly

: to remove (oneself) from participation to avoid a conflict of interest

Example sentence:
Because he was a frequent customer at the plaintiff's shop, the judge recused himself from the case.

Did you know?

"Recuse" is derived from the Anglo-French word "recuser," which comes from Latin "recusare," meaning "to refuse." English speakers began using "recuse" with the meaning "to refuse or reject" in the 14th century. By the 17th century, the term had acquired the meaning "to challenge or object to (a judge)." The current legal use of "recuse" as a term specifically meaning "to disqualify (oneself) as a judge" didn't come into frequent use until the mid-20th century. Broader applications soon followed from this sense -- you can now recuse yourself from such things as debates and decisions as well as court cases.

Word - 85

PRODIGY \PRAH-duh-jee\ noun

1 : something extraordinary : wonder

*2 : a highly talented child

Example sentence:
Musical audiences are fascinated by the prodigy, that rare and remarkable youngster who possesses technical mastery to rival that of the best adult performers.

Did you know?

Is a prodigy a genius or a monster -- or both? Nowadays, it's the talent that shines through, but back in the 15th century the word's meaning was more strongly influenced by that of its Latin ancestor, "prodigium," meaning "omen" or "monster." Back then, a prodigy could be any strange or weird thing that might be an omen of things to come. Even in modern English, the word sometimes refers to an extraordinary deed or accomplishment. P.G. Wodehouse used that sense when he described how a character named Pongo Twistleton was "performing prodigies with the [billiard] cue."