English the great gatsby

twain

2 If you want an old-fashioned way to talk about two things, use the noun twain. You might lament that your pair of dogs was divided in twain when you had to give one of them away.

exchequer

(pay check) the funds of a government or institution or individual Exchequer is a British term for the individual in the government who is in charge of the money: the treasurer. Sometimes it refers to the office in which all the money is kept, the treasury itself.

levity

Jollity cheerfulness Joking that your dead grandmother "never looked better" could inject some levity, or frivolity, into her funeral, but your relatives might find your joke inappropriate to the occasion. Levity literally means "lightness," and it's often an attempt to inject some lightness or humor into an otherwise somber situation. Telling your Aunt Edna a joke while she recuperates from a skiing accident could provide the levity needed to brighten her mood. Yet levity is often used to describe humor that's not appropriate to the occasion, like telling your Aunt the joke, "Two corpses walk into a bar..." after her husband has just died.

Turbulent

Troubled Characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination Turbulent means chaotic, disordered, characterized by conflict. A time of war is a turbulent time for a country. If your family moves and your parents get divorced, you might call that a turbulent period in your history.

sedative

a drug that reduces excitability and calms a person tranquilizing A sedative is a drug that calms you down. If a patient is freaking out about getting an MRI or minor surgery, the doctor might prescribe a sedative to chill them out. A sedative is anything that makes you sedate — peaceful, calm, tranquil. In medicine, this word refers to drugs that relieve anxiety or tranquilizers that pretty much knock you out. But other non-pharmaceutical things can have sedative effects, like a soothing cup of tea or a relaxing glass of wine. The tryptophan in turkey is actually a natural sedative — that's why everyone is sleepy after Thanksgiving dinner!

solicitude

a feeling of excessive concern Solicitude is more-than-average concern for someone. When you're sick in bed, it's nice to have someone around to treat you with solicitude, hovering nearby, bringing you cups of tea, and handing you tissues all day.

supercilious

a jeering smile overbearing In this question, supercilious is an adjective that means expressive of contempt. Supercilious people think very highly of themselves, more highly than of others. If your sister tends to act snobby and superior, you can describe her as supercilious. You might expect Nobel Prize winners to be supercilious — after all, they've reached the very heights of their profession. But one-on-one, your famous physics professor might be humble and fun to talk to, anything but supercilious. Most often, it's people who have no right to be arrogant, rude, and holier-than-thou who behave in the most supercilious ways. The Latin root supercilium means "haughty demeanor," but also "eyebrow" — as in an eyebrow raised in a haughty, supercilious expression.

bellows

a mechanical device that blows a strong current of air A bellows is a bag-like device with handles that's used to blow air onto a fire to keep the flame burning. If you have a fireplace in your house, you might have a bellows too. The kind of bellows that provides extra oxygen to a dwindling fire is similar to other types of bellows: they all involve a bag of air. Various instruments use a bellows, to provide a constant flow of air. Accordions, some organs, and bagpipes all have this kind of bellows. In the 13th century, the word was belwes, literally "bags," from the Old English belg, "bag or purse."

hydroplane

a speedboat designed to skim over water at high speeds (vehicle) A hydroplane is an aircraft that's designed to land on water, or a boat that skims lightly across the water's surface. When you hydroplane, it's more likely to be in a car that's slipping on a wet road.

extemporize

ad lib improvise In this question, extemporize is a verb that means to perform or speak without preparation. In this question, extemporize is a verb that means to manage in a makeshift way; make do with whatever is at hand. To extemporize is to improvise, especially without preparation. When you extemporize, you're making it up as you go along. In some situations, you're prepared and know exactly what you're going to do. In others, you have to extemporize. A stand-up comedian who makes up jokes on the spot is extemporizing. If a football play breaks down, the quarterback has to scramble and extemporize by coming up with a new play. A public speaker who throws away notes and takes questions is extemporizing. Jazz musicians often extemporize. When you extemporize, even you're not sure what you might end up doing.

elation

an exhilarating psychological state of pride and optimism a feeling of joy and pride depression: opposite If you experience sudden very high spirits, possibly even a feeling of lightness, you are feeling great elation. Elation is more than mere happiness — it is extreme, exhilarating joy. It has a sense of rising or expanding, even to the point of light-headedness. To help remember it, think of the (unrelated) word inflation, which has a similar sound. When you inflate a tire, you pump it up. When you are filled with elation, you are also, in a sense, "pumped up."

intimation

an indirect suggestion The noun intimation means a hint or an indirect suggestion. Your teacher's intimation that there could be a quiz the next day might send you into a panic, while your friend sitting beside you might not even notice. Intimation comes from the Latin word intimationem, which means an announcement. In English, intimation refers to a less direct form of communication. It's a suggestion or hint, rather than a blatant statement of fact. Your first intimation that your brother had a girlfriend was the amount of time he spent whispering into the phone. The second intimation was when he asked your parents for money for two movie tickets.

stock

ancestry In this question, stock is a noun that means the descendants of one individual. Stock is collective noun for the stuff a store or a company has to sell, be it toilet paper, automobiles or clothing. Many stores close once a year for a few days to do an inventory of their stock.

asunder

apart (under) In this question, asunder is an adverb that means into parts or pieces. Asunder is an adverb that means "into separate pieces." So if you've torn your ex's love letter asunder, you've forcefully ripped it into separate pieces — and rightly so.

hauteur

arrogance (hate) overbearing pride with a superior manner toward inferiors Hauteur is an obnoxious display of overbearing pride and superiority over others. Rather than showing humility and respect, a bad king might act with hauteur toward his subjects.

impute

assign In this question, impute is a verb that means to attribute or credit to. The verb impute can be used to blame someone for doing something bad, give credit for good work, or just tell it like it is, like when you impute your lateness to my not telling you where to meet me. When you impute something, you name the cause of something that has happened. For example, you might impute your ability to sing well to the thousands of dollars your parents spent in voice lessons. In other words, you name the source. You can also impute a person, like imputing to a teacher your love of learning — he or she helped you become more interested in school and your classes.

garret

attic (gabinete) A garret is a room at the very top of a house, just underneath the roof. If you don't have enough money to rent a proper room, you might be able to rent a garret.

ravage

destruction (rabia) The word ravage can be used as a noun or a verb meaning destruction or to destroy. In a war, bombs and the attacking army will ravage the country under siege. When ravage is used as a noun, you usually see it in the plural. Beware of the ravages of drugs on your body and your life. The city has almost been destroyed by the ravages of poverty and disaster. Often you see it paired with the word, time, to describe how things fall apart as they age. The ravages of time may be apparent in the lined faces and hunched postures of your grandparents.

permeate

diffuse, pervade (penetrate, permitir come in, ) When you live in a big city like New York, you know all too well how the smells of spices and cooking meats can permeate a hallway, easily passing through those thin apartment doors to make your mouth water.

staid

dignified, stuffy, conventional In this question, staid is an adjective that means characterized by dignity and propriety. Something that is staid is dignified, respectable — possibly even boring, like a staid dinner party that is heavy on the important guests but light on the laughs. Staid is pronounced just like "stayed" — in fact, it comes from stay, meaning "fixed" or "permanent." Something that is staid is sedate, slightly dull, and tends to stay the same. Whether it's a middle-class lifestyle, a conservative law firm, your unadventurous aunt, or an old navy plaid sofa, the word staid can be used to describe anything that maintains a respectable self-restraint and takes no chances.

dissension

disagreement (tension) a conflict of people's opinions or actions or characters You can use the noun dissension for situations where people just can't agree or get along. There is often dissension between labor unions and governments vying for funds, or even between siblings — vying for attention.

contemptuous

disdainful: (showing contempt or lack of respect.) In this question, contemptuous is an adjective that means expressing extreme scorn. If you insult someone or dismiss them in a hateful way, you're being contemptuous. The difference between being hateful and contemptuous is subtle. It involves disdain. Being contemptuous of someone or something means that you're combining a deep dislike for them with condescension. To insult someone is a good way of showing contempt, i.e., of being contemptuous. "You disgust me," is one of the simplest and most contemptuous things you can say to someone. "You're stupid," is another. If you can think of something that both hurts a person and suggests that you're looking down on them, you've come up with a contemptuous thing to say.

discordant

disharmonious, dissenting (different opinion) (conflict disagreements, desacuerdo, sounds) In this question, discordant is an adjective that means lacking in harmony. If you believe that movies should entertain, but your friend insists that movies should inspire, then the two of you hold discordant views on the purpose of movies. That means your opinions are in conflict. You can see the word discord in discordant. Discord is tension felt between people who strongly disagree about something. So discordant describes experiencing discord, a lack of harmony. A discordant conversation at your dinner table may make some people upset — they want everyone to get along. Discordant can also describe harsh and unpleasant sounds, like the blaring horns in city traffic.

fractious

disobedient opposite: obedient stubbornly resistant to authority or control In this question, fractious is an adjective that means stubbornly resistant to authority or control. If you're prone to picking fights, making snarky comments, and being frustratingly stubborn, you're fractious. And odds are you're not invited to too many parties. Someone who is fractious is cranky, rebellious and inclined to cause problems. Tempers and children are commonly described as such. In To Kill A Mockingbird, author Harper Lee uses the word to describe the trouble-making Calpurnia: "She had always been too hard on me, she had at last seen the error of her fractious ways, she was sorry and too stubborn to say so."

solemn

earnest: resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction. grave characterized by a firm belief in your opinions (formal, serious, sincere) If you've ever attended a funeral, you were probably struck by how quiet, earnest, and solemn the mood was. You can use the word solemn to describe anything that's really serious and dignified. The adjective solemn comes from the Latin sollemnis, which means formal or ceremonial. You can still use it to describe a ceremony or event, but it's also a good word for talking about someone who's serious and sincere and maybe lacks a sense of humor about certain things. Here's a trick for remembering it: Think of a "sole man," a serious guy standing alone at a party talking to no one.

corpulent

excessively fat (cuerpo) Corpulent is a formal word that describes someone who is very overweight. You might describe Santa Claus as a corpulent man with a ruddy complexion and a jolly grin. There are certainly many other ways to describe an overweight person: obese, portly, and stout are only a few. Corpulent is from Latin corpulentus, from corpus "body." The Latin suffix -ulentus, corresponding to English -ulent, has the meaning "full of, having in quantity."

oculist

eye doctor People who lived in previous centuries who had trouble seeing street signs, reading small print, or suddenly had horrible eye pain, would have visited an oculist. This was a doctor who dealt with eye disorders.

impassioned

fervent, ardent In this question, impassioned is an adjective that means characterized by intense emotion. If something is impassioned it's filled with or demonstrating intense emotion. Anything can be impassioned — speech, a play, a conversation, a novel, or even you. Impassioned comes from the Latin word passionem, meaning "suffering or enduring," and originally referred to the suffering of Christ on the cross, known as "The Passion." In other words, impassioned had a sense of trauma and anguish associated with it and only later did it come to describe happier feelings as well. Whatever the emotional feeling behind impassioned, it's still a word that suggests profound feeling and sincerity on behalf of the user.

privy

informed about something secret or not generally known informed If you're privy to something, you've been let in on a secret or know about something that most people don't. Not many people are privy to what those top secret documents are all about, for example. The adjective privy comes from the Latin privatus, meaning "private," and describes someone who has knowledge of secret or confidential information. But watch out: If you use privy as a noun, it can mean "outhouse" or "toilet," which actually might be a good place to hide your diary if you don't want anyone else to be privy to its contents.

innuendo

insinuation (indirecta) In this question, innuendo is a noun that means an indirect and usually malicious implication. Speaking in innuendo is when you say something indirectly — often of a hurtful or sexual nature. Innuendo in Latin means "to point to" or "nod to." When you refer to something indirectly, you point at it without mentioning it, making an innuendo. If your friend who recently stopped speaking to you glares at you across a room as she says to someone else, "I would never lie to someone I called a friend," she's making an innuendo. Without accusing you directly, she's saying she thinks you lied.

tortuous

knotty, twisting, complex In this question, tortuous is an adjective that means highly complex or intricate and occasionally devious. Tortuous means twisting or complicated. "James Bond drove up a mountain road that was tortuous in its twists and turns. He had to stop the evil madman's plan for world domination, a plan so tortuous that even 007 himself could not understand it."

scorn

lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike contempt (the feeling that a person or a thing is worthless or beneath consideration.) Scorn is open disrespect for someone or something. It can also be disrespect coupled with feelings of intense dislike. The noun scorn describes your feelings of disdain when you encounter something you view as worthless or inferior — like, for instance, a talk show that gets all its facts wrong. Use the verb form for those times when you're actively expressing scorn. You might scorn a politician who spends $100,000 on travel while claiming to work hard promoting middle-class values.

jaunty

lively, cheerful In this question, jaunty is an adjective that means having a cheerful, lively, and self-confident air. Jaunty combines ideas such as cheerful, spiffy, upbeat, and natty into one delightfully economical adjective that means all of those things at once! A jaunty hat is one that's stylish and cheerful at the same time, a quality that can be accentuated if the person wears it in a jaunty fashion, perhaps off to the side or over one eye. Playing the part of a jaunty person is easy if you're feeling upbeat and chipper and want the world to know it. Elves are often jaunty in their own way. Sporting their spiffy outfits and featuring that trademark cheerful spring in their step. The fact they always seem so lively and eager to chat only increases the jaunty impression they make. One can't be blamed for wanting to take a jaunt with the jaunty little guys.

feign

make a pretence of stimulate (in way of faking) For a more formal way to say pretend to or imitate, choose the verb feign. You might feign indifference when you hear about some gossip, but you're probably dying to know. Feign comes from the Latin fingere "to devise, fabricate." The word fiction comes from the same source, so if you feign something such as sleep, you give off the fiction that you are sleeping. This can be done to be polite but also to deceive such as when you feign an injury or the flu so you can stay home from school or work. You can also feign an accent, though some are better at this than others.

affectation

mannerism (fake) In this question, affectation is a noun that means a deliberate pretense or exaggerated display. The guy at your local coffee shop who's never left the state but speaks as though he's lived in London all his life? His British accent is an affectation.

gaudy

marked by conspicuous display, colorful (oh God, glaring) Something that's gaudy is showy, bright and definitely tacky. So think twice about that gaudy rainbow-colored suit and shiny gold shoes ensemble.

echolalia

mechanical and meaningless repetition of another's words (echo) The repetition of other people's words or sounds is echolalia. When the toddler you babysit repeats everything you say, over and over again, you can call it "annoying," or you can call it echolalia. Echolalia is a psychiatric term that's used to describe what some people with mental disorders or autism tend to do, automatically repeat what they hear other people say.

curate

minister (cura) In this question, curate is a noun that means a person authorized to conduct religious worship. A curate is a person who conducts worship for a parish. If you've ever heard a minister lead a church service, then you've witnessed a curate at work.

deft

most likely a magician, adroit (define, delicate) In this question, deft is an adjective that means skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands. Deft means "showing cleverness and skill in handling things." What you want to see in football or basketball is some deft handling of the ball. Some people are physically deft, like accomplished athletes and ballet dancers. Their movements are fast, graceful, and deliberate. Others might be mentally or intellectually deft. You could describe a beautifully written essay as deft, or talk about a politician's deft work on an anti-bullying bill. The source of deft is the Old English gedæfte, "mild or gentle," which became deft in Middle English along with its meaning of "apt, skillful, or adept."

deplorable

pitiful, sorry In this question, deplorable is an adjective that means bad; unfortunate. Deplorable is an adjective used to describe something extremely bad or unfortunate, like the deplorable destruction and loss of life in Japan after the earthquake and tsunami.

libel

print slanderous statements against a false and malicious publication Libel is the act of publishing a statement about someone that is not true and that gives a bad impression about the person. Libel is usually contrasted with slander, which refers to a spoken statement that is not true. Both libel and slander are used in legal contexts. In Middle English, libel referred to a written declaration, from Anglo-French, from Latin libellus, from liber "book."

epigram

quip In this question, epigram is a noun that means a witty saying. (funny and short) An epigram is a short, clever remark. One of Oscar Wilde's many memorable epigrams is "I can resist everything but temptation." Epigram comes from the Latin word epigramma, which means "an inscription." If you've ever seen an inscription on, say, the back of a watch, you know the writing has to be brief. It won't surprise you, then, that epigrams are very short poems, sayings, or famous quotations, like Benjamin Franklin's "Little strokes fell great oaks," a memorable reminder to keep working toward big goals or to pay attention to little details, the opposite of an epigram from our era: "Don't sweat the small stuff."

urbane

refined (urban setting) In this question, urbane is an adjective that means showing a high degree of refinement. Urbane people are sophisticated, polished, cultured, refined. Spend enough time in an urban setting--going to concerts and museums, spending time in crowds--and you'll be urbane too.

reserved

restrained marked by self-restraint and reticence If you're reserved, you're the opposite of a loudmouth or a cut-up: you're polite, you have a lot of self-control, and you don't show your feelings. Reserved can also mean "set aside." If your seats at a concert are reserved, that means they're saved for you. If there aren't any reserved seats — if it's all general admission — you should get there early to get a good seat.

discreet

restrained, circumspect (unwilling to take risks) In this question, discreet is an adjective that means marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint. Discreet describes someone or something that is appropriately quiet, prudent, and restrained. If you are wearing a discreet gray suit, it is unlikely that anyone at that business meeting will notice you.

tumultuous

riotous, disorder In this question, tumultuous is an adjective that means characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination. You might hear the adjective tumultuous in news stories about riots because it's one of the best words to describe a group of people in turmoil or disorder, but it can mean anything in a state of unrest. For example, you might steer your boat into a safe harbor before a heavy storm, so the tumultuous waves won't sweep you onto the rocks.

immoderate

unrestrained (immoderate drinking) In this question, immoderate is an adjective that means beyond reasonable limits. Something that goes way overboard or is excessive is immoderate. Immoderate exercise can lead to pulled muscles and sprains. If someone's behavior is unreasonable or extreme, you can call it immoderate. Immoderate is the opposite of the adjective moderate, which means calm or restrained.

strident

vociferous, grating In this question, strident is an adjective that means conspicuously and offensively loud. Something that's strident is loud, grating, and obnoxious. Your roommate's strident laughter as he watches cartoons late into the night might inspire you to buy a pair of ear plugs. Strident is related to the Latin word strix , meaning "screech owl." This is a kind of owl that doesn't hoot. It screeches in a strident way. Strident can also describe the forceful expression of an unpopular opinion. Don't confuse strident with striding, which means walking quickly with a wide step. If you're angry at your brother, you might come striding into his room and begin making a strident case for why he has done you wrong.

eddy

vortex In this question, eddy is a noun that means a miniature whirlpool or whirlwind. An eddy is a whirlpool — what you stare at as a kid when the water is draining out of the bathtub. Pronounced exactly like the name, "Eddie," this word means to swirl in a direction opposite of the current. Any substance like water, fog, smoke, or air can create an eddy, but it is most commonly seen as a term related to water. Books from the "flapper" era of the 1920s often include a description of a nightclub with "an eddy of cigarette smoke above a woman's head."

cordial

warm In this question, cordial is an adjective that means politely warm and friendly. If you like someone but you wouldn't say they're your friend, you might describe your relationship as cordial. Use cordial to describe a greeting or relationship that is friendly and sincere.

tolerance

willingness to respect the beliefs or practices of others a disposition to allow freedom of choice and behavior When you practice tolerance, you accept another's ideas and beliefs. If you respect someone's opinions — even if you disagree or find them nonsensical — you display tolerance. The noun tolerance, which stems from the Latin for "endurance," also refers to an organism's ability to stand or handle a difficult environmental condition. If you build up a tolerance, you can handle large amounts of something (from medicine to psychological abuse) without being too strongly affected. We usually use the word to refer to our need to accept others, as suggested by John F. Kennedy when he said, "Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others."

languid

without energy, lazy (long, langaruto, lazy) In this question, languid is an adjective that means lacking spirit or liveliness. Describe a slow-moving river or a weak breeze or a listless manner with the slightly poetic adjective, languid. Languid comes from the Latin verb, languere "to be weak or faint" and is a somewhat literary word for something that doesn't use much energy.

caterwaul

yowl (cat) In this question, caterwaul is a verb that means to make a shrill and unpleasant screeching sound. A caterwaul is a yowl, shriek, or loud cry. If you've ever heard two cats fighting, you know what a caterwaul sounds like. While a caterwaul can be made by a person, it's more likely the wailing sound that a distressed or fighting animal makes. To make this sound is to caterwaul — it's both a noun and verb. Cats are, in fact, the animal best known to caterwaul, and the word is believed to come from the German caterwauling, "cry like a cat," or possibly the Middle Dutch cater, "tomcat," and Middle English waul, "yowl."

If a fair maiden told a knight she would marry him ANON, what would the knight most likely do?

Be glad his proposal was accepted In this question, anon is an adverb that means (old-fashioned or informal) in a little while. (soon, shortly) Although the word anon sounds old (it is, it is!), it can still be used today to indicate "soon." If you say, "I hear you calling and I will come anon," the person calling you might still be impatient, but they'll be impressed. The word anon can be found as early as the 11th Century, with the Old English word āne meaning "in one," or "right away." The word is considered archaic, and sounds a little pretentious when used today. It fits much better in older literature such as works by Shakespeare. For example, in Romeo and Juliet, Juliet's nurse calls her just as the girl is bidding goodbye to Romeo, and she keeps putting the Nurse off by saying, "I come anon."

aver

In this question, aver is a verb that means to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true. To aver is to state something or declare something is true. This verb has a serious tone, so you might aver something on a witness stand or you might aver that you won't back down to a challenge.

boatswain

In this question, boatswain is a noun that means a petty officer on a merchant ship. A boatswain is a petty officer on a ship. The boatswain supervises the crew.

stint

In this question, stint is a noun that means an unbroken period of time during which you do something. The noun stint means a set amount of time in which you do something — often work of some sort. "She served a stint in the army, followed by a stint in an office setting, before settling on a career as a lounge singer."

peremptory

autocratic: (relating to a ruler who has absolute power. taking no account of other people's wishes or opinions; domineering.) offensively self-assured or exercising unwarranted power opposite: humble Peremptory comments are like orders. If you say something in a peremptory manner, you want people to stop what they're doing and do what you say. Peremptory comments put an end to a discussion, and that's final! The word peremptory comes from the Latin peremptorius for "decisive, final." Trace it further and find that peremptor means "destroyer," from perimpere for "destroy, cut off." Basically, peremptory commands destroy the conversation. They are given with an air of authority, and they are often barked. In the courtroom, peremptory orders are not open to appeal; they're final. Outside of the courtroom, a peremptory manner is just plain rude.

effects

belongings In this question, effects is a noun that means property of a personal character that is portable. Effects are portable personal property not used for business. We most often hear this word in reference to one's "personal effects." The noun effects was first used in 1704 to mean "goods and property." It's your personal stuff, like keys, fine china collection, watch, car, or earrings. "Personal effects" is a phrase often associated with a last will and testament, when someone bequeaths certain items (or items in general) to someone else, but it can also refer to the belongings you remove from your pockets and fork over when you go to jail (which you'll then get back when you leave).

conceit

braggar, vain, self-regard In this question, conceit is a noun that means the trait of being unduly vain. If you're always boasting and can't stop talking about yourself, you have that character flaw known as conceit. Your friends — if you have any — may also complain about your arrogance, vanity, and egotism.

hardy

brave unfearing In this question, hardy is an adjective that means invulnerable to fear or intimidation. Hardy means tough--if you're hardy, you don't get tired easily and can endure hardship. People who don't catch cold often attribute this fact to their coming from hardy farming stock. Before 1200, hardy indicated boldness and daring in battle and was probably influenced by hard. Warriors are hardy: they're brave and strong and don't easily tire. Plants and animals can also be hardy if they can survive harsh weather or poor growing conditions. When planting a lawn, you should pick hardy species of grass, which will survive droughts and come back after long, cold winters.

epithet

characteristic, description In this question, epithet is a noun that means descriptive word or phrase. The noun epithet is a descriptive nickname, such as "Richard the Lionhearted," or "Tommy the Terrible." When it takes a turn for the worse, it can also be a word or phrase that offends.

riotous

characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination produced or growing in extreme abundance Anything riotous is disorderly, chaotic, and loud. Riotous things can also be abundant. Since a riot is a disturbance where people get out of control and become violent, riotous things are also loud, disruptive, and out of hand. If everyone in class speaks at once to answer a question, that's a riotous response. Chaos is always riotous. The opposite of riotous would be calm, civilized, and peaceful. Also, you can say that lush, abundant things are riotous. If an apple tree is producing an unusually large amount of apples, it's riotous.

dragoon

coerce dragoon is a verb that means to compel by coercion, threats, or crude means. (dragon force) These days, you're most likely to hear dragoon used as a verb meaning "force someone to do something," like the way your best friend dragooned you into volunteering for the prom committee. Long ago, dragoons were soldiers who rode horses into battle and were trained to fight either on foot or on horseback.

compel

coerce: (persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by using force or threats.) force somebody to do something In this question, compel is a verb that means to force somebody to do something. Compel means to force or drive someone to do something. Even if you don't like toast, when you visit the toast-eating natives of Shrintakook Island, you'll be compelled to eat it, or they will not trust you. You don't want to be compelled to go to a classical music concert if you'd rather listen to rap. School officials might be upset if a winter storm compels them to cancel classes, but you'd be okay with that. A compelling mystery forces you to pay attention because you want to find out "whodunit."

Reproach

criticism The verb reproach means to express disapproval or criticism of; as a noun it means blame or criticism. If you are beyond reproach that means no one could find anything to criticize about you. Synonyms for reproach are the verbs admonish, reprove, rebuke, reprimand. As a noun, reproach can also be shame. If you are caught lying, it is a reproach that might bother you for a while.

mincing

dainty or refined (for show, annoying?) Mincing is an adjective that describes someone who is being especially dainty or refined. The voices of older women who speak as though they're young girls can be described as mincing.

rakish

dashing, dapper, charming, flashy, immoral (tacky cringy) In this question, rakish is an adjective that means marked by up-to-dateness in dress and manners. Ladies, the rakish fellow you met last night with the suave dance moves, smoothly rehearsed lines, and your number listed as "Goddess #14" in his phone is fine for a flirt, but probably isn't meet-the-parents material. Used as an adjective to describe a dashing ladies' man or a streamlined ship, rakish comes from the fusing of rake + -ish. Don Juan, the famous Spanish nobleman immortalized in 17th century Spanish tales, is the epitome of rakish: stylishly handsome and prone to saucy, fast behavior. Synonyms include charming, flashy, and immoral.

appellation

denomination (apellido) In this question, appellation is a noun that means identifying words by which someone or something is called. Appellation means the name or title by which someone is known. Mark Twain is the famous appellation by which everyone remembers author and humorist Samuel Clemens.

vehement

fierce marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions (viejo - angry) You can use the adjective vehement to describe an extremely strong, powerful, or intense emotion or force. The teenager argued for a much later curfew in a vehement speech to her parents; her parents responded with an equally vehement "No way!" Vehement is from Latin and was originally applied to intense natural phenomena: pain, heat, wind, etc. It is now more commonly used for intense emotions or beliefs. With the adverb form, people can be vehemently in favor of something, but the more common usage is for people to be vehemently opposed to something. Many people, for example, are vehemently opposed to politicians they didn't vote for, other people spoiling the endings of movies or books, or someone else taking the last piece of chocolate. The stress is on the first syllable (VEE-uh-ment).

execrate

find repugnant Just when you thought you knew every word in the book for hate, here's a new one: execrate. The word means to despise or also to curse.

evince

give expression to (evidence) The verb evince means to show or express clearly or to make plain. Evidence can evince the innocence of the accused, and tears can evince the grief of mourning.

prelate

high priest In this question, prelate is a noun that means a senior clergyman and dignitary. A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy, such as a cardinal, abbot, or bishop, who has authority over lesser clergy. Both Catholic and Protestant religions have prelates in their ranks.

subdued

in a softened tone soft (subtract) The adjective subdued refers to something, like a sound, that has a lowered intensity. Your loud conversation with a friend in the back of the classroom is likely to become subdued when the teacher passes out the exams. The word subdued is related to the Latin word, subdere, which means "to subtract from." Something that is subdued has lost some of its strength or intensity. Subdued lighting might create a romantic mood at a restaurant. And a subdued child is one who is no longer having a fit. A subdued economy is probably pretty sluggish.

fain

in a willing manner The old-fashioned adverb fain describes the manner of gladly or willingly doing something. You would fain have stayed home, but you had to venture out in the rain.

apathetic

indifferent (no empathy) In this question, apathetic is an adjective that means marked by a lack of interest. Apathetic is an adjective that describes the feeling of being bored with what's going on around you. If you don't care one way or another, you're apathetic.

reciprocal

mutual, inverse In this question, reciprocal is an adjective that means concerning each of two or more persons or things. Reciprocal describes something that's the same on both sides. If you and your sister are in a big fight on a long car trip, you might resolve it through a reciprocal agreement that you'll stop poking her and she'll stop reading road signs out loud. The word mutual is a near synonym in most uses: reciprocal/mutual friendship, describing, a relationship in which two people feel the same way about each other, or do or give similar things to each other. If you tell someone you like them and they say, "The feelings are reciprocal," that means they like you too. In math, a reciprocal is a number that when multiplied by a given number gives one as a product.

enjoin

order In this question, enjoin is a verb that means to give instructions to or direct somebody to do something. To enjoin is to issue an urgent and official order. If the government tells loggers to stop cutting down trees, they are enjoining the loggers to stop.

convivial

outgoing, sociable In this question, convivial is an adjective that means occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company. Use the adjective convivial to describe your friend who is "the life of the party." The Latin word convivium means "a feast," and when convivial was first coined in the 1660s, its meaning related to the excess of food and drink during such celebrations. You can also see convivial in convivere, meaning "to carouse together." Just when it seemed all convivial could ever do was describe people who overindulge, a new shade of meaning emerged: loving to be around people. After all, a big part of feasting is being with people you care about.

wan

pallid a child who has the flu In this question, wan is an adjective that means deficient in color suggesting physical or emotional distress. Someone who is wan is visibly unwell and lacking in energy. If you've had the flu for over a week, and you finally get out of bed looking pale and tired, your mother might say that you look wan. When your aunt comes to dinner and eats three helpings of dessert, she might seem a little wan as she drinks her tea, meaning she looks sickly and weak — and no wonder, after so many slices of pie! Wan can also describe a fading light — one that is sickly and weak, just like your aunt. When the light bulb in the living room burns out and leaves only wan twilight filtering in, you'll find it impossible to read.

palpate

palpate the abdomen In this question, palpate is a verb that means to examine (a body part) by tactual exploration. To palpate is to examine with the hands, by pressing. Your doctor might palpate your abdomen if you have a pain in your stomach. You're most likely to come across the verb palpate in a doctor's office or another medical context. A veterinarian will palpate a limping dog to feel for broken bones or tight muscles, and it's common for a doctor to palpate the glands in your neck during a routine exam. The Latin root word is palpatus, which means "to touch."

wistful

pensive: In this question, wistful is an adjective that means showing pensive sadness. a homesick poet Only one letter separates the two words, but "wishful" is having hope for something, and wistful is having sadness or melancholy about something. "Wist" isn't even a word that's used anymore, but you can still be wistful. People who appear wistful often show a longing for something or a look of serious reflection. One way to describe the adjective wistful is as the sad appearance of someone looking back and thinking "if only..." A thoughtful or pensive mood centered on something good in the past that is missed or something not so good in the present that could have been better "if only" something had gone differently — these things make for a wistful outlook.

suppliant

petitioner In this question, suppliant is a noun that means one praying humbly for something. (suplicar) A suppliant is someone who begs or prays for something, and to be suppliant is to humbly pray or ask for forgiveness. Puppy-dog eyes can help if you're trying to look suppliant. Like the related word supplicant, suppliant has do with praying in a humble manner. A suppliant student in the principal's office is going to have better luck avoiding detention than a disrespectful one. Suppliant is not a word you hear much these days — it was tailor-made to be used in the days when people spent much of their lives on their knees in big stone buildings begging for things from monarchs or from God.

complacency

smugness: (excessive pride in oneself or one's achievements.) In this question, complacency is a noun that means the feeling you have when you are satisfied with yourself. (complacido?) (almost never used in a good way - mainly to make fun/show off) The word complacency is often hurled, in a rather scornful manner, at people who are unwilling to be political. It connotes a sense of ease and contentment with the status quo. It is a rare thing to hear the word complacency used in a purely positive way; there's always a sense of scolding to it. At best it's used to convey a person's satisfaction: "Oh? No one asked you to the prom? I've been asked three times," she said with complacency. More commonly, however, it takes on a political tone, as with large bodies of people who are unwilling to protest corruption because it doesn't touch them: "He preached and argued, but it was impossible to jostle the students from their complacency."

firmament

sphere In this question, firmament is a noun that means the sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected. The firmament is the curve of the sky, especially if you imagine it as a solid surface. You can describe the sky at night as a firmament shining with stars (if you're feeling poetic).

stringent

strict In this question, stringent is an adjective that means demanding strict attention to rules and procedures.

pique

temper, anger outburst of anger The verb pique means to make someone angry or annoyed. But when something piques your interest or curiosity, here the verb pique just means to arouse, stimulate, or excite.

metaphysics

the nature of existence In this question, metaphysics is a noun that means the philosophical study of being and knowing. Metaphysics is the philosophical study of being and knowing. If you have ever contemplated your own existence in the universe, you were dabbling in metaphysics. Metaphysics comes from the Greek meta ta physika ("the works after the Physics"), which refers those of Aristotle's writings that followed the natural sciences. This field of inquiry was later understood as "the science of things transcending what is physical and natural," like the existence of god or the origin of human knowledge. Metaphysics must therefore rely on philosophical logic, rather than scientific experiments, in exploring these questions.

prodigality

the trait of spending extravagantly Prodigality is excessive or extravagant spending. Your friend may feel he needs those gold chairs for his living room, but to everyone else it's another example of his prodigality. Synonyms for prodigality include extravagance, profligacy, and lavishness.

vacuous

unintelligent, asinine (vacio) Reserved for the harmlessly stupid and truly meaningless, vacuous is a smart-sounding way to describe something dumb. Celebrity gossip and reality TV are usually pretty vacuous, even if they're fun. If someone smiles at you in a way that seems fake or empty, you could describe the smile as vacuous. An example of a vacuous comment would be a politician promising to make things better without explaining how. If something is vacuous, it's like a vacuum — hollow, empty, devoid of substance.

unobtrusive

unnoticeable not undesirably noticeable Use the adjective unobtrusive to describe something that doesn't attract much attention, like an unobtrusive waiter who doesn't interrupt diners to rattle off the nightly specials, or an unobtrusive stain on the floor that your parents haven't noticed. When you need to blend in, look to the word unobtrusive, which is pronounced "un-ob-TROO-sive." Unobtrusive can describe anyone — or anything — that is not very noticeable, such as the unobtrusive black parka that makes you look more or less like everyone else on the city streets in winter, or the unobtrusive security cameras at your bank.