Sophisticated words

Megalomartyr

Great Martyr

Irreducible

Impossible to transform into or restore to a simpler condition

intertwingularity (in-ter-TWING-yoo-lar-i-tee)

Intertwingularity is a term coined by Ted Nelson to express the complexity of interrelations in human knowledge.

eunoia (yoo-NOH-ee-ah)

It comes from a Greek word meaning "well mind" or "beautiful thinking." It is also a rarely used medical term referring to a state of normal mental health. In rhetoric, eunoia is the goodwill a speaker cultivates between himself and his audience, a condition of receptivity. In book eight of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle uses the term to refer to the kind and benevolent feelings of goodwill a spouse has which form the basis for the ethical foundation of human life. (from Wikipedia)

pataflafla (PAT-ah-flah-flah)

a four-note pattern with flams on the first and last notes

hobbledehoy (HOB-el-dee-hoi)

a gawky adolescent boy

poltergeist (POL-ter-gist)

a ghost that manifests itself by noises, rappings, and the creation of disorder

Archipelago

a group of many islands in a large body of water

Yamen

a high official

majuscule (mah-JUS-kyool)

a large letter, either capital or uncial, used in writing or printing.

mendacity (men-DAS-i-tee)

a lie; falsehood

Cerulean

a light shade of blue

isocheim (I-so-kime)

a line connecting places on the earth having the same mean winter temperature

Clang

a loud resonant repeating noise

paramour (PAR-ah-moor)

a lover, especially one in an adulterous relationship

Corinthian

a man devoted to the pursuit of pleasure

cuckold (KUK-old)

a man married to an unfaithful wife.

tuxedo (tuk-SEE-doe)

a man's dress jacket, usually black with satin and grosgrain lapels, worn for formal or semiformal occasions

Expedient

a means to an end; advantageous, useful

Hokum

a message that seems to convey no meaning

frisson (free-SOHN)

a moment of intense excitement; a shudder

phobophobia (fo-bah-FO-bee-ah)

a morbid dread or fear of developing a phobia

Disposition

a natural or acquired habit or characteristic tendency in a person or thing

plutomania (ploo-toh-MAY-nee-ah)

a passion or craving for wealth, obsession with money; delusion that one is wealthy

idiosyncrasy (id-ee-oh-SING-krah-see)

a peculiarity of physical or mental constitution or temperament; a characteristic belonging to, and distinguishing, an individual

octogenarian (ok-tah-jah-NAR-ee-an)

a person between 80 and 90 years of age.

polymath (POL-ee-math)

a person of great or varied learning

Gimpy

a person who limps; lame person

threnody (THREN-ah-dee)

a poem or song of mourning or lamentation

cusp (KUSP)

a point or pointed end. 2. a pointed or rounded projection on the chewing surface of a tooth; a triangular fold or flap of a 1. heart valve. 3. a point at which a curve crosses itself and at which the two tangents to the curve coincide. 4. the point of intersection of two ornamental arcs or curves, such as the inner points of a trefoil. 5. either point of a crescent moon. 6. a transitional point or time, as between two astrological signs.

Pinochle

a popular card game played by two, three, or four persons, with a 48-card deck

orison (OR-i-sen)

a prayer

Marmalade

a preserve made of the pulp and rind of citrus fruits

metanoia (MET-ah-noi-ah)

a profound, usually spiritual, transformation; a conversion or awakening.

merkin (MUR-kin)

a pubic wig for women

termagant (TUR-mah-gent)

a quarrelsome, scolding woman; a shrew

tatterdemalion (tat-er-di-MAL-yen)

a ragamuffin

Fusillade

a rapid outburst or barrage

rapscallion (rap-SKAL-yen)

a rascal; a scamp

Swashbuckler

a reckless impetuous irresponsible person

Umbra

a region of complete shadow resulting from total obstruction of light

Contrary

a relation of direct opposition

panacea (pan-ah-SEE-ah)

a remedy for all diseases, evils, or difficulties; a cure-all

oxymoron (ok-see-MOR-on)

a rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in "a deafening silence" and "a mournful optimist"

borborygmus (bor-bah-RIG-mes)

a rumbling noise produced by the movement of gas through the intestines

cicatrix (SIK-ah-triks)

a scar left by the formation of new connective tissue over a healing sore or wound

sycophant (SIK-ah-fant)

a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite.

dollop (DOL-op)

a shapeless mass or blob of something

Sanctuary

a shelter from danger or hardship

valetudinarian (val-i-tood-en-AR-ee-en)

a sickly or weak person, especially one who is constantly and morbidly concerned with his or her health

flibbertigibbet (FLIB-er-tee-jib-it)

a silly, scatterbrained, or garrulous person

hemidemisemiquaver (hem-ee-dem-ee-SEM-ee-kwa-ver)

a sixty-fourth note.

schlong (SCHLONG)

a sizeable penis

Crinkle

a slight depression in the smoothness of a surface

Warbler

a small active songbird

rivulet (RIV-yah-lit)

a small brook or stream; a streamlet

spatula (SPACH-ah-lah)

a small implement having a broad, flat, flexible blade that is used to mix, spread, or lift material

Pustule

a small inflamed elevation of skin containing pus

globule (GLOB-yool)

a small spherical mass, especially a small drop of liquid

coccyx (KOK-siks)

a small triangular bone at the base of the spinal column in humans and tailless apes, consisting of several fused rudimentary vertebrae; tailbone

tintinnabulum (tin-ti-NAB-yah-lum)

a small, tinkling bell

faux pas (foh-PAH)

a social blunder

susurrus (soo-SUR-es)

a soft, whispering or rustling sound; a murmur

Bedlam

a state of extreme confusion and disorder

aberration

a state or condition markedly different from the norm

ecdysiast (ek-DEZ-ee-ast)

a striptease artist

wanderlust (WON-der-lust)

a strong, irresistible impulse to travel.

guacamole (gwah-kah-MO-lee)

a thick paste of mashed avocado, often combined with citrus juice, onion, and seasonings and usually served as a dip or in salads

cortege (kor-TEZH)

a train of attendants, as of a distinguished person; a retinue. 2. a ceremonial procession; a funeral procession

Willow

a tree with long thin branches and long leaves that often grows near water

Kazoo

a type of musical (wind) instrument

myriad (MIR-ee-ed)

a vast number; originally, ten thousand

Lilliputian

a very small person (resembling a Lilliputian)

Cloaca

a waste pipe that carries away sewage or surface water

Debauchery

a wild gathering involving excessive drinking and promiscuity

nullipara (nah-LIP-er-ah)

a woman who has never given birth

onomatopoeia (on-ah-mat-ah-PEE-ah)

a word or a grouping of words that imitates the sound it is describing, suggesting its source object, such as "click," "buzz," or "bluuuh," or animal noises such as "oink," "quack," or "meow"

Starry

abounding with or resembling stars

nescience (NESH-ee-ence)

absence of knowledge or awareness; ignorance

Tornadic

adj. describing something that has the qualities of a tornado

euphony (YOO-fah-nee)

agreeable sound

triskaidekaphobia (tris-ki-dek-ah-FO-bee-ah)

an abnormal fear of the number 13

sarcophagus (sar-KOF-ah-ges)

an above-ground stone coffin, often inscribed or decorated with sculpture

Plethora

an abundance, excess

Aspersion

an abusive attack on a person's character or good name

Orifice

an aperture or hole opening into a bodily cavity; an opening

Semaphore

an apparatus for visual signaling with lights or mechanically moving arms

Assay

an appraisal of the state of affairs

Plinth

an architectural support or base (as for a column or statue)

Festoon

an embellishment consisting of a decorative representation of a string of flowers suspended between two points

queef (KWIF)

an emission of air from the vagina, especially when noisy.

Subterfuge

an excuse or trick for escaping or hiding something

ignoramus (ig-nah-RAY-mes)

an ignorant person

Zarf

an ornamental metal cup-shaped holder for a hot coffee cup

brouhaha (BROO-ha-ha)

an uproar; a hubbub

Lumpsucker

any of several very small lumpfishes

willow (WIL-oh)

any of various deciduous trees or shrubs of the genus Salix, having usually narrow leaves, unisexual flowers borne in catkins, and strong lightweight wood; the wood of any of these trees

dodecahedron (doh-dek-ah-HEE-dren)

any polyhedron having twelve plane faces.

Skank

any substance considered disgustingly foul or unpleasant

idoneous (i-DOH-nee-es)

appropriate; suitable; proper; fit; adequate

loathsome (LOTH-sum)

arousing loathing; abhorrent

Glib

artfully persuasive in speech

Ashen

ash-colored; deadly pale

Presumption

assumed knowledge in advance of proof, That which may be logically assumed to be true until disproved., assuming too much

Obsequious

attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery

Obsequious

attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner

Plutonic

attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner, of igneous rock that has solidified beneath the earth's surface

cacology (kah-KOL-ah-je)

bad choice or use of words

persiflage (PUR-sah-flazh)

banter; light, good-natured talk

Buff

bare skin

pedigerous (pi-DIG-er-es)

bearing or having feet or legs

juvenescent (joo-vah-NES-ent)

becoming young or youthful

superfluous (soo-PUR-floo-es)

being beyond what is required or sufficient

Stochastic

being or having a random variable

Lobe

being or having a random variable, a rounded projection that is part of a larger structure

Ubiquitous

being or seeming to be everywhere at the same time; omnipresent

ubiquitous (yoo-BIK-wi-tes)

being or seeming to be everywhere at the same time; omnipresent

quiescent (kwi-ES-ent)

being quiet, still, or at rest; inactive

Self-righteous

believing in one's moral superiority; behaving that you are always right and other people are wrong, so that you are better than other people

betwixt (bi-TWIKST)

between.

rambunctious (ram-BUNGK-shes)

boisterous and disorderly

Titicaca

border of bolivia and peru; largest lake in south america

ennui (on-WEE)

boredom; listlessness and dissatisfaction resulting from lack of interest

Bravura

brilliant and showy technical skill

Resplendent

brilliant; splendid in appearance; dazzling; glorious

curple (KER-pul)

buttocks; rump

oniochalasia (oh-nee-oh-cha-LAY-see-ah)

buying as a means of mental relaxation

Efficacy

capacity or power to produce a desired effect

clishmaclaver (KLISH-mah-klay-ver)

casual chat or gossip

Heckle

challenge aggressively

apollonian (ap-ah-LO-nee-an)

characterized by clarity, harmony, and restraint; serene, calm

Poltroon

characterized by complete cowardliness

Perky

characterized by liveliness and light-heartedness

Impetuous

characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation

Besmirch

charge falsely or with malicious intent; smear so as to make dirty or stained

Masticate

chew (food)

Oaxaca

city in Southern mexico

ribaldry (RI-bal-dree)

coarse language or humor

laminar (LAM-ah-ner)

composed of, or arranged in, laminae

salubrious (sah-LOO-bree-es)

conducive to health or well-being

egregious (i-GREE-jes)

conspicuously bad or offensive

omphaloskepsis (om-fah-loh-SKEP-sis)

contemplation of one's navel

Kewl

cooler than the word cool

skullduggery (skul-DUG-ah-ree)

crafty deception or trickery or an instance of it

psycho (SI-koh)

crazy; insane.

Boysenberry

cultivated hybrid bramble of California having large dark wine-red fruit with a flavor resembling raspberries

quotidian (kwo-TID-ee-an)

daily; everyday; commonplace

Perdition

damnation; ruin; hell

Schnitzel

deep-fried breaded veal cutlets

Obfuscate

deliberately make something difficult to understand

delectation (dee-LEK-tay-shen)

delight; enjoyment; pleasure

apolaustic (ap-ah-LOS-tik)

devoted to enjoyment

Ravenous

devouring or craving food in great quantities

Gnarly

difficult; bad, nasty; good, cool

crestfallen (KREST-fol-en)

dispirited and depressed; dejected

Cloying

distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental; V. cloy: become unpleasant through too much sweetness or excess

intentional (in-TEN-shen-el)

done deliberately; intended

clandestine (klan-DESD-tine)

done in secret; needing to be concealed.

surreptitious (sur-ep-TISH-es)

done or acquired by clandestine means

hebetudinous (heb-i-TOOD-i-nes)

dull-minded; mentally lethargic

monophagous (moh-NAF-ah-ges)

eating only one kind of food

maudlin (MOD-lin)

effusively or tearfully sentimental.

Upchuck

eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth

Saccate

elongated, tubular

Gonfalon

ensign with streamers hung from a horizontal bar

hubris (HYOO-bris)

excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance.

logorrhea (log-ah-REE-ah)

excessive, incoherent talkativeness

corpulent (KOR-pyah-lent)

excessively fat

uxorious (uk-SOR-ee-es)

excessively fond or submissive to one's wife

Maudlin

excessively sentimental

Unctous

excessively smooth or smug; trying to hard to try to give an impression if earnestness, sincerity, or piety; fatty, oily; pliable

parsimonious (par-si-MO-nee-es)

excessively sparing or frugal

Terrific

extraordinarily good

quixotic (kwik-SOT-ik)

extravagantly chivalrous or romantic

Scrumptious

extremely pleasing to the sense of taste

asthenic (as-THEN-ik)

extremely thin or wasted

kismet (KIZ-met)

fate; fortune

porphyrophobia (por-fi-ROH-foh-bee-ah)

fear of the color purple

siderodromophobia (si-der-oh-droh-moh-PHO-bee-ah)

fear of trains, railroads, or train travel

ichthyophagous (ik-the-OFF-ah-ges)

feeding on fish

supercilious (soo-per-SIL-ee-es)

feeling or showing haughty disdain

sanctimonious (sangk-tah-MOH-nee-es)

feigning piety or righteousness

Fictive

fictional, relating to imaginative creation

Fisticuffs

fighting with the fists

Pugilism

fighting with the fists

philogyny (fi-LOJ-ah-nee)

fondness for women; uxoriousness

flapdoodle (FLAP-dood-el)

foolish talk; nonsense

Uxorious

foolishly fond of or submissive to your wife

Harbinger

foreshadow or presage

coprolite (KOP-rah-lite)

fossilized excrement

hoarfrost (HOR-frost)

frozen dew that forms a white coating on a surface

obsequious (ob-SEE-kwee-es)

full of or exhibiting servile compliance; fawning

Oncogenes

genes that cause cancer by blocking the normal controls on cell reproduction

Babble

gibberish resembling the sounds of a baby

Prodigous

gigantic, tremendous, astounding, extrodinary in size

Hortatory

giving strong encouragement

Obsolescent

going out of use; becoming obsolete

Serendipity

good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries

kakistocracy (kak-i-STOK-rah-see)

government by the worst or least qualified citizens

hullabaloo (HUL-ah-bah-loo)

great noise or excitement; uproar

grody

gross

senescence (si-NES-sence)

growing old; aging

Moxie

guts, nerve, pep; the ability to face situations with fortitude and determination

Taciturn

habitually reserved and uncommunicative

taciturn (TAS-i-turn)

habitually untalkative; silent

misogyny (mi-SOJ-ah-nee)

hatred of women

misanthropy (mis-AN-thra-pee)

hatred or mistrust of humankind

mustachioed (mah-STASH-ee-ode)

having a mustache, esp. a luxuriant mustache.

Mellifluous

having a rich, smoothly flowing sound; pleasing to the ear

malacophonous (mal-ah-KOF-i-nus)

having a soft voice

steatopygian (stee-at-oh-PIJ-ee-ah)

having an excess accumulation of fat on the buttocks

pulchritudinous (pul-kri-TOOD-en-es)

having great physical beauty or appeal

perspicacious (pur-spi-KAY-shes)

having keen judgment or understanding; acutely perceptive

Edentulous

having lost teeth

mammiferous (mah-MIF-er-es)

having mammary glands

Majestic

having or displaying great dignity or nobility

Malefic

having or exerting a malignant influence

sialic (sigh-AL-ik)

having or having the characteristics of saliva

Supercilious

having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy

Callipygian

having shapely or beautiful buttocks

scobiform (SKOB-i-form)

having the form of, or resembling, sawdust or raspings

dicephalous (di-SEF-ah-les)

having two heads

insatiable (in-SA-sha-ble)

impossible to satiate or satisfy

circa (SUR-kah)

in approximately; about.

alexithymia (ah-lek-sah-THI-mee-ah)

inability to describe emotions in a verbal manner. This word is defined as an inability to verbally express or describe an emotion. It's beautiful to the ear and perfect for when you're feeling tongue tied.

Promiscuity

indulging in promiscuous (casual and indiscriminate) sexual relations

nefarious (nah-FAR-ee-es)

infamous by way of being extremely wicked

Ostentatious

intended to attract notice and impress others

apotropaic (ap-ah-troh-PAY-ik)

intended to ward off evil

jocularity (JOK-yah-lar-i-tee)

joking speech or behavior

Intemperance

lack of moderation or restraint

Frivolous

lacking in seriousness; flippant; self-indulgently carefree; unworthy of serious attention; relatively unimportant; trivial

impecunious (im-pi-KYOO-nee-es)

lacking money; penniless

lackadaisical (lak-ah-DA-zi-kel)

lacking spirit, liveliness, or interest; languid

Whirligig

large mechanical apparatus with seats for children to ride on

yesternight (YES-ter-nite)

last night

ephemeral (i-FEM-er-al)

lasting for a markedly brief time. 2. lasting or living for only a day, as certain plants and insects do

otiose (OH-she-os)

lazy, indolent; useless; ineffective, futile

Avuncular

like an uncle in kindness or indulgence

Fandango

lively Spanish dance performed by a couple

Cacophony

loud confusing disagreeable sounds

Floptical

magnetic and optimal technologies; 1991

Embellish

make more beautiful

Anemone

marine polyps that resemble flowers but have oral rings of tentacles

Ostentatious

marked by a conspicuous, showy, or pretentious display

insouciant (in-SOO-see-ant)

marked by blithe unconcern; nonchalant

Orotund

marked by fullness, strength, and clarity of sound

officious (ah-FISH-es)

meddlesome; unnecessarily or obtrusively ready to offer advice or services

Satsuma

medium-sized largely seedless mandarin orange with thin smooth skin

banausic (bah-NO-sik)

merely mechanical; routine. 2. of or relating to a mechanic

Paragon

model of excellence or perfection of a kind

lugubrious (loo-GOO-bree-es)

mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially to an exaggerated or ludicrous degree

undulation (un-jah-LAY-shen)

movement in waves; a wavy, curving form or outline

poppysmic

n. - the sound produced when you smack your lips; the Romans used it to describe the lip-smacking sound of satisfaction

Gumshoe

n. 1. A sneaker or rubber overshoe. 2. Slang. An investigator, especially a detective.

sluice (SLOOS)

n. 1. an artificial channel for conducting water, with a valve or gate to regulate the flow; a valve or gate used in such a channel; a floodgate. 2. a body of water impounded behind a floodgate. 3. a sluiceway. 4. a long inclined trough, as for carrying logs or separating gold ore

Salience

n. The condition of standing out distinctly.

Shrew

n. a mouselike animal that eats insects; a bad-tempered, nagging woman

Natty

neatly or smartly dressed; dapper; smart; Ex. natty dresser

heebie-jeebies (hee-bee-JEE-beez)

nervousness; jitters

Hysteria

neurotic disorder characterized by violent emotional outbreaks and disturbances of sensory and motor functions

penultimate (pi-NUL-tah-mit)

next to last

Ocelot

nocturnal wildcat of Central America and South America having a dark-spotted buff-brown coat

obstreperous (ob-STREP-er-es)

noisily defiant; aggressively boisterous.

hijinks (HI-jingks)

noisy and mischievous merrymaking

jejune (je-JOON)

not interesting, dull, empty; childish; lacking in nutrition

Disingenuous

not straightforward or candid

Immoderate

not within reasonable limits

Quotidian

occurring or recurring daily; commonplace

gargantuan (gar-GAN-choo-en)

of immense size, volume, or capacity; gigantic

Miasmic

of noxious stench from atmospheric pollution

Gubernatorial

of or pertaining to a governor.

eburnine (EB-ur-nine)

of or pertaining to ivory

equestrian (i-KWES-tree-an)

of or relating to horseback riding or horseback riders

Zygomatic

of or relating to the cheek region of the face

prelapsarian (pre-lap-SAR-ee-an)

of or relating to the period before the fall of Adam and Eve

chthonic (THON-ik)

of or relating to the underworld

Louche

of questionable taste or morality

louche (LOOSH)

of questionable taste or morality; decadent

abyssopelagic (ah-BIS-so-pah-lah-jik)

of, like or pertaining to the depths of the ocean It refers to the bottom of the ocean how great is that? The sinister "abysso" recalls Tartarus, and overall conjures a gorgeous image of blind prognathous fish constellating the dark with the aching lambency of their bioluminescence.

atavistic (at-ah-VIS-tik)

of, pertaining to, or characterized by atavism; reverting to or suggesting the characteristics of a remote ancestor or primitive type. This word has an almost brutal quality to it. It comes in very handy when discussing The Wicker Man.

foppish (FOP-ish)

of, relating to, or characteristic of a fop; dandified

febrile (FEB-rel)

of, relating to, or characterized by fever; feverish

eponymous (i-PON-ah-mes)

of, relating to, or constituting an eponym, derivation of a name of a city, country, era, institution, or other place or thing from that of a person.

eleemosynary (el-ah-MOS-ah-ner-ee)

of, relating to, or dependent on charity

quintessential (kwin-tuh-SEN-shel)

of, relating to, or having the nature of a quintessence; being the most typical

matutinal (mah-TOOT-en-el)

of, relating to, or occurring in the morning; early

struthious (STROO-thee-es)

of, relating to, or resembling an ostrich or a related bird; ratite

mephitic (mah-FIT-ik)

of, relating to, or resembling mephitis (an offensive smell; a stench); poisonous or foul-smelling

ophidian (oh-FID-ee-an)

of, relating to, or resembling snakes

oneiric (oh-NI-rik)

of, relating to, or suggestive of dreams.

homonym (HOM-ah-nim)

one of two or more words that have the same sound and often the same spelling but differ in meaning.

doryphore (DOR-ee-phor)

one who draws attention to the minor errors made by others, esp. in a pestering manner; a pedantic gadfly. It fits a real need — and the etymology is delightful as well. From the OED: 1952 H. NICOLSON in Spectator 22 Aug. 238/1 Often have I tried to supplement my vocabulary by inventing words, such as 'couth', or 'doriphore', or 'hypoulic', feeling that it is the duty as well as the pastime of a professional writer to make two words bloom where only one bloomed before. in Ibid. 17 Oct. 500/1 The doriphore..is the type of questing prig, who derives intense satisfaction from pointing out the errors of others. 1960 Age of Reason xii. 223 Boileau was so hurt by this reproof on the part of a female doryphore that he never set foot in Reuilly again. 1960 Daily Tel. 9 Dec. 19/3 The idiomatic implications of such a word as doryphore in his [sc. Sir Harold Nicolson's] own text is left for the ignorant to guess. (It means a Colorado beetle and, hence, a pest.) 1970 Times Lit. Suppl. 4 June 615/3 The editor..must..shrug off the pricks of professional doryphores. 1989 New Yorker 3 Apr. 99/2 When [the editors]..took me to lunch, they were rigidly abstemious, lest they fuddle their minds and give hostages to subsequent doryphores on returning to work.

milquetoast (MILK-toast)

one who has a meek, timid, unassertive nature

futilitarian (FYOO-til-i-tar-ee-an)

one who holds the view that human endeavor is futile

ragpicker (RAG-pik-er)

one who makes a living scavenging rags and other refuse

Iconoclast

one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions

Aberrant

one whose behavior departs substantially from the norm of a group

bailiwick (BAY-li-wik)

one's particular area of activity, interest, or authority

Hubris

overbearing pride or presumption

verklempt (ver-KLEMPT)

overcome with emotion,

Waffle

pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness

Contortionist

person who can twist his or her body into odd postures

Astral

pertaining to stars

facetious (fah-SEE-shes)

playfully jocular; humorous

schadenfreude (SHAD-en-froi-dah)

pleasure derived from another's misfortune

Solstice

point or time at which the sun is farthest from the equator

rodomontade (rod-ah-mon-TADE)

pretentious boasting or bragging; bluster

Swank

pretentiously stylish

efficacious (ef-i-KAY-shes)

producing or capable of producing a desired effect

gigglesome (GIG-el-sum)

prone to giggling

Tutelary

providing protective supervision

propinquity (prah-PING-kwi-tee)

proximity; nearness

Zog

pulled, moved

Promulgate

put a law into effect by formal declaration

exiguous (ig-ZIG-yoo-es)

quite scanty; meager

Tremble

reflex shaking caused by cold or fear or excitement

prandial (PRAN-dee-al)

relating to a meal, esp. dinner

odious (OH-dee-es)

repugnant; hateful

reticulate (ri-TIK-yah-lat)

resembling or forming a net or network

Futtock

rib of a ship

Resplendent

richly and brilliantly colorful

contumely (KON-too-mah-lee)

rudeness or contempt arising from haughtiness; insolence

scalawag (SKAL-ah-wag)

scamp; rascal; reprobate

aplomb (ah-PLOM)

self-confident assurance; poise

Sychophant

self-serving flatterer; "brown-noser," "goody-goody"

Sutler

sells liquor, tobacco, and food stuff to soldiers

tmesis (TME-sis)

separation of the parts of a compound word by one or more intervening words; for example, where I go ever instead of wherever I go.

cataclysmic (kat-ah-KLIZ-mik)

severely destructive

botryoidal (BOT-ree-oid-el)

shaped like a bunch of grapes

rhomboidal (rom-BOID-el)

shaped like a rhomboid or rhombus

Glare

shine intensely and blindingly; stare fixedly and angrily; N.

noctilucous (nok-ti-LYOO-kes)

shining in the night

refulgent (ri-FUL-jent)

shining radiantly; resplendent

Flagitious

shockingly brutal or cruel

somnambulist (som-NAM-byah-list)

sleepwalker

somnambulism (som-NAM-byah-liz-em)

sleepwalking

Periwinkle

small edible marine snail

suave (SWAV)

smoothly agreeable and courteous with a degree of sophistication

Augur

someone who can forecast the future by spotting various signs or indications of what is to come

Subterfuge

something intended to misrepresent the true nature of an activity

Earnest

something of value given by one person to another to bind a contract

splendiferous (splen-DIF-er-es)

splendid

splendiforous

splendid

resplendent (ri-SPLEN-dent)

splendid or dazzling in appearance; brilliant

Bifurcate

split or divide into two

Fusty

stale-smelling; musty; moldy; old-fashioned

apposite (AP-ah-zit)

strikingly appropriate and relevant. Beautiful to say, and self-descriptive.

animadversion (an-ah-mad-VUR-zhen)

strong criticism; a critical or censorious remark

Cantankerous

stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate

boeotian (be-OH-shen)

stupid; dull

Godspeed (GOD-speed)

success or good fortune

Squelch

suppress or crush completely

Bravado

swagger; assumed air of defiance; false show of bravery

mellifluous (mah-LIF-loo-es)

sweetly flowing; smooth and sweet

Turgid

swollen, bloated, filled to excess; overdecorated or excessive in language

Presume

take to be the case or to be true

epicaricacy (EP-i-kar-ik-i-see)

taking pleasure in other's misfortune; schadenfreude

Virtuosity

technical skill or fluency or style exhibited by a virtuoso

c'est la vie

that's life or such as life; literally translated, "it is the life"

homeostasis (ho-mee-oh-STA-sis)

the ability or tendency of an organism or cell to maintain internal equilibrium by adjusting its physiological processes

coitus

the act of sexual procreation between a man and a woman

juxtaposition (juk-stah-pah-ZISH-en)

the act or instance of placing side by side, especially for comparison or contrast

solipsism (SOL-ip-siz-em)

the belief that the self is the only reality

essence

the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience

hoi polloi (hoi-pah-LOI)

the common people; the masses

appersonation (ap-PER-so-nay-shen)

the delusion that one is a famous person

petrichor (pi-TREE-kor)

the distinctive scent that accompanies the first rain after a long warm dry spell

Aborigine

the earliest known inhabitants of a region

catachresis (kat-ah-KRE-sis)

the incorrect use of a word or phrase

Rutabaga

the large yellow root of a rutabaga plant used as food

tadpole (TAD-pol)

the limbless aquatic larva of a frog or toad, having gills and a long flat tail

Fealty

the loyalty that citizens owe to their country (or subjects to their sovereign)

Quintessential

the most typical, ideal, or important

Zenith

the point of culmination; peak

sagacity (sah-GAS-i-tee)

the quality of being discerning, sound in judgment, and farsighted; wisdom

Specificity

the quality of being specific rather than general

Dignity

the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect

humility (HYOO-mil-i-tee)

the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc.

Assonance

the repetition of similar vowels in the stressed syllables of successive words

tintinnabulation (tin-ti-nab-yah-LA-shen)

the ringing or sounding of bells

quatopygia (kwah-tah-PIJ-ee-ah)

the shaking of the buttocks while walking

Zeitgeist

the spirit of the time; general trend of thought or feeling characteristic of a particular period of time

Zeitgeist (ZIT-gist)

the spirit of the time; the taste and outlook characteristic of a period or generation

valedictorian (val-i-dik-TOR-ee-en)

the student with the highest academic rank in a class who delivers the valedictory at graduation.

espionage

the systematic use of spies to get military or political secrets

Zamboni

the trade name for a machine that smoothes the ice in an ice-skating rink

pleonasm (PLEE-ah-naz-em) 1.

the use of more words than are required to express an idea; redundancy. 2. a superfluous word or phrase

apricity (AP-ris-i-tee)

the warmth of the sun in the winter.

zephyr (ZEF-er)

the west wind; a gentle breeze; something that is airy or insubstantial

funambulism (fyoo-NAM-byah-liz-em)

tightrope walking

pusillanimous (pyoo-sah-LAN-ah-mes)

timid or cowardly; fainthearted

transmogrify (trans-MOG-rah-fie)

to change into a different shape or form, especially one that is fantastic or bizarre.

discombobulate (dis-kom-BOB-yah-late)

to confuse or disconcert; upset; frustrate

concatenate (kon-KAT-i-nate)

to connect or link in a series or chain.

acquiesce (ak-wee-ES)

to consent or comply passively or without protest. It's as beautiful as snow, or a child's curiosity.

micturate (MIK-cha-rate)

to eliminate urine; to pee

Swashbuckle

to engage in daring and romantic adventures with ostentatious bravado or flamboyance

tergiversate (ter-JIV-er-sate)

to equivocate; to change sides

agroof (ah-GROOF)

to fall flat on your face. The word that means "to fall flat on the face" is commendable for its precision. I like the inclusion of "roof" for a word that means a "fall."

ululate (UL-ya-late)

to howl, wail, or lament loudly

peregrinate (PER-i-gri-nate)

to journey or travel from place to place, especially on foot

abscond (ab-SKOND)

to leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection or arrest.

reconnoiter (ree-kah-NOI-ter)

to make a preliminary inspection; to look around

gesticulate (je-STIK-yah-late)

to make gestures especially while speaking, as for emphasis

Exacerbate

to make more violent, severe, bitter, or painful

Ingratiate

to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others

perseverate (per-SEV-er-ate)

to manifest or experience perseveration: uncontrollable repetition of a particular response, such as a word, phrase, or gesture, despite the absence or cessation of a stimulus, usually caused by brain injury or other organic disorder; the tendency to continue or repeat an act or activity after the cessation of the original stimulus

lollop (LOL-op)

to move with a bobbing motion

Propitiate

to prevent or reduce the anger of; soothe; appease; the act of regaining favor

ricochet (RIC-ah-shay)

to rebound

gallivant (GAL-ah-vant)

to roam about in search of pleasure or amusement

glisten (GLIS-en)

to shine by reflection with a sparkling luster

wizen (WIZ-en)

to shrivel up; wither.

lucubrate (loo-KYOO-brate)

to study diligently; to write in a scholarly way

Flabbergast

to surprise so greatly that one is speechless; to amaze

defenestrate (dee-FEN-i-strate)

to throw out of a window

Osculate

touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc.

crepuscule (kri-PUS-kyool)

twilight; dusk

ineluctable (in-i-LUK-tah-ble)

unable to be resisted or avoided; inevitable

Smarmy

unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech

indubitably (in-DOO-bi-tah-blee)

unquestionably; without doubt

Ineffable

unspeakable, incapable of being expressed through words

grandiloquent (gran-DIL-ah-kwent)

using high-flown, pompous, bombastic words and expressions

evanescent (ev-ah-NES-ent)

vanishing or likely to vanish like vapor

obloquy (OB-lah-kwee)

verbal abuse of a person or thing

gelid (JEL-id)

very cold; icy

Quixotic

very idealistic; impractical; caught up in romantic notions

stentorian (sten-TOR-ee-en)

very loud

loquacious (lo-KWA-shes)

very talkative; garrulous

perambulate (pe-RAM-byah-late)

walk through, about, or over; stroll

Sinuous

winding, having many curves, lithe and flexible

Malevolent

wishing or appearing to wish evil to others

Whiskery

with many or prominent whiskers

incognito (in-kog-NEE-toe)

with one's identity disguised or concealed

pandiculation (pan-dik-yoo-LA-shen)

yawning and stretching (as when first waking up).

cornucopia (kor-nah-KO-pee-ah)

1. a goat's horn overflowing with fruit, flowers, and grain, signifying prosperity. 2. the horn of the goat that suckled Zeus, which broke off and became filled with fruit. In folklore, it became full of whatever its owner desired. 3. a cone-shaped ornament or receptacle. 4. an overflowing store; an abundance

haberdashery (HAB-er-dash-ah-ree)

1. a haberdasher's shop. 2. the goods and wares sold by a haberdasher (a dealer in men's furnishings; a dealer in sewing notions and small wares)

consort (KON-sort)

1. a husband or wife, esp. of a monarch. 2. a companion or partner. 3. a ship accompanying another in travel. 4. partnership; association. 5. a group; a company. 6. an instrumental ensemble

archipelago (ar-kah-PEL-ah-go)

1. a large group of islands. 2. a sea, such as the Aegean, containing a large number of scattered islands. The pronunciation has a whimsical tone to it that makes me love saying it.

cockalorum (kok-ah-LOR-em)

1. a little man with an unduly high opinion of himself. 2. boastful talk; braggadocio

myrmidon (MUR-mi-don)

1. a member of a warlike Thessalian people who were ruled by Achilles and followed him on the expedition against Troy. 2. a faithful follower who carries out orders without question

argent (AR-jent)

1. a metal tincture used in heraldry to give a silvery appearance. 2. Silver or something resembling it. It's just a beautiful way of saying that something is silver. Argent is so much more satisfying than silver, which has that sneaky, sibilant si sound in the beginning.

scintilla (sin-TIL-ah)

1. a minute amount; an iota or trace. 2. a spark; a flash

isthmus (IS-mes)

1. a narrow strip of land connecting two larger masses of land. 2. a narrow strip of tissue joining two larger organs or parts of an organ; a narrow passage connecting two larger cavities

affinity (ah-FIN-i-tee)

1. a natural attraction, liking, or feeling of kinship. 2. relationship by marriage. 3. an inherent similarity between persons or things. 4. a relationship or resemblance in structure between species that suggests a common origin. 5. the attraction between an antigen and an antibody. 6. an attraction or force between particles that causes them to combine. I think this word is graceful and is perfect for substituting words such as "like" and "attracted to."

miasma (mi-AZ-mah)

1. a noxious atmosphere or influence. 2. a poisonous atmosphere formerly thought to rise from swamps and putrid matter and cause disease; a thick vaporous atmosphere or emanation

penumbra (pi-NUM-bra)

1. a partial shadow, as in an eclipse, between regions of complete shadow and complete illumination. 2. the grayish outer part of a sunspot. 3. an area in which something exists to a lesser or uncertain degree. 4. an outlying surrounding region; a periphery.

tramontane (trah-MON-tane)

1. a person who lives beyond the mountains. 2. A foreigner; a stranger. 3. A cold north wind in Italy

megalomaniac (meg-ah-lo-MAN-ee-ak)

1. a person with a psychopathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of wealth, power, or omnipotence. 2. a person who has an obsession with grandiose or extravagant things or actions

connoisseur (kon-ah-SUR)

1. a person with expert knowledge or training, especially in the fine arts. 2. a person of informed and discriminating taste.

tarradiddle (TAR-ah-did-el)

1. a petty falsehood; a fib. 2. silly pretentious speech or writing; twaddle

nadir (NA-dir)

1. a point on the celestial sphere directly below the observer, diametrically opposite the zenith. 2. the lowest point

decadence (DEK-ah-dence)

1. a process, condition, or period of deterioration or decline, as in morals or art; decay. 2. a literary movement especially of late 19th-century France and England characterized by refined aestheticism, artifice, and the quest for new sensations

charisma (kah-RIZ-mah)

1. a rare personal quality attributed to leaders who arouse fervent popular devotion and enthusiasm; personal magnetism or charm. 2. an extraordinary power, such as the ability to perform miracles, granted by the Holy Spirit.

conundrum (kah-NUN-drum)

1. a riddle in which a fanciful question is answered by a pun. 2. a paradoxical, insoluble, or difficult problem; a dilemma

dearth (DURTH)

1. a scarce supply; an inadequate amount. 2. a shortage of food; a famine.

delicatessen (del-i-kah-TES-en)

1. a shop that sells cooked or prepared foods ready for serving; 2. ready-to-serve foods such as cheeses, cold cooked meats, and salads

bauble (BAU-ble)

1. a showy, usually cheap, ornament; trinket; gewgaw. 2. a jester's scepter

tittle (TIT-el)

1. a small diacritic mark, such as an accent over an e or dot over an i. 2. a tiny amount; a jot or whit.

lagniappe (LAN-yap)

1. a small gift presented by a storeowner to a customer with the customer's purchase. 2. an extra or unexpected gift or benefit.

reverie (REV-ah-ree)

1. a state of abstracted musing; daydreaming. 2. a daydream

nuance (NOO-ans)

1. a subtle or slight degree of difference, as in meaning, feeling, or tone; a gradation. 2. expression or appreciation of subtle shades of meaning, feeling, or tone

debacle (di-BAH-kel)

1. a sudden, disastrous collapse, downfall, or defeat; a rout. 2. a total, often ludicrous failure. 3. the breaking up of ice in a river. 4. a violent flood.

plethora (PLETH-er-ah)

1. a superabundance; an excess. 2. an excess of blood in the circulatory system or in one organ or area

aglet (AG-lit)

1. a tag or sheath, as of plastic, on the end of a lace, cord, or ribbon to facilitate its passing through eyelet holes. 2. a similar device used for an ornament. Everyone loves them on their shoes, and are sad when they break. Everyone should know what they called to complete their life.

kaleidoscope (kah-LIE-dah-skop)

1. a tube-shaped optical instrument that is rotated to produce a succession of symmetrical designs by means of mirrors reflecting the constantly changing patterns made by bits of colored glass at one end of the tube. 2. a constantly changing set of colors. 3. a series of changing phases or events.

thew (THYOO)

1. a well-developed sinew or muscle. 2. muscular power or strength.

shibboleth (SHIB-ah-lith)

1. a word or pronunciation that distinguishes people of one group or class from those of another. 2. a word or phrase identified with a particular group or cause; a catchword; a commonplace saying or idea. 3. a custom or practice that betrays one as an outsider

truculent (TRUK-yoo-lent)

1. aggressive and defiant. 2. displaying great anger and inclined to fight; belligerent

murmuration (mur-mah-REY-shen)

1. an act or instance of murmuring. 2. a flock of starlings

valley (VAL-ee)

1. an elongated lowland between ranges of mountains, hills, or other uplands, often having a river or stream running along the bottom. 2. an extensive area of land drained or irrigated by a river system. 3. a depression or hollow resembling or suggesting a valley, as the point at which the two slopes of a roof meet

dystopia (dis-toh-PEE-ah)

1. an imaginary place or state in which the condition of life is extremely bad, as from deprivation, oppression, or terror. 2. a work describing such a place or state:

chimera (ki-MIR-ah)

1. an organism, organ, or part consisting of two or more tissues of different genetic composition, produced as a result of organ transplant, grafting, or genetic engineering; a substance, such as an antibody, created from the proteins or genes or two different species. 2. an individual who has received a transplant of genetically and immunologically different tissue. 3. a fanciful mental illusion or fabrication. 4. monstrous creature of Lycia in Asia Minor, which was made of the parts of multiple animals

precipice (pre-si-PIS)

1. an overhanging or extremely steep mass of rock, such as a crag or the face of a cliff. 2. the brink of a dangerous or disastrous situation.

philippic (fi-LIP-ik)

1. any of the orations of Demosthenes against Philip of Macedon in the fourth century BC. 2. any of the orations of Cicero against Antony in 44 BC. 3. a verbal denunciation characterized by harsh, often insulting language; a tirade.

amaranth (AM-ah-ranth)

1. any of various annuals of the genus Amaranthus having dense green or reddish clusters of tiny flowers and including several weeds, ornamentals, and food plants. Also called pigweed. 2. an imaginary flower that never fades. 3. a deep reddish purple to dark or grayish, purplish red. 4. a dark red to purple azo dye. This is perhaps the most euphonious word I know of. An imaginary, undying flower; its definition does not disappoint.

sprocket (SPROK-it)

1. any of various toothlike projections arranged on a wheel rim to engage the links of a chain. 2. a cylinder with a toothed rim that engages in the perforations of photographic or movie film to pull it through a camera or projector

frangipani (fran-jah-PAN-ee)

1. any of various tropical American deciduous shrubs or trees of the genus Plumeria, having milky sap and showy, fragrant, funnel-shaped, variously colored flowers. Also called temple tree. 2. a perfume derived from or similar in scent to the flowers of one of these shrubs or trees. 3. also fran•gi•pane (FRAN-jah-pan) a creamy pastry filling flavored with almonds

salacious (sah-LEY-shes)

1. appealing to or stimulating sexual desire; lascivious. 2. lustful; bawdy

meretricious (mer-i-TRISH-es)

1. attracting attention in a vulgar manner; plausible but false or insincere; specious. 2. of or relating to prostitutes or prostitution.

fungible (FUN-ji-ble)

1. being of such a nature that one part or quantity may be replaced by another equal part or quantity in the satisfaction of an obligation. 2. interchangeable

nihilistic (ni-ah-LIS-tik)

1. believing all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated. 2. rejecting all distinctions in moral or religious value and repudiating all previous theories of morality or religious belief. 3. believing that destruction of existing political or social institutions is necessary for future improvement. 4. having the delusion that the world or one's mind, body, or self does not exist

puerile (PYOOR-ile)

1. belonging to childhood; juvenile. 2. immature; childish

gumption (GUMP-shen)

1. boldness of enterprise; initiative or aggressiveness. 2. guts; spunk. 3. common sense

halcyon (HAL-see-on)

1. calm and peaceful; tranquil. 2. prosperous; golden.

caustic (KOS-tik)

1. capable of burning, corroding, dissolving, or eating away by chemical action. 2. corrosive and bitingly trenchant; cutting. 3. causing a burning or stinging sensation, as from intense emotion

fecund (FEE-kund)

1. capable of producing offspring or vegetation; fruitful. 2. marked by intellectual productivity

unctuous (UNGK-choo-es)

1. characterized by affected, exaggerated, or insincere earnestness. 2. having the quality or characteristics of oil or ointment; slippery. 3. containing or composed of oil or fat. 4. abundant in organic materials; soft and rich

pompous (POM-pes)

1. characterized by excessive self-esteem or exaggerated dignity; pretentious. 2. full of high-sounding phrases; bombastic. 3. chracterized by pomp or stately display; ceremonious.

ethereal (i-THIR-ee-el)

1. characterized by lightness and insubstantiality; intangible. 2. highly refined; delicate. 3. of the celestial spheres; heavenly; not of this world; spiritual. 4. of or relating to ether

sublime (sah-BLIME)

1. characterized by nobility; majestic; of high spiritual, moral, or intellectual worth. 2. not to be excelled; supreme. 3. inspiring awe; impressive.

limpid (LIM-pid)

1. characterized by transparent clearness; pellucid. 2. easily intelligible; clear. 3. calm and untroubled; serene

alacrity (ah-LAK-ri-tee)

1. cheerful willingness; eagerness. 2. speed or quickness; celerity. It's crisp, lively, and fun to say. As with many of the best words, it sounds like its definition.

nebulous (NEB-yah-les)

1. cloudy, misty, or hazy. 2. lacking definite form or limits; vague. 3. of, relating to, or characteristic of a nebula

panache (pah-NASH)

1. dash; verve. 2. a bunch of feathers or a plume, especially on a helmet

bereft (bi-REFT)

1. deprived of something; lacking something needed or expected. 2. suffering the death of a loved one; bereaved.

torpid (TOR-pid)

1. deprived of the power of motion or feeling; benumbed. 2. dormant; hibernating. 3. lethargic; apathetic

whimsical (HWIM-zi-kel)

1. determined by, arising from, or marked by whim or caprice; unusual, playful, and fanciful. 2. erratic in behavior or degree of unpredictability

lissome (LIS-em)

1. easily bent; supple. 2. having the ability to move with ease; limber

syzygy (SIZ-ah-jee)

1. either of two points in the orbit of a celestial body where the body is in opposition to or in conjunction with the sun. 2. either of two points in the orbit of the moon when the moon lies in a straight line with the sun and Earth. 3. the configuration of the sun, the moon, and Earth lying in a straight line. 4. the combining of two feet into a single metrical unit in classical prosody

equinox (EE-kwah-noks)

1. either of two points on the celestial sphere at which the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator. 2. either of the two times during a year when the sun crosses the celestial equator and when the length of day and night are approximately equal; the vernal equinox or the autumnal equinox

bliss (BLIS)

1. extreme happiness; ecstasy. 2. the ecstasy of salvation; spiritual joy

ravenous (RAV-ah-nes)

1. extremely hungry; voracious. 2. rapacious; predatory. 3. greedy for gratification

audacity (auh-DAS-i-tee)

1. fearless daring; intrepidity. 2. bold or insolent heedlessness of restraints, as of those imposed by prudence, propriety, or convention. 3. an act or instance of intrepidity or insolent heedlessness.

lambent (LAM-bent)

1. flickering lightly over or on a surface. 2. effortlessly light or brilliant. 3. having a gentle glow; luminous

zaftig (ZAF-tig)

1. full-bosomed. 2. having a full, shapely figure

lascivious (lah-SIV-ee-es)

1. given to or expressing lust; lecherous. 2. exciting sexual desires; salacious

sesquipedalian (ses-kwi-pi-DAY-lee-en)

1. given to using long words. 2. (of a word) containing many syllables

voluptuous (vah-LUP-choo-es)

1. giving, characterized by, or suggesting ample, unrestrained pleasure to the senses. 2. devoted to or indulging in sensual pleasures; directed toward or anticipating sensual pleasure; arising from or contributing to the satisfaction of sensuous or sensual desires

lubricious (loo-BRISH-es)

1. having a slippery or smooth quality. 2. shifty or tricky. 3. lewd; wanton; sexually stimulating; salacious

fond (FOND)

1. having a strong liking, inclination, or affection. 2. affectionate; tender. 3. immoderately affectionate or indulgent; doting. 4. cherished; dear

opulent (OP-yah-lent)

1. having or exhibiting great wealth; affluent. 2. characterized by rich abundance; luxuriant.

incarnadine (in-KAR-nah-dine)

1. having the pinkish color of flesh. 2. blood-red

feral (FER-el)

1. in a wild state, especially after having been domesticated. 2. resembling a wild animal.

inchoate (in-KOH-it)

1. in an initial or early stage; incipient. 2. imperfectly formed or developed.

infelicitous (in-fi-LIS-i-tes)

1. inappropriate; ill-chosen. 2. not happy; unfortunate

ineffable (in-EF-ah-ble)

1. incapable of being expressed; indescribable or unutterable. 2. not to be uttered; taboo.

impervious (im-PUR-vee-es)

1. incapable of being penetrated. 2. incapable of being affected

acatalepsy (EY-kat-i-lep-see)

1. incomprehensibility; a word much used (in its Greek form) by the later Academics and Skeptics (Carneades, Arcesilaus, etc.), who held that human knowledge never amounts to certainty, but only to probability, and who advocated a suspension of judgment upon all questions, even upon the doctrine of acatalepsy itself. 2. uncertainty in the diagnosis or prognosis of diseases. 3. a weak understanding; mental deficiency It sounds like a medical condition, but it describes most humans and our path through life.

soporific (sop-ah-RIF-ik)

1. inducing or tending to induce sleep. 2. drowsy

esoteric (es-ah-TER-ik)

1. intended for or understood by only a particular group; of or relating to that which is known by a restricted number of people. 2. confined to a small group; not publicly disclosed; confidential

ecstacy (EK-stah-see)

1. intense joy or delight. 2. a state of emotion so intense that one is carried beyond rational thought and self-control. 3. the trance, frenzy, or rapture associated with mystic or prophetic exaltation

cacophony (kah-KOF-ah-nee)

1. jarring, discordant sound; dissonance. 2. the use of harsh or discordant sounds in literary composition

incongruous (in-KONG-groo-es)

1. lacking in harmony; incompatible. 2. not in agreement, as with principles; inconsistent. 3. not in keeping with what is correct, proper, or logical; inappropriate

scree (SKREE)

1. loose rock debris covering a slope. 2. a slope of loose rock debris at the base of a steep incline or cliff

atrabilious (at-rah-BIL-yes)

1. melancholic; gloomy. 2. irritable; ill-natured; peevish. A mean word that means as it sounds, and a fluid pronunciation in keeping with its etymology: black bile.

scuppernong (SKUP-er-nong)

1. muscadine. 2. a cultivated variety of the muscadine grape with sweet yellowish fruit; a wine made from this grape

disingenuous (dis-in-JEN-yoo-es)

1. not straightforward or candid; insincere or calculating. 2. pretending to be unaware or unsophisticated; faux-naïf.

machiavellian (mak-ee-ah-VEL-ee-en)

1. of or relating to Machiavelli or Machiavellianism. 2. suggestive of or characterized by expediency, deceit, and cunning.

oleaginous (oh-lee-AJ-i-nes)

1. of or relating to oil. 2. falsely or smugly earnest; unctuous

splenetic (spli-NET-ik)

1. of or relating to the spleen. 2. affected or marked by ill humor or irritability

diaphanous (DI-af-ah-nes)

1. of such fine texture as to be transparent or translucent. 2. characterized by delicacy of form. 3. vague or insubstantial.

sidereal (sigh-DIR-ee-el)

1. of, relating to, or concerned with the stars or constellations; stellar. 2. measured or determined by means of the apparent daily motion of the stars.

bilious (BIL-yes)

1. of, relating to, or containing bile. 2. characterized by an excess secretion of bile; of or relating to gastric distress caused by a disorder of the liver or gallbladder; sickly.

bumbledom (BUM-bel-dom)

1. official pomposity and stupidity. 2. the dominion of an overbearing parish officer, the arrogance of parish authorities, the conceit of parish dignity

enigma (i-NIG-mah)

1. one that is puzzling, ambiguous, or inexplicable. 2. a perplexing speech or text; a riddle

libertine (LIB-er-teen)

1. one who acts without moral restraint; a dissolute person. 2. one who defies established religious precepts; a freethinker

zany (ZA-nee)

1. one who plays the clown or fool in order to amuse others. 2. a comically wild or eccentric person. 3. a secondary stock character in old comedies who mimicked his master. 4. a professional buffoon; clown. 5. a silly person; simpleton. 6. a slavish attendant or follower

paraphernalia (par-ah-fer-NAL-yah)

1. personal belongings. 2. the articles used in a particular activity; equipment. 3. a married woman's personal property exclusive of her dowry, according to common law.

incondite (in-KON-dit)

1. poorly constructed. 2. lacking finish or refinement; crude

fastidious (fah-STID-ee-es)

1. possessing or displaying careful, meticulous attention to detail. 2. difficult to please; exacting. 3. excessively scrupulous or sensitive, especially in matters of taste or propriety

frippery (FRIP-i-ree)

1. pretentious, showy finery. 2. pretentious elegance; ostentation. 3. something trivial or nonessential

iridescent (ir-i-DES-ent)

1. producing a display of lustrous, rainbowlike colors. 2. brilliant, lustrous, or colorful in effect or appearance

salient (SA-lee-ent)

1. projecting or jutting beyond a line or surface; protruding. 2. strikingly conspicuous; prominent. 3. springing; jumping.

fantastical (fan-TAS-ti-kel)

1. quaint or strange in form, conception, or appearance. 2. unrestrainedly fanciful; extravagant; bizarre, as in form or appearance; strange; based on or existing only in fantasy; unreal. 3. wonderful or superb; remarkable

infundibular (in-fen-DIB-yah-ler)

1. relating to any of various funnel-shaped bodily passages, openings, structures, or parts. 2. funnel-shaped

aesthetic (es-THET-ik)

1. relating to the philosophy or theories of aesthetics. 2. of or concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste. 3. characterized by a heightened sensitivity to beauty

agrestic (ah-GRES-tik)

1. rural; rustic. 2. unpolished; awkward. Not the prettiest sounding word, but the sound has a nice balance.

plausible (PLAU-zi-ble)

1. seemingly or apparently valid, likely, or acceptable; credible. 2. giving a deceptive impression of truth or reliability. 3. disingenuously smooth; fast-talking

repellant (ri-PEL-ent)

1. serving or tending to repel; able to repel. 2. inspiring aversion or distaste; repulsive. 3. resistant or impervious to a substance

soigné (swan-YA)

1. showing sophisticated elegance; fashionable. 2. well-groomed; polished

moist (MOIST)

1. slightly wet; damp or humid. 2. filled with or characterized by moisture. 3. tearful

paucity (PAU-si-tee)

1. smallness in number; fewness. 2. scarcity; dearth

loam (LOM)

1. soil composed of a mixture of sand, clay, silt, and organic matter. 2. a mixture of moist clay and sand, and often straw, used especially in making bricks and foundry molds

curl (KERL)

1. something with a spiral or coiled shape. 2. a coil or ringlet of hair. 3. a treatment in which the hair is curled. 4. the act of curling; the state of being curled. 5. a weightlifting exercise using one or two hands, in which a weight held at the thigh or to the side of the body is raised to the chest or shoulder and then lowered without moving the upper arms, shoulders, or back. 6. any of various plant diseases in which the leaves roll up

fuliginous (fyoo-LIJ-i-nous)

1. sooty. 2. dark; dusky

titillating (TIT-i-layt-ing)

1. stimulating from light touching; tickling. 2. pleasurably, superficially, or erotically exciting

absolution (ab-sah-LOO-shen)

1. the act of absolving or the state of being absolved. 2. the formal remission of sin imparted by a priest, as in the sacrament of penance It has enough syllables to sound powerful and weighty while representing the sort of enlightened benevolence and hope of forgiveness.

apodyopsis (ap-oh-di-OP-sis)

1. the act of mentally undressing someone. 2. imagining women naked; undressing women mentally.

machination (mak-ah-NA-shen)

1. the act of plotting. 2. a crafty scheme or cunning design for the accomplishment of a sinister end

scintillation (sin-til-LAY-shen)

1. the act of scintillating; sparkling 2. a spark; flash; twinkling. 3. a brilliant display of wit. 4. the twinkling of the stars caused by turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere

armamentarium (ar-mah-men-TAR-ee-um)

1. the complete equipment of a physician or medical institution, including books, supplies, and instruments. 2. the complete range of materials available or used for a task

oblivion (ah-BLIV-ee-on)

1. the condition or quality of being completely forgotten. 2. the act or an instance of forgetting; total forgetfulness. 3. official overlooking of offenses; amnesty.

serendipity (ser-en-DIP-i-tee)

1. the faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident. 2. the fact or occurrence of such discoveries. 3. an instance of making such a discovery

denouement (DAY-noo-man)

1. the final resolution or clarification of a dramatic or narrative plot; the events following the climax of a drama or novel in which such a resolution or clarification takes place. 2. the outcome of a sequence of events; the end result

lethologica (lee-tho-LO-gi-ca)

1. the inability to remember the right word. 2. a psychological disorder that inhibits an individual's ability to articulate thoughts by temporarily forgetting key words, phrases, or names in conversation

lumpenproletariat (lum-pen-proh-li-TAR-ee-it)

1. the lowest, most degraded stratum of the proletariat. Used originally in Marxist theory to describe those members of the proletariat, especially criminals, vagrants, and the unemployed, who lacked class consciousness. 2. the underclass of a human population

necromancy (NEK-roh-man-see)

1. the practice of supposedly communicating with the spirits of the dead in order to predict the future. 2. black magic; sorcery. 3. magic qualities

simplicity (sim-PLIS-i-tee)

1. the property, condition, or quality of being simple or uncombined. 2. absence of luxury or showiness; plainness. 3. absence of affectation or pretense.

verisimilitude (ver-ah-si-MIL-i-tood)

1. the quality of appearing to be true or real. 2. something that has the appearance of being true or real.

quiddity (KWID-i-tee)

1. the real nature of a thing; the essence. 2. a hairsplitting distinction; a quibble

vertigo (VUR-ti-go)

1. the sensation of dizziness; an instance of such a sensation. 2. a confused, disoriented state of mind

vespers (VES-purs)

1. the sixth of the seven canonical hours; a worship service held in the late afternoon or evening in some Christian and Jewish churches; the time of day appointed for this service. 2. evensong. 3. a service held on Sundays or holy days that includes the office of vespers.

coprolalia (kop-rah-LA-lee-ah)

1. the uncontrolled, often obsessive use of obscene or scatological language that may accompany certain mental disorders. 2. foul speech

xanthippe (zan-THIP-ee)

1. the wife of Socrates: the prototype of the quarrelsome, scolding wife. 2. a shrewish, nagging wife.

empress (EM-pris)

1. the woman ruler of an empire. 2. the wife or widow of an emperor

taint (TAINT)

1. to affect with or as if with a disease. 2. to affect with decay or putrefaction; spoil. 3. to corrupt morally. 4. to affect with a tinge of something reprehensible

homologate (hah-MOL-ah-gate)

1. to approve. 2. to confirm officially

fustigate (FUS-ti-gate)

1. to beat with a club; cudgel. 2. to criticize harshly

philander (fi-LAN-der)

1. to carry on a sexual affair, especially an extramarital affair, with a woman one cannot or does not intend to marry (used of a man) 2. to engage in many love affairs, especially with a frivolous or casual attitude (used of a man)

etiolate (EE-tee-i-late)

1. to cause (a plant) to develop without chlorophyll by preventing exposure to sunlight. 2. to cause to appear pale and sickly; to make weak by stunting the growth or development of

masticate (MAS-ti-kate)

1. to chew (food). 2. to grind and knead (rubber, for example) into a pulp

amalgamate (ah-MAL-gah-mate)

1. to combine into a unified or integrated whole; unite. 2. to mix or alloy (a metal) with mercury. A perfect way to describe blend, merge, or mix, especially metallurgy.

annihilate (ah-NI-ah-late)

1. to destroy completely; to reduce to nonexistence; to defeat decisively; vanquish. 2. to nullify or render void; abolish. This word renders all other synonyms moot. Imagine to be destroyed, by nothing more than a word, from a friend or an enemy, betrayed by someone you love. It is utter, and nothing is more poignant.

ensoul (en-SOL)

1. to endow with a soul. 2. to place, receive, or cherish in the soul

adumbrate (AD-um-brat)

1. to give a sketchy outline of. 2. to prefigure indistinctly; foreshadow. 3. to disclose partially or guardedly. 4. to overshadow; shadow or obscure

effervescence (ef-er-VES-ence)

1. to give off bubbles of gas. 2. to issue forth in bubbles. 3. to show enthusiasm, excitement, liveliness

fulminate (FUL-mah-nate)

1. to issue a thunderous verbal attack or denunciation. 2. to explode or detonate

immolate (IM-ah-late)

1. to kill as a sacrifice. 2. to kill oneself by fire. 3. to destroy.

chuckle (CHUK-el)

1. to laugh quietly or to oneself. 2. to cluck or chuck, as a hen

skulk (SKULK)

1. to lie in hiding, as out of cowardice or bad conscience; lurk. 2. to move about stealthily. 3. to evade work or obligation; shirk.

assuage (ah-SWAJ)

1. to make (something burdensome or painful) less intense or severe. 2. to satisfy or appease (hunger or thirst, for example). 3. to pacify or calm. It sounds so cool...., and how it's spelt looks awesome for how it sounds. just everything about it and its meaning. also "epiphany" is one of the best words as well so good you have it :)

defile (di-FILE)

1. to make filthy or dirty; pollute. 2. to debase the pureness or excellence of; corrupt. 3. to profane or sully (a reputation, for example). 4. to make unclean or unfit for ceremonial use; desecrate. 5. to violate the chastity of

obfuscate (ob-fah-SKAT)

1. to make so confused or opaque as to be difficult to perceive or understand. 2. to render indistinct or dim; darken

mulct (MULKT)

1. to penalize by fining or demanding forfeiture. 2. to acquire by trickery or deception. 3. to swindle or defraud

enunciate (i-NUN-see-ate)

1. to pronounce; articulate. 2. to state or set forth precisely or systematically. 3. to announce; proclaim

indemnify (in-DEM-nah-fi)

1. to protect against damage, loss, or injury; insure. 2. to make compensation to for damage, loss, or injury through a contents insurance policy.

vitiate (VISH-ee-ate)

1. to reduce the value or impair the quality of. 2. to corrupt morally; debase. 3. to make ineffective; invalidate

eviscerate (i-VIS-ah-ate)

1. to remove the entrails of; disembowel. 2. to take away a vital or essential part of. 3. to remove the contents of an organ. 4. to remove an organ from a patient

rive (RIVE)

1. to rend or tear apart. 2. to break into pieces; cleave or split asunder. 3. to break or distress (the spirit, for example).

reverberate (ri-VUR-bah-rate)

1. to resound in a succession of echoes; reecho. 2. to have a prolonged or continuing effect. 3. to be repeatedly reflected, as sound waves, heat, or light. 4. to be forced or driven back; recoil or rebound

lacerate ()

1. to rip, cut, or tear. 2. to cause deep emotional pain to; distress

usurp (yoo-SURP)

1. to seize and hold (the power or rights of another, for example) by force and without legal authority. 2. to take over or occupy without right

succumb (sah-KUM)

1. to submit to an overpowering force or yield to an overwhelming desire; give up or give in. 2. to die

cherish (CHER-ish)

1. to treat with affection and tenderness; hold dear. 2. to keep fondly in mind; entertain.

caterwaul (KAT-er-wol)

1. to utter long wailing cries, as cats in rutting time. 2. to utter a similar sound; howl or screech. 3. to quarrel like cats

recherche (rah-sher-SHAY)

1. uncommon; rare. 2. exquisite; choice. 3. overrefined; forced. 4. pretentious; overblown

abominable (ah-BOM-ah-nah-ble)

1. unequivocally detestable; loathsome. 2. thoroughly unpleasant or disagreeable It rolls off the tongue really nicely and reminds me of snowmen gone awry.

foofaraw (FOO-fah-ro)

1. unnecessary things added for ornamentation; excessive or flashy ornamentation; frills. 2. a fuss over a trifling matter

effusive (i-FYOO-siv)

1. unrestrained or excessive in emotional expression. 2. profuse; overflowing

peculiar (pi-KYOOL-yer)

1. unusual or eccentric; odd. 2. distinct from all others. 3. belonging distinctively or primarily to one person, group, or kind; special or unique

topsy-turvy (TOP-see-TUR-vee)

1. upside down. 2. in a confused or chaotic state.

Piddle

1. urinate • piddle around (or about): spend time in trifling activities

lachrymose (LAK-rah-mos)

1. weeping or inclined to weep; tearful. 2. causing or tending to cause tears.

insidious (in-SID-ee-es)

1. working or spreading harmfully in a subtle or stealthy manner. 2. intended to entrap; treacherous. 3. beguiling but harmful; alluring

volatile (VOL-ah-til)

1.evaporating readily at normal temperatures and pressures. 2. tending to vary often or widely, as in price. 3. inconstant; fickle. 4. lighthearted; flighty. 5. ephemeral; fleeting 6. tending to violence; explosive. 7. flying or capable of flying; volant

synecdoche (si-NEK-dah-kee)

A figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole (as hand for sailor), the whole for a part (as the law for police officer), the specific for the general (as cutthroat for assassin), the general for the specific (as thief for pickpocket), or the material for the thing made from it (as steel for sword)

Queue

A line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended to or to proceed

virago (vi-RA-go)

A loud-voiced, ill-tempered, scolding woman

balustrade (BAL-ah-strad)

A rail and the row of balusters or posts that support it, as along the front of a gallery

Podunk

A small, unimportant, and isolated town.

Saccade

A type of eye movement, made both voluntarily and involuntarily, in which the eyes rapidly change fixation from one object or location to another.

Coprolite

Fossilized feces

pyrrhic (PIR-ik)

(of a victory) won at too great a cost to have been worthwhile for the victor

Jazzy

(used especially of clothes) marked by conspicuous display

Presage

(v.) to foreshadow and point to a future event; to predict; (n.) a warning or indication of the future

bungalow (BUNG-ah-low)

1. A small house or cottage usually having a single story and sometimes an additional attic story. 2. a thatched or tiled one-story house in India surrounded by a wide verandah

aegis (EE-jis)

1. I stumbled upon this word awhile ago and I've been entranced by this word ever since. Aegis has at least these five meanings that I know of: 1) the shield or breastplate of Zeus or Athena, bearing at its center the head of a Gorgon. 2) a large collar or cape worn to display the protection provided by a high religious authority. 3) the holder of a shield signifying the protection provided by a religious authority. 4) protection; support [e.g., They have the aegis of Caesar.]. 5) sponsorship; auspix. Some people pronounce aegis like AY-jis, but I've heard the proper pronounciation is EE-jis which, in my opinion, is the most euphonic pronounciation. 2.This is a great word and I saw it referenced on a national geographic program awhile back. The scholar referenced a Roman soldier's shield as "the Roman Aegis"... as if it was its proper name... just thought it was kind of neat.

epiphany (i-PIF-ah-nee)

1. a Christian feast celebrating the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi; January 6, on which this feast is traditionally observed. 2. a revelatory manifestation of a divine being. 3. a sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something; a comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization

smorgasbord (SMOR-gus-bord)

1. a buffet meal featuring a varied number of dishes. 2. a varied collection

antilogy (an-TIL-oh-jee)

1. a contradiction in ideas, statements, or terms. 2. a contradiction between any words or passages in an author

conglomerate (kon-GLOM-ah-rat)

1. a corporation made up of a number of different companies that operate in diversified fields. 2. a collected heterogeneous mass; a cluster. 3. a rock consisting of pebbles and gravel embedded in cement

logomachy (lah-GOM-ah-kee)

1. a dispute about words. 2. a battle of words

soliloquy (sah-LIL-ah-kwee)

1. a dramatic or literary form of discourse in which a character talks to himself or herself or reveals his or her thoughts without addressing a listener; a specific speech or piece of writing in this form of discourse. 2. the act of speaking to oneself

nepenthe (ni-PEN-thee)

1. a drug mentioned in the Odyssey as a remedy for grief. 2. something that induces forgetfulness of sorrow or eases pain

phantasmagoria (fan-taz-mah-GOR-ee-ah)

1. a fantastic sequence of haphazardly associative imagery, as seen in dreams or fever; a constantly changing scene composed of numerous elements. 2. fantastic imagery as represented in art

swashbuckler (SWOSH-buk-ler)

1. a flamboyant swordsman or adventurer. 2. a sword-wielding ruffian or bully. 3. a dramatic or literary work dealing with a swashbuckler

melancholy (MEL-an-kol-ee)

1. a gloomy state of mind, esp. when habitual or prolonged; depression. 2. sober thoughtfulness; pensiveness. 3. the condition of having too much black bile, considered in ancient and medieval medicine to cause gloominess and depression; black bile

Sturm and Drang

'Storm and Stress' was a movement in German literature and music. Extreme emotions were freely expressed, such as greed, revenge, love and hate.

Phylactery

(Judaism) either of two small leather cases containing texts from the Hebrew Scriptures (known collectively as tefillin)

scurrilous

(SKUR-ah-les) 1. given to the use of vulgar, coarse, or abusive language. 2. expressed in vulgar, coarse, or abusive language

Voluble

(adj.) characterized by a ready flow of words; glib, fluent

Malignant

(adj.) deadly, extremely harmful, evil; spiteful, malicious

Brouhaha

(n.) a confused hodgepodge of sounds, hubbub; an uproar or commotion that goes far beyond what is justified

Paroxysm

(n.) a sudden outburst; a spasm, convulsion

anacoluthon (an-ah-kah-LOO-thon)

An abrupt change within a sentence to a second construction inconsistent with the first, sometimes used for rhetorical effect; for example, I warned him that if he continues to drink, what will become of him? That a single word describes such a slippery concept is a delight.

Polkupyora

Bicycle

Insolent

Boldly disrespectful in speech or behavior; rude

scrump (SKRUMP)

British: to steal fruit from an orchard or garden

Xiphoid

Literally means resembling a sword; the lowest portion of the sternum; a sword-shaped cartilaginous process supported by bone

amadeus ()

Means "loved by god" and is Mozart's middle name. This is a word that needs to be sang.

Lugubrious

Mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially to an exaggerated or ludicrous degree

Reciprocity

Mutual exchange, returning tit for tat

Neophite

Novice; amateur

Phlebotomist

One who draws blood from patients of donors for dignostic testing or other medical purposes

oubliette (oo-blee-ET)

a dungeon with a trapdoor in the ceiling as its only means of entrance or exit

panegyric (pan-i-JIR-ik)

a eulogistic oration or writing; formal or elaborate praise

schussboomer (SHUS-boo-mer)

a fast downhill skier; someone who skis down a mountain very quickly and skillfully

Malaise

a feeling of depression, uneasiness, or queasiness

euphoria (yoo-FOR-ee-ah)

a feeling of great happiness or well-being

Borborygmy

Over 60 bowel sounds a minute. Bowel gurgles

Hijinks

Playful, often noisy and rowdy activity, usually involving mischievous pranks.

Self-efficacy

Refers to one's belief about one's ability to perform behaviors that should lead to expected outcomes. Those with high levels for a particular task are more likely to succeed than those with low levels

Chimichanga

Rice, beans, cheese, choice of shredded beef or chicken, deep fried, served with sour cream, salsa and guacamole

Drongo

Stupid, inept

Plasticize

Thin layer of polymer added to dry fabric to have more pronounced glaze Often applied to heavy weight fabric such as denim, Slicker and somewhat soil-resistant and water-repellent

Chasuble

The garment worn by a priest during Mass

olecranon (oh-LEK-rah-non)

The large process on the upper end of the ulna that projects behind the elbow joint and forms the point of the elbow

Cameltoe

The space found when underwear is too tight around a women's Genital's.

Exhort

To urge strongly, advise earnestly

Frick

United States industrialist who amassed a fortune in the steel industry (1849-1919) -locked out workers during strike

garçonnière (gar-son-NYER)

a bachelor's apartment or quarters

pilgarlic (pil-GAR-lik)

a bald-headed man

phalanges (pha-LAN-jeez)

a bone of a finger or toe

quidnunc (KWID-nungk)

a busybody; a nosy person

troglodyte (TROG-lah-dite)

a cave dweller; recluse

Linchpin

a central cohesive source of support and stability

clatterfart (KLAT-er-fart)

a chatterer; babbler

weanling (WEEN-ling)

a child or animal newly weaned

Xenon

a colorless odorless inert gaseous element occurring in the earth's atmosphere in trace amounts

phalanx (FA-langks)

a compact group of people

mythomania (mith-oh-MAY-nee-ah)

a compulsion to exaggerate or tell lies

poltroon (pol-TROON)

a contemptible coward

Colloquy

a conversation especially a formal one

Curmudgeon

a crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas

penchant (PEN-chant)

a definite liking; a strong inclination

hyperbole (hi-PUR-bah-lee)

a deliberate exaggeration of speech or writing used for effect.

Scion

a descendent or heir

Concupiscence

a desire for sexual intimacy

kerfuffle (ker-FUF-el)

a disorderly outburst or tumult

Pride

a feeling of self-respect and personal worth