# قد لاتضطر لمعرفتها
الجزء الاول
Words You Should Know but Probably Don’t
PART III
Chances are, you use many of the words in this section, but—if pressed—you would not be able to offer a definition for them. Have no fear. Once you’ve read through this list, you’ll not only use these words but you’ll actually know what they mean as well, thus gaining confidence in your ability to impress others with your sparkling communication skills.
abase (uh-BASE), verb To humiliate or deprive of self-worth. Melanie refused to ABASE herself for her boss over a simple clerical error.
abash (uh-BASH), verb To disconcert, humiliate, or shame. To abash is to make another feel uncomfortable or disconcerted, or to cause someone to lose composure.
The older boys bad no qualms about ABASHING the new arrivals; it was an old tradition at the school.
abate (uh-BATE), verb To put an end to or reduce in intensity. To abate is to reduce or diminish something. Something that lessens or weakens is abating. The flood waters ABATED when the rain stopped.
abeyance (uh-BEY-unce), noun
Temporary suspension; a temporary pause, especially in regard to a government or court’s ruling.
To the embarrassment of the school administration, the local newspaper soon got wind of their decision to hold Chuck’s expulsion in ABEYANCE and allow him to play in the championship game.
abjure (ab-JOOR), verb To renounce, repudiate, or reject one’s word or professed beliefs. To abjure is to solemnly swear off or recant. After some soul-searching following his financial and domestic problems, Brad ABJURED drinking and gambling.
academic (ACK-uh-demm-ick), adjective In addition to its noun form, which can mean “someone associated with a school” or “someone who is educated but lacks street smarts,” academic refers to theories and speculations that have no practical or useful significance.
Janet is filled with all kinds of advice on how to solve the world’s problems, but all of her solutions are ACADEMIC, and thus, worthless.
acclamation (ack-luh-MAY-shun), noun Overwhelming approval, demonstrated by loud cheers, clapping, etc., rather than through a ballot. The ACCLAMATION of the crowd made it very clear that Jack had won the talent show.
accrete (uh-KREET), verb To accumulate or cause to become attached. Dang it! Every time I park my car under a tree the candy apple red finish ACCRETES a layer of bird droppings!
acquiescence (ak-wee-ESS-unce), noun The act of passive agreement or assent without objection. Acquiesence is the act of assenting or complying with another’s demands. Someone who submits to another’s will is acquiescent.
Hank, enchanted by first-time grandfatherhood, gave over to complete ACQUIESCENCE on his first day with little Laura.
acumen (uh-CUE-men), noun
Keenness of judgment. Acumen refers to an ability to make quick, accurate decisions and evaluations. It is characterized by rapid discernment and insight.
After only two years as a restaurant owner, Clyde developed a remarkable business ACUMEN; in a supposedly “bad location,” he had little trouble coming up with promotions that attracted customers.
adage (AD-ij), noun A short proverb or saying. An adage is a brief maxim. “A stitch in time saves nine” is an example of an adage. The old man quoted ADAGES endlessly, which the reporter dutifully took down in his notebook.
addle (ADD-ull), verb Depending on its context, addle can mean either “to cause something to spoil” or “to make confused.” You’re going to ADDLE the milk if you keep forgetting to put it back in the refrigerator!
adherent (ad-HERE-unt), noun Someone who adheres to an opinion. Adherent describes one who is devoted to or strongly associated with a cause or opinion.
The measure’s ADHERENTS were outspent by its opponents.
affable (AFF-uh-bul), adjective Gentle; approachable; friendly. We were all sad to see our old boss leave, but relieved that his replacement seemed like an AFFABLE person.
aficionado (uh-fish-ee-uh-NAH-doe), noun A devotee, someone who is enthralled with and supports a particular activity. The writer Ernest Hemingway helped to popularize this word of Spanish origin. My dad can’t get enough of it, but I’ve never really been a baseball AFICIONADO.
aggregate (AG-ruh-git), noun As a verb, aggregate is pronounced differently (AG-ruh-gait) and means to collect into a whole. As a noun, aggregate’s most common meaning is “sum total.”
You’ve had some rough spots, but your AGGREGATE performance at this company has been first-rate.
agnosticism (ag-NOS-ti-sihz-um), noun
The belief that it is impossible to know whether or not an ultimate cause (that is, God) exists. An agnostic is a person who is unable to conclude that there is or is not a God. By contrast, an atheist is a person who has concluded that God does not exist. (The two words are often confused.)
Frank, who had been raised in a deeply religious home, knew that it would hurt his parents to speak openly of his AGNOSTICISM.
albatross (AL-buh-tross), noun
A significant impediment, handicap, or burden. Also: a large pelican-like bird. The most common idiomatic use of albatross is the first sense given above.
In Coleridge’s poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, a sailor shoots a friendly ALBATROSS and is made to wear the bird’s carcass around his neck.
allegory (AL-uh-gore-ee), noun A story that seems simple on the surface but that uses symbolism and other techniques to convey a deeper meaning, usually one relevant to major ethical or social issues.
Dr. Seuss’s Yertle the Turtle, a delightful children’s story, is also an ALLEGORY about the dangers of fascism and megalomania.
alleviate (uh-LEEV-ee-ate), verb To make more bearable; to relieve. The only thing that will ALLEVIATE the fatigue I’m feeling right now is a good night’s sleep.
ambience (AWM-bee-awnce), noun A feeling or atmosphere associated with a place or individual. The distinctive air patrons may associate with a certain restaurant, for instance, can be a large part of its appeal; this atmospheric “feel” is called ambience.
The old mansion had the AMBIENCE of an elegant, refined gentleman unaccustomed to being hurried.
ameliorate (uh-MEEL-yuh-rate), verb
To improve or upgrade. To ameliorate is to make better or put right. When an unacceptable state of affairs is changed for the better, it can be said to have been ameliorated.
The ambassador’s midnight visit was the first step toward AMELIORATING the poor relations between the two countries, and may actually have averted war.
amenable (uh-MEH-nuh-bul), adjective Agreeable (to an idea); open to suggestion or willing to heed advice. A person who yields to the suggestion or wishes of another is said to be amenable to the idea in question. The word carries a sense of tact and manageability rather than submissiveness.
We expected stiff opposition to the new benefits package, but once we took the trouble to explain it thoroughly the employees were quite AMENABLE.
amity (AM-uh-tee), noun Friendship, especially that expressed by two or more nations. For decades, people of all nations have wished for AMITY between Israel and Palestine.
amorphous (uh-MOR-fuss), adjective Formless. Amorphous refers not only to physical shapelessness, but also to ideas, works of art or literature, and even personalities that are vague or poorly defined.
He did not make reasoned arguments in defense of his client, but rather an AMORPHOUS collection of unsupported claims that persuaded no one.
antebellum (an-teh-BELL-uhm), adjective
Of or pertaining to the period preceding the American Civil War. Antebellum translates from the Latin as “before the war.”
Nostalgia aside, we should remember that for those held in slavery the ANTEBELLUM period was anything but romantic and chivalrous.
antipathy (an-TIP-uh-thea), noun A feeling of strong revulsion or dislike. Antipathy is a combination of the Greek forms “anti” (against or in opposition to) and “pathos” (having to do with one’s feelings and emotions). Therefore, antipathy is a feeling of aversion.
I’m afraid my ANTIPATHY for light opera won’t be changed by a single night out.
aperture (AP-er-churr), noun An opening, either natural or human-made, in something. The APERTURES in the rock formation formed an exciting pattern of shadows on the desert floor.
apocryphal (uh-POK-ri-fuhl), adjective Of dubious authenticity. A story that is fabricated long after the fact is considered apocryphal. (Similarly, several books of the Bible that are not universally accepted by all Christians form a body of work known as the Apocrypha.)
The story of Shakespeare’s having shared a mistress with Richard Burbage is almost certainly APOCRYPHAL.
apostate (uh-POSS-tate), noun One who renounces religious faith or, more generally, one who turns his or her back on previous loyalties. Melinda’s new stance on pro-life issues caused her church to label her an APOSTATE.
apostolic (ap-uh-STOLL-ic), adjective Of or relating to the New Testament apostles or their teachings. The pastor’s fiery, anti-American sermons surely would not be considered APOSTOLIC by church fathers.
appeasement (uh-PEEZ-ment), noun Sometimes used in a negative sense—especially by political candidates— appeasement is an attempt to bring peace between people,
groups, nations, etc.
Just because the candidate wants to open talks with that rogue nation doesn’t make him guilty of APPEASEMENT.
apposite (APP-uh-zit), adjective Though similar to the word “opposite,” apposite means something that is relevant, pertinent, or appropriate to a given situation. Your objections are extremely APPOSITE, but I wish you would let me finish describing my plan before you fill it full of holes!
archetype (ARE-ki-tipe), noun The original upon which all subsequent versions are based, often used in its adjectival form, archetypal. Robert Louis Stevenson’s Long John Silver is the ARCHETYPE of the fearsome pirate captain.
ardor (AR-dur), noun
Intense passion, desire, or emotion.
Since childhood, Michelle had studied animals with such ARDOR that her friends and family encouraged her to become a veterinarian.
artifice (ART-ih-fuss), noun Sometimes referring simply to anything created naturally or by hand, artifice more often refers to trickery or deceit.
Tom Sawyer’s ARTIFICE, which results in getting others to paint a fence for him, is one of the highlights of Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer.
aseptic (uh-SEP-tick), adjective
In addition to meaning “free from germs,” aseptic describes someone who lacks emotion or vibrancy.
Jordan’s ASEPTIC performance at the job interview is probably the reason he didn’t get the job, despite his qualifications.
asperity (a-SPARE-ih-tee), noun Carrying with it a multitude of meanings, asperity most often refers to a harshness of manner. It also means “hard to endure.” The ASPERITY of the swamp’s climate makes it unlikely anyone ever will settle there.
aspersion (uh-SPUR-zhun), noun False accusation; slander. To cast an aspersion on another is to make an unfair or untrue statement about his conduct or character. I will not allow you to cast these ASPERSIONS on a man whose career has been so distinguished.
autonomous (aw-TAHN-uh-muss), adjective
Being in charge of one’s own life; independent of other influences; self-governing.
Peter had always struggled to remain AUTONOMOUS after leaving home, so it was no surprise to us that he chose to start his own business after graduation.
averse (uh-VERCE), verb Holding a disinclination. (See, for comparison, the entry for adverse.) I’m afraid the problem is not that Tom can’t find a field of study he enjoys; it’s that he’s AVERSE to the idea of doing any work.
aversion (uh-VUR-zhun), noun Extreme dislike; loathing. My AVERSION to soap operas leaves me with little to discuss at coffee breaks.
avocation (av-uh-KAY-shun), noun While a vocation is a job, an avocation is a hobby. As long as you treat your profession like an AVOCATION, you will not be successful.
avowal (uh-VOW-uhl), noun An open admission or statement. To avow is to declare openly, so an avowal is an unconcealed declaration or confession. He had run as a Democrat for over thirty years, so his AVOWAL of support for the Republican ticket shocked many supporters.
baleful (BAIL-ful), adjective Ominous; signaling evil to come. It always seemed to me that Mrs. Howard had a BALEFUL gleam in her eye as she passed out her absurdly difficult tests.
baroque (buh-ROKE), adjective This French word refers to art, literature, music, etc. that is excessively, even grotesquely, ornamental. It’s so “over the top” that it can be striking. Baroque dates from the seventeenth century, which gave birth to the form.
Paula decided not to buy the house because she feared its BAROQUE ornamentation would make it a difficult resell.
beatitude (bee-AT-it-tood), noun
Highest possible blessedness or contentment. Also: any of the declarations (“Blessed are . . .”) made by Jesus in the biblical account of his Sermon on the Mount (usually capitalized). Beatitude comes from the Latin for “perfect happiness.”
His translation of Christ’s BEATITUDES cast new light on the familiar declarations.
bedraggled (bee-DRAG-eld), adjective
Harried or in a condition of disarray; unkempt; dirty and limp. A person who has just walked a long way through mud and rain could be said to be bedraggled.
A group of BEDRAGGLED orphans stood outside begging by the flickering gaslight.
befuddle (bee-FUD-il), verb
To confuse or perplex. To befuddle is to mystify or confuse, as with bewildering arguments or misleading statements.
His vague account of strange doings in the woods succeeded in BEFUDDLING the policemen, and probably saved him a traffic ticket.
beleaguered (bee-LEEG-erd), adjective
Embattled; constantly confronted with obstacles. To beleaguer is, literally, to beseige or surround with an army for the purpose of harrassment. When we say someone is beleaguered, we mean that he is beset with many troubles.
The BELEAGUERED financier even considered bankruptcy, but vowed to fight on.
belie (bee-LYE) verb
To disprove or demonstrate to be false; to contradict appearances. To say something belies something else is to say that it gives evidence of a contrary state of affairs.
His unsteady walk and slurred speech BELIED his insistence of having consumed no alcohol at the party.
benediction (ben-i-DIK-shun), noun
A formal blessing, an expression of good wishes. The most common sense of benediction has to do with the invocation of God’s blessing at the end of a church service, but the word can also mean the expression of goodwill from one person to another.
As the priest pronounced the BENEDICTION, Julia looked around the pew for her coat but could not find it.
beneficent (buh-NEFF-uh-cent), adjective Related to performing acts of kindness and charity. Beneficent also can describe fortunate events. The monsignor’s quiet, BENEFICENT works have made him one of the most respected church leaders in the region.
besiege (bih-SEEJ), verb To submit a person or body to insistent demands from all sides; to crowd around; to harass. Everywhere he went, the movie idol was BESIEGED by crazed fans looking for autographs and even pieces of his hair or clothing.
biennial (bye-EN-ee-yul), adjective Happening every second year. Ms. Webster argues that the summer Olympics, which now occur every four years, should become a BIENNIAL event.
bilk (bilk), verb To swindle or cheat. Someone who defrauds a person or institution of funds or goods bilks the victim. The accountant, investigators learned, had been BILKING the company of nearly a quarter of a million dollars a year.
binary (BYE-nair-ee), adjective
Constructed of two elements; of or pertaining to two. A binary number system is one with two digits; zero and one.
The decimal number 2 would be written as 10 in BINARY notation, since one times two to the first power plus zero times two to the zero power equals two.
blandish (BLAN-dish), verb To coax someone to do something for you through the use of flattery. You might also hear the noun form of this word, which is blandishment.
Your attempts to BLANDISH me into giving in to your point of view will not work.
blazon (BLAY-zuhn), verb A blazon is a coat of arms, which proclaims one’s family’s illustrious pedigree. Thus, to blazon is to proclaim something widely. When the president died unexpectedly, the news was quickly BLAZONED by every media outlet.
bohemian (bo-HEE-mee-un), adjective Unconventional; reminiscent of a lifestyle free of the restraints and concerns of mainstream society. To say someone is bohemian is to say he is a free thinker and lives without much concern for the inhibitions associated with the workaday world.
Jane loved Carl, but was unprepared to share in his BOHEMIAN way of life.
bosky (BOS-kee), adjective Thick with underbrush; wooded. Straying from the marked trail, the hikers soon found themselves lost in the BOSKY, uncharted wilderness.
brandish (BRAN-dish), verb
To fluorish or shake menacingly or ostentatiously. Something can be brandished either out of defiance, as a warning of potential future harm, or out of pride, as a sign of status.
He BRANDISHED a revolver; the room suddenly fell silent.
brazier (BRAY-zhur), noun A metal container for holding burning coals. Sitting side by side in the cozy farm kitchen, we sipped hot cider and toasted muffins over the BRAZIER.
broach (broach), verb
To bring up or put forth as a topic for discussion.
The evening with Dan was pleasant enough, probably because none of us had the courage to BROACH the subject of his impending indictment.
brogue (broag), noun An Irish accent in spoken English. Although Mrs. O’Leary left Ireland when she was a young girl you can still detect a slight BROGUE in her speech.
bucolic (byoo-KOL-ik), adjective
Pastoral; rural or rustic in nature.
Deana’s farm, with its blooming apple trees and peaceful brooks, was just the kind of BUCOLIC scene we had been hoping to photograph for our article.
bulwark (BULL-wurk), noun
A wall made of earthen materials built as a defense mechanism; any extensive protective measure taken against external danger.
The money set aside in the emergency fund was regarded as a BULWARK against future disasters, to ensure that we would be prepared the next time.
bursar (BUR-ser), noun
The treasurer of a college.
At the beginning of each semester the students receiving financial aid would line up outside the BURSAR’s office to sign their student loan papers.
cache (kash), noun
A place where things of value are hidden; also, the things stored there.
Elwood, a shrewd swindler, kept a CACHE of stock certificates, Swiss bank account numbers, and jewels just in case he had to leave the country in short order.
cachet (kah-SHAY), noun A mark of distinction or originality. Walter thought that the velvet smoking jacket lent him a certain CACHET that was in keeping with his image as a man of leisure.
cacophony (kuh-KAHF-uh-knee), noun Harsh, unpleasant sounds that can create a disturbing feeling. Poets sometimes will use cacophony on purpose, for effect, in their works.
The CACOPHONY of the nearby construction site made it almost impossible for me to get any work done.
cadence (KAY-dence), noun The rhythm or flow of a series of words or sounds; often, the harmonious rhythm or flow of the spoken word. The poem’s CADENCE echoed the lazy summer days of the poet’s youth.
callow (KAL-oh), adjective
Lacking experience; immature.
Ellis, a CALLOW youth accompanying Madame Hempstead, seemed not to understand that his joke about the Ambassador’s choice of underwear was inappropriate for a state dinner.
calumny (KAL-um-nee), noun
A slanderous statement made with the intent of hurting another’s reputation; a malicious rumor.
The columnist apparently thought that the CALUMNY she directed at Senator Martin would cause him to lose only the election, not his wife and family as well.
capstone (CAP-stone), noun Originally used to describe the protective stone at the top of an arch, which keeps the arch stable, capstone has come to have the broader meaning of “a crowning achievement” or “a finishing touch.”
When she won the Pulitzer Prize for her last novel, it was the CAPSTONE to a long and distinguished literary career.
cartel (kar-TELL), noun
A group assembled with the objective of establishing mutual control over prices, production, and marketing of goods by the members. While a cartel is usually a group of representatives from independent business organizations, the term can also refer to a coalition of political figures united for a particular cause.
The oil CARTEL had succeeded in driving world energy prices up significantly.
castigate (KASS-tuh-gate), verb To criticize or rebuke severely, usually with the intention of correcting wrongdoing. The committee CASTIGATED the college’s administration for unethical recruiting practices.
catalyst (KAT-uh-list), noun That which initiates a process or event and is itself unaffected. Catalyst has a technical meaning in chemistry, but in general usage it refers to a person or thing that sets off a new sequence of events while remaining uninvolved in those events.
The film served as a CATALYST for Peter; he began keeping a journal regularly soon after he saw it.
cavalcade (KAV-uhl-kade), noun
A procession, especially one involving people on horses or in vehicles. A cavalcade can refer to a parade or to anything that is to be displayed with great pageantry.
The president served as host to a CAVALCADE of visiting dignitaries.
cavalier (KAV-uh-leer), adjective
Unconcerned with what is considered important; nonchalantly unengaged, especially with regard to serious matters. A reckless or inattentive person charged with responsibility in affairs of importance can be said to be cavalier.
His CAVALIER attitude toward financial management may be his company’s undoing.
cavil (KAV-ihl), verb
To find fault in trivial matters or raise petty objections. As a noun, cavil can mean a trivial objection.
Susan CAVILLED for some time about the lateness of the milk delivery, but since it was only a matter of minutes, she eventually gave in and paid the bill.
cede (seed), verb To give up, as by treaty. In 1819, Spain CEDED to the United States the territory we now know as the state of Florida.
censure (SEN-sher), noun A show of disapproval or blame. Censure is formal rebuke or stern reproof. You could not have acted as you did without expecting CENSURE from this organization.
chaff (chaff), noun
Worthless stuff; material to be cast away.
I usually write for an hour straight in my journal, knowing full well that much of what comes out will be drivel, and allowing myself to go back later and separate the wheat from the CHAFF.
chantey (SHAN-tee), noun
A song sung by sailors in rhythm to their labors.
As they hauled up anchor, the ship’s crew would join together in “What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor” and other CHANTEYS.
chary (TCHAIR-ee), adjective Describes someone who is very cautious or wary. I was CHARY of Lillian’s new business scheme because her “great” ideas always result in spectacular disasters.
chide (chide), verb To scold or lecture; to reprove. My brother CHIDED me for neglecting to visit our grandparents during my trip to California.
choleric (KAHL-er-ick), adjective Characterized by becoming quickly angry. No one would work for Mr. Sanchez because his CHOLERIC temper drove many to tears.
cipher (SIE-fur), noun A person or thing without meaning or value; a mystery; literally, the mathematical symbol for zero. Despite the best efforts of the intelligence community to gather evidence against him, Doctor Lysenko remained a CIPHER.
circa (SUR-ka), noun
An estimated historical time period.
Based on the diary’s condition, as well as the handwriting style and vocabulary choices of its author, Professor Evans set the date at CIRCA 1910.
circuitous (sir-CUE-uh-tuss), adjective Extremely twisty and windy; indirect. Tameeka called it a shortcut, but her CIRCUITOUS directions added thirty minutes to the trip.
circumspect (SUR-kum-spekt), adjective Wary of consequences. Having been stung once, Ferdinand was CIRCUMSPECT about where he sat, and always checked for bees.
circumvent (SIR-kum-vent), verb To evade by means of artful contrivance. Someone who circumvents a regulation has not broken it in the strict sense, but found a gray area or loophole within which to operate. Similarly, to circumvent someone’s authority is to maneuver around him.
In CIRCUMVENTING the will of the board of directors, the CEO knew he was taking a risk.
clandestine (klan-DESS-tin), adjective
Kept hidden; secreted away from authorities or public observance. A clandestine object is one that is concealed for a purpose hidden from general view.
The message reached the resistance movement by means of a coded broadcast heard in hundreds of CLANDESTINE radios around the country.
clarion (KLAR-ee-uhn), adjective From the Latin meaning “trumpet,” clarion describes something, such as a sound, that is clear and shrill. On the first day back to school, Robby groaned at the CLARION call of his morning alarm.
clemency (KLEM-uhn-see), noun Forbearance or mercy toward a wrongdoer or opponent. To show clemency is to be lenient in cases where circumstances warrant. The governor’s show of CLEMENCY for Callahan may come back to haunt him at election time.
cloistered (KLOI-sturd), adjective Secluded; isolated; removed or hidden. Shocked by the news of the shooting on our street, we remained CLOISTERED in our house for days afterward.
coagulate (ko-AG-yoo-late), verb
To change from a liquid to a solid-like mass.
As someone who claims to be qualified to teach high school biology, you should certainly be able to answer a question on what makes blood COAGULATE.
coffers (KAH-furs OR KAW-furs), noun A treasury, a place in which money is kept or stored. When the minister suddenly bought a brand new sports car, his flock began carefully checking the church’s COFFERS.
coitus (KO-uh-tus), noun
Sexual intercourse.
Professor Wells sternly informed me that he would prefer that I use the term “COITUS” in describing the activities of the test couples, rather than the less formal “making whoopee.”
collegiality (kuh-LEEG-ee-al-ih-tee), noun An effective working relationship among colleagues. The COLLEGIALITY of the office is one reason there’s very little turnover there.
commensurate (kuh-MEN-sir-it), adjective Having an equal measure; of equivalent duration or extent. Something that is commensurate with something else is of a proper scope or size by comparison.
Michael received a raise COMMENSURATE with his performance.
commiserate (kuh-MIZ-uh-rate), verb To share in another’s sorrow or disappointment. Commiserate comes from the Latin roots for “with” and “pitiable.” Jane and Anita COMMISERATED with Frank over the failure of the business.
complacent (kum-PLAY-sent), adjective
Satisfied with oneself; smug; content.
Brian was so COMPLACENT during the practice scrimmages before the big game that his coach considered benching him and playing the backup quarterback instead.
complicity (kum-PLIS-ity), verb
To be involved in or be associated with, or to participate in or have previous knowledge of, an instance of wrongdoing.
Although he did not receive money for throwing the 1919 World Series, Buck Weaver was nevertheless suspended from baseball for life, because his failure to expose the scheme was seen as COMPLICITY in his teammates’ plans.
compote (KOM-poat), noun
A stewed fruit and sugar dessert.
In addition to an unidentifiable brownish meat in a dark, concealing sauce, many of the TV dinners I ate as a child included a rather leaden strawberry COMPOTE.
concave (kahn-CAVE), adjective Curving inward, as the inside of a sphere. (See, for comparison, the entry for convex.) After Bill threw it in anger, the baseball left a CONCAVE impression in the wall.
conciliatory (kun-SILL-ee-uh-tore-ee), adjective Describes someone willing to compromise or to make concessions in order to preserve peaceful relations. After Lou lost his temper with Margery, he was excessively CONCILIATORY to her for weeks afterward.
confluence (KON-flu-ence), noun A point of meeting or flowing together. Literally, a confluence is the point at which two rivers join. The word has been expanded significantly through metaphorical use.
It is on the issue of human spiritual growth that the two philosophies find their CONFLUENCE.
congenital (kun-JEN-it-ul), adjective
Present or existing from birth. A congenital disease or condition can be inherited, or can result from environmental influences (usually influences on growth within the womb).
The young child suffered from a CONGENITAL heart defect.
conjoin (kuhn-JOIN), verb To join together or unite. The word often is used to mean “to wed.” After the battling factions CONJOINED, they were able to accomplish peacefully most of their separate goals.
connubial (kuh-NUBE-ee-uhl), adjective
Of, or related to, the state of being married.
My parents will celebrate fifty years of CONNUBIAL bliss this year.
consecrate (KON-si-krate), verb
To proclaim as sacred; to set aside or declare to be holy. By extension, to consecrate oneself to a given goal is to commit to it with a conviction in keeping with strong faith.
Lincoln’s words, more than any other action after the carnage, served to CONSECRATE the battlefield at Gettysburg.
consortium (kon-SOR-tee-um), noun
A union, partnership, or alliance, especially one among financial or business entities. Consortium also has a legal meaning related to the rights of married persons, but use in this sense is rare.
Mr. Sparks represented a CONSORTIUM of firms.
contrition (kun-TRISH-un), noun
Sadness or remorse over past wrong actions. Technically, contrition is one of the conditions for absolution from sin for members of the Roman Catholic church. The word is also used in a broader secular sense.
He showed not the least CONTRITION for his acts, even when confronted by his victims.
convex (kon-VEX), adjective Curving outward, as the outside of a sphere. (See, for comparison, the entry for concave.) Little Stephen laughed as he watched the tiny car plunge off the CONVEX surface of his large toy ball.
copious (KO-pee-us), adjective Abundant; large or generous in extent. That which is broad in scope or abundant is copious. The winter’s COPIOUS rainfall was welcomed by area farmers.
cornucopia (korn-yuh-COE-pee-uh), noun This Latin word means “horn of plenty,” and a cornucopia has become a familiar symbol of Thanksgiving: a horn-like container overflowing with nature’s bounty. In general, a cornucopia is an overabundance, a seemingly inexhaustible supply of something.
Jenny returned from the beach with a CORNUCOPIA of beach junk: T-shirts, coffee mugs, and liquefied bags of saltwater taffy.
corollary (KORE-uh-lare-ee), noun
Accompanying element; consequence; thing brought about as a result (of some factor).
The natural COROLLARY of your theory that Hawkins murdered his mistress to silence her would appear to be that she had told him she was about to go public with details of their affair.
corporal (KOR-puh-rul), adjective Related to the body. Also: a military rank. (See, for comparison, the entry for corporeal.) The school has a strict policy forbidding CORPORAL punishment.
corporeal (kor-PORE-ee-ul), adjective
Tangible; having material existence. (See, for comparison, the entry for corporal.)
The estate sold the late author’s CORPOREAL assets, but it retained the copyright of all his intellectual properties, both published and unpublished.
correlate (KORE-uh-late), verb
To relate logically or systematically; to link; as a noun (KORE-uh-lut), something correlated to something else.
I believe I can demonstrate convincingly that the increased cancer rate in the town is directly CORRELATED to the dumping practices of your firm over the past twenty.
corroborate (kuh-ROB-uh-reyt), verb To make more certain; to confirm. The witness was able to CORROBORATE the defendant’s testimony.
couplet (KUP-lut), noun
In poetry, two related lines, similar in rhyme or rhythm.
The use of the rhymed COUPLET at the end of a scene is a stock technique employed by Elizabethan playwrights to alert the audience to an upcoming shift in the action.
credulous (KREJ-uh-luss), adjective Given to acceptance or belief. A credulous person is one who accepts even outlandish assertions easily. The swindler found a ready market for his wares in the CREDULOUS townsfolk.
cull (kull), verb To assemble or collect bit by bit; to select. Having CULLED the most impressive poems from her early work, Ariel felt she was ready to submit the collection for publication.
curriculum (KUH-rik-yuh-lum), noun
The courses of study, educational plan, or study path of a learning institution.
The history department here offers a solid, challenging CURRICULUM equal to that of the more prestigious Ivy League schools— and at a fraction of the cost.
cursory (KUR-suh-ree), adjective Performed with haste and without care. Mrs. Wallace avoided giving tests on the Friday before a vacation, as she knew her students’ efforts would be CURSORY at best.
curtail (ker-TALE), verb To abridge or truncate; to lessen, usually by taking or cutting away from. His new office’s 8:00 a.m. meetings meant Dwight would have to CURTAIL his late-night television watching.
dawdle (DAW-dull), verb To waste time; to loiter or loaf. “If you don’t stop DAWDLING,” Mrs. Adams scolded her husband, “we’ ll be late for the opera.”
debilitate (dih-BILL-ih-tate), verb To enfeeble or weaken. Something that debilitates a person devitalizes him and depletes his strength. Fran’s DEBILITATING illness slowly sapped her will to live.
deciduous (dih-SID-you-us), adjective Describes something that falls off or sheds seasonally during development. Every autumn people travel here from miles around to watch the multihued pageant of DECIDUOUS trees.
decimate (DESS-ih-mate), verb Technically, something is decimated if it is reduced one-tenth. But the term has been generalized to mean greatly reducing something, to the point of wiping it out.
Logging has DECIMATED North America’s Northern Spotted Owl population.
decorous (DECK-er-us), adjective Marked by good taste, dignity, and propriety. Marshall’s DECOROUS demeanor will serve him well as an ambassador.
defunct (dih-FUNKT), adjective Related to something that—or someone who—has ceased to exist. Once a staple of the American landscape, so-called five-and-dime stores are now all but DEFUNCT in the United States.
deify (DAY-ih-fy), verb To elevate to the level of divinity. When something is deified, it is exalted or revered as godlike. To promote a celebrity is one thing, to DEIFY him quite another.
delineate (di-LIN-ee-ate), verb To outline; to describe the primary features of. One can delineate by sketching, or by using words or concepts to describe the principal points of something.
The rules, which had been quite vague, were now DELINEATED clearly.
dell (dell), noun A small wooded valley; a glen.
I emerged from the tent in the wee hours of the morning to find a sand-colored doe peering at me from the edge of the DELL.
deluge (DELL-yoodje), noun
A great flood or heavy rain; an overwhelming inundation of anything.
As the newest member of the accounting firm, Fred was unprepared for the DELUGE of tax returns that landed on his desk two weeks before the April 15 deadline.
dementia (duh-MEN-chuh), noun A mental illness characterized by loss of reason. Dementia is caused by neuron damage or loss within the brain. Owing to the deceased’s DEMENTIA at the time the will was signed, there was considerable legal wrangling over the estate.
denote (de-NOTE), verb To indicate or make clear; to serve as sign or symbol for something else. To say that A denotes B is to say that A signifies or
indicates B.
Her chills and discoloration, Dr. Smith observed, DENOTED severe hypothermia.
depose (dih-POZE), verb To oust or remove from office or a position of power and authority; also, to take testimony from someone under oath. After the dictator was DEPOSED, the country set about healing the wounds of a long civil war.
deprecate (DEP-ri-kate), verb To belittle or make known one’s disapproval of. To deprecate someone is to “cut him down” verbally. Jean insisted that her report contained not a single DEPRECATING word, but it was easy enough to read between the lines.
deracinate (dee-RASS-ih-nate), verb To uproot or to remove by force. The hurricane DERACINATED populations all over the island.
determinism (dih-TUR-mun-iz-um), noun
The belief that a person’s course of action is not free but predetermined by external circumstances.
A true disciple of DETERMINISM, Jerry felt he should not be held accountable for having married three women—since, as he argued, each of the relationships had been “meant to be.”
detritus (dih-TRITE-us), noun
Loose material worn awayfrom rocks or, generally, debris of any kind. The DETRITUS left by the beachgoers made it clear why our oceans are polluted.
diadem (DIE-uh-dem), noun A royal crown. The princess arrived at the state banquet wearing a DIADEM of emeralds and diamonds.
diaphanous (die-APH-uh-nuss), adjective So fine and sheer as to allow light to pass through. Also, describes something insubstantial or vague. Your DIAPHANOUS logic might impress some people, but I can always tell when you’re just shooting bull.
diffident (DIFF-ih-dunt), adjective Unassertive and lacking a sense of self-worth. A shy, retiring person can be said to be diffident. Cheryl was perhaps too DIFFIDENT to work comfortably in such an outgoing office environment.
dilatory (DIL-uh-tore-ee), adjective Likely to cause delay. That which proceeds at an unsatisfactorily slow rate is dilatory. The workers’ DILATORY attitude lost them a large contract.
diminution (dim-ih-NOO-shen), noun Reduction or decrease due to outside influence. In music, diminution is the repetition of a theme in notes of briefer duration than the original passage.
The stock fell in value by 75% in just over three hours; few issues can fully recover from such DIMINUTION.
discerning (dis-SURN-ing), adjective
Insightful; sound in evaluation or judgment.
Although Jamie is excellent at acquiring reference works, she is not the most DISCERNING editor when it comes to evaluating children’s book proposals.
discomfit (diss-KUM-fit), verb To cause to come into disorder. Discomfit can also mean “to frustrate (someone).” Fern’s household was DISCOMFITED by the sudden, unannounced arrival of her relatives.
disingenuous (diss-in-JEN-yoo-uss), adjective
Not inclined toward open dealing; less than truthful; other than appearances would suggest.
The Mayor’s carefully worded denials never explicitly touched on her involvement in her campaign’s alleged effort to buy votes, leading many to conclude that she was being DISINGENUOUS.
disparage (diss-PARE-udge), verb To speak or write debasingly of. To disparage is to communicate in such a way as to diminish another’s reputation. His DISPARAGING remarks damaged both her character and her pride.
dissidence (DISS-uh-dents), noun Strong disagreement, especially with a government. You might also see the adjective form of this word, which is dissident. Recently, the word dissident has become a noun, describing someone who expresses dissidence.
The newly-formed government decided to crack down on DISSIDENCE by jailing anyone who disagreed with governmental policies.
dissolution (diss-so-LOO-shun), noun The act of dissolving into fragments or parts. Dissolution is the disintegration of that which comprises something. The union’s DISSOLUTION seemed imminent, but a change of leadership forestalled that crisis.
dissuade (diss-SWADE), verb To convince to take alternate action. Someone who dissuades someone from doing something persuades that person to pursue another course.
Marge DISSUADED her brother from joining the army.
diurnal (dye-UHR-nul), adjective Occurring during the daytime. That which is not nocturnal and occurs only while the sun is out is diurnal. Unlike other members of this species, the one we are studying is DIURNAL.
doctrinaire (dok-trin-AIR), noun Favoring doctrines without concern for their practicability. The resident is not well served by such DOCTRINAIRE advisers as Hawkins.
dubious (DOO-bee-uss), adjective Tending to cause skepticism, uncertainty, or doubt. Dubious can also mean “reluctant to accept a particular version or account (of something).”
His claim of direct descent from Richard II was regarded as DUBIOUS at best.
dupe (doop), verb and noun
To fool, trick, or deceive. As a noun: a person so deceived.
Cliff’s attempts to DUPE me into finishing his homework for him were about what I expected from an older brother used to getting his own way.
duress (dur-ESS), noun Compulsion resulting from the threat of force; coercion. Also: physical restraint or imprisonment. The prisoner’s confession, which had clearly been obtained under DURESS, was instantly ruled inadmissible by the judge.
echelon (ESH-uh-lon), noun A level of command. Literally, echelon pertains to military organizational structure.
Tom’s proposal eventually won the approval of the company’s upper ECHELON.
edifice (ED-ih-fiss), noun
A building, particularly one that is large and imposing.
Jacob, who had worked for twelve years in a small family-owned firm, was unprepared for the prospect of working at the Webster corporate headquarters, a massive EDIFICE of brick and glass located in midtown Manhattan.
efface (ih-FACE), verb
To rub away.
Although the letter had been filed and held and folded so many times that the embossed seal pressed into it by the county clerk was nearly EFFACED, it was genuine.
egalitarian (ih-gal-uh-TARE-ee-un), adjective Arising from a belief in the equality of all persons. Something is egalitarian if it is scrupulously fair toward all parties. I must admit that Miles took an EGALITARIAN approach to assigning office space.
egregious (ih-GREE-juss), adjective Flagrantly incorrect or bad. An egregious error is one that stands out dramatically and therefore should not have been made. Tim, an EGREGIOUS liar, is the last person I would go to for reliable information.
elephantine (ELL-uh-fun-tine), adjective An elephant is an extremely large animal, so the adjective derived from the animal describes anything that is huge in size or scope. I figured out that the ELEPHANTINE present had to be a new refrigerator.
elixir (e-LIX-ur), noun A solution meant to be used for medicinal purposes; in medieval times, a supposedly curative drink made from mixing alcohol and drugs in water.
Dr. Callahan’s ELIXIR of Life, a patent medicine popular in Kansas in the late 1880s, may have owed part of its popularity to the coca leaves used in its preparation.
elucidate (ee-LOO-si-date), verb To make clear; to explain or provide key information leading to a full understanding. Someone who elucidates an issue or problem throws light on it and clarifies it.
What is behind Frank’s bizarre work habits is something only he can ELUCIDATE.
emaciated (ee-MAY-shee-ay-tud), adjective Dangerously thin. Winston knew that not everyone would be willing to watch the footage he had shot of the EMACIATED bodies of the famine victims.
empirical (imm-PEER-ih-kuhl), adjective Describes knowledge that is based on direct observation or practical experience. Phyllis failed her science class because her experiment was based on EMPIRICAL evidence rather than on scientific verification.
emulsify (ih-MULL-sih-fie), verb The process of breaking up something into small pieces. Over several hours, your digestive system EMULSIFIES your meal into nutrients small enough for your body to absorb and use.
enclave (ON-klayv), noun A small territory surrounded by a larger (and usually foreign) one; also, any secluded area. The garden, filled with fragrant flowers and a small, babbling fountain, was an ENCLAVE of serenity in the midst of the busy city.
endemic (en-DEM-ik), adjective Indigenous; characteristic of a certain place, region, or populace. When something is widespread within an area—to the extent that it helps to characterize that area—we often say the thing is endemic to the area.
Poverty in the mountain region was ENDEMIC; education was almost nonexistent.
enigmatic (en-ig-MA-tick), adjective
Reminiscent of an enigma; puzzling or perplexing. Enigmatic refers to the quality of being inexplicable or ambiguous.
An ENIGMATIC scrawl across the title sheet was the only clue to the work’s authorship.
enjoin (in-JOIN), verb To forbid someone from doing something. Also, to use authority to instruct someone to do something. The moviegoers were ENJOINED by the manager to stop talking during the film.
enrapture (in-RAP-chur), verb To delight; to thrill or give pleasure to. The music of the symphony seemed to ENRAPTURE Olivia, who sat breathless and wide-eyed throughout the performance.
entice (in-TICE), verb
To tempt in a pleasing fashion; to attract or lure.
The delicious aroma emanating from the bakeshop often ENTICES me to stop in and pick up a doughnut or muffin on my way to work.
enunciate (ee-NUN-see-ate), verb To articulate or pronounce. To enunciate something is to set it forth systematically and lucidly. The ideas he ENUNCIATED were simple, implementable, and accepted by all.
epicenter (EPP-ih-cent-uhr), noun This is the spot on the surface of the Earth directly above the site where an earthquake occurs, but—more generally—an epicenter is the focal point or origin of an activity, event, fad, etc.
I wonder when it was that Seattle became the EPICENTER of gourmet coffee?
epigram (EP-ih-gram), noun A short, witty saying or poem. Alexander Pope was famous for EPIGRAMS, but his body of work features much more profound efforts, as well.
epoch (EP-uk), noun A particular time or era notable or significant in history. The first Apollo lunar landing marked the beginning of a new EPOCH for space travel.
equilibrium (ee-kwuh-LIB-ree-um), noun Mental or emotional balance. Brenda’s EQUILIBRIUM went off-kilter when she dropped and broke all her groceries, the climax of a frustrating day.
equinox (EK-wih-nox), noun The point in time when the sun crosses the equator, causing night and day to be of roughly equal length everywhere on earth. The vernal (or spring) EQUINOX generally occurs around March 21; the autumnal equinox, around September 22.
equitable (EK-wih-tuh-bull), adjective Free from bias; just to all involved. (See, for comparison, the entry for equable.) The parties have reached what both sides believe to be an EQUITABLE settlement.
ersatz (AIR-sats), noun An unconvincing substitute. That which is not “the real thing” is ersatz. If you think you can pass off that ERSATZ diamond as the real thing, you’re in for a surprise.
erudite (AIR-yoo-dite), adjective Possessing extensive knowledge on a given subject; learned. An erudite person has received a thorough and well-rounded education. Borges is nothing if not ERUDITE; it is clear from his short stories that he is a man of immense learning.
ethereal (uh-THEER-ee-ul), adjective Airy; light; more heavenly than earthly. Norman’s paintings had an ETHEREAL quality that gave Lynne an instant sense of peace.
euphonious (you-PHONE-ee-uss), adjective Pleasing to the ear. The low, EUPHONIOUS thrumming of the crickets outside my window those summer nights always put me to sleep quickly.
euphony (YOO-fub-nee), noun Harmonious language or sounds. One instance of euphony is pleasant-sounding, musical phrasing employed in speech or writing. There came a point when what mattered was not so much what the poet said, but the EUPHONY of his language.
evanesce (ev-uh-NESS), verb To vanish or fade away gradually. The adjective form is “evanescent.” As twilight filled the valley, all signs of civilization began to EVANESCE.
evince (ee-VINCE), verb To prove conclusively or demonstrate. To evince something is to show it clearly. You have not EVINCED a single one of the claims you put forward.
eviscerate (ee-VIS-uh-rate), verb To disembowel; to remove the entrails of. Eviscerate is often used metaphorically to describe the process of cutting down or reducing something almost to nothing.
Having EVISCERATED the novel’s key chapter, the censor was content to let the earlier exposition stand.
exacerbate (ig-ZASS-ur-bate), verb To worsen or aggravate. To exacerbate something is to make it even more unpleasant or severe. You have only EXACERBATED the situation by lying about your activities that night.
excise (ECK-size), verb To cut a passage from a text or, in general, to cut something out or off. As a noun, an excise denotes a tax placed on the manufacture and sale of certain items—like liquor or cigarettes—that are produced within a country.
I went to the dermatologist and had that mole EXCISED.
exhort (ig-ZORT), verb
To urge or entreat; to plead with (usually in an attempt to warn or advise).
The hostages EXHORTED their captors to give up, arguing that the authorities would deal more leniently with them if no one were hurt.
existential (eggs-ih-STENCH-uhl), adjective
Existentialism is a twentieth-century philosophy characterized by a belief in individuals making their own choices and finding their own meaning of life, while shunning faith in a higher being. The adjective derived from the philosophy describes periods when individuals question their choices, especially choices related to the meaning of life.
While going through another horrible day at her boring office job, Phyllis had an EXISTENTIAL moment and decided—right then and there—to quit her job and move to a new town.
exonerate (ig-ZON-uh-rate), verb
To clear or free from blame or guilt; to restore (one’s reputation).
After the charges were thrown out and Brian was completely EXONERATED, he was free to continue his work in the securities industry.
expiate (ECK-spee-ate), verb
To make amends or to atone for one’s actions.
After a lifetime of working for a company known for polluting local waterways, Dean EXPIATED his guilt by donating hundreds of acres of his property to various land conservancies.
expunge (iks-PUNGE), verb
To obliterate, remove, or mark for deletion.
In exchange for her testimony against her former lover, the charges against Carrie were dropped and her record EXPUNGED of any connection to his crimes.
extenuate (ik-STEN-yoo-ate), verb To reduce in seriousness, external aspect, or extent. To extenuate is to make a fault or error less grave. The trip was delayed, not because we dawdled, but because of EXTENUATING circumstances.
extol (ex-TOLE), verb
To praise highly.
The principal EXTOLLED the hard work of the members of the honor society, detailing their many academic achievements for the assembly.
extraneous (ex-TRAY-nee-uss), adjective Coming from the outside; not innate; foreign. Miles was a resourceful debater who deflected attacks from his opponents by raising EXTRANEOUS but inflammatory issues.
exult (ig-ZULT), verb To celebrate or rejoice heartily. There was no EXULTING among the families of the victims, who greeted the verdict with a sense of solemn resolution.
farce (farce), noun A comedy in which situation, satire, and preposterous coincidence are predominant over character; also, a ridiculous, empty display not worth serious consideration; a mockery.
Although the proceedings were presented to the outside world as a fair trial, Roland knew that he was watching a FARCE in which all the principal witnesses had been bribed to help convict the defendant.
fastidious (fuh-STID-ee-uss), adjective Attentive to detail or issues of propriety; hard to please. A fastidious person is meticulous, exacting, and sensitive to procedure. Carl, a FASTIDIOUS ledger-keeper, seemed destined to do well in the accounting department.
fecund (FEE-kund), noun and adjective
Fruitful or fertile; prolific.
Although he certainly had a FECUND imagination, the screenwriter’s most successful efforts had been adaptations of the works of others.
feign (fane), verb
To fake or counterfeit; to pretend.
Instinctively I knew the man was going to grab for my purse, but I thwarted his efforts by FEIGNING a heart attack, attracting the crowd’s attention.
feint (faint), noun A false advance or attack intended to catch an opponent off guard. Jim FEINTED several times with his left before decking his opponent with a fierce right cross.
felicitous (fih-LISS-ih-tuss), adjective Appropriate and well-suited for a particular occasion. The prince’s decision to go to the costume party dressed as a Nazi was not a FELICITOUS one.
fervent (FER-vunt), adjective Ardent and enthusiastic. Literally, fervent means extremely hot. A fervent desire, then, is one that is strongly held. Russell’s speech was characterized by FERVENT emotion.
festoon (feh-STOON), verb A festoon is a garland strung between two points, so “to festoon” means to decorate as with garlands. Balloons and banners FESTOONED the room, in preparation for my son’s birthday party.
fetish (FETT-ish), noun Any object, idea, leader, etc. inspiring unquestioned awe and reverence. Often, this word is used negatively. “It sickens me,” Nora said, “how so many colleges have made a FETISH of high grades on standardized tests.”
fiduciary (fih-DOO-she-air-ee), adjective Regarding trust and confidence in public affairs. The government has a FIDUCIARY responsibility to do the most good for the most people.
flaccid (FLASS-id), adjective Lacking firmness, stiffness, vigor. After sitting out on the deli counter all day long, the celery stalks and leaves of lettuce looked FLACCID and unappealing.
flaxen (FLAK-sun), adjective
A pale yellow color.
I’m not sure Mel would have admired Renee’s FLAXEN hair quite so much if he’ d known it was the result of a recent visit to the hair salon.
fledgling (FLEJ-ling), adjective and noun Young or inexperienced. Literally, a fledgling is a young bird that has only recently gained the power of flight. The FLEDGLING reporter had little respect around the newsroom.
flotilla (floe-TILL-uh), noun
A fleet of ships, usually military vessels; also, any large group of moving objects.
On the appointed evening, a massive FLOTILLA of Allied warships—the largest assembly of naval battle vessels in human history— steamed toward Normandy.
flotsam (FLOT-sum), noun
The debris from a shipwreck that floats on water or is washed ashore.
When they collected and examined the FLOTSAM from the Intrepid, investigators found minute traces of dynamite that proved once and for all that the ship’s explosion was not the result of a faulty fuel line.
flux (fluks), noun Ongoing flow. Flux can also refer to unceasing change. The organization’s plans were in a state of constant FLUX.
fob (fob), verb To get rid of (usually by unscrupulous means). Don’t let him fool you; those “courtside” tickets he’s trying to FOB off on you at such a bargain price are counterfeit.
foible (FOI-bull), noun Fault or character flaw. To say a person has a foible is to say he exhibits a flaw or failing that is comparatively insignificant. The tendency to remember only the pleasant occurrences in our past is a common human FOIBLE.
foliate (FOAL-ee-ate), verb or adjective To bring forth leaves, to decorate with leaves or leafy patterns, or to shape something into thin sheets. As an adjective, the word is pronounced “FOAL-ee-uht,” and describes something covered with leaves or shaped like a leaf.
Once Jill found the right combination of water and food, the dying plant began to FOLIATE with abandon.
forge (forj), verb
To form and mold metals or other materials by using intense heat; to expend effort for the purpose of creating something; to fuse or join two formerly disparate elements.
By the end of the rigorous Outward Bound weekend, the friends had FORGED a bond that would last a lifetime.
founder (FOUN-dur), verb To sink; to fail in an undertaking. (See, for comparison, the entry for flounder.) The new firm FOUNDERED because the promised investment capital never materialized.
frenetic (fruh-NET-ik), verb Frantic; frenzied. I tried to avoid the FRENETIC Christmas rush by buying presents over the summer.
freshet (FRESH-it), noun Either a stream of freshwater that runs into the sea or a quick rise in a body of water due to rain or melting snow. The quick spring thaw created FRESHETS throughout the county that threatened many homes.
fugue (fyoog), noun A piece of music that builds up from a central theme. Many music enthusiasts find Bach’s FUGUES more hauntingly beautiful than his sonatas and cantatas.
fulcrum (FUL-krum), noun
The point of support on which a lever turns.
To illustrate the function of a FULCRUM, Mr. Hess directed our attention to the window, where two children could be seen playing on a see-saw in the park.
gadfly (GAD-fly), noun A fly that bites livestock; also, one who annoys, irritates, or provokes. With his constant grumbling and irritating habits, Morton has turned into the GADFLY of our department.
galvanize (GAL-vuh-nize), verb
To stimulate into action; to motivate (as if with an electric shock).
After considerable national debate over the merits of entering into a “European war,” the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor GALVANIZED American public opinion as nothing else could.
gambit (GAM-but), noun In chess, an opening in which a piece is sacrificed with the hope of gaining strategic advantage; also, any maneuver or plan calculated to gain advantage.
Bill’s plan to get the inside track on the new position by dating the boss’s daughter was a risky and ill-conceived GAMBIT that ended in failure.
gamesome (GAIM-sum), adjective Merry; frolicsome. It’s sad to see that Sally has become such a stick-in-the mud; as a young woman, she was so GAMESOME and full of high spirits.
gamy (GAY-me), adjective Originally used to describe the tangy flavor and odor of wild game, the word gamy has branched out to have several meanings: lewd, spirited, and disgusting. It’s all in the context! After three hours of playing basketball, I feared my sweat-soaked gym clothes were more than a little GAMY.
genre (ZHAWN-ruh), noun
A particular style that characterizes a type of music, art, literature, film, etc.
Though their GENRE doesn’t make for pleasant or easy reading, one has to admire muckrakers like Upton Sinclair, who aimed to bring about important social reforms with their novels.
genteel (jen-TEEL), adjective Refined; conveying a sense of high style and/or respectability. Genteel is often meant to imply a sense of social superiority, as well. Tom’s vulgar remarks were not appreciated by his GENTEEL dining companions.
gentrify (JENN-truh-fie), verb To take something rundown, such as a neighborhood, and improve it. The noun form, with which you may be familiar, is “gentrification.” Attempts to GENTRIFY the historic neighborhood failed because of community apathy.
germane (jur-MAYN), adjective
Pertinent; relevant; related to the matter at hand.
The defendant’s exemplary qualities as a breadwinner are hardly GERMANE to the question of whether he shot his cousin, Your Honor.
gerrymander (JARE-ee-man-dur), verb
To divide voting districts in such a way as to give unfair advantage to a particular party.
Senator Belger dismissed the charges of racist GERRYMANDERING that had been made against him as so much hogwash from opponents eager to draw the district maps to their own liking.
gild (gild), verb
To cover thinly with gold; also, to make something appear more valuable or appealing than it actually is. Ross attempted to GILD his offer by promising not to lay off current employees for at least two years, but the board’s only question was whether he could match the $630 million figure put forth by the Stradbury group.
glean (gleen), verb To collect; to gain bit by bit; to obtain one piece or morsel at a time. Although Mr. Willis never came out and said as much, his secretary was able to GLEAN that he would soon be retiring.
glib (glib), adjective
Articulate yet superficial; facile.
I asked for an analysis of the construction of Shakespeare’s tragedies, but you have turned in a series of GLIB observations on the most famous speeches in the plays.
globular (GLOB-yoo-lar), adjective Spherically shaped. Globular means, primarily, “in the shape of a globe.” The best word for “of worldwide interest or applicability” is global. Several GLOBULAR lampheads illuminated the room.
gossamer (GOSS-uh-mer), adjective A delicate, floating film of cobwebs; also: thin and light, and therefore reminiscent of gossamer. Some mornings, the grass outside our house takes on a GOSSAMER veil.
grandiloquence (gran-DIL-uh-kwence), noun Pompous speech or expression; bombast. Grandiloquence refers to an attitude of haughtiness, especially in one’s means of communication.
I may not always employ the GRANDILOQUENCE my opponent does, but I believe I have a commonsense solution to the problem he has just outlined.
graven (GRAY-vuhn), adjective Deeply impressed or firmly fixed, such as ideas, concepts, beliefs, etc. Although it is not necessarily common throughout the world, freedom of religion is a GRAVEN concept in the United States.
grievous (GREE-vuss), adjective
Grave; severe; causing or likely to cause grief.
Failing to get a tuneup before driving to the shore turned out to be a GRIEVOUS error: I broke down in the middle of nowhere and had to pay a small fortune for a tow truck.
guild (gild), noun
A group of people dedicated to common interests or goals; an association of like-minded individuals.
Although she knew it was only a first step, Andrea couldn’t help feeling that joining the Screen Actors GUILD meant she was on her way to becoming a star.
guttural (GUTT-er-ul), adjective Harsh or raspy; reminiscent of deep sounds produced in the throat. Also: of or pertaining to the throat. The dog let out a low, GUTTURAL growl that was likely to give pause to whomever was standing on the other side of the door.
haiku (HIE-koo), noun A Japanese form of poetry. A haiku has three lines of five, seven, and five syllables, and often evokes images from nature. Dean even tried his hand at poetry, composing several pleasant HAIKUS for the newsletter.
hallow (HAL-low), verb
To establish as holy. To hallow can also be to extend the highest possible honor toward something.
This ancient burial ground, which is HALLOWED ground to many Native Americans, attracts a few too many tourists for my tastes.
hapless (HAP-liss), adjective Luckless, unfortunate. A hapless person is unlucky. Oliver presented a rather HAPLESS figure during his first few days on the job, but he soon mastered his new responsibilities.
heinous (HAY-nuss), adjective Evil; reprehensible. To say something is heinous is to say that it far exceeds the bounds of morality. Because of the HEINOUS nature of this crime, I am forced to pass a stern sentence.
heliocentric (hee-lee-oh-SEN-trick), adjective Of or pertaining to the theory that the sun is the center of the solar system; having the sun at the center; also, seen as from the center of the sun.
At the time Copernicus published his theory that our solar system is HELIOCENTRIC, the orthodox teaching was that the sun and all other planets revolved around the earth.
heresy (HARE-uh-see), noun
An instance of espousing religious beliefs contrary to a church doctrine.
After having been suppressed centuries ago as HERESY, the newly discovered Gospel of Thomas has given scholars and lay readers valuable insights on the teachings of Jesus.
heretic (HARE-uh-tic), noun
A person who professes belief in a dogma or system of belief (especially a religion), but differs with a tenet of that system. Heretic is often used more loosely to describe a member of a group or organization who airs opinions that conflict with established principles or routines.
His stand against the Agency’s involvement in Guatemala led some to brand Clint a HERETIC.
hiatus (hie-AY-tuss), noun An interruption or break. A hiatus is an intermission or break in continuity. After a long HIATUS from the stage, Peter auditioned for a role in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
hobgoblin (HOB-gob-lin), noun
A goblin purported to engage in mischievous behavior.
Ever since I read her those fairy stories the other night, my daughter has tried to convince me that a HOBGOBLIN is responsible for every piece of mischief she gets into.
homily (HOM-uh-lee), noun A religious talk or speech, usually given to a congregation; a talk that expounds on religious themes. Father Graham’s HOMILY on the power of faith inspired Warren to go home and try to work through his problems with his wife.
honorific (on-uh-RIFF-ick), adjective
Describes an official or unofficial title or honor given to someone in order to show him or her respect.
After he finally managed to land a marlin, we gave my father the HONORIFIC, “the old man,” a reference to Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea.
hypothesis (hie-POTH-uh-suss), noun An educated guess; a proposition; an untested theory put forth to explain something. Our task was to test the instructor’s HYPOTHESIS that constant exposure to high-pitched sounds impedes the growth of plants.
idiosyncrasy (ih-dee-oh-SINK-ruh-see), noun A behavioral quirk or eccentricity. One of my coworkers likes to engage in a brief round of calisthenics at the top of every hour, a harmless-enough IDIOSYNCRASY.
idyllic (eye-DILL-ick), adjective Pleasing; peaceful; ideal. Our IDYLLIC honeymoon in the tropics was interrupted by a tropical hurricane.
ignominious (ig-no-MIN-ee-uss), adjective Shameful or disgraceful. Ignominious is generally used to describe public humiliation or failure. Tyrone’s IGNOMINIOUS defeat in court persuaded him to settle his other lawsuits against the company.
imbibe (im-BIBE), verb To drink. Imbibe is generally used to describe the drinking of alcoholic beverages, though it can also carry the meaning “to take in (an idea).”
Donald once had a drinking problem, but now he no longer IMBIBES.
imbue (im-BYOO), verb
To saturate or flow throughout by absorption. Imbue is often used metaphorically to describe the transmission of an idea, feeling, or emotion.
Bert’s philosophy was IMBUED with the ideas of John Stuart Mill.
immutable (ih-MYOO-tih-bull), adjective Describes something that cannot be changed or something that is changeless. Mountains seem so IMMUTABLE that it amazes me to realize they actually do shift and change over the course of millions of years.
imperious (im-PEER-ee-us), adjective Haughty. Also: urgent. Imperious is usually meant to convey a sense of dictatorial arrogance. Mrs. Banks rushed around the kitchen, issuing a series of IMPERIOUS commands to the cook.
imperturbable (im-per-TUHR-buh-bull), adjective Describes someone or something incapable of being agitated or disturbed. During the air turbulence, I felt calmer due to my father’s IMPERTURBABLE demeanor.
imposition (im-puh-ZISH-un), noun
An instance of inconvenience or the laying on of obligation; the act of causing another to take on a burden.
I knew full well that our staying with Aunt Sadie for six months was an IMPOSITION, but while the house was being built we really had no other choice.
impresario (im-pruh-SAHR-ee-o), noun
A person who organizes or sponsors entertainment or cultural events (such as concerts and plays).
Quentin’s career as an IMPRESARIO came to an abrupt halt when he lost all his investors’ money on a musical version of Marx’s Das Kapital.
impunity (im-PYOO-nih-tee), noun Freedom from punishment or penalty. Impunity is sometimes confused with impugn (above), especially in its spelling. We cannot let such an act of naked aggression stand with IMPUNITY.
inalienable (in-AY-lee-un-a-buhl), adjective
Incapable of being taken away.
Although I have always believed freedom of speech to be the INALIENABLE right of every American, I must admit that the diatribes of those who preach hate and violence against members of my race are awfully tough to stomach.
inauspicious (in-oss-PISH-uss), adjective
Accompanied by or predictive of ill luck; not favorable in portent.
Who could have predicted that from such INAUSPICIOUS beginnings Grant would rise to command great armies and, eventually, lead his nation?
incandescent (in-kan-DESS-unt), adjective Very bright and hot; brilliant, as light or fire. Also: masterly or dynamic, especially with regard to individual creativity. An INCANDESCENT lamp is one that emits light as a result of the glowing of a heated material, such as a tungsten filament.
incendiary (in-SEN-dee-air-ee), adjective Flammable. Also, reminiscent of or pertaining to speech or action that is meant to inflame or arouse; deliberately provocative. Adam’s INCENDIARY remarks about my mother’s parentage resulted in a bloody nose for him and a night in jail for me.
الجزء الثاني كلمات قد لاتضطر لمعرفتها
Words You Should Know but Probably Don’t
PART III
Chances are, you use many of the words in this section, but—if pressed—you would not be able to offer a definition for them. Have no fear. Once you’ve read through this list, you’ll not only use these words but you’ll actually know what they mean as well, thus gaining confidence in your ability to impress others with your sparkling communication skills.
incipient (in-SIP-ee-unt), adjective Early in development; at a beginning stage. Attempting to stave off an INCIPIENT flu, Marsha consumed glass after glass of orange juice.
incognito (in-cog-NEE-to), adjective Hidden or unknown. To intentionally change appearance in such a way as to make one’s real identity unknown is to go incognito. The novelist wore sunglasses in hopes of remaining INCOGNITO at restaurants, but he was still pestered by autograph hounds.
incontrovertible (in-kahn-truh-VER-tuh-bull), adjective Not open to question; indisputable. The prosecution won the case after introducing INCONTROVERTIBLE evidence.
incorrigible (in-KORE-ij-uh-bul), adjective (Apparently) incapable of being reformed. Incorrigible is often used in a lighthearted, ironic sense. Young Pete was an INCORRIGIBLE boy, forever getting into scrapes and causing mischief.
indemnify (in-DEM-nih-fy), verb To protect from or provide compensation for damages. To indemnify is to shield against the loss, destruction, or damage of something.
This policy INDEMNIFIES my house against fire, flood, and burglary.
indigent (IN-dih-junt), adjective Lacking the essentials of life; impoverished. At the shelter, I came across many INDIGENT families who had fallen victim to the failing economy.
indiscriminate (in-dih-SKRIM-uh-net), adjective Lacking clear judgment. Also describes someone or something haphazard and jumbled. The INDISCRIMINATE placement of books made it almost impossible to do any successful browsing in the bookshop.
indolent (IN-duh-lnt), adjective Lazy, as a way of life. Someone who is indolent is inactive and unlikely to exert himself. Peter, an INDOLENT young man, spent his young days gazing out the window daydreaming.
inertia (in-UR-shuh), noun Sluggishness; the quality of being inert. In physics, inertia is the tendency of an object to resist change (acceleration or change in direction, for instance) unless acted on by an outside force.
It is not a lack of opportunity that has hampered you, Jackson, but simple INERTIA.
infidel (IN-fih-del), noun
A person who does not accede to a particular set of religious beliefs. An infidel is an unbeliever: the word is often used metaphorically to refer to those who are unpersuaded of the wisdom and/or righteousness of a position or principle.
Because he failed to express the proper enthusiasm for Riley’s campaign proposal, Wilson was regarded as something of an INFIDEL.
infuse (in-FYUZE), verb To fill; to penetrate as if by pouring or soaking. The dynamic commissioner INFUSED a new sense of pride into the beleaguered department.
ingot (ING-gut), noun A piece of cast metal, usually in the form of a bar. Charlie’s job at the refinery was to inspect the INGOTS coming off conveyor belt number seven.
innuendo (in-you-ENN-doe), noun A subtle intimation; an indirect insinuation. Through hints and INNUENDO her opponent managed to plant seeds of doubt about Governor Williams’s past.
inoculate (ih-NOK-yoo-late), verb
To facilitate the buildup of resistance to a disease by introducing a minuscule sample of its virus into the body. Inoculate derives from the Latin for “to graft onto.”
Marie, normally frightened of injections, summoned up all her courage when it came time for the doctor to inoculate her against smallpox.
insensate (in-SENS-ate), adjective Without human feeling, or lacking judgment and good sense. Owen’s INSENSATE behavior the morning after their tryst made Amy realize she’ d made a mistake in asking him to stay the night.
insidious (in-SID-ee-uss), adjective Designed to entrap; happening or spreading harmfully but subtly; stealthily and seductively treacherous. Mark’s chess games were full of INSIDIOUS traps meant to lull his opponent into a sense of complacency.
insinuate (in-SIN-you-ate), verb To hint at darkly; to suggest (typically, with negative connotations). I hope you don’t mean to INSINUATE that my husband is seeing another woman.
insouciant (in-SOO-see-unt), adjective Calm and carefree; indifferent. Despite his dire surroundings, Herbert managed to remain INSOUCIANT and at ease.
insular (IN-suh-ler), adjective Like an island . . . detached, standing alone. Typically, insular is used negatively, to suggest that someone has narrow-minded or provincial attitudes about politics, religion, ideas, etc.
The candidate’s INSULAR views on diplomacy caused him to lose the election.
integral (IN-tuh-grul), adjective
Acting as a constituent and essential member of a whole. Integral also carries a number of technical and mathematical definitions not in common usage.
Jane played an INTEGRAL role in the production’s success.
intercession (in-ter-SESH-un), noun
An instance of pleading in favor of another person or party. To intercede is to act or speak in someone’s behalf; intercession is mediation in a conflict in behalf of another.
France’s INTERCESSION is credited by many with bringing the crisis to a peaceful conclusion.
interlope (IN-tur-lope), verb To intrude; to interfere, meddle, or infringe. Eric resented his fraternity brothers’ attempts to INTERLOPE on his romantic evening with Sheena.
interpolate (in-TUHR-puh-late), verb To introduce something foreign between other parts, such as secretly adding one’s own ideas into a text. The speaker was interrupted by an audience member who felt the need to interpolate his views into the panel’s discussion.
intersperse (in-tur-SPURSE), verb
To scatter here and there; to distribute or place at intervals.
INTERSPERSED throughout the studio audience were “clappers” whose sole purpose was to motivate the rest of the crowd into laughing and applauding for the show.
intransigent (in-TRAN-si-junt), adjective Uncompromising; determined to remain beyond appeal or negotiation. Someone unyielding to any change is intransigent. The INTRANSIGENT union negotiator seemed fully prepared to see the talks collapse.
inundate (IN-un-date), verb To flood. To inundate is to engulf as in a torrent or flood. The operator knew she would be INUNDATED with calls that day.
inured (in-YOORD), verb
Accustomed to (hardship or trial).
After a few months, Melvin became INURED to the paper boy’s habit of tossing the New York Times into the furthest reaches of the front lawn’s tall hedges.
inviolate (in-VIE-uh-let), adjective Solid and strong, incapable of being violated or injured. Even after five failed marriages, Jenny remained INVIOLATE in her belief that she would one day find true love.
iridescent (ear-ih-DESS-unt), adjective Possessing rainbowlike colors. Iridescent can also mean “altering in hue when viewed from different angles or moved.” The IRIDESCENT light of the prism flooded Newton’s shuttered room.
irresolute (ihr-REZ-uh-loot), adjective
Doubtful, waffling, incapable of being firm and resolute.
The candidate won the election because he was able to create the perception that his opponent was IRRESOLUTE about matters of national security.
isthmus (ISS-mus), noun A narrow strip of land connecting two larger masses of land. The geologic evidence suggests that, long ago, an ISTHMUS linked Siberia and Alaska.
itinerant (eye-TIN-er-unt), adjective Describes someone who, or something that, travels from place to place with a purpose. While I was between jobs, I worked as an ITINERANT farmer.
jetsam (JET-sum), noun
Material thrown overboard to lighten the load of a ship in danger.
As the ship filled with seawater, Madame Fontaine pleaded with the sailor not to throw her trunk of clothes overboard with the rest of the JETSAM sinking beneath the wild waves.
jihad (jee-HAD), noun
An Islamic holy war; a bitter war or dispute entered over a matter of principle.
The terminology can be troublesome, Mr. Ambassador; to us it was a terrorist act, but to those sympathetic with the group that planted the bomb it was a holy act undertaken as part of a JIHAD.
jingoistic (jin-go-ISS-tik), adjective Aggressively and overbearingly patriotic. A jingo is a person whose patriotism is expressed in bellicose rhetoric (for instance, injunctions to prepare for war). Someone who is jingoistic is blindly and aggressively nationalistic. Such JINGOISTIC babbling can hardly be said to pass for decent advice to a head of state.
juggernaut (JUG-ur-not), noun
An object or force so powerful that it flattens or destroys anything in its path.
The earthquake did some minor structural damage to the city, but the tornado that followed a week later was a JUGGERNAUT, destroying every home and building it touched.
junket (JUNK-it), noun
A recreational trip, outing, or excursion; often, a pleasure trip taken by public officials for the ostensible purpose of gathering facts.
The congressman’s eight-week trip to Oahu, supposedly to survey the Hawaiian approach to health care, is only the latest of a long series of JUNKETS that call into question his ability to manage public resources with integrity.
kilter (KIL-tur), noun Working condition; correct position; order. Although I had used a level and ruler when hanging the painting, I could see that it was off-KILTER when I stepped back a few feet.
labyrinth (LAB-uh-rinth), noun
An intricate or oversized maze; any place or situation in which getting one’s bearings seems difficult or impossible.
As part of his experiment, Herman timed how long it took the various breeds of mice to make it through a LABYRINTH to a dish bearing a piece of cheese.
laconic (luh-KON-ik), adjective Of few words. Speech that is concise or terse is laconic. Cooper’s performances are LACONIC, but all the more powerful for their terseness.
laggard (LAG-urd), noun
One who lags behind or loiters. A laggard fails to keep up. We have completed our part of the project, Mr. Miller; it is the LAGGARDS in the accounting department who have not.
laity (LAY-uh-tee), noun
A group of religious worshipers differentiated from the clergy; members of the lay community.
Bishop Riley, ever mindful that his predecessor had been criticized for his inaccessibility, made a point of mingling with the LAITY as much as possible.
lalapalooza (la-luh-puh-LOO-zuh), noun
Something outstanding or unusual.
The charity carnival concluded with a LALAPALOOZA of a parade, in which the mayor rode a unicycle and juggled grapefruits to the sound of wild applause.
languid (LANG-gwid), adjective Listless; lacking vitality. That which lacks force or vigor is languid. Robert’s LANGUID demeanor was mistaken by some for a lack of intelligence.
largesse (lahr-JESS), noun Generosity, especially generosity with money. My parents’ LARGESSE dried up after I asked them for money three months in a row.
lassitude (LASS-ih-tood), noun
A condition of listlessness, exhaustion, or weakness; a feeling of indifference.
Mary’s uncharacteristic LASSITUDE at work can, I think, be explained by the fact that her father, who is gravely ill, is now living with her.
latent (LAY-tunt), adjective Existing and having the power to become visible or manifest, but for the time being remaining unseen or unknown. The virus remained LATENT in his system for some time, causing him unknowingly to infect those he came in close contact with.
lattice (LAT-us), noun
A pattern of crossed wooden or metal strips; any framework or decoration done in this style.
The fence in the garden near the main hall was an attractive LATTICE arrangement, apparently broad and discreet, but in fact unforgivingly porous when it came to the intimate conversations of lovers.
leery (LEER-ee), adjective
Wary; cautious; suspicious.
I was LEERY of meeting my friends at the bar downtown: I’ d have to travel there by myself on the subway, and there had been several attacks in stations recently.
leonine (LEE-uh-nine), adjective Describes something or someone characteristic of a lion. Ben’s leonine mane of hair makes most of his girlfriends jealous.
lineage (LIN-ee-uj), noun
Ancestry; line of descent.
A thoroughbred German shepherd from a championship line, my dog Khan probably had a more prestigious LINEAGE than anyone in our family.
lithe (lithe), adjective Graceful; supple. LITHE dancers dressed in brilliant gold sprang across the stage to the sound of drums and cymbals.
liturgy (LIH-tur-jee), noun Worshipful ritual, especially the formal Christian service of the Eucharist. Liturgy is the accepted public form of religious worship. Pat’s attempts to reformulate the LITURGY in her church were greeted with great skepticism by the more conservative worshipers.
logistics (loe-JIS-tiks), noun The essential details of how something is to be accomplished. In military usage, logistics is the discipline addressing supply and procurement. Jane knew the trip could not begin until the LOGISTICS were worked out.
luminary (LOO-mih-nay-ree), noun Something that emits light; also, a person widely renowned and respected in his or her area of expertise. Among other LUMINARIES who attended the party was the author of this year’s Pulitzer winner for drama.
macabre (mub-KAH-bruh), adjective Horrifying; reminiscent of death. A macabre story is one that focuses on morbid, grisly subjects. The old man’s MACABRE tales frightened the children.
macrobiotic (mack-row-bi-AHT-ick), adjective Describes a diet rich in whole grains and beans, which some believe lengthens one’s lifespan. After she had a few health scares, Jean turned to a MACROBIOTIC diet.
maelstrom (MAIL-strum), noun A situation marked by violence, turbulence, and uncertainty. To outsiders, the MAELSTROM of Wall Street’s trading floor looks frightening.
magnate (MAG-nayt), noun An industrial leader. A magnate is a powerful business figure. Your Honor, I am no communications MAGNATE; I run a small town newspaper.
malinger (muh-LING-ger), verb To avoid work by making up excuses. Someone who pretends to be ill or injured in order to avoid effort or duty can be said to malinger.
“There will be no MALINGERING in this office,” the new supervisor said sternly.
malleable (MAL-ee-uh-bull), adjective
Shapeable; capable of being molded, changed, or influenced.
Senator Green was of the opinion that public opinion was fairly MALLEABLE, and that any scandal, if handled properly, could be overcome.
manifesto (man-ih-FESS-toe), noun A public declaration of one’s intentions or motives, typically of a political nature. Instead of galvanizing the crowd to action, the poet’s MANIFESTO collapsed the audience in laughter.
maraud (muh-ROD), verb To wander in search of booty. To loot or invade for treasure is to maraud. The ship was waylaid by MARAUDING pirates on the fourteenth of May.
marrow (MARE-oh), noun The essential part; literally, a vital material that fills the inside of bone cavities. The doctor assured Ellen that, once an appropriate donor was found, her bone MARROW transplant would take place immediately.
martial (MAR-shull), adjective Appropriate to wartime. Martial law is the imposition of military control over a civilian population. (We describe disciplines such as judo and karate—which focus on hand-to-hand combat—as martial arts.)
After capturing Richmond, the commander issued an order placing it under MARTIAL law.
mellifluous (muh-LIF-loo-us), adjective Flowing sweetly and smoothly. Mellifluous describes a smooth, sweet sensation. Jane’s MELLIFLUOUS cello playing was the envy of the other musicians.
mercurial (mur-KYOOR-ee-ul), adjective
Quickly changing; unpredictable.
Helen’s MERCURIAL temperament often mystified her subordinates, who might find themselves showered with gifts one moment and subjected to verbal abuse the next.
miasma (my-AS-muh), noun An atmosphere that is dangerous and foreboding. The unexpressed anger and disagreement between Rhonda and Scott made a MIASMA of their once-happy home.
minion (MIN-yuhn), noun Someone with a slavish devotion to a person in power. Sheila ducked into the ladies room when she saw Sandra and all her MINIONS heading down the office halls.
mire (mire), noun and verb Waterlogged ground; swampland. Also: any corrupt or unpleasing environment from which it is difficult to extricate oneself. As a verb: to cause to be stuck in mire.
In the early going, the administration found itself MIRED in issues far from its stated goal of improving the economy.
miscegenation (mih-sej-uh-NAY-shun), noun
Interbreeding between members of different racial groups. Miscegenation was once a crime in parts of the United States.
The musical Show Boat was daring for its time; certainly no previous show on Broadway had dared to examine an issue as sensitive as MISCEGENATION.
mnemonic (ni-MON-ik), adjective and noun Meant to aid in memory. As a noun, a mnemonic is a device (a rhyme, for instance) meant to make memorizing easier. The flashcards serve only as MNEMONIC devices; they cannot, by themselves, instill any understanding of mathematical processes.
monosyllabic (mah-no-sih-LAB-ik), adjective Having only one syllable. We tried to engage Kathleen in conversation but couldn’t get more than MONOSYLLABIC grunts for our pains.
monolithic (mon-uh-LITH-ik), adjective Unwieldy or cumbersome; huge. A monolith is a massive block of stone or other marker (such as a sculpture) that shows solidity and uniformity; something that is monolithic calls to mind the imposing nature of a monolith.
The MONOLITHIC presence of IBM in the computer field is sobering enough to make any competitor think twice before introducing a new product.
morass (muh-RASS), noun A quagmire; a difficult or bewildering situation. By 1973 the military was more eager than ever before to extricate itself from the MORASS in Southeast Asia.
moratorium (more-uh-TORE-ee-um), noun An authorized period of delay. The city council voted to place a six-month MORATORIUM on new commercial development.
mordant (MOR-duhnt), adjective Bitingly sarcastic; cynical. Thelma had a MORDANT wit that could stop the most arrogant swaggerer in his tracks.
munificent (myoo-NIF-ih-sent), adjective
Generous. Someone who has liberal habits of giving could be said to be munificent.
The MUNIFICENT old widow gave abundantly to charity.
nadir (NAY-dur), noun The lowest point. The NADIR of my writing career was probably that spell in Omaha when I wrote obituaries for the local newspaper.
necessitate (nuh-SESS-ih-tate), verb To make necessary, to obligate. Spilling coffee on my shirt just before the interview NECESSITATED a quick run home to change clothes.
nefarious (nih-FARE-ee-uss), adjective Openly evil; wicked. The NEFARIOUS Darth Vader serves as the unforgettable villain of George Lucas’s Star Wars.
nether (NETH-ur), adjective Lower; removed. The nether regions of something are the parts that lie beneath or beyond the main part. Dante takes the reader on a journey to the NETHER regions of hell.
niggling (NIG-ling), adjective
Petty; annoying.
I could usually deal with my roommate’s NIGGLING complaints about hairs in the sink and my forgetting to take out the trash, but I was in no mood for it today.
nonplussed (non-PLUHST), adjective Describes a state of bafflement or perplexity. I stood there, NONPLUSSED and bleeding, after my previously tame dog bit my hand.
nubile (NOO-bile), adjective Sexually mature and/or prepared for marriage. Nubile is used almost exclusively in reference to young women; there is no exact parallel to describe young men.
Art looked at his “baby” daughter Marie and realized that she had somehow become a NUBILE young woman of eighteen.
nullify (NULL-ih-fie), verb To make invalid; to render null. Because the league NULLIFIED the disputed home run, the two teams had to play the ninth inning over again the following week.
obdurate (AHB-dur-uht), adjective Stubborn and unyielding to an excessive degree. I left the house after our argument, determined to be just as OBDURATE as Jane.
oblique (oh-BLEEK), adjective Angled; indirect. To make an oblique reference to something is to mention it glancingly, leaving the listener unclear as to the nature or context of the thing referred to.
The witness’s description was too OBLIQUE to be of any use to the police.
obsolete (ob-suh-LEET), adjective
No longer useful or in use; unnecessary.
The room-sized computers of the sixties have long since been rendered OBSOLETE by the advent of desktop and even laptop equivalents.
obsequious (ub-SEE-kwee-uss), adjective Compliant and servile to superiors. Someone who takes a fawning, submissive demeanor in order to curry favor with those in authority could be said to be obsequious.
You may consider the waiter’s attentions well meant; I find him OBSEQUIOUS.
obtuse (ob-TOOS), adjective
Not sharp. Obtuse is most often used to describe a person whose powers of intellect or observation are poor.
Perhaps I’m being OBTUSE, but I’ d like you to explain that last point again for me.
obviate (OB-vee-ate), verb To make unnecessary. To obviate something is to avoid it by acting in anticipation. The research department provided sufficient data; the problem was OBVIATED before it reached crisis proportions.
occlude (oh-KLOOD), verb To obstruct. Something that is closed or blocked off is occluded. Mr. Ryan's health problems OCCLUDED his coronary.
octave (OK-tuv), noun In Western music, a tone eight tones above or below another tone. The famous opera singer had a vocal range of three OCTAVES.
officious (uh-FISH-uss), adjective Prone to offering one’s services and/or insight, even when they are not requested or appropriate. Someone who is officious is meddlesome and overbearing.
Tom was certainly a generous host, but his OFFICIOUS nature was hard for me to live with after a week or two.
oligarchy (OLL-ih-gark-ee), noun
Government by an elite few.
My father’s opinion was that since the mid-Sixties the country had been operating under the pretense of democracy, and was in fact an OLIGARCHY.
ombudsman (AHM-buds-muhn), noun A person who acts as a mediator between the public and an agency, university, or office, in order to resolve disputes. After going around and around with discrepancies in my tuition bill, the OMBUDSMAN finally got involved.
onus (OWN-us), noun The burden of performing a task or duty. To say that the onus is on a person to do something is to say that he is responsible for doing it.
The ONUS of completing this long-delayed project now falls to you.
opiate (OPE-ee-ut), noun
An addictive narcotic, especially one with numbing or sleep-inducing qualities.
Marx’s well-known remark that religion is the OPIATE of the people helped make many church groups implacable enemies of Communism.
opine (oh-PINE), verb To make one’s opinion known. To opine is to state one’s view. Grant OPINED that be could take Vicksburg if the President would show patience in the undertaking.
opus (OPE-us), noun A major work (of art or literature). Opera is derived from one of the plural forms of opus. (In English, opuses is the accepted plural.) Although be bad been working on it for over a year and a half the composer was less than halfway done with his OPUS.
ordnance (ORD-nunce), noun
Weapons; military supplies.
Though the government denied there would be a confrontation with the rebels, the reports of dramatically increased ORDNANCE shipments led the press to believe otherwise.
osmosis (oss-MOE-sis), noun Gradual absorption, assimilation. Jerry rested his head on the textbook and closed his eyes, as if hoping to absorb the information in it by OSMOSIS.
ostentatious (oss-ten-TAY-shuss), adjective
Showy. Someone who makes a boastful display, or makes constant attempts to show off talents or possessions, could be said to be ostentatious.
You shouldn’t take the Rolls to the party; it will be seen as OSTENTATIOUS.
owlish (OW-lish), adjective
Describes someone who looks like an owl in that he or she has a wise, solemn appearance. In addition, the word often is used to describe someone who wears thick glasses.
I got contacts because I was sick of people making jokes about my OWLISH appearance.
palisade (pal-ih-SADE), noun A defensive barrier or fence comprising a row of tall stakes driven into the ground; also, a line of steep cliffs along a river. As we drove along the PALISADES of the river gorge, my wife and I lamented that we had forgotten to bring our camera.
panacea (pan-uh-SEE-uh), noun A cure-all; something with the ability to cure any illness or remedy any disorder. According to my eighty-four-year-old grandfather, chocolate is the PANACEA to any problem life may throw at you.
pandemic (pan-DEM-ik), adjective Widespread. Something that is general, common, or all-encompassing could be said to be pandemic. We must begin to appeal not to universal fears, but to PANDEMIC human values.
parable (PARE-uh-bull), noun A brief allegory or story meant to highlight an essential truth. Jesus’ PARABLE of the Prodigal Son is perhaps the most inspiring passage in the New Testament.
paragon (PARE-uh-gone), noun
A peerless model or pattern of perfection. A paragon, unlike a paradigm (within) is an absolute—and often a hypothetical—standard.
Even if we could live our lives in accordance with the PARAGONS of right living, would we not still experience conflict and misunderstanding with others?
paramount (PARE-uh-mount), adjective Supreme; superior; excellent It is of PARAMOUNT importance that we complete this project on time.
paramour (PARE-uh-more), noun
An illicit lover.
Although the women in her circle made high-minded speeches about her morality, Mrs. Able knew full well that most of them had had a PARAMOUR at one time or another.
parlay (PAHR-lay), verb To take something—such as talent or a small amount of money—and attempt to use it to gain great fortune or success. Jackson PARLAYED a talent for poker into a lucrative career.
pastiche (pah-STEESH), noun A haphazard collection of items from various sources. Also, a piece of music, writing, or art made up mostly of material taken from existing sources.
Some folks consider hip-hop music nothing but mindless PASTICHE, but I heartily disagree.
pastoral (PAS-tur-ul), adjective
Pertaining to life in the country. Pastoral also has religious connotations: a pastoral message is one to the clergy or people in a region from a bishop.
To many critics, the novel’s PASTORAL setting jarred against its themes of urban angst.
pathos (PAY-thos), noun A quality arousing or evoking pity or sorrow. To employ pathos is to act in a way meant to elicit tender sympathy from an observer. Chaplin’s development of PATHOS as a component of film comedy was one of his most significant achievements.
patina (puh-TEE-nuh), noun A film or sheen that occurs naturally on an aged surface. In the antebellum mansion, I thought about the generations of hands that had left a PATINA on the banisters.
pejorative (puh-JORE-uh-tiv), adjective Disparaging. That which downgrades or defames (usually a term or description) is pejorative. When I said Lynn was a typical Massachusetts driver, I didn’t mean that as a PEJORATIVE remark.
penchant (PEN-chunt), noun
A liking or inclination.
Over dinner, Vicky, who had a PENCHANT for speaking her mind no matter what, asked the congressman what he thought his chances were of being imprisoned as a result of his recent indictment for embezzlement.
penitent (PEN-ih-tunt), verb Feeling guilty or remorseful for wrongdoing. As a noun: a person who is penitent. Aaron made a token effort to apologize for his rude behavior, but it was evident to us all that he was not at all PENITENT.
pensive (PEN-siv), adjective
Thoughtful; having wistful or dreamy thoughts.
My girlfriend was ready for a riotous night on the town, but I was feeling, PENSIVE, so we ended up going to a cafe and talking well into the night.
perfunctory (purr-FUNK-tuh-ree), adjective Mundane; routine. Also: showing little care. Something done with little interest is a perfunctory act. Preoccupied, Tom went about his daily tasks with a PERFUNCTORY air.
permeable (PURR-me-uh-bull), adjective Porous; capable of being permeated. “Only certain substances can pass through the PERMEABLE membrane,” Mrs. Adams explained to her class.
pernicious (purr-NISH-uss), adjective Tending to cause insidious harm or injury. Pernicious can also mean “fatal or likely to cause death.” A PERNICIOUS plague spread through the village.
perpetuate (purr-PETCH-oo-ate), verb To make everlasting; to prolong memory or use (of a thing). To perpetuate someone’s memory is to cause that person’s life to be recalled after his death.
The rumor that I am resigning has been PERPETUATED by a number of sources, all completely unreliable.
phalanx (FAY-lanks), noun
From the Greek describing a military formation, a phalanx is a group of closely assembled people or animals, usually working together for a specific purpose, such as launching an attack.
The geek tried not to show his fear in the hallway, as the PHALANX of jocks walked in his direction.
phallic (FAL-ik), adjective
Of or pertaining to the phallus or penis; reminiscent of a penis; also, by extension, reminiscent of the life-giving force of nature, as in ancient Dionysian festivals that made the phallus a central element.
According to Freud, PHALLIC symbols (such as the sword of Unferth used by Beowulf) abound in both ancient and modern literature.
pidgin (PIDJ-in), noun A type of language created by the interaction of two distinct languages, used to help people communicate across language barriers. We spoke PIDGIN to each other, and I finally was able to understand how to get to the nearest bathroom.
piquant (pi-KONT), adjective Stimulating; provocative, particularly to the tastebuds; spicy. Normally, Mexican food is too hot for me, but Nancy’s salsa dip was just PIQUANT enough to be delightful.
pique (peek), verb To injure a person’s pride and thereby engender harsh feelings. Someone who shows resentful irritation at a perceived slight can be
said to be piqued.
Marcia was PIQUED at not having been invited to the party.
placate (PLAY-kate), verb
To appease. Someone who concedes or yields in order to avoid another’s anger can be said to placate that person.
Although the company was unable to raise wages, it did make an effort to PLACATE the union by extending the afternoon coffee break.
plenary (PLEE-nuh-ree), adjective Describes something that is absolute and unqualified. Original FBI head, Edgar Hoover, did his best to give himself and his agency PLENARY powers.
pliable (PLIE-uh-bull), adjective Able to be changed in shape, form, or inclination; capable of being directed or influenced. Gold, one of the world’s most valuable metals, is also one of the most PLIABLE.
pneumatic (noo-MAT-ik), adjective
Related to air or wind; using air or compressed gas as a force.
It took Milton some time to master the controls of the huge PNEUMATIC drill, but eventually he got the hang of it and set about a gleeful, early-morning destruction of the pavement outside his absent neighbor’s home.
pontiff (PON-tiff), noun
A high or chief priest; usually, the pope.
Although lately John Paul II has not made as many pilgrimages to foreign lands as he did in the late Seventies and early Eighties, the PONTIFF has made a special point of visiting one or two important cities per year.
populism (POP-yuh-liz-um), noun
A political movement that reaches out to “just plain folks,” rather than to social or cultural elites. Someone who espouses populism is called a populist. Sometimes populism is used negatively, to suggest that a political candidate is appealing to the worst side of human nature in an effort to get votes. For example, prior to the Civil Rights Era, populism often was equated with “continuing the status quo of segregation.”
Opponents called the candidate a POPULIST, meaning it as an attack, but he accepted the word and turned it into one of the pillars of his successful campaign.
porcine (PORE-sein), adjective
Reminiscent of or pertaining to a pig; resembling a pig.
Mike’s constant description of his heavyset blind date as “my PORCINE companion” may have had something to do with her early departure from the party.
potable (POH-tuh-bull), adjective Drinkable. Something that can be drunk safely is potable. No amount of boiling could make the water from the stagnant lake POTABLE.
precarious (pruh-KARE-ee-us), adjective Insecure. Something that is precarious is uncertain and subject to misfortune or collapse. The crisis has left our nation in a PRECARIOUS position.
precipitous (pruh-SIP-uh-tuss), adjective Very steep, as a precipice; rushing away headlong. The prospect of learning to drive a standard shift in this city of PRECIPITOUS hills is an intimidating one.
precept (PREE-sept), noun A rule, order, or principle that sets up a standard guide for conduct. I make it a personal PRECEPT never to ask my staff to do anything I would not be willing to do myself.
precocious (pruh-KOE-shuss), adjective Pertaining to or reminiscent of one (particularly a child) who acts in a manner generally expected of an older person; ahead of fashions, times, or standards.
Charlie’s PRECOCIOUS four-year-old, Willie, likes to walk into the den while we’re drinking beer and watching football games and ask whether we can’t think of a better way to spend our time.
presentiment (prih-ZEN-tuh-ment), noun A feeling that something—especially something bad—is going to happen. The flight was uneventful, despite Clyde’s PRESENTIMENT that a mid-air disaster would occur.
primer (PRIM-ur), noun
A basic, grade-school textbook.
For decades, the foundation of American schooling was the old-fashioned PRIMER, from which children studied subjects ranging from history to poetry to arithmetic.
primordial (pry-MORE-dee-ul), adjective Original. Something that is primordial comes at the very first position in a sequence. Perhaps science can’t answer such PRIMORDIAL questions as “How did the universe begin?”
promissory (PROM-uh-sore-ee), adjective Suggesting a promise. That night’s PROMISSORY kiss left James unable to get Samantha out of his mind until he saw her again.
promontory (PROM-uhn-tore-ee), noun A piece of land that projects from a coastline or lowland, which typically offers spectacular views. I spent all the time during our vacation sitting out on the balcony of our inn, enjoying the views from my PROMONTORY perch.
propagate (PROP-uh-gate), verb To cause to multiply by natural processes. Propagate is related to the word propaganda, which means “that (information) which is disseminated for public circulation by a person or party for advantage.”
Darwin’s observations on the way species PROPAGATE and adapt were shocking to many readers.
prosaic (pro-ZAY-ik), adjective Commonplace or workaday. Something that is unromantic or matter-of-fact is prosaic. Banks, whose PROSAIC outlook on life left little room for frivolity, was a stern father.
proscribe (pro-SKRIBE), verb To prohibit. To proscribe is also to denounce as injurious. Any discussion of the fleet’s battle plan was PROSCRIBED under threat of imprisonment.
proselytize (PROSS-uh-luh-tize), verb To attempt to convert to one’s own religious faith. Someone who proselytizes attempts (often overbearingly) to recruit others to his religion.
It is not my intention to PROSELYTIZE, but rather to share some insights on my own experiences within the Jewish faith.
protagonist (pro-TAG-uh-nist), noun The lead character in a story, play, novel, etc. I stopped reading the book because I found the PROTAGONIST so unbelievable.
proxy (PROK-see), noun One given authority to act on behalf of another. Also, the permission one gives another to act in one’s place. As I didn’t want to reschedule my next vacation, I named Donna as my PROXY for the next stockholder’s meeting.
pumice (PUM-iss), noun
A lightweight volcanic rock used in powder form as a cleanser.
For three hours I scrubbed the basin with the pink, gritty PUMICE the guard had supplied, but I could not remove the orange blotches.
pungent (PUN-junt), adjective Powerful or sharp (typically used with regard to odors or tastes). That PUNGENT odor coming from the back of the refrigerator is what’s left of the lasagna Chris made three months ago.
quantum (KWAHN-tuhm), noun From the Latin meaning “how great,” quantum is a share or portion; something that can be counted. Mike assumed that his bridges were burned, without assessing the QUANTUM of the changes he had brought about.
quell (kwell), verb To subdue; to crush or extinguish; to overcome. The police sought to QUELL the rioters by using tear gas, but due to equipment malfunctions were unable to do so.
rancor (RAN-kur), noun
Intense ill-will; bitter resentment.
Mike’s RANCOR toward his ex-wife was so intense that the mere mention of her name was sometimes enough to send him into a tirade.
rapacious (ruh-PAY-shuss), adjective Given to plunder or the forcible overpowering of another. Rapacious is related to the word rape. The foe we face is a RAPACIOUS one who thinks nothing of overrunning the weak if it suits his purposes.
rapport (rah-PORE), noun A trusting and peaceful mutual relationship. Although the Wilsons found their neighbors odd at first, the four soon developed a strong RAPPORT.
rapprochement (rap-rosh-MAWN), noun The repairing of damaged relations. To bring about a rapprochement is to improve an existing rift between two parties. The process of RAPPROCHEMENT between the two countries was slow and laborious.
rapture (RAP-chur), noun Ecstatic feeling. To experience rapture is to be carried into a realm of joy. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, well played, is enough to send me into fits of RAPTURE.
raze (raze), verb
To flatten, level, or demolish.
Despite our arguments that the building had significant historical value and should be restored, the planning board authorized its demolition; within a week of the meeting, it was RAZED.
recalcitrant (ri-KAL-sih-trunt), adjective Resistant to authority. Someone who has difficulty working under any superior could be said to be recalcitrant. Boot camp is not the best place for RECALCITRANT behavior, Mr. Diamond.
recant (rih-KANT), verb To disavow (a formerly held view). Historically, people considered religious heretics have been forced to recant unauthorized beliefs by church authorities.
It was not until June that the Congressmen RECANTED and withdrew his support for the constitutional amendment.
recession (rih-SESH-uhn), noun
Generally speaking, the act of withdrawing. Economically speaking, a recession occurs when the gross domestic product declines for two or more quarters in a row.
Pundits could not agree on whether or not the country’s poor economy was indicative of a RECESSION.
rectitude (REK-ti-tood), noun Righteousness and moral virtue. Myra demonstrates an astounding amount of moral RECTITUDE for one so young.
regimentation (rej-uh-men-TAY-shun), noun
Discipline and uniformity of action and appearance, typical of the military.
Fred passed the exit that would take him to his job, ripped off his tie and threw it out the window, and generally rebelled against the REGIMENTATION of his daily life.
remuneration (rih-myoon-uh-RAY-shun), noun
Something provided in exchange for goods or services; payment.
Fred was quite comfortable with the general idea of working in the automotive industry; it was the low level of REMUNERATION he couldn’t get used to.
renaissance (REN-uh-sonce), noun A rebirth or revival. Also (when capitalized) the period of artistic and cultural renewal in Europe that extended from, roughly, the fourteenth to seventeenth centuries; (when lower-case) a similar reawakening of dormant interests, spirits, or abilities.
Leonardo Da Vinci is recognized by most historians as the preeminent scientific and artistic genius of the RENAISSANCE.
replete (ri-PLEET), adjective Full. To say A is replete with B is to say A is supplied to the highest possible level with B. The market was REPLETE with everything the holiday shopper could have wanted.
replicate (REP-li-kate), verb
To reproduce (an event or action). Replicate can also mean “to bend back.”
Dr. Yate believed he had made an important discovery, but he was unable to REPLICATE his experiment for the other scientists in his group.
reprove (re-PROOV), verb To censure. Someone who corrects or finds fault reproves. REPROVING children can only go so far; you must set a good example for them, as well.
repudiate (rih-PYOO-dee-ate), verb To disprove and thereby render obsolete. A theory that has been repudiated is one that is accepted as invalid. This survey totally REPUDIATES the findings Geraldson claims in his earlier paper; his model can no longer stand.
requite (rih-KWYTE), verb To seek retribution or revenge for an actual or assumed wrong. You have wronged me for the last time! My thirst for revenge will not be REQUITED until you, too, are suffering!
resolute (REZ-uh-loot), adjective Unyielding in determination. Someone who is firm of purpose is resolute. We remain RESOLUTE on the question of the hostages: they must be released without precondition.
respite (RESS-pit), noun A reprieve; an instance of temporary relief. Mark had worked on the book for six weeks straight without RESPITE.
restitution (res-ti-TOO-shun), noun The act of compensating for a past misdeed. To make restitution for something is to acknowledge the wrongness of a past act and attempt to repair the damage caused by it.
A bill authorizing RESTITUTION to the citizens interned in the camps recently cleared Congress.
reticent (RET-ih-sent), adjective Reserved. Someone who prefers silence to conversation in social settings could be said to be reticent. Little Amy was RETICENT at the party, staying close to her mother and avoiding all talk with strangers.
retinue (RET-n-oo), noun A group of companions or followers (of a person of great importance). A retinue is an entourage. The President and his RETINUE are expected here just before noon.
rote (roat), noun
A habit or mechanical routine.
The children learned their multiplication tables by ROTE.
rube (roob), noun Slang for an unsophisticated person; a bumpkin. “Look at those RUBES over there,” Charlie scoffed; “they wouldn’t know a good restaurant if it smacked them in the face.”
rueful (ROO-ful), adjective Regretful. Rueful can also mean pitiable. In the terminal, Jean gave a RUEFUL sigh as she stared at the plane that was to carry her away from San Francisco forever.
ruminate (ROO-muh-nate), verb To ponder or review mentally. Someone who ruminates over something tosses it over in his mind. Elaine was still RUMINATING over whether or not to attend college in the fall.
salacious (suh-LAY-shuss), adjective
Lewd or off-color. Salacious is generally used in reference to deliberately provocative pictures or writing.
Most magazines sent by family members to the troops were entirely innocent; who could find anything SALACIOUS in a copy of Golf Digest?
salient (SAY-lee-unt), adjective
Striking, obvious.
Let’s not get bogged down in the details of the bonus plan; the SALIENT point is, we’ve provided our editors with a measurable financial incentive to do the very best acquisitions work they can.
sallow (SAL-low), adjective Colorless; sickly-looking. The SALLOW tone of Melanie’s skin led us to wonder whether she was ill.
salutary (SAL-yoo-tare-ee), adjective Promoting physical soundness. That which is conducive to good health is salutary. The medicine Dr. Catton gave to Mother seems to have had a SALUTARY effect.
sardonic (sar-DON-ik), adjective
Bitter or sarcastic. That which is derisively scornful is sardonic.
Milton gave a SARDONIC laugh when asked if he would mind stepping aside to let someone else have a turn at the pinball machine.
sate (sate), verb To satisfy completely or to excess. Our hunger for television SATED for the evening, we switched off the set and looked for a good book to read aloud.
schism (SKIZ-um), noun A division; a break or rupture of relations, especially one due to ideological or political differences. The SCHISM in the party over the issue of slavery reflected a division in the country itself.
scintillate (SIN-til-ate), verb Giving off sparks. Something of remarkable interest that sets off a sudden reaction among people can also be said to scintillate. News about the new film has been hard to come by, but a few SCINTILLATING details have leaked out.
secede (sih-SEED), verb
To withdraw officially and formally from an organization or union; to renounce one’s membership.
After Lincoln’s election to the presidency, the southern states, with South Carolina leading the way, began to SECEDE from the Union.
sedimentary (sed-uh-MEN-tuh-ree), adjective Characterized by being settled in one’s ways or habits. Sedimentary usually has a negative connotation. Sediment is rocks and minerals that have settled over millions of years.
Your SEDIMENTARY lifestyle is just going to lead you to an early grave!
sentient (SEN-shunt), adjective Having consciousness and use of the senses. Until he’s had his morning coffee, Mike cannot even be classified as a SENTIENT being.
sequential (sih-KWEN-shul), adjective
An order of arrangement or succession; one after another in arrangement.
The class graduation proceeded in SEQUENTIAL order from the beginning of the alphabet to the end, which Jane Zsilow found disheartening.
sequester (si-KWES-ter), verb To set apart (from outside influence). That which is protected from the prejudices of the external world is sequestered. The jury was SEQUESTERED, due to the extraordinary amount of publicity the trial generated.
severance (SEV-uh-runce), noun A division; a breaking away, as of a relationship. Bill was able to negotiate a handsome SEVERANCE package when he left the company.
shibboleth (SHIB-uh-leth), noun A special term not widely known that, when used, identifies the user as a member of a group. Shibboleth (a word with biblical origins) can also refer to a peculiarity of fashion or lifestyle common to a single group.
The more cynical in the department will tell you that career advancement has less to do with ability than with contacts and memorizing SHIBBOLETHS.
shunt (shunt), verb
To change the direction of; to divert.
When his proposal was dismissed after less than a minute of discussion, Mark felt more than ever that his ideas were being SHUNTED aside without due consideration.
slough (sluff), verb To become shed or cast off, like the slough—or outer skin layer—of a snake. I did my best to SLOUGH off my feelings of uncertainty and to move ahead optimistically.
solecism (SOL-ih-siz-um), noun An act that breaks formal rules. Solecism is generally taken to mean “a transgression of established standards” (for instance, with regard to etiquette or writing).
She told her husband not to worry, that forgetting a host’s name was only a minor SOLECISM and certainly nothing to be concerned about.
soporific (sop-uh-RIF-ik), adjective
Causing or likely to cause sleep or drowsiness; anything likely to induce sleep.
Rick’s endless speech on the social habits of the grouse was a poor choice for after-dinner entertainment, but, judging by the reaction of the group, an excellent SOPORIFIC.
spay (spay), verb To render (an animal) infertile by removing the ovaries. After she had whelped three litters, Myron decided that it was about time to have Queenie SPAYED.
spurious (SPYOOR-ee-uss), adjective
Inauthentic. Something that is not genuine is spurious.
There were many in the academic community who were ready to accept the SPURIOUS manuscripts as coming from Shakespeare’s own hand.
staccato (stuh-KAH-toe), adjective
Made up of abrupt, separate parts.
Suddenly we were awakened by STACCATO bursts of gunfire in the next street.
stanch (stanch), verb To stop a liquid’s flow (usually said of the bleeding accompanying a wound). Dr. Cooper tied a tourniquet around Mark’s injured arm to STANCH the flow of blood.
staunch (stonch), adjective Firm in resolution or belief; fixed. Mr. West, a STAUNCH conservative, believed that government waste was the main problem requiring attention in Washington.
stentorian (sten-TORE-ee-uhn), adjective A sound characterized as loud and powerful. The announcer’s STENTORIAN voice could be heard even after a storm knocked out the power to his microphone.
stigma (STIG-muh), noun A sign of disgrace or low status. Stigma derives from a Greek word meaning “tattoo”; presumably the sense of disgrace arose from the practice of physically marking someone to distinguish him as belonging to a lower class.
I was unprepared to deal with the social STIGMA of bankruptcy, yet it seemed my only available course of action.
stilted (STILL-tud), adjective
Stiff and formal; rigid and unspontaneous in nature.
The letter was composed in such STILTED, elaborately correct language that Sergeant Ryan surmised it was written by someone whose native language was not English.
stipend (STIE-pend), noun A periodic payment, such as a scholarship or other allowance; remuneration for a service. A small monthly STIPEND from the Institute made it possible for Vernon to continue his biography of Yeats.
stipulation (stip-yoo-LAY-shun), noun A condition. A stipulation is an essential point (of an agreement or arrangement) that must be satisfied. The will does feature one important STIPULATION: you must wait until you are thirty years old to receive the money.
stoic (STO-ik), adjective Above succumbing to sensations of pain or pleasure. Stoic originally referred to a philosophy that advocated putting aside unjust thoughts and indulgences and attending first and foremost to the duties of life.
Paul remained STOIC when given the news that his father had finally succumbed to the illness.
straits (strayts), noun A position of difficulty and challenge, often brought on by making bad decisions. After a series of bad investments, I found myself in dire financial STRAITS.
strident (STRY-dnt), adjective Harsh. Speech that is obtrusively grating is strident. Dennis’s appeals for money became more common—and more STRIDENT—as the year wore on.
stymie (STIE-mee), verb
To thwart; to prevent (another) from achieving a goal.
The reporter’s attempts to get to the bottom of the scandal were STYMIED by the refusal of the principals to talk to him—either on or off the record.
subjugate (SUB-juh-gate), verb To cause to become subservient. To subjugate another is to make him perform your will. The dictator’s attempts to SUBJUGATE his country’s smaller neighbors will end in failure, mark my words.
subliminal (sub-LIM-ih-nul), adjective Operating below the level of conscious perception. The advertising industry has long been suspected of using SUBLIMINAL implants in advertisements for cigarettes and liquor, but scientists and industry insiders have always scoffed at the notion.
substantiate (sub-STANT-chee-ate), verb
To provide proof or evidence; to give validity to.
The soft-drink company sought to SUBSTANTIATE the claim that their soda was the best tasting by holding blind taste tests in shopping malls across the country.
supercilious (soo-per-SIL-ee-uss), adjective Disdainful or haughty. Someone who is overbearingly proud could be said to be supercilious. Randy can take on a SUPERCILIOUS air at times; you mustn’t let his highminded behavior bother you.
supersede (soo-per-SEED), verb To supplant or replace. If A now fulfills the function of B and makes B obsolete, A supersedes B. This form, which SUPERSEDES the old version, has been made much easier to read and fill out.
supplicate (SUP-lih-kate), verb
To make a humble, sincere, and earnest request of someone.
The department heads decided their best bet was to assemble as a group in the president’s office and SUPPLICATE her to approve the budget increases.
surreptitious (sur-up-TISH-uss), adjective
Undertaken in stealth. That which is done in hiding is done surreptitiously.
I have reason to believe our conference room has been fitted with “bugs” designed to monitor our SURREPTITIOUS conversations.
syncretize (SINK-rih-tize), verb
To combine or unite varying parties, ideas, principles, etc.
As the denomination’s local attendance began to fall sharply, several churches SYNCRETIZED their efforts to improve overall attendance.
synergy (SIN-er-gee), noun The situation that exists when two or more groups, agents, businesses, etc. join forces to accomplish a common goal. Synergy is a word commonly used in today’s corporate culture.
The SYNERGY demonstrated by the two departments quickly sparked amazing results.
synthesis (SIN-thuh-suss), noun A combination of elements to form a new whole. The writer’s latest book is an intriguing SYNTHESIS of classical Greek tragedy and cyberpunk elements.
taciturn (TASS-ih-turn), adjective Quiet. Someone who tends to avoid speech is taciturn. You must understand that Betty can be quite TACITURN after a day at work; her silence is not because of anything you have done.
tactile (TACK-tul), adjective Of or pertaining to the sense of touch. At this stage, your baby’s need for TACTILE stimulation is intense; she must be held, stroked, and cuddled regularly.
tariff (TEAR-if), noun Duties or taxes placed on imports or exports. In an effort to balance trade, the government levied a TARIFF on most imported goods.
temerity (tuh-MARE-uh-tee), noun Rashness; reckless disregard of danger or unpleasant consequences. To take a bold action is to show temerity. You have the TEMERITY to ask for a raise after showing up late forty percent of the time over the last three months?
temperance (TEM-puh-runce), noun Self-restraint; moderation; specifically, the act of abstaining from consuming alcohol or other intoxicating substances.
Although Mr. Bedford had been a model of TEMPERANCE for most of his adult life, he relented when I pleaded with him to try some of the punch we had made for the party.
temporal (TEM-puh-rul), adjective Pertaining to or limited by time; characteristic of worldly (rather than celestial or heavenly) endeavor. My father believed that TEMPORAL joys and sorrows were of little consequence in the grand scheme of things.
tenable (TEN-uh-bull), adjective
Capable of being maintained. That which is tenable can be held.
The general warned the mayor that the troops’ position was no longer TENABLE, and that preparations should be made to evacuate the city immediately.
tendril (TEN-dril), noun A threadlike organ of leafless plants that often attaches itself to other objects or surfaces to support the plant. The shrub’s tendrils had wound themselves around the wooden pole and were threatening to crush it.
tenuous (TEN-yoo-uss), adjective
Not solid (in terms of logical connection); insubstantial. Literally, tenuous means “slender (as a thread).”
The connection between the performance of the stock market and the result of the yearly Super Bowl game might seem TENUOUS at best, but there is evidence of some strange correlation between the two.
titular (TICH-uh-lur), adjective By title only. The titular head of a group is a person who is technically designated as the leader, but who lacks real power. Ed may be the TITULAR head of the organization, but I have a feeling that Bill has more influence in day-to-day matters.
torpor (TOR-pur), noun Indifference, sloth, or inactivity. Torpor is a state calling to mind the hibernation of animals. Gregg’s TORPOR on the job has been troubling me; I can’t help wondering if he may be having trouble at home.
torque (tork), noun In mechanics, the force that causes twisting or rotation in a body. The screwdriver was too small to generate enough TORQUE for the job.
totem (TOTE-um), noun An animal, plant, or other natural object believed to be an ancestor of a tribe of peoples; a representation of such an object. The tribe had an impressive collection of carved wooden TOTEMS.
tractable (TRAK-tuh-bull), adjective Manageable or easy to control. Someone who takes instruction or guidance easily is tractable. Jane was a willful and disobedient little girl, but her sister Annie was more TRACTABLE.
transmogrify (trance-MOG-rih-fy), verb To change into a different shape or form. Drink this and I promise you you’ ll be TRANSMOGRIFIED into a poet for the ages.
translucent (tranz-LOO-sunt), adjective
Capable of allowing some light to show through, but not transparent. A gauzy shower curtain, for instance, is translucent.
From my bed, through the TRANSLUCENT hospital curtains, I could dimly make out that a scuffle of some kind was taking place in front of the building.
transubstantiation (tran-sub-stan-shee-AY-shun), noun The theology that the bread and wine of the Eucharist became the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ, while retaining their original appearance.
The doctrine of TRANSUBSTANTIATION became a main focus of disagreement between Protestants and Catholics during the Reformation.
tremulous (TREM-yuh-luss), adjective
Describes someone or something trembling as a result of fear or timidity.
As Brock steeled his courage to ask out Alice, his TREMULOUS voice exposed his trepidation.
trenchant (TREN-chunt), adjective Incisive and discerning. Mart’s TRENCHANT observations on Scorsese’s films were a welcome addition to our discussion of major American directors.
triage (TREE-ozh), noun The procedure of prioritizing victims (of a battle or accident, for instance) to determine which will receive medical care first; of or pertaining to this procedure.
Nurse Victoria’s single day in the TRIAGE unit of the mobile hospital left her so exhausted that she found herself wondering how the others worked there day after day.
tundra (TUN-druh), noun
A treeless arctic plain.
For days the members of the search team trekked through the frigid TUNDRA, but at last they had to abandon the expedition without locating any survivors.
ubiquity (yoo-BIK-wih-tee), noun The quality of being (or of seeming to be) everywhere. The UBIQUITY of that song, which you know I can’t stand, is really beginning to get on my nerves.
ulterior (ul-TEER-ee-ur), adjective Being beyond what is obvious or put forth; lying beyond a recognized boundary. I flatly reject the notion that my proposal to your daughter is occasioned by any ULTERIOR motive, sir.
unassuming (un-uh-SOOM-ing), adjective Modest; humble. Sam is the UNASSUMING type who refuses to take credit after a job well done, preferring to cite the contributions of others.
underwrite (UN-dur-rite), verb To support as by subsidy. Also, to support in full as though undertaking (a risk or venture) oneself. A group of philanthropists UNDERWRITES our drama department’s annual play-writing competition.
undulate (UN-dyoo-late), verb Move in a wavelike motion. That which undulates moves in regular wavy patterns. After a hard day at work, Ellis would sit on the seashore and stare ahead at the UNDULATING ocean to ease his mind.
untenable (un-TEN-uh-bull), adjective Impossible; unsupportable. The paper’s central thesis, that Hamlet is a transvestite, is UNTENABLE to say the least.
unwieldy (un-WEELD-ee), adjective Hard to handle or manage. The deliveryman had a tough time getting that UNWIELDY package to our front door.
unwonted (un-WAHNT-id), adjective Not typical, habitual, or ordinary. January’s UNWONTED warm weather was far from unwanted!
usurp (yoo-SURP), verb
To assume forcibly and/or without right. To usurp is to take over.
The authority of Congress was indeed USURPED by Lincoln during the war, but legislators briskly reasserted themselves once the crisis was past.
vacuity (va-KYOO-ih-tee), noun
Empty; without content.
Staring out at the VACUITY of the Atlantic, Stan forgot for a moment the hazards of the journey ahead.
vacuous (VAK-yoo-uss), adjective
Lacking content or substance. That which is empty is vacuous.
Televised debates are so potentially dangerous that most candidates settle for offering VACUOUS recitations of campaign speeches rather than saying something new and unexpected.
valedictory (val-uh-DIC-tuh-ree), adjective Saying farewell; of or pertaining to departing. Karen was selected to give her class’s VALEDICTORY address.
vapid (VA-pid), adjective Insipid; flat, dull, or lifeless. The movie’s scenery was appealing, but its VAPID characters made it hard for one to care about what was going on.
venerable (VEN-er-uh-bul), adjective
Commanding reverence; sacred.
“Ladies and gentlemen” Bob intoned, “ it is my privilege to introduce tonight’s guest of honor, the VENERABLE Dr. Mildred Flint.”
venerate (VEN-uh-rate), verb To regard or treat with the reverence due to one’s god/God or holy leader. “The way the United States VENERATES celebrities can be quite annoying,” Sylvia said.
venial (VEE-nee-ul), adjective Forgivable; excusable. (See, for comparison, the entry for venal.) Mom told us that occasionally missing curfew was only a VENIAL offense, but lying to her about why we’d missed it was not.
verve (vurv), noun
A spirited and enthusiastic manner, particularly when embodied in an artistic performance; an air of vitality.
The critics were unanimous in their opinion that, although the plot of the play was implausible and its production values poor, the actress playing the librarian brought a unique VERVE to the role.
vet (vet), verb To appraise or evaluate for authenticity. The campaign manager thoroughly VETTED the short list of vice-presidential candidates.
viable (VIE-uh-bul), adjective
Capable of being performed or occurring.
Mike argued quite persuasively that the only VIABLE solution to the company’s financial dilemma was for it to go public and raise money by selling stock.
vicarious (vi-KARE-ee-uss), adjective Arising from the experiences of others rather than one’s own experience. To gain vicarious pleasure is to gain pleasure from actions not one’s own.
I think Paul derives some VICARIOUS thrill from making us fight; every spat we have seems to spring from something he’s said to us.
visceral (VISS-er-ul), adjective Deeply felt. Visceral means “from the viscera,” or bodily interior. A VISCERAL wave of panic ran through Clark’s body as he listened to the air-raid siren blare.
viscous (VIS-kuss), adjective Having a gluey nature and consistency. I could barely gulp down the VISCOUS concoction my personal trainer called an “energy drink.”
vivisection (viv-uh-SECK-shun), noun
The practice of cutting on living animals in order to learn new physiological information.
Animal-rights activists carried signs outside the clinic in which VIVISECTIONS took place.
volition (vo-LISH-un), noun
The mental faculty associated with free will and unhindered, uncoerced choice.
Nothing you can say or do will be able to transform your father overnight; he will have to admit of his own VOLITION that he needs help and then make a commitment to work toward a recovery.
voluble (VOL-yuh-bul), adjective
Talkative; gregarious.
Muriel’s little girl is the most VOLUBLE two-year-old I’ve ever met. She rattled on endlessly until her mother sent her upstairs to play.
wanderlust (WAN-dur-lust), noun
A strong, innate desire to travel.
While Jerry told his family each Thanksgiving that he would someday settle down and raise a family, his irrepressible WANDERLUST kept him from putting down roots until he was well into his sixties.
wanton (WON-tun), adjective Completely unrestrained. Wanton can also mean “done without any justification.” Such WANTON, pointless cruelty, even in the name of science, is inexcusable.
weal (WEEL), noun Happiness and well-being, typically as a result of being financially secure. The public WEAL greatly improved under the successful policies of the president.
whet (hwet), verb
To stimulate; also, to sharpen a knife or a similar object by honing on a stone.
Worried that I had eaten so little over the past few days, Mom tried to WHET my appetite by cooking my favorite foods: chicken fingers and mashed potatoes.
wile (wile), noun
A clever trick meant to attain a goal; an instance of or talent for beguiling deceit.
As a verb: to lure, entice, or beguile. Headquarters trusts, as always, that the information with which you have been entrusted is secure even from the WILES of a spy of the opposite sex.
winnow (WIN-oh), verb To analyze carefully in order to separate valuable parts from worthless parts. I WINNOWED through the stack of personal papers, looking for the ones I needed to present to the IRS.
winsome (WIN-sum), adjective
Pleasant; charming.
Although he had overslept and been in a terrific rush to get out of the house, a WINSOME glance from the vaguely familiar woman at the toll collection booth helped put Milton’s morning back on track.
wonk (wonk), noun A person who spends what many would consider too much time studying information in great detail. Wonk is a favorite word of pundits, who often use it to describe politicians who supplant personal experience with intense study of an issue.
One candidate touted his experience and said that his opponent was a policy WONK whose only knowledge of issues came from her ability to read.
yaw (yaw), verb To deviate temporarily from course, as a ship in rough waters or as an airplane encountering turbulence. The ship YAWED in the strong winds.
yearling (YEER-ling), noun
An animal that has entered its second year; also, a horse that is one year old, dating from the beginning of the year following its foaling.
Mr. Tompkin’s prize YEARLING is a thoroughbred Clydesdale.
zephyr (ZEFF-ur), noun
The west wind; any gentle wind.
Mike christened his new boat the ZEPHYR, even though he planned to use it primarily during the rugged winters of his native Massachusetts.
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق