0 comments/ 45796 views/ 3 favorites Words of the Week 01 By: velvetpie Whenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don’t know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun … etc. ABLUTION noun Pronounced: ab-LOO-shun Meaning: The washing of one’s body or part of it as a religious rite. Example: A common example of ablution in Judaism is washing the hands before a meal that includes bread. * * * * * CLANDESTINE adjective Pronounced: clan-DES-tin Meaning: Marked by, held in, or conducted with secrecy or concealment. Example: Mike and Sally made clandestine plans for their mother’s surprise birthday party. * * * * * INDOCTRINATE verb Pronounced: in-DOC-trin-ate Meaning: To give instructions especially in fundamentals or rudiments. Example: Special classes were designed to indoctrinate new employees. * * * * * MALEDICTION noun Pronounced: mal-a-DIC-shun Meaning: Curse. Example: The villain’s last words were a malediction on the entire royal family. * * * * * OLFACTORY adjective Pronounced: ole-FAC-tory Meaning: Of, relating to, or connected with the sense of smell. Example: Humans have relatively weak olfactory abilities compared to many other animals. * * * * * PAUCITY noun Pronounced: PAW-city Meaning: A small number or fewness. Example: The choir suffered from a paucity of male voices. * * * * * BEVY noun Pronounced: BEV-ee Meaning: An unusually large group or collection. Example: A bevy of reporters crowded around the gold medal winner. * * * * * REGURGITATE verb Pronounced: re-GUR-gi-tate Meaning: To throw up, cast out or pour out again. Example: Brenda watched the redbird regurgitate food to feed his nestlings. * * * * * SOMNAMBULANT adjective Pronounced: som-NAM-bue-lent Meaning: Walking or addicted to walking while asleep. Example: Sheila could remember nothing of her somnambulant activities when she was told of them the next morning. * * * * * ZEPHYR noun Pronounced: ZEF-fur Meaning: A soft warm breeze from the West. Example: The gentle zephyr was not sufficient to keep Renee’s kite airborne. * * * * * DETERRENT noun Pronounced: de-TUR-rent Meaning: Something that discourages or prevents from acting by fear or consideration of unpleasant consequences. Example: The police hoped that Ted’s severe jail sentence would serve as a deterrent to criminal activity by the other gang members. * * * * * JETTISON verb Pronounced: JET-tih-sohn Meaning: Drop (as auxiliary equipment, bombs, cargo or fuel) from an airplane in flight (as for lightening the load or providing greater safety). Example: The airplane’s malfunctioning engine prompted the crew to jettison all unnecessary cargo. * * * * * VINCULUM noun Pronounced: VINK-u-lum Meaning: A unifying bond. Example: Their mutual love of dolls is the vinculum between Delia and Christine, who are otherwise very different. * * * * * HERMITAGE noun Pronounced: HER-mi-tidge Meaning: A secluded residence or private retreat. Example: Dave’s father has always dreamed of living in the city during the week and escaping to some country hermitage on the weekends. * * * * * TURMOIL noun Pronounced: TURR-moyl Meaning: An utterly confused, extremely agitated or tumultuous state or condition. Example: Jacob experienced unrelenting turmoil after his parents informed him that the family might move. * * * * * EGREGIOUS adjective Pronounced: uh-GREE-jus Meaning: Flagrant or glaringly evident. Example: As a medical researcher, Laura knew that many reports of medical breakthroughs on television contained egregious errors. * * * * * QUISLING noun Pronounced: KWIS-ling Meaning: A traitorous national who aids the invader of his country and often serves as chief agent or puppet governor. Example: Many French citizens thought that Marshal Petain, head of the Vichy regime during World War II, was little better than a quisling. * * * * * LAMPOON noun Pronounced: lam-POON Meaning: A light mocking satire. Example: The new movie is a lampoon of the horror films that are made especially for teenagers. * * * * * FIEFDOM noun Pronounced: FEEF-dum Meaning: An area over which one exercises control. Example: The manager’s fiefdom consisted of two departments and the company newsletter. * * * * * UNREQUITED adjective Pronounced: un-ree-KWITE-ted Meaning: Not returned in kind. Example: Several passages in the novel were devoted to Harriet’s unrequited love for Mr. Ethan. * * * * * GREGARIOUS adjective Meaning: Marked by an instinctive or temperamental preference for a social rather than a solitary existence. Example: Because of their gregarious nature, dogs make good house pets. * * * * * YEOMANRY noun Pronounced: YO-men-ree Meaning: The whole body of small farmers who cultivate their own land; specifically, the body of small landed proprietors of the middle class. Example: Among the legal privileges of the yeomanry was the right to serve as a juror. * * * * * KUDOS noun Pronounced: KUU-doze Meaning: Praises given for achievement. Example: Daphne received many kudos from the drama coach after her performance in the school play. Words of the Week 02 Whenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don’t know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun … etc. BARRAGE noun Pronounced: bar-RAAJ Meaning: A massive concentrated and usually continuous discharge or shower (as of missiles or blows) Example: In Puritan New England, those who broke the law were sometimes put to death by a barrage of stones. * * * * * PINNACLE noun Pronounced: PIN-akle Meaning: A lofty or high point. Example: The clouds obscured the pinnacle from the view of those in the valley below. * * * * * LANGUID adjective Pronounced: LANG-wid Meaning: Sluggish in character or disposition. Example: In India, Mary always felt hot and too languid to care about much of anything. * * * * * HISTRIONICS noun Pronounced: HIS-tree-on-iks Meaning: Theatrical performances (also known in today’s words as DRAMA!) Example: Teresa loved the theater from an early age and excelled in histrionics while in school. * * * * * COGNIZANT adjective Pronounced: COG-niz-ent Meaning: Aware; perceiving with a degree of controlled thought or observation. Example: Watching television commercials can make viewers more cognizant of fads and fashions. * * * * * SATURNINE adjective Pronounced: SA-tur-nine Meaning: Possessing a moody or surly character; morose or sullen. Example: Shirley’s father is a saturnine person with a quick temper. * * * * * VACUOUS adjective Pronounced: VAK-u-us Meaning: Emptied of or lacking content. Example: Vacuous spaces within the meteorite made it easy to split in half. * * * * * FISSURE noun Pronounced: FISH-ure Meaning: A narrow opening, chasm or crack or some length and considerable depth, usually occurring from some breaking, rending or parting. Example: A fissure ran through Irene’s backyard after the earthquake. * * * * * NOXIOUS adjective Pronounced: KNOCK-shus Meaning: Harmful or destructive to man or to other organisms. Example: Emma is studying the noxious effects of gasoline fumes. * * * * * YENTA noun Pronounced: YEN-ta Meaning: A person that meddles. Example: Evelyn’s children laughingly refer to her as a yenta when she tries to set them up on blind dates. * * * * * ACRIMONIOUS adjective Pronounced: ak-ri-MOAN-ee-uss Meaning: Caustic, biting or rancorous, especially in feeling, language or manner; bitter. Example: It was obvious that Marjorie’s comments were acrimonious and complaining. * * * * * WANDERLUST noun Pronounced: WAAN-dur-lust Meaning: Strong or unconquerable longing for or impulse toward traveling. Example: Kate’s wanderlust caused her to postpone college so that she could tour Europe. * * * * * DUPLICITY noun Pronouced: doo-PLIH-suh-tee Meaning: Deception by pretending to entertain one set of feelings and acting under the influence of another. Example: When the candidate’s duplicity was exposed, his supporters felt embarrassed and betrayed. * * * * * OMINOUS adjective Pronounced: AHM-in-nuss Meaning: Indicative of future misfortune or calamity; causing anxiety or fear. Example: For an instant, there was an ominous stillness, quieter and more silent than ever before, as if even the air was holding its breath. * * * * * RUEFULLY adverb Pronounced: ROO-ful-lee Meaning: In a pitiable or woeful manner. Example: Joe ruefully replied that he hadn’t been able to bring any lunch with him. * * * * * KABUKI noun Pronounced: kah-BOO-kee Meaning: Traditional Japanese popular drama with singing and dancing performed in a stylized manner. Example: Performers of Kabuki must learn to move with great control. * * * * * ONYX noun Pronounced: AH-nix Meaning: Of the color jet black. Example: The teacher told the schoolchildren that space looks onyx from the shuttle. * * * * * EMBELLISH verb Pronounced: emm-BELL-ish Meaning: Enhance, amplify or garnish (an account) by elaboration with inessential but decorative or fanciful details. Example: Ivan likes to embellish his stories a little differently each time he tells them. * * * * * RADIANT adjective Pronounced: RAY-dee-ent Meaning: Marked by or expressive of joy, pleasure, love, confidence or happiness. Example: Emily looked positively radiant when she saw her newborn sister for the first time. * * * * * IMPECUNIOUSLY adverb Pronounced: emm-peck-KUHN-nee-uss-lee Meaning: In an indigent, penniless manner. Example: George squandered his inheritance and plodded through the remainder of his life impecuniously. * * * * * TIRADE noun Pronounced: TYE-rayd Meaning: A protracted speech usually marked by abusive language. Example: The grumpy woman screamed a tirade of protest whenever children made joyful noises outside her window. * * * * * JOVIAL adjective Pronounced: JOE-vee-uhl Meaning: Characterized by or showing marked good humor especially as exhibited in mirth, hilarity or conviviality. Example: The jovial chef made cooking look easy and enjoyable. * * * * * ZEPPELIN noun Pronounced: ZEPP-eh-linn Meaning: A rigid airship. Example: Olga’s dream was to ride in a zeppelin one day. Words of the Week 03 Whenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don’t know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun … etc. ZENITH noun Pronounced: ZE-nith Meaning: The point, peak or summit of culmination. Example: Winning the Faculty Award was the zenith of Stephanie’s college career. * * * * * CANDESCENT adjective Pronouced: kan-DES-cent Meaning: Glowing or dazzling often from great heat. Example: A candescent meteorite streaked across the Southern sky. * * * * * MAELSTROM noun Pronounced: MAIL-strum Meaning: A powerful current that usually moves in a circular direction with extreme rapidity. Example: A memorable scene from the movie Fantasia features the sorcerer’s apprentice caught in a maelstrom. * * * * * DOSSIER noun Pronounced: DOSS-e-ay Meaning: An accumulation of records, reports, miscellaneous pertinent data and documents bearing on a single subject of study of field of investigation. Example: The physician kept a careful dossier on each of her patients. * * * * * PEEVISHLY adverb Pronouced: PEEV-ish Meaning: In a manner marked by ill temper. Example: “There, you see,” He said peevishly. “I’m even afraid to make a positive statement.” * * * * * TESTACEOUS adjective Pronounced: tes-TAY-shus Meaning: Having a shell. Example: The oyster is a testaceous marine animal. * * * * * JAUNDICED adjective Pronounced: JOHN-dissed Meaning: Exhibiting or affected by distaste or hostility. Example: Dr. Willis was jaundiced and querulous after being bedridden for so long. * * * * * BLASPHEMOUS adjective Pronounced: BLASS-fem-us Meaning: Speaking or writing irreverence toward God. Example: During the Middle Ages, many books were condemned as blasphemous and burned. * * * * * OPULENT adjective Pronounced: OP-u-lint Meaning: Exhibiting wealth or influence. Example: Leather wall covering is one feature of the room’s opulent décor. * * * * * QUERULOUS adjective Pronounced: KWER-u-lus Meaning: Expressing complaint; fretful or whining. Example: As the crow fluttered from the tree, it gave a loud, querulous caw. * * * * * ARGOSY noun Pronounced: ARR-guss-see Meaning: A fleet of ships or of anything likened to ships. Example: The lone schooner had gotten separated from the argosy in the inclement weather. * * * * * HUMIDOR noun Pronounced: HUE-mih-door Meaning: A case or enclosure (as for storing cigars) in which the air is kept properly humidified. Example: Art always kept his expensive cigars in a humidor. * * * * * ULTIMATUM noun Pronounced: ull-tim-MAY-tum Meaning: A final proposition, condition or demand, especially one whose rejection will end negotiations and cause a resort to force or other direct action. Example: If the striking workers refused its ultimatum, the company threatened to close the factory permanently. * * * * * LABYRINTH noun Pronounced: LAB-ih-rynth Meaning: A structure full of intricate passageways that make it difficult to find the way from the interior to the entrance or from the entrance to the interior. Example: Lost in the labyrinth of passages beneath the castle, the invaders gave up the attack plan and instead concentrated on finding a way out. * * * * * SHENANIGANS noun Pronounced: shuh-NAN-eh-ganns Meaning: High-spirited, daring or mischievous acts or pranks. Example: On the first day of school, Mrs. Gibson warned the class that she would not put up with any shenanigans in her classroom. * * * * * ECTOPLASM noun Pronounced: ECK-toe-plazm Meaning: The emanation from a spiritualistic medium that is believed to effect telekinesis and similar phenomena. Example: In the movies, people are always getting slimed by what they call ‘ectoplasm’, but if it exists, it would more likely look like mist. * * * * * NEFARIOUS adjective Pronounced: nuh-FARE-ee-us Meaning: Heinously or impiously wicked; detestable. Example: The murderer’s crimes were considered so nefarious that he was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. * * * * * GRANDEUR noun Pronounced: GRAN-dyoor Meaning: Personal greatness characterized chiefly by dignity of character, largeness of spirit or significant scope of accomplishment. Example: After Katherine Graham’s death, many magazines ran feature articles describing her grandeur in the world of newspapers. * * * * * WANTONNESS noun Pronounced: WAN-ton-ess Meaning: The quality or state of being without check or limitation. Example: The wantonness of comfort Georgetta experienced as a young child caused her to become a spoiled brat. * * * * * RETRIBUTION noun Pronounced: reh-tri-BYOO-shun Meaning: Something given or exacted in compensation. Example: Art felt certain that his fender bender was divine retribution for all the times he had honked his horn impatiently at other drivers. * * * * * FECKLESS adjective Pronounced: FECK-luss Meaning: Impractical and shiftless. Example: Mort was worried that his long periods of unemployment would make him appear feckless when he applied for a job. Words of the Week 04 Whenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don’t know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun … etc. ASKEW adverb Pronounced: ass-KEW Meaning: Out of line or to one side. Example: Jared’s house was leaning because one of the joints had gone askew. * * * * * MONOLITH noun Pronounced: MONO-lith Meaning: Something resembling a great stone. Example: Sir Larry is considered a pillar of strength by his friends and a hulking obstinate monolith by his enemies. * * * * * SKIRMISH noun Pronounced: SKER-mish Meaning: A minor dispute or contest between opposing parties. Example: Winston hopes that his skirmish with the neighbors over his dog does not foreshadow a lengthy feud. * * * * * CRESCIVE adjective Pronounced: KRESS-siv Meaning: Increasing or growing. Example: The crescive vines traveled up the trellis. * * * * * GALVANIZE verb Pronounced: GAL-vin-eyes Meaning: To stimulate as if by the application of an electrical current. Example: The enemy attack served to galvanize the government into immediate action. * * * * * ERUDITION noun Pronounced: ay-rue-DISH-un Meaning: An extensive knowledge acquired chiefly from books. Example: The schoolmaster was esteemed as a man of great erudition. * * * * * WITTICISM noun Pronounced: WIT-ti-ciz-um Meaning: A clever or amusing expression. Example: The careful use of a witticism in Kevin’s speech helped hold the attention of the listeners. * * * * * CHURLISH adjective Pronounced: CHUR-lish Meaning: Difficult to work with or deal with. Example: Although he was a brilliant conductor, Toscanini could be churlish at times. * * * * * RENOUNCE verb Pronounced: ree-NOUNss Meaning: To announce one’s abandonment of the ownership of, give up, abandon or resign something possessed. Example: In 1936, Prince Edward of Wales decided to renounce his claim to the throne of England and marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. * * * * * IRIDESCENT adjective Pronounced: ear-ri-DES-cent Meaning: Showing colors like those of the rainbow. Example: Louis C. Tiffany developed a famous type of iridescent glass. * * * * * DERELICT noun Pronounced: DARE-uh-licked Meaning: A thing voluntarily abandoned by its owner with the intention of not retaking it and rightly claimed by the first person who takes possession of it. Example: Tom sank his yacht when his rescuers arrived lest it become a derelict. * * * * * PTARMIC noun Pronounced: TAR-mick Meaning: A substance that causes sneezing. Example: Andrea is extremely allergic to dust, an everpresent ptarmic difficult for her to avoid. * * * * * BOUDOIR noun Pronounced: BOOD-wah Meaning: A woman’s dressing room, bedroom or private sitting room. Example: The boudoir adjacent to the master bedroom was, to Brooke, the most fascinating room on the tour. * * * * * JUNTA noun Pronounced: HOON-tah Meaning: A closely knit group of persons composing or dominating a government, especially after a revolutionary seizure of power. Example: The military junta set up its headquarters in the former presidential palace. * * * * * ONEROUS adjective Pronounced: OH-ner-uss Meaning: That involves, imposes or constitutes much oppressive or irksome work, effort, difficulty or responsibility. Example: Ron grudgingly completed the onerous task of cutting and stacking the firewood. * * * * * FARCICAL adjective Pronounced: FAR-sick-kal Meaning: Receiving or meriting laughter or amused scorn as utterly without claim to serious consideration or as laughably inept. Example: Shakespeare employs farcical characters in many of his plays to provide comic relief. * * * * * LIQUESCENT adjective Pronounced: lih-KWES-scent Meaning: Being, becoming or tending to become liquid; melting. Example: When a giant asteroid hits the ground, it is transformed into a liquescent mass that becomes a fireball. * * * * * VULNERARY adjective Pronounced: VUL-ner-ar-ree Meaning: Promoting the healing of wounds; curative. Example: There was a section in the old medical book about vulnerary herbs. * * * * * KESTREL noun Pronounced: KES-trill Meaning: A common small European falcon. Example: Sean found an injured kestrel on the roof of the library. * * * * * TENET noun Pronounced: TIN-net Meaning: A principle, dogma, belief or doctrine generally held to be true, especially one held in common by members of a group or profession. Example: The basic tenet of Central High’s Key Club is that community service benefits everyone. * * * * * NIHILISM noun Pronounced: NYE-hill-izm Meaning: A viewpoint that all traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that all existence is consequently senseless and useless. Example: The rock star’s lyrics were criticized for advocating a bleak nihilism. * * * * * YORE noun Pronounced: YORR Meaning: Time past and especially time long past. Example: Adam’s favorite books contain stories about knights of yore. Words of the Week 05 Whenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don’t know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun … etc. DOLOROUS adjective Pronounced: dough-LORE-us Meaning: Expressive of sorrow or affliction. Example: In a dolorous voice, the reporter described the scene of the disaster. * * * * * SAGACIOUS adjective Pronounced: suh-GAY-shus Meaning: Possessing quick intellectual perceptions. Example: The neighbors often came to the sagacious old man for advice about investments. * * * * * ERUBESCENT adjective Pronounced: air-ru-BES-cent Meaning: becoming red; reddening. Example: Cheryl’s erubescent complexion made her embarrassment obvious. * * * * * PIACULAR adjective Pronounced: pie-AC-ular Meaning: Of, relating to or involving sacrifice; sacrificial. Example: While visiting the island of Patmos, the tourists saw an ancient altar where the Greeks burned piacular offerings to the gods. * * * * * SOLILOQUY noun Pronounced: so-LIL-o-quee Meaning: A speech made by one in solitude to oneself. Example: At the talent contest, Angelo stepped into the spotlight and recited Hamlet’s famous soliloquy “To be or not to be, … “ * * * * * ACICULAR adjective Pronounced: ay-SICK-u-lar Meaning: Slender and pointed; like a needle in shape. Example: Under the microscope, the crystals appear as single acicular structures. * * * * * LEVITY noun Pronounced: LEV-it-tee Meaning: Excessive or unseemly frivolity. Example: The minister’s levity during the eulogy was inappropriate. * * * * * TANGIBLE adjective Pronounced: TAN-gi-bull Meaning: Capable of being touched. Example: The black darkness of the night seemed to have a tangible quality. * * * * * BELLIPOTENT adjective Pronounced: bell-LIP-o-tent Meaning: Mighty in war. Example: The nation’s desire to become a bellipotent power resulted in a drastic increase in its defense budget. * * * * * VITRIOLIC adjective Pronounced: VIT-tree-olick Meaning: Possessing a caustic, biting quality. Example: Howard had to be reprimanded for his virtriolic outbursts against the referees and opposing players. * * * * * JUBILANT adjective Pronounced: JOO-bill-ent Meaning: Manifesting or expressing exultation or gladness. Example: Fans were jubilant when the batter hit the winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. * * * * * OSCULATORY adjective Pronounced: OSS-kue-la-tore-ee Meaning: Of, relating to or characterized by kissing. Example: Julie had no idea Shaun was talking about kissing when he asked if she would help him refine his osculatory skill. * * * * * WHISPERER noun Pronounced: WHIS-per-rer Meaning: One that speaks softly with the aim of preserving secrecy. Example: Reverend Loomis scanned the congregation in vain, searching for the whisperer. * * * * * NARCOLEPTIC adjective Pronounced: NAR-co-lep-tick Meaning: Of, relating to or affected with a transient compulsive tendency to attacks of deep sleep usually of unknown causes. Example: Steve becomes narcoleptic whenever he is under deep stress. * * * * * RAPPROCHEMENT noun Pronounced: RA-prosh-maunt Meaning: Establishment or a state of cordial relations. Example: The rapprochement between the country’s two religious groups suffered a setback when members of one group bombed a church that belonged to the other group. * * * * * HERETICAL adjective Pronounced: herr-ET-ti-kal Meaning: Of, relating to or characterized by departure from accepted beliefs or standards; unorthodox. Example: A free society allows the expression of all opinions, however heretical they may seem. * * * * * MORES noun Pronounced: MORE-ayz Meaning: The fixed customs or folkways of a particular group which are morally binding upon all members of the group and necessary to its welfare and preservation. Example: Some religious groups have developed a society of their own with strict and distinct mores. * * * * * ILLTH noun Pronounced: ILL-th Meaning: The condition of being economically unprosperous or miserable. Example: Sharon didn’t mind her family’s illth as much as she minded the fact that they had all simply given up on any possibility of prosperity. * * * * * QUAINT adjective Pronounced: KWAINT Meaning: Uncommon, old-fashioned or unfamiliar but often agreeable or attractive in character, appearance or action. Example: In the middle of the ultramodern mall was a quaint tearoom that drew customers from miles around. * * * * * KAIROS noun Pronounced: KI-ross Meaning: A time when conditions are right for the accomplishment of a crucial action. Example: Feeling that the kairos would never be better, Barbara approached her boss and demanded a raise. * * * * * UNCONSCIONABLE adjective Pronounced: un-CON-shun-abull Meaning: Not guided or controlled by an internal sense of right or wrong; unscrupulous. Example: The governor was denounced for his unconscionable indifference to the plight of the homeless. * * * * * FLIPPANT adjective Pronounced: FLIP-pent Meaning: Treating or tending to treat with unsuitable levity that which is serious or to which respect is due. Example: The principal chastised Clyde and his friends for their flippant behavior during the memorial service. Words of the Week 06 Whenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don’t know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun … etc. STATUESQUE adjective Pronounced: STA-chew-esk Meaning: Having a massive dignity or impressiveness; majestic. Example: A statuesque sculpture stood in the town square. * * * * * ABSTEMIOUS adjective Pronounced: ab-STEM-ee-us Meaning: Sparing in eating and drinking. Example: Evelyn is abstemious by nature and never orders dessert. * * * * * FINITE adjective Pronounced: FI-night Meaning: Having clear limits. Example: Phoebe’s creativity was bound by a finite set of resources. * * * * * COMMINATION noun Pronounced: kom-in-NA-shun Meaning: An instance or the action of announcing, warning of, or threatening punishment or vengeance. Example: The president ended his speech with a severe commination against the rebels. * * * * * WHEREWITHAL noun Pronounced: WEAR-with-all Meaning: Financial resources; money. Example: Everyone was surprised that Jake had the wherewithal to buy a sailboat. * * * * * LEONINE adjective Pronounced: LEE-o-nine Meaning: Resembling or having the characteristics of a lion. Example: Portraits of Beethoven and Einstein always depict them with leonine hairstyles. * * * * * EDIFICE noun Pronounced: ED-i-fiss Meaning: Building, especially a large or massive structure. Example: To Amy, the most beautiful edifice in our nation’s capital is the National Cathedral. * * * * * OCCISION noun Pronounced: awk-SIZ-zhun Meaning: An act or instance of slaughtering. Example: Ecologists are protesting the wholesale occision of sea turtles within national boundaries. * * * * * GESTICULATE verb Pronounced: ges-TIC-u-late Meaning: To make gestures or motions, especially when speaking. Example: The way public figures gesticulate while talking is often fodder for comedians. * * * * * JAPERY noun Pronounced: JAPE-ery Meaning: Jesting or joking talk. Example: Tired of the disk jockey’s japery, Terry turned the radio off. * * * * * NEOPHYTE noun Pronounced: KNEEO-fyt Meaning: A new convert, especially a convert to the Christian faith in the early church. Example: In just three years, St. Cyprian of Carthage went from being a neophyte to being the bishop of Carthage. * * * * * DIURNAL adjective Pronounced: die-UR-null Meaning: Active chiefly during the daytime. Example: Few cats are naturally diurnal, which can be a problem for light-sleeping owners. * * * * * ULULATION noun Pronounced: ul-yoo-LAY-shun Meaning: A loud, mournful, usually protracted and rhythmical sound; a howl. Example: An ululation from the deep woods gave Jesse the goosebumps. * * * * * BLEPHERAL adjective Pronounced: BLEF-fur-rall Meaning: Of or relating to the eyelids. Example: Leroy’s blepheral inflammation was caused by allergies. * * * * * KIBITZER noun Pronounced: KIB-bit-zer Meaning: An outsider or nonparticipant who looks on and may offer unwanted advice or comment. Example: Officer Morrow ordered the kibitzer to stand back and get out of the way of the rescue squad. * * * * * REPARTEE noun Pronounced: RUH-par-tee Meaning: A succession of clever retorts. Example: Susie and Josh’s repartee is so excessive that even their friends tire quickly of the constant retorts. * * * * * PERQUISITE noun Pronounced: PURR-kwis-it Meaning: A privilege, gain or profit incidental to an employment in addition to regular salary or wages. (Otherwise known as a PERK!) Example: A perquisite attractive to many business executives is unlimited use of a cellular telephone. * * * * * HACKNEYED adjective Pronounced: HAK-kneed Meaning: Commonplace or trite. Example: The marketing adjective extreme will soon be as hackneyed as super and ultra. * * * * * QUORUM noun Pronounced: KWOR-rum Meaning: The number of members of an organization who, when assembled, can legally transact business in the absence of the other members. Example: There were not enough members present at the school board meeting to constitute a quorum, so no voting took place. * * * * * VAGRANCY noun Pronounced: VAYG-ran-cee Meaning: The state or offense of being a person who has no established residency and wanders idly from place to place without lawful or visible means of support. Example: To clear the downtown area of homeless people, the mayor instructed the police to arrest them for vagrancy. * * * * * ILLUSORY adjective Pronounced: ill-LU-sore-ree Meaning: Of, relating to or marked by illusion or deception. Example: Citizens of both countries hope that the apparent peace between the two nations is not illusory. * * * * * TOCSIN noun Pronounced: TALK-sinn Meaning: An alarm bell or the ringing of a bell for the purpose of alarm. Example: In the event of a national disaster or civil alert, the fire stations would set off a tocsin that could be heard for two miles in any direction. * * * * * Words of the Week 07 Whenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don’t know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun … etc. ONSLAUGHT noun Pronounced: ON-slot Meaning: An especially fierce attack. Example: The Britons were unable to withstand the onslaught of the Saxons. * * * * * FERETORY noun Pronounced: FAIR-a-tor-ee Meaning: A place for keeping an ornate coffin for the relics of a saint. Example: Every two hours, the monks at the shrine of St. Dionysios in Greece perform a prayer service and open the feretory for viewing. * * * * * BREVITY noun Pronounced: BREV-it-tee Meaning: Expression in a few words. Polonius told Queen Gertrude that “brevity is the soul of wit.” * * * * * HIEROPHANT noun Pronounced: HIGH-ro-fant Meaning: A priest in ancient Greece. Example: The hierophant portrayed in Tim’s history book was dressed in an animal skin and wore a crown of leaves. * * * * * PEJORATIVE adjective Pronounced: puh-JOR-a-tiv Meaning: Having a tendency to make or become worse. Example: The critic’s pejorative comments angered the entire cast. * * * * * MNESTIC adjective Pronounced: NES-tik Meaning: Of or relating to memory or the persistent effect of past experience of an individual. Example: Granny spends much of her time reminiscing and performing other mnestic activities. * * * * * QUELLABLE adjective Pronounced: KWEL-a-bull Meaning: Capable of being quieted. Example: The restless crowd proved quellable at the sight of the entertainer they’d come to see. * * * * * ERADICATE verb Pronounced: ee-RAD-i-kate Meaning: To do away with or destroy completely. Example: Many wheat farmers use aerial sprays to eradicate weeds, diseases and insect pests from their fields. * * * * * VITREOUS adjective Pronounced: VIT-tree-us Meaning: Of, relating to, derived from or consisting of glass. Example: The huge vitreous wall of skyscrapers reflected the mountains and the sunset. * * * * * CHIVALRY noun Pronounced: SHIV-al-ree Meaning: Qualifications or character of the ideal knight according to the romantic tradition of courtesy, gallantry and honor. Example: To the knights of the Round Table, chivalry was of primary importance. * * * * * LITURGICAL adjective Pronounced: lih-TUR-gick-kal Meaning: Of, relating to or having the characteristics of ceremonial or ritualistic worship. Example: The priest donned his liturgical vestments before the mass. * * * * * AFFINITY noun Pronounced: uh-FIN-nit-tee Meaning: Sympathy, especially as marked by community of interest. Example: Marie felt an affinity with the new chess prodigy, remembering how she had followed Bobby Fischer’s early career many years before. * * * * * JARGON noun Pronounced: JAR-gun Meaning: The technical terminology or characteristic idiom of specialists or workers in a particular activity or area of knowledge. Example: Anna was sure the computer programmers were speaking English, but their jargon made it impossible for her to understand what they were saying. * * * * * SCOFFLAW noun Pronounced: SKOFF-law Meaning: A contemptuous lawbreaker, especially one who ignores parking tickets. Example: The scofflaw tore up his ticket in front of the police officer and subsequently fined $500. * * * * * GNOMIC adjective Pronounced: NO-mick Meaning: Characterized by expressive of moralistic wisdom especially concerning human condition or conduct. Example: The calendar contained 12 Norman Rockwell illustrations, each accompanied by a gnomic sentiment. * * * * * KINETIC adjective Pronounced: kin-EH-tick Meaning: Relating to the motion of matter and the forces and energy associated therewith. Example: The kinetic theory of gases treats each molecule in a gas as a point, which has mass but negligible volume. * * * * * DIAPHANOUS adjective Pronounced: die-AF-fan-nuss Meaning: Characterized by such fineness and delicacy of nature as to permit seeing through. Example: The jellyfish were so diaphanous that you could be next to them in the water and never know they were there. * * * * * ZOOPHILIST noun Pronounced: ZOO-fill-ist Meaning: A lover of animals, especially a person concerned with the rights of lower animals and their protection from abuse. Example: The noted zoophilist explained how deforestation is endangering several species of mammals and birds. * * * * * NUMINOUS adjective Pronounced: NOO-min-nuss Meaning: Dedicated to or hallowed by association with a deity. Example: A soft light seemed to glow from the numinous vessel on the altar. * * * * * UMBRAGE noun Pronounced: UM-bridge Meaning: Displeasure, resentment or annoyance. Example: Hatred between nations disposes each more readily to offer insult and injury and lay hold of slight causes of umbrage. * * * * * WALLOP verb Pronounced: WALL-up Meaning: Gain a decisive victory over, beat by a wide margin, trounce. Example: Coach Garrett predicts that his team will soundly wallop the opposing team. Words of the Week 08 Whenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don’t know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun … etc. BALNEATION noun Pronounced: bal-knee-AY-shun Meaning: The act or action of bathing. Example: Alicia uses a sponge to assist her in her daily balneation. * * * * * ICONOCLAST noun Pronounced: eye-CON-no-klast Meaning: One who attacks established beliefs, ideals, customs or institutions. Example: Malcolm has always considered himself the iconoclast of the family. * * * * * REDOLENT adjective Pronounced: REH-dough-lint Meaning: Conveying an aura; tending to suggest. Example: Every page of Ryan’s essay is redolent of fine scholarship. * * * * * DRACONIAN adjective Pronounced: dra-KONE-ee-en Meaning: Marked by extreme severity or cruelty. Example: The pop star’s main residence was on an island where the tax laws were less draconian than in her native England. * * * * * USURPER noun Pronounced: you-SERP-er Meaning: One that infringes or encroaches upon the rights or property of another. Example: By the end of his term, the mayor had become known as a usurper of authority. * * * * * GLABROUS adjective Pronounced: GLAY-bruss Meaning: Having skin that has absolutely no hair. Example: Mr. Franklin showed the first graders that reptiles, unlike mammals, are completely glabrous. * * * * * NASCENT adjective Pronounced: NAY-cent Meaning: Undergoing the process of being born; beginning to exist. Example: The Boston Tea Party revealed nascent revolutionary tendencies among the American colonists. * * * * * CROTCHETY adjective Pronounced: KRAW-chit-tee Meaning: Subject to crankiness or ill temper. Example: Not getting enough sleep usually makes Trudy crotchety in the morning. * * * * * VENDETTA noun Pronounced: vin-DET-ta Meaning: A prolonged feud marked by bitter hostility. Example: Chloe’s all-night party exacerbated the vendetta with the neighbor. * * * * * FALLACY noun Pronounced: FAAL-uh-cee Meaning: A false or erroneous idea. Example: Though Ben’s argument may seem plausible, it is pure fallacy. * * * * * EXACERBATE verb Pronounced: egg-ZASS-sir-bate Meaning: make more violent or bitter; intensify the bad qualities of. Example: Cindy learned how name-calling could exacerbate an already violent argument. * * * * * MAVERICK noun Pronounced: MAV-rick Meaning: A member of any group who refuses to conform and who takes an unorthodox stand. Example: The rest of the teachers considered Ms. Thorne to be a maverick because she invited her students to call her by her first name. * * * * * APPENDAGES noun Pronounced: uh-PEN-did-jizz Meaning: Things accompanied or appended to another thing and usually subordinate or not essential to it. Example: The Abbey-Mill Farm, with all its appendages of prosperity and beauty, was a favorable spot for a walk. * * * * * OLEAGINOUS adjective Pronounced: oh-lee-AD-gin-nuss Meaning: Characterized by smooth courteousness or sickly sentimentality. Example: Grandpa was too smart to be taken in by oleaginous salesmen. * * * * * JUVENESCENCE noun Pronounced: joo-ven-ESS-scents Meaning: The state of being youthful or growing young. Example: The director helped the aging actress produce the illusion of juvenescence through careful makeup and lighting. * * * * * TRANSMOGRIFY verb Pronounced: trans-MOG-riff-fye Meaning: Change or alter in form, appearance or structure often with grotesque or humorous effect. Example: Buford set out to transmogrify the hearse into a hot rod. * * * * * LIGATURE noun Pronounced: LIGG-a-tyoor Meaning: Something that is used to bind, specifically, a thread, wire or other material used in surgery. Example: Dr. Adams removed the ligature that had held the vein closed during the surgery. * * * * * YIELD verb Pronounced: YEELD Meaning: Agree to accept or comply with something; exhibit willingness rather than opposition. Example: Sarah looks forward to the day when she will not have to yield to her parents’ wishes. * * * * * SILENTIARY noun Pronounced: si-LEN-shur-ree Meaning: One appointed to keep silence and order (as in a court of law or a public assembly). Example: One stern glance from the silentiary was all it took to stop Karen’s insipid murmuring. * * * * * KITSCH noun Pronounced: KIT-sshh Meaning: Artistic or literary material held to be of low quality, often produced to appeal to popular taste and marked especially by sentimentalism, sensationalism and slickness. Example: Souvenir shops are filled with kitsch for the undiscriminating tourist. * * * * * PRECEDENT noun Pronounced: PRESS-si-dent Meaning: Something done or said that may serve as an example or rule to authorize or justify a subsequent act of the same or of the analogous kind. Example: As far as Sasha knew, the decision to allow a girl to play on the football team was without precedent. * * * * * Words of the Week 09 Whenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don’t know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun … etc. SPLENETIC adjective Pronounced: spleen-NET-tick Meaning: Marked by morose bad temper, sullen malevolence, or spiteful, peevish anger. Example: The splenetic critic gave the musical a scathing review. * * * * * INSIPID adjective Pronounced: en-SIP-pid Meaning: Dull, uninteresting, commonplace. Example: Jed could hardly bear listening to the sportscaster’s insipid comments. * * * * * CHIMERICAL adjective Pronounced: ki-MARE-eh-kal Meaning: Unreal and existing only as the product of a wild unrestrained imagination. Example: Many video games pit the player against chimerical monsters. * * * * * FACILITATOR noun Pronounced: fuh-SILL-ih-tay-tore Meaning: One that makes something easier or less difficult. Example: As a teacher, Mr. Logan considers himself a facilitator of learning rather than a dispenser of information. * * * * * PHEROMONE noun Pronounced: FAIR-o-moan Meaning: A chemical substance that is produced by an animal and serves as a specific stimulus to other individuals of the same species for one or more behavioral responses. Example: When attacked by another beetle, the defensive beetle emitted a repellent pheromone. * * * * * JUDICIOUS adjective Pronounced: joo-DIH-shuss Meaning: Directed or governed by sound, usually dispassionate judgment, characterized by discretion. Example: Jane’s mom saw to it that her summer activities were a judicious mixture of chores and amusement. * * * * * HOAX noun Pronounced: HOKES Meaning: An act intended to trick or dupe; a piece of trickery. Example: Sarah forwarded the e-mail message, unaware she was participating in a hoax. * * * * * ALOOF adjective Pronounced: uh-LOOF Meaning: Removed or distant, either physically or spiritually and usually by choice and with indifference to the feelings, opinions or interests of others. Example: Greg’s aloof personality discouraged his gregarious colleagues. * * * * * GUILLOTINE noun Pronounced: GEE-yo-teen Meaning: A machine for beheading by means of a heavy ax or blade that slides down in vertical guides. Example: The guillotine was considered a merciful means of capital punishment when it was invented. * * * * * BAMBOOZLE verb Pronounced: bam-BOO-zull Meaning: Conceal one’s true motives from someone, especially by elaborately feigning good intentions so as to gain an end or achieve an advantage; to mislead or hoodwink. Example: Gavin tried to bamboozle his neighbor into offering her garage for his party by saying how much it needed a good airing out. * * * * * OBSTREPEROUS adjective Pronounced: ahb-STREP-err-uss Meaning: Stubbornly defiant; resisting control or restraint, often with a show of noisy disorder. Example: The noisy diner was asked to leave but became obstreperous and had to be escorted out of the restaurant. * * * * * DISMAL adjective Pronounced: DIZZ-mull Meaning: Marked by gloom, dejection, somberness or depression of spirits. Example: The children who forgot their gloves spent a dismal recess looking out the window at the snow. * * * * * VORTEX noun Pronounced: VORE-tecks Meaning: A rapidly spinning current of water. Example: The toy sailboat got caught in the vortex and spun wildly as the bathtub drained. * * * * * LOUPE noun Pronounced: LOOP Meaning: A small magnifying glass used by jewelers and watchmakers. Example: At his jewelry store, Arlo always wears a loupe on a chain around his neck. * * * * * TACITURN adjective Pronounced: TAH-sit-turn Meaning: Habitually silent; temperamentally disinclined or reluctant to talk or converse. Example: Mrs. Gibbons found it challenging to draw the taciturn boy into class discussions. * * * * * ENVISAGE verb Pronounced: in-VISS-sidge Meaning: Have a mental picture in advance of realization. Example: Benjamin could scarcely envisage the scale of the project, so he broke it down into smaller, more manageable units. * * * * * MODICUM noun Pronounced: MAH-di-kum Meaning: A small portion; a limited quantity or amount. Example: Bernie displayed not even a modicum of modesty as he bragged about his hole-in-one. * * * * * KERCHIEF noun Pronounced: KERR-chiff Meaning: a square of cloth usually folded and worn by women as a head covering. Example: Before Eileen went out to tend to her garden, she put on a blue and white kerchief. * * * * * QUAGMIRE noun Pronounced: KWAG-myer Meaning: A complex or precarious position where disengagement is difficult. Example: In his position as protocol officer, Russell often found himself in a quagmire of delicate relationships. * * * * * WRAITH noun Pronounced: RAYTH Meaning: An apparition of exact likeness of a living person usually seen just before that person’s death. Example: The wraith of a person shortly to die is a firm article in the creed of Scottish superstition. Words of the Week 11 Whenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don't know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun ... etc. ALLONYM noun Pronounced: AL-o-nihm Meaning: A name that is assumed by an author but that actually belongs to another person. Example: For his first novel, Allen considered using John Grisham as an allonym. * * * * * BESTIARY noun Pronounced: BEE-stee-airy Meaning: A medieval, often illustrated, work in verse or prose describing with an allegorical moralizing commentary on the appearance and habits of real and fabled animals. Example: At the Metropolitan Museum, Eli lingered in front of a case containing a French bestiary that told a story about a unicorn and a dragon. * * * * * CARICATURED verb Pronounced: CARE-ih-ka-tuur-d Meaning: Represented in exaggeration by means of deliberate simplification and often ludicrous distortion of parts or characteristics. Example: Those who inaugurated the movement for women's enfranchisement were initially censured and caricatured by the press. * * * * * DRYAD noun Pronounced: DRY-add Meaning: One of the minor divinities of nature in Greek and Roman mythology that are represented as beautiful maidens dwelling in the forests. Example: Sally likes to sit in her tree house and pretend that she is a dryad. * * * * * ECHOLOCATION noun Pronounced: eck-ko-lo-KA-shun Meaning: A process of animal orientation and navigation that involves emission of high-frequency sounds that are reflected back from environing surfaces and thus indicate the relative distance and direction of such surfaces. Example: Contrary to popular fiction, Erin learned that bats never get tangled in people's hair because their system of echolocation is so accurate. * * * * * FASTIDIOUSLY adverb Pronouced: fass-TID-di-us-ly Meaning: In a manner that reflects a meticulous, sensitive or demanding attitude. Example: Vera's insistence on dressing fastidiously for every occasion precluded her from going anywhere on short notice. * * * * * GLENGARRY noun Pronouced: glen-GARE-ree Meaning: A woolen cap of Scottish origin, typically having a crease in the crown from front to back and edges bound with ribbon that ends in the back in two small streamers. Example: Each bagpiper was wearing a glengarry, a kilt, a sporran and spats. * * * * * HYPERBOREAN adjective Pronounced: high-per-BORE-ee-in Meaning: Of, relating to or inhabiting an extreme Northern region; frigid. Example: Polar bears are among the few animals that can survive in hyperborean regions. * * * * * IDIOPATHIC adjective Pronounced: id-ee-o-PA-thick Meaning: Arising spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause. Example: After carefully examining Leila, the doctor announced that her sudden hearing loss was idiopathic and might disappear with time. * * * * * JOURNALESE noun Pronounced: JUR-nal-eeze Meaning: A style of writing held to be characteristic of newspapers. Example: The word transpired is considered journalese because it rarely occurs outside of newspapers. * * * * * KARMA noun Pronounced: KAR-muh Meaning: In Hinduism and Buddhism, the sum total of the ethical consequences of a person's good or bad actions comprising thoughts, words and deeds. Example: In Buddhism, harming another being is believed to contribute to bad karma. * * * * * LIBERTARIAN noun Pronounced: lih-bur-TARE-ree-in Meaning: One who upholds the principles of individual freedom of thought and action. Example: A libertarian would cut down constitutional authority to the smallest proportions, while an authoritarian leaves but little scope for private judgment. * * * * * MASOCHISTIC adjective Pronounced: mah-so-KISS-tick Meaning: Relating to, marked by or given to taking pleasure in physical or mental suffering inflicted on one by oneself or another. Example: Runners have long endured derisive comments from nonrunners about their apparently masochistic tendencies. * * * * * NOMOGRAPHER noun Pronounced: noe-MOG-gra-fur Meaning: A writer of laws. Example: During his term as a state senator, Wilbur became an experienced nomographer. * * * * * OPACATE verb Pronounced: OH-pah-kate Meaning: Make impervious to the rays of visible light. Example: Because even a small amount of daylight awakens Scott, he uses special shades that opacate his windows. * * * * * PICKWICKIAN adjective Pronounced: pik-WIK-key-in Meaning: Marked by simplicity and generosity of character or by an appearance and manner suggesting these qualities. Example: Matilda wishes that her principal were more like the Pickwickian headmaster of Tom's school. * * * * * QUATTROCENTO noun Pronounced: kwa-troh-CHEN-toe Meaning: The 15th century, specifically, the 15th century period in Italian literature and art. Example: Lorenzo De Medici was one of the chief supporters of Italian art during the quattrocento. * * * * * REVENDICATE verb Pronouced: ruh-VIN-dih-kate Meaning: Recover by a formal demand for restoration. Example: After German reunification, many who had emigrated to the West during the Cold War attempted to revendicate their former homes. * * * * * SALIFEROUS adjective Pronounced: sah-LIH-fair-uss Meaning: Producing, impregnate with or containing salt. Example: The tour guide recommended that the tourists resist the urge to taste the saliferous formations in the mine. * * * * * TALARIA noun, plural; singular version TALARIUM Pronounced: tah-LAIR-ree-uh Meaning: Winged shoes fastened to the ankles and chiefly used as an attribute of the god Hermes or Mercury of classical mythology. Example: The talaria symbolize the speed with which Hermes acts as the messenger of the gods. * * * * * UNCONSCIONABLY adverb Pronounced: un-KON-shun-ab-blee Meaning: In a manner not guided or controlled by conscience. Example: Nathan behaved so unconscionably in elementary school that his juvenile delinquency surprises no one. * * * * * VENATORIAL adjective Pronounced: ven-na-TORE-ree-ul Meaning: Of, relating to or used in hunting. Example: As the duck hunting season begins, Jake can be counted on to retell accounts of his past venatorial successes. * * * * * WILES noun, plural; singular version WILE Pronounced: WHY-ulls Meaning: Tricks or stratagems intended or ensnare or deceive. Example: George Washington believed that nations must ultimately depend on themselves alone and warned against "the insidious wiles of foreign influence." * * * * * XENOPHOBIC adjective Pronounced: ZEN-no-fo-bick Meaning: Of, relating to or characterized by fear and hatred of what is foreign and especially of people of foreign origin. Example: Roger's xenophobic personality made him unfit for the Peace Corps. * * * * * YIDDISHKEIT noun Pronounced: YIDD-dish-kite Meaning: Jewish way of life. Example: Rabbi Cohen answered questions from the Hebrew school pupils about the fundamental values of Yiddishkeit. * * * * * ZETETIC adjective Pronounced: zeh-THE-dick Meaning: Proceeding by inquiry. Example: The class government has its own zetetic justice system. Words of the Week (2005) 01 Whenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don’t know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun … etc. ABNEGATION noun Pronounced: ab-nih-GAY-shun Meaning: Renunciation or denial. ***** BEDIZEN verb Pronounced: BEH-dih-zen Meaning: To dress or adorn with gaudy and showy vulgarity. ***** CORPS noun Pronounced: CORE Meaning: The ensemble or chorus of a ballet company as distinguished from soloists and principals. ***** DEFALCATION noun Pronounced: deh-ful-KAY-shun Meaning: The misappropriation of money in one’s keeping. ***** ENCULTURATE verb Pronounced: in-CUL-ture-rate Meaning: Modify or condition by the process by which an individual learns the traditional content of a culture and assimilates its practices and values. ***** FASTING noun Pronouced: FASS-ting Meaning: The act of abstaining from food, especially for an unusual time and often as a form of religious observance or for therapeutic purposes. ***** GNOSIS noun Pronouced: NO-siss Meaning: The act or process of cognition or knowing. ***** HADEAN adjective Pronounced: HAY-dee-enn Meaning: Of, relating to or characteristic of hell. ***** IGNOBLE adjective Pronounced: ig-KNOW-bull Meaning: Displaying or characterized by baseness or meanness; despicable. ***** JORNADA noun Pronounced: hor-NA-da Meaning: An arduous, usually one-day, journey across a stretch of desert. ***** KORRIGAN noun Pronounced: KORE-ree-gun Meaning: A long-haired noctural, often malevolent, fairy sorceress. ***** LIAISE verb Pronounced: LEE-aze Meaning: To establish communication for purposes of mutual understanding. ***** MALVERSATION noun Pronounced: mal-ver-SAY-shun Meaning: Misbehavior and especially corruption in an office, trust or commission. ***** NETHER adjective Pronounced: NEH-thur Meaning: Below; lower. ***** OBROTUND adjective Pronounced: OB-roh-tunned Meaning: Nearly spherical, but with one diameter slightly exceeding the others. ***** PERLINGUAL adjective Pronounced: per-LING-gwal Meaning: Through or by way of the tongue. ***** QUITTANCE noun Pronounced: KWIH-tunce Meaning: The act of freeing or releasing, specifically, discharge from a debt or an obligation. ***** REPARATIONS noun, plural: singular version, REPARATION Pronouced: reh-pa-RAY-shuns Meaning: The act of making amends, offering expiation or giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury. ***** SPOOR noun Pronounced: SPOOR Meaning: A mark, a trail, a scent, a sound or droppings left by one that has passed. ***** THEURGY noun Pronounced: THEE-ur-gee Meaning: The act of compelling or persuading a god or beneficent supernatural power to do or refrain from doing something, specifically, an occult art in which the operator is held to be capable of evoking or utilizing the aid of divine and beneficent spirits. ***** UNAPPEASABLE adjective Pronounced: un-uh-PEAS-uh-bull Meaning: Not capable of being brought to a state of ease or content. ***** VICENNIAL adjective Pronounced: vi-SIN-knee-ul Meaning: Occurring once every 20 years. ***** WHEATEN noun Pronounced: WHEE-tun Meaning: The color of wheat, specifically, a pale yellow or fawn characteristic of certain breeds of dogs. ***** XYSTI noun Pronounced: ZISS-tee Meaning: Long, open porticoes, used especially by ancient Greeks or Romans for athletic exercises in wintry or stormy weather. ***** YINGLISH noun Pronounced: YING-glish Meaning: English marked by numerous borrowings from Yiddish. ***** ZENDO noun Pronounced: ZEN-doh Meaning: A place used for Zen meditation. ***** ABSOLUTION noun Pronounced: ab-so-LOO-shun Meaning: A rite, ceremony or form of words in which a remission of sins is pronounced, proclaimed or prayerfully implored by a priest or minister. ***** BERSERK adjective Pronounced: bih-ZERK Meaning: Marked by a display of violent erratic behavior indicative of extreme excitement or agitation and suggestive of sudden mental unbalance. ***** CASTE noun Pronounced: KAYST Meaning: One of the hereditary classes into which the society of India is divided in accordance with a system fundamental in Hinduism. ***** DISCERNED verb Pronounced: dih-SERN-d Meaning: Sensed or came to know or recognize mentally, especially something that is obscure. ***** EMENDATION noun Pronounced: ee-min-DAY-shun Meaning: The word or the matter substituted for incorrect or unsuitable matter in a work that has been altered. ***** FUSIFORM adjective Pronounced: FUE-zee-form Meaning: Shaped like a spindle, tapering toward each end. ***** GARBOLOGY noun Pronounced: garr-BOLL-o-gee Meaning: The study of modern culture through the analysis of what is thrown away as garbage or trash. ***** HOARY adjective Pronounced: HOAR-ree Meaning: Gray or white with age. ***** IMAM noun Pronounced: ih-MOM Meaning: The prayer leader of a mosque. ***** JERKWATER adjective Pronounced: JEERK-wah-turr Meaning: Insignificant and out of the way. ***** KNELL noun Pronounced: NELL Meaning: A sound or sign announcing someone’s death or the end or failure of something. ***** LUMINARIA noun Pronounced: loo-men-ARE-ree-uh Meaning: A Mexican Christmas lantern consisting of a lighted candle set in sand inside a paper bag. ***** MISO noun Pronounced: MEE-soh Meaning: A paste used in preparing soups and other foods that is made by grinding a mixture of steamed rice, cooked soybeans and salt and then fermenting it in brine. ***** Words of the Week (2005) 02 Whenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don't know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun ... etc. * AMBIVALENT adjective Pronounced: am-BIV-vull-lent Meaning: Characterized by, suggestive of, motivated by or exhibiting contradictory emotional or psychological attitude. * * * * * BUFFOONERY noun Pronounced: buh-FOON-err-ree Meaning: The practices of a clown or a clownish person, especially coarse, loutish behavior. * * * * * CADRE noun Pronounced: KAH-dray Meaning: A nucleus or core group, especially of trained personnel or active members of an organization who are capable of assuming leadership or of training and indoctrinating others. * * * * * DESICCATE verb Pronounced: DESS-sih-kate Meaning: Dry up or cause to dry up; deprive or exhaust of moisture. * * * * * EDIFICATION noun Pronounced: ed-diff-ih-KAY-shun Meaning: A building up of the mind, character or faith; intellectual, moral or spiritual improvement. * * * * * FANATICISM noun Pronounced: fuh-NAT-tih-cizm Meaning: Excessive enthusiasm and intense uncritical devotion, usually toward some controversial matter (as religion, politics or philosophy). * * * * * GROVEL noun Pronounced: GRAH-vell Meaning: Creep on the earth or with the face to the ground as one's natural gait or manner of locomotion. * * * * * HAGGARD adjective Pronounced: HA-gurd Meaning: Having a worn or emaciated appearance caused by suffering, anxiety or age. * * * * * IMMURED verb Pronounced: emm-MURR-d Meaning: Enclosed within or as if within walls. * * * * * JUNKET noun Pronounced: JUN-ket Meaning: A pleasure trip or tour made by an official at public expense ostensibly for purposes of inspection, investigation or other public business. * * * * * LARCENY noun Pronounced: LARR-sin-ee Meaning: The unlawful taking or carrying away of personal property without the consent of its lawful possessor. * * * * * MENSURATION noun Pronounced: men-sure-RAY-shun Meaning: The act, process, art or an instance of measuring; measurement. * * * * * NEPOTISM noun Pronounced: NEH-poe-tizm Meaning: Favoritism shown to relatives (as by giving them positions because of their relationship rather than on their merits). * * * * * OBSTINATE adjective Pronounced: AHB-stin-net Meaning: Adhering to an opinion, purpose or course. * * * * * PERUSE verb Pronounced: pur-ROOZ Meaning: Read, specifically read through or read over with some attention and typically for the purpose of discovering or noting one or more specific points. * * * * * QUADRALINGUAL adjective Pronounced: kwa-dra-LING-gwal Meaning: Speaking of having knowledge of four languages. * * * * * RECOGNIZANCE noun Pronounced: ree-COG-niz-zence Meaning: An obligation of record entered into before a court or magistrate requiring the performance of an act (as appearance in court) usually under penalty of money forfeiture. * * * * * SLEUTH verb Pronounced: SLOO-th Meaning: Act as a detective or investigator; search for information of facts. * * * * * TIERCE noun Pronounced: TEARS Meaning: A sequence of three playing cards of the same suit. * * * * * UMPIRAGE noun Pronounced: UMM-peer-idge Meaning: An act or instance of deciding in the capacity of one having authority to arbitrate and make a final decision. * * * * * VISCOUS adjective Pronounced: VISS-cuss Meaning: Having the physical property of a fluid or semi fluid that enables it to develop a certain amount of shearing stress dependent upon the velocity of the flow and then to offer continued resistance to the flow. * * * * * WATTLE noun Pronounced: WAH-tull Meaning: A fabrication of rods or poles interwoven with slender branches or reeds. * * * * * XENOPHOBIA noun Pronounced: zee-know-FO-bee-uh Meaning: An unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers or that which is foreign or strange. * * * * * YOGI noun Pronounced: YO-gee Meaning: A person who practices yoga. * * * * * ZOANTHROPY noun Pronounced: zoe-AN-throw-pee Meaning: A mental disorder in which one believes oneself to be an animal. * * * * * NOSTRUM noun Pronounced: NO-strum Meaning: A medicine sold with false or exaggerated claims; quack medicine. * * * * * OSSIFY verb Pronounced: AW-sif-fi Meaning: To convert into or cause to harden like bone. * * * * * PRAGMATIC adjective Pronounced: prag-MAH-tick Meaning: Concerned with practical considerations or consequences; having a practical point of view. * * * * * QUIXOTIC adjective Pronounced: quicks-AW-tick Meaning: Extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary; impractical. * * * * * REPROBATE noun Pronounced: ree-PRO-bate Meaning: A depraved or wicked person; A person who is beyond hope or redemption. * * * * * STRIATION noun Pronounced: stry-AY-shun Meaning: Striped, grooved or banded; having stripes. * * * * * TRANSIENT adjective Pronounced: TRAN-see-ent Meaning: Not lasting, enduring or permanent; transitory. * * * * * UPBRAID verb Pronounced: UP-brayd Meaning: To find fault with or reproach severely; censure. * * * * * VERITABLE adjective Pronounced: VER-it-tuh-bull Meaning: Being truly or very much so; genuine or real. * * * * * WEND verb Pronounced: WIND Meaning: To pursue or direct one's way. * * * * * XYLOTOMOUS adjective Pronounced: zy-LOT-toe-muss Meaning: Boring into or cutting wood, as certain insects. Words of the Week (2005) 03 Whenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don't know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun ... etc. ASSUASIVE adjective Pronounced: aw-SWAY-siv Meaning: Having a pleasantly soothing quality or effect; calming. * * * * * BALLYHOOED verb Pronounced: BAL-lee-hooed Meaning: Drummed up interest in by means of exaggerated, flamboyant publicity. * * * * * CATAWBA noun Pronounced: cah-TAW-ba Meaning: A very dark to blackish red. * * * * * DEVOTIONS noun singular; singular: DEVOTION Pronounced: dee-VO-shun Meaning: Prayers or service of worship, usually intended for private non-liturgical services. * * * * * ENACT verb Pronounced: in-AKT Meaning: Make into a law, especially perform the last aspect of legislation upon a bill that gives the validity of law. * * * * * FLOE noun Pronounced: FLOW Meaning: Floating ice formed in a large sheet on the surface of the sea or other body of water. * * * * * GOOGOL noun Pronounced: GOO-gull Meaning: The figure 1 followed by 100 zeroes equal to a number that is ten to the 100th power. * * * * * HIATUS noun Pronounced: high-ATE-us Meaning: Gap; aperture. * * * * * ICARIAN adjective Pronounced: ih-CARE-ree-in Meaning: Inadequate for or incapable of bringing about an ambitious project. * * * * * JOINERY noun Pronounced: JOY-nur-ree Meaning: The fastening together of pieces of wood to construct furniture, cabinetry or other articles. * * * * * KIKEPA noun Pronounced: kih-KAY-puh Meaning: A sarong worn by Hawaiian women with the top under one arm and over the shoulder of the opposite arm. * * * * * LEXICOLOGY noun Pronounced: lecks-sih-COL-lah-gee Meaning: The science of the derivation and signification of words. * * * * * MOMUS noun Pronounced: MO-muss Meaning: A carping critic; fault finder. * * * * * NIX noun Pronounced: NICKS Meaning: A creature originating in German folklore, usually having the form of half-human and half-fish and usually unfriendly to humans. * * * * * ODORANT adjective Pronounced: OH-dough-rent Meaning: Anything that emits a scent. * * * * * PARANDRUS noun Pronounced: PEAR-ann-druss Meaning: A mythical stag being able to change colors like the chameleon. * * * * * QUOTIDIAN adjective Pronounced: kow-TID-dee-an Meaning: Daily; ordinary or everyday, something that recurs daily. * * * * * RECONSTITUTE verb Pronounced: ree-KON-stih-tue-t Meaning: Restore the composition of an item by adding water. * * * * * SCRIM noun Pronounced: SCRIHM Meaning: A transparent theater drop or a transparent section in a drop that appears opaque when a scene in front is lighted and transparent when a scene in the back is lighted. * * * * * TRILOGY noun Pronounced: TRILL-oh-gee Meaning: A series of three dramas, literary or musical compositions that although each is in one sense complete, have a close mutual relation and form one theme or develop aspects of one basic concept. * * * * * UNLAURELED adjective Pronounced: un-LORE-alld Meaning: Having no acclaim or reward. * * * * * VERSICLE noun Pronounced: VER-sick-el Meaning: A brief poem or set of metrical lines. * * * * * WARBONNET noun Pronounced: WORE-bon-net Meaning: An American Indian ceremonial headdress with a feathered extension down the back. * * * * * XANADU noun Pronounced: ZAN-uh-doo Meaning: A place of great beauty, luxury and contentment. * * * * * YIN & YANG noun Pronounced: YIN / YANG Meaning: Two principles: one negative, dark and feminine (YIN) and one positive, bright and masculine (YANG), whose interaction influences the destinies of creatures and things. * * * * * ZAFTIG adjective Pronounced: ZAFF-tig Meaning: Having a pleasantly plump figure; juicy or succulent. * * * * * YAKUZA noun Pronounced: YAH-koo-zah Meaning: Any of various tightly-knit crime syndicates of Japan; a gangster. * * * * * ZYDECO noun Pronounced: ZI-deck-ko Meaning: A blues-influenced type of Cajun dance music popular in Louisiana and Texas, usually played on accordion, guitar and violin. * * * * * ARRANT adjective Pronounced: AIR-rent Meaning: Thorough; unmitigated; wandering. * * * * * BEATIFY verb Pronounced: bee-AT-tih-fye Meaning: To make blissfully happy. * * * * * CADGE verb Pronounced: CADJ Meaning: To obtain by begging or imposing on another's generosity. * * * * * DECORUM noun Pronounced: deh-CORE-rum Meaning: Dignified propriety of conduct, manners or appearance. * * * * * EQUIVOCATE verb Pronounced: ee-KWI-voh-kate Meaning: To use ambiguous or unclear expressions. * * * * * FELICITOUS adjective Pronounced: fuh-LIH-sit-tuss Meaning: Well-suited for the occasion; Having a special ability for suitable manner or expression, as a person; enjoyable; pleasant. * * * * * GARRULOUS adjective Pronounced: GARE-ruh-luss Meaning: Excessively talkative in a rambling manner, especially about trivial matters. * * * * * HIRSUTE adjective Pronounced: HERE-suit Meaning: Hairy; shaggy; of, pertaining to or characteristic of hair. * * * * * INVEIGH verb Pronounced: in-VAY Meaning: To protest strongly or attack vehemently with words; to rail against. * * * * * JIM CROW noun Pronounced: GEM CROH Meaning: A practice or policy of segregating or discriminating against blacks. * * * * * KOSHER adjective Pronounced: KOH-shure Meaning: Fit or allowed to be eaten or used, according to the dietary of ceremonial laws of Judaism. Words of the Week (2005) 04 Whenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don't know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun ... etc. AESOPIAN adjective Pronounced: ay-SOP-pee-in Meaning: Conveying an innocent meaning to an outsider but a concealed meaning to an informed member of a conspiracy or underground movement. * * * * * BILIOUS adjective Pronounced: BILL-yuss Meaning: Peevish; irritable; cranky; unattractive or distasteful. * * * * * CEVICHE noun Pronounced: suh-VEE-chay Meaning: An appetizer of small pieces of raw fish marinated in lime or lemon juice, often with onions, peppers and spices. * * * * * DAMASK noun Pronounced: DAH-mask Meaning: An elaborately patterned, usually reversible fabric of linen, silk, cotton, wool or synthetic fibers, woven on a Jacquard loom. * * * * * EBONIZE verb Pronounced: EH-boh-nyz Meaning: Make or stain black in imitation of ebony. * * * * * FORBEARANCE noun Pronounced: four-BEAR-rinse Meaning: Patient endurance; willingness to wait; self-control; an abstaining from the enforcement of a right. * * * * * GAINSAY verb Pronounced: GAIN-say Meaning: To deny or dispute; contradict; to speak or act against; oppose. * * * * * HAPLESS adjective Pronounced: HAPP-less Meaning: Unlucky; luckless; unfortunate. * * * * * INTREPID adjective Pronounced: in-TREP-id Meaning: Fearless; dauntless. * * * * * JALOUSIE noun Pronounced: JAL-low-see Meaning: A blind or shutter made with horizontal slats that can be adjusted to admit light and air but exclude rain and sun. * * * * * K RATION noun Pronounced: KAY RAH-shun Meaning: An emergency military field ration for use under combat conditions, consisting of three separate packaged meals. * * * * * LASSITUDE noun Pronounced: LAH-sih-tood Meaning: Weariness of body or mind from strain, oppressive climate, etc.; indifference. * * * * * METTLESOME adjective Pronounced: MEH-tull-sum Meaning: Spirited, courageous. * * * * * NADIR noun Pronounced: NAY-derr Meaning: The lowest point; point of greatest adversity or despair. * * * * * OBDURATE adjective Pronounced: AHB-dure-ret Meaning: Unmoved by persuasion or pity; unyielding. Stubbornly resistant to moral influence; impenitent. * * * * * PHLEGMATIC adjective Pronounced: fleg-MA-tick Meaning: Not easily excited to action or display of emotion; having a calm temperament. * * * * * QUAFF verb Pronounced: KWAF Meaning: To drink copiously and with hearty enjoyment. * * * * * RAFFISH adjective Pronounced: RAW-fish Meaning: Disreputable or nonconformist; rakish. * * * * * SYCOPHANT noun Pronounced: SICK-oh-fant Meaning: A self-seeking, servile flatterer; a fawning parasite. * * * * * TRACTABLE adjective Pronounced: TRACK-tah-bull Meaning: Easily managed or controlled; docile; yielding; easily worked, shaped or otherwise handled; malleable. * * * * * URBANE adjective Pronounced: ur-BAIN Meaning: Having polish and suavity in manner or style; sophisticated. * * * * * VITUPERATE verb Pronounced: vi-TOO-per-ate Meaning: To use harsh and abusive language; to censure harshly. * * * * * WUNDERKIND noun Pronounced: VOON-dur-kend Meaning: A child prodigy; a person who succeeds, especially in business, at a comparatively early age. * * * * * XANTHOUS adjective Pronounced: ZAN-thuss Meaning: Yellowish. * * * * * YAWP verb Pronounced: YAWP Meaning: To utter a loud, harsh cry; yelp, squawk; to talk noisily or complainingly. * * * * * ZAPPY adjective Pronounced: ZAH-pee Meaning: Energetic, lively or fast-moving. * * * * * WELL-HEALED adjective Pronounced: WELL HEALD Meaning: Well-off, rich. * * * * * XERIC adjective Pronounced: ZEAR-ick Meaning: Of, pertaining to or adapted to a dry environment. * * * * * YARDBIRD noun Pronounced: YARD-burd Meaning: A soldier assigned to cleaning the grounds or other menial tasks as punishment. * * * * * ZONIAN noun Pronounced: ZOH-nee-en Meaning: A United States citizen living in the Canal Zone. * * * * * ATTENUATE verb Pronounced: ah-TEN-yoo-ate Meaning: To weaken or reduce in force, intensity, effect, quantity or value; to make thin, slender or fine. * * * * * BOISTEROUS adjective Pronounced: BOY-stir-russ Meaning: Rough and noisy; turbulent and stormy. * * * * * CONUNDRUM noun Pronounced: ko-NUN-drum Meaning: A riddle whose answer involves a pun; a puzzle. * * * * * DISABUSE verb Pronounced: DISS-ah-byooz Meaning: To free from deception or error. * * * * * ENERVATE adjective Pronounced: IN-ur-vate Meaning: To deprive of force or strength; destroy the vigor of; weaken. * * * * * FULMINATE verb Pronounced: FULL-men-ate Meaning: To explode with a loud noise; detonate; to issue denunciations. * * * * * GUILELESS adjective Pronounced: GUYL-less Meaning: Sincere; straightforward. * * * * * HALLOW verb Pronounced: HAL-low Meaning: To make holy, sanctify or consecrate; to honor as holy; to consider sacred. * * * * * IMPAIR verb Pronounced: em-PEAR Meaning: To make or cause to become worse, weaken or damage. * * * * * JINGO noun Pronounced: JEENG-go Meaning: A person who professes belligerent patriotism and favors an aggressive foreign policy. * * * * * KWANZA noun Pronounced: KWAN-zah Meaning: A harvest festival celebrated from December 26 to January 1 in some African-American communities. * * * * * LASSITUDE noun Pronounced: LAH-sit-tood Meaning: Weariness of body or mind from strain, oppressive climate, etc., listlessness, languor. * * * * * MALINGER verb Pronounced: muh-LING-ger Meaning: To pretend illness, especially in order to shirk duty or work. Words of the Week (2005) 05 Whenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don't know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun ... etc. ASSIDUOUS adjective Pronounced: ah-SID-due-uss Meaning: Constant, unremitting; Working diligently at a task; persevering, industrious. * * * * * BALEFUL adjective Pronounced: BAIL-full Meaning: Menacing or malign; threatening evil. * * * * * CONTUMACIOUS adjective Pronounced: kon-too-MAY-shus Meaning: Stubbornly perverse or rebellious; willfully disobedient. * * * * * DROSS noun Pronounced: DRAWSS Meaning: Waste matter or refuse; A waste product taken off molten metal during smelting, essentially metallic in character. * * * * * EQUIPOISE noun Pronounced: EH-qwi-poiz Meaning: An equal distribution of weight; even balance; equilibrium. * * * * * FERVID adjective Pronounced: FUR-vid Meaning: Heated or vehement in spirit, enthusiasm, etc.; burning, glowing. * * * * * GARNER verb Pronounced: GARR-nur Meaning: To gather or deposit in or as if in a granary or other storage place; to get, acquire or earn. * * * * * HARROW verb Pronounced: HARE-row Meaning: To disturb painfully or keenly; to distress the mind or feelings of. * * * * * IMPASSIVE adjective Pronounced: em-PA-siv Meaning: Showing or feeling no emotion; unmoved; not subject to suffering. * * * * * JABBERWOCKY noun Pronounced: JAH-bur-wock-kee Meaning: Writing or speech with nonsensical words. * * * * * KANJI noun Pronounced: KAHN-jee Meaning: A system of Japanese writing using Chinese-derived characters. * * * * * LOQUACIOUS adjective Pronounced: low-KWAY-shus Meaning: Talking or tending to talk much freely; talkative; characteristic of excessive talk; wordy. * * * * * MOROSE adjective Pronounced: MORE-ohs Meaning: Gloomily or sullently ill-humored, as a person or mood; characterized by or expressing gloom. * * * * * NOISOME adjective Pronounced: NOY-sum Meaning: Offensive or disgusting, as in odor; harmful or injurious to health; noxious. * * * * * OSTENSIBLE adjective Pronounced: oss-TEN-sih-bull Meaning: Outwardly appearing as such; professed; pretended. * * * * * PRECEPT noun Pronounced: PREE-sept Meaning: A commandment or direction given as a rule of action or conduct; an injunction as to moral conduct; a maxim. * * * * * QUIESCENT adjective Pronounced: kwee-ESS-cent Meaning: Being at rest; quiet;still; inactive or motionless. * * * * * REFRACTORY adjective Pronounced: ree-FRACK-tore-ree Meaning: Hard or impossible to manage; stubbornly disobedient. * * * * * SQUALID adjective Pronounced: SKWA-lid Meaning: Filthy or repulsive as from neglect; degraded; sordid. * * * * * TRUCULENT adjective Pronounced: TRUCK-cue-lunt Meaning: Aggressively hostile; belligerent; brutally harsh; scathing or savagely brutal. * * * * * UNTOWARD adjective Pronounced: un-too-WARD Meaning: Unfavorable or unfortunate; improper. * * * * * VERISIMILITUDE noun Pronounced: vair-ih-sim-MIL-lih-tood Meaning: The appearance or semblance of truth; likelihood; probability. * * * * * WANE noun Pronounced: WAIN Meaning: To decrease in strength and intensity, etc.; to decline in power, importance, etc. * * * * * XENOBIOTIC noun Pronounced: ZEN-o-buy-ot-tick Meaning: A chemical or substance that is foreign to an organism or biological system. * * * * * YAMMER noun Pronounced: YAMM-mur Meaning: To whine or complain; to talk loudly or persistently. * * * * * ZEN noun Pronounced: ZIN Meaning: A movement of Buddhism, introduced into China in the 6th century and into Japan in the 12th century, that emphasizes enlightenment by means of meditation and direct, intuitive insights. * * * * * AVER verb Pronounced: ah-VURR Meaning: To assert or affirm with confidence; declare in a positive or peremptory manner. * * * * * BLITHE adjective Pronounced: BLYTH Meaning: Lighthearted in disposition; cheerful; carefree; heedless. * * * * * CREDULOUS adjective Pronounced: KRED-yoo-luss Meaning: Willing to believe or trust to readily; gullible. * * * * * DEMUR verb Pronounced: dih-MURR Meaning: To make objection, especially on the grounds of scruples; take exception; object. * * * * * EPITOME noun Pronounced: ee-PIT-toh-mee Meaning: A person or thing that is typical of or possesses to a high degree the features of a whole class; embodiment. * * * * * FROWARD adjective Pronounced: FRO-word Meaning: Willfully contrary; not easily managed. * * * * * GRIEVOUS adjective Pronounced: GREE-vuss Meaning: Causing grief or great sorrow; causing serious harm; characterized by great pain or suffering. * * * * * HEDONISM noun Pronounced: HEE-dun-izm Meaning: The doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest good; devotion to pleasure and self-gratification as a way of life. * * * * * INTRANSIGENT adjective Pronounced: in-TRAN-sih-gent Meaning: Refusing to agree or compromise; uncompromising; inflexible. * * * * * JEREMIAD noun Pronounced: jair-ih-MY-add Meaning: A prolonged lament; compliant. * * * * * KECK verb Pronounced: KECK Meaning: To retch; to feel or show disgust or strong dislike. * * * * * LUBRICIOUS adjective Pronounced: loo-BRISH-uss Meaning: Arousing or expressive of sexual desire; lustful; lecherous. * * * * * MENDACITY noun Pronounced: min-DAH-city Meaning: The quality of being false or untrue; lie or falsehood. * * * * * NEXUS noun Pronounced: NECKS-uss Meaning: A means of connection, tie or link; a connected series or group; the core or center, as of a matter or situation. * * * * * OBVIATE verb Pronounced: OBB-vee-ate Meaning: To anticipate and prevent or render unnecessary by effective measures. Words of the Week (2005) 06 Whenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don't know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun ... etc. ASPERITY noun Pronounced: ah-SPER-ih-tee Meaning: Harshness or sharpness of tone, temper or manner; severity; hardship; acrimony. * * * * * BLANDISHMENT noun Pronounced: BLAN-dish-mint Meaning: Something, as an action or speech, that tends to flatter, coax or entice. * * * * * CONSTERNATE verb Pronounced: KON-stir-nate Meaning: To dismay, confuse or terrify; to unsettle or throw into confusion. * * * * * DEBACLE noun Pronounced: deh-BAHK-l Meaning: A disaster or fiasco; a general rout or dispersal of troops. * * * * * EVINCE verb Pronounced: ee-VINCE Meaning: To show clearly; make evident or manifest; prove;to reveal the possession of a quality, trait, etc. * * * * * FLORID adjective Pronounced: FLOOR-id Meaning: Reddish; ruddy; rosy; flowery or excessive ornate. * * * * * GELID adjective Pronounced: JEL-id Meaning: Very cold; icy. * * * * * HARANGUE noun Pronounced: huh-RANG Meaning: A scolding or a verbal attack; diatribe; a long, passionate and vehement speech, especially one delivered before a public gathering. * * * * * INVOLUTE adjective Pronounced: IN-vol-oot Meaning: Intricate; complex; curled or curved inward or spirally; rolled inward from the edge as a leaf. * * * * * JITNEY noun Pronounced: JIT-knee Meaning: A small bus or car following a regular route along which it picks up and discharges passengers. * * * * * KLEPTOMANIA noun Pronounced: KLEP-toe-main-ee-ah Meaning: A compulsion to steal having no relation to need or the monetary value of the object. * * * * * LUCULENT adjective Pronounced: LOO-cue-lent Meaning: Clear or lucid; convincing or cogent. * * * * * MALLEABLE Adjective Pronounced: MAL-ee-uh-bull Meaning: Capable of being extended or shaped by hammering or by pressure from rollers; adaptable. * * * * * NUTATION noun Pronounced: noo-TAY-shun Meaning: An act or instance of nodding one's head, especially involuntarily or spasmodically. * * * * * OBTRUSIVE adjective Pronounced: ahb-TROO-siv Meaning: Having a disposition to impose oneself or one's opinions on others. * * * * * PALLIATE verb Pronounced: PAL-lee-ate Meaning: To relieve without curing; mitigate; alleviate; to try to conceal the gravity of an offense by excuses, apologies, etc. * * * * * QUODLIBET noun Pronounced: KWOAD-lih-bet Meaning: A subtle or elaborate argument or point of debate, usually on a theological or scholastic subject. * * * * * ROISTER verb Pronounced: ROY-stir Meaning: To act in a swaggering, boisterous or uproarious manner; to revel noisily or without restraint. * * * * * STENTORIAN adjective Pronounced: sten-TORE-ree-en Meaning: very loud or powerful in sound. * * * * * TAUTOLOGY noun Pronounced: tah-TOL-oh-gee Meaning: Needless repetition of an idea in different words; an instance of such repetition. * * * * * UBIQUITOUS adjective Pronounced: you-BICK-kwit-tuss Meaning: Existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time; omnipresent. * * * * * VINTNER noun Pronounced: VENT-ner Meaning: A person who sells or makes wines. * * * * * WORRYWART noun Pronounced: WORRY-whart Meaning: A person who tends to worry habitually and often needlessly. * * * * * XERISCAPE noun Pronounced: ZEAR-rih-scape Meaning: The environmental design of residential and park land using various methods for minimizing the need for water use. * * * * * YELLOW DOG noun Pronounced: YELL-oh dog Meaning: A cowardly, despicable person; craven. * * * * * ZAIBATSU noun Pronounced: zai-BAHT-su Meaning: A great industrial or financial combination of Japan. * * * * * PREVARICATE verb Pronounced: pre-VARE-ih-kate Meaning: To speak falsely, misleadingly, or so as to avoid the truth; deliberately misstate; equivocate; lie. * * * * * QUIDDITY noun Pronounced: KWIH-dih-tee Meaning: The quality that makes a thing what it is; essential nature. * * * * * REDOUBTABLE adjective Pronounced: ree-DOW-tuh-bull Meaning: Evoking fear; fearsome; formidable; commanding respect or reverence. * * * * * STAUNCH (also STANCH) verb Pronounced: STAW-nch Meaning: To stop the flow of a liquid, especially blood from a wound, leak, etc. * * * * * TEMERITY noun Pronounced: the-MER-ih-tee Meaning: Reckless boldness; rashness; an instance of reckless boldness. * * * * * UXORIOUS adjective Pronounced: ooks-SORE-ree-uss Meaning: Doting upon or affectionately submissive toward one's wife. * * * * * VOLANT adjective Pronounced: VO-lant Meaning: Engaged in or having the power of flight; moving lightly, nimble. * * * * * WYVERN noun Pronounced: WEE-vern Meaning: A mythical creature often depicted heraldically as a two-legged winged dragon with a barbed tail. * * * * * ABJURE verb Pronounced: ab-JOOR Meaning: To repudiate or retract, especially with formal solemnity; recant; to renounce or give up under oath. * * * * * BURNISH verb Pronounced: BURR-nish Meaning: To polish a surface by friction; to make smooth and bright especially by rubbing with a tool. * * * * * CONTEMN verb Pronounced: kon-TEM Meaning: To treat or regard with contempt. * * * * * DEPRECATE verb Pronounced: DEPP-ree-kate Meaning: To express earnest disapproval of; to urge reasons again; protest against a scheme, purpose, etc.; to belittle or depreciate.