New feature at POSP...periodic vocabulary list--#1

I suppose one of many features of getting older is that many people just quit learning or thinking but it is essential to cultivate and maintain a sharp intellectual edge and part of that process, like reading and writing, is a continual expansion of one's vocabulary. Thus, after several years negotiating with POSP's stringer Tim Ray's attorneys Dewey, Cheatum, & Howe, a list of vocabulary words will appear here frequently...hopefully once a month.

See the bottom of this post for more information.

adiaphorus

ad-ee-af-er-uhs

adjective

1. Indifferent, neutral, immaterial.
2. (Medicine) Having no effect, doing neither harm nor good, as an adiaphorous medicine, a placebo.

adumbrate

a-DUHM-breyt

verb

1. To foreshadow; prefigure.
2. To produce a faint image or resemblance of; to outline or sketch.
3. To darken or conceal partially; overshadow.

agrestic

uh-GRES-tik

adjective

Pertaining to fields or the country; rural; rustic.

aleatory

ay-li-e-tor-ee

adjective

1. Lucky, chancy, dependent on chance or fortune, at random rather than planned.
2. Related to or characterized by gambling.

ambuscade

AM-buh-skayd

noun

A trap in which concealed persons lie in wait to attack by surprise; also : the persons so concealed or their position

anhedonia

aen-hee-do-nee-ye

noun

1. The absence of pleasure.
2. The inability to enjoy pleasure. (In medicine this is a core symptom of depression.)

apotheosis

uh-pah-thee-OH-sis

noun

1. Elevation to divine status; deification
2. The perfect example; quintessence

appellation

ap-uh-LAY-shun

noun

1. The word by which a particular person or thing is called and known; name; title; designation.
2. The act of naming.

arcanum

ar-KAY-nuhm

noun

plural arcana

ar-KAY-nuh

1. A secret; a mystery.
2. Specialized or mysterious knowledge, language, or information that is not accessible to the average person (generally used in the plural).

archetype

AHR-kih-type

noun

The original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies; prototype; also, a perfect example

asperity

uh-SPAIR-uh-tee

noun

1. Roughness.
2. Harshness of manner or of temper.

atelier

at-l-YAY

noun

A workshop; a studio.

aubade

oh-BAHD

noun

A song or poem greeting the dawn; also, a composition suggestive of morning.

basilect

bae-se-lekt

noun

The least prestigious variety of language in an area or region, the antonym of acrolect, the most prestigious language variety.

billet-doux

bil-ay-DOO

noun

plural billets-doux

bil-ay-DOO(Z)

A love letter or note.

bloviate

BLOH-vee-ayt

intransitive verb

To speak or write at length in a pompous or boastful manner.

burke

berk

intransitive verb

1. To cover up, to sweep under the rug, to quietly suppress, as politicians are wont to burke investigations into their wrong-doing.
2. To suffocate someone so as to leave the body intact for the killer's purposes.

canaille

kuh-NYE

noun

1. Rabble, riffraff
2. Proletarian

capricious

kuh-PRISH-us; -PREE-shus

adjative

Apt to change suddenly; whimsical; changeable.

collogue

kuh-LOHG

verb

1.dialect : intrigue, conspire.
2. to talk privately : confer.

cozen

KUZ-un

transitive verb

1. To cheat; to defraud; to deceive, usually by petty tricks.
2. To obtain by deceit.

intransitive verb

1. To act deceitfully.

defalcation

dee-fal-KAY-shun

noun

1. The act or an instance of embezzling.
2. A failure to meet a promise or an expectation.

defenestrate

dee-FEN-uh-strayt

transitive verb

To throw out of a window.

diaphanous

dy-AF-uh-nuhs

adjective

1. Of such fine texture as to allow light to pass through; translucent or transparent.
2. Vague; insubstantial.

dishabille

dis-uh-BEEL

noun

1. The state of being carelessly or partially dressed.
2. Casual or lounging attire.
3. An intentionally careless or casual manner.

didactic

dye-DAK-tik

adjective

1a. Designed or intended to teach.
1b. Intended to convey instruction and information as well as pleasure and entertainment.
2. Making moral observations.

disport

dis-PORT

intransitive verb

To amuse oneself in light or lively manner; to frolic.

distrait

dis-TRAY

adjective

Divided or withdrawn in attention, especially because of anxiety.

eclectic

ih-KLEK-tik

adjective

1. Selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles.
2. Composed of elements drawn from various sources; also, heterogeneous.

effulgence

ih-FULL-junss

noun

Radiant splendor; brilliance.

eidetic

ahy-DET-ik

adjective

1. Of, pertaining to, or constituting visual imagery vividly experienced and readily reproducible with great accuracy and in great detail.
2. Marked by or involving extraordinarily accurate and exacting recall especially of visual images.

embonpoint

ahn-bohn-PWAN

noun

Plumpness of person; stoutness.

empyrean

em-py-REE-uhn;-PEER-ee-

noun

1. The highest heaven, in ancient belief usually thought to be a realm of pure fire or light.
2. Heaven; paradise.
3. The heavens; the sky.

adjective

Of or pertaining to the empyrean of ancient belief.

eristic

e-RIS-tik

adjective

1. Pertaining to controversy or disputation; controversial.
2. Of argument for the sole purpose of winning, regardless of the reason.

noun

1. Argument for the sole purpose of winning, regardless of the reason.
2. The art of disputation.

esemplastic

es-em-PLAS-tik

adjective

Shaping or having the power to shape disparate things into a unified whole.

ergogenic

ur-guh-JEN-ik

adjective

Enhancing physical performance.

eructation

ih-ruhk-TAY-shuhn

noun

The act of belching; a belch.

exiguous

ig-ZIG-yoo-us

adjective

Extremely scanty; meager.

expatiate

ek-SPAY-shee-ayt

intransitive verb

1. To speak or write at length or in considerable detail.
2. To move about freely; to wander.

fatidic

fuh-TID-ik

adjective

Of, relating to, or characterized by prophecy; prophetic.

flagitious

fluh-JISH-uhs

adjective

1. Disgracefully or shamefully criminal; grossly wicked; scandalous; -- said of acts, crimes, etc.
2. Guilty of enormous crimes; corrupt; profligate; -- said of persons.
3. Characterized by enormous crimes or scandalous vices; as, "flagitious times."

frog-march

FROG-march

verb

To seize from behind roughly and forcefully propel forward

frowsy

FROW-zee

adjective

1. Musty, stale.
2. Having a slovenly or uncared-for appearance.

fructuous

FRUHK-choo-uhs

adjective

Fruitful; productive.

fugue

fyug

noun

1. (Music) A musical structure in which a theme is extended and developed mainly by imitative counterpoint (combining two distinct lines) in different voices.
2. (Psychology) A state of altered consciousness in which a person wanders away from their present life and begins a new one. After recovery, there is no memory of the fugue episode.

fulminate

FUL-muh-nayt

intransitive verb

1. To issue or utter verbal attacks or censures authoritatively or menacingly.
2. To explode; to detonate.

garrulous

GAIR-uh-lus; GAIR-yuh-

adjective

1. Talking much, especially about commonplace or trivial things; talkative.
2. Wordy.

gelid

JEL-id

adjective

Extremely cold; icy.

gravamen

gruh-VAY-mun

noun

The material or significant part of a grievance or complaint.

gravitas

GRAV-uh-tahs

noun

High seriousness (as in a person's bearing or in the treatment of a subject).

gregarious

grih-GAIR-ee-us

adjective

1. Tending to form a group with others of the same kind.
2. Seeking and enjoying the company of others.

heuristic

hyur-is-tik

noun

1. Practical, hypothetical, based on an educated guess that serves as a practical guide in the investigation or solution of a larger problem.
2. Related to a "hands on" teaching method that leads students to an understanding of a subject by allowing them to conduct real research on that subject.

hirsute

HUR-soot; HIR-soot; hur-SOOT; hir-SOOT

adjective

Covered with hair; set with bristles; shaggy; hairy.

hypnagogic

hip-nuh-GOJ-ik;-GOH-jik

adjective

Of, pertaining to, or occurring in the state of drowsiness preceding sleep.

iatrogenic

ahy-a-truh-JEN-ik

adjective

A malady induced inadvertently by a physician or surgeon or by medical treatment or diagnostic procedures.

indefatigable

in-dih-FAT-ih-guh-bul

adjective

Incapable of being fatigued; not readily exhausted; untiring; unwearying; not yielding to fatigue.

impecunious

im-pih-KYOO-nee-uhs

adjective

Not having money; habitually without money; poor.

inexorable

in-EK-sur-uh-bul;in-EKS-ruh-bul

adjective

Not to be persuaded or moved by entreaty or prayer; firm; determined; unyielding; unchangeable; inflexible; relentless.

interlard

in-tuhr-LARD

transitive verb

To insert between; to mix or mingle; especially, to introduce something foreign or irrelevant into; as, "to interlard a conversation with oaths or allusions."

intransigent

in-TRAN-suh-junt

adjective

Characterized by refusal to compromise or to abandon an extreme position or attitude : uncompromising.

inveterate

in-VET-uhr-it

adjective

1. Firmly established by long persistence; deep-rooted; of long standing.
2. Fixed in habit by long persistence; confirmed; habitual.

jnana

juh-NAH-nuh

noun

Absolute knowledge acquired through meditation and study as a means of reaching (in Hinduism) Brahman; (in Buddhism) a state of awareness independent of conceptual thought.

lacuna

luh-KYOO-nuh

noun

plural lacunae

luh-KYOO-nee

or lacunas

1. A blank space; a missing part; a gap.
2. (Biology) A small opening, depression, or cavity in an anatomical structure.

lambent

LAM-buhnt

adjective

1. Playing lightly on or over a surface; flickering; as, "a lambent flame; lambent shadows."
2. Softly bright or radiant; luminous; as, "a lambent light."
3. Light and brilliant; as, "a lambent style; lambent wit."

logomachy

loh-GAH-muh-kee

noun

1. A dispute over or about words.
2. A controversy marked by verbiage.

machination

mack-uh-NAY-shuhn mash

noun

1. The act of plotting.
2. A crafty scheme; a cunning design or plot intended to accomplish some usually evil end.

malversation

mal-vur-SAY-shun

noun

Misconduct, corruption, or extortion in public office.

manumit

man-yuh-MIT

transitive verb

To free from slavery or servitude.

megrim

MEE-grim

noun

1. A migraine.
2. A fancy; a whim.
3. In the plural: lowness of spirits -- often with 'the'.

matutinal

muh-TOOT-n-uhl

adjective

Relating to or occurring in the morning; early.

mondegreen

MON-di-green

noun

A word or phrase resulting from a misinterpretation of a word or phrase that has been heard.

muliebrity

myoo-lee-EB-ri-tee

noun

The state of being a woman.

myrmidon

MER-muh-dahn

noun

A loyal follower; especially a subordinate who executes orders unquestioningly or unscrupulously.

nebbish

NEB-ish

noun

A weak-willed, timid, or ineffectual person.

neologism

nee-OLL-uh-jiz-um

noun

1. A new word or expression.
2. A new use of a word or expression.
3. The use or creation of new words or expressions.
4. (Psychiatry) An invented, meaningless word used by a person with a psychiatric disorder.
5. (Theology) A new view or interpretation of a scripture.

ne plus ultra

nee-plus-UL-truh; nay-

noun

1. The highest point, as of excellence or achievement; the acme; the pinnacle; the ultimate.
2. The most profound degree of a quality or condition.

noctivagant

noc-tiv-A-gant

adjective

Pertaining to going about in the night; night-wandering.

noetic

noh-ET-ik

adjective

Of, relating to, or based on the intellect.

nosocomial

nah-suh-KOH-mee-ul

adjective

Acquired or occurring in a hospita.

numinous

NOO-min-us

adjective

1. Of or pertaining to a numen; supernatural.
2. Filled with or characterized by a sense of a supernatural presence.
3. Inspiring awe and reverence; spiritual.

omnium-gatherum

ahm-nee-um-GA-thuh-rum

noun

A miscellaneous collection (as of things or persons).

palimpsest

PAL-imp-sest

noun

1. writing material (as a parchment or tablet) used one or more times after earlier writing has been erased.
2. something having usually diverse layers or aspects apparent beneath the surface.

obstreperous

ub-STREP-uh-rus

adjective

1. marked by unruly or aggressive noisiness; clamorous
2. stubbornly resistant to control; unruly

oneiric

oh-NY-rik

adjective

Of, pertaining to, or suggestive of dreams; dreamy.

panjandrum

pan-JAN-druhm

noun

An important personage or pretentious official.

paroxysm

PAIR-uhk-siz-uhm

noun

1. (Medicine) A sudden attack, intensification, or recurrence of a disease.
2. Any sudden and violent emotion or action; an outburst; a fit.

pellucid

puh-LOO-sid

adjective

1. Transparent; clear; not opaque.
2. Easily understandable.

perpend

per-PEND

verb

1. To ponder; deliberate.
2. To be attentive; reflect.

phlegmatic

fleg-MAT-ik

adjective

1. Not easily excited to action or display of emotion; apathetic; sluggish.
2. Self-possessed, calm, or composed.
3. Of the nature of or abounding in the humor phlegm.

popinjay

POP-in-jay

noun

A vain and talkative person.

presage

PRES-ij;pri-SEYJ

noun

1. An indication or warning of a future event; an omen.
2. A feeling or intuition of what the future holds.
3. Prophetic significance.
4. [Archaic] A prediction; a prognostication.

intransitive verb

To make or utter a prediction.

transitive verb

1. To indicate or warn of beforehand; to foreshadow.
2. To have a presentiment of.
3. To predict; to foretell.

prescience

PRESH-ee-unss

noun

1. Divine omniscience.
2. Human anticipation of the course of events; foresight.

prevaricate

prih-VAIR-uh-kayt

intransitive verb

To depart from or evade the truth; to speak with equivocation.

probity

pro-ba-itee

noun

Total honesty, integrity and virtue, uprightness, high moral character.

proscribe

proh-SCRYBE

verb

1. Outlaw.
2. To condemn or forbid as harmful or unlawful.

pullulate

PUL-yuh-layt

verb

1. Germinate, sprout; to breed or produce freely.
2. Swarm, teem.

Pyrrhic victory

PIR-ik

noun

A victory achieved at great or excessive cost; a ruinous victory.

quixotic

kwik-SOT-ik

adjective

1. Caught up in the romance of noble deeds and the pursuit of unreachable goals; foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals.
2. Capricious; impulsive; unpredictable.

quotidian

kwoh-TID-ee-uhn

adjective

1. Occurring or returning daily; as, a quotidian fever.
2. Of an everyday character; ordinary; commonplace.

rapscallion

rap-skal-yuh-n

noun

A rascal, rogue, a brat, an annoyingly mischievous child.

redolent

red-e-lent

adjective

1. Strongly fragrant, aromatic, having a strong, pleasant odor, as a room redolent of burning wood.
2. Suggestive, evocative, reminiscent, having a 'fishy' smell, as a decision redolent of politics.

regnant

REG-nuhnt

adjective

1. Prevalent; widespread.
2. Reigning; ruling (usually used following the noun it modifies); a queen regnant.
3. Exercising authority, rule, or influence.

repartee

rep-er-TEE

noun

1a. A quick and witty reply.
1b. A succession or interchange of clever retorts; amusing and usually light sparring with words.
2. A droitness and cleverness in reply.

repine

rih-PYNE

verb

1. to feel or express dejection or discontent : complain.
2. to long for something.

rorulent

ror-e-lent

adjective

Abounding or bejeweled in dew, bedewed, dew-laden. 2. Covered with a white, dust-like bloom, as plums often are.

ruth

ROOTH

noun

1. Compassion or pity for another.
2. Sorrow or misery about one's own misdeeds or flaws.

sastruga

SAS-truh-guh

noun

A wavelike ridge of hard snow formed by the wind -- usually used in plural.

saxicolous

sak-SIK-uh-lus

adjective

Inhabiting or growing among rocks.

scapegrace

SKAYP-grayss

noun

A reckless, unprincipled person; one who is wild and reckless; a rascal; a scoundrel.

sesquipedalianism

ses-kwi-PEED-l-iz-uhm

adjective

1. Given to using long words.
2. (Of a word) containing many syllables.

shibboleth

SHIB-uh-luth

noun

1. Catchword, slogan.
2. A widely held belief or truism.
3. A custom or usage regarded as distinctive of a particular group.

solecism

SOL-uh-siz-uhm

noun

1. A nonstandard usage or grammatical construction; also, a minor blunder in speech.
2. A breach of good manners or etiquette.
3. Any inconsistency, mistake, or impropriety.

suspire

suh-SPAHY-uhr

verb

To utter with long, sighing breaths.

swain

SWEYN

noun

1. A male admirer or lover.
2. A country lad.
3. A country gallant.

tatterdemalion

tatt-er-dih-MAIL-yun

adjective

1. Ragged or disreputable in appearance.
2. Being in a decayed state or condition, dilapidated.

temporize

TEM-puh-ryz

intransitive verb

1. To be indecisive or evasive in order to gain time or delay action.
2. To comply with the time or occasion; to yield to prevailing opinion or circumstances.
3. To engage in discussions or negotiations so as to gain time (usually followed by 'with').
4. To come to terms (usually followed by 'with').

thaumaturgy

thaw-ma-ter-jee

noun

Miracle-working, wonder-working, the performance of a miracle, doing magic, legerdemain.

transmogrify

transs-MAH-gruh-fye

verb

To change or alter greatly and often with grotesque or humorous effect.

uxorial

uk-SOR-ee-ul

adjective

Of, relating to, or characteristic of a wife.

valetudinarian

val-uh-too-din-AIR-ee-un; -tyoo-

noun

1. A weak or sickly person, especially one morbidly concerned with his or her health.
adjective:
1. Sickly; weak; infirm.
2. Morbidly concerned with one's health.

vamoose

va-MOOS

verb

1. To leave hurriedly or quickly; decamp.
2. To leave hurriedly or quickly from; decamp from.

vicissitude

vih-SIS-ih-tood; -tyood

noun

1. Regular change or succession from one thing to another; alternation; mutual succession; interchange.
2. Irregular change; revolution; mutation.
3. A change in condition or fortune; an instance of mutability in life or nature (especially successive alternation from one condition to another).

vitiate

VISH-ee-ayt

transitive verb

1. To make faulty or imperfect; to render defective; to impair; as, "exaggeration vitiates a style of writing."
2. To corrupt morally; to debase.
3. To render ineffective; as, "fraud vitiates a contract."

vivify

VIV-uh-fy

transitive verb

1. To endue with life; to make alive; to animate.
2. To make more lively or intense.

vulnerary

VUL-nuh-rair-ee

adjective

Used for or useful in healing wounds.

wassail

WAH-sul

verb
1. To indulge in riotous drinking.
2. Dialect England; to sing carols from house to house at Christmas.
3. To drink to the health or thriving of.

wastrel

WAY-struhl

noun

1. A person who wastes, especially one who squanders money; a spendthrift.
2. An idler; a loafer; a good-for-nothing.

winnow

win-o

transitive verb

1. To separate chaff from grain with a stream of air or in the wind.
2. To blow or blow through, as a breeze winnowing through her hair.
3. To remove the bad parts of anything, to filter out the undesirable.

zaftig

ZAHF-tig

adjective

Having a full rounded figure; pleasingly plump.

If you would like to offer some word suggestions email Tim at...

timray999@gmail.com