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
timray999@gmail.com
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