acedia
uh-SEE-dee-uh
noun
1. Sloth.
2. Laziness or indifference in religious matters.
aeromancy
air-uh-man-see
noun
The prediction of future events from observations of weather conditions.
agita
AJ-uh-tuh
noun
A feeling of agitation or anxiety.
Antaean
an-TEE-un
adjective
1. Mammoth.
2. Having superhuman strength.
apoptosis
ae-pep-toh-sis
noun
Genetically programmed cell death, sometimes called 'cell suicide', which plays an important role in shaping the distinct forms of tissues in living organisms.
balneal
bal-NEE-uhl
adjective
Of or pertaining to baths or bathing.
Barmecidal
bahr-muh-SYE-dul
adjective
Providing only the illusion of abundance.
casuistry
KAZH-oo-uh-stree
noun
1. Specious, deceptive, or oversubtle reasoning, esp. in questions of morality.
2. The application of general ethical principles to particular cases of conscience or conduct.
chary
CHAIR-ee
adjective
A. Discreetly cautious.
1. Hesitant and vigilant about dangers and risks.
2. Slow to grant, accept, or expend.
couvade
koo-VAHD
noun
A practice in certain cultures in which the husband of a woman in labor takes to his bed as though he were bearing the child.
degringolade
de-graeng-ga-lahd
noun
No, we aren't talking about drink made from some tropical fruit called a degringol today, nor does this word come from a Spanish slur pertaining to Americans. A degringolade is simply a rapid deterioration, a sudden decline in condition, or a sudden downfall.
eisteddfod
eye-STETH-vawd
noun
A usually Welsh competitive festival of the arts especially in poetry and singing.
evanescence
ev-uh-NES-ens
noun
1. A gradual disappearance.
2. To dissipate or disappear like vapor.
fantod
FAN-tod
noun
1. A state of extreme nervousness or restlessness (usually expressed in the plural.)
2. A sudden outpouring of anger, outrage, or a similar intense emotion.
floccinaucinihilipilification
flahk-si-naw-si-ni-hi-li-pi-li-fi-kay-shên
noun
Considering something to be worthless.
flosculous
flo-sjju-us
adjective
Of or pertaining to nature of flowers, having the savour of flowers.
foudroyant
foo-DROI-uhnt
adjective
1. Overwhelming and sudden in effect.
2. Pathology. (Of disease) beginning in a sudden and severe form.
3. Striking as with lightning.
fulgurate
FUHL-gyuh-reyt
verb
1. To flash or dart like lightning.
2. Medicine. To destroy (esp. an abnormal growth) by electricity.
grimalkin
grih-MAWL-kin
noun
A domestic cat; especially : an old female cat.
inchoate
in-KOH-ut
adjective
Being only partly in existence or operation; especially : imperfectly formed or formulated.
incunabulum
in-kyoo-NAB-yuh-luhm
noun
1. The earliest stages or first traces of anything.
2. Extant copies of books produced in the earliest stages (before 1501) of printing from movable type.
jeremiad
jair-uh-MYE-ud
noun
A prolonged lamentation or complaint; also : a cautionary or angry harangue.
koan
KOH-ahn
noun
A nonsensical or paradoxical question to a student for which an answer is demanded, the stress of meditation on the question often being illuminating.
liminal
LIM-uh-nul
adjective
1. Of or relating to a sensory threshold.
2. Barely perceptible.
3. Of, relating to, or being an intermediate state, phase, or condition : in-between, transitional.
perfidious
per-FID-ee-us
adjective
Of, relating to, or characterized by faithlessness or disloyalty; treacherous.
gasconade
gas-kuh-NAYD
noun
Bravado or exaggerated boasting.
Hobson's choice
HAHB-sunz-choyss
noun
1. An apparently free choice when there is no real alternative.
2. The necessity of accepting one of two or more equally objectionable
alternatives.
hegira
he-JAY-ruh
noun
1. A journey to a more desirable or congenial place.
2. The flight of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina to escape persecution a.d. 622: regarded as the beginning of the Muslim Era.
haptic
HAP-tik
adjective
Relating to the sense of touch; tactile.
noun
The science that deals with the sense of touch.
heliolatry
hee-lee-OL-uh-tree
noun
Worship of the sun.
infradig
in-fruh-dig
adjective
Being beneath one's dignity: undignified.
nescience
NESH-ee-unss
noun
Lack of knowledge or awareness; ignorance.
nitid
NIT-id
adjective
Bright; lustrous.
morganatic
mawr-guh-NAT-ik
adjective
Of or pertaining to a form of marriage in which a person of high rank, as a member of the nobility, marries someone of lower station with the stipulation that neither the low-ranking spouse nor their children, if any, will have any claim to the titles or entailed property of the high-ranking partner.
oscitant
OS-i-tuhnt
adjective
1. Yawning, as with drowsiness; gaping.
2. Drowsy or inattentive.
3. Dull, lazy, or negligent.
paraclete
pae-ra-kleet
noun
1. The Holy Spirit as a consoler, a comforter.
2. Any person who consoles, comforts, or intercedes for another.
philogyny
fi-LOJ-uh-nee
noun
Love of or liking for women (opposite of misogyny.)
piquant
PEE-kuhnt
adjective
1. Agreeably stimulating, interesting, or attractive.
2. Agreeably pungent or sharp in taste or flavor.
3. Of an interestingly provocative or lively character.
prolegomenon
proh-lih-GAH-muh-nahn
noun
Prefatory remarks; specifically: a formal essay or critical discussion serving to introduce and interpret an extended work.
rococo
roh-kuh-KOH
adjective
1. Ornate or florid in speech, writing, or general style.
2. Pertaining to a style of painting developed simultaneously with the
rococo in architecture and decoration, characterized chiefly by smallness of scale, delicacy of color, freedom of brushwork, and the selection of playful subjects as thematic material.
rataplan
rat-uh-PLAN
verb
To produce the sound as of the beating of a drum.
noun
1. A sound of or as of the beating of a drum.
2. A tattoo, as of a drum, the hooves of a galloping horse, or machine-gun
fire.
rupestrine
ru-pes-treen
adjective
Growing on rocks (plants), living among rocks (animals), appearing on rocks (everything else).
tatterdemallion
tae-der-de-may-lyen
noun
1. Ragamuffin, a person in dirty, raggedy clothes, usually a child.
2. Guttersnipe.
Vagitus
ve-jai-tes
noun
1. The first cry of a new-born baby.
2. The cry or wailing of any small child.
vellicate
VEL-i-keyt
verb
1. To touch (a body part) lightly so as to excite the surface nerves and cause uneasiness, laughter, or spasmodic movements.
2. To irritate as if by a nip, pinch, or tear.
3. To move with spasmodic convulsions.
vespertine
VES-per-tin
adjective
1. Of, pertaining to, or occurring in the evening.
2. Botany. Opening or expanding in the evening, as certain flowers.
3. Zoology. Becoming active in the evening, as bats and owls.
vestigial
ve-STIJ-ee-uhl
adjective
1. Relating to a body part that has become small and lost its use because of
evolutionary change.
2. Pertaining to, or of the nature of anything that is no longer present or
in existence.
Wellerism
WELL-uh-riz-um
noun
An expression of comparison comprising a usually well-known quotation
followed by a facetious sequel.
yaw
YAW
verb
1. To move unsteadily; weave.
2. To deviate temporarily from a straight course, as a ship.
3. (Of a vehicle) to have a motion about the vertical axis.
zaftig
ZAHF-tik
adjective
Full-bodied; well-proportioned.
zephyr
ZEF-er
noun
1. A gentle, mild breeze.
2. Literary. The west wind.
3. Any of various things of fine, light quality.
New feature at POSP...periodic vocabulary list--#1
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