Vocabulary list--#5

ablation

ah-bley-shen

noun

1. The wearing away of exterior or peripheral material by melting, friction, or burning, as the ablation of a glacier by melting or scraping against rock or the ablation of a burning meteor streaking across the sky.
2. The surgical removal of a body part by excision or amputation.


afflatus

uh-FLAY-tuhs

noun

A divine imparting of knowledge; inspiration.


apposite

AP-uh-zit

adjective

Being of striking appropriateness and relevance; very applicable; apt.


aver

uh-VUR

transitive verb:

1. To affirm with confidence; to declare in a positive manner, as in confidence of asserting the truth.
2. (Law) To assert, claim, or declare as a fact.


cancrine

kang-kreen

adjective

1. Crab-like, having the features and characteristics or the shape of a crab (cancriform); crooked, bent, moving sideways.
2. Related to crabs.


cathexis

ka-thek-sis

noun

1. The focus or direction of emotional energy on a single object, idea, or activity.
2. A fixation or obsession.


compurgator

kahm-per-gay-ter

noun

One who under oath vouches for the character or conduct of an accused person.


corybantic

kawr-uh-BAN-tik

adjective

Frenzied; agitated; unrestrained.


concatenate

kahn-kat-uh-nayt

verb

To link together in a series or chain.


entheogen

en-thee-e-jen

noun

A psychoactive (psychedelic, hallucinogenic) substance used to induce a mystical or spiritual experience.


epicene

EP-uh-seen

adjective

1. Having the characteristics of both sexes.
2. Effeminate; unmasculine.
3. Sexless; neuter.
4. (Linguistics) Having but one form of the noun for both the male and the female.

noun

1. A person or thing that is epicene.
2. (Linguistics) An epicene word.


equivocate

ih-KWIV-uh-kayt

intransitive verb

To be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or to avoid committing oneself to anything definite.


ersatz

AIR-sahts; UR-sats

adjective

Being a substitute or imitation, usually an inferior one.


fugacious

fyoo-GAY-shuhs

adjective

Lasting but a short time, fleeting.


fulvous

FULL-vus

adjective

Of a dull brownish yellow, tawny


hermetic

her-MET-ik

adjective

1. Relating to or characterized by occultism or abstruseness, recondite.
2A. Airtight.
2B. Impervious to external influence.
2C. Recluse, solitary.

interregnum

in-tuhr-REG-nuhm

noun

Plural interregnums

-nuhmz or interregna-nuh

1. The interval between two reigns; any period when a state is left without a ruler.
2. A period of freedom from authority or during which government functions are suspended.
3. Any breach of continuity in an order; a lapse or interval in a continuity.


interpolate

in-ter-pe-layt

verb transitive

1. To insert new matter between parts of something else.
2. To adulterate or corrupt by adding new, irrelevant matter.
3. (Mathematics) To estimate a value that lies between two other values.


irredenta

ir-ra-dent-a

noun

A population of people belonging to one culture under the political domination of another.


oppugn

uh-PYOON

verb

1. To assail by criticism, argument, or action.
2. To call in question; dispute.


organoleptic

or-guh-noh-lep-tik

adjective

1. Being, affecting, or relating to qualities (as taste, color, odor, and feel) of a substance (as a food or drug) that stimulate the sense organs.
2. Involving use of the sense organs.


praxis

PRAK-sis

noun

1. Practice, as distinguished from theory; application or use, as of knowledge or skills.
2. Convention, habit, or custom.
3. A set of examples for practice.


prescience

PREE-shuns; PREE-shee-uns; PRESH-uns; PRESH-ee-uns; PREE-see-uns; PRES-ee-uns

noun

Knowledge of events before they take place; foresight.


pseudepigraphy

su-di-pig-ra-fi

noun

False attribution of authorship.


prolix

pro-LIKS; PRO-liks

adjective

1. Extending to a great length; unnecessarily long; wordy.
2. Tending to speak or write at excessive length.


pusillanimous

pyoo-suh-LAN-uh-muhs

adjective

Lacking in courage and resolution; contemptibly fearful; cowardly.


rueru

verb transitive

1. To regret, to feel sorry about.
2. To repent, to be penitent or do penitence for (now rare).


ruritanian

rur-uh-tay-nee-un

adjective

Of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an imaginary place of high romance.


terpsichorean

terp-sih-kuh-ree-un

noun

Of or relating to dancing.


truckle

TRUHK-uhl

verb intransitive

To yield or bend obsequiously to the will of another; to act in a subservient manner.

noun

A small wheel or roller; a caster.


veridical

va-ri-di-kel

adjective

1. Veracious, truthful, in perfect alignment with the facts, as a veridical excuse for being late.
2. Verisimilar, seeming to coincide with reality, seemingly real, as a veridical hallucination.


verisimilitude

ver-uh-suh-MIL-uh-tood; -tyood

noun

1. The appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true.
2. Something that has the appearance of being true or real.


weltanschauung

velt-ahnn-shaeww-ung

noun

World view, outlook on life, philosophy of life.


zibeline

ZIB-uh-leen

noun

A soft lustrous wool fabric with mohair, alpaca, or camel's hair.


Vocabulary list--#1

Vocabulary list--#2

Vocabulary list--#3

Vocabulary list--#4

Continuing project of POSP's stringer Tim.