Vocabulary list--#10

Another batch of vocabulary words from POSP stringer Tim.

abrade

uh-BREYD

verb

1. To scrape off.
2. To wear off or down by scraping or rubbing.


aphorism

ae-fi\e-riz-em

noun

A pithy adage, a terse statement of a believed truth.


apposite

ae-pe-zit

adjective

Extremely relevant or appropriate, most befitting, fitting a need perfectly.


boscage

BOS-kij

noun

A mass of trees or shrubs.


bumbershoot

BUM-ber-shoot

noun

Umbrella.


catachresis

kat-uh-KREE-sis

noun

1. Use of the wrong word for the context.
2. Use of a forced and especially paradoxical figure of speech.


churlish

CHUR-lish

adjective

1. Boorish or rude.
2. Of a churl; peasant-like.
3. Stingy; mean.
4. Difficult to work or deal with, as soil.


collop

KOL-uhp

noun

1. A small slice of meat.
2. A small slice, portion, or piece of anything.
3. A fold or roll of flesh on the body.


conversazione

kahn-ver-saht-see-OH-nee

noun

A meeting for conversation especially about art, literature, or science.


cortege

kawr-TEZH

noun

1. A procession, especially a ceremonial one.
2. A line or train of attendants; retinue.


crepitate

KREP-i-teyt

verb

To make a crackling sound; crackle.


dipsomania

dip-suh-MEY-nee-uh

noun

An irresistible, typically periodic craving for alcoholic drink.


elucidate

ih-LOO-suh-dayt

verb

1. To make lucid especially by explanation or analysis.
2. To give a clarifying explanation.


fascicle

FASS-ih-kul

noun

1. A small or slender bundle (as of pine needles or nerve fibers).
2. One of the divisions of a book published in parts.


felonious

fuh-LOH-nee-uhs

adjective

1. Wicked; base; villainous.
2. Law. Pertaining to, of the nature of, or involving a felony: as in, felonious homicide; felonious intent.


friable

frai-e-bel

adjective

Crumbly, brittle, fragile, easily broken up or broken into small pieces.


frondescence

fron-DES-uhns

noun

1. Leafage; foliage.
2. The process or period of putting forth leaves, as a tree, plant, or the like.


geophagy

jee-ah-fe-gee

noun

The eating of earth, especially clay, or other non-food substances.


impute

im-PYOOT

verb

1. To lay the responsibility or blame for often falsely or unjustly.
2. To credit to a person or a cause.


kegler

KEG-ler

noun

A person who bowls; bowler.


knavery

NEY-vuh-ree

noun

1. Unprincipled, untrustworthy, or dishonest dealing; trickery.
2. Action or practice characteristic of a knave
3. A knavish act or practice.


neoteny

nee-aht-e-ee

noun

1. Retention of juvenile characteristics in the adults of a species.
2. The attainment of sexual maturity by an organism still in its larval stage.


nyctophobia

nik-tuh-FOH-bee-uh

noun

An abnormal fear of night or darkness.


operose

OP-uh-rohs

adjective

1. Done with or involving much labor.
2. Industrious, as a person.


oscitancy

ah-si-den-see

noun plural

1. A fit of yawning.
2. The drowsiness, slowness, laziness or indolence caused by fatigue or need for sleep.


pediculous

pih-DIK-yuh-lus

adjective

Infested with lice; lousy.


perdition

per-DISH-uhn

noun

1. A state of final spiritual ruin; loss of the soul; damnation.
2. The future state of the wicked.
3. Hell.
4. Utter destruction or ruin.
5. Obsolete. Loss.


poltroon

pol-TROON

noun

A wretched coward; craven.

adjective

Marked by utter cowardice.


procellous

proh-SEL-uhs

adjective

Stormy, as the sea.


procrustean

proh-KRUHS-tee-uhn

adjective

1. Tending to produce conformity by violent or arbitrary means.
2. Pertaining to or suggestive of Procrustes.


raillery

RAIL-uh-ree

noun

1. Good-natured ridicule; banter.
2. Jest.


ruction

rek-shen

noun

(Colloquial) A disturbance, a row, a ruckus, rumpus—a rowdy quarrel or fight.


salient

SAIL-yunt

adjective

1. Jutting forward beyond a line.
2. Standing out conspicuously; prominent; especially : of notable significance.


stertor

STUR-ter

noun

A heavy snoring sound.


swivet

SWIV-ut

noun

A state of extreme agitation.


taciturn

TASS-uh-tern

adjective

Temperamentally disinclined to talk.


trammel

TRAM-ul

noun

1. A net for catching birds or fish.
2. Something impeding activity, progress, or freedom : restraint -- usually used in plural.


virga

VER-guh

noun

Wisps of precipitation evaporating before reaching the ground.


weald

weeld

noun

1. Wooded or uncultivated country.
2. A region in SE England, in Kent, Surrey, and Essex counties: once a forest area; now an agricultural region.


zeitgeist

TSYTE-gyste

noun (often capitalized)

The general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era.


zymurgy

zai-mer-jee

noun

1. That branch of applied chemistry that deals with fermentation, such as that involved in wine-making or brewing.
2. The practice or art of fermentation in brewing, distilling, wine-making, and so forth.


Vocabulary list--#1

Vocabulary list--#2

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Vocabulary list--#6

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Vocabulary list--#8

Vocabulary list--#9