Friday, October 4, 2013

Vocabulary list--#20


Thanks to POSP stringer Tim.

addlepated

ad-ul-pay-tud

adjective

1. Being mixed up, confused.
2. Eccentric.


anamnesis

an-am-nee-sis

noun

1. Psychology: A recalling to memory, recollection.
2. Medicine:The complete history recalled and recounted by a patient.
3. Christianity: Memorial characteristic in Eucharist.


anfractuous

an-frak-choo-uhs

adjective

Characterized by windings and turnings, sinuous, circuitous, an anfractuous path.


auspicate

aw-spi-keyt

verb

To initiate with ceremonies calculated to ensure good luck; inaugurate.


boffin

bah-fin

noun

A scientific expert; especially : one involved in technological research.


bordereau

bawr-duh-roh

noun

A detailed memorandum, especially one in which documents are listed.


bushwa

boosh-wah, -waw

noun

Rubbishy nonsense, baloney, bull.


coaptation


koh-ap-tey-shuhn

noun

A joining or adjustment of parts to one another.


cyclopean

sahy-kluh-pee-uhn, sahy-klop-ee-uhn

adjective

1. (Sometimes lowercase) gigantic, vast.
2. Of or characteristic of the Cyclops.
3. (Usually lowercase) Architecture, Building Trades: Formed with or containing large, undressed stones fitted closely together without the use of mortar: a cyclopean wall.


depone

dih-pohn

verb

To assert under oath, testify.


dissilient

dih-sil-ee-uhnt

adjective

Bursting apart, bursting open.


dreck

drek

noun

1. Worthless trash, junk.
2. Excrement, dung.


edacity

ih-das-i-tee

noun

The state of being edacious, voraciousness, appetite.


éminence grise

ay-mee-nahnss-greez

noun

1. A confidential agent; especially, one exercising unsuspected or unofficial power.
2. A respected authority, specifically, an elder statesman.


ephebic

ih-fee-bik

adjective

Of, relating to, or characteristic of a youth of ancient Greece or a young man.


etiolate

ee-tee-uh-layt

verb

1. To bleach and alter the natural development of (a green plant) by excluding sunlight.
2. To make pale.
3. To deprive of natural vigor, make feeble.


fomite

foh-myte

noun

An object (as a dish or an article of clothing) that may be contaminated with infectious organisms and serve in their transmission.


footle

foo-tul

verb

1. To talk or act foolishly.
2. To waste time, trifle, fool.


fraxinella

frak-suh-nel-uh

noun

An Eurasian perennial herb (Dictamnus albus) of the rue family with flowers that emit an aromatic flammable vapor in hot weather.


fribble

frib-uhl

verb

1. To act in a foolish or frivolous manner, trifle.
2. To waste foolishly (often followed by away): He fribbled away one opportunity after another.

noun

1. A foolish or frivolous person, trifler.
2. Anything trifling or frivolous.
3. Frivolousness.


frisson

free-sawn

noun

A brief moment of emotional excitement, shudder, thrill.


fungible

fun-juh-bul

adjective

1. Being of such a nature that one part or quantity may be replaced by another equal part or quantity in the satisfaction of an obligation.
2. Interchangeable.
3. Flexible.


gobbet

gob-it

noun

1. A lump or mass.
2. A fragment or piece, especially of raw flesh.


grammatology

gram-uh-tol-uh-jee

noun

The scientific study of systems of writing.


gynarchy
Jjin-er-kee, gahy-ner-, jahy-ner

noun

Government by women.


instauration

in-staw-rey-shuhn

noun

1. Renewal, restoration, renovation; repair.
2. Obsolete. An act of instituting something, establishment.


irascible

ir-rass-uh-bul

adjective

Marked by hot temper and easily provoked anger.


labile

lay-byle

adjective

Readily or frequently changing: As,
A. Readily or continually undergoing chemical, physical, or biological change or breakdown.
B. Characterized by wide fluctuations (as in blood pressure).
C. Emotionally unstable.


malapert 

mal-uh-pert

adjective

Impudently bold, saucy.


metonymy

muh-tah-nuh-mee

noun

A figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another of which it is an attribute or with which it is associated.


monad

mon-ad, moh-nad

noun

1. A single unit or entity.
2. Biology. a. any simple, single-celled organism. b. any of various small, flagellate, colorless ameboids with one to three flagella, especially of the genus Monas.
3. Chemistry. an element, atom, or group having a valence of one.
4. Philosophy. a. (in the metaphysics of Leibniz) an unextended, indivisible, and indestructible entity that is the basic or ultimate constituent of the universe and a microcosm of it. b. (in the philosophy of Giordano Bruno) a basic and irreducible metaphysical unit that is spatially and psychically individuated. c. any basic metaphysical entity, especially having an autonomous life.


orgulous

or-gyuh-lus

adjective

Proud, haughty.


pari passu

pah-ree pahs-soo

adverb

1. With equal pace or progress, side by side.
2. Without partiality, equably, fairly.


Parnassian

pahr-nas-ee-uhn

adjective

1. Pertaining to poetry.
2. Pertaining to Mount Parnassus.
3. Of, pertaining to, or noting a school of French poets of the latter half of the 19th century, characterized chiefly by a belief in art for art's sake, by an emphasis on metrical form, and by the repression of emotive elements: so called from Le Parnasse Contemporain, the title of their first collection of poems, published in 1866.
4. A member of the Parnassian school of French poets.


pilose

pahy-lohs

adjective

Covered with hair, especially soft hair, furry.


pinchbeck

pinch-bek

adjective

1. Made of an alloy of copper and zinc used especially to imitate gold in jewelry.
2. Counterfeit or spurious.


poetaster

poh-it-as-ter

noun

An inferior poet, a writer of indifferent verse.


quillet

kwil-it

noun

A subtlety or quibble.


rifacimento

ri-fah-chi-men-toh

noun

A recast or adaptation, as of a literary or musical work.


scabrous

skab-ruhs

adjective

1. Full of difficulties.
2. Having a rough surface because of minute points or projections.
3. Indecent or scandalous; risqué, obscene: scabrous books.


serotinal

si-rot-n-l, ser-uh-tahyn-l

adjective

Pertaining to or occurring in late summer.


Sisyphean

sis-uh-fee-uhn

adjective

1. Endless and unavailing, as labor or a task.
2. Of or pertaining to Sisyphus.


suffuse

suh-fyooz

verb

To spread over or through in the manner of fluid or light, flush, fill.


syllogism

sil-uh-jiz-um

noun

1. A deductive scheme of a formal argument consisting of a major and a minor premise and a conclusion.
2. A subtle, specious, or crafty argument.
3. Deductive reasoning.


tergiversation


ter-jiv-er-say-shun

noun

1. Evasion of straightforward action or clear-cut statement, equivocation.
2. Desertion of a cause, position, party, or faith.


umbrage

um-brij

noun

1. Shade, shadow.
2a. Vague suggestion, hint.
2b. Reason for doubt.
3. A feeling of resentment at some often fancied slight or insult.


valetudinarian

val-uh-too-duh-nair-ee-un

noun

A person of a weak or sickly constitution; especially, one whose chief concern is his or her ill health.


yawp

yawp, yahp

verb

1. To utter a loud, harsh cry, to yelp, squawk, or bawl.
2. Slang. to talk noisily and foolishly or complainingly.

noun

1. A harsh cry.
2. Slang. a. raucous or querulous speech. b. a noisy, foolish utterance.


Vocabulary list--#1

Vocabulary list--#2

Vocabulary list--#3


Vocabulary list--#13

Vocabulary list--#14

Vocabulary list--#15

Vocabulary list--#16

Vocabulary list--#17


Vocabulary list--#18

Vocabulary list--#19

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