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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