Expanding Lexicon - 2008.07
Collection of various words we have run across in July 2008, to apply in our daily speech. Or not.
(When learning/testing, remember to check "Ignore Stuff in parentheses" to exclude the pronunciation/parts of speech from your answers.)
(When learning/testing, remember to check "Ignore Stuff in parentheses" to exclude the pronunciation/parts of speech from your answers.)
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
- weltanschauung (\VELT-ahn-show-ung - "ow" as in "cow"\ noun, often capitalized)
- : a comprehensive conception or apprehension of the world especially from a specific standpoint
- insensate (\in-SEN-sayt; -sit\, adjective)
- 1. Lacking sensation or awareness; inanimate. 2. Lacking human feeling or sensitivity; brutal; cruel. 3. Lacking sense; stupid; foolish.
- lionize (\LYE-uh-nyze\ verb)
- *1 : to treat as an object of great interest or importance 2 Brit : to show the sights of a place to
- superannuated (\soo-per-AN-yuh-way-tud\ adjective)
- 1 : outmoded, old-fashioned 2 a : incapacitated or disqualified for active duty by advanced age *b : older than the typical member of a specified group
- bindle stiff (\BIN-dul-stiff\ noun)
- : hobo; especially : one who carries his clothes or bedding in a bundle
- cupidity (\kyoo-PID-uh-tee\, noun)
- Eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth; greed; avarice.
- peregrine (\PAIR-uh-grin\ adjective)
- : having a tendency to wander
- tatterdemalion (\tat-uhr-dih-MAYL-yuhn; -MAY-lee-uhn\, noun)
- 1. A person dressed in tattered or ragged clothing; a ragamuffin. 2. Tattered; ragged.
- asperse (\uh-SPURSS\ verb)
- 1 : to sprinkle; especially : to sprinkle with holy water *2 : to attack with evil reports or false or injurious charges
- propound (\pruh-POWND\, transitive verb)
- To offer for consideration; to put forward; to propose.
- fiduciary (\fih-DOO-shee-air-ee\, adjective)
- 1. Relating to the holding of something in trust for another. 2. Someone who stands in a special relation of trust, confidence, or responsibility in certain obligations to others; a trustee.
- sempiternal (\sem-pih-TUR-nuhl\, adjective)
- Of never ending duration; having beginning but no end; everlasting; endless.
- inalienable (\in-AY-lee-uh-nuh-bul\ adjective)
- : incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred
- anodyne (\AN-uh-dyn\, adjective)
- 1. Serving to relieve pain; soothing. 2. Not likely to offend; bland; innocuous. 3. A medicine that relieves pain. 4. Anything that calms, comforts, or soothes disturbed feelings.
- mephitic (\muh-FIT-ik\, adjective)
- 1. Offensive to the smell; as, _____ odors. 2. Poisonous; noxious.
- Xanadu (\ZAN-uh-doo\ noun)
- : an idyllic, exotic, or luxurious place
- supernumerary (\soo-puhr-NOO-muh-rair-ee; -NYOO-\, adjective)
- 1. Exceeding the stated, standard, or prescribed number. 2. Exceeding what is necessary or desired; superfluous. 3. A supernumerary person or thing. 4. An actor without a speaking part, as a walk-on or an extra in a crowd scene.
- belvedere (\BEL-vuh-deer\ noun)
- : a structure (as a cupola or a summerhouse) designed to command a view
- impecunious (\im-pih-KYOO-nee-uss\ adjective)
- : having very little or no money usually habitually : penniless
- turpitude (\TER-puh-tood\ noun)
- : inherent baseness : depravity; also : a base act
- career (\kuh-REER\ verb)
- : to go at top speed especially in a headlong manner
- trichotillomania (\trick-uh-till-uh-MAY-nee-uh\ noun)
- : an abnormal desire to pull out one's hair
- quondam (\KWAHN-duhm; KWAHN-dam\, adjective)
- Having been formerly; former; sometime.
- soupçon (\soop-SAWNG -the final NG is not pronounced, but the vowel is nasalized\ noun)
- : a little bit : trace
- vituperation (\vy-too-puh-RAY-shuhn, -tyoo-\, noun)
- 1. The act or an instance of speaking abusively to or about. 2. Sustained and severely abusive language.
- bogart (\BOH-gart\ verb)
- 1 : bully, intimidate *2 : to use or consume without sharing
- ignominious \ig-nuh-MIN-ee-us\ adjective)
- 1 : marked with or characterized by disgrace or shame : dishonorable 2 : deserving of shame or infamy : despicable *3 : humiliating, degrading
- malinger (\muh-LING-guhr\, intransitive verb)
- To feign or exaggerate illness or inability in order to avoid duty or work.
- gamine (\gam-EEN; GAM-een\, noun)
- 1. A girl who wanders about the streets; an urchin. 2. A playfully mischievous girl or young woman.
- sesquipedalian (\ses-kwuh-puh-DAYL-yuhn\, adjective)
- 1. Given to or characterized by the use of long words. 2. Long and ponderous; having many syllables. 3. A long word.
- Occam's razor (\AH-kumz-RAY-zer\ noun)
- : a scientific and philosophic rule that entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily which is interpreted as requiring that the simplest of competing theories be preferred to the more complex or that explanations of unknown phenomena be sought first in terms of known quantities
- epigone (\EP-uh-gohn\ noun)
- : follower, disciple; also : an inferior imitator
- reify (\RAY-uh-fye\ verb)
- : to regard (something abstract) as a material or concrete thing : to give definite content and form to (something abstract)
- condign (\kuhn-DINE; KON-dine\, adjective)
- Suitable to the fault or crime; deserved; adequate.
- macadam (\muh-KAD-um\ noun)
- : a roadway or pavement of small closely packed broken stone
- antediluvian (\an-tih-duh-LOO-vee-uhn\, adjective)
- 1. Of or relating to the period before the Biblical flood. 2. Antiquated; from or belonging to a much earlier time. 3. One who lived before the Biblical flood. 4. A very old (or old-fashioned) person.
- diadem (\DY-uh-dem\, noun)
- 1. A crown. 2. An ornamental headband worn (as by Eastern monarchs) as a badge of royalty. 3. Regal power; sovereignty; empire; -- considered as symbolized by the crown. 4. To adorn with a _____; to crown.
- palaver (\puh-LAV-uhr; puh-LAH-vur\, noun)
- 1. Idle talk 2. Talk intended to beguile or deceive. 3. A parley usually between persons of different backgrounds or cultures or levels of sophistication; a talk; hence, a public conference and deliberation. 4. To talk idly. 5. To flatter; to cajole.
- natatorial (\nay-tuh-TOR-ee-ul\ adjective0
- *1 : of or relating to swimming 2 : adapted to or characterized by swimming
- laconic (\luh-KON-ik\, adjective)
- Using or marked by the use of a minimum of words; brief and pithy; brusque.
- prevenient (\prih-VEEN-yunt\ adjective)
- : antecedent, anticipatory
- emolument (\ih-MOL-yuh-muhnt\, noun)
- The wages or perquisites arising from office, employment, or labor; gain; compensation.
- wahine (\wah-HEE-nee\ noun)
- 1 : a Polynesian woman *2 : a female surfer
- alembic (\uh-LEM-bik\ noun)
- 1 : an apparatus used in distillation *2 : something that refines or transmutes as if by distillation
- contemn (\kuhn-TEM\, transitive verb)
- To regard or treat with disdain or contempt; to scorn; to despise.
- indurate (\IN-duh-rut\ adjective)
- : physically or morally hardened
- troglodyte (\TROG-luh-dyt\, noun)
- 1. A member of a primitive people that lived in caves, dens, or holes; a cave dweller. 2. One who is regarded as reclusive, reactionary, out of date, or brutish.