64 terms · Synonyms
act quickly
apace,abrupt,headlong,impetuous,precipitate
assist
abet,advocate,ancillary,bolster,corroborate
bad mood
bilious,dudgeon,irascible,pettish,petulant
beginner/amateur
tyro,proselyte,novitiate,neophyte,fledging
beginning/young
nascent,incipient,inchoate,engender,callow
biting
acerbic,acidulous,asperity,caustic,mordant
bold
audacious,dauntless,courageous
boring
banal,fatuous,hackneyed,inispid,mundane
carousal
sordid,salacious,ribald,iniquity,libertine
changing quickly
capricious,mercurial,volatile
copy
counterpart,emulate,facsimile,factitious,paradigm
criticize/criticism
aspersion,belittle,berate,calumny,castigate
death/mourning
bereave,cadaver,defunct,demise,dolorous
denying of self
abnegate,abstain,ascetic,spartan
dictatorial
authoritarian,despotic,dogmatic,hegemonic
difficult to understand
abstruse,arcane,bemusing,cryptic,esoteric
disgusting/offensive
defile,fetid,invidious,noisome,odious
easy to understand
articulate,cogent,evident,limpid,lucid
eccentric/dissimilar
aberrant,anachronism,anomalous,iconoclast
embarrass
abash,chagrin,compunction,contrition,diffidence
equal
equitable,equity,tantamount
falsehood
apocryphal,canard,chicanery,dissemble,guile
family
conjugal,distaff,filiat,scion,progenitor
favoring/not impartial
ardor/ardent,fervid,partisan,zealot,doctrinaire
forgive
absolve,acquit,expiate,palliate,redress
funny
chortle,droll,gibe,jocular,levity
gaps/openings
abatement,aperture,fissure,hiatus,lull
generous/kind
dement,largess,unstinting,munificent,beneficent
greedy
avaricious,covetous,miserly,venal,rapacious
hardhearted
asperity,baleful,dour,fell,sardonic
harmful
baleful,baneful,inimical,injurious,insidious
harsh-sounding
assonance,cacophony,din,dissonant,strident
hatred
rancor,odium,malice,loathing,enmity
healthy
beneficial,salubrious,salutary
hesitate
dither,oscillate,teeter,vacillate,waver
hostile
churlish,irascible,malevolent,truculent,vindictive
innocent/inexperienced
credulous,gullible,naive,novitiate,tyro
insincere
disiongenuous,dissemble,fulsome,unctuous
investigate
appraise,ascertain,assay,descry,peruse
lazy/sluggish
indolent,inert,languid,lethargic,slothful
luck
amulet,kismet,nemesis,optimum,talisman
nag
admonish,cavil,belabor,enjoin,reproof
nasty
fetid,noisome,noxious
not a straight line
awry,careen,carom,sidle,vortex
overblown/wordy
bombastic,garrulous,prolix,turgid,verbose
pacify/satisfy
appease,defer,mollify,placate,sooth
pleasant-sounding
sonorous,melodious,harmonious,euphonious
poor
destitute,esurient,impecunious,indigent
praise
acclaim,accloade,aggrandize,extol,fawn
predict
augur,auspice,fey,harbinger,presage
prevent/obstruct
discomfort,fetter,inhibit,hinder,encumber
smart/learned
astute,canny,erudite,perspicacious
sorrow
doleful,dolor,elegiac,morose,melancholy
stubborn
implacable,vexing,renitent,untoward,obdurate
terse
curt,laconic,pithy,compendious,taciturn
time/order/duration
eon,epoch,fortnight,millennium,archaic
timid/timidly
craven,diffident,recreant,timorous,trepidation
truth
fealty,candor,probity,sincere,verity
unusual
anomaly,iconoclast,idiosyncrasy,reverberation
walking about
ambulatory,itinerant,peripatetic
wandering
discursive,forage,itinerant,sojourn,expatiate
weaken
inhibit,vitiate,obviate,undermine,enervate
wisdom
adage,axiom,bromide,dictum,epigram
withdrawal/retreat
abeyance,abjure,decamp,recant,demur
ACCOUTREMENTS accessories
ACUMEN Quickness and keenness of judgment or insight.
ANOMALISTIC deviation or departure from the normal or common order, form, or rule; phenomenal
AUSPICIOUS favorable, prosperous
BELLWETHER a leader, trendsetter, first in their class, and ahead of the rest
CALLIPYGIAN having shapely buttocks
CIRCUMLOCUTION 1. The use of unnecessarily wordy and indirect language. 2. Evasion in speech or writing. 3. A roundabout expression.
CONCUPISCENT a strong desire, especially sexual desire; lust
CONVIVIALITY merry; festive
CORUSCANT giving forth flashes of light; glittering
CUDDLESOME suitable for or inviting cuddling. Also, cuddly
CUPIDITY eager or excessive desire, esp. to possess something: greed; avarice.
CYNOSURE an object at the focal point of attention; something that is used as a guide
EBULLIENT zestfully enthusiastic
EQUANIMITY the quality of being calm and even-tempered
EXCOGITATE to consider or think something out carefully and thoroughly
GASCONADING to boast; to brag
HOMOEROTIC tending to arouse homosexual desire
IDIOSYNCRATIC belonging to one's peculiar and individual character
LUMINESCENT emitting light not caused by heat
MAGNANIMOUS courageously noble in mind and heart; unselfish
NIDIFICATE to nest
OSCULATOR one who kisses
PARSIMONIOUS frugal
PENULTIMATE means second to last - as in LOSER
PERFIDIOUSNESS betrayal of a trust
PERSPICACIOUS having or showing penetrating mental discernment; clear-sighted
PROFICUOUS profitable; advantageous; useful
REMUNERATIVE serving and providing profitability
SAXICOLOUS one who lives under a rock
SESQUIPEDALIAN one who uses big words
SUPERABUNDANT abundant to excess
UNENCUMBERED free, not burdened with cares or responsibilities
UNPARAGONED having no paragon or equal; matchless; peerless
USUFRUCT the right to use and enjoy the profits and advantages of something belonging to another as long as the property is not damaged or altered in any way
WINEBIBBER one who drinks much wine
2 Abbreviate
to shorten, abridge
Abstinence
the act of refraining from pleasurable activity, e.g., eating or drinking
Adulation
high praise
Adversity
misfortune, an unfavorable turn of events
Aesthetic
pertaining to beauty or the arts
Amicable
friendly, agreeable
Anachronistic
out-of-date, not attributed to the correct historical period
Anecdote
short, usually funny account of an event
Anonymous
nameless, without a disclosed identity
Antagonist
foe, opponent, adversary
Arid
extremely dry or deathly boring
Assiduous
persistent, hard-working
Asylum
sanctuary, shelter, place of refuge
Benevolent
friendly and helpful
Camaraderie
trust, sociability amongst friends
Censure
to criticize harshly
Circuitous
indirect, taking the longest route
Clairvoyant
exceptionally insightful, able to foresee the future
Collaborate
to cooperate, work together
Compassion
sympathy, helpfulness or mercy
Compromise
to settle a dispute by terms agreeable to both sides
Condescending
possessing an attitude of superiority, patronizing
Conditional
depending on a condition, e.g., in a contract
Conformist
person who complies with accepted rules and customs
Congregation
a crowd of people, an assembly
Convergence
state of separate elements joining or coming together
Deleterious
harmful, destructive, detrimental
Demagogue
leader, rabble-rouser, usually appealing to emotion or prejudice
Digression
the act of turning aside, straying from the main point, esp. in a speech or argument
Diligent
careful and hard-working
Discredit
harm the reputation of, dishonor or disgrace
Disdain
to regard with scorn or contempt
Divergent
separating, moving in different directions from a particular point
Empathy
identification with the feelings of others
Emulate
to imitate, follow an example
Enervating
weakening, tiring
Enhance
improve, bring to a greater level of intensity
Ephemeral
momentary, transient, fleeting
Evanescent
quickly fading, short-lived, esp. an image
Exasperation
irritation, frustration
Exemplary
outstanding, an example to others
Extenuating
excusing, lessening the seriousness of guilt or crime, e.g., of mitigating factors
Florid
red-colored, flushed; gaudy, ornate
Fortuitous
happening by luck, fortunate
Frugal
thrifty, cheap
Hackneyed
cliched, worn out by overuse
Haughty
arrogant and condescending
Hedonist
person who pursues pleasure as a goal
Hypothesis
assumption, theory requiring proof
Impetuous
rash, impulsive, acting without thinking
Impute
to attribute an action to particular person or group
Incompatible
opposed in nature, not able to live or work together
Inconsequential
unimportant, trivial
Inevitable
certain, unavoidable
Integrity
decency, honesty, wholeness
Intrepid
fearless, adventurous
Intuitive
instinctive, untaught
Jubilation
joy, celebration, exultation
Lobbyist
person who seeks to influence political events
Longevity
long life
Mundane
ordinary, commonplace
Nonchalant
calm, casual, seeming unexcited
Novice
apprentice, beginner
Opulent
wealthy
Orator
lecturer, speaker
Ostentatious
showy, displaying wealth
Parched
dried up, shriveled
Perfidious
faithless, disloyal, untrustworthy
Precocious
unusually advanced or talented at an early age
Pretentious
pretending to be important, intelligent or cultured
Procrastinate
to unnecessarily delay, postpone, put off
Prosaic
relating to prose; dull, commonplace
Prosperity
wealth or success
Provocative
tending to provoke a response, e.g., anger or disagreement
Prudent
careful, cautious
Querulous
complaining, irritable
Rancorous
bitter, hateful
Reclusive
preferring to live in isolation
Reconciliation
the act of agreement after a quarrel, the resolution of a dispute
Renovation
repair, making something new again
Resilient
quick to recover, bounce back
Restrained
controlled, repressed, restricted
Reverence
worship, profound respect
Sagacity
wisdom
Scrutinize
to observe carefully
Spontaneity
impulsive action, unplanned events
Spurious
lacking authenticity, false
Submissive
tending to meekness, to submit to the will of others
Substantiate
to verify, confirm, provide supporting evidence
Subtle
hard to detect or describe; perceptive
100 Most beautiful words in the English language*
by Shonari, deshoda.com
May 13th 2011
Ailurophile A cat-lover.
Assemblage A gathering.
Becoming Attractive.
Beleaguer To exhaust with attacks.
Brood To think alone.
Bucolic In a lovely rural setting.
Bungalow A small, cozy cottage.
Chatoyant Like a cat’s eye.
Comely Attractive.
Conflate To blend together.
Cynosure A focal point of admiration.
Dalliance A brief love affair.
Demesne Dominion, territory.
Demure Shy and reserved.
Denouement The resolution of a mystery.
Desuetude Disuse.
Desultory Slow, sluggish.
Diaphanous Filmy.
Dissemble Deceive.
Dulcet Sweet, sugary.
Ebullience Bubbling enthusiasm.
Effervescent Bubbly.
Efflorescence Flowering, blooming.
Elision Dropping a sound or syllable in a word.
Elixir A good potion.
Eloquence Beauty and persuasion in speech.
Embrocation Rubbing on a lotion.
Emollient A softener.
Ephemeral Short-lived.
Epiphany A sudden revelation.
Erstwhile At one time, for a time.
Ethereal Gaseous, invisible but detectable.
Evanescent Vanishing quickly, lasting a very short time.
Evocative Suggestive.
Fetching Pretty.
Felicity Pleasantness.
Forbearance Withholding response to provocation.
Fugacious Fleeting.
Furtive Shifty, sneaky.
Gambol To skip or leap about joyfully.
Glamour Beauty.
Gossamer The finest piece of thread, a spider’s silk.
Halcyon Happy, sunny, care-free.
Harbinger Messenger with news of the future.
Imbrication Overlapping and forming a regular pattern.
Imbroglio An altercation or complicated situation.
Imbue To infuse, instill.
Incipient Beginning, in an early stage.
Ineffable Unutterable, inexpressible.
Ingénue A naïve young woman.
Inglenook A cozy nook by the hearth.
Insouciance Blithe nonchalance.
Inure To become jaded.
Labyrinthine Twisting and turning.
Lagniappe A special kind of gift.
Lagoon A small gulf or inlet.
Languor Listlessness, inactivity.
Lassitude Weariness, listlessness.
Leisure Free time.
Lilt To move musically or lively.
Lissome Slender and graceful.
Lithe Slender and flexible.
Love Deep affection.
Mellifluous Sweet sounding.
Moiety One of two equal parts.
Mondegreen A slip of the ear.
Murmurous Murmuring.
Nemesis An unconquerable archenemy.
Offing The sea between the horizon and the offshore.
Onomatopoeia A word that sounds like its meaning.
Opulent Lush, luxuriant.
Palimpsest A manuscript written over earlier ones.
Panacea A solution for all problems
Panoply A complete set.
Pastiche An art work combining materials from various sources.
Penumbra A half-shadow.
Petrichor The smell of earth after rain.
Plethora A large quantity.
Propinquity Proximity; Nearness
Pyrrhic Successful with heavy losses.
Quintessential Most essential.
Ratatouille A spicy French stew.
Ravel To knit or unknit.
Redolent Fragrant.
Riparian By the bank of a stream.
Ripple A very small wave.
Scintilla A spark or very small thing.
Sempiternal Eternal.
Seraglio Rich, luxurious oriental palace or harem.
Serendipity Finding something nice while looking for something else.
Summery Light, delicate or warm and sunny.
Sumptuous Lush, luxurious.
Surreptitious Secretive, sneaky.
Susquehanna A river in Pennsylvania.
Susurrous Whispering, hissing.
Talisman A good luck charm.
Tintinnabulation Tinkling.
Umbrella Protection from sun or rain.
Untoward Unseemly, inappropriate.
Vestigial In trace amounts.
Wafture Waving.
Wherewithal The means.
Woebegone Sorrowful, downcast.
3 Agog
highly excited
Piquancy
pleasantly stimulating or exciting to the mind.
Caucus
meeting where party leaders are elected and strategy is determined
Augury
sign of what will happen, omen
Tandem
coming one after another
Rhapsodize
to express oneself in an immoderately enthusiastic manner.
Preeminence
importance, significance; superiority, supremacy; distinctiveness, state of being distinguished; advantage
Tenacity
firmness or persistence
Nave
central part of the church
Elf
below 3 kilohertz; Synonym : extremely low frequency. Extremely Low Frequency)
Obtain
PREVAIL, be in force. for e.g. rules obtaining in other jurisdictions
Palter
to act insincerely or deceitfully
Discommode
to cause inconvenience to : TROUBLE
Entrench
establish so firmly that change is difficult :
Mulish
unreasonably and inflexibly obstinate like a mule
Inveigh
to protest or complain bitterly or vehemently : RAIL
Imbue
fill with a feeling or quality
Xerophagy
fast which includes the eating of dry foods only
Balky
refusing or likely to refuse to proceed, act, or function as directed or expected
blandishment
something that tends to coax or cajole : ALLUREMENT
Surly
gruff; bad : tempered and unfriendly
Ennui
feeling of listlessness, boredom, and dissatifaction
Ream
500 sheets of paper
Ladle
a long handled spoon with a deep bowl for serving soup, stew etc
Speculative
risky; based on guesswork rather than knowledge
Ensnare
keep someone in a situation from which they canot escape
Ensue
to follow as a consequence or result
Knoll
a small rounded hill or mound; a hillock
Incontrovertible
impossible to dispute; unquestionable
Moxie
courage or nerve . the ability to face difficulty with spirit and courage; aggressive energy
Tintinnabulation
the ringing or sounding of bells
Skein
a length of thread or yarn wound in a loose long coil; a flock of geese or similar birds in flight
Manna
hardened sugary exudation of various trees; food that God gave the Israelites during the exodus
Stentorian
extremely loud
Vicissitude
a change or variation. The quality of being changeable; mutability
Purism
strict observance of or insistence on traditional correctness, especially of language
Japery
acting like a clown or buffoon; a trick or practical joke
Dolorous
marked by or exhibiting sorrow, grief, or pain
Tort
damage, injury, or a wrongful act done willfully, negligently, or in circumstances involving strict liability, but not involving breach.
Pettifogger
a petty, quibbling, unscrupulous lawyer. One who quibbles over trivia
Slatternly
slovenly; untidy
Muckrake
to search for and expose misconduct in public life.
Mordant
bitingly sarcastic
Francophile
a person who admires France, its people, or its culture
Foursquare
characterized by firm and unwavering conviction; a plane rectangle with four equal sides and four right angles; a four : sided regular polygon
Enfeoff
to invest with a feudal estate or fee
Ineluctable
impossible to avoid or evade
Malfeasance
misconduct or wrongdoing, especially by a public official
Malcontent
a chronically dissatisfied person; one who rebels against the established system; discontented as toward authority
Hull
the dry outer covering of a fruit, seed, or nut; body of a ship
Cron
A time unit equal to 1000000 years; used in reference to evolutionary processes
Votary
One zealously devoted to a religion
Croon
To sing softly or in a humming way
Quisling
A traitor who serves as the puppet of the enemy occupying his or her country
Termagant
A person, traditionally a woman, who persistently nags or criticizes
Coterie
A small, often select group of persons who associate with one another frequently
Humdrum
Lacking variety or excitement; dull; boring , dull; monotonous talk or routine.
Happenstance
An unexpected random event
Cord
a unit of wood cut for fuel equal to a stack 4 x 4 x 8 feet or 128 cubic feet . To pile (wood) in cords; a line made of twisted fibers or threads
Diazepam
A tranquilizer (trade name Valium) used to relieve anxiety and relax muscles;
Sagitta
A constellation in the Northern Hemisphere near Aquila and Vulpecula
Marrow
The most central and material part; the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
Forage
Food for domestic animals; fodder. The act of looking or searching for food or provisions
Quart
A unit of volume or capacity in the US Customary System, used in liquid measure, equal to / 4 gallon or 32 ounces
Shuck
A husk, pod, or shell, as of a pea, hickory nut, or ear of corn. The shell of an oyster or clam
Evacuant
Of, relating to, or tending to eliminate; tending to cleanse or purge, especially causing evacuation of the bowels
Frisky
Playful
Quatrain
A stanza or poem of four lines
Vulgaris
Being of the usual type; common
Frill
Something costly and unnecessary
Swath
A path or strip; the space created by the swing of a scythe or the cut of a mowing machine
Sagittal
Of or relating to the suture uniting the two parietal bones of the skull;
Pelf
Wealth or riches, especially when dishonestly acquired
Stultify
cause to feel bored or enervated. 2)cause to appear foolish or absurd
Faradic
Of, relating to, or using an intermittent asymmetrical alternating electric current produced by an induction coil
Grovel
To support slavishly every opinion or suggestion of a superior; to behave in a servile or demeaning manner
Shoal
A shallow part of a body of water : shallow; measuring little from bottom to top or surface, a large number of fish swimming together.
Glut
To fill beyond capacity, especially with food; satiate
Pallid
Having an abnormally pale or wan complexion; lacking intensity of color or luminousness
Batten
Grow fat,thrive upon others
Conch
Large seashell
Ingenue
An artless girl;an actress who plays such parts
Orison
Prayer
Rambunctious
Boisterous and disorderly
Carpophagous
Feeding on fruit; fruit : eating
Fustian
A coarse sturdy cloth made of cotton and flax; pretentious speech or writing; pompous language; pompous, bombastic, and ranting
Compunction
A strong uneasiness caused by a sense of guilt; a feeling of regret for one's sins or misdeeds; a feeling of uncertainty about the fitness or correctness of an action; regret, sorrow
Afferent
Carrying inward to a central organ or section, as nerves that conduct impulses from the periphery of the body to the brain or spinal cord; transmitting impulses from sense organs to nerve centers
Stultify
To allege or prove insane and so not legally responsible; cause to appear foolish; deprive of strength or efficiency; make useless or worthless; cripple
Instate
to set or establish in a rank or office:INSTALL
Shrivel
To become or make much less or smaller; dwindle; to become or make shrunken and wrinkled, often by drying; to lose or cause to lose vitality or intensity; dehydrate, dry up
Caginess
Having or showing a clever awareness and resourcefulness in practical matters; secretive; wary; careful; shrewd
Cadge
To beg or get by begging, BEGGAR, bummer, moocher, panhandler
Bibulous
Given to or marked by the consumption of alcoholic drink; very absorbent, as paper or soil; inclined to drink; of or relating to drink or drinking
Fustian
Pretentious, pompous speech or writing; a coarse sturdy cloth made of cotton and flax; pompous or pretentious talking or writing
Fallow
Land left unseeded during a growing season; inactive; plowed but left unseeded during a growing season : fallow farmland
Immure
To confine within or as if within walls; imprison; lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
Armageddon
The scene of a final battle between the forces of good and evil, prophesied to occur at the end of the world; a decisive or catastrophic conflict
Pastiche
A mixture of materials, forms, motifs, and/or styles; often incongruous; dramatic, literary, or musical piece openly imitating the previous works of other artists, often with satirical intent; an artistic effort that imitates or caricatures the work of another artist
Reagent
A substance used in a chemical reaction to detect, measure, examine, or produce other substances
Cow
To frighten with threats or a show of force; browbeat, intimidate;
Lop
To decrease, as in length or amount, by or as if by severing or excising; to hang limply, loosely, and carelessly; cut off from a whole
Jejune
Not interesting; dull; lacking maturity; childish; lacking in nutrition
Cruet
A small glass bottle for holding a condiment, such as vinegar or oil; a small vessel for holy water or for water or wine used in the consecration of the Eucharist
Preclude
To make impossible, as by action taken in advance; prevent; to exclude or prevent (someone) from a given condition or activity
Bunion
A bunion is an abnormal enlargement of the joint; a painful, inflamed swelling of the bursa at the first joint of the big toe, characterized by enlargement of the joint and lateral displacement of the toe
Hospice
1) a home providing care for the sick or terminally ill. 2) a lodging for travellers, especially one run by a religious order
Jerry
A German, especially a German soldier; offensive terms for a person of German descent
Glean
To gather grain left behind by reapers; to collect (something) bit by bit; gather facts in small quantities
Gruffness
A throaty harshness; an abrupt discourteous manner
Mortar
A vessel in which substances are crushed or ground with a pestle; a machine in which materials are ground and blended or crushed; an ancient field weapon that fires a projectile in a high arch to reach an impact point; plastic material to bond stones and bricks together
Leviathan
One that is extraordinarily large and powerful; any large animal, as a whale; a monstrous sea creature mentioned in the Bible; something unusually large of its kind, especially a ship
Repletion
The condition of being fully supplied or completely filled; a state of excessive fullness
Orc
A mythical monster of varying descriptions; any of several cetaceans especialy the grampus of the dolphin family
Maroon
To put ashore on a deserted island or coast and intentionally abandon; to abandon or isolate with little hope of ready rescue or escape; a fugitive Black slave in the West Indies in the 17th and 18th centuries; a dark reddish brown to dark purplish red
Fiesta
A festival or religious holiday, especially a saint's day celebrated in Spanish : speaking countries
Gaily
In a joyful, cheerful, or happy manner; merrily; with bright colors or trimmings; showily
Fealty
The fidelity owed by a vassal to his feudal lord. The oath of such fidelity
Ensconce
To settle (oneself) securely or comfortably; to place or conceal in a secure place; hide; tuck away; fix firmly
Votary
A person bound by vows to live a life of religious worship or service; a faithful follower; an enthusiast
Demurral
The act of demurring, especially a mild, polite, or considered expression of opposition; a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings
Vouchsafe
To condescend to grant or bestow (a privilege, for example); deign; to let have as a favor, prerogative, or privilege; to descend to a level considered inappropriate to one's dignity; ose; grant
Paroles
conditionally released from jail; pledge or promise made by a prisoner that he will obey the terms of his release
Seraph
A celestial being having three pairs of wings; the first of the nine orders of angels in medieval angelology
Fabric
a structure or framework
Bolt
1) a roll of fabric, originally as a measure 2) run away suddenly3 ) BAR, LOCK, catch, latch, fastener
Suppliant
Asking humbly and earnestly; beseeching; one praying humbly for something
Jarring
Disagreeable to the sense of hearing; making or causing a harsh and irritating sound; characterized by rough motion
Tirade
A long angry or violent speech, usually of a censorious or denunciatory nature; a diatribe
Glean
To gather grain left behind by reapers; to collect (something) bit by bit
Abandon
To give up completely; to desert; careless disregard for consequences; leave behind, relinquish; leave in troubled state; careless, often reckless disregard for consequences
Rancour
A feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill : will
Desecrate
To violate the sacredness of; profane; spoil or mar the sanctity of; abuse, violate
Quartet
A group of four musicians or singers; also, a piece of music for four instruments or voices; composition for four voices or four instruments or four parts; four performers or singers who perform together
Rickety
Not physically steady or firm; unsound, broken : down; shaky; likely to fall apart
Triad
A group of three; a chord of three tones, especially one built on a given root tone plus a major or minor third and a perfect fifth; set of three similar things considered as a unit
Preposterous
Contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; absurd; ridiculous, bizarre; completely devoid of wisdom or good sense; senseless as to be laughable
Puckish
Mischievous; impish; naughtily or annoyingly playful
Delusion
An erroneous perception of reality; misconception, misbelief
Aplomb
Self : confident assurance; poise; assurance of manner or of action; a firm belief in one's own powers; stable, calm state of the emotions
Stupor
A state of reduced or suspended sensibility; state of mental numbness, as that resulting from shock; a daze; condition of dullness, often resulting from stress; unconsciousness
Benedict
A newly married man who was previously considered a confirmed bachelor
Arboretum
A facility where trees and shrubs are cultivated for exhibition; botanical garden primarily devoted to trees and woody plants, forming a living collection of trees intended at least partly for scientific study
Grouch
A habitually complaining or irritable person; a grumbling or sulky mood; complaint; a grudge
Animadversion
Strong criticism; a critical or censorious remark; harsh criticism or disapproval
Uncouth
Crude; unrefined; awkward or clumsy; ungraceful; archaic; foreign; unfamiliar; clumsy, uncultivated; lacking in delicacy or refinement
Provenance
Place of origin; derivation; the history of the ownership of an object, especially when documented or authenticated
nascent
beginning to exist or develop
hail
to acclaim; approve enthusiastically
hemorrhage
to lose assets, esp. in large amounts
quell
to suppress; put an end to; extinguish
milieu
environment; setting
flummox
to bewilder; confound; confuse
fettle
state; condition
provision
to supply with needed items
fugacious
lasting but a short time; fleeting
divest
to rid or free from
acrimony
bitterness, animosity
aggregate
collective mass or sum; total
diaphanous
allowing light to pass through
capricious
whimsical; changeable
clinch
to settle decisively
cusp
a point or pointed end
legerdemain
slight of hand
fractious
refractory or unruly
antipode
a direct or exact opposite
bifurcate
to divide or fork into two branches.
biped
a two footed animal
bursary
the treasury of a monastery.
charnel
a repository for dead bodies.
hauteur
haughtiness; arrogance
chromatic
pertaining to color or colors.
expatiate
to speak or write at length
circumspect
watchful and discreet; cautious; prudent
countermand
to revoke or cancel (a command, order, etc.)
concord
agreement between persons, groups, nations, etc.; concurrence in attitudes, feelings, etc.; unanimity; accord
cosmonaut
a Russian or Soviet astronaut
inculpate
to charge with fault; blame; accuse
furor
fury, rage, madness
beset
to attack on all sides; assail; harass
acrid
harsh, bitter
psyche
the mind, especially as the center of a person's being
psychotic
having severe mental illness to the point of disconnection from reality
pusillanimous
timid or cowardly; not brave
animadversion
strong criticism or blame
inanimate
without life; unmoving
transpire
to take place; to happen
conspire
to plan together secretly
aspire
to have a strong desire to get or do something
esprit
liveliness; high-spiritedness
discordant
not agreeing or going well together
concordance
agreement or harmony
moratorium
a formal delay; a suspension
demure
modest and shy
demur
to express unwillingness to do something; to object
extemporaneous
done without planning; improvised
temporal
having to do with finite time or everyday life (as opposed to the eternal or spiritual)
temporize
to put off making a decision; to stall
diurnal
happening or active during the day
sojourn
a short stay or visit
adjourn
to formally bring to an end
anachronism
something that seems to be out of its proper time
chronicle
to tell or write the history of
synchronous
happening at the same time as
abscond
to leave in a hurry, especially to escape the law
recondite
difficult to understand; hidden from understanding
cryptic
hard to understand; having a secret meaning
overt
public, unhidden; open
covert
done in a hidden or secret manner
context
the circumstances or setting surrounding an event
subtext
the hidden or underlying meaning of something
pretext
a stated reason for doing something; an excuse
pastoral
having to do with the country
repast
a meal; food and drink for a meal
egregious
standing out sharply as wrong or bad
gregarious
liking to be with other people
agrarian
having to do with farming
peregrination
the act of traveling about; a journey
fruition
fulfillment of an effort or desire
fruitless
yielding no positive results
surmise
to draw a conclusion based on little or no information; to guess
remit
to make less or weaker; to forgive or pardon
emblematic
standing for another thing
diabolical
of or like a devil; very wicked or cruel
hyperbole
an exaggeration for effect
episodic
happening in parts or segments
methodical
orderly and regular
degenerate
a corrupt wrongdoer
genre
a kind or type of art
cognate
related to or coming from the same source
innate
natural; present from birth
transfigure
to change the form or appearance of
fictive
not real
feign
to make up or invent; pretend
cogent
strong and to the point; convincing
exigent
urgent; pressing
assay
to test, analyze
intransigent
refusing to compromise
incite
to stir up; to provoke
resuscitate
to bring back to consciousness
solicitous
showing care or worry
perturb
to make worried or upset
alacrity
enthusiastic quickness
celerity
speed or quickness
act quickly
apace,abrupt,headlong,impetuous,precipitate
assist
abet,advocate,ancillary,bolster,corroborate
bad mood
bilious,dudgeon,irascible,pettish,petulant
beginner/amateur
tyro,proselyte,novitiate,neophyte,fledging
beginning/young
nascent,incipient,inchoate,engender,callow
biting
acerbic,acidulous,asperity,caustic,mordant
bold
audacious,dauntless,courageous
boring
banal,fatuous,hackneyed,inispid,mundane
carousal
sordid,salacious,ribald,iniquity,libertine
changing quickly
capricious,mercurial,volatile
copy
counterpart,emulate,facsimile,factitious,paradigm
criticize/criticism
aspersion,belittle,berate,calumny,castigate
death/mourning
bereave,cadaver,defunct,demise,dolorous
denying of self
abnegate,abstain,ascetic,spartan
dictatorial
authoritarian,despotic,dogmatic,hegemonic
difficult to understand
abstruse,arcane,bemusing,cryptic,esoteric
disgusting/offensive
defile,fetid,invidious,noisome,odious
easy to understand
articulate,cogent,evident,limpid,lucid
eccentric/dissimilar
aberrant,anachronism,anomalous,iconoclast
embarrass
abash,chagrin,compunction,contrition,diffidence
equal
equitable,equity,tantamount
falsehood
apocryphal,canard,chicanery,dissemble,guile
family
conjugal,distaff,filiat,scion,progenitor
favoring/not impartial
ardor/ardent,fervid,partisan,zealot,doctrinaire
forgive
absolve,acquit,expiate,palliate,redress
funny
chortle,droll,gibe,jocular,levity
gaps/openings
abatement,aperture,fissure,hiatus,lull
generous/kind
dement,largess,unstinting,munificent,beneficent
greedy
avaricious,covetous,miserly,venal,rapacious
hardhearted
asperity,baleful,dour,fell,sardonic
harmful
baleful,baneful,inimical,injurious,insidious
harsh-sounding
assonance,cacophony,din,dissonant,strident
hatred
rancor,odium,malice,loathing,enmity
healthy
beneficial,salubrious,salutary
hesitate
dither,oscillate,teeter,vacillate,waver
hostile
churlish,irascible,malevolent,truculent,vindictive
innocent/inexperienced
credulous,gullible,naive,novitiate,tyro
insincere
disiongenuous,dissemble,fulsome,unctuous
investigate
appraise,ascertain,assay,descry,peruse
lazy/sluggish
indolent,inert,languid,lethargic,slothful
luck
amulet,kismet,nemesis,optimum,talisman
nag
admonish,cavil,belabor,enjoin,reproof
nasty
fetid,noisome,noxious
not a straight line
awry,careen,carom,sidle,vortex
overblown/wordy
bombastic,garrulous,prolix,turgid,verbose
pacify/satisfy
appease,defer,mollify,placate,sooth
pleasant-sounding
sonorous,melodious,harmonious,euphonious
poor
destitute,esurient,impecunious,indigent
praise
acclaim,accloade,aggrandize,extol,fawn
predict
augur,auspice,fey,harbinger,presage
prevent/obstruct
discomfort,fetter,inhibit,hinder,encumber
smart/learned
astute,canny,erudite,perspicacious
sorrow
doleful,dolor,elegiac,morose,melancholy
stubborn
implacable,vexing,renitent,untoward,obdurate
terse
curt,laconic,pithy,compendious,taciturn
time/order/duration
eon,epoch,fortnight,millennium,archaic
timid/timidly
craven,diffident,recreant,timorous,trepidation
truth
fealty,candor,probity,sincere,verity
unusual
anomaly,iconoclast,idiosyncrasy,reverberation
walking about
ambulatory,itinerant,peripatetic
wandering
discursive,forage,itinerant,sojourn,expatiate
weaken
inhibit,vitiate,obviate,undermine,enervate
wisdom
adage,axiom,bromide,dictum,epigram
withdrawal/retreat
abeyance,abjure,decamp,recant,demur
ACCOUTREMENTS accessories
ACUMEN Quickness and keenness of judgment or insight.
ANOMALISTIC deviation or departure from the normal or common order, form, or rule; phenomenal
AUSPICIOUS favorable, prosperous
BELLWETHER a leader, trendsetter, first in their class, and ahead of the rest
CALLIPYGIAN having shapely buttocks
CIRCUMLOCUTION 1. The use of unnecessarily wordy and indirect language. 2. Evasion in speech or writing. 3. A roundabout expression.
CONCUPISCENT a strong desire, especially sexual desire; lust
CONVIVIALITY merry; festive
CORUSCANT giving forth flashes of light; glittering
CUDDLESOME suitable for or inviting cuddling. Also, cuddly
CUPIDITY eager or excessive desire, esp. to possess something: greed; avarice.
CYNOSURE an object at the focal point of attention; something that is used as a guide
EBULLIENT zestfully enthusiastic
EQUANIMITY the quality of being calm and even-tempered
EXCOGITATE to consider or think something out carefully and thoroughly
GASCONADING to boast; to brag
HOMOEROTIC tending to arouse homosexual desire
IDIOSYNCRATIC belonging to one's peculiar and individual character
LUMINESCENT emitting light not caused by heat
MAGNANIMOUS courageously noble in mind and heart; unselfish
NIDIFICATE to nest
OSCULATOR one who kisses
PARSIMONIOUS frugal
PENULTIMATE means second to last - as in LOSER
PERFIDIOUSNESS betrayal of a trust
PERSPICACIOUS having or showing penetrating mental discernment; clear-sighted
PROFICUOUS profitable; advantageous; useful
REMUNERATIVE serving and providing profitability
SAXICOLOUS one who lives under a rock
SESQUIPEDALIAN one who uses big words
SUPERABUNDANT abundant to excess
UNENCUMBERED free, not burdened with cares or responsibilities
UNPARAGONED having no paragon or equal; matchless; peerless
USUFRUCT the right to use and enjoy the profits and advantages of something belonging to another as long as the property is not damaged or altered in any way
WINEBIBBER one who drinks much wine
2 Abbreviate
to shorten, abridge
Abstinence
the act of refraining from pleasurable activity, e.g., eating or drinking
Adulation
high praise
Adversity
misfortune, an unfavorable turn of events
Aesthetic
pertaining to beauty or the arts
Amicable
friendly, agreeable
Anachronistic
out-of-date, not attributed to the correct historical period
Anecdote
short, usually funny account of an event
Anonymous
nameless, without a disclosed identity
Antagonist
foe, opponent, adversary
Arid
extremely dry or deathly boring
Assiduous
persistent, hard-working
Asylum
sanctuary, shelter, place of refuge
Benevolent
friendly and helpful
Camaraderie
trust, sociability amongst friends
Censure
to criticize harshly
Circuitous
indirect, taking the longest route
Clairvoyant
exceptionally insightful, able to foresee the future
Collaborate
to cooperate, work together
Compassion
sympathy, helpfulness or mercy
Compromise
to settle a dispute by terms agreeable to both sides
Condescending
possessing an attitude of superiority, patronizing
Conditional
depending on a condition, e.g., in a contract
Conformist
person who complies with accepted rules and customs
Congregation
a crowd of people, an assembly
Convergence
state of separate elements joining or coming together
Deleterious
harmful, destructive, detrimental
Demagogue
leader, rabble-rouser, usually appealing to emotion or prejudice
Digression
the act of turning aside, straying from the main point, esp. in a speech or argument
Diligent
careful and hard-working
Discredit
harm the reputation of, dishonor or disgrace
Disdain
to regard with scorn or contempt
Divergent
separating, moving in different directions from a particular point
Empathy
identification with the feelings of others
Emulate
to imitate, follow an example
Enervating
weakening, tiring
Enhance
improve, bring to a greater level of intensity
Ephemeral
momentary, transient, fleeting
Evanescent
quickly fading, short-lived, esp. an image
Exasperation
irritation, frustration
Exemplary
outstanding, an example to others
Extenuating
excusing, lessening the seriousness of guilt or crime, e.g., of mitigating factors
Florid
red-colored, flushed; gaudy, ornate
Fortuitous
happening by luck, fortunate
Frugal
thrifty, cheap
Hackneyed
cliched, worn out by overuse
Haughty
arrogant and condescending
Hedonist
person who pursues pleasure as a goal
Hypothesis
assumption, theory requiring proof
Impetuous
rash, impulsive, acting without thinking
Impute
to attribute an action to particular person or group
Incompatible
opposed in nature, not able to live or work together
Inconsequential
unimportant, trivial
Inevitable
certain, unavoidable
Integrity
decency, honesty, wholeness
Intrepid
fearless, adventurous
Intuitive
instinctive, untaught
Jubilation
joy, celebration, exultation
Lobbyist
person who seeks to influence political events
Longevity
long life
Mundane
ordinary, commonplace
Nonchalant
calm, casual, seeming unexcited
Novice
apprentice, beginner
Opulent
wealthy
Orator
lecturer, speaker
Ostentatious
showy, displaying wealth
Parched
dried up, shriveled
Perfidious
faithless, disloyal, untrustworthy
Precocious
unusually advanced or talented at an early age
Pretentious
pretending to be important, intelligent or cultured
Procrastinate
to unnecessarily delay, postpone, put off
Prosaic
relating to prose; dull, commonplace
Prosperity
wealth or success
Provocative
tending to provoke a response, e.g., anger or disagreement
Prudent
careful, cautious
Querulous
complaining, irritable
Rancorous
bitter, hateful
Reclusive
preferring to live in isolation
Reconciliation
the act of agreement after a quarrel, the resolution of a dispute
Renovation
repair, making something new again
Resilient
quick to recover, bounce back
Restrained
controlled, repressed, restricted
Reverence
worship, profound respect
Sagacity
wisdom
Scrutinize
to observe carefully
Spontaneity
impulsive action, unplanned events
Spurious
lacking authenticity, false
Submissive
tending to meekness, to submit to the will of others
Substantiate
to verify, confirm, provide supporting evidence
Subtle
hard to detect or describe; perceptive
100 Most beautiful words in the English language*
by Shonari, deshoda.com
May 13th 2011
Ailurophile A cat-lover.
Assemblage A gathering.
Becoming Attractive.
Beleaguer To exhaust with attacks.
Brood To think alone.
Bucolic In a lovely rural setting.
Bungalow A small, cozy cottage.
Chatoyant Like a cat’s eye.
Comely Attractive.
Conflate To blend together.
Cynosure A focal point of admiration.
Dalliance A brief love affair.
Demesne Dominion, territory.
Demure Shy and reserved.
Denouement The resolution of a mystery.
Desuetude Disuse.
Desultory Slow, sluggish.
Diaphanous Filmy.
Dissemble Deceive.
Dulcet Sweet, sugary.
Ebullience Bubbling enthusiasm.
Effervescent Bubbly.
Efflorescence Flowering, blooming.
Elision Dropping a sound or syllable in a word.
Elixir A good potion.
Eloquence Beauty and persuasion in speech.
Embrocation Rubbing on a lotion.
Emollient A softener.
Ephemeral Short-lived.
Epiphany A sudden revelation.
Erstwhile At one time, for a time.
Ethereal Gaseous, invisible but detectable.
Evanescent Vanishing quickly, lasting a very short time.
Evocative Suggestive.
Fetching Pretty.
Felicity Pleasantness.
Forbearance Withholding response to provocation.
Fugacious Fleeting.
Furtive Shifty, sneaky.
Gambol To skip or leap about joyfully.
Glamour Beauty.
Gossamer The finest piece of thread, a spider’s silk.
Halcyon Happy, sunny, care-free.
Harbinger Messenger with news of the future.
Imbrication Overlapping and forming a regular pattern.
Imbroglio An altercation or complicated situation.
Imbue To infuse, instill.
Incipient Beginning, in an early stage.
Ineffable Unutterable, inexpressible.
Ingénue A naïve young woman.
Inglenook A cozy nook by the hearth.
Insouciance Blithe nonchalance.
Inure To become jaded.
Labyrinthine Twisting and turning.
Lagniappe A special kind of gift.
Lagoon A small gulf or inlet.
Languor Listlessness, inactivity.
Lassitude Weariness, listlessness.
Leisure Free time.
Lilt To move musically or lively.
Lissome Slender and graceful.
Lithe Slender and flexible.
Love Deep affection.
Mellifluous Sweet sounding.
Moiety One of two equal parts.
Mondegreen A slip of the ear.
Murmurous Murmuring.
Nemesis An unconquerable archenemy.
Offing The sea between the horizon and the offshore.
Onomatopoeia A word that sounds like its meaning.
Opulent Lush, luxuriant.
Palimpsest A manuscript written over earlier ones.
Panacea A solution for all problems
Panoply A complete set.
Pastiche An art work combining materials from various sources.
Penumbra A half-shadow.
Petrichor The smell of earth after rain.
Plethora A large quantity.
Propinquity Proximity; Nearness
Pyrrhic Successful with heavy losses.
Quintessential Most essential.
Ratatouille A spicy French stew.
Ravel To knit or unknit.
Redolent Fragrant.
Riparian By the bank of a stream.
Ripple A very small wave.
Scintilla A spark or very small thing.
Sempiternal Eternal.
Seraglio Rich, luxurious oriental palace or harem.
Serendipity Finding something nice while looking for something else.
Summery Light, delicate or warm and sunny.
Sumptuous Lush, luxurious.
Surreptitious Secretive, sneaky.
Susquehanna A river in Pennsylvania.
Susurrous Whispering, hissing.
Talisman A good luck charm.
Tintinnabulation Tinkling.
Umbrella Protection from sun or rain.
Untoward Unseemly, inappropriate.
Vestigial In trace amounts.
Wafture Waving.
Wherewithal The means.
Woebegone Sorrowful, downcast.
3 Agog
highly excited
Piquancy
pleasantly stimulating or exciting to the mind.
Caucus
meeting where party leaders are elected and strategy is determined
Augury
sign of what will happen, omen
Tandem
coming one after another
Rhapsodize
to express oneself in an immoderately enthusiastic manner.
Preeminence
importance, significance; superiority, supremacy; distinctiveness, state of being distinguished; advantage
Tenacity
firmness or persistence
Nave
central part of the church
Elf
below 3 kilohertz; Synonym : extremely low frequency. Extremely Low Frequency)
Obtain
PREVAIL, be in force. for e.g. rules obtaining in other jurisdictions
Palter
to act insincerely or deceitfully
Discommode
to cause inconvenience to : TROUBLE
Entrench
establish so firmly that change is difficult :
Mulish
unreasonably and inflexibly obstinate like a mule
Inveigh
to protest or complain bitterly or vehemently : RAIL
Imbue
fill with a feeling or quality
Xerophagy
fast which includes the eating of dry foods only
Balky
refusing or likely to refuse to proceed, act, or function as directed or expected
blandishment
something that tends to coax or cajole : ALLUREMENT
Surly
gruff; bad : tempered and unfriendly
Ennui
feeling of listlessness, boredom, and dissatifaction
Ream
500 sheets of paper
Ladle
a long handled spoon with a deep bowl for serving soup, stew etc
Speculative
risky; based on guesswork rather than knowledge
Ensnare
keep someone in a situation from which they canot escape
Ensue
to follow as a consequence or result
Knoll
a small rounded hill or mound; a hillock
Incontrovertible
impossible to dispute; unquestionable
Moxie
courage or nerve . the ability to face difficulty with spirit and courage; aggressive energy
Tintinnabulation
the ringing or sounding of bells
Skein
a length of thread or yarn wound in a loose long coil; a flock of geese or similar birds in flight
Manna
hardened sugary exudation of various trees; food that God gave the Israelites during the exodus
Stentorian
extremely loud
Vicissitude
a change or variation. The quality of being changeable; mutability
Purism
strict observance of or insistence on traditional correctness, especially of language
Japery
acting like a clown or buffoon; a trick or practical joke
Dolorous
marked by or exhibiting sorrow, grief, or pain
Tort
damage, injury, or a wrongful act done willfully, negligently, or in circumstances involving strict liability, but not involving breach.
Pettifogger
a petty, quibbling, unscrupulous lawyer. One who quibbles over trivia
Slatternly
slovenly; untidy
Muckrake
to search for and expose misconduct in public life.
Mordant
bitingly sarcastic
Francophile
a person who admires France, its people, or its culture
Foursquare
characterized by firm and unwavering conviction; a plane rectangle with four equal sides and four right angles; a four : sided regular polygon
Enfeoff
to invest with a feudal estate or fee
Ineluctable
impossible to avoid or evade
Malfeasance
misconduct or wrongdoing, especially by a public official
Malcontent
a chronically dissatisfied person; one who rebels against the established system; discontented as toward authority
Hull
the dry outer covering of a fruit, seed, or nut; body of a ship
Cron
A time unit equal to 1000000 years; used in reference to evolutionary processes
Votary
One zealously devoted to a religion
Croon
To sing softly or in a humming way
Quisling
A traitor who serves as the puppet of the enemy occupying his or her country
Termagant
A person, traditionally a woman, who persistently nags or criticizes
Coterie
A small, often select group of persons who associate with one another frequently
Humdrum
Lacking variety or excitement; dull; boring , dull; monotonous talk or routine.
Happenstance
An unexpected random event
Cord
a unit of wood cut for fuel equal to a stack 4 x 4 x 8 feet or 128 cubic feet . To pile (wood) in cords; a line made of twisted fibers or threads
Diazepam
A tranquilizer (trade name Valium) used to relieve anxiety and relax muscles;
Sagitta
A constellation in the Northern Hemisphere near Aquila and Vulpecula
Marrow
The most central and material part; the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
Forage
Food for domestic animals; fodder. The act of looking or searching for food or provisions
Quart
A unit of volume or capacity in the US Customary System, used in liquid measure, equal to / 4 gallon or 32 ounces
Shuck
A husk, pod, or shell, as of a pea, hickory nut, or ear of corn. The shell of an oyster or clam
Evacuant
Of, relating to, or tending to eliminate; tending to cleanse or purge, especially causing evacuation of the bowels
Frisky
Playful
Quatrain
A stanza or poem of four lines
Vulgaris
Being of the usual type; common
Frill
Something costly and unnecessary
Swath
A path or strip; the space created by the swing of a scythe or the cut of a mowing machine
Sagittal
Of or relating to the suture uniting the two parietal bones of the skull;
Pelf
Wealth or riches, especially when dishonestly acquired
Stultify
cause to feel bored or enervated. 2)cause to appear foolish or absurd
Faradic
Of, relating to, or using an intermittent asymmetrical alternating electric current produced by an induction coil
Grovel
To support slavishly every opinion or suggestion of a superior; to behave in a servile or demeaning manner
Shoal
A shallow part of a body of water : shallow; measuring little from bottom to top or surface, a large number of fish swimming together.
Glut
To fill beyond capacity, especially with food; satiate
Pallid
Having an abnormally pale or wan complexion; lacking intensity of color or luminousness
Batten
Grow fat,thrive upon others
Conch
Large seashell
Ingenue
An artless girl;an actress who plays such parts
Orison
Prayer
Rambunctious
Boisterous and disorderly
Carpophagous
Feeding on fruit; fruit : eating
Fustian
A coarse sturdy cloth made of cotton and flax; pretentious speech or writing; pompous language; pompous, bombastic, and ranting
Compunction
A strong uneasiness caused by a sense of guilt; a feeling of regret for one's sins or misdeeds; a feeling of uncertainty about the fitness or correctness of an action; regret, sorrow
Afferent
Carrying inward to a central organ or section, as nerves that conduct impulses from the periphery of the body to the brain or spinal cord; transmitting impulses from sense organs to nerve centers
Stultify
To allege or prove insane and so not legally responsible; cause to appear foolish; deprive of strength or efficiency; make useless or worthless; cripple
Instate
to set or establish in a rank or office:INSTALL
Shrivel
To become or make much less or smaller; dwindle; to become or make shrunken and wrinkled, often by drying; to lose or cause to lose vitality or intensity; dehydrate, dry up
Caginess
Having or showing a clever awareness and resourcefulness in practical matters; secretive; wary; careful; shrewd
Cadge
To beg or get by begging, BEGGAR, bummer, moocher, panhandler
Bibulous
Given to or marked by the consumption of alcoholic drink; very absorbent, as paper or soil; inclined to drink; of or relating to drink or drinking
Fustian
Pretentious, pompous speech or writing; a coarse sturdy cloth made of cotton and flax; pompous or pretentious talking or writing
Fallow
Land left unseeded during a growing season; inactive; plowed but left unseeded during a growing season : fallow farmland
Immure
To confine within or as if within walls; imprison; lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
Armageddon
The scene of a final battle between the forces of good and evil, prophesied to occur at the end of the world; a decisive or catastrophic conflict
Pastiche
A mixture of materials, forms, motifs, and/or styles; often incongruous; dramatic, literary, or musical piece openly imitating the previous works of other artists, often with satirical intent; an artistic effort that imitates or caricatures the work of another artist
Reagent
A substance used in a chemical reaction to detect, measure, examine, or produce other substances
Cow
To frighten with threats or a show of force; browbeat, intimidate;
Lop
To decrease, as in length or amount, by or as if by severing or excising; to hang limply, loosely, and carelessly; cut off from a whole
Jejune
Not interesting; dull; lacking maturity; childish; lacking in nutrition
Cruet
A small glass bottle for holding a condiment, such as vinegar or oil; a small vessel for holy water or for water or wine used in the consecration of the Eucharist
Preclude
To make impossible, as by action taken in advance; prevent; to exclude or prevent (someone) from a given condition or activity
Bunion
A bunion is an abnormal enlargement of the joint; a painful, inflamed swelling of the bursa at the first joint of the big toe, characterized by enlargement of the joint and lateral displacement of the toe
Hospice
1) a home providing care for the sick or terminally ill. 2) a lodging for travellers, especially one run by a religious order
Jerry
A German, especially a German soldier; offensive terms for a person of German descent
Glean
To gather grain left behind by reapers; to collect (something) bit by bit; gather facts in small quantities
Gruffness
A throaty harshness; an abrupt discourteous manner
Mortar
A vessel in which substances are crushed or ground with a pestle; a machine in which materials are ground and blended or crushed; an ancient field weapon that fires a projectile in a high arch to reach an impact point; plastic material to bond stones and bricks together
Leviathan
One that is extraordinarily large and powerful; any large animal, as a whale; a monstrous sea creature mentioned in the Bible; something unusually large of its kind, especially a ship
Repletion
The condition of being fully supplied or completely filled; a state of excessive fullness
Orc
A mythical monster of varying descriptions; any of several cetaceans especialy the grampus of the dolphin family
Maroon
To put ashore on a deserted island or coast and intentionally abandon; to abandon or isolate with little hope of ready rescue or escape; a fugitive Black slave in the West Indies in the 17th and 18th centuries; a dark reddish brown to dark purplish red
Fiesta
A festival or religious holiday, especially a saint's day celebrated in Spanish : speaking countries
Gaily
In a joyful, cheerful, or happy manner; merrily; with bright colors or trimmings; showily
Fealty
The fidelity owed by a vassal to his feudal lord. The oath of such fidelity
Ensconce
To settle (oneself) securely or comfortably; to place or conceal in a secure place; hide; tuck away; fix firmly
Votary
A person bound by vows to live a life of religious worship or service; a faithful follower; an enthusiast
Demurral
The act of demurring, especially a mild, polite, or considered expression of opposition; a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings
Vouchsafe
To condescend to grant or bestow (a privilege, for example); deign; to let have as a favor, prerogative, or privilege; to descend to a level considered inappropriate to one's dignity; ose; grant
Paroles
conditionally released from jail; pledge or promise made by a prisoner that he will obey the terms of his release
Seraph
A celestial being having three pairs of wings; the first of the nine orders of angels in medieval angelology
Fabric
a structure or framework
Bolt
1) a roll of fabric, originally as a measure 2) run away suddenly3 ) BAR, LOCK, catch, latch, fastener
Suppliant
Asking humbly and earnestly; beseeching; one praying humbly for something
Jarring
Disagreeable to the sense of hearing; making or causing a harsh and irritating sound; characterized by rough motion
Tirade
A long angry or violent speech, usually of a censorious or denunciatory nature; a diatribe
Glean
To gather grain left behind by reapers; to collect (something) bit by bit
Abandon
To give up completely; to desert; careless disregard for consequences; leave behind, relinquish; leave in troubled state; careless, often reckless disregard for consequences
Rancour
A feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill : will
Desecrate
To violate the sacredness of; profane; spoil or mar the sanctity of; abuse, violate
Quartet
A group of four musicians or singers; also, a piece of music for four instruments or voices; composition for four voices or four instruments or four parts; four performers or singers who perform together
Rickety
Not physically steady or firm; unsound, broken : down; shaky; likely to fall apart
Triad
A group of three; a chord of three tones, especially one built on a given root tone plus a major or minor third and a perfect fifth; set of three similar things considered as a unit
Preposterous
Contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; absurd; ridiculous, bizarre; completely devoid of wisdom or good sense; senseless as to be laughable
Puckish
Mischievous; impish; naughtily or annoyingly playful
Delusion
An erroneous perception of reality; misconception, misbelief
Aplomb
Self : confident assurance; poise; assurance of manner or of action; a firm belief in one's own powers; stable, calm state of the emotions
Stupor
A state of reduced or suspended sensibility; state of mental numbness, as that resulting from shock; a daze; condition of dullness, often resulting from stress; unconsciousness
Benedict
A newly married man who was previously considered a confirmed bachelor
Arboretum
A facility where trees and shrubs are cultivated for exhibition; botanical garden primarily devoted to trees and woody plants, forming a living collection of trees intended at least partly for scientific study
Grouch
A habitually complaining or irritable person; a grumbling or sulky mood; complaint; a grudge
Animadversion
Strong criticism; a critical or censorious remark; harsh criticism or disapproval
Uncouth
Crude; unrefined; awkward or clumsy; ungraceful; archaic; foreign; unfamiliar; clumsy, uncultivated; lacking in delicacy or refinement
Provenance
Place of origin; derivation; the history of the ownership of an object, especially when documented or authenticated
nascent
beginning to exist or develop
hail
to acclaim; approve enthusiastically
hemorrhage
to lose assets, esp. in large amounts
quell
to suppress; put an end to; extinguish
milieu
environment; setting
flummox
to bewilder; confound; confuse
fettle
state; condition
provision
to supply with needed items
fugacious
lasting but a short time; fleeting
divest
to rid or free from
acrimony
bitterness, animosity
aggregate
collective mass or sum; total
diaphanous
allowing light to pass through
capricious
whimsical; changeable
clinch
to settle decisively
cusp
a point or pointed end
legerdemain
slight of hand
fractious
refractory or unruly
antipode
a direct or exact opposite
bifurcate
to divide or fork into two branches.
biped
a two footed animal
bursary
the treasury of a monastery.
charnel
a repository for dead bodies.
hauteur
haughtiness; arrogance
chromatic
pertaining to color or colors.
expatiate
to speak or write at length
circumspect
watchful and discreet; cautious; prudent
countermand
to revoke or cancel (a command, order, etc.)
concord
agreement between persons, groups, nations, etc.; concurrence in attitudes, feelings, etc.; unanimity; accord
cosmonaut
a Russian or Soviet astronaut
inculpate
to charge with fault; blame; accuse
furor
fury, rage, madness
beset
to attack on all sides; assail; harass
acrid
harsh, bitter
psyche
the mind, especially as the center of a person's being
psychotic
having severe mental illness to the point of disconnection from reality
pusillanimous
timid or cowardly; not brave
animadversion
strong criticism or blame
inanimate
without life; unmoving
transpire
to take place; to happen
conspire
to plan together secretly
aspire
to have a strong desire to get or do something
esprit
liveliness; high-spiritedness
discordant
not agreeing or going well together
concordance
agreement or harmony
moratorium
a formal delay; a suspension
demure
modest and shy
demur
to express unwillingness to do something; to object
extemporaneous
done without planning; improvised
temporal
having to do with finite time or everyday life (as opposed to the eternal or spiritual)
temporize
to put off making a decision; to stall
diurnal
happening or active during the day
sojourn
a short stay or visit
adjourn
to formally bring to an end
anachronism
something that seems to be out of its proper time
chronicle
to tell or write the history of
synchronous
happening at the same time as
abscond
to leave in a hurry, especially to escape the law
recondite
difficult to understand; hidden from understanding
cryptic
hard to understand; having a secret meaning
overt
public, unhidden; open
covert
done in a hidden or secret manner
context
the circumstances or setting surrounding an event
subtext
the hidden or underlying meaning of something
pretext
a stated reason for doing something; an excuse
pastoral
having to do with the country
repast
a meal; food and drink for a meal
egregious
standing out sharply as wrong or bad
gregarious
liking to be with other people
agrarian
having to do with farming
peregrination
the act of traveling about; a journey
fruition
fulfillment of an effort or desire
fruitless
yielding no positive results
surmise
to draw a conclusion based on little or no information; to guess
remit
to make less or weaker; to forgive or pardon
emblematic
standing for another thing
diabolical
of or like a devil; very wicked or cruel
hyperbole
an exaggeration for effect
episodic
happening in parts or segments
methodical
orderly and regular
degenerate
a corrupt wrongdoer
genre
a kind or type of art
cognate
related to or coming from the same source
innate
natural; present from birth
transfigure
to change the form or appearance of
fictive
not real
feign
to make up or invent; pretend
cogent
strong and to the point; convincing
exigent
urgent; pressing
assay
to test, analyze
intransigent
refusing to compromise
incite
to stir up; to provoke
resuscitate
to bring back to consciousness
solicitous
showing care or worry
perturb
to make worried or upset
alacrity
enthusiastic quickness
celerity
speed or quickness