Adjure \uh-JOOR\ verb1 : to command solemnly under or as if under oath or penalty of a curse *2 : to urge or advise earnestly Example Sentence"Byron fled the country, adjuring Annabella to 'be kind' to his beloved sister." (Merle Rubin, Los Angeles Times, September 16, 2002) Did you know?"Adjure" and its synonyms "entreat," "importune," and "implore" all mean "to ask earnestly." "Entreat" implies an effort to persuade or overcome resistance. "Importune" goes further, adding a sense of annoying persistence in trying to break down resistance to a request. "Implore," on the other hand, suggests a great urgency or anguished appeal on the part of the speaker. "Adjure" implies advising as well as pleading, and is sometimes accompanied by the invocation of something sacred. Be careful not to confuse "adjure" with "abjure," meaning "to renounce solemnly" or "to abstain from." Both words are rooted in Late "jurare," meaning "to swear," but "adjure" includes the prefix "ad-," meaning "to" or "toward," whereas "abjure" draws on "ab-," meaning "from" or "away."

Agrarian \uh-GRAIR-ee-un\ adjective 1 : of or relating to fields or lands or their tenure 2 *a : of, relating to, or characteristic of farmers or their way of life b : organized or designed to promote agricultural interests Example Sentence Since buying their organic farm three years ago, Ken and Sheila have been gradually adjusting to an agrarian lifestyle. Did you know? Today, an acre is generally considered to be a unit of land measuring 43,560 square feet (4,047 square meters). Before that standard was set, it’s believed that an acre represented a rougher measurement — the amount of land that could be plowed in one day with a yoke of oxen. Both “acre” and today’s word, “agrarian,” derive from the Latin noun “ager” and the Greek noun “agros,” meaning “field.” (You can probably guess that “agriculture” is another descendant.) “Agrarian,” first used in English in the 17th century, describes things pertaining to the cultivation of fields, as well as the farmers who cultivate them.

Aggregate \AG-rih-gut\ noun 1 : a mass or body of units or parts somewhat loosely associated with one another *2 : the whole sum or amount : sum total Example Sentence "The aggregate of incriminating details unmistakably points towards a conviction," said the prosecuting attorney. Did you know? We added "aggregate" to our flock of Latin borrowings in the 15th century. It descends from “aggregare” ("to add to"), a Latin verb made up of the prefix “ad-” (which means "to," and which usually changes to “ag-” before a "g") and “greg-” or “grex” (meaning "flock"). “Greg-” also gave us "congregate," "gregarious," and "segregate." "Aggregate" is commonly employed in the phrase "in the aggregate," which means "considered as a whole" (as in the sentence "In the aggregate, the student's various achievements were sufficiently impressive to merit a scholarship"). "Aggregate" also has some specialized senses. For example, it is used for a mass of minerals formed into a rock and for a material, such as sand or gravel, used to form concrete, mortar, or plaster.

Alembic \uh-LEM-bik\ noun: 1 : an apparatus used in distillation *2 : something that refines or transmutes as if by distillation Example Sentence In the alembic of the child’s mind, the ratty old blanket became a magnificent cape. Did you know? The alembic is a kind of still that has been used since ancient times and continues to be used even today in the production of cognac, a distinctive brandy distilled from white wine in western France. In ancient times, this apparatus was called "al-anbīq," a word that means "the still" in Arabic and can be traced to "ambix,” meaning “still” in Greek. When the apparatus found its way into Medieval European laboratories, scientific texts first transformed the Arabic word into Medieval Latin as "alembicum."

English speakers shortened it to "alembic," and some also dropped the initial “a.” That change led to "limbeck," a standard variant still in use today. "Alembic" acquired its figurative use in the 17th century.

Alley-oop \al-ee-OOP\ noun : a basketball play in which a leaping player catches a pass above the basket and immediately dunks the ball; also : the usually looping pass thrown on such a play Example Sentence “With alley-oops, slam dunks and big smiles, the West [All-Stars] showed why Friday night's contest was called an all-star game….” (Peter Pupello, St. Petersburg Times [Florida], March 29, 2008)

Did you know? “Alley-oop” was first heard by English ears under the big tops of early 20th-century circuses. When acrobats were about to leap to their trapezes, they would often cry the similarly sounding French word “allez-oop” — an interjection meaning roughly “go up.” Both “acrobat” and “trapeze” are also French derivatives, leaping into the English language in the 19th century, so the French parentage of “alley-oop” is not surprising. By the 1950s, the word was also being used on the gridiron and the hardwood for show-stopping arcing passes and leaping dunks. Its latest venue is the half-pipe, where skateboarders and snowboarders pull “alley-oop” spinning tricks.

Anathema \uh-NATH-uh-muh\ noun 1 a : one that is cursed by ecclesiastical authority *b: someone or something intensely disliked or loathed 2 a : a ban or curse solemnly pronounced by ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by excommunication b : a vigorous denunciation : curse Example Sentence Maryam’s radical political views are anathema to her more conservative sister. Did you know? Historically, "anathema" can be considered a one-word oxymoron. When it first appeared in English in 1526, it was used to refer to something accursed. Shortly thereafter, however, people also began to use it to refer to something consecrated to divine use — generally a good thing. Why the contradiction? “Anathema” comes from Greek, where it initially meant “anything devoted” and later “anything devoted to evil.” The “consecrated to divine use” sense of “anathema” comes from that earlier Greek use but is not widely used today.

Anneal \uh-NEEL\ verb: *1 : to make (as steel or glass) less brittle by heating and then cooling 2 : strengthen, toughen Example Sentence The glassmaker shaped the vase with quick, fluid movements and then placed it in the oven to anneal the glass. Did you know? If you were looking for a saying to apply to the word "anneal," it might be "everything old is new again." The word was originally associated with one of the oldest technologies of humankind: fire. It derives from the Old English word “onælan,” which was formed from the Old English root “āl,” meaning "fire." In its earliest known uses, which date from around the year 1000, "anneal" meant simply "to set on fire." That sense has become obsolete, however, and nowadays “anneal” is associated with a much more recent technological development. It has come to be used in the context of DNA research, in reference to the heating and cooling of double-stranded nucleic acid.

antediluvian \an-tih-dih-LOO-vee-un\ adjective1 : of or relating to the period before the flood described in the Bible2 a : made, evolved, or developed a long time ago *b : extremely primitive or outmoded

Example Sentence

The researchers argued that the lab’s equipment was antediluvian and long overdue for replacement. Did you know?Before there was "antediluvian," there were the Latin words “ante” (meaning "before") and “diluvium” (meaning "flood"). As long ago as 1646, English speakers were using "antediluvian" to describe conditions they believed existed before the great flood described in the biblical account of Noah and the ark. By the early 1700s, the word had come to be used as both an adjective and

a noun referring to anything or anyone prodigiously old. Charles Darwin used it to characterize the mighty "antediluvian trees" some prehistoric mammals might have used as a food source, and in his American Notes, Charles Dickens described an elderly lady who informed him, "It is an extremely proud and pleasant thing . . . to be an antediluvian."

anthropomorphic \an-thruh-puh-MOR-fik\ adjective *1 : described or thought of as having a human form or human attributes 2 : ascribing human characteristics to nonhuman things Example SentenceTo encourage healthy eating habits, the children’s TV show features anthropomorphic fruits and vegetables that talk about good nutrition.

Did you know?"Anthropomorphic" comes from the Late Latin word “anthropomorphus,” which itself traces to a Greek term birthed from the roots “anthrōp-” (meaning "human being") and “morphos-” (meaning "form"). Those ancient Greek roots have given form and personality to many English words. “Anthrōp-” relatives include "anthropic" (“relating to human beings or the period of their existence on earth”), "anthropocentric" (“considering human beings the center of the universe”), "anthropoid" (an ape), and "anthropology" (“the study of human beings and their ancestors”). “Morphos” derivatives often end in "-morphism,” as in "polymorphism" (“the quality or state of existing in or assuming different forms”), or "-morphic," as in "biomorphic" (“resembling the forms of living organisms”).

aphorism \AF-uh-riz-um\ noun 1 : a concise statement of a principle *2 : a terse formulation of a truth or sentiment : adage Example Sentence Through his work as a radio broadcaster, Ted has entertained countless listeners with his feel-good stories and his pithy, down-home aphorisms. Did you know? "Aphorism" was originally used in the world of medicine. Credit Hippocrates, the Greek physician regarded as the father of modern medicine, with influencing our use of the word. He used "aphorismos" (a Greek ancestor of "aphorism" meaning "definition" or "aphorism") in titling a book outlining his principles on the diagnosis and treatment of disease. That volume offered many examples that helped to define aphorism, beginning with the statement that starts the book's introduction: "Life is short, Art long, Occasion sudden and dangerous, Experience deceitful, and Judgment difficult." English speakers originally used the term mainly in the realm of the physical sciences, but eventually broadened its use to cover principles in other fields.

Appellation \ap-uh-LAY-shun\ noun *1 : an identifying name or title : designation 2 : archaic : the act of calling by a name 3 : a geographical name used to identify wine Example Sentence We used to call him “Danny,” but he recently let us know that he prefers the appellation “Daniel.” Did you know? Ask a Frenchman named “Jacques” his name, and you may very well get the reply, “Je m’appelle Jacques.” The French verb “appeller” means “to call (by a name),” so Jacques’ answer literally translates to “I call myself Jacques.” Knowing the function of “appeller” makes it easy to remember that “appellation” refers to the name or title by which something is called or known. “Appeller” and “appellation” also share a common ancestor — the Latin “appellare,” meaning “to call or summon,” formed by combining the prefix “ad-” (“to”) with another verb, “pellere” (“to drive”). “Appellare” is also the root of our word “appeal” (by way of Anglo-French and Middle English), as well as “appellate,” referring to a kind of court where appeals are heard.

Approbation \ap-ruh-BAY-shun\ noun 1 : an act of approving formally or officially *2 : commendation, praise Example Sentence Some movie producers care more about making a profit than winning the approbation of critics.

Did you know?

"Approbation" is similar in meaning to "approval," and it is also very close to "approval" etymologically. Both words trace back to the Latin verb "approbare," which means “to prove” or "to approve." "Approbation" meant “proof” when it first appeared in English in the 14th century, and by the early 1500s it had come to mean "formal or official approval," a sense it still retains in certain ecclesiastical contexts. Today, however, we mostly use "approbation" in the looser sense of "approval, admiration, or praise." The related verb "approbate" means "to approve or sanction," and the adjective "approbatory" means "expressing approval or commendation."

Arcadia \ar-KAY-dee-uh\ noun, often capitalizeda region or scene of simple pleasure and quiet

Example Sentence

Artists and writers view the sleepy community as an arcadia where they can focus on their work. Did you know?Arcadia is a mountainous, landlocked region of Greece. The Roman poet Virgil recognized that Arcadia’s isolation and bucolic character make it a perfect setting for pastoral poetry, and over the centuries many other writers have agreed. In the poems of Arcadia, naive and ideal innocence is often unaffected by the passions of the larger world. Shepherds play their pipes and sigh with longing for flirtatious nymphs; shepherdesses sing to their flocks, and goat-footed nature gods cavort in the fields and woods. Now English speakers often use “arcadia” to designate a place of rustic innocence and simple, quiet pleasure. “Arcadian” can mean “idyllically pastoral” or “idyllically innocent, simple, or untroubled.”

Arriviste \a-rih-VEEST\ noun : one that is a new and uncertain arrival (as in social position or artistic endeavor) Example Sentence The young entrepreneur was viewed as an arriviste in the business community, and many old-timers were leery of his ideas.

Did you know? An “arriviste” is someone who is just beginning to “arrive,” in the sense of achieving success or making a name for oneself. Often the word can have slightly negative connotations, indicating a person who is highly aggressive or perhaps unscrupulous in his or her climb to the top. Like its synonym “parvenu,” “arriviste” can also indicate a lack of certainty or confidence in one’s newfound position. “Arriviste” is something of a new arrival itself, relatively speaking. English speakers borrowed the term from French in the early 20th century.

Ascetic \uh-SET-ik\ adjective 1 : practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline *2 : austere in appearance, manner, or attitude Example Sentence Ms. Walter's plain, dark clothing and pulled-back hair give her an ascetic appearance, but she is actually very warm and fun-loving.

Did you know? "Ascetic" comes from "askētikos," a Greek adjective meaning "laborious," and ultimately traces back to the Greek verb "askein," which means "exercise" or "work." There aren't many other English words from "askein," but there's no dearth of synonyms for "ascetic." "Severe" and "austere," for example, are two words that share with "ascetic" the basic meaning "given to or marked by strict discipline and firm restraint." "Ascetic" implies abstention from pleasure, comfort, or self-indulgence as a spiritual discipline, whereas "severe" implies standards enforced without indulgence or laxity and may suggest harshness (as in "severe military discipline"). "Austere" stresses absence of warmth, color, or feeling and may apply to rigorous restraint, simplicity, or self-denial (as in "living an austere life in the country").

Asperse \uh-SPURSS\ verb 1 : to sprinkle; especially : to sprinkle with holy water *2 : to attack with evil reports or false or injurious charges Example Sentence "Though my opponent's supporters have aspersed my character, I think my record speaks for itself," said the candidate. Did you know?You may be more familiar with the idea of "casting aspersions" than with "aspersing," although they mean essentially the same thing; the word "aspersion" can mean "a sprinkling with water" or, more commonly, "a false or misleading charge meant to harm

someone's reputation." Both "asperse" and "aspersion" are descendants of the Latin verb "aspergere," meaning "to sprinkle." "Asperse" is the older word, dating to at least 1490; "aspersion" first appeared in print in English in the 1500s.

Atoll \AT-tawl\ noun : a coral island consisting of a reef surrounding a lagoon Example Sentence The Marshall Islands, in the central Pacific Ocean, consist of five islands and 29 atolls, which are each made up of many islets. Did you know? If you are lucky enough to sail south and west of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, you’ll find the Maldives, a group of about 1,200 coral islands and sandbanks that form the Republic of Maldives. Many islands in that independent nation demonstrate the archetypal atoll, and geographers often use them to point out the characteristic features of such coral islands. Given how prevalent atolls are there, it isn’t surprising that “atoll” comes from the name for that kind of island in Divehi, the official language of the Maldives.

Attitudinize \at-uh-TOO-duh-nyze\ verb : to assume an affected mental attitude : pose Example Sentence “She kept her position; she seemed absorbed in the view. ‘Is she posing — is she attitudinizing for my benefit?’ Longueville asked of himself.” (Henry James, Confidence)

Did you know? The English word “attitude” was first used in the 17th century to describe the posture of a sculptured or painted figure. The word was borrowed from French and formed from the Italian word “attitudine,” meaning “aptitude” or “natural tendency.” By the early 18th century, “attitude” was also being used for the posture a person assumed for a specific purpose. And by mid-century, “attitudinarians,” people who study and practice attitudes, were being talked about. The verb “attitudinize” followed in 1784.

Arcanum \ar-KAY-num\ noun *1 : mysterious or specialized knowledge, language, or information accessible or possessed only by the initiate — usually used in plural 2 : elixir Example Sentence The author, a physicist, adeptly demystifies arcana of her field with lucid, accessible prose. Did you know? The word "arcanum" (pluralized as “arcana”) came from Latin "arcanus," meaning "secret," and entered English as the Dark Ages gave way to the Renaissance. It was often used in reference to the mysteries of the physical and spiritual worlds, subjects of heavy scrutiny and rethinking at the time. Alchemists were commonly said to be pursuing the arcana of nature, and they sought elixirs for changing base metals into gold, prolonging life, and curing disease. The frequent association of the word with the alchemists' elixirs influenced the use of "arcanum" for "elixir."

Avatar \AV-uh-tar\ noun 1 : the incarnation of a Hindu deity (as Vishnu) 2 a : an incarnation in human form b : an embodiment (as of a concept or philosophy) often in a person *3 : an electronic image that represents and is manipulated by a computer user (as in a computer game) Example Sentence Before they started playing the game, Aaron and Kyle customized their avatars.

Did you know? “Avatar” derives from a Sanskrit word meaning "descent," and when it first appeared in English in the late 18th century, it referred to the descent of a deity to the earth — typically, the incarnation in earthly form of Vishnu or another Hindu deity. It later came to refer to any incarnation in human form, and then to any embodiment (such as that of a concept or philosophy), whether or not in the form a person. In the age of technology, "avatar" has developed another sense — it can now be used for the image that a person chooses as his or her "embodiment" in an electronic medium.

Beau geste \boh-ZHEST\ noun

*1 : a graceful or magnanimous gesture 2 : an ingratiating conciliatory gesture Example Sentence Rather than compete against his best friend for the scholarship, Brayden gallantly stepped aside, a beau geste that Anthony never forgot.

Did you know? "Beau geste" is a phrase borrowed from French; the literal translation is "beautiful gesture." Beau Geste is also the title of a 1924 novel by Percival Christopher Wren, featuring three English brothers who join the French Foreign Legion to repair their family honor. The novel spawned several film versions, including one starring Gary Cooper. Wren didn't invent the phrase "beau geste," which first appeared in print in 1900, but the publicity surrounding the novel and subsequent films likely contributed to the expression's popularity.

Beleaguer \bih-LEE-gur\ verb 1 : besiege *2 : trouble, harass Example Sentence The new programming chief was hired to revamp the schedule for the network, which was consistently beleaguered by low ratings. Did you know? English speakers created “beleaguer” from the Dutch word “belegeren” in the 16th century. “[Military men] will not vouchsafe . . . to use our ancient terms belonging to matters of war, but do call a camp by the Dutch name,” commented the English soldier and diplomat Sir John Smyth in 1590. The word for “camp” that he was referring to is “leaguer.” That term in turn comes from Dutch “leger,” which is one of the building blocks of “belegeren” (literally, “to camp around”). But neither “leaguer” nor “beleaguer” were in fact utterly foreign. Old English “leger,” the source of our modern “lair,” is related to the Dutch word. And the Old English “be-” (“about, around”), as seen in “besiege” and “beset,” is related to the Dutch prefix “be-” in “belegeren.”

Belvedere \BEL-vuh-deer\ noun : a structure (as a cupola or a summerhouse) designed to command a view Example Sentence On summer evenings, guests at the estate often joined their hosts in the belvedere to watch the sunset. Did you know? It is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder — and someone with a belvedere will likely have a great deal of beauty to behold. Given the origins of the word, “belvedere” is the ideal term for a building (or part of a building) with a view; it derives from two Italian words, “bel,” which means “beautiful,” and “vedere,” which means “view.” The term has been used in English since at least 1593.

Bespoke \bih-SPOHK\ adjective *1 : custom-made 2 : dealing in or producing custom-made articles Example Sentence The shop employs renowned tailors who create the finest bespoke suits from luxurious cloths. Did you know? In the English language of yore, the verb “bespeak” had various meanings, including “to speak,” “to accuse,” and “to complain.” In the 16th century, “bespeak” acquired another meaning — “to order or arrange in advance.” It is from that sense that we get the adjective “bespoke,” referring to clothes and other things that are ordered before they are made. You are most likely to encounter this adjective in British contexts, such as the recent Reuters news story about a young pig in Northern England who was fitted with “bespoke miniature footwear” (custom-made Wellington boots) to help it overcome a phobia of mud.

Bevy \BEV-ee\ noun *1 : a large group or collection 2 : a group of animals and especially quail

Example Sentence The band's latest album offers up a bevy of new songs, as well as some remixes of old favorites. Did you know? What do you call a group of crows? Or swine? Or leopards? Well-educated members of the medieval gentry seem to have been expected to know the answers: a murder of crows, a sounder of swine, and a leap of leopards. They would also have been expected to know that "bevy" referred specifically to a group of deer, quail, larks, or young ladies. Scholars aren’t certain why "bevy" was chosen for those groups (though they have theories). What is known for sure is that "bevy" first appeared in the 15th century and was used as a highly specific collective for many years. Today, however, bevies can include anything from football players to toaster ovens.

Bilious \BILL-yus\ adjective 1 a : of or relating to bile b : marked by or suffering from liver dysfunction and especially excessive secretion of bile *2 : of or indicative of a peevish ill-natured disposition 3 : sickeningly unpleasant Example Sentence Molly’s bilious demeanor made her ill-suited for a job in customer service, and she was let go from the position after two weeks. Did you know? "Bilious" is one of several words whose origins trace to the old belief that four bodily humors (black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood) control temperament. Just like "phlegmatic" (“of a slow and stolid phlegm-driven character”), “melancholy” (“experiencing dejection associated with black bile”), and the recent Word of the Day "sanguine" (“of a cheerful, blood-based disposition”), "bilious" suggests a personality associated with an excess of one of the humors — in this case, yellow bile. "Bilious," which first appeared in English in the mid-1500s, derives from the Middle French “bilieux,” which in turn traces to “bilis,” Latin for "bile." In the past, "bile" was also called "choler," which gives us "choleric,” a synonym of “bilious.”

Bindle stiff \BIN-dul-stiff\ noun : hobo; especially : one who carries his clothes or bedding in a bundle Example Sentence Jack London's experiences as a bindle stiff in the early 1890s later provided material for his writing. Did you know? In the argot of tramps and hoboes, a roll of clothes and bedding was called a "bindle," a word that probably originated as an alteration of the more familiar "bundle." "Stiff" itself can mean "hobo" or "migrant worker," meanings it took on in the late 19th century. About the same time, any tramp or hobo who habitually carried such a pack was known as a "bindle stiff." In Australia, a pack-carrying hobo might be called a "swagman."

Biodiversity \bye-oh-duh-VER-suh-tee\ noun:biological diversity in an environment as indicated by numbers of different species of plants and animals

Example Sentence Today’s tropical rainforests represent a treasure trove of biodiversity unmatched in any other environment.

Did you know? “Biodiversity may become the rallying call for the next decade,” wrote David Wake in the journal Science in 1989. Indeed, “biodiversity” is a word you’re likely to encounter in writing about ecology and the environment today. But when Wake used it, “biodiversity” was still a relatively new addition to the English language, having first appeared in writing in the mid-1980s. Of course, the roots of "biodiversity" are much older. It evolved from a commingling of the descendants of the Greek noun “bios,” which means "mode of life," and the Latin verb “divertere,” which means "to turn aside" or "to go different ways."

Bird-dog \BURD-dog\ verb 1 : to watch closely *2 : to seek out : follow, detect Example Sentence Scores of college recruiters bird-dogged the 7-foot high school senior for their basketball programs.

Did you know? People began using “bird-dog” as a verb meaning “to closely watch someone or something” or “to doggedly seek out someone or something” in the early 20th century. Both meanings reflect skills likely to be possessed by a well-trained bird dog. By the 1940s, “bird-dogging” was being used specifically as a term for stealing someone else’s date. And, not long after that, it began to be used for the scouting out of customers or prospective talent. The noun “bird dog” is also used as a name for the date stealers and scouts who do the bird-dogging.

Bogart \BOH-gart\ verb 1 : bully, intimidate *2 : to use or consume without sharing Example Sentence Three of the older girls bogarted the ice cream, ignoring the other campers’ pleas for them to share. Did you know? The legendary film actor Humphrey Bogart was known for playing a range of tough characters in a series of films throughout the 1940s and 1950s, including The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, and The African Queen. The men he portrayed often possessed a cool, hardened exterior that occasionally let forth a suggestion of romantic or idealistic sentimentality. Bogart also had a unique method of smoking cigarettes in these pictures — letting the butt dangle from his mouth without removing it until it was almost entirely consumed. It is believed that this habit inspired the current meaning of "bogart," which was once limited to the phrase "Don’t bogart that joint [marijuana cigarette]," as popularized by a song on the soundtrack to the film Easy Rider, among other things. Today “bogart” can be applied to hogging almost anything.

Bumptious \BUMP-shus\ adjective : presumptuously, obtusely, and often noisily self-assertive : obtrusive Example Sentence “I wish the DJs on this station weren’t so bumptious,” said Andrea. “I’d prefer to just listen to the music.” Did you know? Etymologists believe that “bumptious” was probably coined, perhaps playfully, from the noun “bump” plus “-tious.” When “bumptious” was first used around 1800, it meant “self-conceited.” Charles Dickens used it that way in David Copperfield: “His hair was very smooth and wavy; but I was informed . . . that it was a wig . . . and that he needn’t be so ‘bounceable’ — somebody else said ‘bumptious’ — about it, because his own red hair was very plainly to be seen behind.”

Buttress \BUTT-russ\ noun 1 : a projecting structure of masonry or wood for supporting or giving stability to a wall or building 2 : something that resembles a buttress *3 : something that supports or strengthens

Example Sentence This is a good essay, but it needs a few more facts as a buttress to the conclusions.

Did you know? A buttress is an exterior support projecting from a wall that is used to resist the sideways force, also called thrust, created by the load on an arch or roof. Its name was first adopted into English as "butres" in the 14th century. It came to us from the Anglo-French "(arche) boteraz," meaning "thrusting (arch)," and ultimately derives from the verb "buter," "to thrust." "Buter" is also the source of our verb "butt," meaning "to thrust, push, or strike with the head or horns." Relatively soon, "buttress" came to be used figuratively for anything that supports or strengthens something else. In addition, it was also in the 14th century that "buttress" was first used as a verb meaning "to support or strengthen," literally and figuratively.

Callow \KAL-oh\ adjective : lacking adult sophistication: immature Example Sentence “Back when I was a callow college student,” said Emma, “I paid little attention to the advice given to me by my professors.” Did you know? You might not expect a relationship between "callow" and baldness, but that connection does in fact exist. “Callow" comes from "calu," a word that meant "bald" in Middle English and Old English. By the 17th century, "callow" had come to mean

"without feathers" and was applied to young birds not yet ready for flight. The term was also used for those who hadn't yet spread their wings in a figurative sense. "Callow" continues to mean "inexperienced" or "unsophisticated" today.

career \kuh-REER\ verb : to go at top speed especially in a headlong manner Example Sentence The nervous passengers gripped their seats and exchanged anxious looks as the bus careered down the icy road. Did you know? Chances are you’re very familiar with the noun “career” meaning “a profession followed as a permanent occupation.” What you may not know is that the word “career” got its start in the world of medieval tournaments. Jousting required knights to ride at full speed in short bursts, and 16th-century English speakers used the noun "career" (from Middle French “carriere”) to refer to such gallops as well as to the courses knights rode. By the mid-17th century, the verb had acquired its general "go fast" meaning, and by the 19th century the noun had developed the workaday use that is common today. (In case you’re wondering, “career” is not related to “careen,” which also means “to move at high speed”; “careen” has nautical origins, tracing to the Latin word for “hull.”)

caustic \KAWSS-tik\ adjective 1 : capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action : corrosive *2 : marked by incisive sarcasm Example Sentence She always seemed to have a caustic reply to any silly or unnecessary question. Did you know? If you have a burning desire to know the origins of "caustic," you're already well on the way to figuring it out. "Caustic" was borrowed into English in the 14th century from the Latin "causticus," which itself derives from the Greek "kaustikos." "Kaustikos," in turn, comes from the Greek verb "kaiein," meaning "to burn." Other "kaiein" descendants in English include "cautery" and "cauterize," "hypocaust" (an ancient Roman heating system), "causalgia" (a burning pain caused by nerve damage), and "encaustic" (a kind of paint which is heated after it's applied).

chockablock \CHAH-kuh-blahk\ adjective 1 : brought close together *2 : very full Example Sentence Chandra’s tiny apartment is chockablock with fabric, yarn, and other craft supplies.

Did you know? "Veritable," like its close relative "verity" ("truth"), came to English through Anglo-French from Latin. It is ultimately derived from "verus," the Latin word for "true," which also gave us "verify," "aver," and "verdict." "Veritable" is often used as a synonym of "genuine" or "authentic" ("a veritable masterpiece"), but it is also frequently used to stress the aptness of a metaphor, often in a humorous tone ("a veritable swarm of lawyers"). In the past, usage commentators have objected to the latter use, but today it doesn't draw much criticism.

Cicerone \sih-suh-ROH-nee\ noun 1 : a guide who conducts sightseers *2 : mentor, tutor Example Sentence After I bought my first set of golf clubs, Jerry acted as my cicerone, enthusiastically teaching me the basics of the challenging sport. Did you know? Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 - 43 B.C.) was renowned in Rome as a statesman, lawyer, and writer, and he is remembered today for his skills as an orator and rhetorician. The Ciceronian style of rhetoric placed special emphasis on the rhythms and cadences of phrases and sentences and their ability to appeal to the speaker’s audience. It is believed that Cicero’s eloquence and learning influenced the use of his Italian name, “Cicerone,” to refer to sightseeing guides, themselves known for their talkativeness and eloquence, and later, to persons who serve as mentors or tutors to others.

Circumlocution \ser-kum-loh-KYOO-shun\ noun *1 : the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea 2 : evasion in speech Example Sentence Mr. Harvey was notorious for his tendency to engage in endless circumlocution when a simple, brief explanation would suffice. Did you know? In The King's English, grammarian H.W. Fowler advised, "Prefer the single word to the circumlocution." Alas, that good advice was not followed by the framers of "circumlocution.” They actually used two terms in forming that word for unnecessarily verbose prose or speech. But their choices were apt; "circumlocution" derives from the Latin “circum-,” meaning "around," and “locutio,” meaning "speech" — so it literally means "roundabout speech." Since the 15th century, English writers have used "circumlocution" with disdain, naming a thing to stop, or better yet, to avoid altogether. Charles Dickens even used it to satirize political runarounds when he created the fictional Circumlocution Office, a government department that delayed the dissemination of information and just about everything else.

coalesce \koh-uh-LESS\ verb1 : to grow together 2 a : to unite into a whole : fuse *b : to unite for a common end : join forces 3 : to arise from the combination of distinct elements

Example Sentence The columnist urged party members to set aside their differences and coalesce around the candidate. Did you know? “Coalesce” unites the prefix “co-” (“together”) and the Latin verb “alescere,” meaning “to grow.” (The words “adolescent” and “adult” also grew from “alescere.”) “Coalesce,” which first appeared in English in the mid-17th century, is one of a number of verbs in English (along with “mix,” “commingle,” “merge,” and “amalgamate”) that refer to the act of combining parts into a whole. In particular, “coalesce” usually implies the merging of similar parts to form a cohesive unit.

cognizable \KAHG-nuh-zuh-bul\ adjective *1 : capable of being judicially heard and determined 2 : capable of being known Example Sentence The court determined that the plaintiff's claim of having received an unfair grade on the exam was not a legally cognizable action. Did you know? It's easy to recognize the "cogni-" in "cognizable" and in other English words that have to do with knowing: "precognition," "incognito," "recognition," and "cognitive," for example. They're all from Latin "cognoscere" ("to know")."Cognizable" was formed in the 17th century from the root of "cognizance," which means "knowledge." "Cognizance" in turn traces to "cognoscere" by way of Anglo-French "conissance." "Cognizable" was used in the legal sense almost from its introduction, and that's the sense that is far and away the most common today.

Colleague \KAH-leeg\ noun : an associate in a profession or in a civil or ecclesiastical office Example Sentence Rochelle’s creativity, professional demeanor, and ability to get things done soon earned her the respect of her colleagues.

Did you know? Which of the following words come from the same source as "colleague"?

college legacy collaborate allegation collar relegate delegate It might be easier to guess if you know that the ancestor in question is "legare," a Latin verb meaning "to choose or send as a deputy or emissary" or "to bequeath." All of the words in the list above except "collaborate" (which comes from the Latin "collaborare," meaning "to labor together") and "collar" (from "collum," Latin for "neck") are descendants of "legare."

Compunctious \kum-PUNK-shus\ adjective

*1 : arising from remorse or regret 2 : feeling remorse or regret Example Sentence Emily's compunctious feelings eventually got the better of her, so she apologized to Sean for the cruel things she had said in the argument.

Did you know? William Shakespeare never had any compunction about coining or using new words, and "compunctious" debuted in Macbeth (1605). In that play, the murderous Lady Macbeth beseeches the spirits to "stop up the access and passage to remorse, that no compunctious visitings of nature shake my fell purpose...." Shakespeare formed the adjective from the noun "compunction," meaning "remorse," and the suffix “-ous,” which is often used to create adjectives indicating that something or someone has or is full of a particular quality. "Compunction" came to English through Anglo-French from the Late Latin noun "compunctio," which in turn evolved from the Latin verb "compungere," meaning "to prick hard" or "to sting."

Cumshaw \KUM-shaw\ noun : present, gratuity; also : bribe, payoff Example Sentence “I never heard her ask for any cumshaw that weighed less than a ton and which required fewer than a dozen enlisted men and two trucks to move.” (James A. Michener, Los Angeles Times, October 19, 1986) Did you know? It was probably British Navy personnel who first picked up "cumshaw" in Chinese ports, during the First Opium War of 1839–42. "Cumshaw" is from a word that means "grateful thanks" in the dialect of Xiamen, a port in southeast China. Apparently, sailors heard it from the beggars who hung around the ports, and mistook it as the word for a handout. Since then, U.S. sailors have given "cumshaw" its own unique application, for something obtained through unofficial means (whether deviously or simply ingeniously). Outside of naval circles, meanings of "cumshaw" range from a harmless gratuity or gift to bending the rules a little to outright bribery.

Conscientious \kahn-shee-EN-shus\ adjective 1 : governed by or conforming to the dictates of conscience : scrupulous *2 : meticulous, careful Example Sentence Carolyn was very conscientious in her research, exploring every possible influence and outcome before preparing her final report. Did you know? According to American writer and editor H.L. Mencken, "Conscience is the inner voice which warns us someone may be looking." A person who is conscientious makes sure that if others are watching, they like what they see. "Conscience" and "conscientious" both come from the Latin verb "conscire," a word that means "to be conscious" or “to be conscious of guilt” and that traces back to a still older Latin word, "scire," meaning "to know."

Consigliere \kohn-sil-YEH-reh\ noun : counselor, adviser Example Sentence After years of being a consigliere to the CEOs of Silicon Valley’s top giants, Norman has decided to break out and head his own high-tech enterprise. Did you know? If you’re a fan of The Godfather series of movies, the character Tom Hagen may have already come to mind. Hagen, the Corleones' family lawyer, was famously dismissed by the Don's successor and son Michael Corleone because he was not a "wartime consigliere." The word “consigliere" comes from Italian and has been a part our language since 1615; it was originally used of someone who served on a council in Italy. Currently, it is most commonly used to designate advisers to the Mafia — a

use that first appeared in English in a document from a 1963 session of the U.S. Senate. It is also often used generally of a political or financial adviser, or any other trusted adviser for that matter.

Containerize \kun-TAY-nuh-ryze\ verb 1 : to ship by a method in which a large amount of material (as merchandise) is packaged into large standardized containers *2 : to pack in containers Example Sentence The museum plans to containerize the pieces of the art collection until construction of a new exhibit area is complete.

Did you know? You can probably guess the etymology of "containerize" quite easily — it was formed around 1956 by adding "-ize" to "container" to create a verb. "Containerize" didn't start out with the meaning "to put in a container," however. It originally meant "to ship by containerization" — that is, to ship using a method in which a large amount of material is packaged into large standardized containers. The more general "pack in containers" sense came somewhat later, but it is now becoming more common. These days, for example, you might containerize a plant or your household clutter.

Corvée \KOR-vay\ noun *1 : unpaid labor (as toward constructing roads) due from a feudal vassal to his lord 2 : labor exacted in lieu of taxes by public authorities especially for highway construction or repair Example Sentence “He was also entitled to … district corvées which helped to maintain, repair, and defend royal property….” (Bernard F. Reilly, The Medieval Spains) Did you know? Under the Roman Empire, certain classes of people owed personal services to the state or to private proprietors. For example, labor might be requisitioned for the maintenance of the postal systems of various regions, or landed proprietors might require tenant farmers and persons freed from slavery to perform unpaid labor on their estates. The feudal system of corvée — regular work that vassals owed their lords — developed from this Roman tradition. We borrowed the word “corvée” from French in the 14th century, and it ultimately traces back to the Latin word “corrogata,” meaning “to collect” or “to requisition.” By the 18th century, “corvée” was also being used for the unpaid or partially paid labor public authorities exacted in lieu of taxes for the construction or repair of highways, bridges, or canals.

Crwth \KROOTH (rhymes with “booth”)\ noun : an ancient Celtic stringed instrument that is plucked or bowed

Example sentence: “He intricately rhymes, to the music of crwth and pibgorn, all night long.” (Dylan Thomas, Under Milk Wood)

Did you know? “Crwth” is the Welsh name for an ancient Celtic instrument that is similar to a violin. In Middle English, the instrument’s name was spelled “crouth” before metamorphosing to “crowd,” a word still used in some dialects of England to refer to a violin. The Welsh word can also refer to a swelling or bulging body, and we can speculate that it came to be used for the instrument because of the violin’s bulging shape. Other Celtic words for “violin” also have meanings referring to rounded appearances. In Gaelic, for example, “cruit” can mean “harp” or “violin” as well as “hump” or “hunch.” As a final note, we would like to mention (in case you were wondering) that a pibgorn is an ancient wind instrument similar to the hornpipe; its name comes from the Welsh word “pib,” meaning “pipe,” and “corn,” meaning “horn.”

Culminate \KUL-muh-nayt\ verb 1 of a celestial body : to reach its highest altitude; also : to be directly overhead 2 : to rise to or form a summit *3 : to reach the highest or a climactic or decisive point Example Sentence Weeks of civil unrest culminated in a protest march of over 25,000 people in the capital square. Did you know? “Culminate” was first used in English in the 17th century, in the field of astronomy. When a star or other heavenly body culminates, it reaches the point at which it is highest above the horizon from the vantage point of an observer on the ground. The word derives from the past participle of the Medieval Latin verb “culminare,” meaning “to crown,” and ultimately from the Latin

noun “culmen,” meaning “top.” As something culminates it rises toward a peak. These days the word is most familiar to English speakers in its figurative usage, meaning “to reach a climactic or decisive point.”

Cursory \KER-suh-ree\ adjective : rapidly and often superficially performed or produced : hasty Example Sentence A cursory reading of the syllabus made it clear that Professor Leary’s sociology class was not going to be as easy as we had anticipated.

Did you know? "Cursory" and its synonyms "superficial" and "shallow" all mean "lacking in depth or solidity" — but these words are not used in exactly the same way in all cases. "Cursory," which comes from the Latin verb “currere” ("to run"), implies speed and stresses a lack of attention to detail. While "cursory" suggests a lack of thoroughness, "superficial" implies a concern only with surface aspects or obvious features. An analysis of a problem might be labeled "superficial" if it considers only the obvious and fails to dig deeper into the issue. "Shallow" is more generally derogatory in implying lack of depth in knowledge, reasoning, emotions, or character, as in "insensitive and shallow comments."

Danegeld \DAYN-gheld\ noun often capitalized : an annual tax believed to have been imposed originally to buy off Danish invaders in England or to maintain forces to oppose them but continued as a land tax Example Sentence Today’s lecture will be on the Danegeld and taxation in the Middle Ages. Did you know? The subjects of King Ethelred II, who ruled England from 978-1016, didn’t think much of the ruler they dubbed “the Unready.” They suspected him of murdering his brother to gain the throne, so it isn't surprising that they didn't rally around him to defend the country against the Danish invaders who attempted to unseat him. Ethelred tried a payoff tax called the Danegeld as a last ditch effort to keep his kingdom intact. The "Dane" part of the name refers to the Danish invaders who received the money. The "geld" part comes from an Old English word meaning "payment" or "tribute."

Decimate \DESS-uh-mayt\ verb 1 : to take or destroy the tenth part of *2 : to cause great destruction or harm to Example Sentence Farmers struggled to feed their families after their crops were decimated by blight. Did you know? The connection between “decimate” and the number ten harks back to a brutal practice of the army of ancient Rome. A unit that was guilty of a severe crime (such as mutiny) was punished by selecting and executing one-tenth of its soldiers, thereby scaring the remaining nine-tenths into obedience. It’s no surprise that the word for this practice came from Latin “decem,” meaning “ten.” From this root we also get our word “decimal” and the name of the month of December, originally the tenth month of the calendar before the second king of Rome decided to add January and February. In its extended uses “decimate” strayed from its “tenth” meaning and nowadays refers to the act of destroying or hurting something in great numbers.

Decorous \DECK-er-us\ adjective : marked by propriety and good taste : correct Example Sentence Nina and Mark had hoped to have a casual beach wedding, but her parents insisted on a formal, highly decorous ceremony in their church.

Did you know? The current meaning of "decorous" dates from the mid-17th century. One of the word’s earliest recorded uses appeared in a book titled The Rules of Civility (1673): "It is not decorous to look in the Glass, to comb, brush, or do any thing of that nature to ourselves, whilst the said person be in the Room." (There is also a slightly older sense of “decorous” that means “fitting, appropriate,” but that sense is now obsolete.) "Decorous" derives from the Latin word "decorus," an adjective created from the noun "decor," meaning "beauty” or “grace." "Decor" is akin to the Latin verb "decēre" ("to be fitting"), which is the source of our adjective "decent." It is only fitting, then, that "decent" can be a synonym of "decorous."

Deglutition \dee-gloo-TISH-un\ noun:the act or process of swallowing Example SentenceThe speech pathologist noted that the patient had difficulty with deglutition.

Did you know? "Deglutition" comes to us from the French word "déglutition," which is derived from the Latin verb "deglutire," meaning "to swallow down." "Deglutire," in turn, derives from "de-" and "glutire," a verb meaning "to swallow." "Deglutition" is a fairly rare word these days, but it has a relative in English that is quite familiar: the noun "glutton," meaning "one who eats to excess." "Glutton" comes from a Latin word ("glutto") that is related to "glutire."

Descry \dih-SKRYE\ verb *1 : to catch sight of 2 : find out, discover

Example sentence: Liang descried a bluebird flitting near the edge of the glade.

Did you know? With "descry" and the more common "decry" ("to express strong disapproval of"), we have a case of linguistic double-dipping. That is, English borrowed from the same French root twice. Both words ultimately come from the Old French verb "decrier," meaning "to proclaim" or "to decry." English speakers borrowed the term as "descry" in the 14th century and used it to mean "to proclaim" or "to spy out from a distance" (as a watchman might) and eventually simply "to catch sight of" or "discover." Meanwhile, in French, "descrier" itself developed into the modern French "décrier" ("to disparage, to decry"). English speakers borrowed this word as "decry" in the 17th century. Be careful not to confuse "descry" and "decry." They may be close relatives, but in modern English they have distinct meanings.

Deter \di-TER\ verb *1 : to turn aside, discourage, or prevent from acting 2 : inhibit Example Sentence To deter shoplifters, the store posted signs listing the legal penalties for the crime. Did you know? The word "deter" is rooted in fear. It was borrowed into English around the mid-16th century from the Latin verb "deterrēre," which in turn was formed by combining "de-," meaning "from” or “away," with "terrēre," meaning "to frighten." "Terrēre" is also the source of "terror," "terrible," and even "terrific," which originally meant "very bad” or “frightful.” These days, you may be deterred by something that frightens you or by something that simply causes you to think about the difficult or unpleasant consequences of continuing. The word can also mean "to inhibit," as in "painting to deter rust."

Detoxify \dee-TAHK-suh-fye\ verb 1. *a : to remove a harmful substance (as a poison or toxin) or the effect of such from b : to render (a harmful substance) harmless 2. : to free (as a drug user or an alcoholic) from an intoxicating or an addictive substance in the body or from dependence on or addiction to such a substance 3. : neutralize Example SentenceYi wrote her term paper on the city’s efforts to detoxify a contaminated landfill.

Did you know? These days, "detoxify" can mean "to free (someone) from a substance addiction" (and yes, it's the source of "detox," a more recent word that also refers to getting drugs or alcohol out of a person's system). Originally, however, detoxification was something done to things rather than to people. In its earliest uses—from about 1905—"detoxify" referred to the removal of poison, or of poisonous or damaging properties, from a harmful substance, or to the removal of poisonous or toxic substances from something contaminated (such as the bloodstream). The specific application to removing "poison" from an addict is relatively new, dating to the mid-20th century. Today, "detoxify" is also often used generally in reference to counteracting the activity or effect of anything harmful (such as propaganda).

Dilapidate \dih-LAP-uh-dayt\ verb *1 : to bring into a condition of decay or partial ruin 2 : to become decayed or partially ruined Example Sentence Although years of abandonment had dilapidated the old warehouse, Stuart still thought it could be salvaged and remade into an apartment building. Did you know? Something that is dilapidated may not have been literally pummeled with stones, but it might look that way. “Dilapidate” derives from the past participle of the Latin verb “dilapidare,” meaning “to squander or destroy.” That verb was formed by combining “dis-” with another verb, “lapidare,” meaning “to pelt with stones.” From there it’s just a stone’s throw to some other English relatives of “dilapidate.” You might, for example, notice a resemblance between “lapidare” and our word for a person who cuts or polishes precious stones, “lapidary.” That’s because both words share as a root the Latin noun “lapis,” meaning “stone.” We also find “lapis” in the name “lapis lazuli,” a bright blue semiprecious stone.

Disremember \dis-rih-MEM-ber\ verb:forget Example Sentence "‘It was the British who did it,’ I said quickly. ‘I disremember the place and time....’” (E.L. Doctorow, Loon Lake) Did you know? English has been depending upon the word "forget" since before the 12th century, but in 1805 a new rival appeared in print — "disremember." A critic in 1869 called "disremember" both "obsolete" and "a low vulgarism," and later grammarians have agreed; it has been labeled "provincial and archaic," and in 1970 Harry Shaw opined that "disremember" was "an illiteracy," adding, "never use this word in standard English." (By 1975, Shaw amended his opinion to "this word is dialectal rather than illiterate.") "Forget" is indeed a vastly more popular word, but "disremember" still turns up occasionally, often in dialectal or humorous contexts.

Distaff \DISS-taff\ adjective 1 a : related through a mother b : inherited or derived from the female parent *2 : female

Example sentence: The Solheim Cup pits America's best distaff golfers against the top European women.

Did you know? A distaff was originally a short staff that held a bundle of fibers — of flax or wool, for example — ready to be spun into yarn or thread. Since spinning was a basic daily task customarily done by women, the distaff came to be the symbol for the work or domain of women. This symbolic use of the noun "distaff" dates back to the time of Chaucer and is found in several works by Shakespeare. Eventually "distaff" came to be used for the female branch of a family and then as an adjective, as in "the distaff side of the family."

Divagate \DYE-vuh-gayt\ verb: to wander or stray from a course or subject : diverge, digress Example Sentence The novel divagates and meanders through a labyrinth of subplots and asides. Did you know? "Divagate" hasn't wandered far in meaning from its Latin ancestors. It descends from the verb “divagari,” which comes from “dis-,” meaning "apart," and “vagari,” meaning "to wander." “Vagari” also gave us "vagabond," meaning "a wanderer with no home," and "extravagant," an early, now archaic, sense of which was "wandering away." Latin “vagari” is also probably the source of our noun "vagary," which now usually means "whim or caprice" but originally meant "journey, excursion, or tour." Even the verb "stray" may have evolved from “vagari,” by way of Vulgar Latin and Middle French. Today, "divagate" can suggest a wandering or straying that is literal (as in "the hikers divagated from the trail"), but it is more often used figuratively (as in "she tends to divagate from the subject").

Durable \DUR-uh-bul\ adjective

: able to exist for a long time without significant deterioration; also : designed to be durable Example Sentence The couch is covered in a pretty yet durable fabric, and I hope it will last for years.

Did you know? Something "durable" lasts a long time, so it's no surprise that the word comes to us, via Anglo-French, from the Latin verb "durare," meaning "to last." Other descendants of "durare" in English include "during," "endure," and "durance" (which now mostly turns up in the phrase "in durance vile," a fancy way of saying "in prison"). "Durable" even has a near synonym in the much rarer "perdurable," which combines "durare" with the prefix "per-" (meaning "throughout") to create a word that can mean "lasting a very long time or indefinitely" or "eternal."

Éclat \ah-KLAH\ noun 1 : ostentatious display : publicity *2 : dazzling effect : brilliance 3 a : brilliant or conspicuous success b : praise, applause

Example sentence: The young actor played the role with such éclat that he was nominated for several awards.

Did you know? “Éclat” burst onto the scene in English in the 17th century. The word derives from French, where it can mean “splinter” (the French idiom “voler en éclats” means “to fly into pieces”) as well as “burst” (“un éclat du rire” means “a burst of laughter”), among other things. The “burst” sense is reflected in the earliest English sense of the word, meaning “ostentatious display or publicity.” This sense found its own idiomatic usage in the phrase “to make an éclat,” which at one time meant “to create a sensation.” By the 1740s, “éclat” took on the additional meaning of “applause or acclamation,” as in “The performer was received with great éclat.”

Eponymous \ih-PAH-nuh-mus\ adjective : of, relating to, or being one for whom or which something is or is believed to be named Example Sentence Fans of The Steve Mapplethorpe Comedy Hour waited outside the studio exit in hopes of catching a glimpse of its eponymous host. Did you know? It's no coincidence that "eponymous" has to do with naming — it comes to us from the Greek adjective “epōnymos,” which is itself from “onyma,” meaning "name." “Onyma” has lent its name to a number of English words, including "synonymous," "pseudonym," and "anonymous." Traditionally, an eponymous person or thing (i.e., an "eponym") might be a mythical ancestor or totem believed to be the source of a clan's name. Today, however, "eponymous" more typically refers to such individuals as the front man of "Theo's Trio" or the owner of "Sally's Restaurant"(Theo and Sally, respectively, of course). The things that are named for such name-providers are also "eponymous." For example, we can speak of "the eponymous 'Ed Sullivan Show'" as well as "the eponymous Ed Sullivan."

Errant \AIR-unt\ adjective 1 : traveling or given to traveling 2 *a : straying outside the proper path or bounds b : moving about aimlessly or irregularly c : behaving wrongly

Example sentence: "'Move! Move! Move!' cried Helen, chasing him from corner to corner with a chair as though he were an errant hen." (Virginia Woolf, The Voyage Out, 1915)

Did you know? "Errant" has a split history. It comes from Anglo-French, a language in which two confusingly similar verbs with identical spellings ("errer") coexisted. One "errer" meant "to err" and comes from the Latin "errare," meaning "to wander" or "to err." The second "errer" meant "to travel," and traces to the Latin "iter," meaning "road" or "journey." Both "errer" homographs contributed to the development of "errant," which not surprisingly has to do with both moving about and being mistaken. A "knight-errant" travels around in search of adventures. Cowboys round up "errant calves." An "errant child" is one who misbehaves. (You might also see "arrant" occasionally — it's a word that originated as an alteration of "errant" and that usually means "extreme" or "shameless.")

Etiolate \EE-tee-uh-layt\ verb *1 : to bleach and alter the natural development of (a green plant) by excluding sunlight 2 a : to make pale b : to deprive of natural vigor : make feeble Example Sentence The bean plants that Grace grew for her lab project became weak and etiolated when they were kept in a dark closet for a week.

Did you know? When we first started using “etiolate” in the late 1700s (borrowed from the French verb “étioler”), it was in reference to purposely depriving growing celery of light. The word traces back to an Old French word for “straw” and is related to the Latin word for “straw” or “stalk,” which is “stipula.” Nowadays the term for growing veggies as pale as straw is now more likely to be “blanch,” which can mean “to bleach (the leaves or stalks of plants) by earthing, boarding, or wrapping,” among other things. “Etiolate” is more apt to refer to depriving plants in general of light; when “etiolated,” they are sickly, pale, and spindly. The figurative sense of “etiolate” (“to make pallid or feeble”) first appeared in the 1800s as a natural outgrowth of the original sense.Euphony \YOO-fuh-nee\ noun *1 : pleasing or sweet sound; especially : the acoustic effect produced by words so formed or combined as to please the ear 2 : a harmonious succession of words having a pleasing sound Example Sentence The poet chose words for the sake of euphony and rhythm as well as rhyme. Did you know? "Euphony" was borrowed from French at the beginning of the 17th century; the French word ("euphonie") itself derives from the Late Latin "euphonia," which in turn traces back to the Greek adjective "euphōnos," meaning "sweet-voiced” or “musical." “Euphonos” was formed by combining the prefix "eu-" ("good") and "phōnē" ("voice"). In addition to its more commonly recognized senses, "euphony" also has a more specific meaning in the field of linguistics, where it can refer to the preference for words that are easy to pronounce; this preference may be the cause of an observed trend of people altering the pronunciation of certain words apparently in favor of sound combinations that are simpler and faster to say out loud.

Euphuism \YOO-fyuh-wiz-um\ noun 1 : an elegant Elizabethan literary style marked by excessive use of balance, antithesis, and alliteration and by frequent use of similes drawn from mythology and nature *2 : artificial elegance of language Example Sentence Cora, given to euphuism, exclaimed, "Oh, glorious auroral orb!" and Paul agreed, "Yeah, nice sunrise." Did you know? Nowadays, someone who uses euphuism might be accused of linguistic excess and affectation, but "euphuism" hasn't always had a negative connotation. When John Lyly employed this verbose form of rhetoric in his prose works Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit (1578) and Euphues and His England (1580), it was a style that appealed to many of his contemporaries. “Euphuism” comes from the name of the character Euphues, whom Lyly described as a "young gallante, of more wit then wealth, and yet of more wealth then wisdome." The name was probably inspired by a Greek word meaning "witty." The term "euphuism" came into being to refer to Lyly's (and other writers') style a dozen or so years after his works appeared.

Exasperate \ig-ZAS-puh-rayt\ verb 1 : to excite the anger of : enrage *2 : to cause irritation or annoyance to Example Sentence Our former neighbors' habit of throwing loud parties that lasted late into the night thoroughly exasperated us. Did you know? "Exasperate" hangs with a rough crowd. It derives from "exasperatus," the past participle of the Latin verb "exasperare," which in turn was formed by combining "ex-" with "asper," meaning "rough." Another descendant of "asper" in English is "asperity," which can refer to the roughness of a surface or the roughness of someone's temper. Another relative, albeit a distant one, is the English word “spurn,” meaning “to reject.”

Exclave \EKS-kleiv\ noun : a portion of a country separated from the main part and constituting an enclave in respect to the surrounding territory

Example Sentence Technically, the state of Alaska is an exclave of the United States: it borders only Canadian territory. Did you know? You probably won't be surprised to learn that the key to "exclave" is found in "enclave." "Enclave" itself ultimately derives from the Latin word for "key," which is "clavis." It was adopted in the mid-19th century from Middle French "enclaver" ("to enclose"), which in turn derives (through Vulgar Latin) from "in-" and "clavis." "Exclave" was formed about twenty years later by combining the prefix "ex-" and the "-clave" of "enclave." Other "clavis" descendants in English include "autoclave," "clavicle," "conclave," and "clavichord" (“an early keyboard instrument in use before the piano”).

Exonerate \ig-ZAH-nuh-rayt\ verb 1 : to relieve of a responsibility, obligation, or hardship *2 : to clear from accusation or blame Example Sentence Dwight was exonerated for the crime of taking the money after it was found that his fingerprints did not match those on the cashbox. Did you know? We won’t blame you if you don’t know the origins of today’s word. “Exonerate” derives via Middle English from the past participle of the Latin verb “exonerare,” meaning “to unburden,” formed by combining the prefix “ex-” with “onus,” meaning “load” or “burden.” (“Onus” itself lives on with that meaning in English.) In its earliest uses (dating from the 16th century), “exonerate” was used in the context of physical burdens — a ship, for example, could be exonerated of its cargo when it was unloaded. Later it was used in reference to any kind of burden, until a more specific sense developed, meaning “to relieve (someone) of blame.”

Farce \FAHRSS\ noun 1 : a light dramatic composition marked by broadly satirical comedy and improbable plot 2 : the broad humor characteristic of farce or pretense 3 a : ridiculous or empty show *b : mockery Example Sentence “No wonder we’re late — the management of traffic in this city is a farce!” Lyle complained. Did you know? When “farce” first appeared in English, it had to do with cookery, not comedy. In the 14th century, English adopted “farce” from Middle French, retaining its original meaning of “forcemeat” or “stuffing.” The comedic sense of “farce” in English dates from the 16th century, when England imported a kind of knockabout comedy already popular in France. This dramatic genre had its origins in the 13th-century practice of augmenting, or “stuffing,” Latin church texts with explanatory phrases. By the 15th century, a similar practice had arisen of inserting unscripted buffoonery into religious plays. Such farces — which included clowning, acrobatics, reversal of social roles, and indecency — soon developed into a distinct dramatic genre and spread rapidly in various forms throughout Europe.

Feuilleton \fuh-yuh-TOHNG (the “ng” is not pronounced, but the preceding vowel is nasalized)\ noun 1 : a part of a European newspaper or magazine devoted to material designed to entertain the general reader 2 : a work of fiction printed in installments *3 : a short literary composition often having a familiar tone and reminiscent content Example Sentence The magazine’s June issue includes feuilletons from famous writers on the subject of fathers.

Did you know? The feuilleton originated in French newspapers as a supplement sectioned out from the main news stories. Although found in the political section of the newspaper, the feuilleton typically included material on non-political subjects, such as art, literature, or fashion. Fiction was sometimes included as well. The word is a diminutive of the French “feuillet,” meaning “sheet of paper,” and ultimately derives from Latin “folium,” meaning “leaf.” From this source English acquired “folio” (which can refer to a page, or leaf, of a book or manuscript) and “foliage” (meaning “a mass of leaves”).

Fifth column \FIFTH-KAH-lum\ noun

: a group of secret sympathizers or supporters of an enemy that engage in espionage or sabotage within defense lines or national borders Example Sentence In the 1950s the Communist Party was denounced in the United States as a fifth column, and many people were unjustly blacklisted as Communist sympathizers. Did you know? "Fifth column," a translation of the Spanish “quinta columna,” was inspired by a boast by rebel general Emilio Mola during the Spanish Civil War. Mola predicted Madrid would fall as four columns of rebel troops approaching the city were joined by another hidden column of sympathizers within it. In an October 1936 article in The New York Times, William Carney described those secret rebel supporters as the "fifth column," and English speakers seized upon the term. It gained widespread popularity after Ernest Hemingway used it in the title of a 1938 book, and it was often applied (along with derivative forms such as "fifth columnism" and "fifth columnist") to Nazi supporters within foreign nations during World War II.

Fire-sale \FYRE-SAIL\ adjective : heavily discounted Example Sentence “As holders of mortgage-backed securities and the like revalue their assets at fire-sale prices, they are running short of capital — which can lead to further sales and more write-downs.” (The Economist, March 2008) Did you know? The term “fire sale” flared up in the late-19th century as the name for a sale of items damaged by fire. As you can imagine, much of the merchandise at a fire sale was sold at very low prices, which fanned the flames of the use of “fire sale” for any sale with discounted or low price tags. The extended meaning of the term sparked an adjective use that had burst into a full-blown blaze by the mid-20th century. Since then, people have embraced “fire-sale prices” in the marketplace, well aware that they won’t get burned.

Flack \FLACK\ verb : to provide publicity : engage in press-agentry Example Sentence The billionaire’s former mistress has been in the tabloids and on the talk-show circuit as of late, flacking for her juicy tell-all. Did you know? The word "flack" was first used as a noun meaning "publicity agent" during the late 1930s. According to one rumor, the word was coined in tribute to a well-known movie publicist of the time, Gene Flack. Another rumor holds that “flack” derives from a similar-sounding Yiddish word for someone who talks about someone else's affairs. The editors of Merriam-Webster dictionaries remain skeptical about these claims and have listed the etymology of "flack" as "unknown." We can say with confidence, however, that the verb form of the word appeared in Maclean's in 1963. You may also be familiar with another "flack” — a noun meaning “criticism" or "opposition.” This unrelated homograph stems from a misspelling of "flak," a German acronym and English word for antiaircraft guns.

Fortitude \FOR-tuh-tood\ noun : strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage Example Sentence Due to the hot weather, the road race was more a test of fortitude than of athletic ability. Did you know? "Fortitude" comes from the Latin word “fortis,” meaning "strong," and in English it has always been used primarily to describe strength of mind. For a time, the word was also used to mean "physical strength" — Shakespeare used that sense in The First Part of King Henry the Sixth: "Coward of France! How much he wrongs his fame / Despairing of his own arm's fortitude." But despite use by the Bard, that second sense languished and is now considered obsolete.

Foursquare \FOR-SKWAIR\ adjective 1 : square *2 : marked by boldness and conviction : forthright Example Sentence

The governor has been foursquare in his support for the education bill.

Did you know? Early English speakers liked to use “foursquare” to describe a rectangle with four equal sides, even though they could also say it was simply “square.” They also used “three-square” to describe a triangle with equal sides, “five-square” for “having five equal sides,” “six-square” as an alternative to “ hexagonal,” and “eight-square” for “octagonal.” Eventually “foursquare” also developed a second sense, which is used to describe persons and things that stand out “squarely” and forthrightly. One can now speak of “foursquare citizens” and “a foursquare response.” “Foursquare” can also be an adverb meaning “solidly” or “forthrightly.”

friable\FRYE-uh-bul\ adjective: easily crumbled or pulverized Example SentenceThese plants will grow best in a soft, friable soil.

Did you know?"Friable" entered into English in the mid-1500s, and was borrowed either from Middle French or directly from Latin "friabilis." This Latin adjective comes from the verb "friare," which means "to crumble." "Fiare" in turn is related to the verb "fricare" ("to rub"), the source of the English noun "friction." "Friable" is used to describe something that can be easily reduced to a powdered form. In contemporary usage, it is often found in the discussion of asbestos. Health concerns about asbestos primarily center around friable asbestos — that is, asbestos that is easily pulverized into tiny fibers which may remain suspended in the air and become a potential health risk to those who inhale them.

Fruition \froo-ISH-un\ noun 1 : pleasurable use or possession : enjoyment 2 a : the state of bearing fruit *b : realization

Example sentence: Colton's long-held dream of owning his own home came to fruition last year when he purchased a small bungalow on a quiet side street.

Did you know? "Fruition" must come from the word "fruit," right? Not exactly. "Fruition" and "fruit" are related (both ultimately come from the Latin verb "frui," meaning "to enjoy"), but they were derived independently. The original meaning of "fruition" had nothing to do with fruit. Rather, when the term was first used in the early 15th century, it meant only "pleasurable use or possession." Not until the 19th century did "fruition" develop a second meaning, "the state of bearing fruit," possibly as the result of a mistaken assumption that "fruition" evolved from "fruit." The "state of bearing fruit" sense was followed quickly by the figurative application to anything that can be "realized" and metaphorically bear fruit, such as a plan or a project.

garner\GAHR-ner\ verb1 a : to gather into storage b : to deposit as if in a granary2 *a : to acquire by effort : earn b : accumulate, collect Example SentenceThrough hard work and a determination to see her students succeed, Ms. Taylor has garnered considerable respect from parents and her fellow teachers. Did you know?What do you call a building in which grain is stored? These days, English speakers are most likely to call it a "granary," but there was a time when the noun "garner" was also a likely candidate. That noun, which can also mean "something that is collected," dates from the 12th century. The verb "garner" joined the language two centuries later. The verb was once commonly used with the meaning "to gather into a granary," but today it usually means "to earn" or "to accumulate." The noun "garner" is uncommon in contemporary use; it is now found mainly in older literary contexts, such as these lines of verse from Sir Walter Scott's "The Bride of Lammermoor": "Or, from the garner-door, on ether borne, / The chaff flies devious from the winnow'd corn."

Garrulous \GAIR-uh-lus\ adjective

1 : pointlessly or annoyingly talkative *2 : wordy Example Sentence With a few judicious revisions, a good editor can often transform garrulous writing into elegant prose.

Did you know? English has many adjectives that share the meaning “given to talk” or “talking.” “Talkative” may imply a readiness to talk or a disposition to enjoy conversation, while “loquacious” suggests the power of expressing oneself articulately, fluently, or glibly. “Voluble” suggests a free, easy, and unending talkativeness, and “garrulous” implies talkativeness that is dull, rambling, or tedious. “Garrulous,” by the way, derives from the Latin verb “garrire,” which means (no surprise here) “to chatter” or “to babble.”

Gelid \JELL-id\ adjective:extremely cold : icy Example Sentence The rescue team braved gelid conditions as they searched the mountain for the lost climber. Did you know? "Gelid" first appeared in English late in the 16th century, coming to our language from Latin “gelidus,” which ultimately derives from the noun “gelu,” meaning "frost" or "cold." (Our noun "gelatin," which can refer to an edible jelly that undergoes a cooling process as part of its formation, comes from a related Latin word: “gelare,” meaning "to freeze.") "Gelid" is used in English to describe anything of extremely cold temperature (as in "the gelid waters of the Arctic Ocean"), but the word can also be used figuratively to describe a person with a cold demeanor (as in "the criminal’s gelid stare").

Gild the lily \GILD-thuh-LILL-ee\ phrasal verb: to add unnecessary ornamentation to something beautiful in its own right Example Sentence My sister has good bone structure and lovely skin, so she doesn’t need to gild the lily by wearing makeup. Did you know? You might be aware that "gild the lily" is attributed to Shakespeare, but there is a catch — the phrase used in Shakespeare's play King John is actually "to paint the lily." The quotation reads, in part, "To gild refined gold, to paint the lily / To throw a perfume on the violet…. / Is wasteful and ridiculous excess." There are those who criticize "gild the lily" as a misquotation, and “paint the lily” does appear from time to time. But “gild the lily” has become firmly established, and it holds true to the spirit of the original version, even if the wording does not.

Glom \GLAHM\ verb *1 : take, steal 2 : seize, catch Example Sentence “She signed an affidavit of confession attesting she glommed more than $284,000, the company contends.” (Frank Donnelly, Staten Island Advance, September 15, 2008) Did you know? It's a classic case of glomming: Americans seized on "glaum" (a term from Scots dialect that basically means "grab") and appropriated it as our own, changing it to "glom" in the process. "Glom" first meant "steal" (as in the purse-snatching, robber kind of stealing), but over time that meaning got stretched. Today, "glom" often figuratively extends that original "steal" sense. A busy professional might glom a weekend getaway, for example. "Glom" also appears frequently in the phrase "glom on to," which can mean "to appropriate for one's own use" ("glom on to another's idea"); "to grab hold of" ("glom on to the last cookie"); or "to latch on to" ("glom on to an opinion" or "glom on to an influential friend").

Grisly \GRIZ-lee\ adjective: 1 : inspiring horror or intense fear *2 : inspiring disgust or distaste

Example sentence: "The crime scene revealed an especially brutal murder," the detective reported, "but I will spare you the grisly details."

Did you know? An angry grizzly bear could certainly inspire fear, so "grizzly" must be a variant of "grisly," right? Yes and no. The adjective "grisly" is indeed sometimes spelled "grizzly," but the "grizzly" in "grizzly bear" is a different animal altogether. "Grisly" derives from an Old English predecessor, "grislic," which is itself related to an Old English verb meaning "to fear." "Grizzly" comes from the Middle English adjective "grisel," meaning "gray." Like its close relative "grizzled," this "grizzly" means "sprinkled or streaked with gray." In other words, the grizzly got its name because the hairs of its brownish to buff coat usually have silver or pale tips, creating a grizzled effect, not because it causes terror. The misperception that the bear's name reflects its reputed fierceness probably contributed to the development of the "grizzly" variant of "grisly."

Grub Street \GRUB-STREET\ noun : the world or category of needy literary hacks Example Sentence Writer Paul Theroux once characterized the world of literary quarterlies and poetry magazines as “that respectable little cul-de-sac off Grub Street.” Did you know? The original Grub Street was an address in London (it was renamed Milton Street in 1830) described by Dr. Samuel Johnson in his Dictionary of the English Language as "much inhabited by writers of small histories, dictionaries, and temporary poems." The term was applied figuratively to the dog-eat-dog world of pens-for-hire as early as 1630, and not surprisingly it became the subject of several novels. Writer Tobias Smollett, all too familiar with hackwork himself, described a Grub Street dinner party in his novel The Expedition of Humphry Clinker (1771). And the allusion to Grub Street still packed a punch in 1891 when George Gissing chose New Grub Street as the title of his realistic novel about intrigues of the Victorian literary world.

Haptic \HAP-tik\ adjective *1 : relating to or based on the sense of touch 2 : characterized by a predilection for the sense of touch Example Sentence Katy could tell one kind of yarn from another purely by haptic clues. Did you know? "Haptic" (from the Greek "haptesthai," meaning "to touch") entered English in the late 19th century as a medical synonym for "tactile." By the middle of the 20th century, it had developed a psychological sense, describing individuals whose perception supposedly depended primarily on touch rather than sight. Although almost no one today divides humans into "haptic" and "visual" personalities, English retains the broadened psychological sense of "haptic" as well as the older "tactile" sense.

Hibernaculum \hy-ber-NAK-yuh-lum\ noun : a shelter occupied during the winter by a dormant animal (as an insect or reptile)

Example sentence: The park ranger explained that a good hibernaculum might be used by many different snakes year after year.

Did you know? If you're afraid of snakes or bats, you probably won't enjoy thinking about a hibernaculum, where hundreds, even thousands, of these creatures might be passing the wintry months. Other creatures also use hibernacula, though many of these tend to be a bit inconspicuous. The word “hibernaculum” has been used for the burrow of a woodchuck, for instance, as well as for a cozy caterpillar cocoon attached to a wintry twig, and for the spot in which a frog has buried itself in the mud. Hibernacula are all around us and have been around for a long, long time, but we have only called them such since 1789. In case you are wondering, "hibernate" didn't come into being until the beginning of the 19th century. Both words come from Latin “hibernare,” meaning "to pass the winter."

Hierophant \HYE-uh-ruh-fant\ noun 1 : a priest in ancient Greece; specifically : the chief priest of the Eleusinian mysteries 2 *a : a person who explains : commentator b : a person who defends or maintains a cause or proposal : advocate Example Sentence “Very few women can be coerced into spending $4,000 for green leather trousers embroidered with silver petals … simply because some fashion hierophant declares it a trend.” (Cathy Horyn, The New York Times, March 30, 1999)

Did you know? "Hierophant," "hieroglyphics," and "hierarch" have a common root: "hieros," a Greek word meaning "sacred." "Hieroglyphics" joins “hieros” with a derivative of "glyphein," the Greek verb for "carve." "Hierarch," a word that can refer to a religious leader in a position of authority, joins "hieros" with a derivative of "archein," meaning "to rule." "Hierophant" itself joins the root with a derivative of "phainein," which means "to show." The original hierophants were priests of the ancient Greek city of Eleusis who performed sacred rites. In the 17th century, when the word was first documented in English, it referred to these priests. By the 19th century, English speakers were using the term in a broader sense. A "hierophant" can now be a spokesperson, a commentator, an interpreter, or a leading advocate.

Hobson's choice\HAHB-sunz-choyss\ noun*1 : an apparently free choice when there is no real alternative2 : the necessity of accepting one of two or more equally objectionable alternatives Example SentenceReportedly, Model T manufacturer Henry Ford once gave this Hobson's choice: "Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black." Did you know?In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, Thomas Hobson worked as a licensed carrier of passengers, letters, and parcels between Cambridge and London, England. He kept horses for this purpose and rented them to university students when he wasn't using them. Of course, the students always wanted their favorite mounts, and consequently a few of Hobson's horses became overworked. To correct the situation, Hobson began a strict rotation system, giving each customer the choice of taking the horse nearest the stable door or none at all. This rule became known as "Hobson's choice," and soon people were using that term to mean "no choice at all" in all kinds of situations.

Homily \HAH-muh-lee\ noun 1 : a usually short sermon *2 : a lecture or discourse on or of a moral theme 3 : an inspirational catchphrase; also : platitude Example Sentence "I don't mind eating tofu burgers," said Darnell, "as long as I don't have to hear a homily on the virtues of vegetarianism." Did you know? Gather around for the history of "homily." The story starts with ancient Greek "homilos," meaning "crowd” or “assembly." Greeks used "homilos" to create the verb "homilein" ("to consort with" or "to address"), as well as the noun "homilia" ("conversation"). Latin speakers borrowed "homilia," then passed it on to Anglo-French. By the time it crossed into Middle English, the spelling had shifted to "omelie," but by the mid-16th century the term had regained its "h" and added the "y" of the modern spelling.

hors de combat \or-duh-kohng-BAH (the “ng” is not pronounced, but the preceding vowel is nasalized)\ adjective or adverb : out of combat : disabled Example Sentence With their best pitcher hors de combat with a shoulder injury, the team faced a bleak season. Did you know? We picked up "hors de combat" directly from French back in the mid-18th century. Benjamin Franklin put the term to use in a 1776 letter, observing that an "arrow sticking in any part of a man puts him hors du [sic] combat till it is extracted.” But you don't have to use the word as literally as Franklin did. "Combat" can refer to any fight or contest, not just fighting in a war. A politician who's out of the running in a political race could be declared "hors de combat," for example. But the adjective (or adverb) need not refer only to humans or animals: if you own a car, chances are your vehicle has been hors de combat at least once.

iconoclast \eye-KAH-nuh-klast\ noun 1 : a person who destroys religious images or opposes their veneration *2 : a person who attacks settled beliefs or institutions Example Sentence

Susan's irreverent opinion of Shakespeare made her an iconoclast in the eyes of many of her fellow English majors. Did you know? "Iconoclast" is a word that often shows up on vocabulary lists and College Board tests. How will you remember the meaning of this vocabulary-boosting term? If you already know the word "icon," you're halfway there. An "icon" is a picture that represents something, and is often a religious image. "Icon" comes from the Greek “eikōn,” which is from “eikenai,” meaning "to resemble." "Iconoclast" comes to us by way of Medieval Latin from Middle Greek “eikonoklastēs,” which joins “eikōn” with a form of the word “klan,” meaning "to break." "Iconoclast" literally means "image destroyer."

Idée fixe \ee-day-FEEKS\ noun : an idea that dominates one's mind especially for a prolonged period : obsession Example Sentence The fear that he was going to be fired became such an idée fixe for Toby that he could think of nothing else. Did you know? According to The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, the term “idée fixe” was coined by French composer Hector Berlioz in 1830, who used it to describe the principal theme of his Symphonie fantastique. That reference goes on to say that, at about the same time, French novelist Honoré de Balzac used “idée fixe” in Gobseck to describe an obsessive idea. By 1836, Balzac's more generalized use of the term had carried over into English, where “idée fixe" was embraced as a clinical and literary term for a persistent preoccupation or delusional idea that dominates a person's mind. Nowadays "idée fixe" is also applied to milder and more pedestrian obsessions.

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 Example Sentence The director's first film was an ignominious failure, panned by critics and ignored by moviegoers. Did you know? The "-nom-" of "ignominious" comes from "nomen," the Latin word for "name" or “repute.” (It's also the root of "misnomer," "nomenclature," and "nominal," among others.) The "ig-" part of the word is akin to the negative prefix "in-"; when joined to the root "-nom-," it indicates the namelessness that goes with shame or dishonor. To suffer an ignominious fate is to lose the opportunity to make a name for oneself or to lose one’s good name. When "ignominious" was first borrowed from a French form of the word in the 15th century, it meant "disgraced" or "dishonorable." "Ignominious" continues to have such meanings, but it also has somewhat milder meanings — "embarrassing" and "humiliating."

Impeccable \im-PECK-uh-bul\ adjective 1 : not capable of sinning or liable to sin *2 : free from fault or blame : flawless Example Sentence Although the restaurant was a bit expensive, we found its memorable cuisine, luxurious decor, and impeccable service to be well worth the price.

Did you know? The word "impeccable" has been used in English since at least 1531. It derives from the Latin word "impeccabilis," a combination of the Latin prefix "in-," meaning "not," and the verb "peccare," meaning "to sin." “Peccare” has other descendents in English. There is "peccadillo," meaning "a slight offense," and "peccant," meaning "guilty of a moral offense" or simply "faulty." There is also "peccavi," which comes from Latin, where it literally means "I have sinned," and which is used in English as a noun meaning "an acknowledgment of sin.”

Impecunious \im-pih-KYOO-nee-uss\ adjective : having very little or no money usually habitually : penniless Example Sentence My impecunious uncle, who could not afford to buy his own books, usually ended up borrowing mine.

Did you know?

If "impecunious" means "penniless," then it stands to reason that "pecunious" can describe someone who has a lot of money. That is true, but "pecunious" is used with far less frequency in English than its opposite and is not found in many dictionaries. What's more, on the rare occasion when "pecunious" is put to use in English, it often means not "wealthy" but "miserly or ungenerous," as in "a pecunious attitude toward the less fortunate." "Impecunious" describes somebody who lacks the money to buy necessities, but it does not carry the connotation of desperation found in such words as "indigent" or "destitute." Both "pecunious" and "impecunious" derive via Middle English from the Latin "pecunia," meaning "money."

Impromptu \im-PROMP-too\ adjective *1 : made, done, or formed on or as if on the spur of the moment : improvised 2 : composed or uttered without previous preparation : extemporaneous

Example sentence: When we dropped by unexpectedly, Aunt Dinah threw together an impromptu dinner from the odds and ends in her refrigerator.

Did you know? If you think that "impromptu" looks like a relative of "prompt," you're right; both are ultimately derived from the Latin "promere," meaning "to bring forth, take out." "Impromptu" was borrowed from French, where it meant "extemporaneously," but French speakers picked it up from the Latin phrase "in promptu," a "promere" descendant meaning "in readiness" or "at hand." There is also another, much rarer descendant of "promere" in English — the noun "promptuary," meaning "a book of ready reference."

Impuissant \im-PWISS-unt\ adjective : weak, powerless Example Sentence Jonah was a relentless bully who sought to intimidate any impuissant student that he could find in the schoolyard. Did you know? Both the adjective "impuissant" and the noun "impuissance" came to English from Middle French. They are derived from the prefix “in-” (meaning "not") and the noun “puissance,” which means "power" and is a word in English in its own right. “Puissance” derives from the verb “poer,” meaning "to be able" or "to be powerful," and is ultimately related to the same Latin roots that gave us words such as "power" and "potent." While both "puissant" and "impuissance" first appeared in English during the 15th century, "impuissant" did not make its first appearance in our language until 1629.

Inalienable \in-AY-lee-uh-nuh-bul\ adjective : incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred Example Sentence “Just because I can use my work e-mail for personal correspondence doesn’t mean I have the inalienable right to do so,” Brian explained. Did you know? "Alien," "alienable," "inalienable" — it's easy enough to see the Latin word "alius," meaning "other," at the root of these three words. "Alien" joined our language in the 14th century, and one of its earliest meanings was "belonging to another." By the early 1600s that sense of "alien" had led to the development of "alienable," an adjective describing something you could give away or transfer ownership of, and "unalienable," its opposite. By about 1645, “inalienable” was also in use as a synonym of “unalienable.” “Inalienable” is the more common variant today, but it was “unalienable” that was used in the Declaration of Independence to describe rights like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Inanition \in-uh-NISH-un\ noun 1 : the exhausted condition that results from lack of food and water *2 : the absence or loss of social, moral, or intellectual vitality or vigor Example Sentence The playwright explained that his work reflected the lethargy and inanition of the age.

Did you know? "Inanition" describes a state of suffering from either a literal emptiness (of sustenance) or a metaphorical emptiness (of interest or energy). So it will probably come as no surprise to you to learn that the word ultimately derives from the same idea in Latin. "Inanition,” which first appeared in Middle English in the 14th century as "in-anisioun," can be traced back to the Latin

verb "inanire," meaning "to make empty," which in turn comes from "inanis" (meaning "empty” or “inane"). Incidentally, the English word "inane" was adopted in the mid-17th century directly from "inanis."

Incandescent \in-kun-DESS-unt\ adjective 1 a : white, glowing, or luminous with intense heat *b : marked by brilliance especially of expression c : characterized by glowing zeal : ardent 2 a : of, relating to, or being light produced by incandescence b : producing light by incandescence Example Sentence The professor was dazzled by Tia’s incandescent prose, which was infinitely more sophisticated than that of the other students in the introductory history course.

Did you know? “Incandescent” came into the English language toward the end of the 18th century, at a time when scientific experiments involving heat and light were being conducted on an increasingly frequent basis. An object that glowed at a high temperature (such as a piece of coal) was “incandescent.” By the mid-1800s, the incandescent lamp — a.k.a. the “lightbulb” — had been invented; it contains a filament which gives off light when heated by an electric current. “Incandescent” is the modern offspring of a much older parent, the Latin verb “candēre,” meaning “to glow.” Centuries earlier, the word for another source of light, “candle,” was also derived from “candēre.”

Indurate \IN-duh-rut\ adjective : physically or morally hardened Example Sentence The sculpture was so realistic that it seemed that at any moment the indurate marble form would shift position to stare back at the viewer. Did you know? "Indurate" is a hard word — in more than one way. Not only is it fairly uncommon in modern usage, but it also can be traced back to Latin "durare," meaning "to harden." (“Durare” can mean "to endure" as well, and appropriately “indurate” is a word that has lasted many years — it has been a part of the English language since the 14th century.) "Durare" is also the root of other durable English words, including "during," "endure," "duration," "durance" (an archaic word meaning "endurance"), and even "durable" itself. In addition, "indurate" can be a verb meaning "to make or grow hard," "to make unfeeling, stubborn, or obdurate," and "to establish firmly."

Infantilize \IN-fun-tye-lyze\ verb 1 : to cause to be or remain like an infant or young child *2 : to treat like an infant or young child Example Sentence Stanley still lives with his parents, who are inclined to infantilize him to such a degree that he'll probably never make it on his own. Did you know? "Infantilize" is just a baby, relatively speaking, in the English language family. It first saw the light of day in the early 1940s, when social scientists started using it to discuss ways that humans or human activity can prolong or encourage dependency in other humans by treating them as helpless. The adjective "infantile," which gave birth to "infantilize," is far more mature, however — it's over 300 years old. "Infantile" sometimes literally means "relating to infants" — that is, to children in the first year of life — but it also has a broader meaning; if I chide someone for his or her infantile behavior I simply mean that the person is acting immature or childish.

Innocuous \ih-NAH-kyuh-wus\ adjective 1 : producing no injury : harmless *2 : not likely to give offense or to arouse strong feelings or hostility : inoffensive, insipid Example Sentence Bella was surprised when her seemingly innocuous remark enraged her classmates. Did you know? "Innocuous" has harmful roots — it comes to us from the Latin adjective "innocuus," which was formed by combining the negative prefix "in-" with a form of the verb "nocēre," meaning "to harm” or “to hurt." In addition, "nocēre" is related to the truly

"harmful" words "noxious," "nocent," and even "nocuous." "Innocent" is from "nocēre" as well, although like "innocuous" it has the "in-" prefix negating the hurtful possibilities. "Innocuous" first appeared in print in 1598 with the clearly Latin-derived meaning "harmless or causing no injury" (as in "an innocuous gas"). The second sense is a metaphorical extension of the idea of injury, used to indicate that someone or something does not cause hurt feelings, or even strong feelings ("an innocuous book" or "innocuous issues," for example).

Interloper \in-ter-LOH-per\ noun : one that intrudes in a place or sphere of activity Example Sentence As he watched the startled doe and her fawn dart off into the woods, Nelson felt like an interloper in the forest world. Did you know? When English speakers combined “inter-” with “-loper” in the late 1500s, they already had a word “landloper” (now archaic) for “a person who runs about the land” (in other words, a vagrant). The “-loper” part of “interloper” is related to Middle Dutch and Old English words meaning “to run” and “to leap.” An “interloper” is essentially one who jumps into the midst of things without an invitation to do so. In its earliest uses, “interloper” referred specifically to one who interfered in trade illegally — that is, a trader who trespassed on the rights or charters of others. Sometimes “interloper” even referred to a ship employed in illegal trading. But the word quickly took on extended use, coming to refer not just to intrusion in trade but also in personal affairs or other matters.

Jeopardize \JEP-er-dyze\ verb : to expose to danger or risk : imperil Example Sentence "I'm not willing to jeopardize my friendship with Camille by lying to her," said Luis. Did you know? It may be hard to believe that "jeopardize" was once controversial, but in 1870 a grammarian called it "a foolish and intolerable word," a view shared by many 19th-century critics. The preferred word was "jeopard," which first appeared in print in the 14th century. (The upstart "jeopardize" turned up in 1582.) In 1828, Noah Webster himself declared "jeopardize" to be "a modern word, used by respectable writers in America, but synonymous with 'jeopard,' and therefore useless." Unfortunately for the champions of "jeopard," "jeopardize" is now much more popular. In fact, it's been about a hundred years since anyone has raised any serious objections to "jeopardize."

jog trot \JOG-TROT\ noun 1 : a horse's slow measured trot *2 : a routine habit or course of action Example Sentence The weekly Friday-night dances provided the townsfolk with a few hours of respite from the jog trot of life. Did you know? The jog trot is a kind of careful, deliberate trot that is sometimes required at horse shows, among other things. “Jog” is thought to have come from an alteration of “shog,” a verb meaning “to shake” or “to jolt” and used primarily in dialect. “Trot” has been part of English since the 14th century. The phrase “jog trot,” which first appeared in print in 1796, developed a figurative sense as well; it can refer to a steady and usually monotonous routine, similar to the slow, regular pace of a horse at a jog trot. There is a suggestion with the generalized sense that the action is uniform and unhurried, and perhaps even a little dull.

Kangaroo court \kang-uh-ROO-KORT\ noun 1 : a mock court in which the principles of law and justice are disregarded or perverted *2 : a court characterized by irresponsible, unauthorized, or irregular status or procedures

Example sentence: The press decried the tribunal as nothing more than a kangaroo court, meting out savage and arbitrary justice.

Did you know? A "kangaroo court" has never been a court by or for kangaroos, but beyond that, little is known for sure about the term’s origins. Various theories abound: it has been suggested that kangaroo courts got their name because they were initially marked by rapid and unpredictable movement from one place to another, or that they were in some way associated with "jumping" (i.e., illegally occupying) mining claims. These hypotheses are all unsubstantiated, however. What is known is that the first kangaroo

courts originated in the United States at approximately the time of the 1849 California Gold Rush, and the word saw its earliest use in the southwestern U.S. It first turned up in print in 1853 in a book about Texas.

Kindred \KIN-drud\ adjective *1 : of a similar nature or character : like 2 : of the same ancestry Example Sentence The rock-climbing club tends to attract kindred spirits — outdoorsy, adventurous types who derive satisfaction from conquering new challenges. Did you know? If you believe that advice and relatives are inseparable, the etymology of "kindred" will prove you right. "Kindred" comes from a combination of "kin" and the Old English word ræden ("condition"), which itself comes from the verb rædan, meaning "to advise." "Kindred" entered English as a noun first, in the 12th century. That noun, which can refer to a group of related individuals or to one's own relatives, gave rise to the adjective "kindred" in the 14th century.

Kundalini \koon-duh-LEE-nee (the "oo" is as in "book")\ noun, often capitalized : the yogic life force that is held to lie coiled at the base of the spine until it is aroused and sent to the head to trigger enlightenment Example Sentence In her yoga class, Susan is learning the breaths for awakening kundalini. Did you know? "Kundalinī" is the feminine form of the Sanskrit adjective meaning "circular" or "coiled." In yoga, the word applies to the life force that lies like a coiled serpent at the base of the spine and that can be sent along the spine to the head through prescribed postures and exercises. On the way, the kundalini passes through six chakras, or points of physical or spiritual energy in the human body. At the seventh chakra, the yogi is said to experience enlightenment.

Kvell \KVEL\ verb : to be extraordinarily proud : rejoice Example Sentence Critics kvelled over the violinist’s triumphant return to the stage where she had made her debut many years ago. Did you know? We are pleased to inform you that the word “kvell” is derived from Yiddish “kveln,” meaning "to be delighted," which, in turn, comes from the Middle High German word “quellen,” meaning "to well, gush, or swell." Yiddish has been a wellspring of creativity for English, giving us such delightful words as "meister" (“one who is knowledgeable about something”), "maven" (“expert”), and "shtick" (“one’s special activity”), just to name a few. The date for the appearance of "kvell" in the English language is tricky to pinpoint exactly. The earliest known printed evidence for the word in an English source is found in a 1952 handbook of Jewish words and expressions, but actual usage evidence before that date remains unseen.

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 Example Sentence After his successful first novel, critics lionized the young writer as a literary virtuoso, though he has yet to replicate the feat. Did you know? The lion is traditionally regarded as the king of beasts, and perhaps rightly so — the lion is brave, stately, and quite often ferocious. Those qualities that earn the lion respect from other creatures were probably in people’s minds when, in the 18th century, “lion” came to be used for a person who is similarly well-regarded, especially after a long and distinguished career in a particular field. A veteran lawmaker might be considered one of the lions of the Senate; a literary lion has enjoyed a long career as a successful writer. This sense of “lion” forms the basis of “lionize,” which first appeared in English in the early 19th century.

Litotes \LYE-tuh-teez\ noun : understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary

Example Sentence Jamie blushingly acknowledged her victory by litotes, saying that her scores were “not bad” and that she was “not displeased” with her performance. Did you know? Even if you've never heard the word “litotes,” chances are you've encountered this figure of speech. If you've ever approved of a job well done by exclaiming "Not bad!" or told someone that you are "not unhappy" when you are ecstatic, you've even used it yourself. In fact, you might say that it would be "no mean feat" to avoid this common feature of our language! And litotes isn't only common; it's also "simple" — etymologically speaking, that is. "Litotes" evolved from a Greek word meaning "simple," and perhaps ultimately from another Greek word meaning "linen cloth."

Livid \LIV-id\ adjective 1 : discolored by bruising : black-and-blue 2 : ashen, pallid 3 : reddish *4 : very angry : enraged Example Sentence "When my mother caught me sneaking in after midnight, she was livid," Manny reported.

Did you know? "Livid" has a colorful history. The Latin adjective "lividus" means "dull, grayish, or leaden blue." From this came the French "livide" and eventually the English "livid," which was used to describe flesh discolored by a bruise when it was first recorded in the early 17th century. A slight extension of meaning gave it the sense "ashen or pallid," as used in describing a corpse. "Livid" eventually came to be used in this sense to characterize the complexion of a person pale with anger ("livid with rage"). From this meaning came two new senses in the 20th century. One was "reddish," as one is as likely to become red with anger as pale; the other was simply "angry" or "furious," the most common sense of the word today.

Lout \LOUT\ noun : an awkward brutish person Example Sentence Because the three louts behind him in the movie theater were being loud and obnoxious, Jonah decided to move to another seat. Did you know? “Lout” belongs to the large group of words we use to indicate an undesirable person, a boor, a bumpkin, a dolt, a clod. We’ve used “lout” in this way since the mid-1500s. As early as the 800s, however, “lout” functioned as a verb with the meaning “to bow in respect.” No one is quite sure how the verb sense developed into a noun meaning “a brutish person.” Perhaps the awkward posture of one bowing down led over time to the idea that the person was personally low and awkward as well.

Luddite \LUH-dyte\ noun : one of a group of early 19th century English workmen destroying laborsaving machinery as a protest; broadly : one who is opposed to especially technological change

Example sentence: Luddites might argue that the modern electronic age is too impersonal, but they cannot deny that it has brought new conveniences and information to the masses

Did you know? Luddites could be considered the first victims of corporate downsizing. The Luddite movement began in the vicinity of Nottingham, England, toward the end of 1811 when textile mill workers rioted for the destruction of the new machinery that was slowly replacing them. Their name is of uncertain origin, but it may be connected to a (probably mythical) person known as Ned Ludd. According to an unsubstantiated account in George Pellew's Life of Lord Sidmouth (1847), Ned Ludd was a Leicestershire villager of the late 1700s who, in a fit of insane rage, rushed into a stocking weaver's house and destroyed his equipment; subsequently, his name was proverbially connected with machinery destruction. With the onset of the information age, "Luddite" gained a broader sense describing anyone who shuns new technology.

luftmensch \LOOFT-mensh (the “OO” is as in “foot”)\ noun: an impractical contemplative person having no definite business or income

Example Sentence I worry that my nephew, who has several advanced degrees but no practical skills, will be a luftmensch all his life.

Did you know?Are you someone who always seems to have your head in the clouds? Do you have trouble getting down to the lowly business of earning a living? If so, you may deserve to be labeled a "luftmensch." That airy appellation is an adaptation of the Yiddish "luftmentsh," which breaks down into "luft" (a Germanic root meaning "air" that is also related to the English words "loft" and "lofty”) plus "mentsh," meaning "human being." "Luftmensch" was first introduced to English prose in 1907, when Israel Zangwill wrote, "The word 'Luftmensch' flew into Barstein's mind. Nehemiah was not an earth-man…. He was an air-man, floating on facile wings."

macadam \muh-KAD-um\ noun : a roadway or pavement of small closely packed broken stone Example Sentence We left the old city with much regret, passing from its quaint cobblestones to lumpy macadam, leaving our vacation behind and returning reluctantly to the workaday world.

Did you know? In 1783, inventor John Loudon McAdam returned to his native Scotland after amassing a fortune in New York City. He became the road trustee for his district and quickly set his inventiveness to remedying the terrible condition of local roads. After numerous experiments, he created a new road surfacing material made of bits of stone that became compressed into a solid mass as traffic passed over them. His invention revolutionized road construction and transportation, and engineers and the public alike honored him by using his name (respelled "macadam") as a generic term for the material or pavement made from it. He is further immortalized in the verb "macadamize," which names the process of installing macadam on a road.

malaise muh-LAYZ\ noun 1 : an indefinite feeling of debility or lack of health often indicative of or accompanying the onset of an illness *2 : a vague sense of mental or moral ill-being Example Sentence Though she has worked at the same company for 30 years, Jeannie shows few signs of the professional malaise common among her coworkers. Did you know? “Malaise,” which ultimately traces back to Old French, has been part of English since the mid-18th century. One of its most notable uses, however, came in 1979 — well, sort of. President Jimmy Carter never actually used the word in his July 15 televised address, but it became known as the “malaise speech” all the same. In the speech, Carter described the U.S. as a nation facing a “crisis of confidence” and rife with “paralysis and stagnation and drift.” He spoke of a “national malaise” a few days later, and it’s not hard to see why the “malaise” name stuck. The speech was praised by some and criticized by many others, but whatever your politics, it remains a vivid illustration of the meaning of “malaise.”

mansuetude \MAN-swih-tood\ noun : the quality or state of being gentle : meekness, tameness Example Sentence “While her voice may have an air of mansuetude, she proved that she could easily cut above the din of the boys in her band….” (Christopher Muther, The Boston Globe, June 24, 2004) Did you know? "Mansuetude" was first used in English in the 14th century, and it derives from the Latin verb “mansuescere,” which means "to tame." “Mansuescere” itself comes from the noun “manus” (meaning "hand") and the verb “suescere” ("to accustom" or "to become accustomed"). Unlike “manus,” which has many English descendants (including "manner," "emancipate," and "manicure," among others), “suescere” has only a few English progeny. One of them is a word we featured in December — "desuetude" — which means “disuse” and comes to us by way of Latin “desuescere” ("to become unaccustomed"). Two others are "custom" and “accustom,” which derive via Anglo-French from Latin “consuescere,” meaning "to accustom."

mau-mau \MOW-mow (the “ow” is as in “cow”)\ verb *1 : to intimidate (as an official) by hostile confrontation or threats 2 : to engage in mau-mauing someone

Example Sentence

“Going downtown to mau-mau the bureaucrats got to be the routine practice in San Francisco.” (Tom Wolfe, Radical Chic & Mau-mauing the Flak Catchers) Did you know? The Mau Mau was a militant secret society that operated in colonial Kenya during the 1950s. The ferocity with which Mau Mau terrorists rebelled against British rule was well-documented by national news sources, like Newsweek and Time, and by 1970 “Mau Mau” had become synonymous with “hostile intimidation,” especially when used for social or political gain. Novelist Tom Wolfe was the first to use “mau-mau” in print as a word for “intimidate.”

mélange \may-LAHNZH (the N is not pronounced, but the vowel is nasalized)\ noun: a mixture often of incongruous elements Example Sentence Critics panned the new film as an awkward mélange of heavy drama, zany comedy, and overblown special effects.

Did you know? "Mélange" got mixed into the melting pot of English back in the 1600s. It derives from the Middle French verb "mesler," which means "to mix." "Mélange" is actually one of several French contributions to the English body of words for miscellaneous mixtures. "Pastiche" (meaning "a composition made up of selections of different works," or broadly, "a disorderly mixture, hodgepodge") is borrowed from French, and "medley" and "potpourri" have roots in French, too. There's also the lesser known "gallimaufry" (meaning "hodgepodge"), which comes from the Middle French "galimafree" (meaning "stew").

meticulous \muh-TIK-yuh-lus\ adjective : marked by extreme or excessive care in the consideration or treatment of details

Example sentence: Brianna will excel as a proofreader because she is meticulous by nature.Did you know? It may surprise you to learn that "meticulous" is derived from the Latin word for "fearful" -- "meticulosus" -- and ultimately comes from the Latin noun "metus," meaning "fear." Although "meticulous" currently has no "fearful" meanings, it was originally used as a synonym of "frightened" and "timid." This sense had fallen into disuse by 1700, and in the 19th century "meticulous" acquired a new sense of "overly and timidly careful" (probably influenced by the French word "méticuleux"). This in turn led to the current meaning of "painstakingly careful," with no connotations of fear at all. The newest use was controversial among some usage commentators at first, but it has since become by far the most common meaning and is no longer considered an error.

Metronome \MET-ruh-nohm\ noun : an instrument designed to mark exact time by a regularly repeated tick

Example Sentence After practicing the drums with a metronome, Lars had a better feel for tempo and kept time better. Did you know? The patent for the metronome was entered in 1816: “John Malzl [sic], of Poland-street, Middlesex, Machinist; for an instrument … which he denominates a Metronome, or musical time-keeper.” The courts, however, later proved that the aforementioned Johann Maelzel copied a pendulum design of Dietrich Winkel, making Winkel the actual inventor. Nonetheless, Maelzel was the more successful marketer of the metronome and even has a notation named after him. The “M.M.” in notations like “M.M. = 60” stands for “Maelzel’s metronome” and indicates a tempo of 60 beats per minute or a beat per tick of the metronome as it ticks 60 times, in the case of our example. The name of the invention itself is based on the Greek words “metron,” meaning “measure,” and “nomos,” meaning “law.”

Misprision \mis-PRIZH-un\ noun 1 a : neglect or wrong performance of official duty b : concealment of treason or felony by one who is not a participant in the treason or felony *2 : misunderstanding, misinterpretation Example Sentence In her memoir Sleeping with Cats, poet Marge Piercy reflects that her life “has been full of blunders, misprisions, accidents, losses.”

Did you know? All but one of the following words traces back to Latin "prehendere," meaning "to seize." Which word doesn’t belong?

apprehend comprehend misprision misprize prison surprise It’s easy to see the “prehendere” connection in "apprehend" and "comprehend," whereas you may be surprised that "surprise" is from “prehendere” (via Anglo-French "susprendre," meaning "to capture” or “to take by surprise"). "Misprision" comes to us by way of Anglo-French “mesprisun” ("error, wrongdoing"), from “mesprendre” ("to take by mistake"), itself from “prehendere.” "Prison," too, is from Anglo-French, where it had the same meaning as our English word. It was adapted from Latin “prehension-, prehensio” ("act of seizing") — again, from “prehendere.” The only word that’s out of place is "misprize," meaning "to undervalue." It’s ultimately from Latin “pretium,” meaning "value."

Modicum \MAH-dih-kum\ noun: a small portion : a limited quantity Example Sentence If you had possessed a modicum of sense, you would have paused to think before accepting such a dangerous job. Did you know? What does "modicum" have to do with a toilet? It just so happens that "modicum" shares the same Latin parent as "commode," which is a synonym of "toilet." "Modicum" and "commode" ultimately derive from the Latin noun "modus," which means "measure." "Modicum" has been a part of the English language since the 15th century. It descends from the Latin "modicus" ("moderate"), which is itself a descendant of "modus." (Logically enough, "modicum" refers to a small "measure" of something.) "Modus" really measures up as a Latin root — it also gave us "mode" (originally a kind of musical "measure"), "modal," "model," "modern," "modify," and "modulate." More distant relatives include "mete," "moderate," and "modest."

morass \muh-RASS\ noun 1 : marsh, swamp 2 a : a situation that traps, confuses, or impedes *b : an overwhelming or confusing mass or mixture Example Sentence For Diane and Oscar, trying to adopt a baby meant getting lost in a morass of paperwork, but they knew it would be worth it.

Did you know? We won’t swamp you with details: “morass” comes from the Dutch word “moeras,” which itself derives from an Old French word, “maresc,” meaning “marsh.” “Morass” has been part of English for centuries, and in its earliest uses it was a synonym of “swamp” or “marsh.” (That was the sense Robert Louis Stevenson used when he described Long John Silver emerging from “a low white vapour that had crawled during the night out of the morass” in Treasure Island.) Imagine walking through a thick, muddy swamp — it’s easy to compare such slogging to trying to disentangle yourself from a sticky situation. By the mid-19th century, “morass” had gained a figurative sense referring to any predicament as murky, confusing, or difficult to navigate as a literal swamp or quagmire.

Muckety-muck \MUCK-uh-tee-muck\ noun : an important and often arrogant person

Example sentence: A contingent of hospital muckety-mucks swept into Adelaide's room, peered at her over their glasses, briefly discussed her case, and swept out again.

Did you know? The Chinook of the Pacific Northwest were avid traders, and in the course of their history a trade language developed that came to be known as Chinook jargon, based on a combination of Chinook and other American Indian languages with English and French. The Chinook jargon term "hayo makamak" meant "plenty to eat." By a process called folk etymology, in which a word of another language is transformed to a more familiar-sounding term, "hayo" was identified with "high" and the spelling and meaning of the entire phrase was transformed. Beginning in the 19th century, the term "high-muck-a-muck" referred to a self-important person. Since then, the expression has taken on several variations, including "high mucky-muck" and "high-muckety-muck," and nowadays the "high" is often dispensed with entirely.

Myopic \mye-OH-pik\ adjective 1 : affected by nearsightedness : of, relating to, or exhibiting nearsightedness *2 : lacking in foresight or discernment : limited in outlook

Example Sentence The mayor’s myopic handling of the city park project caused a number of long-term problems that persisted after her term ended. Did you know? "Myopia" is a condition in which visual images come to a focus in front of the retina of the eye, resulting in the inability to see distant objects clearly. Those with myopia can be referred to as "myopic" (or, less formally, "nearsighted"). "Myopic" has extended meanings, too. Someone who is myopic might have trouble seeing things from a different perspective or considering the future consequences before acting. "Myopic" and "myopia" have a lesser-known relative, "myope," meaning "a myopic person." All of these words ultimately derive from the Greek “myōps,” which comes from “myein” (meaning "to be closed") and “ōps” (meaning "eye” or “face").

Nadir \NAY-deer\ noun 1 : the point of the celestial sphere that is directly opposite the zenith and vertically downward from the observer *2 : the lowest point Example Sentence

Ironically, the high point of the novel occurs when the protagonist reaches her nadir, for only then does she arouse our empathy and emotional involvement. Did you know? "Nadir" is part of the galaxy of scientific words that have come to us from Arabic, a language that has made important contributions in the vocabulary of mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and chemistry. "Nadir" derives from an Arabic word meaning "opposite" — the opposite, that is, of the "zenith," which names the highest point of the celestial sphere, the one vertically above the observer. (The word "zenith" itself is a modification of another Arabic word that means "the way over one's head.") The English poet John Donne is first on record as having used "nadir" in the figurative sense of "lowest point" in a sermon he wrote in 1627.

Natatorial \nay-tuh-TOR-ee-ul\ adjective *1 : of or relating to swimming 2 : adapted to or characterized by swimming Example Sentence The Olympic swimmer's natatorial prowess was on full display as she won her fifth gold medal. Did you know? On a warm spring weekday afternoon, the local swimming hole beckons … and boys will be boys. "Mr. Foster [the town truant officer] knew very well where to find us… at our vernal and natatorial frolics," confessed John Gould in The Christian Science Monitor (January 10, 1992), some 70 years after that warm spring day of his youth. The Latin verb "natare," meaning "to swim," gave English the word "natatorial" and its variant "natatory." It also gave us "natant" ("swimming or floating in water"); "supernatant" ("floating on the surface"); "natation" ("the action or art of swimming"); and last but not least, "natatorium" ("an indoor swimming pool").

Netiquette \NET-ih-kut\noun : etiquette governing communication on the Internet Example Sentence “On the end-user side, unsolicited e-mail advertising has long been considered a breach of netiquette.” (Al Bredenberg, Internet World, July 1996)

Did you know? When the first computer networks were being developed in the 1950s and 60s, few people could have predicted the extent to which the Internet would revolutionize our culture — and our language. These days, you don't have to be a "computernik" (a computer expert or enthusiast) or a “mouse potato” (someone who spends a great deal of time using a computer) to be familiar with words like "blog," "download," or the verb "google." And even "computerphobes" are likely to know that in modern jargon, a "mouse" isn't necessarily a small furry rodent and the newest "virus" may be more of a threat to your computer than to your health. “Netiquette,” a blend of “net” (as in “Internet”) and “etiquette,” joined our language in the late 1980s.

Nimiety \nih-MYE-uh-tee\ noun

: excess, redundancy Example Sentence "To avoid receiving a nimiety of kitchenware," advised the bridal guide, "be sure to register for a wide range of gifts for your guests to choose from."

Did you know? There's no scarcity of English words used for too much of a good thing — words like "overkill," "plethora," "superfluity," "surfeit," "surplus," and "preponderance," to name a few. In fact, you might just feel that "nimiety" itself is a bit superfluous. And it's true — we've never used the word excessively, though it has been part of our language for nearly 450 years. (We borrowed it from Late Latin "nimietas," a noun taken, in turn, from the Latin adjective "nimius," meaning "excessive.") Superfluous or not, "nimiety" still turns up occasionally. For example, in his 1991 book Biblioholism: The Literary Addiction, about "the habitual longing to purchase, read, store, admire and consume books in excess," author Tom Raabe blames one bookstore's "nimiety of overstuffed chairs" for exacerbating this condition.

Nocebo \noh-SEE-boh\ noun : a harmless substance that when taken by a patient is associated with harmful effects due to negative expectations or the psychological condition of the patient Example SentencePatients given the nocebo reported mild to severe headaches. Did you know? “Nocent” has been in the English language as a word for “harmful” since the 15th century. It comes from Latin “nocēre,” meaning “to harm.” Latin “nocebo” is a close relative that means “I will be harmful” and that contrasts with “placebo,” meaning “I shall please.” People in medicine began using “placebo” for inert preparations prescribed solely for a patient’s mental relief, and not for relieving a disorder, in the late 18th century. As doctors began to observe the effects of placebos, some noticed that the harmless preparations actually sometimes caused detrimental effects on the patient’s health. English speakers began using the word “nocebo” for substances causing such adverse reactions in patients in 1961.

Nomenclature \NOH-mun-klay-cher\ noun 1 : name, designation 2 : the act or process or an instance of naming 3 *a : a system or set of terms or symbols especially in a particular science, discipline, or art b : an international system of standardized New Latin names used in biology for kinds and groups of kinds of animals and plants Example Sentence Karin was introduced to a whole range of unfamiliar terms when she started her new job as a laboratory assistant, but she soon became familiar with the nomenclature. Did you know? In his 1926 Dictionary of Modern English Usage, grammarian H. W. Fowler asserted that it was wrong to use "nomenclature" as a synonym for "name"; he declared that "nomenclature" could only mean "a system of naming or of names." It is true that "nomenclature" comes from the Latin “nomenclatura,” meaning "the assigning of names," but the "name" sense was one of the first to appear in English (it is documented as long ago as 1610), and it has been considered perfectly standard for centuries.

Oaf \OHF\ noun 1 : a stupid person : boob *2 : a big clumsy slow-witted person Example Sentence When the waiter dropped a full plate of pasta into her lap, my sister yelled, “You clumsy oaf!” Did you know? A long time ago in England, it was believed that goblins sometimes secretly exchanged their babies for human babies. This was used as an explanation when parents found themselves with a particularly ugly or deformed child: these parents wanted to believe that their real baby had been stolen by goblins, and the other left in its place. The label for such a child was “auf,” or “alfe” (meaning “goblin’s child”), terms that were later altered to form our present-day “oaf.” Although the linguistic history is not entirely clear, “auf” and “alfe” are likely from the Middle English “alven” and “elven,” meaning “elf” or “fairy.” Today the word “oaf” is no longer associated with unattractive babies and is instead applied to anyone who appears especially unintelligent or graceless.

Obeisance \oh-BEE-sunss\ noun 1 : a movement of the body made in token of respect or submission : bow *2 : acknowledgment of another’s superiority or importance : homage Example Sentence The people paid obeisance to their god by kneeling at the shrine. Did you know? When it first appeared in English in the late 14th century, “obeisance” shared the same meaning as “obedience.” This makes sense given that “obeisance” can be traced back to the Anglo-French verb “obeir,” which means “to obey” and is also an ancestor of our word “obey.” The other senses of “obeisance” also date from the 14th century, but they have stood the test of time whereas the obedience sense is now obsolete.

Obverse \AHB-verss\ noun *1 : the side of a coin or currency note bearing the chief device and lettering; broadly : a front or principal surface 2 : a counterpart having the opposite orientation or force; also : opposite

Example sentence: The U.S. Mint has begun releasing a new series of $1 coins, each showing the name and likeness of a former U.S. president on the obverse.

Did you know? Heads or tails? If you called heads, "obverse" is the word for you. Since the 17th century, we've been using "obverse" for the front side of coins (usually, the side depicting the head or bust of a ruler). The opposite of this sense of "obverse" is "reverse," the back or "tails" side of a coin. Since the 19th century, "obverse" has also had the extended meaning "an opposing counterpart" or "opposite." Additionally, it can be an adjective meaning "facing the observer or opponent" or "being a counterpoint or complement."

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 Example Sentence Invoking Occam's razor, Eli concluded that the sill was wet because someone had left the window open during the storm. Did you know? William of Occam (also spelled "Ockham") didn't invent the rule associated with his name. Others had espoused the "keep it simple" concept before that 14th-century philosopher and theologian embraced it, but no one wielded the principle (also known as the “law of parsimony”) as relentlessly as he did. He used it to counter what he considered the fuzzy logic of his theological contemporaries, and his applications of it inspired 19th-century Scottish philosopher Sir William Hamilton to link “Occam” with the idea of cutting away extraneous material, giving us the modern name for the principle.

Oldster \OHLD-ster\ noun : an old or elderly person Example Sentence More and more oldsters are embracing the Internet and connecting and interacting using social networking Web sites. Did you know? “Youngster” has been used since the 16th century as a word for a young person with a lot of spunk. It has also long been used by maritime people as a word for a midshipman who has served less than four years. This use is connected with the Dutch word “younker,” which, like “youngster,” refers to a young person as well as a young seaman. “Oldster” came about as a word used to differentiate the inexperienced midshipmen, or youngsters, from the experienced ones. To be exact, an oldster is a midshipman of four years’ standing. Charles Dickens gets credit for the earliest known use of “oldster” in the general sense of “an old person.” In his 1848 novel Dombey & Son he wrote, “Her eyes would play the Devil with the youngsters before long —‘and the oldsters too, Sir, if you come to that,’ added the Major.”

Omniscient \ahm-NISH-unt\ adjective 1 : having infinite awareness, understanding, and insight

*2 : possessed of universal or complete knowledge Example Sentence While many students expect their professors to be omniscient, Anton was glad that Dr. Hawkins was honest about the things she did not know. Did you know? One who is “omniscient” literally “knows all.” The word, which has been part of English since at least the beginning of the 17th century, brings together two Latin roots: the prefix “omni-,” meaning “all,” and the verb “scire,” meaning “to know.” You will recognize “omni-” as the prefix that tells all in such words as “omnivorous” (“eating all,” or, more precisely, “eating both meat and vegetables”) and “omnipotent” (“all-powerful”). “Scire” likewise has a number of other knowledge-related descendants in English, including “conscience,” “science,” and “prescience” (meaning “foreknowledge”).

Omphalos \AHM-fuh-lahss\ noun : a central point : hub, focal point Example Sentence “New Yorkers tend to see their city as the world’s omphalos.” (Alexandra Simou, The New York Sun, February 23, 2005) Did you know? "Omphalos" originated as an ancient Greek word meaning "navel" and is distantly related to two other words of the same meaning, Latin "umbilicus" and Old English "nafela." (The latter of these is the source of our word "navel.") The ancient Greeks also used "omphalos" to refer to a sacred, rounded stone in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi that was supposed to mark the center of the earth. In the 19th century, English speakers borrowed "omphalos" for this sense and its more general "center of activity" sense, as well as to refer to raised ornamentation on a shield or in the base of a cup or dish. In the 1920s, "omphalos" made another contribution to English via the word "omphaloskepsis," which means "contemplation of one's navel."

opine \oh-PYNE\ verb : to state as an opinion Example Sentence In his review, Malcolm opined that it was good to see the band returning to the formula that had worked so well for their first album. Did you know? “Opine” has been around since the 15th century, and while it certainly is not a rare word today, not everyone is inclined to take it seriously. Commentators have described it as a stilted word, appropriate only in facetious use — and it does have an undeniable tendency to turn up in humorous writing. Recent evidence, however, suggests that it is being used in perfectly respectable contexts more often. It typically serves to emphasize that the opinion being reported is just that — an opinion. The etymology of “opine” is perfectly respectable, too. The term derives from the Middle French “opiner” (“to express one’s opinion”) and the Latin “opinari,” meaning “to have an opinion” or “to think.”

orientate \OR-ee-un-tayt\ verb 1 : to set in a definite position especially in relation the points of the compass *2 : to acquaint with an existing situation or environment 3 : to direct toward the interests of a particular group Example Sentence “She learned to orientate new service members in the principles, practices and tools necessary to function in the Air Force.” (Ryan Davis, St. Petersburg Times, October 5, 2000) Did you know? "Orientate" is a synonym of "orient," and it has attracted criticism as a consequence. "Orient," which dates from the mid-18th century, is in fact the older of the two verbs — "orientate" joined the language in the mid-19th century. Both can mean "to cause to face toward the east" (and, not surprisingly, they are related to the noun "Orient," meaning "the East"). Both also have broader meanings that relate to setting or determining direction or position, either literally or figuratively. Some critics dislike "orientate" because it is one syllable longer than “orient,” but you can decide for yourself how important that consideration is to you. Personal choice is the primary deciding factor, although "orientate" tends to be used more often in British English than it is in American.

parlay

\PAHR-lay\ verb1 : to bet in a parlay2 a : to exploit successfully *b : to increase or otherwise transform into something of much greater value Example SentenceThe young actor parlayed his popularity as a teen heartthrob into a successful film career. Did you know?If you're the gambling type, you may already know that "parlay" can also be used as a noun describing a series of bets in which a person places a bet, then puts the original stake of money and all of its winnings on new wagers. But you might not know that "parlay" represents a modified spelling of the French name for such bets: "paroli." You might also be unaware that the original French word is still occasionally used in English with the same meaning as the noun "parlay."

Paucity \PAW-suh-tee\ noun: *1 : smallness of number : fewness 2 : smallness of quantity : dearth Example Sentence The manager overheard two customers complaining about the paucity of stylish designs in the store.

Did you know? "Paucity," which was first recorded in English in the 15th century, comes to us from the Middle English word "paucite," and is ultimately derived from “paucus,” Latin for "little." It is not surprising, then, that "paucity" came to refer to a "littleness" of numbers (as in “a paucity of facts or studies”) or quantity (“a paucity of evidence”). One can even use paucity when speaking of abstract concepts, as in “a paucity of experience or knowledge.”

Pejorative \pih-JOR-uh-tiv\ adjective : having negative connotations; especially : tending to disparage or belittle : depreciatory Example Sentence The team's star player has come under fire for making pejorative remarks about women during a magazine interview. Did you know? "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Moms have given that good advice for years, but unfortunately many people haven't heeded it. The word "pejorative" makes it clear that both English and Latin speakers have long known that disparaging words can make a bad situation worse. "Pejorative" derives from the Late Latin adjective “pejoratus,” which in turn comes from the Latin verb “pejorare,” meaning "to make or become worse." Although pejorative words have probably always been part of English, the adjective "pejorative" has only been found in English texts since the late 1880s. Before then, English speakers could rely on older synonyms of "pejorative" such as "derogatory" and "uncomplimentary" to describe disparaging words.

Penury \PEN-yuh-ree\ noun *1 : a cramping and oppressive lack of resources (as money); especially : severe poverty 2 : extreme frugality Example Sentence As a young man Uncle Leonard endured great penury, and though he later became a successful business owner, he never forgot the hardships of his youth.

Did you know? The exact meaning of "penury" (from Latin "penuria," meaning "want") can vary a bit from context to context. It sometimes has had a broad sense of "lack" or "scarcity," as when one character remarks on another's "penury of conversation" in Jane Austen's Emma. It can also mean "frugality," as in Edith Wharton's description of an excessively thrifty hostess in The Age of Innocence: "Her relatives considered that the penury of her table discredited the Mingott name, which had always been associated with good living." The most common sense of "penury," however, is simply "poverty," as in Shakespeare's As You Like It: "Shall I keep your hogs, and eat husks with them? What prodigal portion have I spent that I should come to such penury?"

Peregrine \PAIR-uh-grin\ adjective : having a tendency to wander

Example Sentence “Birders are peregrine by nature, typically traveling to distant destinations in pursuit of their hobby….” (James F. McCarty, Plain Dealer [Cleveland], June 1, 2006) Did you know? The current meaning of "peregrine" has wandered a bit from its earlier meanings. The word originally meant "foreign," as did its Latin predecessor “peregrinus.” But even before "peregrine" appeared on its own in English, it was part of the name of that well-known bird of prey, the peregrine falcon. The bird's appellation derives from “falco peregrinus” — literally, “pilgrim falcon” in Medieval Latin. Peregrine falcons typically nest in high places, such as on cliff ledges or, in modern times, city skyscrapers. Because of the nests’ inaccessibility, medieval falconers who wanted young peregrine falcons to train had to capture them on their first flights or migratory “pilgrimages.” That practice led to a new sense of "peregrine" ("engaged in or traveling on a pilgrimage"), which was later broadened to "wandering."

Permeate \PER-mee-ayt\ verb *1 : to diffuse through or penetrate (something) 2 : to pass through the pores or interstices of Example Sentence The scent of lilacs permeated the air as soon as the bushes bloomed outside my window. Did you know? It's no surprise that "permeate" means "to pass through" something — it was borrowed into English in the mid-17th century from the Latin "permeatus," which comes from the prefix "per-" ("through") and the verb "meare," meaning "to go" or “to pass." "Meare" itself comes from an ancient root that may have also led to Middle Welsh and Czech words meaning "to go" and "to pass," respectively. Other descendants of "meare" in English include "permeative," "permeable," "meatus" ("a natural body passage"), and the relatively rare "irremeable" ("offering no possibility of return").

Petulant \PET-chuh-lunt\ adjective

1 : insolent or rude in speech or behavior*2 : characterized by temporary or capricious ill humor : peevish Example Sentence "'What is it all about?' cried Dorian in his petulant way, flinging himself down on the sofa." (Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray)

Did you know? "Petulant" is one of many English words that are related to the Latin verb "petere," which means "to go to," "to attack," "to seek," or "to request." "Petere" is a relative of the Latin adjective "petulans" ("impudent"), from which "petulant" was derived. Some other words with connections to "petere" are "compete" and "appetite." "Competere," the Late Latin precursor to "compete," is a combination of the prefix "com-" and the verb "petere." The joining of "ad-" and "petere" led to "appetere" ("to strive after"), and eventually to Latin "appetitus," the source of our "appetite." Additional descendants of "petere" are "petition," "perpetual," and "impetus."

Plausible \PLAW-zuh-bul\ adjective 1 : seemingly fair, reasonable, or valuable but often not so 2 : superficially pleasing or persuasive *3 : appearing worthy of belief Example Sentence Her excuses for missing work were plausible at first, but soon became ridiculous. Did you know? Today the word "plausible” usually means “reasonable” or “believable,” but it once held the meanings "worthy of being applauded" and "approving." It comes to us from the Latin adjective "plausibilis" ("worthy of applause"), which in turn derives from the verb "plaudere," meaning "to applaud or clap.” Other "plaudere" descendants in English include "applaud," "plaudit" (the earliest meaning of which was "a round of applause"), and "explode” (from Latin “explodere,” meaning “to drive off the stage by clapping”).

Pleiad \PLEE-ad\ noun

: a group of usually seven illustrious or brilliant persons or things

Example sentence: During Wolfgang’s brief time at the spa, he met a pleiad of writers and intellectuals who also were there to “take the cure,” as they say.

Did you know? In Greek mythology, the Pleiades were the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione who were changed into a conspicuous cluster of seven stars in the constellation Taurus. During the Renaissance, French speakers used “Pléiade” (from the singular form of “Pleiades”) as the name for an eminent group of seven tragic poets of ancient Alexandria. Later, the French word was also used as a sobriquet for a group of 16th-century French poets led by Pierre de Ronsard. “Pleiad” has been shining its light in English since about 1839.

poetaster\POH-uh-tass-ter\ noun: an inferior poet Example Sentence"Germaine Greer, Chair Of Judges For The National Poetry Competition 2000, Invites Entries From Readers, But Be Warned: Poetasters Need Not Apply" (Headline, The [London] Independent, May 7, 2000) Did you know?In Latin, the suffix "-aster" indicates partial resemblance. In both Latin and English, that often translates to "second-rate," or maybe even "third-rate." Not surprisingly, "poetaster" often goes hand in hand with "doggerel," meaning "verse marked by triviality or inferiority." "Most of the people who send me thick sheaves of handwritten or word-processed doggerel," Ms. Greer tells us in the Independent article we quote above, "appear never to have read any poetry, good or bad.... Every week poetasters, like literary flashers seeking to amaze and appal hapless passers-by with the sight of their grey flaccidities, send their effusions to people like me." Are there are other kinds of "-asters" out there? Yes indeed — we have criticasters, philosophasters, and politicasters, among others.

Posthaste \POHST-HAYST\ adverb: with all possible speed Example Sentence When it became clear that the interviewee was inebriated and unable to speak coherently, the television station cut to commercial posthaste.

Did you know? In the 16th century, “haste, post, haste” was used to inform “posts,” as couriers were then called, that a letter was urgent and must be hastily delivered. Posts would then speedily gallop along a route with a series of places at which to get a fresh horse or to relay the letter to a fresh messenger. Shakespeare was one of the first to use a version of the phrase adverbially in Richard II. “Old John of Gaunt … hath sent post haste / To entreat your Majesty to visit him,” the Bard versified. He also used the phrase as an adjective in Othello (a use that is now obsolete): “The Duke … requires your haste-post-haste appearance,” Lieutenant Cassio reports to the play’s namesake.

Postlude \POHST-lood\ noun *1 : a closing piece of music; especially : an organ voluntary at the end of a church service 2 : a closing phase (as of an epoch or a literary work) Example Sentence As the organist played the postlude, the worshipers began to file out of the church.

Did you know? "Postlude" is the lesser-known counterpart to "prelude" — and in fact, "postlude" was created based on the example of "prelude," substituting "post-" for "pre-." At the root of both terms is the Latin verb "ludere" ("to play"), and a postlude is essentially "something played afterward." Although "prelude" first appeared in print in the 16th century, "postlude" didn't turn up until 1851. "Prelude" was first used in the general sense of "something preliminary" and only later acquired its musical application, while "postlude" developed in the opposite direction, originating as a musical term before broadening to include other kinds of closings. Both words are also related to "interlude," which can refer, among other things, to a musical composition inserted between the parts of a larger whole.

Potentate \POH-tun-tayt\ noun : ruler, sovereign; broadly : one who wields great power or sway Example Sentence His work as a high-level diplomat frequently brings him into contact with foreign potentates.

Did you know? "Potentate" has been wielding its power in English since the 15th century. It comes from the Late Latin "potentatus," which in turn was formed from the Latin "potent-," meaning "powerful." Other descendants of "potent-" in English include "potent” itself, "impotent," and "omnipotent," as well as the archaic "armipotent" and very rare "bellipotent" (meaning, respectively, "mighty in battle" and "mighty in war"). Even "power" and "powerful" can be traced back to "potent-.”

Presentiment \prih-ZENT-uh-munt\ noun:a feeling that something will or is about to happen : premonition Example Sentence Beth had a presentiment that something out of the ordinary was going to happen, and, sure enough, she soon got a phone call from her estranged brother.

Did you know? "'Do you ever have presentiments, Mr. Flintwich?' 'I am not sure that I know what you mean by the term, sir,' replied that gentleman. 'Say, in this case, Mr. Flintwich, undefined anticipations of pleasure to come.' 'I can't say I'm sensible of such a sensation at present,' returned Mr. Flintwich, with the utmost gravity." Nothing sensational said here, perhaps, but Mr. Flintwich shows a sensitivity to words that, like "presentiment," are related to the Latin verb "sentire," (“to feel”). He uses two of these words, and we've added three more. The quote is from Charles Dickens' Little Dorrit, and the words are "sensible," "sensation," "sensational," "sensitivity," and "sense."

Prevenient \prih-VEEN-yunt\ adjective : antecedent, anticipatory Example Sentence "What aroused my hackles when I saw the... reports on the Academy’s findings was the prevenient sense that here... was another propaganda statement." (R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr., The Washington Times, July 7, 2000) Did you know? It would be quite convenient to know where the word "prevenient" comes from. Can you find two relatives of "prevenient" in that sentence? You probably guessed that "convenient" is a cousin — and you’re right; it derives from the Latin verb "convenire," meaning "to come together" or "to be suitable," which is itself from "venire," meaning "to come." "Prevenient," which first appeared in English in the mid-1600s, comes to us from the Latin "praevenire" ("to come before" or "to anticipate"), which is also from "venire." The other (albeit distant) relative of "prevenient" in the opening sentence is "come"; it shares an ancient ancestor with "venire."

procrustean \pruh-KRUSS-tee-un\ adjective 1 : of, relating to, or typical of Procrustes *2 : marked by arbitrary often ruthless disregard of individual differences or special circumstances Example Sentence The company abandoned its procrustean scheduling policy and began allowing single mothers and other employees to work more flexible hours. Did you know? Procrustes was one of many villains defeated by the Greek hero Theseus. According to Greek mythology, Procrustes was a robber who killed his victims in a most cruel and unusual way. He made them lie on an iron bed and would force them to fit the bed by cutting off the parts that hung off the ends or by stretching those people who were too short. Something “Procrustean,” therefore, takes no account of individual differences but cruelly and mercilessly makes everything the same. And a “procrustean bed” is a scheme or pattern into which someone or something is arbitrarily forced.

Prodigy \PRAH-duh-jee\ noun 1 : something extraordinary : wonder *2 : a highly talented child

Example Sentence Musical audiences are fascinated by the prodigy, that rare and remarkable youngster who possesses technical mastery to rival that of the best adult performers. Did you know? Is a prodigy a genius or a monster — or both? Nowadays, it's the talent that shines through, but back in the 15th century the word's meaning was more strongly influenced by that of its Latin ancestor, “prodigium,” meaning "omen" or "monster." Back then, a prodigy could be any strange or weird thing that might be an omen of things to come. Even in modern English, the word sometimes refers to an extraordinary deed or accomplishment. P.G. Wodehouse used that sense when he described how a character named Pongo Twistleton was "performing prodigies with the [billiard] cue."

Progeny \PRAH-juh-nee\ noun 1 a : descendants, children b : offspring of animals or plants *2 : outcome, product 3 : a body of followers, disciples, or successors Example Sentence The champion thoroughbred passed on his speed, endurance, and calm temperament to his progeny, many of whom became successful racehorses themselves.

Did you know? "Progeny" is the progeny of the Latin verb “progignere,” meaning "to beget." That Latin word is itself an offspring of the prefix “pro-,” meaning "forth,” and “gignere,” which can mean "to beget" or "to bring forth." “Gignere” has produced a large family of English descendants, including "benign" (meaning "mild" or "harmless"), "congenital" (meaning "inherent"), "engine," "genius," "germ," "indigenous," "ingenuous," and "malign." “Gignere” even paired up with “pro-” again to produce a close relative of “progeny”: the noun "progenitor," which can mean "an ancestor in the direct line,” “a biologically ancestral form,” or “a precursor or originator.”

Propagate \PRAH-puh-gayt\ verb 1 : to reproduce or cause to reproduce biologically : multiply 2 : to cause to spread : extend *3 : to foster growing knowledge of, familiarity with, or acceptance of (as an idea or belief) : publicize Example Sentence Noah Webster endeavored to propagate a new system of spelling, with only limited success.

Did you know? The origins of "propagate" are firmly rooted in the field of horticulture. The word was borrowed into English in the late 16th century from Latin "propagatus," the past participle of the verb "propagare," which means "to set (onto a plant) a small shoot or twig cut for planting or grafting." "Propagare," in turn, derives from "propages," meaning "layer (of a plant), slip, offspring." It makes sense, therefore, that the earliest uses of "propagate" referred to facilitating reproduction of a plant or animal. Nowadays, however, the meaning of “propagate” can extend to the "reproduction" of something intangible, such as an idea or belief. Incidentally, "propaganda" also comes to us from "propagare," although it took a somewhat different route into English.

Propensity \pruh-PENN-suh-tee\ noun : an often intense natural inclination or preference Example Sentence “My brother has a propensity for exaggeration,” said Daniella, “so you should probably take his claims with a grain of salt.” Did you know? When it comes to synonyms of “propensity,” the letter “p” predominates. “Proclivity,” “preference,” “penchant,” and “predilection” all share with “propensity” the essential meaning “a strong instinct or liking.” Not every word that is similar in meaning to “propensity” begins with “p,” however. “Propensity” comes from Latin “propensus,” the past participle of “propendēre,” a verb meaning “to incline” or “to hang forward or down.” Thus “leaning” and “inclination” are as good synonyms of “propensity” as any of those “p”-words.

Puckish \PUCK-ish\ adjective : impish, whimsical

Example Sentence Ellen found Gabe’s puckish antics quite appealing when they first started dating, but now she wishes he would be more serious. Did you know? We know Puck as “that merry wanderer of the night,” the shape-changing, maiden-frightening, mischief-sowing henchman to the king of the fairies in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The Bard drew on English folklore in casting his character, but the traditional Puck was more malicious than the Shakespearean imp; he was an evil spirit or demon. In medieval England, this nasty hobgoblin was known as the “puke” or “pouke,” names related to the Old Norse “pūki,” meaning “devil.” But it was the Bard's characterization that stuck, and by the time the adjective "puckish" started appearing regularly in English texts in the late 1800s the association was one of impishness, not evil.

Puissant \PWISS-unt\ adj : of great force or vigor : strong, powerful Example Sentence Laurie was aware of the restaurant critic’s puissant influence in the industry, so she became quite nervous when she spotted him sitting at a table in her cafe. Did you know? "Puissant" has some powerful ties to some more commonplace English words. Although "puissant" has a considerably fancier feel than "power" and "potent," all three words share the same Latin ancestor: “posse,” a verb meaning "to be able." "Power" came to us by way of Anglo-French “poer,” which is itself thought to have come from “potere,” a Vulgar Latin alteration of “posse.” "Potent" came from “potent-, potens,” a present participle of “posse.” From “poer” came the adjective “pussant,” meaning “able” or “powerful” in Anglo-French, and English speakers borrowed that to form "puissant" in the 15th century.

Quixotic \kwik-SAH-tik\ adjective

*1 : foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals; especially : marked by rash lofty romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action 2 : capricious, unpredictable Example Sentence Marta has been desperately trying to convince her friends to give up their cars and computers and return to nature on Earth Day, but it has been a quixotic crusade.

Did you know? If you guessed that "quixotic" has something to do with Don Quixote, you're absolutely right. The hero of the 17th-century Spanish novel El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha (by Miguel de Cervantes) didn't change the world by tilting at windmills, but he did leave a linguistic legacy in English. The adjective “quixotic” is based on his name and has been used to describe unrealistic idealists since at least the early 18th century. The novel has given English other words as well. “Dulcinea,” the name of Quixote’s beloved, has come to mean “mistress” or “sweetheart,” and “rosinante,” which is sometimes used to refer to an old, broken-down horse, comes from the name of the hero’s less-than-gallant steed.

Quondam \KWAHN-dum\ adj : former, sometime Example Sentence A quondam rodeo champ, circuit preacher, and peanut farmer, Baxter has settled into his new life as a stand-up comedian. Did you know? Looking for an unusual and creative way to say "former"? "Quondam" (which came to English in the 16th century from Latin quondam, meaning “at one time” or "formerly") certainly fits the bill. Or maybe you'd prefer one of its synonyms: "whilom," "ci-devant" or "preterit." Or you could really go crazy with "umquhile," a word that is extremely rare even in its more natural Scots English setting. "Quondam" itself isn't exactly ubiquitous, but it's used more than any of the other words above. If you're looking for something a bit more pedestrian, you might try yet another synonym: "erstwhile." Despite its wonderfully archaic flavor, "erstwhile" is a highly favored alternative.

Ramshackle \RAM-shak-ul\ adjective *1 : appearing ready to collapse : rickety 2 : carelessly or loosely constructed

Example Sentence The properties were separated by a ramshackle wooden fence that was just barely held together with chicken wire. Did you know? “Ramshackle” has nothing to do with rams, nor the act of being rammed, nor shackles. The word is an alteration of “ransackled,” an obsolete form of the verb “ransack,” meaning “to search through or plunder.” (“Ransack” in turn derives, via Middle English, from Old Norse words meaning “house” and “seek.”) A home that has been ransacked has had its contents thrown into disarray, and that image may be what caused us to start using “ramshackle” in the first half of the 19th century to describe something that is poorly constructed or in a state of near collapse. These days, “ramshackle” can also be used figuratively, as in “He could only devise a ramshackle excuse for his absence."

Rapporteur \ra-por-TER\ noun : a person who gives reports (as at a meeting of a learned society) Example Sentence The rapporteur compiled the available evidence into a report and presented it to the full committee. Did you know? “Rapporteur” was adopted into English in the early 16th century and is a descendant of the Middle French verb "rapporter," meaning "to bring back, report, or refer.” Other descendants of "rapporter" in English include "rapportage" (a rare synonym of “reportage,” in the sense of “writing intended to give an account of observed or documented events”) and "rapport" (“harmonious relationship”). The words “report,” “reporter,” “reportage,” etc., are also distant relatives of “rapporteur”; all can ultimately be traced back to the Latin prefix “re-,” meaning “back, again, against,” and the Latin word "portare," meaning "to carry.”

Recuse \rih-KYOOZ\ verb : to disqualify (oneself) as a judge in a particular case; broadly : to remove (oneself) from participation to avoid a conflict of interest Example Sentence Because he was a frequent customer at the plaintiff’s shop, the judge recused himself from the case. Did you know? “Recuse” is derived from the Anglo-French word “recuser,” which comes from Latin “recusare,” meaning “to refuse.” English speakers began using “recuse” with the meaning “to refuse or reject” in the 14th century. By the 17th century, the term had acquired the meaning “to challenge or object to (a judge).” The current legal use of “recuse” as a term specifically meaning “to disqualify (oneself) as a judge” didn’t come into frequent use until the mid-20th century. Broader applications soon followed from this sense — you can now recuse yourself from such things as debates and decisions as well as court cases.

Red herring \RED-HERR-ing\ noun 1 : a herring cured by salting and slow smoking to a dark brown color *2 : something that distracts attention from the real issue Example Sentence

The editorial asserts that the hoopla over the proposed new convention center is a red herring, deflecting attention from the mayor’s failure to resolve the budgetary crisis. Did you know? Believe it or not, "red herring" has as much to do with hunting dogs as with brightly colored fish. Here's how: A herring is a soft-finned bony fish. People who like to eat herring have long preserved them by salting and slowly smoking them. That process makes a herring turn red or dark brown — and gives them a very strong smell. Dogs love to sniff such smelly treats, a fact that makes the fish a perfect diversion for anyone trying to distract hunting dogs from the trail of their quarry. The practice of using preserved fish to confuse hunting dogs led to the use of the term "red herring" for anything that diverts attention from the issue at hand.

Redoubt \rih-DOUT\ noun 1 a : a small usually temporary enclosed defensive work b : a defended position : protective barrier *2 : a secure retreat : stronghold

Example Sentence From his redoubt on the ninth floor, the fugitive could see the line of police cars that had surrounded the building. Did you know? Based on its spelling, you might think that “redoubt” shares its origin with words such as “doubt” and “redoubtable,” both of which derive from a Latin verb, “dubitare.” But that’s not the case. “Redoubt” actually derives via French and Italian from a different Latin verb — “reducere,” meaning “to lead back,” the same root that gives us “reduce.” How that “b” ended up in “redoubt” is a lingering question, but some etymologists have posited that the word might have been conflated with another “redoubt” — a now-archaic transitive verb meaning “to regard with awe, dismay, or dread.” Unlike its homographic twin, that “redoubt” does derive from the same root as “doubt” and “redoubtable.”

Refractory \rih-FRAK-tuh-ree\ adjective *1 : resisting control or authority : stubborn, unmanageable 2 a : resistant to treatment or cure b : unresponsive to stimulus c : immune, insusceptible 3 : difficult to fuse, corrode, or draw out; especially : capable of enduring high temperature Example Sentence Refractory students may be disciplined, suspended, or expelled, depending on the seriousness of their offense. Did you know? “Refractory” is from the Latin word “refractarius.” During the 17th century, it was sometimes spelled as “refractary,” but that spelling, though more in keeping with its Latin parent, had fallen out of use by the century’s end. “Refractarius,” like “refractory,” is the result of a slight variation in spelling. It stems from the Latin verb “refragari,” meaning “to oppose.”

Reify \RAY-uh-fye\ verb : to regard (something abstract) as a material or concrete thing : to give definite content and form to (something abstract) Example Sentence “He describes the phenomenal popularity of Edwin Markham's proletarian poem ‘The Man With the Hoe,’ which reified labor's feelings of injustice.” (Neal Gabler, The Washington Post, February 18, 1996) Did you know? “Reify” is a word that attempts to provide a bridge between what is abstract and what is real. Fittingly, it derives from a word that is an ancestor to “real” — the Latin noun “res,” meaning “thing.” Both “reify” and the related noun “reification” first appeared in English in the mid-19th century, though “reification” is a few years older and some dictionaries consider “reify” to be a back-formation of the noun. In general use, the words refer to the act of considering or presenting an abstract idea in real or material terms, or of judging something by a concrete example.

Repertoire \REP-er-twar\ noun 1 : a list or supply of dramas, operas, pieces, or parts that a company or person is prepared to perform *2 : a supply of skills or devices possessed by a person

Example sentence: “She is a pastry chef whose repertoire ranges from chocolate-filled croissants to old-fashioned scones and chocolate chip cookies.”(Linda Giuca, Hartford Courant [Connecticut], January 31, 2008)

Did you know? The Late Latin noun “repertorium,” meaning “list,” has given us two words that can be used to speak of the broad range of things that someone or something can do. One is “repertory,” perhaps most commonly known as a word for a company that presents several different plays, operas, or other works at one theater, or the theater where such works are performed. “Repertoire,” which comes from “repertorium”via French, once meant the same thing as “repertory” but later came to refer to the range of skills that a person has under his or her belt, such as the different pitches a baseball pitcher can throw or the particular dishes that are a chef’s specialty.

Replete \rih-PLEET\ adjective *1 : fully or abundantly provided or filled 2 a : abundantly fed b : fat, stout 3 : complete Example Sentence

The children were delighted to find that the costume trunk was replete with dresses, hats, capes, and all sorts of props to play make-believe. Did you know? Given that one of the roots of “replete” is the Latin verb “plēre,” meaning "to fill," it isn't surprising that the word has synonyms such as "full" and "complete." “Replete,” “full,” and “complete” all indicate that something contains all that is wanted or needed or possible, but there are also subtle differences between the words. "Full" implies the presence or inclusion of everything that can be held, contained, or attained ("a full schedule"), while "complete" applies when all that is needed is present ("a complete picture of the situation"). "Replete" is the synonym of choice when fullness is accompanied by a sense of satiety.

Rescript \REE-skript\ noun 1 : a written answer of a Roman emperor or of a pope to a legal inquiry or petition 2 : an official or authoritative order, decree, edict, or announcement *3 : an act or instance of rewriting Example SentenceThe committee agreed on a rescript of the rules. Did you know? "Rescript" was first used in the 15th century for the written reply of a sovereign or pope to a question about some matter of law or state, and then for any type of authoritative declaration. These days, however, people are more likely to use it as a synonym of "rewrite," a use that began in the 19th century. Charlotte Brontë, for one, used it in her novel Villette. “I wrote [the letter] three times … subduing the phrases at every rescript,” her narrator confesses.

Restaurateur \res-tuh-ruh-TER\ noun : the operator or proprietor of a restaurant Example SentenceFred began his career in the food-service industry as a humble busboy, but today he is a successful restaurateur who recently opened his third eating establishment. Did you know? "Restaurateur" and "restaurant" were borrowed directly from related French words, and both ultimately derive from the Latin word "restaurare" ("to restore"). "Restaurant" arrived in English in the second half of the 18th century. We acquired "restaurateur" approximately 30 years later. Of the two words, "restaurant" is significantly more common — a fact that may have influenced the development of the variant spelling "restauranteur" for "restaurateur." "Restauranteur" first appeared in the 1920s, and some people consider it to be an error. It is, however, a standard variant, albeit one that continues to be used less frequently than "restaurateur."

Rodomontade \rah-duh-mun-TAYD\ noun 1 : a bragging speech *2 : vain boasting or bluster : rant Example Sentence My arrogant uncle is given to frequent flights of rodomontade about what a hard-working, self-made man he is.

Did you know? "Rodomontade" (which can also be spelled “rhodomontade”) originated in Italian poetry. Rodomonte was a fierce and boastful king in Orlando Innamorato, Count Matteo M. Boiardo’s late 15th century epic, and later in the sequel Orlando Furioso, written by poet Lodovico Ariosto in 1516. In the late 16th century, English speakers began to use "rodomont" as a noun meaning "braggart." Soon afterwards, "rodomontade" entered the language as a noun (meaning "empty bluster" or "bragging speech") and later as an adjective (meaning "boastful” or “ranting"). The noun "rodomont" is no longer used in English, but "rodomontade" is still with us.

Sacrilegious \sak-ruh-LIJ-us\ adjective 1 : committing or characterized by a technical and not necessarily intrinsically outrageous violation (as improper reception of a sacrament) of what is sacred because consecrated to God *2 : grossly irreverent toward a hallowed person, place, or thing Example Sentence My great-grandfather was a die-hard New Dealer who considered any criticism of Franklin D. Roosevelt to be sacrilegious.

Did you know? It may seem that "sacrilegious" should be spelled as "sacreligious," since the word sometimes describes an irreverent treatment of religious objects or places. However, "sacrilegious" comes to us from "sacrilege," which is ultimately derived from a combination of the Latin words "sacer" ("sacred") and "legere" ("to gather” or “to steal"). Its antecedent in Latin, "sacrilegus," meant "one who steals sacred things." There is no direct relation to "religious" (which is derived from the Latin word "religiosus," itself from "religio," meaning "supernatural constraint or religious practice"). The apparent resemblance between "sacrilegious" and "religious" is just a coincidence.

Salad days \SAL-ud-DAYZ\ noun plural : time of youthful inexperience or indiscretion; also : an early flourishing period : heyday Example Sentence My grandfather loves to reminisce about his salad days in the small Nebraska town where he grew up.

Did you know? A good salad is fresh, crisp, and usually green. Those attributes are often associated (in both vegetables and people) with vitality and immaturity. The first English writer known to use "salad days" to associate the fresh greenness of salad with the vigor and recklessness of youth was William Shakespeare. In Antony and Cleopatra, Cleopatra praises Marc Antony's valor and demands that her serving woman do the same. When the servant instead praises her former consort, Caesar, Cleopatra threatens her — until the woman notes that she is only echoing Cleopatra's own effusive past praise of Caesar. Cleopatra's reply marks the first English use of "salad days": "My salad days, / When I was green in judgment, cold in blood, / To say as I said then."

Sanguine \SANG-gwin\ adjective 1 : bloodred 2 of the complexion : ruddy *3 : confident, optimistic Example Sentence The coach remained sanguine about his team's chances in the playoffs, even though his star player was injured. Did you know? “Sanguine” has quite a few relatives in English, including a few that might sound familiar to Word of the Day readers. “Sangfroid” (“self-possession especially under strain”) and “sanguineous” (“bloodthirsty”) are consanguineous with “sanguine.” (“Consanguineous,” meaning “descended from the same ancestor,” is another former Word of the Day.) The tie that binds these words is “sanguis,” the Latin word for blood. “Exsanguination” (“the draining or losing of blood”), “sanguinary” (“murderous” or “bloody”), and the rare “sangsue” (“leech”) and “sanguinolent” (“tinged with blood”) are also “sanguis” relatives. That’s something you can raise a glass of “sangaree” or “sangria” (“a usually iced punch made of red wine, fruit juice, and soda water”) to!

Scavenger \SKAV-un-jer\ noun 1 chiefly British : a person employed to remove dirt and refuse from streets * 2 : one who collects or salvages garbage or junk 3 : an organism that typically feeds on refuse or carrion Example Sentence Scavengers took the broken lamp that I left on the curb last night.

Did you know? You might guess that “scavenger” is a derivative of “scavenge,” but the reverse is actually true; “scavenger” is the older word, first appearing in English in 1530, and the back-formation “scavenge” came into English in the mid-17th century. “Scavenger” is an alteration of the earlier “scavager,” itself from Anglo-French “scawageour,” meaning “collector of scavage.” In medieval times, “scavage” was a tax levied by towns and cities on goods put up for sale by nonresidents, in order to provide resident merchants with a competitive advantage. The officers in charge of collecting this tax were later made responsible for keeping streets clean, and that’s how “scavenger” came to refer to a public sanitation employee in Great Britain before acquiring its current sense referring to a person who salvages discarded items.

Semelparous \seh-MEL-puh-rus\ adjective: reproducing or breeding only once in a lifetime

Example Sentence

Each year the semelparous salmon return to the stream where they hatched to spawn, and they die soon thereafter.

Did you know? The combining form “-parous” was first used in English by the17th-century physician and writer Sir Thomas Browne, who wrote about organisms that were “multiparous” (“producing more than one at a birth”), “oviparous” (“producing eggs that develop outside the maternal body”), and “viviparous” (“producing living young instead of eggs from within the body”). The suffix is based on the Latin verb “parere,” meaning “to give birth to,” which is also a relative of the word that gave us “parent.” “Semelparous,” the youngest offspring of “-parous,” was born in 1954. Its other parent is “semel,” the Latin word for “once.”

Sentient \SEN-shee-unt\ adjective *1 : responsive to or conscious of sense impressions 2 : aware 3 : finely sensitive in perception or feeling Example Sentence “Pets are sentient beings, just like you and me,” explained Ted, “so it's important to treat them kindly.” Did you know? You may have guessed that “sentient” has something to do with the senses. The initial spelling “sent-” or “sens-” is often a giveaway for such a meaning. A “sentient” being is one who perceives and responds to sensations of whatever kind — sight, hearing, touch, taste, or smell. “Sentient” ultimately comes from the Latin verb “sentire,” which means “to feel” and is related to the noun “sensus,” meaning “feeling” or “sense.” A few related English words are “sentiment” and “sentimental,” which have to do with emotions, and “sensual,” which relates to more physical “sensations.”

Sericeous \suh-RISH-us\ adjective :covered with fine silky hair Example Sentence The shapes of the aster’s sericeous leaves range from lanceolate or oblong to broadly elliptic.

Did you know? In the writings of the ancient Greeks, there is mention of the Sēres, an eastern Asian people who made “sērikos” fabrics. Historians now believe that the Sēres were the Chinese, from whom the ancient Greeks first obtained silk. The ancient Romans wove the Sēres’ name into their language, creating “sericum,” the Latin word for silk. The English word “silk” is also assumed to be spun — with some very dramatic alterations from Old English to Middle English — from the same Greek fiber. Both “silk” and “silken” have been in the English language for many, many centuries, but scientists of the 18th century wanted a new term to describe the silky hairs on some leaves and bodies, and so they adapted the Late Latin word “sericeus” (“silken”) to create “sericeous.”

Shenanigan \shuh-NAH-ih-gun\ noun 1 : a devious trick used especially for an underhand purpose 2 *a : tricky or questionable practices or conduct — usually used in plural b : high-spirited or mischievous activity — usually used in plural Example Sentence The CEO resigned amid accusations of financial shenanigans and dubious deals. Did you know? The history of "shenanigan" is as tricky and mischievous as its meaning. Etymologists have some theories about its origins, but no one has been able to prove them. All we can say for certain is that the earliest known use of the word in print appeared in the April 25, 1855 issue of San Francisco's Town Talk. Although the "underhanded trick" sense of the word is oldest, the most common senses in use now are "tricky or questionable practices" (as in "political shenanigans") and "high-spirited behavior" (as in "youthful shenanigans").

Slapdash \SLAP-dash\ adjective : haphazard, slipshod

Example sentence: Brett was sharply reprimanded for his slapdash reporting after he submitted a story that omitted some important facts to his editor at the newspaper.

Did you know? The first known use of “slapdash” in English came in 1679 from the British poet and dramatist John Dryden, who used it as an adverb in his play The kind keeper; or Mr. Limberham: “Down I put the notes slap-dash.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines this sense in part as “[w]ith, or as with, a slap and a dash,” perhaps suggesting the notion of an action (such as painting) performed with quick, imprecise movements. Over 100 years later, the word acquired the adjectival sense with which we are more familiar today, describing something done in a hasty, careless, or haphazard manner.

Sophistry \SAH-fuh-stree\ noun *1 : subtly deceptive reasoning or argumentation 2 : an argument apparently correct in form but actually invalid; especially : such an argument used to deceive Example Sentence The senatorial candidate argued that his opponent was using sophistry in an effort to distort his plan for education reform. Did you know? The original Sophists were ancient Greek teachers of rhetoric and philosophy prominent in the 5th century B.C. In their heyday, these philosophers were considered adroit in their reasoning, but later philosophers (particularly Plato) described them as sham philosophers, out for money and willing to say anything to win an argument. Thus "sophist" (which comes from Greek “sophistēs,” meaning "wise man" or "expert") earned a negative connotation as "a captious or fallacious reasoner." "Sophistry" is reasoning that seems plausible on a superficial level but is actually unsound, or reasoning that is used to deceive.

Soupcon \soop-SAWNG (the final NG is not pronounced, but the vowel is nasalized)\ noun : a little bit : trace Example Sentence The author makes the protagonist seem more human by infusing a bit of vanity, a touch of greed, and a soupçon of self-doubt into his otherwise exceptional character. Did you know? Culinary enthusiasts may think "soupçon" originated with a dash of garlic in the coq au vin or a splash of vanilla in the crème anglaise, but the etymology of the word has more to do with inklings and suspicions than with food. Sometime in the 18th century, English speakers borrowed "soupçon" from the French, who were using the word to mean "drop," "touch," or "suspicion." The Old French form of the word was "sospeçon," which in turn comes from the Latin forms "suspection-" and "suspectio." Etymologists have further traced the word's Latin ancestry to the verb "suspicere," meaning "to suspect." "Suspicere," as you might expect, is also the source of the English words "suspect" and "suspicion."

Spavined \SPAV-ind\ adjective 1 : affected with spavin *2 : old and decrepit : over-the-hill Example Sentence There is no point in expecting the spavined Arts Council to do more than sponsor the same stale events and shopworn fund-raisers. Did you know? "His horse [is] . . . troubled with the lampas, infected with the fashions, full of windgalls, sped with spavins. . . ." Petruchio's poor, decrepit horse in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew is beset by just about every known equine malady, including a kind of swelling in the mouth (lampas), skin lesions (fashions), tumors on his fetlocks (windgalls), and bony enlargements on his hocks (spavins). The spavins alone can be enough to render a horse lame and useless. In the 17th century, "spavined" horses brought to mind other things that are obsolete, out-of-date, or long past their prime, and we began using the adjective figuratively. "Spavined" still serves a purpose, despite its age. It originated in Middle English as "spaveyned" and can be traced to the Middle French word for "spavin," which was "espavain."

Speculate \SPEK-yuh-layt\ verb 1 : to meditate on or ponder a subject : reflect *b : to think or theorize about something in which evidence is too slight for certainty to be reached 2 : to assume a business risk in hope of gain; especially : to buy or sell in expectation of profiting from market fluctuations

Example sentence: Mia's abrupt firing caused her coworkers to speculate endlessly about what she might have done wrong.

Did you know? "Speculate" was adopted into English in the late 16th century from Latin "speculatus," the past participle of the verb "speculari," which means "to spy out” or “to examine." "Speculari," in turn, derives from "specula," meaning "lookout post," and ultimately from the Latin verb "specere," "to look (at)." Other conspicuous descendants of "specere" are "inspect" and "suspect." Some less obvious descendants are the words "despise," "species," "specimen," and, as you may have speculated, "conspicuous."

Spinous \SPY-nuss\adjective 1 a : covered or armed with spines; broadly : bearing spines, prickles, or thorns b : slender and pointed like a spine *2 : difficult or unpleasant to handle or meet : thorny Example Sentence Both Kate and Nelson were uncomfortable answering the spinous, prying questions asked by their marriage counselor.

Did you know? English writers have been associating spines with things that are difficult to take since at least 1586, when the English dramatist Thomas Kyd used the word “spiny” to describe his “cares.” “Spinous” took on its figurative use in 1638, when the phrase “spinous criticisms” appeared. “Thorny explications” followed shortly after that, in 1653. Emily Dickinson gets the credit for giving the word “prickly” its “troublesome” sense. In her 1862 poem that begins “The Child’s faith is new,” she wrote “To hold mistaken / His pretty estimates / Of Prickly Things.”

Steadfast \STED-fast\ adjective 1 a : firmly fixed in place : immovable *b : not subject to change 2 : firm in belief, determination, or adherence : loyal Example Sentence Maureen knew she could count on the steadfast support of her best friend even in the hardest of times. Did you know? "Steadfast" has held its ground in English for many centuries. Its Old English predecessor, "stedefæst," combined "stede" (meaning "place" or "stead") and "fæst" (meaning "firmly fixed"). An Old English text of the late 10th century, called "The Battle of Maldon," contains our earliest record of the word, which was first used in battle contexts to describe warriors who stood their ground. Soon, it was also being used with the broad meaning "immovable," and as early as the 13th century it was applied to those unswerving in loyalty, faith, or friendship. Centuries later, all of these meanings endure.

Stygian \STIJ-ee-un\ adjective, often capitalized 1 : of or relating to the river Styx *2 : extremely dark, gloomy, or forbidding Example Sentence When the power went out in the building, the halls and stairwells were plunged into stygian darkness. Did you know? "Stygian" comes to us (by way of Latin “stygius” and Greek “stygios”) from “Styx,” the name of the principal river in Hades, the underworld of the dead in Greek mythology. This is the river over which Charon the boatman was said to ferry the spirits of the dead; the Greeks and Romans would place a coin in the mouth or hand of the deceased to serve as fare. It is also the river by which the gods swore their most binding oaths, according to the epics of Homer. English speakers have been using "stygian" to mean “of or relating to the river Styx” since the early 16th century. From there the meaning broadened to describe things that are as dark, dreary, and menacing as one might imagine Hades and the river Styx to be.

Subreption \sub-REP-shun\ noun : a deliberate misrepresentation; also : an inference drawn from it Example Sentence Shareholders have filed a class action lawsuit against the company for its subreption of earnings and losses.

Did you know? In canon law and Scots law, subreption is the obtainment of a dispensation or gift by concealment of the truth, whereas obreption is the obtainment of a dispensation or gift by fraud. Both terms are from Latin nouns: respectively, “subreptio,” meaning “the act of stealing,” and “obreptio,” meaning “the act of stealing upon.” The derivation of “subreption” also traces to the Latin verb “surripere,” meaning “to take away secretly,” which is the base of the Anglicized term “surreptitious,” a synonym of “stealthy.” “Obreption” shares an ancestor with the word “reptile”: Latin “repere,” meaning “to creep.”

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 Example Sentence The article focused on senior citizens who retired from the workplace and returned to school to become superannuated graduate students. Did you know? "Superannuated" was first put to use in English in the 1600s, having been borrowed from Medieval Latin “superannuatus,” the past participle of “superannuari” ("to be too old") — from Latin “super-” ("over" or "above") and “annus” ("year"). Shortly thereafter, we made our own verb, "superannuate," from the adjective. "Superannuate" meant "to retire and pension because of age or infirmity" as well as "to declare obsolete," meanings that are still in active service. "Superannuated" can mean “outmoded or old-fashioned,” as in “superannuated slang” or “superannuated neckties," or it can simply mean “older than usual,” as in our example sentence.

Surly \SER-lee\ adjective 1 : menacing or threatening in appearance *2 : irritably sullen and churlish in mood or manner : crabbed Example Sentence Vicki almost reported the surly cashier to the store manager, but then decided against doing so, telling herself that he was probably just having a bad day. Did you know? In its very earliest uses in the 16th century, "surly" meant "majestic" or "lordly." These early meanings make sense when you know that this word is an alteration of Middle English "serreli," which probably comes from "sire, ser,” a title formerly used as a form of address for men of rank or authority. So how did a word with such lofty beginnings come to be associated with grumbling rudeness? Arrogant and domineering behavior is sometimes associated with men of rank or position, and "surly" came to mean "haughty" or "imperious." These meanings (which are now obsolete) led to the "rude" sense that is very common today.

tactile\TAK-tul\ adjective1 : perceptible by touch*2 : of, relating to, or being the sense of touch Example Sentence"Nothing prepared me for the tactile reality of the original volumes, leaf after carefully written leaf over which his hand had travelled...." (Edmund Morris, The New Yorker, January 16, 1995) Did you know?"Tangible" is related to "tactile," and so are "intact," "tact," "contingent," "tangent," and even "entire." There's also the uncommon noun "taction," meaning "the act of touching." Like "tactile," all of these words can be traced back to the Latin verb "tangere," meaning "to touch." "Tactile" made its way to our language by way of French, touching ground in English in the early 17th century.

Tarantism \TAIR-un-tiz-um\ noun :a dancing mania or malady of late medieval Europe Example Sentence Victims of tarantism were said to dance ecstatically until they collapsed in total exhaustion. Did you know? Between the 15th and 17th centuries, Taranto, Italy was hit by a dance craze unlike any other. The town was afflicted by a malady that would come to be known as "tarantism" and was characterized by a hysterical impulse to dance. Some people claimed tarantism was caused by the bite of the European wolf spider, which is also known as the tarantula (and is also named after Taranto); such folks declared that dancing off the venom was the only cure. Musicians supposedly traveled to the region to help cure the epidemic, and some believe that the Italian folk dance called the "tarantella" resulted from the craze (though it is also possible that the name of that dance derived independently from "Taranto" and has no connection with "tarantism").

Tawdry \TAW-dree\ adjective : cheap and gaudy in appearance or quality; also : ignoble Example Sentence Tom and Pam found themselves in an unfamiliar section of the city, walking by tawdry storefronts and shady bars. Did you know? In the 7th century, Etheldreda, the queen of Northumbria, renounced her husband and her royal position for the veil of a nun. She was renowned for her saintliness and is traditionally said to have died of a swelling in her throat, which she took as a judgment upon her fondness for wearing necklaces in her youth. Her shrine became a principal site of pilgrimage in England. An annual fair was held in her honor on October 17th, and her name became simplified to St. Audrey. At these fairs various kinds of cheap knickknacks were sold, along with a type of necklace called "St. Audrey's lace," which by the 17th century had become altered to "tawdry lace." Eventually, "tawdry" came to be used to describe anything cheap and gaudy that might be found at these fairs or anywhere else.

Tetchy \TETCH-ee\ adjective : irritably or peevishly sensitive : touchy Example Sentence Nico sensed that his sister was in a tetchy mood, so he decided to wait until the next day to ask to borrow her car. Did you know? “Tetchy” is a word that may have been coined by Shakespeare — its first known use in English occurs in Romeo and Juliet (1592). Etymologists are not certain how the word came about, but some have suggested that it derives from “tetch,” an obsolete noun meaning “habit.” The similarity both in meaning and pronunciation to “touchy” might lead you to conclude that “tetchy” is related to that word, but there is no conclusive evidence to suggest such a connection. The adjectives “teched” and “tetched,” meaning “mentally unbalanced,” are variations of “touched,” and are probably also unrelated to “tetchy.”

Titanic \tye-TAN-ik\ adjective : having great magnitude, force, or power : colossal

Example sentence: The slugger launched a titanic home run that landed in the parking lot beyond the stadium’s center-field wall.

Did you know? Before becoming the name of one of the most famous ships in history, “titanic” referred to the Titans, a family of giants in Greek mythology who were believed to have once ruled the earth. They were subsequently overpowered and replaced by the younger Olympian gods under the leadership of Zeus. The size and power of the Titans is memorialized in the adjective “titanic” and in the noun “titanium,” a metallic element of exceptional strength that is used in the production of steel.

Titivate \TIH-tuh-vayt\ verb : to make or become smart or spruce Example Sentence “Work could undoubtedly be done on the show to titivate it for Broadway — but the score will remain a problem, if not a liability.” (Clive Barnes, The New York Post, August 13, 2000)

Did you know? "Titivate," "spruce," "smarten," and "spiff" all mean "to make a person or thing neater or more attractive." "Titivate" often refers to making small additions or alterations in attire ("titivate the costume with sequins and other accessories") and can also be used figuratively, as in our example sentence. "Spruce up" is sometimes used for cosmetic changes or renovations that give the appearance of newness ("spruce up the house with new shutters and fresh paint before trying to sell it"). "Smarten up" and "spiff up" both mean to improve in appearance often by making more neat or stylish ("the tailor smartened up the suit with minor alterations"; "he needed some time to spiff himself up for the party"). The origins of "titivate" are uncertain, but it may have been formed from the English words "tidy" and "renovate."

Theriac \THEER-ee-ak\ noun 1 : a mixture of many drugs and honey formerly held to be an antidote to poison *2 : cure-all

Example Sentence “Chicken soup may not really be a theriac,” said Helen, sniffling between spoonfuls, “but there certainly is something comforting about eating it when you’re feeling sick.” Did you know? There really is no such thing as a single remedy for all that ails us. But that hasn’t kept English speakers from creating, not just a single word, but several words, that mean “cure-all”: “catholicon,” “elixir,” “nostrum,” “panacea,” and today’s word, “theriac.” When we first used “theriac,” it meant “an antidote for poison” — for any and all poisons, that is. That’s how our Roman and Greek forebears used their “theriaca” and “thēriakē,” which derive ultimately from the Greek word for “wild animal.” The first theriac was supposedly created by the first-century Greek physician Andromachus, whose concoction consisted of some 70 drugs pulverized with honey. Medieval physicians created even more elaborate theriacs to dose a plague-dreading populace, for whom the possibility of a cure-all didn’t seem too wild a notion at all.

Treacle \TREE-kul\ noun 1 : a medicinal compound formerly in wide use as a remedy against poison 2 chiefly British a : molasses b : a blend of molasses, invert sugar, and corn syrup used as syrup *3 : something (as a tone of voice) heavily sweet and cloying Example Sentence The film is engaging for about an hour, but then it nose-dives into sentimental treacle and never recovers.

Did you know? The long history of "treacle" begins in ancient Greece. The Greek word “thēriakos,” meaning "of a wild animal," came from “thērion” ("wild animal"). Since wild animals are often known to bite, these words gave rise to “thēriake,” meaning "antidote against a poisonous bite." Latin borrowed “thēriake” as “theriaca,” and the word eventually entered Anglo-French — and then Middle English — as “triacle.” The senses of "treacle" that refer to molasses developed from the earlier "antidote" sense. The "molasses" sense, in turn, was extended to give us a word for things excessively sweet or sentimental.

Trepidation \trep-uh-DAY-shun\ noun : timorous uncertain agitation : apprehension Example Sentence As she boarded the plane for her first flight, Corrine felt a mixture of trepidation and excitement. Did you know? If you’ve ever trembled with fright, you know something of both the sensation and etymology of "trepidation." The word "trepidation" comes from the Latin verb "trepidare," which means "to tremble." When “trepidation” first appeared in English in the early 1600s, it meant “tremulous motion” or “tremor.” Around the same time, English speakers also started using the “nervous agitation” sense of “trepidation” that we use today.

Trichotillomania \trick-uh-till-uh-MAY-nee-uh\ noun : an abnormal desire to pull out one's hair Example Sentence Connie’s trichotillomania left her with an unfortunate array of bald spots along the crown of her head. Did you know? The word "trichotillomania" derives from the Greek “trich-” ("hair") and “tillein” ("to pull or pluck"), along with the suffix “-mania” (from “mainesthai,” meaning "to be mad"). People suffering from trichotillomania will routinely pluck hair from the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes or other parts of the body, usually impulsively but sometimes with careful deliberation (such as by using tweezers). Some researchers believe that it may be a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The word for this condition first appeared in English around the dawn of the 20th century (it’s generally thought to have been first coined in French by a French dermatologist).

Triptych \TRIP-tik\ noun 1 : an ancient Roman writing tablet with three waxed leaves hinged together 2 *a : a picture (as an altarpiece) or carving in three panels side by side b : something composed or presented in three parts or sections; especially : trilogy Example Sentence The artist unveiled an elaborate triptych in which the three panels represented the past, present, and future.

Did you know? A painted or carved triptych typically has three hinged panels, and the two outer panels can be folded in towards the central one. A literary or musical triptych generally consists of three closely related or contrasting themes or parts. “Triptych” derives from the Greek “triptychos” (“having three folds”), formed by combining “tri-” (“three”) and “ptyche” (“fold” or “layer”). Although “triptych” originally described a specific type of Roman writing tablet that had three hinged sections, it is not surprising that the idea was generalized first to a type of painting, and then to anything composed of three parts.

Truculent \TRUCK-yuh-lunt\ adjective *1 : feeling or displaying ferocity : cruel, savage 2 : deadly, destructive 3 : scathingly harsh : vitriolic 4 : aggressively self-assertive : belligerent

Example Sentence The small country was ruled by a truculent dictator.

Did you know? “Truculent” derives from “truculentus,” a form of the Latin adjective “trux,” meaning “savage.” It has been used in English since the 16th century to describe people or things that are cruel and ferocious, such as tyrannical leaders or wars, and has also come to mean “deadly or destructive” (as in “a truculent disease”). In current use, however, it has lost much of its etymological fierceness. It now frequently serves to describe speech or writing that is notably harsh (as in “truculent criticism”) or a person who is notably self-assertive and surly (such as “a truculent schoolboy”). Some usage commentators have criticized these extended uses because they do not match the savagery of the word’s original sense, but they are well-established and perfectly standard.

Turpitude \TER-puh-tood\ noun : inherent baseness : depravity; also : a base act Example Sentence The judge declared that the murders were the product of a gross moral turpitude. Did you know? "Turpitude" came to English from Latin by way of Middle French. The Latin word “turpitudo” comes from “turpis,” which means "vile" or "base." The word is often heard in the phrase "moral turpitude," an expression used in law to designate an act or behavior that gravely violates the sentiment or accepted standard of the community. A criminal offense that involves "moral turpitude" is considered wrong or evil by moral standards, in addition to being the violation of a statute.

Umpteen \UMP-teen\ adjective : very many : indefinitely numerous Example Sentence "Oh, I've been there umpteen times," drawled Melanie, when I excitedly told her about my plans to go to Europe. Did you know? "I'll go to bed and I'll not get up for umpty-eleven months." You know the feeling. The speaker here is war-weary Bill, a character in Patrick MacGill's early 20th-century novel The Great Push. His "umpty" originated as military slang around 1905 and stood for an indefinite number, generally largish. (It was probably created by analogy to actual numbers such as "twenty.") Soon, there followed "umpteen," blending “umpty” and "-teen." "Umpteen" usually describes an indefinite and large number or amount, while the related “umpteenth” is used for the latest or last in an indefinitely numerous series. We only occasionally use "umpty" these days (and even more rarely "umptieth"), but you're bound to hear or read "umpteen" and "umpteenth" any number of times.

Usurp \yoo-SERP\ verb : to seize and hold by force or without right Example Sentence In her first managerial position, Hannah was hesitant to delegate critical tasks for fear that a subordinate might usurp her position.

Did you know?

"Usurp" was borrowed into English in the 14th century from the Anglo-French word "usorper," which in turn derives from the Latin verb "usurpare," meaning "to take possession of without a legal claim." "Usurpare" itself was formed by combining "usu" (a form of "usus," meaning "use") and "rapere” ("to seize”). Other descendants of "rapere" in English include "rapacious" (“given to seizing or extorting what is coveted"), "rapine" ("the seizing and carrying away of things by force"), "rapt" (the earliest sense of which is "lifted up and carried away"), and "ravish" ("to seize and take away by violence").

Velleity \vuh-LEE-uh-tee\ noun 1 : the lowest degree of volition *2 : a slight wish or tendency : inclination Example Sentence Samuel sometimes mentions that he would like to go back to school, but his interest strikes me as more of a velleity than a firm statement of purpose.

Did you know? Allow us, if you will, to volunteer our knowledge about “velleity.” It is a derivative of the New Latin noun “velleitas,” from the Latin verb “velle,” meaning “to wish or will.” You might also wish to know that “velle” is the word that gave us “voluntary” (by way of Anglo-French “voluntarie” and Latin “voluntarius”) and “volunteer” (by way of French “voluntaire”). While both of those words might imply a wish to do something (specifically, to offer one’s help) and the will to act upon it, the less common “velleity” refers to a wish or inclination that is so insignificant that a person feels little or no compulsion to act.

Veritable \VAIR-uh-tuh-bul\ adjective: being in fact the thing named and not false, unreal, or imaginary Example Sentence Melissa is a veritable wellspring of information on local history and folklore. Did you know? "Veritable," like its close relative "verity" ("truth"), came to English through Anglo-French from Latin. It is ultimately derived from "verus," the Latin word for "true," which also gave us "verify," "aver," and "verdict." "Veritable" is often used as a synonym of "genuine" or "authentic" ("a veritable masterpiece"), but it is also frequently used to stress the aptness of a metaphor, often in a humorous tone ("a veritable swarm of lawyers"). In the past, usage commentators have objected to the latter use, but today it doesn't draw much criticism.

Visage \VIZ-ij\ noun *1 : the face, countenance, or appearance of a person or sometimes an animal 2 : aspect, appearance Example Sentence The model’s fierce, smoldering visage appears to gaze with contempt from billboards throughout the city. Did you know? The word “face" may be a pretty generic word, but it has several high-flown synonyms. "Physiognomy," for instance, refers to facial features thought to reveal qualities of temperament or character ("I thought I could detect in his physiognomy a mind owning better qualities than his father ever possessed. . . ." — Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights). "Countenance" is often used to refer to the face as an indication of mood or emotion ("Mina struggled hard to keep her brave countenance. . . .” — Bram Stoker, Dracula). "Visage" can refer to the face of a person or an animal, and it can also refer to the appearance of nonliving things, as in "the dirty visage of the old abandoned factory."

Vivacious \vuh-VAY-shus\ adjective: lively in temper, conduct, or spirit : sprightly Example Sentence The hostess was a pretty, vivacious woman with a knack for making people feel comfortable. Did you know? It's no surprise that "vivacious" means "full of life," since it can be traced back to the Latin verb "vivere," meaning "to live." The word was created around the mid-17th century using the Latin adjective "vivax," meaning "long-lived, vigorous, high-spirited." Other descendants of "vivere" in English include "survive," "revive," and "victual" — all of which came to life during the 15th century — and "vivid" and "convivial," both of which surfaced around the same time as "vivacious." Somewhat surprisingly, the word "live" is not related; it comes to us from the Old English word “libban.”

Voracity \vuh-RASS-uh-tee\ noun : the quality or state of being ravenous or insatiable Example Sentence Elena reads books with such voracity that she returns to the library two or three times a week. Did you know? “Voracity” comes to us via the Middle French “voracite” from the Latin word “voracitas,” which itself comes from “vorax,” meaning “voracious,” plus “-itas,” the Latin equivalent of the English noun suffix “-ity.” “Voracity” is one of two English words that mean “the quality or state of being voracious.” The other is “voraciousness,” which was once considered to be archaic but has made a comeback. Because “voracity” evolved from non-English forerunners, rather than being created in English from “voracious” (as was “voraciousness”), the word may strike some English speakers as an unusual formation. It’s not surprising, therefore, that the more familiar-looking “voraciousness” has reappeared — most likely through a process of reinvention by people unaware of “voracity.”

Wahine \wah-HEE-nee\ noun 1 : a Polynesian woman *2 : a female surfer Example Sentence “Make some serious waves this summer by learning to surf! Ridin' the swells is fab exercise and, well, what's cooler than a wahine girl?” (Girls’ Life, June 2005) Did you know? The word “wahine” came into English in the late 18th century from Maori, the language of a Polynesian people native to New Zealand; it was originally used for a Maori woman, especially a wife. The word is also used for a woman in Hawaiian and Tahitian, though spelled “vahine” in the latter. Enormous waves, which are perfect for surfing, are an attraction of the Polynesian islands. As the surfing culture solidified in the mid-20th century, and as more and more girls and women grabbed their boards, “wahine” took on the new meaning of “female surfer.”

Wangle \WANG-gul\ verb 1 : to adjust or manipulate for personal or fraudulent ends *2 : to make or get by devious means : finagle

Example Sentence Steve didn't tell Sharon how he'd wangled an extra week of vacation, and she didn't care as long as it meant they could go to Greece for their honeymoon.

Did you know? “Wangle,” a verb of uncertain origin, has been used in its newest sense, “to obtain by sly methods,” since at least the early 20th century. Occasionally, one sees “wrangle” used similarly, as in “wrangle a huge salary,” but more typically it means “to argue or engage in controversy.” Did the “obtain” sense of “wrangle” evolve through confusion with “wangle”? Not exactly. “Wrangle” was used with the meaning “to obtain by arguing or bargaining” as early as 1624, long before “wangle” appeared in the language. The sense had all but disappeared until recent decades, however, and its revival may very well have been influenced by “wangle.” The “obtain” sense of “wangle” is currently more common than that of “wrangle,” but both are considered standard.

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 Example Sentence Nadia dreads visiting her cousin, whose narrow, provincial Weltanschauung contrasts sharply with her own open-minded view of the world. Did you know? The German word “Weltanschauung” literally means "world view"; it combines “Welt” ("world") with “Anschauung” ("view"), which ultimately derives from the Middle High German verb “schouwen” ("to look at” or “to see"). When we first adopted it from German in the mid-19th century, "weltanschauung" referred to a philosophical view or apprehension of the universe, and this sense is still the most widely used. It can also describe a more general ideology or philosophy of life.

Wooden \WOOD-un\ adjective 1 : made or consisting of wood *2 : lacking ease or flexibility : awkwardly stiff

Example sentence: As the play went on, Alyssa’s stage fright dissipated, and her acting became less wooden.

Did you know? Humans have been making objects out of wood since before there even was an English language, but the adjectival use of "wood" didn’t come into being until the 14th century, and “wooden” didn’t appear until the 16th. (The word "wood" has ancient roots, but it originally existed only as a noun.) In Middle English, the adjective of choice was "tree" or "treen," as in a "tree vessel" or "treen shoes." “Treen” in turn came from the Old English word “trēowen,” from the noun “trēow” (“tree”) and the suffix "-en," which was used to indicate that something was composed of a certain material. As far as we know, no one ever used "treen" figuratively to describe things that are stiff as a board, but "wooden" was put to broader use soon after it was first recorded.

Wormhole \WERM-hohl\ noun 1 : a hole or passage burrowed by a worm *2 : a hypothetical structure of space-time envisioned as a long thin tunnel connecting points that are separated in space and time Example Sentence Some science fiction writers speculate that wormholes will become the intergalactic highways of the future. Did you know? If you associate "wormhole" with quantum physics and sci-fi, you'll probably be surprised to learn that the word has been around since Shakespeare's day — although, admittedly, he used it more literally than most modern writers. To Shakespeare, a "wormhole" was simply a hole made by a worm, but even the Bard subtly linked "wormholes" to the passage of time; for example, in The Rape of Lucrece, he notes time's destructive power "to fill with worm-holes stately monuments." To modern astrophysicists, a wormhole isn't a tunnel wrought by a slimy invertebrate, but a theoretical tunnel between two black holes or other points in space-time, providing a shortcut between its end points.

Xanadu \ZAN-uh-doo\ noun : an idyllic, exotic, or luxurious place Example Sentence To Arthur, the beach house was a Xanadu, the perfect spot for the romantic tropical vacation he had dreamed of for years. Did you know? "In Xanadu did Kubla Khan / A stately pleasure dome-decree." Those lines are from the poem "Kubla Khan" (published in 1816) by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Coleridge's fantastic description of an exotic utopia fired public imagination and ultimately contributed to the transition of "Xanadu" from a name to a generalized term for an idyllic place. The Xanadu in the poem was inspired by Shang-tu, the summer residence of Mongolian general and statesman Kublai Khan (grandson of Genghis Khan). You might also recognize "Xanadu" as the name of the fantastic estate in Orson Welles's 1941 film Citizen Kane.

Zany \ZAY-nee\ noun 1 : a subordinate clown or acrobat in old comedies who mimics ludicrously the tricks of the principal 2 : one who acts the buffoon to amuse others *3 : a foolish, eccentric, or crazy person Example Sentence My brother's friends are an unpredictable bunch of zanies. Did you know? Zanies have been theatrical buffoons since the heyday of the Italian commedia dell’arte, which introduced those knavish clowns. The Italian "zanni" was a stock servant character, often an intelligent and proud valet with abundant common sense, a love of practical jokes, and a tendency to be quarrelsome, cowardly, envious, vindictive, and treacherous. Zanni, the Italian name for the character, comes from a dialect nickname for Giovanni, the Italian form of John. The character quickly spread throughout European theater circles, inspiring such familiar characters as Pierrot and Harlequin, and by the late 1500s an anglicized version of the noun “zany” was introduced to English-speaking audiences by no less a playwright than William Shakespeare (in Love’s Labour’s Lost).

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Indagate \IN-duh-gayt\ verb : to search into : investigate Example Sentence The defense attorneys requested an adjournment so that they could fully indagate the new evidence. Did you know? A close examination of "indagate" reveals that it's a rather uncommon word. If we delve into the past, we discover that it first appeared in an English dictionary in 1623. Probing further, we see that its synonym "investigate" was already a hundred years old at the time. Despite the fact that our search turns up the derivatives "indagation," "indagator," "indagatory," and "indagative," we see that none of these words was ever used as widely as "investigation," "investigator," "investigatory," and "investigative." If we hunt for the etymology of "indagate," we sniff out the Latin verb "indagare" ("to track"), which often referred, as did Latin "investigare," specifically to tracking done by hunting dogs.

Posse \PAH-see\ noun *1 : a large group often with a common interest 2 : a body of persons summoned by a sheriff to assist in preserving the public peace usually in an emergency 3 : a group of people temporarily organized to make a search (as for a lost child) 4 : one’s attendants or associates Example Sentence "On the Saturday morning we used to watch anxiously for the usual signs of activity and when we saw a large barrel of beer being escorted up the streets by a posse of small boys, we knew that all was well." (Edmund Barber, Country Life, October 12, 1951) Did you know? "Posse" started out as a technical term in law, part of the term "posse comitatus," which in Medieval Latin meant "power or authority of the county." As such, it referred to a group of citizens summoned by a sheriff to preserve the public peace as allowed for by law. "Preserving the public peace" so often meant hunting down a supposed criminal that "posse" eventually came to mean any group organized to make a search or embark on a mission. In even broader use it can refer to any group, period. Sometimes nowadays that group is a gang or a rock band but it can as easily be any group — of politicians, models, architects, tourists, children, or what have you — acting in concert.

Hypocorism \hye-PAH-kuh-riz-um\ noun

*1 : a pet name 2 : the use of pet names Example Sentence Darren started calling Sheila by her hypocorism, “Bubbles,” when they were juniors in high school. Did you know? In Late Latin and Greek, the words “hypocorisma” and “hypokorisma” had the same meaning as “hypocorism” does in English today. They in turn evolved from the Greek verb “hypokorizesthai” (“to call by pet names”), which itself comes from “korizesthai” (“to caress”). “Hypocorism” joined the English language in the mid-19th century and was once briefly a buzzword among linguists, who used it rather broadly to mean “adult baby talk,” that is, the altered speech adults use when supposedly imitating babies. Once the baby talk issue faded, “hypocorism” settled back into being just a fancy word for a pet name. Pet names can be diminutives like our “Johnny” for “John,” endearing terms such as “honey-bunch,” or, yes, names from baby talk, like “Nana” for “Grandma.”

divulge \duh-VULJ\ verb : to make known (as a confidence or secret)

Example Sentence Sarah promised not to divulge the news of her friend's promotion until it was official.

Did you know? It isn't vulgar to make known the roots of "divulge" — and that sentence contains two hints about the word's origin. "Divulge" was borrowed into Middle English in the 15th century from Latin "divulgare," a word that combines the prefix "dis-," which meant "apart" or "in different directions" in Latin, with "vulgare," meaning "to make known." "Vulgare," in turn, derives from the Latin noun "vulgus," meaning "mob” or “common people." As you have no doubt guessed, English "vulgar" is another word which can be traced back to "vulgus”; it came into use about a century before "divulge.”

koine \koy-NAY\ noun 1 capitalized : the Greek language commonly spoken and written in eastern Mediterranean countries in the Hellenistic and Roman periods *2 : a dialect or language of a region that has become the common or standard language of a larger area Example Sentence Koines inevitably developed in the early British colonies as different dialects converged. Did you know? Koine, which means "common" or "shared" in Greek, was the language spoken in the eastern Mediterranean countries from the 4th century B.C. until the time of the Byzantine emperor Justinian (mid-6th century A.D.). In linguistics, the word "koine" is applied to a language developed from contact between dialects of the same language over a large region. Basically, a koine adopts those grammatical and lexical elements from the dialects of the region that are easily recognized by most area speakers and dispenses with those that are not.

facetious \fuh-SEE-shuss\ adjective *1 : joking or jesting often inappropriately : waggish 2 : meant to be humorous or funny : not serious Example Sentence Gwen was being facetious when she used the word "classy" to describe Bill's brightly colored necktie. Did you know? "Facetious" came to English from the Middle French word "facetieux," which traces to the Latin word "facetia," meaning "jest." "Facetia" seems to have made only one other lasting contribution to the English language: "facetiae," meaning "witty or humorous writings or sayings." "Facetiae," which comes from the plural of "facetia" and is pronounced fuh-SEE-shee-ee or fuh-SEE-shee-eye, is a far less common word than "facetious," but it does show up occasionally. For example, in a letter to the editor published in the Seattle Times, August 26, 1995, a reader used the following words to describe a column written by the humorist Dave Barry: "Hey, it's a HUMOR column, based entirely upon facetiae."

palmary \PAL-muh-ree\ adj : outstanding, best Example Sentence Louis Pasteur is best known for originating pasteurization, but he also made palmary contributions in the field of immunology, including finding a vaccination for anthrax. Did you know? English speakers have been using "palmary" since the 1600s, and its history stretches back even further than that. It was the ancient Romans who first used their “palmarius” to describe someone or something extraordinary. “Palmarius” literally translates as "deserving the palm." But what does that mean exactly? Was it inspired by palms of hands coming together in applause? That would be a good guess, but the direct inspiration for “palmarius” was the palm leaf given to a victor in a sports competition. That other palm, the one on the hand, is loosely related. The Romans thought the palm tree's leaves resembled an outstretched palm of the hand; they thus used their word “palma” for both meanings, just as we do with "palm" in English.

castigate \KASS-tuh-gayt\ verb : to subject to severe punishment, reproof, or criticism

Example Sentence Before sentencing, the judge angrily castigated the two young defendants for their malicious act of vandalism.

Did you know? “Castigate” has a synonym in “chastise” — both verbs mean to punish or to censure someone. Fittingly, both words derive from the same root: the Latin “castigare,” formed from the words for “pure” (“castus”) and “to drive” (“agere”). (“Castus” also gave us the noun “caste,” meaning “social class or rank.”) Another verb derived from “castigare” is “chasten,” which can also mean “to discipline by punishment” but more commonly means “to subdue or make humble” (as in “chastened by his foolish error”). “Castigate” is the youngest of the three verbs in English, dating from the early 17th century, some three centuries after “chasten” and “chastise.”

genius \JEEN-yus\ noun *1 : a single strongly marked capacity or aptitude 2 : extraordinary intellectual power especially as manifested in creative activity 3 : a person endowed with transcendent mental superiority; especially : a person with a very high IQ Example Sentence Those children have a genius for getting into trouble! Did you know? The belief system of the ancient Romans included spirits that were somewhere in between gods and humans and were thought to accompany each person through life as a protector. The Latin name for this spirit was "genius," which came from the verb "gignere," meaning "to beget." This sense of "attendant spirit" was first borrowed into English in the early 16th century. Part of such a spirit's role was to protect a person's moral character, and from that idea an extended sense developed in the 16th century meaning "an identifying character." In time, that meaning was extended to cover a special ability for doing something, and eventually "genius" acquired senses referring particularly to "very great intelligence" and "people of great intelligence."

clochard \kloh-SHAR\ noun : tramp, vagrant Example Sentence "He lives on the Pont Neuf, the oldest and most beautiful bridge in Paris, which has become a secret home to clochards . . . while closed for extensive repairs." (Vincent Canby, The New York Times, October 6, 1992) Did you know? Why such a fancy French word for a bum? The truth of the matter is, nine times out of ten, you will find "clochard" used for not just any bum, but a French bum — even more specifically, a Parisian bum. And, sometimes, it's even a certain type of Parisian bum — a type that has been romanticized in literature and is part of the local color. Nevertheless, as "français" as this word (which comes from the French verb "clocher," meaning "to limp") may seem, its regular appearance in English sources since 1937 makes it an English word, too.

conglobate \kahn-GLOH-bayt\ verb : to form into a round compact mass Example Sentence Jack alternately conglobated and flattened the bit of clay as he talked. Did you know? "Conglobate" descends from the Latin verb "conglobare," which in turn comes from the prefix "con-" (meaning "with” or “ together") and "globus" (meaning "globe"). "Conglobare" also means "to form into a ball," and in the 16th century it gave us the word "conglobe," of the same meaning. A century after "conglobe" first appeared in print, its cousin "conglobate" arrived on the scene. You may be wondering if the word "glob" is a relative too. "Glob" isn't linked directly to "conglobate," but it does have a possible link to "globe." Etymologists think that "glob" might have originated as a blend of "globe" and "blob."

aggress \uh-GRESS\ verb : to commit aggression : to act

Example Sentence Certain indicators, such as irritability, can indicate an animal's likelihood to aggress. Did you know? "Aggress" and its more familiar relatives, "aggression" and "aggressive," derive from the Latin verb "aggredi," meaning "to approach, attack, or undertake." When "aggress" was first used in English in the 16th century, it meant "to approach," but that

use is now obsolete. The current meaning of the word has been with us since the early 18th century. Back then, the noun "aggress" ("an attack") appeared occasionally as well, but time has relegated that use to obsolescence, too.

shunpike \SHUN-pyke\ noun : a side road used to avoid the toll on or the speed and traffic of a superhighway Example Sentence When people request directions to our house, I ask them if they prefer to take the turnpike or the shunpike.

Did you know? America's love affair with the automobile and the development of a national system of superhighways (along with the occasional desire to seek out paths less-traveled) is a story belonging to the 20th century. So the word "shunpike," too, must be a 20th-century phenomenon, right? Nope. Toll roads have actually existed for centuries (the word "turnpike" has meant "tollgate" since at least 1678). In fact, toll roads were quite common in 19th-century America, and "shunpike" has been describing side roads since the middle of that century, almost half a century before the first Model T rolled out of the factory.

lacuna \luh-KOO-nuh\ noun *1 : a blank space or a missing part : gap 2 : a small cavity, pit, or discontinuity in an anatomical structure Example Sentence The newly discovered Civil War documents filled many lacunae in the museum's archives. Did you know? Exploring the etymology of "lacuna" involves taking a plunge into the pit — or maybe a leap into the “lacus” (that's the Latin word for "lake"). Latin speakers modified “lacus” into “lacuna,” and used it to mean "pit," "cleft," or "pool." English speakers borrowed the term in the 17th century. Another English word that traces its origin to "lacuna" is "lagoon," which came to us by way of Italian and French.

scofflaw \SKAHFF-law\ noun : a contemptuous law violator Example Sentence The governor’s office set up a database listing the names of scofflaws who hadn’t paid their traffic fines.

Did you know? In 1924, a wealthy Massachusetts Prohibitionist named Delcevare King sponsored a contest in which he asked participants to coin an appropriate word to mean “a lawless drinker.” King sought a word that would cast violators of Prohibition laws in a light of shame. Two respondents came up independently with the winning word: “scofflaw,” formed by combining the verb “scoff” and the noun “law.” Henry Dale and Kate Butler, also of Massachusetts, split King’s $200 prize. Improbably, despite some early scoffing from language critics, “scofflaw” managed to pick up steam in English and expand to a meaning that went beyond its Prohibition roots, referring to one who violates any law, not just laws related to drinking.

exoteric \ek-suh-TAIR-ik\ adjective *1 : suitable to be imparted to the public 2 : belonging to the outer or less initiate circle 3 : external Example Sentence As a specialist writing for a broader audience, Annette faces the challenge of producing an exoteric synthesis of complex information. Did you know? "Exoteric" derives from Latin "exotericus," which is itself from Greek "exōterikus," meaning "external,” and ultimately from “exō," meaning "outside." "Exō" has a number of offspring in English, including "exotic," "exonerate," "exorbitant," and the combining form “exo-” or “ex-” (as in "exoskeleton" and "exobiology"). The antonym of “exoteric” is "esoteric," meaning "designed for or understood by the specially initiated alone”; it descends from the Greek word for "within," "esō."

wherewithal \WAIR-with-awl\ noun : means, resources; specifically : money

Example Sentence If I had the wherewithal, I’d buy that empty lot next door and put in a garden. Did you know? "Wherewithal" has been with us in one form or another since the 16th century. It comes from "where" and "withal" (meaning "with"), and it has been used as a conjunction meaning "with or by means of which" and as a pronoun meaning "that with or by which." These days, however, it is almost always used as a noun referring to the means or resources one has at one's disposal — especially financial resources, that is, money.

muckrake \MUCK-rayk\ verb : to search out and publicly expose real or apparent misconduct of a prominent individual or business Example Sentence Arn is an aggressive reporter, never afraid to ask difficult questions, hound evasive sources, or muckrake when things appear suspect. Did you know? The noun “muckrake” (literally, a rake for “muck,” i.e., manure) rose out of the dung heap and into the realm of literary metaphor in 1684. That's when John Bunyan used it in Pilgrim's Progress to represent man's preoccupation with earthly things. “The Man with the Muckrake,” he wrote, “could look no way but downward.” In a 1906 speech, Teddy Roosevelt recalled Bunyan's words while railing against journalists he thought focused too much on exposing corruption in business and government. Roosevelt called them “the men with the muck-rakes” and implied that they needed to learn “when to stop raking the muck, and to look upward.” Investigative reporters weren't insulted; they adopted the term “muckraker” as a badge of honor. And soon English speakers were using the verb “muckrake” for the practice of exposing misconduct.

Manticore \MAN-tih-kor\ noun : a legendary animal with the head of a man, the body of a lion, and the tail of a dragon or scorpion Example Sentence The book, a collection of fantastic tales, has on its cover a vivid illustration of a wild-eyed manticore chasing a hunter. Did you know? A mythical creature of ancient fables, the manticore keeps company with the better-known unicorn, dragon, and griffin. Descriptions of the manticore's features sometimes differ (some accounts mention porcupine quills or poisonous spikes, for example; others depict the tail as having a serpent's head), but the animal is by all accounts a dreadful beast. The word "manticore" came to English through Greek and Latin, and is probably ultimately of Iranian origin. Etymologists think it is related to an Old Persian word for "man-eater."

Eldritch \EL-dritch\ adjective : weird, eerie Example Sentence Christina accompanied her ghost story by playing a recording filled with creaks, howls, and other eldritch sound effects. Did you know? "Curse," "cobweb," "witch," "ghost," and even "Halloween" — all of these potentially spooky words have roots in Old English. "Eldritch," also, comes from a time when otherworldly beings were commonly thought to inhabit the earth. The word is about 500 years old and believed to have come from Middle English “elfriche,” meaning “fairyland.” The two components of “elfriche” — “elf” and “riche” — come from the Old English “ælf” and “rīce” (words which meant, literally, "elf kingdom"). Robert Louis Stevenson wasn't scared of "eldritch." He used the term in his novel Kidnapped: "'The curse on him and his house, byre and stable, man, guest, and master, wife, miss, or bairn — black, black be their fall!' —The woman, whose voice had risen to a kind of eldritch sing-song, turned with a skip, and was gone."

Superficies \soo-per-FISH-eez\ noun 1 : a surface of a body or a region of space *2 : the external aspects or appearance of a thing Example Sentence Although there have been changes in the superficies of our lives, many of the human dilemmas faced by our ancestors are still quite recognizable.

Did you know? Look below the surface of "superficies" and "surface" and you’ll find the very same Latin roots: “super-,” meaning "on top," and “facies,” meaning "face" or "aspect." English speakers plucked "superficies" right from Latin — it means "surface" in that language. Our word "surface" came to us by way of Middle French, where “sur-” (which comes from "super " and also means "on top") was combined with “face” (meaning "face"; from "facies"). We added "surface" to our crop of borrowed words around 1600, and the first known use of “superficies” is from 1530. One tricky thing to keep in mind about "superficies" is that it can be singular (even though it ends in an "s"!) or plural. There is no "superficie" or "superficy."

palpable \PAL-puh-bul\ adjective 1 : capable of being touched or felt : tangible *2 : obvious, plain Example Sentence There was a palpable excitement in the air as the actors prepared to go on stage on opening night. Did you know? The word "palpable" has been used in English since the 14th century. It derives from the Latin word “palpare,” meaning "stroke" or "caress” — the same root that gives us the word "palpitation." The Latin verb is also a linguistic ancestor of the verb "feel." "Palpable" can be used to describe things that can be felt through the skin, such as a palpable sweat, but even more frequently is used in reference to things that cannot be touched but are still so easy to perceive that it is as though they could be touched — such as a palpable tension in the air.

Chiropteran \kye-RAHP-tuh-run\ noun : any of an order of night-flying mammals with forelimbs modified to form wings : bat Example Sentence The vampire hunters were greeted by swarms of chiropterans as they entered Dracula's castle. Did you know? "Chiroptera" is the name of the order of the only mammal capable of true flight, the bat. The name is influenced by the hand-like wings of bats, which are formed from four elongated "fingers" covered by a cutaneous membrane. It is based on the Greek words for "hand," "cheir," and "wing," "pteron." "Cheir" also had a hand in the formation of the word "surgery," which is ultimately derived from the ancient word "cheirourgos," meaning "doing by hand." "Pteron" is widely used in technical names of flying insects. It’s also the ancestor of a well-known, common word: "helicopter," which joins “pteron” with Greek "heliko," meaning "spiral.”

Chiropteran \kye-RAHP-tuh-run\ noun : any of an order of night-flying mammals with forelimbs modified to form wings : bat Example Sentence The vampire hunters were greeted by swarms of chiropterans as they entered Dracula's castle. Did you know? "Chiroptera" is the name of the order of the only mammal capable of true flight, the bat. The name is influenced by the hand-like wings of bats, which are formed from four elongated "fingers" covered by a cutaneous membrane. It is based on the Greek words for "hand," "cheir," and "wing," "pteron." "Cheir" also had a hand in the formation of the word "surgery," which is ultimately derived from the ancient word "cheirourgos," meaning "doing by hand." "Pteron" is widely used in technical names of flying insects. It’s also the ancestor of a well-known, common word: "helicopter," which joins “pteron” with Greek "heliko," meaning "spiral.”

Parry \PAIR-ee\ verb 1 : to ward off a weapon or blow *2 : to evade especially by an adroit answer Example Sentence The senator effectively parried all Beverly's questions about his dubious financial affairs. Did you know? "Parry" (which is used in fencing, among other applications) probably comes from "parez," a form of the French verb "parer," meaning "to guard or ward off." Its history can be compared with that of two other English words: "parapet" and "parasol." Those two terms go back to an Italian word ("parare") that means "to shield or guard." (A parapet shields soldiers and a parasol

wards off the sun.) All three — "parry," "parapet," and "parasol" — can ultimately be traced to the Latin "parare," meaning "to prepare." And they're not alone. Other descendants of the Latin term include "apparatus," "disparate," "emperor," and even "prepare." Gauche \GOHSH\ adjective *1 : lacking social experience or grace; also : not tactful : crude 2 : crudely made or done Example Sentence "I can't believe she'd be so gauche as to ask you how much money you earn," Courtney huffed.

Did you know? "Gauche" is one of several words that come from old suspicions or negative associations surrounding the left side and use of the left hand. In French, "gauche" literally means "left," and it has the extended meanings "awkward" and "clumsy." Presumably these meanings came about because left-handed people could appear awkward trying to manage in a right-handed world — or perhaps because right-handed people appear awkward when they try to use their left hand. In fact, "awkward" itself comes from the Middle English "awke," meaning "turned the wrong way" or "left-handed." On the other hand, "adroit" and "dexterity" have their roots in words meaning "right" or "on the right side."

Veld \VELT\ noun : a grassland especially of southern Africa usually with scattered shrubs or trees Example Sentence "Less than 200 years ago, thousands upon thousands of quaggas roamed the grassy veld of southern Africa." (Sharon Begley, Newsweek, June 18, 1984) Did you know? "Veld" (also spelled "veldt") comes from Afrikaans, the language of the Afrikaners, the descendants of the Dutch and Huguenot people who settled in southern Africa in the 17th century. Literally, "veld" means "field," and is akin to "feld," the Old English predecessor of "field." English speakers adopted the Africa-specific sense of "veld" in the 19th century. "Veld" refers to open country in southern Africa. Different regions of "veld" are distinguished by their elevations. There is the Highveld, the Lowveld, and the Middle Veld, each with different geographical characteristics. Another term associated with "veld" is "kopje" (or “koppie” — both are pronounced \KAH-pee\). This word came to English from Afrikaans (and ultimately from a Dutch word meaning "small head" or "cup") and refers to a small hill, particularly one on the African veld.

Extricate \EK-struh-kayt\ verb 1 : to distinguish from a related thing *2 : to free or remove from an entanglement or difficulty Example Sentence Joe looked for a way to extricate himself gracefully from the long and tedious conversation with his chatty colleague. Did you know? It can take an ample amount of dexterity — manual, verbal, or mental — to free yourself from a tangled situation. This can be seen in “extricate,” a word derived from Latin “extricatus,” which combines the prefix “ex-” (“out of”) with the noun “tricae,” meaning “trifles or perplexities.” (The resemblance of “tricae” to our word “trick” is no illusion; it’s an ancestor.) While a number of words (such as “disentangle”) share with “extricate” the meaning of “to free from difficulty,” “extricate” suggests the act of doing so with care and ingenuity, as in “Through months of careful budgeting, he was able to extricate himself from his financial burdens.”

Foray \FOR-ay\ noun 1 : a sudden or irregular invasion or attack for war or spoils : raid *2 : a brief excursion or attempt especially outside one's accustomed sphere Example SentenceThe book marks the novelist’s first foray into nonfiction. Did you know? "Foray" comes from Middle English “forrayen” and probably traces back to an Anglo-French word that meant “raider” or "forager." It's related to the word "forage," which usually means "to wander in search of food or forage." A "foray," in its earliest sense, was a raid for plunder. Relatively recently, "foray" began to take on a broader meaning. In a sense, a "foray" is still a trip

into a foreign territory. These days, though, looting and plundering needn't be involved in a "foray." When you take a "foray," you dabble in an area, occupation, or pastime that's new to you.

umami \oo-MAH-mee\ noun : a taste sensation that is meaty or savory and is produced by several amino acids and nucleotides (as glutamate and aspartate) Example Sentence "Vegetarian dishes are usually difficult to meld with big red wines unless the dish includes umami, from ingredients such as intensely flavored mushrooms…." (The San Francisco Chronicle, August 22, 2008) Did you know? A Japanese scientist was the first to discover the savory taste of the amino acid glutamic acid, which was found to occur in soup stocks made with seaweed. This fifth basic taste — alongside sweet, sour, salty, and bitter — was named "umami," meaning "savoriness" in Japanese. Umami can be experienced in foods such as mushrooms, anchovies, and mature cheeses, as well as in foods enhanced with monosodium glutamate, or MSG, a sodium salt derived from glutamic acid.

Fastidious \fas-TID-ee-us\ adjective 1 : having high and often unpredictable standards *2 : showing a meticulous or demanding attitude Example Sentence These designer handbags are beautiful and have clearly been made with fastidious attention to detail. Did you know? There's nothing offensive about fastidious workmanship, and yet the word "fastidious" traces to the Latin noun "fastidium," meaning "aversion" or "disgust." "Fastidium" itself is probably a combination of the Latin words "fastus," meaning "arrogance," and "taedium," meaning "irksomeness" or "disgust." ("Taedium" also gave us our "tedium.") In keeping with its Latin roots, "fastidious" once meant "haughty," "disgusting," and "disgusted," although those uses are now archaic or obsolete. The word came to be applied to someone who is squeamish or overly difficult to please, and later, to work which reflects a demanding or precise attitude.

Conundrum \kuh-NUN-drum\ noun 1 : a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun 2 a : a question or problem having only a conjectural answer *b : an intricate and difficult problem Example Sentence Ideally, students in an ethics class are encouraged to really wrestle with moral conundrums. Did you know? The exact origin of "conundrum" isn't known with certainty. What is known is that the word has been in use since the early 1600s, and that it had various spellings, such as "conimbrum," "quonundrum," "conuncrum," and "quadundrum," before the current spelling was finally established sometime in the mid-17th century. One theory of origin suggests that the word was coined as a parody of Latin by students at Oxford University, where it appears to have enjoyed particular popularity in its "word play" or "pun" sense. While the prevalent sense in this century is that of the seemingly unanswerable question or problem, frequently applied to heady dilemmas involving ethics, sociology, or economics, the word is sometimes so loosely applied to anything enigmatic as to be synonymous with "puzzle" or "mystery."

Sedentary \SED-un-tair-ee\ adjective 1 : not migratory : settled *2 : doing or requiring much sitting 3 : not physically active 4 : permanently attached Example Sentence Jerry worried that he was becoming physically unfit after taking a sedentary desk job.

Did you know? English speakers borrowed "sedentary" in the late 16th century from Middle French "sedentaire," which in turn derives from Latin "sedentarius." "Sedentarius," which means "of one that sits," is from the present participle of the verb "sedēre," meaning "to sit." Other descendants of "sedēre" in English include "dissident,", "insidious," "preside," "reside," and "subsidy." "Sedēre" is also the base of the rare word "sedens," a noun meaning "a person who remains a resident of the place or region of his birth."

Jettison \JET-uh-sun\ verb 1 : to throw (goods) overboard to lighten a ship or aircraft in distress *2 : discard Example Sentence When they realized their plan was not going to work, the committee jettisoned the idea and thought up a new one. Did you know? “Jettison” comes from the Anglo-French noun “geteson,” meaning “action of throwing,” and is ultimately from the Latin verb “jactare,” meaning “to throw.” The noun “jettison” (“a voluntary sacrifice of cargo to lighten a ship’s load in time of distress”) entered English in the 15th century; the verb has been with us since the 19th century. The noun is also the source of the word “jetsam” (“jettisoned goods”), which is often paired with “flotsam”(“floating wreckage”). These days you don’t have to be on a sinking ship to jettison something. In addition to literally “throwing overboard,” “jettison” means simply “to get rid of.” You might jettison some old magazines that are cluttering your house. Or you might make a plan but jettison it at the last minute, as in our example sentence.

Cabotage \KAB-uh-tahzh\ noun 1 : trade or transport in coastal waters or airspace or between two points within a country *2 : the right to engage in coastal trade or transport Example Sentence Some assert that the problem would be resolved if the government would simply relax restrictions on cabotage. Did you know? Coastlines were once so important to the French that they came up with a verb to name the act of sailing along a coast: "caboter." That verb gave rise to the French noun “cabotage,” which named trade or transport along a coast. In the 16th century, the French legally limited their lucrative coastal trade, declaring that only French ships could trade in French ports. They called the right to conduct such trading "cabotage" too. Other nations soon embraced both the concept of trade restrictions and the French name for trading rights, and expanded the idea to inland trade as well. Later, English speakers also applied "cabotage" to the rights that allowed domestic airlines to travel within national boundaries but that prevented foreign carriers from doing so.

Pantheon \PAN-thee-ahn\ noun 1 : a temple dedicated to all the gods; also : the gods of a people *2 : a group of illustrious persons Example Sentence With his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, the former player joined a pantheon of legends from the sport. Did you know? Some of the earliest uses of this word in the English language refer to that most famous Pantheon, the circular domed temple built in Rome more than 19 centuries ago (and still standing). We can easily identify the origins of the temple's name, which the Romans borrowed from the Greek word for a temple honoring all their gods. That Greek word, “pantheion,” combines “pan-” ("all") and “theos” ("god"). Later on, in English, "all the gods" was used to mean just that — a pantheon could be a collective of gods (as "the Egyptian pantheon"). We stop short of worshiping outstanding men and women as actual gods, of course, but nevertheless, in the 19th century we also began using “pantheon” as a word for any eminent company of the highly venerated.

Battue \bat-TOO\ noun : the beating of woods and bushes to flush game; also : a hunt in which this procedure is used Example Sentence During the battue, rabbits scampered out of the bushes where they had been hiding and toward the open field. Did you know? The battue is a technique practiced by hunters in order to give them a clean shot at their targets. The hunters’ assistants (or sometimes the hunters themselves) rap sticks against trees and bushes in order to scare animals out of the woods and into open space. The practice appears to have originated in France, which is probably why the word “battue,” which debuted in English in the early 19th century, derives from the feminine past participle of the French verb “battre,” meaning “to beat.” Although some hunting traditionalists decried the practice as either cruel or unsportsmanlike when it began, the battue survives today, as does the word for it.

Circumspect \SER-kum-spekt\ adjective : careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences : prudent Example Sentence “Indications are that school boards, uncertain of what voters will do, have been more circumspect in drafting budgets.” (The Star-Ledger [Newark, New Jersey], April 7, 2008) Did you know? "Circumspect," "cautious," "wary," and "chary" all imply looking before you leap, but each puts a unique spin on being careful in the face of risk or danger. "Circumspect," which descends from Latin “circum-” (“around”) and “specere” (“to look”), implies the surveying of all possible consequences before acting or deciding (as in "he is circumspect in business dealings"). "Cautious" suggests fear of danger and the exercise of forethought that it prompts (as in "a cautious driver"). "Wary" emphasizes suspiciousness and alertness in sensing danger and cunning in escaping it (as in "keep a wary eye on the competition"). "Chary" implies a cautious reluctance to give, act, or speak freely (as in "she is chary of signing papers without reading them first").

Disabuse \diss-uh-BYOOZ\ verb : to free from error, fallacy, or misconception Example Sentence After several months of hard work, Adam was thoroughly disabused of any notion that starting his own business would be an easy endeavor. Did you know? We know the verb "abuse" as a word meaning "to misuse," "to mistreat," or "to revile." But when "disabuse" first appeared in the early 17th century, there was a sense of "abuse," now obsolete, that meant "to deceive." Sir Francis Bacon used that sense, for example, when he wrote in 1605, "You are much abused if you think your virtue can withstand the King's power." The prefix "dis-" has the sense of undoing the effect of a verb, so it's not surprising that "disabuse" means "to undeceive." English speakers didn't come up with the idea of joining "dis-" to "abuse" all on their own, however. It was the French who first appended their prefix “des-” to their verb “abuser.” English "disabuse" is modeled after French “desabuser.”

Effigy \EFF-uh-jee\ noun : an image or representation especially of a person; especially : a crude figure representing a hated person Example Sentence A giant effigy is set ablaze at the climax of the annual Burning Man festival in Black Rock Desert, Nevada. Did you know? An earlier sense of “effigy” is “a likeness of a person shaped out of stone or other materials,” so it’s not surprising to learn that “effigy” derives from the Latin verb “fingere,” which means “to shape.” “Fingere” is the common ancestor of a number of other English nouns that name things you can shape. A “fiction” is a story you shape with your imagination. “Figments” are shaped by the imagination, too; they’re something you imagine or make up. A “figure” can be a numeral, a shape, or a picture that you shape as you draw or write.

Prehension \pree-HEN-shun\ noun *1 : the act of taking hold, seizing, or grasping 2 : mental understanding : comprehension 3 : apprehension by the senses Example Sentence The new surgery claims to offer an increase in hand prehension and successful use of the hand after a nerve transplant. Did you know? It's easy to grasp the origins of "prehension" — it descends from the Latin verb "prehendere," which means "to seize” or “to grasp." Other descendants of "prehendere" in English include "apprehend," "comprehend" ("to grasp the nature or significance of"), "prehensile" ("adapted for seizing or grasping"), "prison," "reprise," and "reprisal." Even the English word "get" comes to us from the same ancient root that led to the Latin "prehendere."

Blithesome \BLYTHE-sum\ adjective : gay, merry

Example Sentence In The Gilded Age: A Tale of To-Day, Mark Twain's Laura, who had been struck by love, wondered why she had never before noticed "how blithesome the world was." Did you know? "Blithesome" comes from "blithe," a word that has been a part of English since before the 12th century. "Blithe" can mean "casual" and "heedless" as well as "joyful" and "lighthearted," but "blithesome" obviously makes use of only the "joyful, lighthearted" sense. "Blithesome" didn't show up in print in English until 1724, and is now relatively uncommon, but you'll find it in the works of such authors as Charles Dickens, Sir Walter Scott, Mark Twain, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Deportment \dih-PORT-munt\ noun : the manner in which one conducts oneself : behavior Example Sentence The school expects students to dress in proper attire and maintain a respectful level of deportment throughout the day. Did you know? "Deportment" evolved from the verb "deport," meaning "to behave especially in accord with a code," which in turn came to us through Middle French from Latin “deportare,” meaning "to carry away." (You may also know "deport" as a verb meaning "to send out of the country"; that sense is newer and is derived directly from Latin “deportare.”) "Deportment" can simply refer to one's demeanor, or it can refer to behavior formed by breeding or training and often conforming to conventional rules of propriety: "Are you not gratified that I am so rapidly gaining correct ideas of female propriety and sedate deportment?" wrote 17-year-old Emily Dickinson to her brother Austin.

Gravid \GRAV-id\ adjective *1 : pregnant 2 : distended with or full of eggs Example Sentence “The film is about the world of mixed martial arts, a subject gravid with possibilities.” (Allen Barra, The New York Sun, April 29, 2008) Did you know? "Gravid" comes from Latin "gravis," meaning “heavy.” It can refer to a female who is literally pregnant, and it also has the figurative meanings of "pregnant”: “full or teeming” and “meaningful.” Thus, a writer may be gravid with ideas as she sits down to write; a cloud may be gravid with rain; or a speaker may make a gravid pause before announcing his remarkable findings.

non sequitur \NAHN-SEK-wuh-ter\ noun 1 : an inference that does not follow from the premises *2 : a statement (as a response) that does not follow logically from or is not clearly related to anything previously said Example Sentence The professor's lecture was a jumble of non sequiturs and irrelevant observations. Did you know? In Latin, "non sequitur" means "it does not follow." The phrase was borrowed into English in the 1500s by people who made a formal study of logic. For them it meant a conclusion that does not follow from the statements that lead to it. But we now use "non sequitur" for any kind of statement that seems to come out of the blue. The Latin verb "sequi" ("to follow") has actually led the way for a number of English words. A "sequel" follows the original novel, film, or television show. Someone "obsequious" follows another about, flattering and fawning. And an action is often followed by its "consequence."

Onus \OH-nuss\ noun *1 : burden 2 : a disagreeable necessity : obligation 3 : blame Example Sentence Everyone else on the overworked staff was relieved when the onus of handling the new project fell to Cindy. Did you know?

Understanding the etymology of "onus" is not at all burdensome; it's as simple as knowing that English borrowed the word — spelling, meaning, and all — from Latin in the 17th century. We can also add that it's a distant relative of the Sanskrit word for "cart" (a vehicle that carries a burden). English isn't exactly loaded with derivatives of Latin "onus," but the root did give us "onerous" ("troublesome") and "exonerate" ("to clear from accusation or blame" — thus, "to unburden"). Additionally, our legal language has "onus probandi," which is often shortened to "onus." It means "burden of proof" — that is, the obligation of proving a disputed assertion in a court of law. Lodestar \LOHD-star\ noun : one that serves as an inspiration, model, or guide

Example Sentence When she started her own business, Melinda used her father’s motto — “Trust your instincts” — as her lodestar. Did you know? The literal, albeit archaic, meaning of “lodestar” is “a star that leads or guides; especially : the North Star.” (The first half of the word derives from the Middle English word “lode,” meaning “course.”) Both the literal and the figurative sense (“an inspiration or guide”) date back to the 14th century, the time of Geoffrey Chaucer. The literal sense fell out of use in the 17th century, and so, for a while, did the figurative sense — but it appeared again 170 years later, when Sir Walter Scott used it in his 1813 poem The Bridal of Triermain.

Reticent \RET-uh-sunt\ adj *1 : inclined to be silent or uncommunicative in speech : reserved 2 : restrained in expression, presentation, or appearance 3 : reluctant Example Sentence Unlike the chatty, gregarious protagonists of his novel, the author is quite reticent in public. Did you know? "Reticent" first appeared about 170 years ago, but the "reluctant" sense of "reticent" is a mid-20th century introduction. Though it is now well-established, this newer sense bothers some people, particularly because it has veered away from the word's Latin origins — "reticent" is from the verb “reticēre,” meaning "to keep silent." But there is some sense in the way the newer meaning developed. We first tended to use the "reluctant" sense of "reticent" when the context was speech (as in "reticent to talk about her past"), thus keeping the word close to its "silent" sense. Eventually, however, exclusive association with speech was abandoned. Now one can be "reticent" to do anything.

Litany \LIH-tuh-nee\ noun 1 : a prayer consisting of a series of invocations and supplications by the leader with alternate responses by the congregation 2 a : a resonant or repetitive chant *b : a usually lengthy recitation or enumeration c : a sizable series or set Example Sentence The student offered the usual litany of excuses for being late.

Did you know? "Litany" came to English through Anglo-French and Late Latin, and ultimately from the Greek word "litaneia," meaning "entreaty." A "litany" refers literally to a type of prayer in which a series of lines are spoken alternately by a leader and a congregation. Recent decades have seen the development of three figurative senses. The chant-like quality of a literal litany led to the "repetitive chant" sense. Next, the repetitious nature of the original litany led to the "lengthy recitation" sense. Finally, the “lengthy recitation” sense led to the meaning “a sizable series or set.”

Hypaethral \hye-PEETH-rul\ adjective *1 : having a roofless central space 2 : open to the sky Example Sentence During our tour of Egypt, we visited the hypaethral temple of Philae, which was dismantled and relocated after the construction of a dam caused its original site to be submersed.

Did you know? Ancient Roman architect and engineer Vitruvius used the Latin word "hypaethrus" to describe temples in which the “cella” (the part of the temple housing an image of the deity) was wholly or partially uncovered. “Hypaethrus” is a word sculpted from

the Greek prefix "hypo-," meaning "under or beneath," and the Greek word "aithēr," meaning "air or heaven." In the late-18th century, English classicists adopted the remodeled form "hypaethral" in their writings of ancient architecture. Another adjective that they occasionally employed is "cleithral," which designates temples having roofed central spaces. (“Cleithral” comes from "kleithra," the Greek word for "lattice.")

Accentuate \ak-SEN-shu-wayt\ verb : accent, emphasize; also : intensify Example Sentence Job-seekers are encouraged to accentuate their most valuable skills and experience, and to downplay any gaps in their work history. Did you know? When you "accentuate" something, you put an "accent" (or emphasis) on it. So it will come as no surprise to learn that etymologists have traced "accentuate" back to "accentus," the Latin word for "accent." "Accentus," in turn, combines the prefix "ad-" with "cantus," meaning "song." Other descendants of "accentus" in English include "accent" itself, as well as "accentual" ("of, relating to, or characterized by accent"). Chawbacon \CHAW-bay-kun\ noun : bumpkin, hick Example Sentence Larry has been living in the city for almost a year, but he’s still as much of a chawbacon as the day he left the farm. Did you know? “Chaw” is an alteration of “chew” that is still used in some English dialects, especially in rural areas. Cured pork, or bacon, was a staple of some rural folks’ diets in the past. Since the 16th century, “chaw” has been combined with “bacon” to create a ludicrous name for an uncultured yokel. Over the centuries, the word has lent its delicious dialect flavor to a wide range of publications, but it has become less common in recent decades. Today, city dwellers are as likely as country folk to chow down on bacon, and the word “chawbacon” isn’t often on the lips of either group.

Domicile \DAH-muh-syle or DOH-muh-syle\ noun *1 : a dwelling place : place of residence : home 2 a : a person's fixed, permanent, and principal home for legal purposes b : the place where a corporation is actually or officially established Example Sentence “One evening Tess and Clare were obliged to sit indoors keeping house, all the other occupants of the domicile being away.” (Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d’Urbervilles) Did you know? "Domicile" traces to Latin "domus," meaning "home," and English speakers have been using it as a word for “home” since at least the 15th century. In the eyes of the law, a domicile can also be a legal residence, the address from which one registers to vote, licenses a car, and pays income tax. Wealthy people may have several homes in which they live at different times of the year, but only one of their homes can be their official domicile for all legal purposes.

Tenacious \tuh-NAY-shus\ adjective 1 a : not easily pulled apart : cohesive b : tending to adhere or cling especially to another substance 2 *a : persistent in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired b : retaining knowledge easily Example Sentence Eugene's tenacious auditioning finally paid off when he landed the part of Romeo in the upcoming Shakespeare festival. Did you know? For all of its nearly 400 years, "tenacious" has adhered closely to its Latin antecedent: "tenax," an adjective meaning "tending to hold fast." Almost from the first, "tenacious" could suggest either literal adhesion or figurative stick-to-itiveness. Sticker burrs are tenacious, and so are athletes who don't let defeat get them down. We use "tenacious" of a good memory, too — one that has a better than average capacity to hold information. But you can also have too much of a good thing. The addition in Latin of the prefix "per-" ("thoroughly") to "tenax" led to the English word "pertinacious," meaning "perversely persistent." You might use "pertinacious" for the likes of rumors and telemarketers, for example.

Alienist \AY-lee-uh-nist\ noun : psychiatrist Example Sentence Julius Wagner von Jauregg was a gifted alienist and neurologist who was awarded the 1927 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. Did you know? "Alienist" looks and sounds like it should mean "someone who studies aliens," and in fact "alienist" and "alien" are related — both are ultimately derived from the Latin word “alius,” meaning "other." In the case of "alienist," the etymological trail leads from Latin to French, where the adjective “aliéné” ("insane") gave rise to the noun “alieniste,” referring to a doctor who treats the insane. "Alienist" first appeared in print in English in 1864. It was preceded by the other “alius” descendants, "alien" (14th century) and "alienate" (used as a verb since the early 16th century). "Alienist" is much rarer than "psychiatrist" these days, but at one time it was the preferred term.

Prolix \proh-LIKS\ adjective 1 : unduly prolonged or drawn out : too long *2 : marked by or using an excess of words Example Sentence Legal writing is not always prolix; after all, the word “brief” refers to a legal document, and most judges demand that briefs be brief. Did you know? There's no way to talk about "prolix" without being redundant, verbose, and wordy. That's because the word is a synonym of all of those long-winded terms. Of those words, "prolix” is the one most likely to suggest unreasonable and tedious dwelling on details. It derives from “prolixus,” a Latin term meaning "extended" or "copious." “Prolixus" originated from a combination of the prefix “pro-” (which means "forward") and the past participle of “liquēre,” a verb meaning "to be fluid." True to that history, something that is prolix flows on and on.

Dragoon \druh-GOON\ verb 1 : to subjugate or persecute by harsh use of troops *2 : to force into submission or compliance especially by violent measures Example Sentence Boys of all ages were taken from their families and dragooned into fighting for the rebel armies. Did you know? A dragoon was a mounted European infantryman of the 17th and 18th centuries armed with a firearm called by the same name. No arm-twisting should be needed to get you to believe that the firearm's name, which came to English from French, is derived from its semblance to a fire-breathing dragon when fired. History has recorded the dragonish nature of the dragoons who persecuted the French Protestants in the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV. The persecution by means of the dragoons led to the use of the word "dragoon" as a verb.

Ineffable \in-EFF-uh-bul\ adjective 1 *a : incapable of being expressed in words : indescribable b : unspeakable 2 : not to be uttered : taboo Example Sentence Ed felt an ineffable joy at the sight of his son walking toward him from the plane. Did you know? "Every tone was a testimony against slavery, and a prayer to God for deliverance from chains. The hearing of those wild notes always depressed my spirit, and filled me with ineffable sadness," wrote Frederick Douglass in his autobiography. Reading Douglass's words, it's easy to see that "ineffable" means "indescribable" or "unspeakable." And when we break down the word to its Latin roots, it's easy to see how those meanings came about. "Ineffable" comes from "ineffabilis," which joins the prefix "in-," meaning "not," with the adjective "effabilis," meaning "capable of being expressed." "Effabilis" comes from "effari" ("to speak out"), which in turn comes from "ex-" and "fari" ("to speak").

Golem \GOH-lum\ noun 1 : an artificial being in Hebrew folklore endowed with life

*2 : someone or something resembling a golem Example Sentence With the flick of a switch, the scientist brought life to his creation, then watched with awe as the golem rose from the table. Did you know? The Hebrew ancestor of the word "golem" meant "shapeless mass," and the original golems started as lumps of clay that were formed into figures and brought to life by means of a charm or a combination of letters forming a sacred word. In the Middle Ages, golems were thought to be the perfect servants; their only fault was that they were sometimes too literal or mechanical in fulfilling their masters' orders. In the 16th century, the golem was thought of as a protector of the Jews in times of persecution. But by the late 1800s, "golem" had acquired a less friendly second sense, referring to a man-made monster that inspired many of the back-from-the-dead creations of classic horror fiction.

Jurisprudence \joor-us-PROO-dunss\ noun 1 : the science or philosophy of law 2 *a : a system or body of law b : the course of court decisions 3 : a department of law Example Sentence A basic premise of American jurisprudence is that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Did you know? "For a farewell to our jurisprudent, I wish unto him the gladsome light of jurisprudence. . . ." With this valedictory to English jurist Sir Thomas Littleton, another jurist, Sir Edward Coke, welcomed two new words into English. In 1628, his "jurisprudence" meant "knowledge of or skill in law," a now archaic sense that reflects the literal meaning of the word. "Jurisprudence" goes back to Latin "prudentia juris" (literally "skill in law"), from which was derived the Late Latin formation "jurisprudentia," and subsequently our word. The noun "jurisprudent" means "one skilled in law" — in other words, "a jurist." There's also "jurisprude," a 20th-century back-formation created from "jurisprudence" with influence from "prude." It means "one who makes ostentatious show of jurisprudential learning."

Officinal \uh-FISS-uh-nul\ adjective : tending or used to cure disease or relieve pain : medicinal Example Sentence The officinal properties of the plant, recently discovered in the Amazon rain forest, are still being studied. Did you know? "Officinal" is a word applied in medicine to plants and herbs that are used in medicinal preparations. In the 19th century, it was the standard word used by the United States Pharmacopeia to refer to the drugs, chemicals, and medicinal preparations that they recognized, but in 1893 it was replaced by "official" in this context. Despite this supersession, you still can find a healthy dose of "officinal" in the pharmaceutical field, where it is used today as a word describing preparations that are regularly kept in stock at pharmacies. "Officinal" was derived from the Medieval Latin noun "officina," a word for the storeroom of a monastery in which provisions and medicines were kept. In Latin, "officina" means "workshop."

Carpaccio \kar-PAH-chee-oh\ noun : thinly sliced raw meat or fish served with a sauce — often used postpositively Example Sentence "Though the menu is large, stick with the steaks and the beef carpaccio at this sleek, airy restaurant." (The San Francisco Chronicle, July 31, 2008) Did you know? Carpaccio is not the only dish named after a person, though its name might have the most artful origin. Created in 1950 by Venetian restaurateur Giuseppe Cipriani, carpaccio is named after Vittore Carpaccio, the Renaissance painter. Cipriani created the dish for the Countess Amalia Nani Mocenigo, who had been under doctor’s orders to avoid cooked meats. According to Cipriani’s memoir, he chose to name the dish after Carpaccio because the red in the beef matched the colors found in Carpaccio’s paintings. Recently, some restaurants have begun using the term for similarly prepared non-meat dishes (such as pear carpaccio).

Derelict \DAIR-uh-likt\ adjective

1 : abandoned especially by the owner or occupant : run-down *2 : lacking a sense of duty : negligent Example Sentence In letting the children stay up late into the night watching television, the babysitter was derelict in her duty. Did you know? The Latin verb "relinquere" left behind a few English derivatives. This word, itself meaning "to leave behind," is the root of our "derelict." Something derelict has been left behind, or at least appears that way. In another sense, someone derelict leaves behind or neglects his or her duties or obligations. Another descendent of "relinquere" is "relinquish," meaning "to leave behind," "to give up," or "to release." "Relic" is another example of a word that ultimately comes from "relinquere." "Relics," in the original sense of the term, referred to things treasured for their association with a saint or martyr — that is, objects saints and martyrs had left behind.

Lothario \loh-THAIR-ee-oh\ noun : a man whose chief interest is seducing women Example Sentence Marie denounced her ex-boyfriend as a conniving lothario who liked to play the field but who had no interest in making a real commitment. Did you know? "Lothario" comes from The Fair Penitent (1703), a tragedy by Nicholas Rowe. In the play, Lothario is a notorious seducer, extremely attractive but beneath his charming exterior a haughty and unfeeling scoundrel. He seduces Calista, an unfaithful wife and later the fair penitent of the title. After the play was published, the character of Lothario became a stock figure in English literature. For example, Samuel Richardson modeled the character of Lovelace on Lothario in his 1748 novel Clarissa. As the character became well known, his name became progressively more generic, and since the 18th century the word "lothario" has been used for a foppish, unscrupulous rake.

Exculpate \EK-skull-payt\ verb : to clear from alleged fault or guilt Example Sentence The lawyer claimed to have recently discovered evidence that would exculpate her client. Did you know? You need not take the blame if you're unfamiliar with the origins of "exculpate," but there's a hint in this sentence. The word, which was adopted in the late 17th century from Medieval Latin "exculpatus," traces back to the Latin noun "culpa," meaning "blame." Some other descendants of "culpa" in English include "culpable" ("meriting condemnation or blame") and "inculpate" ("incriminate"), as well as the considerably rarer "culpatory" ("accusing") and "disculpate" (a synonym of "exculpate"). You may also be familiar with the borrowed Latin phrase "mea culpa," which translates directly as "through my fault" and is used in English to mean "a formal acknowledgment of personal fault or error."

Hebetude \HEB-uh-tood\ noun : lethargy, dullness Example Sentence The hebetude and ennui displayed by such bright students was just one sign that they were not being sufficiently challenged in their classes. Did you know? "Hebetude" usually suggests mental dullness, often marked by laziness or torpor. As such, it was a good word for one Queenslander correspondent, who wrote in a letter to the editor of the Weekend Australian of "an epidemic of hebetude among young people who … are placing too great a reliance on electronic devices to do their thinking and remembering." "Hebetude" comes from Late Latin "hebetudo," which means pretty much the same thing as our word. It is also closely related to the Latin word for "dull" — "hebes," which has extended meanings such as "obtuse," "doltish," and "stupid." Other "hebe-" words in English include "hebetudinous" ("marked by hebetude") and "hebetate" ("to make dull").

Quaggy \KWAGG-ee\ adjective *1 : marshy 2 : flabby

Example Sentence “The alluring creeks and guts that cut through the quaggy archipelago are littered with too much manmade detritus.” (The Baltimore Sun, August 20, 2006) Did you know? “Quaggy” is related to “quagmire,” a word for a patch of wet land that feels soft underfoot, but etymologists are not sure where the first half of the latter word originates. Some have suggested that “quag” might be imitative, echoing the soft, mushy sound that wet ground makes when you walk on it. Both “quagmire” and the shorter noun “quag” first appeared in English in the 1580s, while “quaggy,” which can describe land as well as other things lacking firmness, appeared about thirty years later.

Touchstone \TUTCH-stohn\ noun 1 : a test or criterion for determining the quality or genuineness of a thing *2 : a fundamental or quintessential part or feature Example Sentence The band was a touchstone of the grunge music scene in the 1990s. Did you know? Our example sentence uses "touchstone" in its most recently acquired sense: "a fundamental part." The earlier sense, "a criterion for quality" (as in "I Love Lucy is often seen as a touchstone for comparison with today's TV comedy shows"), provides a better clue to the original meaning of "touchstone," however. The "criterion" sense, which goes back more than 470 years, alludes to a method of testing the purity of a sample of gold. The sample was rubbed on a piece of dark quartz or jasper — the "touchstone." The mark it made was compared to adjacent rubbings on the touchstone from gold of known purity. This method has proved accurate enough that touchstones are still used by jewelers today.

Prelapsarian \pree-lap-SAIR-ee-un\ adjective : characteristic of or belonging to the time or state before the fall of humankind Example Sentence In the afternoon we walked through the idyllic gardens, noting their prelapsarian charm. Did you know? "Prelapsarian" is the latest creation in the "lapsarian" family, which is etymologically related to Latin "lapsus," meaning "slip" or "fall." "Supralapsarian" is the firstborn, appearing in 1633 as a word for someone who held the belief that people were predestined to either eternal life or eternal death before the Creation and the Fall (the event in the Bible when Adam and Eve were forced to leave the Garden of Eden because they had sinned against God). Next in line is "sublapsarian," which refers to a person who adhered to the view that God foresaw and permitted the Fall and after the Fall decreed predestination to eternal life as a means of saving some of the human race. That word first appears in 1656 and was followed by its synonym, "infralapsarian," in distant 1731. "Postlapsarian," meaning "of, relating to, or characteristic of the time or state after the Fall," appeared two years later, and "prelapsarian" was delayed until 1879.

Remora \rih-MOR-uh\ noun *1 : any of various marine fishes that have a suction disk on the head by means of which they cling especially to other fishes 2 : hindrance, drag Example Sentence Remoras feed on parasites culled from their host's skin and scraps from their host's meals. Did you know? Also known as "shark suckers" or "suckerfish," remoras are long, thin, dark fishes that are distributed throughout the world in warm seas. Ancient sailors believed remoras had the power to slow or even stop a ship by attaching themselves to it; the name "remora," which means "delay" in Latin, arose from this ancient superstition. The poor remora’s reputation isn’t much better today. Even though remoras don’t harm their hosts, they are popularly thought of as unwanted guests who get a free ride and a free meal by way of the efforts of others. It is therefore common to see "remora" used metaphorically in such contexts as "hungry paparazzi who attach themselves like remoras to celebrities."

Simulacrum \sim-yuh-LAK-rum\ noun 1 : image, representation *2 : an insubstantial form or semblance of something : trace

Example Sentence The magazine is still in publication, but, since the change in ownership, it is but a simulacrum of its former self. Did you know? It's not a figment of your imagination; there is a similarity between "simulacrum" and "simulate." Both of those English words derive from "simulare," a Latin verb meaning "to copy, represent, or feign." In its earliest English uses, "simulacrum" named something that provided an image or representation (as, for instance, a portrait, marble statue, or wax figure representing a person). Perhaps because a simulacrum, no matter how skillfully done, is not the real thing, the word gained an extended sense emphasizing the superficiality or insubstantiality of a thing.

Undulant \UN-juh-lunt\ adjective 1 : rising and falling in waves *2 : having a wavy form, outline, or surface Example Sentence The undulant foothills gradually give way to the craggy highlands for which Scotland is celebrated. Did you know? "Unda," Latin for "wave," ripples through the history of words such as "abound," "inundate," "redound," "surround," and, of course, "undulant," which first showed up in print in English around 1822. (The adjective "undulate," a synonym of "undulant," is almost 200 years older but rarely used today. The far more common verb "undulate" has several meanings including "to form or move in waves.") The meaning of "undulant" is broad enough to describe both a dancer’s hips and a disease marked by a fever that continually waxes and wanes.

Wisenheimer \WYE-zun-hye-mer\ noun : smart aleck Example Sentence "Everybody's a comedian," quipped Lisa, unperturbed, when some wisenheimer in the back row interrupted her speech with a clever comment. Did you know? We wouldn't joke around about the origin of this witty word. In the early 20th century, someone had the smart idea to combine the adjective "wise" (one sense of which means "insolent, smart-alecky, or fresh") with "-enheimer," playing on the pattern of family names such as "Oppenheimer" and "Guggenheimer." Of course, "wisenheimer" isn't the only “wise-" word for someone who jokes around. There's also "wiseacre," "wisecracker," "wise guy," and “wisehead.” All of these jokesters are fond of making "wisecracks."

Videlicet \vuh-DEH-luh-set\ adverb : that is to say : namely Example Sentence The restaurant is famous for several dishes: videlicet, arroz con pollo, olla podrida, and carne asada. Did you know? The abbreviation of "videlicet" is "viz," and people often wonder how the "z" got there. There is no "z" in the word's Latin roots, "videre" ("to see") and "licet" ("it is permitted"). As it turns out, the "z" in "viz" originally wasn't a "z" at all. It was a symbol that looked like a "z" and that was used in medieval manuscripts to indicate the contraction of Latin words ending in "-et." When the symbol was carried into English, it was converted into the more familiar "z." Scapegrace \SKAYP-grayss\ noun : an incorrigible rascal Example Sentence Joanna was at a loss for ways to help her teenage brother, a scapegrace who always found himself in trouble with the police. Did you know? At first glance, you might think "scapegrace" has something in common with "scapegoat," our word for a person who takes the blame for someone else’s mistake or calamity. Indeed, the words do share a common source — the verb "scape," a variant of "escape" that was once far more common than it is today. "Scapegrace," which first appeared in English in the mid-18th century (over 200 years after "scapegoat"), arrived at its meaning through its literal interpretation as "one who has escaped the grace of

God." (Two now-obsolete words based on a similar notion are "scape-thrift," meaning "spendthrift," and "want-grace," a synonym of "scapegrace.") In ornithological circles, "scapegrace" can also refer to a loon with a red throat, but this sense is rare.

Nativity \nuh-TIH-vuh-tee\ noun *1 : the process or circumstances of being born; especially capitalized : the birth of Jesus 2 : a horoscope at or of the time of one's birth 3 : the place of origin Example Sentence On Christmas morning, church bells joyously pealed a reminder that the day marked the anniversary of the Nativity.

Did you know? "Nativity" is one of many words born of the Latin verb "nasci," which means "to be born." The gestation of the word was a long one. "Nasci" developed in Latin into "nativitas," meaning "birth," which passed through Middle French as "nativite" before entering English in the 14th century. "Nativity" has many siblings and cousins in our language; other terms of the lineage of "nasci" include "cognate," "innate," "nascent," "native," and "renaissance."

Xeric \ZEER-ik\ adjective : characterized by, relating to, or requiring only a small amount of moisture Example Sentence Many cacti have thick, succulent stems that can store enough water to allow them to survive even in xeric habitats. Did you know? By the late 1800s, botanists were using the terms “xerophyte” and “xerophytic” for plants that were well adapted for survival in dry environments. But some felt the need of a more generic word that included both animals and plants. In 1926 that group proposed using “xeric” (derived from "xēros," the Greek word for “dry”) as a more generalized term for either flora or fauna. They further suggested that “xerophytic … be entirely abandoned as useless and misleading.” Not everyone liked the idea. In fact, the Ecological Society of America stated that “xeric” was “not desirable,” preferring terms such as “arid.” Others declared that “xeric” should refer only to habitats, not to organisms. Scientists used it anyway, and by the 1940s “xeric” was well documented in scientific literature.

Meander \mee-AN-der\ verb *1 : to follow a winding or intricate course 2 : to wander aimlessly or casually without urgent destination : ramble Example Sentence As we meandered through the underground maze, we stumbled upon a pile of stones that appeared to mark a burial site. Did you know? "Roam," "ramble," and "meander" all mean to move about from place to place without a plan or definite purpose, but each suggests wandering in a unique way. "Roam" refers to carefree wandering over a wide area often for pleasure (as in, "I roamed over the hills for hours"). "Ramble" stresses carelessness and indifference to one’s course or objective (for instance, "the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point"). "Meander," which comes from Greek "Maiandros," an old name for a river in Asia Minor, implies a winding course and lazy movement, and it is still sometimes associated with rivers (as in, "the river meandered through the town"). "Meander" can also be used as a noun meaning "a winding path."

Yokel \YOH-kul\ noun : a naive or gullible inhabitant of a rural area or small town Example Sentence "I was trying to get off the subway," complained Amy, "but some befuddled yokels were blocking the door, trying to figure out if this was their stop." Did you know? The origins of "yokel" are uncertain, but it might have come from the dialectal English word "yokel," meaning "green woodpecker." Other words for supposedly naive country folk are "chawbacon" (from "chaw," meaning "chew," and "bacon"), "hayseed" (which has obvious connections to country life), and "clodhopper" (indicating a clumsy, heavy-footed rustic). But city slickers don't always have the last word: rural folk have had their share of labels for city-dwellers too. One simple example from current use is the often disparaging use of the adjective "citified." A more colorful (albeit historical) example is "cockney,"

which literally means "cock's egg," or more broadly "misshapen egg." In the past, this word often designated a spoiled or foppish townsman — as opposed to the sturdy countryman, that is.

Trepid \TREP-id\ adjective : timorous, fearful Example Sentence After dark, the less trepid among us would venture as far as the front porch of the empty house, where the smallest creak would send us screaming. Did you know? Don't be afraid to use "trepid." After all, it has been in the English language for more than 350 years — longer, by 30 years, than its antonym "intrepid." "Trepid" (from Latin "trepidus," meaning "alarmed" or "agitated") isn't used as much as "intrepid," but it can be a good word at times. Bill Kaufman, for example, found a use for it in a May 7, 2000 Newsday article, in which an aquarium volunteer is "asked if she is perhaps a little trepid about swimming with sharks in a 12-foot deep, 120,000 gallon tank." (Her fearless reply: "Not really.") The more intrepid among you might even consider using "trepidate" for "to tremble with fear" and "trepidant," meaning "timid" or "trembling." These are uncommon words, granted, but they haven't breathed their last.

Zany \ZAY-nee\ noun 1 : a subordinate clown or acrobat in old comedies who mimics ludicrously the tricks of the principal 2 : one who acts the buffoon to amuse others *3 : a foolish, eccentric, or crazy person Example Sentence My brother's friends are an unpredictable bunch of zanies. Did you know? Zanies have been theatrical buffoons since the heyday of the Italian commedia dell’arte, which introduced those knavish clowns. The Italian "zanni" was a stock servant character, often an intelligent and proud valet with abundant common sense, a love of practical jokes, and a tendency to be quarrelsome, cowardly, envious, vindictive, and treacherous. Zanni, the Italian name for the character, comes from a dialect nickname for Giovanni, the Italian form of John. The character quickly spread throughout European theater circles, inspiring such familiar characters as Pierrot and Harlequin, and by the late 1500s an anglicized version of the noun “zany” was introduced to English-speaking audiences by no less a playwright than William Shakespeare (in Love’s Labour’s Lost).

Heliolatry \hee-lee-AH-luh-tree\ noun: : sun worship Example Sentence The Egyptians, who personified the sun as the god Ra, were one of numerous ancient cultures that practiced heliolatry. Did you know? The first half of “heliolatry” derives from “hēlios,” the Greek word for “sun.” In Greek mythology, Hēlios was the god of the sun, imagined as “driving” the sun as a chariot across the sky. From “hēlios” we also get the word “helium,” referring to the very light gas that is found in balloons and airships, and “heliocentric,” meaning “having or relating to the sun as center,” as in “a heliocentric orbit.” The suffix “-latry,” meaning “worship,” derives via Late Latin and French from the Greek “latreia,” and can be found in such words as “bardolatry” (“worship of Shakespeare”) and “zoolatry” (“animal worship”). A person who worships the sun is called a heliolater.