Word |
Phonetic Pronunciation |
Part of Speech |
Definition |
crosier
Middle French |
KRO-zher |
|
1. a staff with a crook or cross at one end, carried before
an abbot, bishop, or archbishop as a symbol of office
2. the coiled young frond of any of various ferns, some of
which are considered a delicacy when cooked (also called a fiddlehead) |
Ex. |
The abbot carried a wooden crosier before him, resting upon it from time to time as though it
were a stout tree.
|
deracinate
Middle French |
dee-RAY-sin-ate |
verb |
1. UPROOT
2. to displace from one’s native or accustomed environment |
Ex.
Ex. 2.
Rel. Themes: |
To keep an orderly garden, you must frequently deracinate unwanted weeds.
During World War II, Hitler deracinated millions of German-born Jews as a part of his “final
solution.”
Little-known Synonyms for Well-known Words
|
gourmand
Middle French |
GOR-mawnd |
noun |
1. one who is excessively fond of eating and drinking
2. one who is heartily interested in good food and drink |
Ex. |
My father is a regular gourmand;
he can recommend a good glass of wine with any meal.
|
legerdemain
Middle French |
le-jer-duh-MAIN
le-ZHER-du-MAIN |
|
a display of skill or cleverness, esp. for deceitful purposes |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
The Democratic candidate won a senate seat in
a dazzling display of political legerdemain.
From the French leger de main, or
“light of hand.”
Words That Impress
|
rebarbative
Middle French |
re-BAR-buh-tiv |
|
extremely unattractive; repellant; irritating |
Ex.
Rel. Themes: |
Her rebarbative demeanor made it difficult for me to maintain my composure.
Complex Words For Simple
Things | High-Falutin' Insults
|
regale
Middle French |
ri-GALE |
|
1. to entertain richly or agreeably
2. to give pleasure or amusement to
3. to feast oneself |
Ex.
Rel. Themes: |
After we had sated ourselves on ham and mead,
the bard regaled us with tales
of kings.
Likely Literary
|
surfeit
Middle French |
SUR-fit |
noun |
1. an overabundant supply
2. excessive indulgence in something
3. disgust caused by excess |
Ex.
Ex. 2. |
There appears to be a surfeit of unqualified applicants this year.
My friend’s surfeit in liquor is a source of constant amazement for me.
|
trenchant
Middle French |
TREN-chent |
adjective |
1. keen; vigorously effective and articulate
2. caustic
3. clear-cut and distinct |
Ex.
Ex. 2.
Ex. 3. |
He gave a very trenchant analysis.
His trenchant remarks were quite upsetting.
There are trenchant divisions between right and wrong.
|
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