Word |
Phonetic Pronunciation |
Part of Speech |
Definition |
|
ay-BOO-lee-uh |
noun |
abnormal lack of ability to act or to make decisions |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
It was one of those mid-afternoon classes, when abulia settles in and the desire to learn is overtaken by a longing to toss a frisbee on the quad.
From a New Latin word that combines the prefix a- "without" and boulē "will."
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AZH-ee-oh |
noun |
a fee charged for exchanging currencies (more commonly known as commission) |
Ex. |
The agio is typically lower at banks and ATMs than in airports.
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AL-muh MAU-ter |
noun |
1. a school or university which one has attended or from which
one has graduated
2. the song or hymn of such school |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
I recently sent a donation to my alma mater.
Latin for "fostering mother"
Latin Phrases
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BAR-ee-oh |
noun |
1. a district of a city or town in Spanish speaking countries
2. a Spanish-speaking area of a city or town in the United
States, esp. in the Southwest. |
Ex.
Etym. |
The barrios are
often the poorest parts of large U.S. cities.
Spanish for “neighborhood,” ultimately
from Arabic barriya, “open country.”
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BLAK-bawl |
|
1. to vote against; esp. to exclude from membership by casting
a negative vote
2. to exclude socially; ostracize
3. (as a noun) a negative vote |
Ex.
Etym. |
Calvin and Hobbes routinely blackball girls in their frequent treetop G.R.O.S.S. meetings.
Attested to an old practice of voting to condemn a criminal by placing black pebbles in an urn.
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BOON-daw-gul |
|
1. a braided cord worn by Boy Scouts as a hatband or ornament
2. a wasteful or impractical project often involving graft
3. verb : to do useless, wasteful, or trivial work
4. verb : to deceive or attempt to deceive |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
Enron's CEO was jailed for boondoggling investors.
Unknown, though attributed to American scoutmaster R.H. Link as a name for the braided cord described in definition 1.
Sounds Silly
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BRAY-knee-ack |
noun |
a very intelligent person |
Ex.
Ex. 2.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
Her son is a brainiac when it comes to computers.
Video game companies employ armies of brainiacs to do the best graphic design work.
From Braniac, superintelligent villain in Superman. Brainiac first appeared in Action Comics #242 (July 1958).
Eponyms | Likely Literary
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ka-TOP-tro-man-see |
noun |
divination by means of a mirror |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
In the world of children's animation, catoptromancy is largely the province of evil overlords and jealous queens, whose mirrors tend to give them painful truths.
From katoptron "mirror" + manteia "divination"
There's A Word For That?
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se-LER-i-tee |
noun |
speed or rapidity of motion |
Ex.
Ex. 2.
Rel. Themes: |
She speaks with great celerity.
The army moved toward its target with a celerity previously unimaginable.
Little-known Synonyms for Well-known Words
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|
CHIL-blayne |
noun |
an inflammatory swelling produced by exposure to cold, affecting the hands and feet, accompanied with heat, itching, and occasionally ulceration |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
After hours of camping in a damp chill, his hands were covered in gruesome chilblains.
From chill + blain (a blain is an inflammatory swelling or sore)
Likely Literary
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con-CUE-pi-sens |
noun |
ardent sexual desire; LUST |
Ex.
Rel. Themes: |
Her presence aroused in him an uncontrollable concupiscence that was not easily
slaked.
Little-known Synonyms for Well-known Words
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|
KRO-zher |
noun |
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.
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|
DEM-i-mond |
noun |
1. a distinctive class or group that is often an isolated
part of a larger class or group, esp. one having little reputation
or prestige
2. a class of women on the fringes of respectable society
supported by wealthy lovers |
Ex.
Rel. Themes: |
He was but one member of the great literary demimonde of trashy romance novels and throw-away teen ghost stories.
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diablerie
Late Latin |
dee-OB-lur-ee |
noun |
1. black magic; sorcery
2. a representation, in words or pictures, of black magic
or dealings with the devil
3. devilish or mischievous conduct |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
One’s tendency to engage in diablerie is greater in a place like Las Vegas, where everyone shares
the common purpose of drinking too much and sleeping too little.
From the Greek diabolos, “accuser”
or “slanderer.”
Little-known Synonyms for Well-known Words
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doppelgänger
German |
DOP-el-GANG-er |
noun |
1. a ghostly counterpart of a living person
2. alter ego |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
Each full moon, a doppelgänger follows in his steps, driving all traces of sanity from his
brain.
German, “double goer”
Words That Impress
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encyclical
Greek |
in-SICK-li-kul |
adjective
noun |
1. addressed to all the individuals of a group
2. noun : a letter, esp. one sent by the Pope to the bishops
of the church |
Ex. |
My inbox is constantly overflowing with daily encyclicals from the school dean.
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enfant terrible
French |
ahn-FAHN ter-EE-bluh |
noun |
1. a child whose inopportune remarks cause embarrassment
2. a person known for shocking comments or outrageous behavior
3. a usu. young and successful person who is strikingly unorthodox
or innovative |
Ex.
Rel. Themes: |
Five years ago, Napster founder Sean Fanning
was the enfant terrible of the
file-sharing business.
French Phrases | High-Falutin' Insults | There's A Word For That? | Words That Impress
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escamotage
French |
es-cam-oh-TAZH |
noun |
1. spiriting away (as of a person) by magic
2. a retraction; evasion
3. fraudulent appropriation of the results of the labor of
others; trickery [Lenin] |
Ex.
Etym. |
The old rabbit out of the hat trick is mere escamotage.
From the French verb escamoter, which
means “to evade, get around, dodge, or conjure away.”
|
esprit d’escalier
French |
eh-SPREE des-kal-i-YE |
noun |
a witty remark thought of too late |
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
From the notion that one thinks of the perfect
remark on his way out (literally, “wit of the staircase”).
French Phrases | There's A Word For That? | Words That Impress
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feuilleton
Old French |
foi-yay-TON |
noun |
1. the part of a European newspaper or magazine devoted to
light literature, reviews, and things of interest to the general
reader
2. an article appearing in this section
3. a novel published in installments |
Ex.
Note: |
In the 19th century, feuilletons were commonplace; readers were thus accustomed to waiting
a full week to read the next chapter of a novel.
Because this word is French, the final ‘n’
should be pronounced nasally.
|
gasconade
French
Toponym |
gas-kuh-NADE |
noun |
bravado or exaggerated boasting |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
Despite all his gasconade,
he failed to finish the job on time.
From the French gascon, “boaster,”
in turn from Gascon, an inhabitant of the town of Gascony,
notorious for its boastful citizens.
Little-known Synonyms
for Well-known Words | Toponyms
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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.
|
Gretna Green
Toponym |
GRET-na GREEN |
noun |
a place where many eloping couples are married |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
Since Nevada has no waiting period for a marriage
license, it has long been an ideal Gretna
Green for runaway lovers.
From the Scottish village of the same name
There's A Word For That? | Toponyms
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LAR-ee-at |
noun |
a long light rope with a running noose used to catch livestock;
LASSO |
Ex.
Etym. |
The rancher showed his new cowhand how to tie
a lariat, so that he might go
out and bring in the scattered livestock.
From Spanish la reata, “the
lasso.”
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|
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le-jer-duh-MAIN
le-ZHER-du-MAIN |
noun |
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
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lex-i-FAN-i-ciz-em |
noun |
the use of pretentious words or language |
Ex.
Rel. Themes: |
The style of many 19th-century poets suggests
they all took a university-level course in lexiphanicism.
Big Words About Big Words | Words That Impress
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|
LEE-doh |
noun |
a fashionable beach resort |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
The beaches of Hawaii are sprinkled with innumerable lidos,
which transform into lively hot spots during the lucrative
tourist season.
From the Italian lido, “shore, bank,”
and the Italian beach resort of the same name (ultimately
from the Latin litus, "shore")
Toponyms
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lo-THER-ee-oh |
noun |
a man whose chief interest is seducing women |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes:
|
Don't let his dashing looks deceive you - he's nothing more than a conniving lothario with no interest in a long-term commitment.
From Lothario, character in Nicholas Rowe's 1703 play The Fair Penitent.
Eponyms | High-Falutin' Insults | Likely Literary | There's A Word For That?
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MA-truh-klin-ee |
noun |
inheritance of traits primarily from the mother (patrocliny
is the male equivalent of this term) |
Ex.
Rel. Themes: |
His matrocliny was apparent
because he shared the same knowing smile and brown eyes.
There's A Word For That?
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MIS-an-dree |
noun |
hatred or oppression of men (misogyny is the female
counterpart) |
Ex.
Rel. Themes: |
Some women are so scarred by turbulent breakups that a
deep misandry afflicts them for
the rest of their lives.
Little-known Antonyms
for Well-known Words
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MIGHT-er |
noun |
a headdress worn by bishops and abbots |
Ex. |
The Pope was laid in state and arrayed in full clerical
robes, a crosier beneath one arm and a miter atop his head.
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myoo-lee-EB-ri-tee |
noun |
1. womanly qualities
2. femininity (virility is the male equivalent) |
Ex.
Rel. Themes: |
John found the muliebrity of the club quite overwhelming, so he promptly turned about
and made for the doors.
Little-known Antonyms
for Well-known Words
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NAY-bob |
noun |
a person of great wealth or prominence |
Ex.
Etym. |
The president was surrounded by the nabobs of Saudi royalty at last week’s fundraising dinner.
From the Urdu word nawAb, a provincial
governor. Also a high title for Muslim nobles.
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no-BLESS uh-BLEEZH |
noun |
the obligation of those of high rank to be honorable and
generous to those of lower status |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
John D. Rockefeller believed that noblesse
oblige was the price of great wealth.
French for “nobility obligates”
French Phrases | There's A Word For That?
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non SEK-wet-er |
noun |
1. an inference that does not follow from the premises
2. a statement that does not follow logically from anything
previously said |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
A well-timed non sequitur can be humorous, but an ill-timed one will make you look like
a fool.
Latin for “it does not follow”
Latin Phrases | Legalese
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peck-uh-DIL-oh |
noun |
a slight offense |
Ex.
Etym. |
While much of Europe wrote off Clinton’s
escapade with Lewinsky as a mere peccadillo,
the American public was in an uproar.
Diminutive of the Spanish pecado,
or “sin.”
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pres-tuh-dij-i-TAY-shun |
noun |
sleight of hand, esp. when performing magic tricks |
Ex.
Re. Themes: |
Had I not dealt the cards myself, I would have
sworn my friend had engaged in prestidigitation to win the hand.
Complex
Words For Simple Things | Words
That Impress
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say-FOAL-a-gee |
noun |
the scientific analysis of political elections and voting |
Ex.
Rel. Themes: |
To most, psephology is more of an inexact art than a precise science.
There's A Word For That?
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PUL-kri-tood |
noun |
physical beauty |
Ex.
Rel. Themes: |
He was a dashing figure of great pulchritude,
sculpted as from a stone by the gods.
Complex Words For Simple
Things | High-Falutin' Praises | Likely Literary | Little-known Synonyms for Well-known Words
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PEARL-yew |
noun |
1. an outlying or adjacent district;
plural : environs,
neighborhood
2. a frequently visited place : haunt;
plural : confines,
bounds |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
The prince was visibly uncomfortable in the company
of unwashed peasants, having long since grown accustomed to
the cushy purlieu of his father's
marble palace.
French, literally "pure place." In
medieval English law, land near a royal forest that was severed
from it was made purlieu; that is, pure or free from
forest laws.
Legalese
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REV-eh-nah |
|
1. one who returns after death or a lengthy absence
2. characteristic of a revenant; recurring |
Ex.
Etym. |
Every Hallows Eve these grounds are haunted by
that revenant specter.
From the French verb revenir, “to
return”
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san-FRWA |
noun |
self-possession; an imperturbable state, esp. under strain |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
The man’s sangfroid was admirable, though perhaps not surprising given his military
training.
Literally, "cold blooded"
Likely Literary
|
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sanz-koo-LOT |
noun |
1. an extreme radical republican in France at the time of
the Revolution
2. a radical or violent extremist in politics |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
These days, it is not uncommon to hear about
a group of sansculottes taking
over a school or other public building to wring concessions
from their government.
French for "without culottes (knee breeches),"
from the fact that radical republicans in the French Revolution,
usually from the poorer Third Estate, did not wear culottes.
French Phrases | There's A Word For That?
|
sine qua non
Latin |
sin-i kwa NAWN
sin-i kwa KNOWN |
noun |
an indispensable or essential thing |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
For nearly 20 years, Alan Greenspan has been
the sine qua non of the Federal
Reserve Board.
Latin for “without which not”
Latin Phrases | Legalese
|
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.
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sybarite
Greek
Toponym |
SIB-uh-rite |
noun |
a person whose chief interests are luxury and the gratification
of sensual appetites |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
That old sybarite is easy to entertain! Just give him some feminine distractions
and a glass of wine and you won’t hear from him all
night.
Literally, an inhabitant of Sybaris, an ancient
Greek town in southern Italy whose inhabitants were renowned
for their love of luxury.
There's A Word For
That? | Toponyms
|
tenterhook
Middle English |
TEN-tur-hook |
noun |
1. a sharp, hooked nail for fastening cloth to a tenter
2. something that causes suffering or painful suspense |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
Fans of thrillers enjoy being kept on tenterhooks until the final minutes.
From the Middle English teyntur, from medieval Latin tentura, from tenta, "tent"
+ hook
Sounds Silly
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theophany
Greek |
thee-AW-fan-ee |
noun |
the appearance of a deity in a visible form to a person |
Ex. |
I just witnessed a theophany — Jesus himself came and spoke to me.
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tom-FOO-luh-ree, -FOOL-ree |
noun |
the action or behavior of a tomfool; playful or foolish behavior; silly trifling |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
Mother got so fed up with the neighbors' tomfoolery that she up and moved.
From the Middle English nickname Thom Foole, given to any half-witted man.
Eponyms, Sounds Silly
|
trichotillomania
Greek |
try-kuh-ti-luh-MAY-nee-uh |
noun |
an abnormal desire to pull out one's hair |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
Greg's trichotillomania left him with frayed eyebrows and a random array of bald spots.
From the Greek trich- "hair" + tillein "to pull, pluck" + -mania "madness."
There's A Word For That? | Words That Impress
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triskaidekaphobia
Greek |
tris-ky-dek-uh-FO-be-uh |
noun |
fear of the number 13 |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
My cousin is so stricken with triskaidekaphobia that he stays locked indoors on the 13th of every month.
From treis "three" + kai "and" + deka "ten" + phobos "fear"
There's A Word For That?
|
