English Vocabulary Flashcards
get crosswise with
To be in conflict with someone : He had got himself crosswise with the boss (1990s+)
glib (adj)
said or done too easily or carelessly showing little preparation or thought
speaking in a smooth, easy way that is not sincere
difference between valuable and invaluable
Something that’s valuable is worth a lot of money and would net a good price. Something that’s invaluable, on the other hand, is valuable beyond estimation. It’s priceless. The distinction may be easy to make when discussing things: Betsy’s diamond bracelet is valuable.
bellicose (adj.)
demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.
execrate (v)
feel or express great loathing for.
“they were execrated as dangerous and corrupt”
inexorable (adj.)
inexorably (adv.)
inexorability (noun)
not able to be stopped or changed
relentless, unstoppable, inescapable, inevitable
liturgical (adj)
of or relating to liturgy or public worship
liturgy (n)
- a form or formulary according to which public religious worship, especially Christian worship, is conducted.
synonyms: ritual, worship, service, ceremony, rite, observance, celebration, sacrament; More
a religious service conducted according to a liturgy.
the Eucharistic service of the Eastern Orthodox Church (also called the Divine Liturgy ).
noun: Liturgy; noun: the Liturgy - (in ancient Athens) a public office or duty performed voluntarily by a rich Athenian.
sentient
able to perceive or feel things
po-faced (adj)
po-face (n)
having a serious expression on the face
too serious look
parsimonious (adj)
unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy or frugal.
all right vs. alright
The form alright is a one-word spelling of the phrase all right. Alright is commonly used in written dialogue and informal writing, but all right is the only acceptable form in edited writing. Basically, it is not all right to use alright in place of all right in standard English.
poetic v prosaic (adj)
having an imaginative or sensitively emotional style of expression
profligate (adj)
recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources.
spendthrift
bathetic (adj)
producing an unintentional effect of anticlimax
profligate (noun)
a licentious, dissolute person
disport (v)
to enjoy oneself unrestrainedly; frolic.
existential crisis
a moment at which an individual questions the very foundations of their life: whether this life has any meaning, purpose, or value
existential threat
a threat to a people’s existence or survival
existentialism
a philosophical theory or approach that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will
immigrant vs. emigrant
a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country
a person who leaves their own country in order to settle permanently in another.
cordon
prevent access to or from (an area or building) by surrounding it with police or other guards.
“the city center was cordoned off after fires were discovered in two stores”
synonyms: close off, shut off, seal off, fence off, separate off, isolate, enclose, surround
“troops cordoned off the area”
anodyne (adv.)
not likely to provoke dissent or offense; inoffensive, often deliberately so.
eustress
moderate or normal psychological stress interpreted as being beneficial for the experiencer
preternatural
beyond what is normal or natural
apoplectic
overcome with anger; extremely indignant
copacetic
koh-pə-se-tik
in excellent order
Slang for “all is well”
outré
unusual and startling, weird, queer, outlandish, far-out
conclusory
(not conclusionary, which is not a real word)
consisting of or relating to a conclusion or assertion for which no supporting evidence is offered
syntax
syntactic (according to syntax)
the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language
prove (conjugate)
I prove
I proved
I have proved, I had proven
writ large
Signified, expressed, or embodied with greater magnitude, as in That book on Lincoln is simply an article writ large. [ Mid-1600s ]
quaternary
fourth in order or rank; belonging to the fourth order.
saturnine
slow and gloomy
deputize
- to give (someone) the power to do something in place of another person : to make (someone) a deputy
- to act in place of another person : to act for someone as a deputy
lavatorial
relating to or resembling lavatories.
(of conversation or humor) characterized by undue reference to toilets and their use
conversance
personal knowledge or information about someone or something. Synonyms: acquaintance, conversancy, familiarity Type of: information. knowledge acquired through study or experience or instruction
peripatetic
traveling from place to place, especially working or based in various places for relatively short periods
neologism
a relatively new or isolated term, word, or phrase that may be in the process of entering common use, but that has not yet been fully accepted into mainstream language
maudlin
affectionate or sentimental in an effusive, tearful, or foolish manner, especially because of drunkenness.
tearful, lachrymose
mawkish
excessively or falsely sentimental; showing a sickly excess of sentiment.
cutesy, schmaltzy
naïf
naive or ingenuous person
adiposity
a condition of being severely overweight, or obese. The term “obesity” more frequently is used for this condition in the U.S. where obesity is usually defined by measuring a person’s body mass index (BMI)
ingenuous
Innocent or unsuspecting
fatuous
foolish or inane, especially in an unconscious, complacent manner; silly.
concomitant
adjective
naturally accompanying or associated.
Occurring or existing concurrently; attendant: synonym: contemporary.Accompanying; conjoined; attending.
noun
One that occurs or exists concurrently with another.
incommensurability
incapable of being measured against a common standard
interlocutor
a person who takes part in a dialogue or conversation.
contradistinction
distinction made by contrasting the different qualities of two things
disingenuous
not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does.
synonyms: insincere, dishonest, untruthful, false, deceitful, duplicitous, lying, mendacious; hypocritical
teleology
the explanation of phenomena by the purpose they serve rather than by postulated causes.
quietism
calm acceptance of things as they are without attempts to resist or change them.
(in the Christian faith) devotional contemplation and abandonment of the will as a form of religious mysticism
sacerdotal
relating to priests or the priesthood; priestly.
ensouled beings
sentient life
apostasy
the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief
ontology
the philosophical study of the nature of being, becoming, existence or reality as well as the basic categories of being and their relations
ontological
a philosophical argument for the existence of god that uses ontology.
sophistry
a fallacious argument
the use of fallacious arguments, especially with the intention of deceiving
dysfunctional
not operating normally or properly
deviating from the norms of social behavior in a way regarded as bad
apropos
various uses:
with reference to; concerning (prep)
used to state a speaker’s belief that someone’s comments or acts are unrelated to any previous discussion or situation (adv.)
very appropriate to a particular situation (adj.)
inimical
tending to obstruct or harm
unfriendly; hostile
polemical
relating to or involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing or speech.
macher
a person who gets things done.
derogatory
an overbearing person
transgression
an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; an offense
transgressive
involving a violation of accepted or imposed boundaries, especially those of social acceptability
nadir
the lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization
abstruse
difficult to understand; obscure.
perfidy
deceitfulness; untrustworthiness
reliquary
a container for holy relics.
talisman
an object, typically an inscribed ring or stone, that is thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck.
feckless
lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible.
intrepid
fearless; adventurous (often used for rhetorical or humorous effect)
“Mother”
Mother in inverted commas
epistolary
literary;
relating to the writing of letters
forbear (v)
politely or patiently restrain an impulse to do something; refrain.
sangfroid
composure or coolness, sometimes excessive, as shown in danger or under trying circumstances.
unflippable coolness under pressure
asseverate
state categorically; assert; maintain
mullion
a vertical element that forms a division between units of a window, door, or screen, or is used decoratively. When dividing adjacent window units, its primary purpose is to provide structural support to an arch or lintel above the window opening
malposture
wrong or faulty position
ampersand
the sign & (standing for and, as in Smith & Co., or the
entre nous
between ourselves; privately
hieratic
of or concerning priests
highly stylized or formal
foredoom
condemn beforehand to certain failure or destruction.
tremulous
shaking or quivering slightly
garland (n)
garland (v)
- (n) a wreath of flowers and leaves, worn on the head or hung as a
- (v) adorn or crown with a garland.
“they were garlanded with flowers”
synonyms: festoon, wreathe, swathe, hang; More
semaphore
a system of sending messages by holding the arms or two flags or poles in certain positions according to an alphabetic code
bucolic
NOUN 1. A pastoral poem.
ADJECTIVE 1. Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.
relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.
lovely rural setting
adjuration
1: a solemn oath
2: an earnest urging or advising
geometry
the shape and relative arrangement of the parts of something.
Deuteronomy
codified wisdom
salve
soothe (wounded pride or one’s conscience).
diffident
modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence;
shy and not confident of your abilities
shy, bashful, modest, self-effacing, unassuming, meek, unconfident, unassertive, timid, timorous, humble, shrinking, reticent, hesitant, insecure, self-doubting, doubtful, uncertain, unsure, self-conscious
insalubrious
(especially of a climate or locality) not salubrious; unhealthy
salubrious
health-giving; healthy.
vouchsafe
give or grant (something) to (someone) in a gracious or condescending manner.
lugubrious
looking or sounding sad and dismal
requite
make appropriate return for (a favor, service, or wrongdoing).
synonyms: avenge, exact revenge for, revenge, pay someone back for; More
return a favor to (someone).
synonyms: return, reciprocate,
respond to (love or affection); return.
feckless
lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible.
in readiness
the state of being ready or prepared, as for use or action
barbarism
absence of culture and civilization.
extreme cruelty or brutality.
bildungsroman
a novel dealing with one person’s formative years or spiritual education.
Coming of age story
infelicity
(noun)
a thing that is inappropriate, especially a remark or expression
The quality or condition of being infelicitous.
Something inappropriate or unpleasing.
Lack of felicity or good fortune; unhappiness; misfortune; misery.
urbanity
suavity, courteousness, and refinement of manner
Pavlovian
relating to classical conditioning as described by I. P. Pavlov
espadrilles
a light canvas shoe with a plaited fiber sole
droll
curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement.
anodyne
not likely to provoke dissent or offense; inoffensive, often deliberately so.
rapprochement
(especially in international relations) an establishment or resumption of harmonious relations.
stuporous
a condition of greatly dulled or completely suspended sense or sensibility.
a chiefly mental condition marked by absence of spontaneous movement, greatly diminished responsiveness to stimulation, and usually impaired consciousness.
contemporaneous
existing or occurring in the same period of time
cohere
form a whole; be united
Be logically consistent
opprobrium (n)
harsh criticism or censure.
Disgrace arising from exceedingly shameful conduct; ignominy
Scornful reproach or contempt.
A cause of shame or disgrace.
sobriquet
a nickname, sometimes assumed, but often given by another, that is descriptive. Distinct from a pseudonym that is assumed as a disguise, it usually is a familiar name, familiar enough such that it may be used in place of a real name without the need of explanation.
catfish
lure (someone) into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona
macher
a person who gets things done
heretic
a person holding an opinion at odds with what is generally accepted
palliative
(of a medicine or medical care) relieving pain without dealing with the cause of the condition.
loquacious
tending to talk a great deal; talkative.
screed
a long speech or piece of writing, typically one regarded as tedious
volitionally
voluntarily
imposturous
using an assumed character, identity, or name, as by an impostor
waif
a homeless and helpless person, especially a neglected or abandoned child
adumbrate
to foreshadow vaguely : intimate.
to suggest, disclose, or outline partially .
sketch - delineate - outline
defenestrate
throw (someone) out of a window
remove or dismiss (someone) from a position of power or authority
cashiering
a ritual dismissal of an individual from some position of responsibility for a breach of discipline
omerta-style loyalty
(as practiced by the Mafia) a code of silence about criminal activity and a refusal to give evidence to authorities.
profile in no courage
Jennifer Rubin- Washington Post
beleaguer
beleaguered (adj.)
to exhaust with attacks
beset with difficulties
suffering or being subjected to constant or repeated trouble or harassment
nominal
existing in name only
fiat
a formal authorization or proposition; a decree
An arbitrary or authoritative command or order to do something; an effectual decree
evirate
castrate; emasculate
gravamen
the essence or most serious part of a complaint or accusation.
a grievance.
demotic
denoting or relating to the kind of language used by ordinary people; popular or colloquial.
libidinous
showing excessive sexual drive; lustful.
vicar
member of the clergy in charge of a chapel
isolate
a person or thing that has been or become isolated
elide
Omit (a sound or syllable) when speaking.
join together; merge.
patina
a gloss or sheen on wooden furniture produced by age and polishing
an impression or appearance of something
lapidary
relating to stone and gems and the work involved in engraving, cutting, or polishing.
Suitable for engraving
mechante
malicious
salutary
especially with reference to something unwelcome or unpleasant) producing good effects; beneficial
beneficial, advantageous, good, profitable, productive, helpful, useful, valuable, worthwhile; timely
diffident
modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence
shy and not confident of your abilities
gumshoe
detective
apposite
apt in the circumstances or in relation to something
anodyne
not likely to provoke dissent or offense; inoffensive, often deliberately so
non-pareil
having no match or equal; unrivaled
fecund
producing or capable of producing an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertile, fruitful, productive, high-yielding
ubiquitous
present, appearing, or found everywhere
nonplussed
surprised and confused so much that they are unsure how to react
detritus (n)
waste or debris of any kind
ignominious
deserving or causing public disgrace or shame
mesmeric
hypnotic; compelling; fascinating
fetid
smelling extremely unpleasant; stinking, smelly, foul-smelling, evil-smelling, malodorous, stinking to high heaven, reeking, pungent, acrid, high, rank, foul, unpleasant, nasty, noxious
palaver
prolonged and idle discussion
amatory
relating to or induced by sexual love or desire
meta
about the thing itself
infantilize
treat (someone) as a child or in a way that denies their maturity in age or experience.
whinge
complain persistently and in a peevish or irritating way
apposite
appropriate, suitable, fitting, apt
triumphalism
the attitude or belief that a particular doctrine, religion, culture, or social system is superior to and should triumph over all others
macerate
(especially with reference to food) soften or become softened by soaking in a liquid
abeyance
The condition of being temporarily set aside; suspension
demotic
denoting or relating to the kind of language used by ordinary people; popular or colloquial.
ur-
primitive; original; earliest.
desideratum
something that is needed or wanted.
potable
safe to drink; drinkable
internecine (adj.)
destructive to both sides in a conflict.
Of or relating to struggle within a nation, organization, or group.
Mutually destructive; ruinous or fatal to both sides.
Characterized by bloodshed or carnage.
troll
One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument.
A member of an internet forum who continually harangues and harasses others. Someone with nothing worthwhile to add to a certain conversation, but rather continually threadjacks or changes the subject, as well as thinks every member of the forum is talking about them and only them. They often go by multiple names to circumvent getting banned.
infantilize
treat (someone) as a child or in a way that denies their maturity in age or experience.
loquacious
tending to talk a great deal; talkative.
wreak
cause (a large amount of damage or harm)
en fête
dressed for a festivity
engaged in a festivity
obtuse
annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand.
stupid, slow-witted, slow, dull-witted, unintelligent, ignorant, simpleminded, witless;
difficult to understand.
pathos
(pay-thos)
a quality that evokes pity or sadness
caesura
a break between words within a metrical foot.
a pause near the middle of a line.
any interruption or break
interstitial
in between
filler
hortatory
(adj)
Marked by exhortation or strong urging.
Giving exhortation or advise; encouraging; exhortatory; inciting.
Giving exhortation or advice; encouraging; exhortatory; inciting.
tending or aiming to exhort (strongly urge).
trepidation
trepidatious (adj.)
a feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen
demi-vierge
a girl or woman who engages in lewd or suggestive speech and usually promiscuous petting but retains her virginity.
cicatrix
the scar of a healed wound.
a scar on the bark of a tree.
a mark on a stem left after a leaf or other part has become detached
variorum
having notes by various editors or commentators
an edition or text with notes by different persons
an edition containing variant readings of the text
lickspittle
a person who behaves obsequiously to those in power
antediluvian
of or belonging to the time before the biblical Flood.
out of date, outdated, outmoded, old-fashioned, antiquated, behind the times, passé
ridiculously old-fashioned.
koan
(noun)
A puzzling, often paradoxical statement, anecdote, question, or verbal exchange, used in Zen Buddhism as an aid to meditation and a means of gaining spiritual awakening.
A story about a Zen master and his student, sometimes like a riddle, other times like a fable, which has become an object of Zen study, and which, when meditated upon, may unlock mechanisms in the Zen student’s mind leading to satori.
A riddle with no solution, used to provoke reflection on the inadequacy of logical reasoning, and to lead to enlightenment.
inapposite
out of place; inappropriate.
extrospective
not introspective; examining what is outside yourself
noob
a person who is inexperienced in a particular sphere or activity, especially computing or the use of the Internet.
atavistic
relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral.
displaying characteristics of a previous cultural era or of a previous ancestral form; displaying atavism.
of the recurrence of a trait reappearing after an absence of one or more generations due to a chance recombination of genes.
of a throwback or exhibiting primitivism.
bonhomie
cheerful friendliness; geniality. (n)
perdition
(in Christian theology) a state of eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and unpenitent person passes after death.
fisticuffs (noun)
fighting with the fists
innocuous
not harmful or offensive
producing no injury : harmless.
not likely to give offense or to arouse strong feelings or hostility : inoffensive, insipid
soporific
tending to induce drowsiness or sleep.
œuvre
the works of a painter, composer, or author regarded collectively.
a work of art, music, or literature.
noögenic
Existential frustration can lead to noögenic neuroses, or psychological problems having to do with the meaning of one’s life. “Noögenic” comes from the Greek word for “mind.” These neuroses can only be treated through logotherapy, because noögenic neurosis focuses the patient’s mind on the lack of meaning in his life.
rubenesque
of, relating to, or suggestive of the painter Rubens or his works; especially : plump or rounded usually in a pleasing or attractive way. a Rubenesque figure.
ephemeral
lasting for a very short time
apocryphal
of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true
catholic
including a wide variety of things; all-embracing.
Kardashia
that mythical land where accomplishment is largely optional and fame is an end unto itself
jibe with
you’re getting along with something or understanding it
tongue in cheek
without really meaning what one is saying or writing
bemused
puzzle, confuse, or bewilder (someone)
try and versus try to
try to is correct
home in
to direct on a target
parlous
full of danger or uncertainty; precarious.
décolletage
a low neckline on a woman’s dress or top.
* a woman’s cleavage as revealed by a low neckline.
a term used in woman’s fashion referring to the upper part of a woman’s torso, comprising her neck, shoulders, back and upper chest, that is exposed by the neckline of her clothing.
manful décolletage- Ricardo Montálban as Khan
importune (v)
ask (someone) pressingly and persistently for or to do something.
synonyms: beg, beseech, entreat, implore, plead with, appeal to, call on, lobby
aphorism
a pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”.
a concise statement of a scientific principle, typically by an ancient classical author.
inexplicable/inexplicably
unable to be explained or accounted for.
impertinent
not showing proper respect; rude.
protean
tending or able to change frequently or easily of or resembling Proteus in having a varied nature or ability to assume different forms.
displaying great diversity or variety : versatile
sanguine
ADJECTIVE 1. Optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation.
2. (Literary & Heraldry) Blood-red.
NOUN 1. A blood-red color.
2. (Heraldry) A blood-red stain used in blazoning.
ubiquity
the fact of appearing everywhere or of being very common
gundamentalism
The worship of guns; a modern religion based on buying, owning, carrying and shooting large numbers of firearms in situations where they are not really necessary.
Gundamentalism promises to free you from the meaninglessness of everyday life by letting you stroke long hard objects and make loud noises while fantasizing about killing your enemies.
novelistic
characteristic of or used in novels
implacable
unable to be placated; unappeasable, unsparingrelentless; unstoppable
desultory
lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.
synonyms: casual, cursory, superficial, token, perfunctory, half-hearted, lukewarm; More
(of conversation or speech) going constantly from one subject to another in a halfhearted way; unfocused.
feckless
lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible
insouciant
showing a casual lack of concern; indifferent.
when you’re just too damn cool to care about anything
hypertrophy
the enlargement of an organ or tissue from the increase in size of its cells
print (slang)
The imprint of one’s penis and or genitals, visible through tight pants or clothing.
tarantella
a rapid whirling dance originating in southern Italy.
a piece of music written in fast 6/8 time in the style of this dance.
defenestrate
throw (someone) out of a window.
remove or dismiss (someone) from a position of power or authority.
fubar
“Fucked up beyond all recognition”, but also a misunderstandment of the german word “furchtbar”, which means horrible or frightening.
excision
the action of removing or cutting out surgically
meta
about the thing itself. It’s seeing the thing from a higher perspective instead of from within the thing, like being self-aware.
non sequitur
a conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement.
The joy of losing yourself in food
Anthony Bourdain
Chefs should be in the pleasure business, not the “look at me” business
Anthony Bourdain
boundary stomp
disrespecting boundaries
doppelganger
an apparition or double of a living person
polestar
a thing or principle that guides or attracts people.
acerbic/acerbity
A lemon in your mouth, a mean-spirited neighbor, a roomful of sarcastic people
a type of harsh bitterness that can leave you stunned. sour-tasting, sour
bodice ripper
An historical romance where the heroine has lots of non-consensual sex, which becomes consensual. The book needs to have a gaudy cover with a woman with an extraordinarily long neck, heaving bosoms, and flowing hair, and a brooding man.
fair go
a reasonable opportunity to do something (Australian)
punctilious
showing great attention to detail or correct behavior.
efficacious
(typically of something inanimate or abstract) successful in producing a desired or intended result; effective.
shabbat
Jewish sabbath
Gospel
The Old English translation of Greek εὐαγγέλιον, evangelion, meaning “good news”
a little bit nutty and a little bit slutty
David Brock, author of “The Real Anita Hill” who later recanted his salacious assertions
keyboard warrior
a person who promotes causes online, but doesn’t actually participate or cause real change
fait accompli
a thing that has already happened or been decided before those affected hear about it, leaving them with no option but to accept.
M-O (modus operandi)
method of operating
scenester
a person associated with or immersed in a particular fashionable cultural scene.
judicious
having, showing, or done with good judgment or sense
screed
a long speech or piece of writing, typically one regarded as tedious.
lavatorial
used to describe jokes that refer to toilets or excretion (= getting rid of waste from the body)
ineffable (adj.)
too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.
indescribable, inexpressible, beyond words, beyond description, begging description;
quell
put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force
subdue or silence someone
suppress (a feeling, especially an unpleasant one)
founder (verb)
(of a plan or undertaking) fail or break down, typically as a result of a particular problem or setback.
sinecure
a position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit.
sinecurist
one who has a sinecure
credulity
a tendency to be too ready to believe that something is real or true.
incredulous
(of a person or their manner) unwilling or unable to believe something.
imposture
an instance of pretending to be someone else in order to deceive others.
meritorious
deserving of honor or esteem
pertinacious
holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action.
breach
an act of breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement, or code of conduct.
prithee / prythee
please (used to convey a polite request).
disabuse
persuade (someone) that an idea or belief is mistaken
pestilence
a fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague.
hone vs. home
home in
to sharpen or make more acute
vs.
to move or be aimed toward a destination or target with great accuracy.
correlation versus causality
correlation versus causation
the relationship between two sets of variables used to describe or predict information
versus
when an observed event or action appears to have caused a second event or action.
disconsolate
without consolation or comfort; unhappy
sad, unhappy, doleful, woebegone, dejected, downcast, downhearted, despondent, dispirited, crestfallen, cast down, depressed, down, disappointed, disheartened,
hypergamy
the action of marrying a person of a superior caste or class.
précis
a summary or abstract of a text or speech summary, synopsis, résumé, abstract, outline, summarization, summation
highfalutin
pompous or pretentious
ethereal
extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world.
delicate, exquisite, dainty, elegant, graceful; fragile, airy, fine, subtle; unearthly
numerate (v)
To enumerate; count.
numerate (adj.)
numerate vs. literate
Able to think and express oneself effectively in quantitative terms.
waver vs. waiver
to vacillate; move unsteadily back and forth
vs.
to relinquish rights and privileges
nonpareil
having no match or equal; unrivaled incomparable, matchless, unrivaled, unparalleled, unequaled, peerless, beyond compare, second to none, unsurpassed, unbeatable, inimitable;
disenamor
disenamour
disenamored
to disillusion; disenchant (usually used in the passive)
gametes
a mature haploid male or female germ cell that is able to unite with another of the opposite sex in sexual reproduction to form a zygote.
feculent (adj.)
feculence (noun)
Dirty with faeces or other impurities quotations ▼
turbid, sullied, foul, filthy, fetid
foul with impurities
subsume
include or absorb (something) in something else.
aspirational void
laziness; lack of ambition
lacquer
a protective coating consisting of a resin, cellulose ester, or both, dissolved in a volatile solvent, sometimes with pigment added.
any of various resinous varnishes, especially a resinous varnish obtained from a Japanese tree, Rhus verniciflua, used to produce a highly polished, lustrous surface on wood or the like.
especially of wood, coated with such a varnish, and often inlaid:
career (verb)
to run or move rapidly along; go at full speed
churlish
rude in a mean-spirited and surly way.
fulsom
complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree.of large size or quantity; generous or abundant
singular
exceptionally good or great; remarkable
ingratiating
intended to gain approval or favor; sycophantic.
stevedore
a person employed, or a contractor engaged, at a dock to load and unload cargo from ships.
seminal
(of a work, event, moment, or figure) strongly influencing later developments
voluminous
occupying or containing much space; large in volume, in particular.
dolo
to do solo
risible
such as to provoke laughter laughable, ridiculous, absurd, comical, comic, amusing, funny, hilarious, humorous, droll, farcical, silly, ludicrous, hysterical;
arch
deliberately or affectedly playful and teasing.
mischievous, teasing, knowing, playful, roguish, impish, cheeky, tongue-in-cheek; informal saucy
felicity
intense happiness
propinquity
NOUN
- The state of being close to someone or something; proximity.
- Close kinship
anonymize (verb)
make anonymous.
remove identifying particulars from (test results) for statistical or other purposes.
adage
a proverb or short statement expressing a general truth
saying, maxim, axiom, proverb, aphorism, saw, dictum, byword, precept, motto, truism, platitude, cliché, apophthegm, commonplace
historiography
the study of the methods of historians in developing history as an academic discipline, and by extension is any body of historical work on a particular subject.
awfulize
imagine (a situation) to be as bad as it can possibly be.
rostral column
A rostral column is a type of victory column, originating in ancient Greece and Rome where they were erected to commemorate a naval military victory.
Kilometre Zero, zero mile marker, zero-mile point,
a particular location (usually in the nation’s capital city) from which distances are traditionally measured. Historically, they were markers where drivers could set their odometers to follow the directions in early guide books.
reductive
tending to present a subject or problem in a simplified form, especially one viewed as crude.
pernicious
having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way
obscurantism
the practice of deliberately preventing the facts or full details of something from becoming known.
venial
denoting a sin that is not regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace.
(of a fault or offense) slight and pardonable.
polemic
polemicist
an aggressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another
the art or practice of disputation or controversy —usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction
an aggressive controversialist : disputant
vituperative
bitter and abusive
succor
succour
(noun)
assistance and support in times of hardship and stress
succor
(verb)
to give assistance or aid to
jejune
naive, simplistic, and superficial.
(of ideas or writings) dry and uninteresting.
“the poem seems to me rather jejune”
ear worm
a song you can’t get out of your head
mirth
amusement, especially as expressed in laughter.
remonstrance
a forcefully reproachful protest
magnanimous
very generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful than oneself.
labyrinthine (adj)
(of a network) like a labyrinth; irregular and twisting.
mazelike, winding, twisting, serpentine, meandering, wandering, rambling
(of a system) intricate and confusing
elephantine (adj.)
of, resembling, or characteristic of an elephant or elephants, especially in being large, clumsy, or awkward
even so
in spite of that; nevertheless
unmoored
to loose (a vessel) from moorings or anchorage.
to bring to the state of riding with a single anchor after being moored by two or more.
bromide
a trite and unoriginal idea or remark, typically intended to soothe or placate.
ajitprop
political (originally communist) propaganda, especially in art or literature
dissolute
lax in morals; licentious
quotidian
of or occurring every day; daily.
ordinary or everyday, especially when mundane.
kleptocrat
corrupt political leader who uses power to exploit the people and natural resources of their own territory in order to extend their personal wealth and political powers
perturb
to disquiet
to throw into confusion
imperturbable
marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and steadiness : serene
fealty
a feudal tenant’s or vassal’s sworn loyalty to a lord
mien
a person’s look or manner, especially one of a particular kind indicating their character or mood
obviate
make unnecessary
ear worm
sometimes known as a brainworm, sticky music, stuck song syndrome, or Involuntary Musical Imagery (INMI) is a catchy piece of music that continually repeats through a person’s mind after it is no longer playing
misprize
misprise
to hold in contempt : despise
hauteur
haughtiness of manner; disdainful pride.
- Haughtiness in bearing and attitude; arrogance.
- Haughty feeling or bearing; arrogant manner or spirit.
- Haughty manner or spirit; haughtiness; pride; arrogance.
sagacious
having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; shrewd
himpathy
The disproportionate empathy extended in the direction of men we make too many excuses for.
oleaginous
- rich in, covered with, or producing oil; oily or greasy.
- exaggeratedly and distastefully complimentary; obsequious.
sybaritic
fond of sensuous luxury or pleasure; self-indulgent.
luxurious, extravagant, lavish, self-indulgent, pleasure-seeking, sensual, voluptuous, hedonistic, epicurean, lotus-eating, libertine, debauched, decadent
writingexplained.org
grammar resource
armature
the protective covering of an animal or plant.
armor.
commonsensical
commonsensible
exhibiting native good judgment;
ersatz
(of a product) made or used as a substitute, typically an inferior one, for something else.
artificial, substitute, imitation, synthetic, fake, false, faux, mock, simulated; More
not real or genuine.
mésalliance
marriage to a person thought to be unsuitable or of a lower social position
otiose
serving no practical purpose or result.
indolent; idle.
varicolored
consisting of several different colors
parenthetical
(As a parenthetical)
relating to or inserted as a parenthesis
Extra details inserted into a sentence (spoken or written). Usually the details are just relevant enough to be included, even though everything would be perfectly clear (though possibly less interesting) without them.
Everything in (parethesis) is a parenthetical, for example: “I have no regrets, thank God (and praise Satan).”
surcease (noun)
a temporary respite or end
exigency (noun)
an urgent need or demand.
surcease (verb)
intransitive verb
: to desist from action also : to come to an end : cease
transitive verb
: to put an end to : discontinue
cynosure (noun)
a person or thing that is the center of attention or admiration
valedictory (adj.)
serving as a farewell
valedictory (noun)
a farewell address
precipitous (adj.)
- dangerously high or steep.
“the precipitous cliffs of the North Atlantic coast”
(of a change to a worse situation or condition) sudden and dramatic.
2.(of an action) done suddenly and without careful consideration.
insuperable (adj.)
(of a difficulty or obstacle) impossible to overcome.
disobliging (adjective)
deliberately unhelpful; uncooperative.
synonyms: unhelpful, uncooperative, unaccommodating, unreasonable, awkward, difficult;
discourteous, uncivil, unfriendly
“our disobliging neighbors”
antonyms: helpful
disoblige (verb)
offend (someone) by not acting in accordance with their wishes.
froideur
an attitude of haughty aloofness;
cold superiority.
coldness
coolness or reserve between people
vapid
vapidity
offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging
fruitarian
a person who eats only fruit
paterfamilias
the male head of a family or household
variegated (ade.)
exhibiting different colors, especially as irregular patches or streaks.
(of a plant or foliage) having or consisting of leaves that are edged or patterned in a second color, especially white as well as green.
trivium
an introductory curriculum at a medieval university involving the study of grammar, rhetoric, and logic
distinguée
having a distinguished manner or appearance
revanchism (noun)
revanchist (adj.)
the political manifestation of the will to reverse territorial losses incurred by a country, often following a war or social movement
vulgate
1 capitalized : a Latin version of the Bible authorized and used by the Roman Catholic Church
2 : a commonly accepted text or reading
3 : the speech of the common people and especially of uneducated people
consonance (noun)
agreement or compatibility between opinions and actions
The recurrence of similar sounds, especially consonants in close proximity
gainsay
deny or contradict (a fact or statement)
synonyms: deny, dispute, disagree with, argue with, dissent from, contradict, repudiate, challenge, oppose, contest, counter, controvert, rebut
speak against or oppose (someone)
especial
better or greater than usual; special.
synonyms: particular, special, extra special, superior, exceptional, extraordinary;
for or belonging chiefly to one person or thing.
synonyms: distinctive, individual, special, particular, distinct, peculiar, personal, own, unique, specific
caprice
an unexpected action or decision which has no strong reason or purpose
plebiscite
a direct vote by the people of a country or region in which they say whether they agree or disagree with a particular policy, for example, whether a region should become an independent state
coup
an achievement which is thought to be especially good because it was very difficult
dispositive (adjective)
relating to or bringing about the settlement of an issue or the disposition of property.
LAW
dealing with the disposition of property by deed or will.
dealing with the settling of international conflicts by an agreed disposition of disputed territories.
disasterbate
catastrophize (dirty slang)
anchoring bias
a tendency to rely too heavily on the very first piece of information they learn, which can have a serious impact on the decision they end up making
anchoring bias
Anchoring or focalism is a term used in psychology to describe the common human tendency to rely too heavily, or “anchor,” on one trait or piece of information when making decisions.
anchoring
a term used in psychology to describe the common human tendency to rely too heavily, or “anchor,” on one trait or piece of information when making decisions.
synonym: focalism
cracking wise
to wise crack
paramountcy
the legal principle that reconciles contradicting or conflicting laws in a federalist state, where both the central government, and the provincial or state governments, have the power to create laws in relation to the same matters.
inveigh
inveigh against …
speak or write about (something) with great hostility
fulminate against, declaim against, protest (against), rail against/at, rage at, remonstrate against;
counterfactual
Running contrary to the facts.
contrary to fact; – of assertions, ideas, assumptions.
Contrary to the facts; untrue.
inexorably
in a way that is impossible to stop or prevent.
“the conflict was to lead inexorably to the outbreak of World War I”
malinger
malingerers
malingering
exaggerate or feign illness in order to escape duty or work.
synonyms: pretend to be ill, feign (an) illness, fake (an) illness;
impiety (n)
Impious (adj)
lack of piety or reverence
hagiographic
hagiography
type of biography that puts the subject in a very flattering light. Hagiographies are often about saints. The two halves of hagiography refer to holiness and writing, and it is something written about holy pe
wish-casting
The act of interpreting information or a situation in a way that casts it as favorable or desired, despite the fact that there is no evidence for such a conclusion.
wishcast
To interpret information or a situation in a way that casts it as favorable or desired, despite the fact that there is no evidence for such a conclusion.
scot-free
without suffering any punishment or injury.
synonyms: unpunished, without punishment; More
forbearance (n)
patient self-control; restraint and tolerance.
tolerance, patience, resignation, endurance, fortitude, stoicism
intemperate
(adj,)
having or showing a lack of self-control; immoderate.
synonyms: immoderate, excessive, undue, inordinate, extreme, unrestrained, uncontrolled; More
self-indulgent, overindulgent, extravagant, lavish, prodigal, profligate; imprudent, reckless, wild;
dissolute, debauched, wanton, dissipated
antonyms: moderate
given to or characterized by excessive indulgence, especially in alcohol.
factotum
a person (usually employee) having many diverse activities or responsibilities.
a general servant.
an employee who does all kinds of work.
odd-job man, (general) handyman, general employee, man of all work, maid of all work, jack of all trades
mirth (n)
amusement, especially as expressed in laughter.
“his six-foot frame shook with mirth”
synonyms: merriment, high spirits, cheerfulness, cheeriness, hilarity, glee, laughter, gaiety, buoyancy, blitheness, euphoria, exhilaration, lightheartedness, joviality, joy, joyfulness, joyousness
“we could not hold back our m
commentariat
chattering class
charismatic megafauna
large animal species with symbolic value, widespread popular appeal, and are often used by environmental activists to achieve environmentalist goals
eschew (verb)
deliberately avoid using; abstain from.
soporific
tending to induce drowsiness or sleep. (adj.)
a drug or other agent that induces sleep (noun)
noun
synonyms: sleeping pill, sedative, calmative, tranquilizer, narcotic, opiate; hypnotic
somehow or other
in an undetermined way; by any means possible
strategery
strategy (chiefly used ironically or derisively).
“maybe this is his brilliant strategery—drive them so crazy that they act rashly!”
link language
A common language linking various people groups or ethnicities, where the adopted language is not a native language of any of the speakers using it.
surcease (n)
surcease (v)
cessation
to cease
sepulchral (adj.)
relating to a tomb or interment.
gloomy; dismal.
mendacity (n)
mendacious (adj.)
untruthfulness (n)
not telling the truth; lying (adj.)
approbation
approval or praise.
synonyms: approval, acceptance, endorsement, appreciation, respect, admiration, commendation, praise, congratulations, acclaim, esteem, applause
exnihilator
the creator of something from nothing
accouchement
the process of giving birth to a baby
leitmotif
a recurrent theme throughout a musical or literary composition, associated with a particular person, idea, or situation
interregnum
period of discontinuity or “gap” in a government, organization, or social order
protean
tending or able to change frequently or easily.
ever-changing, variable, changeable, mutable, kaleidoscopic, erratic, quicksilver, inconstant, inconsistent, unstable, unsteady, shifting, uneven, unsettled, fluctuating, chameleonlike, chameleonic
eventuate
occur as a result
happen, occur, take place, chance to happen, arise, emerge, come about, transpire, materialize, appear, surface, crop up, spring up, present itself
lead to as a result.
asynchronous
(of two or more objects or events) not existing or happening at the same time
vainglory (n)
vainglorious (adj.)
inordinate pride in oneself or one’s achievements; excessive vanity
disquisition
a long or elaborate essay or discussion on a particular subject
pugilistic (adj)
A person who fights with the fists; a boxer, usually a professional
combative
tergiversation
evasion of straightforward action or clear-cut statement
EQUIVOCATION
desertion of a cause, position, party, or faith
inviolate
free or safe from injury or violation
monastic
relating to monks, nuns, or others living under religious vows, or the buildings in which they live.
cloistered, conventual, cloistral, claustral, canonical, monastical; rarecenobitic, monachal
synonyms: austere, ascetic, simple, solitary, monkish, celibate, quiet, cloistered, sequestered, secluded, reclusive, withdrawn, hermitlike, eremitic, anchoritic, hermitic, contemplative, meditative
compeer
a person of equal rank, status, or ability.
purview
the scope of the influence or concerns of something.
range of experience or thought.
parure
a set of jewels intended to be worn together.
continence
the ability to control movements of the bowels and bladder.
self-restraint, especially with regard to sex.
heterodox
Not conforming with accepted or orthodox standards or beliefs.
contrary to or different from an acknowledged standard, a traditional form, or an established religion : unorthodox, unconventional
Synonyms
dissentient, dissenting, dissident, heretical (also heretic), iconoclastic, maverick, nonconformist, nonorthodox, out-there, unconventional, unorthodox
ekphrasis or ecphrasis
ekphrastic
a literary description of or commentary on a visual work of art
the description of a work of art produced as a rhetorical exercise. It is a vivid, often dramatic, verbal description of a visual work of art, either real or imagined.
noseblind
unable to detect odors
beatitude
the enjoying of truth
cognizable
capable of being perceived or known; perceptible; clearly identifiable.
helpmeet
helpmate
a helpful companion or partner, especially one’s husband or wife.
synonyms: companion, partner, associate, assistant, helper, helpmate, attendant, escort; supporter, friend
spouse, partner, consort, mate, husband, wife;
informal: other half, better half
incognizable
incapable of being perceived or known
deep-seated
firmly established at a deep or profound level
animatronics (n)
animatronic (v)
the technique of making and operating lifelike robots, typically for use in film or other entertainment.
samizdat
the clandestine copying and distribution of literature banned by the state, especially formerly in the communist countries of eastern Europe.
polyglot
knowing or using several languages.
a person who knows and is able to use several languages.
mitzvah
a precept or commandment.
a good deed done from religious duty.
campathy
sometimes camp, sometimes empathetic
defenestrate (v)
defenestration (n)
to throw out of a window (v)
the act of throwing someone out of a window (n)
lampshade
A word used for situations in media- mostly in comics and television- where the concerns, criticisms and arguments of the audience are answered in the text itself to assuage any disbelief and therefore frustration a reader or viewer might possess.
invidious
(of an action or situation) likely to arouse or incur resentment or anger in others.
synonyms: unpleasant, awkward, difficult;
cosmopolite
cosmopolitan person
quarry (n)
a place, typically a large, deep pit, from which stone or other materials are or have been extracted.
historic vs. historical
Historic means ‘famous or important in history’, as in a historic occasion
historical means ‘concerning history or historical events’, as in historical evidence; thus a historic event is one that was very important, whereas a historical event is something that happened in the past.
recurring vs reoccurring
recurring: happens over and over again, regularly and repeatedly, and is therefore predictable
reoccurring: repeats at least one time, but not necessarily more
gaslighting
a form of psychological manipulation that seeks to sow seeds of doubt in a targeted individual or in members of a targeted group, making them question their own memory, perception, and sanity. Using persistent denial, misdirection, contradiction, and lying, it attempts to destabilize the victim and delegitimize the victim’s belief
elucidate (v)
make (something) clear; explain
identitarianism
the belief that social identity matters most. Examples include white racists, black nationalists, male chauvinists, and gender feminists
discomfit (v)
discomfiting
make (someone) feel uneasy or embarrassed
ensorcell (v)
enchant; fascinate
evidentiary
evidential
being, relating to, or affording evidence
conducted so that evidence may be presented
propinquity
the state of being close to someone or something; proximity.
close kinship
afterward vs. afterwards
There is no difference between afterward and afterwards. Neither is more correct or incorrect than the other, and both appear throughout the English-speaking world.
gonzo
of or associated with journalistic writing of an exaggerated, subjective, and fictionalized style.
of, relating to, or being a style of journalism marked by a lack of objectivity due to the writer’s immersion in the subject and often participation in the activity being documented
sic
“thus”, “just as”; in full: sic erat scriptum, “thus was it written”
maximalist
noun
(especially in politics) a person who holds extreme views and is not prepared to compromise.
One who advocates extremist views or radical action to secure a social or political goal.
A person with maximalist beliefs or tendencies; someone who prefers redundancy or excess.
adjective: of or denoting an extreme opinion.
quaint
attractively unusual or old-fashioned.
fulcrum
pivot, center, heart, hinge
emo
a fan of a style of rock music resembling punk but having more complex arrangements and lyrics that deal with more emotional subjects; especially a person who is overly sensitive and full of angst or adopts a certain style characterized by dyed black hair, tight t-shirts and jeans, etc.
riposte (n)
a quick, clever reply to an insult or criticism.
synonyms: retort, counter, rejoinder, sally, return, retaliation, answer, reply, response; More
informal comeback;
informal clapback
a quick return thrust following a parry.
heel turn
When a person completely and suddenly, and often shockingly, goes from good to evil.
instrumentalize
To make into an instrument for achieving a goal.
To transcribe for instrumental execution a piece of music written for the human voice
riposte (v)
to make a quick, clever reply to an insult or criticism.
synonyms: retort, counter, rejoin, return, retaliate, hurl back, fling back, snap back, answer, reply, respond, say in response; round on someone, come back
make a quick return thrust in fencing.
posterity
the offspring of one progenitor to the furthest generation
2 : all future generations
dolorous
feeling or expressing great sorrow or distress.
fetid
smelling extremely unpleasant.
quixotic
exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical
besaint
to give the status of a saint to
manchild
an immature man
jeremiad (n)
a long, mournful complaint or lamentation; a list of woes.
fraudulence
fraudelency
the action or quality of cheating, lying, or deceiving someone
noun for fraudulent
laconic
(of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words.
Using or marked by the use of few words; terse or concise.
Expressing much in few words, after the manner of the Laconians or Spartans; brief and pithy; concise; brusque; epigrammatic. In this sense laconic is the usual form.
interiority
the quality of being interior or inward.
inner character or nature; subjectivity.
exculpate (v)
exculpated (past participle)
show or declare that (someone) is not guilty of wrongdoing.
itinerant (adj.)
traveling from place to place.
synonyms: traveling, peripatetic, wandering, wayfaring, roving, roaming, rambling, touring, nomadic, gypsy, migrant, migratory, ambulatory; vagrant, vagabond, homeless, of no fixed address/abode, displaced; footloose, rootless, drifting, floating, unsettled, restless; globetrotting, jet-setting; archaicerrant
itinerant (n)
a person who travels from place to place.
synonyms: traveler, wanderer, wayfarer, roamer, rover, nomad, gypsy, Bedouin
eugenics (n)
the science of improving a human population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics. Developed largely by Francis Galton as a method of improving the human race, it fell into disfavor only after the perversion of its doctrines by the Nazis.
concupiscence (n)
concupiscent (adj)
Strong desire, especially sexual
Synonyms:
desire, eroticism, horniness, hots, itch, lech, letch, libidinousness, lust, lustfulness, lustihood, passion, salaciousness
eugenic (adj)
relating to or fitted for the production of good offspring
oeuvre (n)
pronounced: ervra, o͝ovrə
plural: oeuvres
the works of a painter, composer, or author regarded collectively.
twee
excessively or affectedly quaint, pretty, or sentimental.
synonyms: quaint, sweet, bijou, dainty, pretty, pretty-pretty
abattoir
slaughterhouse
malign (n)
evil in nature or effect; malevolent.
harmful, evil, bad, baleful, hostile, inimical, destructive, malevolent, evil-intentioned, malignant, injurious, spiteful, malicious, vicious
malign (v)
speak about (someone) in a spitefully critical manner.
defame, slander, libel, blacken someone’s name/character, smear, run a smear campaign against, vilify, speak ill of, spread lies about, accuse falsely, cast aspersions on, run down, misrepresent, calumniate, traduce, denigrate, disparage, slur, derogate, abuse, revile
diaphanous
translucent; very delicate; ethereal or gently lazy
miasma
An unpleasant atmosphere
A poisonous, gaseous or noxious cloud
cache
A secret or inaccessible storage location
Computer memory for storing recently used data
riverine (adj.)
1 : relating to, formed by, or resembling a river
2 : living or situated on the banks of a river
hallow (v)
honor as holy.
bereft
deprived of or lacking something, especially a nonmaterial asset.
accelerant (n)
accelerant (v)
(n) a substance used to aid the spread of fire.
(adj) accelerating or causing acceleration.
assemblage
a collection or gathering of things or people
becoming (adj.)
attractive
bungalow
a small cozy cottage
chatoyant
chatoyancy or chatoyance
gemology term: (of a gem, especially when cut en cabochon) showing a band of bright reflected light caused by aligned inclusions in the stone.
(literally: like a cat’s eye
comely (adj.)
(typically of a woman) pleasant to look at; attractive.
conflate (v)
combine (two or more texts, ideas, etc.) into one.
cynosure (n)
a person or thing that is the center of attention or admiration.
dalliance (n)
a brief love affair
demesne (n)
- land attached to a manor and retained for the owner’s own use.
- LAW possession of real property in one’s own right.
denouement (n)
- The final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.
- The climax of a chain of events, usually when something is decided or made clear.
parodic (adj.)
having or of the nature of a parody.
trepidation (n)
tremulous fear, alarm, or agitation; perturbation.
trembling or quivering movement; tremor.
trepidatious
apprehensive or nervous; filled with trepidation.
invertebrate (n)
an animal lacking a backbone, such as an arthropod, mollusk, annelid, coelenterate, etc.
invertebrate (adj.)
spineless; lacking a spinal column; relating to or belonging to the invertebrate division of animals
replicant
(in science fiction) a genetically engineered or artificial being created as an exact replica of a particular human being.
immolate (v)
immolated
kill or offer as a sacrifice, especially by burning.
distingué (adj.)
having a distinguished manner or appearance
contranatural (adj.)
opposed to or against nature; unnatural.
scabbard (n)
A sheath for the blade of a sword, dagger, or gun, typically made of leather or metal.
anomie
lack of the usual social or ethical standards in an individual or group.
adamantine (adj.)
unbreakable
bezel (n)
a grooved ring holding the glass or plastic cover of a watch face or other instrument in position.
a groove holding the crystal of a watch or the stone of a gem in its setting.
extant (adj)
(especially of a document) still in existence; surviving.
extant (adj)
(especially of a document) still in existence; surviving.
stichomythia (n)
dialogue in which two characters speak alternate lines of verse, used as a stylistic device in ancient Greek drama. Short, quick alternating lines of verse
tipple
(v.) drink alcohol, especially habitually; drink alcohol, drink, have a drink;
(n) an alcoholic drink, alcoholic drink, strong drink, drink, liquor, intoxicant
psychopomp
(in Greek mythology) a guide of souls to the place of the dead. The spiritual guide of a living person’s soul.
taxonomy
the branch of science concerned with classification, especially of organisms; systematics.
a scheme of classification.
Apocrypha (n)
biblical or related writings not forming part of the accepted canon of Scripture.
writings or reports not considered genuine.
elegiac
relating to or characteristic of an elegy.
nitpicking = picking nits
Same thing
narcotize
narcotized
stupefy with or as if with a drug.
make (something) have a soporific or narcotic effect.
“they wanted to narcotize you so you wouldn’t be sensitive to them”
eponymous (adj.)
- Relating to the name of something
- Describing an item named after a subject in question
equerry (n)
- A royal position in charge of horse care
- An officer, member, or attendant of the British royal household
erstwhile (adj.)
former, old, past, one-time, sometime, as was, ex-, late, then; previous, prior, foregoing;
per uje
per usual
articulable (adj.)
capable of being articulated
redolent (adj.)
strongly reminiscent or suggestive of (something).
synonyms: evocative, suggestive, reminiscent, remindful
tacit (adj.)
understood or implied without being stated.
taciturn (adj.)
(of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.
synonyms: untalkative, uncommunicative, reticent, unforthcoming, quiet, unresponsive, secretive, silent, tight-lipped, close-mouthed, mute, dumb, inarticulate;
Habitually untalkative. synonym: laconic.
Characterized by reserve or a lack of expression.
Habitually silent; not given to converse; not apt to talk or speak.
craven (adj.)
contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly.
militate (v)
(of a fact or circumstance) be a powerful or conclusive factor in preventing.
“these fundamental differences will militate against the two communities coming together”
mil·i·tate
/ˈmiləˌtāt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
(of a fact or circumstance) be a powerful or conclusive factor in preventing.
“these fundamental differences will militate against the two communities coming together”
piscine (adj.)
of, related to, concerning or characteristic of fish.
lackadaisical (adj.)
Lazy or disinterested
Lacking vitality or enthusiasm
fungible (adj.)
(of goods contracted for without an individual specimen being specified) able to replace or be replaced by another identical item; mutually interchangeable.
puerile
childish; silly; immature; juvenile; infantile; childishly foolish
limn (v)
depict or describe in painting or words.
suffuse or highlight (something) with a bright color or light.
“a crescent moon limned each shred with white gold”
callipygian (adj.)
having well-shaped buttocks
supercilious (adj)
behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others.
synonyms: arrogant, haughty, conceited, disdainful, overbearing, pompous, condescending, superior, patronizing, imperious, proud, lofty, lordly, snobbish, snobby, overweening, smug; More
pederast
A man who is engaged in an erotic relationship with an adolescent boy
pederasty
sexual activity involving a man and a boy.
etymological
relating to the origin and historical development of words and their meanings.
performatively literate
excessively theatrically literate, like the Pierce Family in Succession
ligature (n)
(n) a thing used for tying or binding something tightly.
(v) bind or connect with a ligature.
profligacy
- reckless extravagance or wastefulness in the use of resources.
- licentious or dissolute behavior.
reportage
the reporting of news, for the press and the broadcast media.
factual presentation in a book or other text, especially when this adopts a journalistic style.
vestigial
of a body part or organ : remaining in a form that is small or imperfectly developed and not able to function
arrogate (v)
take or claim (something) without justification.
valorous (adj)
showing great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle.
pusillanimous (adjective)
pusillanimity (n)
showing a lack of courage or determination; timid.
cowardly; timorous; timid; fearful
lack of courage or determination; timidity.
pointillism (n)
a technique of neo-impressionist painting using tiny dots of various pure colors, which become blended in the viewer’s eye. It was developed by Georges Seurat with the aim of producing a greater degree of luminosity and brilliance of color.
pointillistic (adj)
pointillistically (adv)
1 : composed of many discrete details or parts
2 : of, relating to, or characteristic of pointillism or pointillists
didactic (adj.)
intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction instructive, instructional, educational, educative, informative, informational, doctrinal, preceptive, teaching, pedagogic, academic, scholastic, tuitional; More
edifying, improving, enlightening, illuminating, heuristic;
pedantic, moralistic, homiletic;
rarepropaedeutic
in the manner of a teacher, particularly so as to treat someone in a patronizing way.
homunculus (n)
a very small human or humanoid creature.
a supposed microscopic but fully formed human being from which a fetus was formerly believed to develop.
verisimilitude
the appearance of being true or real.
the philosophical notion that some propositions are more true or less true than other propositions
The quality of appearing to be true or real. synonym: truth.Something that has the appearance of being true or real.The quality or state of being verisimilar; the appearance of truth; probability; likelihood: as, the verisimilitude of a story.
indissociable (adj)
unable to be dissociated.
imbroglio
an extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation.
synonyms: complicated situation, complication, complexity, problem, difficulty, predicament, plight, trouble, entanglement, confusion, muddle, mess, quandary, dilemma;
sovereignty
supreme power or authority.
armchair psychologizing
Analysis of Trump
polymath
an individual whose knowledge spans a significant number of subjects, known to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems.
politesse
formal politeness or etiquette.
sagacity (n.)
wisdom, (deep) insight, intelligence, understanding, judgment, acuity, astuteness, insight, sense, canniness, sharpness, depth, profundity, profoundness, perceptiveness, penetration, perception, percipience, perspicuity, discernment, erudition, learning, knowledgeability, thoughtfulness; raresapience
the quality of being sagacious.
nihilism
the rejection of all religious and moral principles, in the belief that life is meaningless.
hegemony
leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others.
sagacious (adj.)
having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; shrewd.
wise, clever, intelligent, with/showing great knowledge, knowledgeable, sensible, sage; More
catholic (adj.)
including a wide variety of things; all-embracing.
putative
generally considered or reputed to be
mésalliance
misally
a marriage with a person thought to be unsuitable or of a lower social position.
marriage with a person of inferior social position
hypergamy
marrying up
hypogamy
marrying down
gravamen (n)
the essence or most serious part of a complaint or accusation.
a grievance.
-gamy
a combining form with the meanings “marriage,” “union,” “ fertilization, pollination”, of the kind specified by the initial element
fraudulency
fraudulence
noun for fraudulent
meet cute (v)
(of two characters in a film or television show) have an amusing or charming first encounter that leads to the development of a romantic relationship.
meet cute (n)
(in a film or television show) an amusing or charming first encounter between two characters that leads to the development of a romantic relationship between them.
Herrenvolk (master race)
a race that considers itself superior to all others and fitted to rule the others.
the German nation as considered by the Nazis to be innately superior to others.
pettifogging
placing undue emphasis on petty details.
to quibble over insignificant details
detritus (n)
waste or debris of any kind.
newsjacking (n)
newsjack (v)
the practice of taking advantage of current events or news stories in such a way as to promote or advertise one’s product or brand.
wishcasting (n)
wishcast (v)
The act of interpreting information or a situation in a way that casts it as favorable or desired, despite the fact that there is no evidence for such a conclusion.
The act of presenting a “wish” as a “forecast”.
A tactic in “journalism” used to promote a story as true simply because the writer wants it to be true.
thug
the diet n word
ossified
ossify
- Transformed into bone
- Became rigid in habit or belief
perspicacious
- Highly perceptive, keen
- Discerning, shrewd
seismic (adj.)
seismically (adv.)
relating to earthquakes or other vibrations of the earth and its crust.
relating to or denoting geological surveying methods involving vibrations produced artificially by explosions.
of enormous proportions or effect.
mulligan
a second chance to perform an action, usually after the first chance went wrong through bad luck or a blunder.
(don) a uniform
(to put on) a uniform
imprimatur (n)
an official license by the Roman Catholic Church to print an ecclesiastical or religious book.
a person’s acceptance or guarantee that something is of a good standard.
incontrovertible (adj)
not able to be denied or disputed.
synonyms: indisputable, incontestable, undeniable, irrefutable, unassailable, beyond dispute, unquestionable, beyond question, indubitable, not in doubt, beyond doubt, beyond a shadow of a doubt, unarguable, inarguable, undebatable, unanswerable;
more so
of the same kind to a greater degree.
booger sugar
cocaine
valorize
give or ascribe value or validity to (something).
raise or fix the price or value of (a commodity or currency) by artificial means, especially by government action.
probative
having the quality or function of proving or demonstrating something; affording proof or evidence
(Legal)
long listed vs. short listed
The “long list” is the first list of all the nominees, while the “short list” is a later list, after some entries from the long list have been deleted. The short list is usually made up of the finalists or semi-finalists in a contest.
longlist (v)
A first list, from which a shortlist is prepared
unstinting (adj)
unstintingly (adv)
not restricting or holding back : giving or being given freely or generously
Alack and alas!
Used to express dismay, sorrow, regret or sadness.
from Romeo and Juliet
hagiography
hagiographic
the writing of the lives of saints.
DEROGATORY
adulatory writing about another person.
biography that idealizes its subject.
escritoire
writing table or desk
janissary (n)
janissaries; noun: janizary; plural noun: janizaries
a member of the Turkish infantry forming the Sultan’s guard between the 14th and 19th centuries.
a devoted follower or supporter.
Alack and alas!
Used to express regret or sadness.
clairvoyant (n) & (adj)
noun: clairvoyant; plural noun: clairvoyants; noun: clairvoyante; plural noun: clairvoyantes
(n) a person who claims to have a supernatural ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact.
psychic; fortune teller; forecaster of the future; crystal gazer; prophet; seer; soothsayer; oracle; medium; spiritualist; telepathist; telepath; mind reader; palmist; palm reader; chiromancer; chirosophist; spiritist; palmister
adjective: having or exhibiting an ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact.
“he didn’t tell me about it and I’m not clairvoyant”
basic
people who really don’t have anything going for them.
potager
kitchen garden
crepuscular
of, resembling, or relating to twilight.
ZOOLOGY
(of an animal) appearing or active in twilight.
unequivocal (adj)
leaving no doubt; unambiguous.
laudable (adj)
of an action, idea, or goal) deserving praise and commendation.
synonyms: praiseworthy, commendable, admirable, meritorious, worthy, deserving, creditable, worthy of admiration, estimable, of note, noteworthy, exemplary, reputable, honorable, excellent, sterling; rareapplaudable
philately (n)
the collection and study of postage stamps
martinet (n)
a strict disciplinarian, especially in the armed forces.
synonyms: disciplinarian, slave driver, stickler for discipline, taskmaster, taskmistress, authoritarian, tyrant; drill sergeant
argot (n)
the jargon or slang of a particular group or class.
“teenage argot”
synonyms: jargon, slang, idiom, cant, dialect, parlance, patter, speech, vernacular, patois, terminology, language, tongue, -speak; More
ukase (n)
an edict of the Russian government.
an arbitrary command.
monomyth (one myth)
the theory that sees all mythic narratives as variations of a single great story. The theory is based on the observation that a common pattern exists beneath the narrative elements of most great myths, regardless of their origin or time of creation.
anomalous (adj)
deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected.
cocue
cuckolded woman; deceived wife
entropy
lack of order or predictability; gradual decline into disorder.
PHYSICS
a thermodynamic quantity representing the unavailability of a system’s thermal energy for conversion into mechanical work, often interpreted as the degree of disorder or randomness in the system.
clerisy (n)
a distinct class of learned or literary people.
ephemera
things that exist or are used or enjoyed for only a short time.
items of collectible memorabilia, typically written or printed ones, that were originally expected to have only short-term usefulness or popularity.
Any transitory written or printed matters that are not meant to be retained or preserved.
exsanguination
the action of draining a person, animal, or organ of blood.
severe loss of blood.
palpable
palpably
(of a feeling or atmosphere) so intense as to seem almost tangible.
able to be touched or felt.
germane
relevant to a subject under consideration.
synonyms: relevant, pertinent, applicable, apposite, material;
apotheosis
the highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax.
synonyms: culmination, climax, crowning moment, peak, pinnacle, summit, zenith, apex, acme, apogee, high point, highest point, height, high water mark
antonyms: nadir
the elevation of someone to divine status; deification.
Difference between colloquy and soliloquy
Colloquy is an antonym of soliloquy.
As nouns the difference between colloquy and soliloquy is that colloquy is a conversation between two or more people or dialogue while soliloquy is (drama) the act of a character speaking to themselves so as to reveal their thoughts to the audience.
realpolitik
political realism or practical politics based on power rather than on ideals
tendentious (adj)
expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, especially a controversial one.
puerile
childishly silly and trivial.
odiferous
odoriferous.
having or giving off a smell, especially an unpleasant or distinctive one.
materiality
the quality or character of being material or composed of matter.
LAW
the quality of being relevant or significant.
anectdataly
anecdotes focusing on data
ululate (v)
howl or wail as an expression of strong emotion, typically grief
quiddity (n)
the inherent nature or essence of someone or something.
a distinctive feature; a peculiarity.
plural noun: quiddities
condemnatory
Condemning
truculent (adj)
truculence (n)
eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant.
synonyms: defiant, aggressive, antagonistic, belligerent, pugnacious, bellicose, combative, confrontational, ready for a fight, hostile, obstreperous, argumentative, quarrelsome, contentious, uncooperative;
prohibitive
1 : tending to prohibit or restrain
2 : tending to preclude use or purchase
prohibitive costs
3 : almost certain to perform as predicted
a prohibitive favorite
simulacrum (n)
plural: simulacra; plural noun: simulacrums
an image or representation of someone or something.
an unsatisfactory imitation or substitute.
onaccounta
- Used in place of “because I said so”
- Used in response to general “why…?” questions when one does not have the motivation to respond to the question
imposture (n)
the act or practice of deceiving by means of an assumed character or name
an instance of pretending to be someone else in order to deceive others.
anatomize (v)
dissect.
Synonyms: scrutinize, analyze, sift, probe, examine, lay open.
pointillism
pointillist(e)
a technique of painting in which small, distinct dots of color are applied in patterns to form an image.
of, pertaining to, or in the style of pointillism
cacophony (n)
a harsh discordant mixture of sounds
Sisyphean
(of a task) such that it can never be completed
prurient (adj)
having or encouraging an excessive interest in sexual matters.
salacious, licentious, voyeuristic, lascivious, lecherous, lustful, lewd, libidinous, lubricious;
deleterious (adj)
injurious to health
harmful; injurious
incisive
(of a person or mental process) intelligently analytical and clear-thinking.
penetrating, acute, sharp, sharp-witted, razor-sharp, keen, rapierlike, astute, shrewd, trenchant, piercing, perceptive, insightful, percipient, perspicacious, discerning, analytical, intelligent, canny, clever, smart, quick
portend (v)
portent (n)
a sign or warning that (something, especially something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen.
multivariate (adj.)
involving two or more variable quantities.
gelignite (n)
a high explosive made from a gel of nitroglycerine and nitrocellulose in a base of wood pulp and sodium or potassium nitrate, used particularly for rock blasting.
insensate (adj)
lacking physical sensation.
lacking sympathy or compassion; unfeeling.
completely lacking sense or reason.
addicting vs. addictive
Addictive means causing or tending to cause addiction. The present-participle adjective addicting is technically synonymous with addictive, but there’s no reason to use addicting when addictive is a perfectly functional and even versatile word
portentous (adj)
of or like a portent
hotep
“Peace” or “I come in Peace” it is a common greeting with people well versed in true world history.
sequela (n)
sequelae (pl)
a condition which is the consequence of a previous disease or injury.
indolent (adj)
Indolence (n)
wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy.
avoidance of activity or exertion; laziness
1: Tending to laziness
2: In medicine, progressing or healing slowly
philistine (n)
philistine (adj)
a person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them.
hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts.
trepidacious
scared
contretemps (n)
a minor dispute or disagreement.
argument: quarrel; squabble: altercation: clash; fight
disagreement; difference of opinion; dispute; dissension; tiff; set-to; run-in; spat; row
an unexpected and unfortunate occurrence.
