Delicious Words (Find and write definitions)

Hubris Luddite Innocuous Auspicious Mercurial Ephemeral Cerebral Inconsequential Profound Prolific Vehemently Patronize Spurious Expedite Misanthrope Nebulous Pertinent Hackneyed Pedantic Quotidian Salient inchoate truculent rakish fatigue aggrandize unequivocally reticent cromulent anomalous tautological demur capricious kismet - destiny, fate treacle - cloying sentimentality or flattery austere - severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance bucolic - relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life mitigate - make less severe, serious, or painful peripatetic - traveling from place to place, especially working or based in various places for relatively short periods itinerant germane - relevant to a subject under consideration riposte - a quick clever reply to an insult or criticism tawdry - showy but cheap and of poor quality pyrrhic - won at too great a cost to have been worthwhile for the victor attrition - the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure bifurcated opprobrium - harsh criticism or censure recalcitrant - having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline. flippant abdicate - renounce one's throne histrionic - exaggerated dramatic behavior designed to attract attention. didactic - intending to teach, patronizing prurience - having, inclined to have, or characterized by lascivious or lustful thoughts, desires, etc. See more. indelible - not able to be forgotten or removed turpitude - wickedness insouciance - indifference sanguine - optimistic lingua franca - a language that is adopted as a common language between speakers whose native languages are different corollary subjugation - to make submissive avuncular - like an uncle quixotic - exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical simpatico - having or characterized by shared attributes or interests; compatible draconian - excessively harsh and severe ingenue - innocent or unsophisticated young woman metastasize magnanimous - generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person ostensible - stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so hegemony - leadership or dominance ennui - a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement petulant - childishly sulky or bad-tempered acrimony - bitterness or ill feeling piquant - having a pleasantly sharp taste or appetizing flavor matriculate to be enrolled amortize - reduce or pay off (a debt) with regular payments anemoia - nostalgia for a time you've never known trenchant - vigorous or incisive in expression or style guileless - innocent and without deception dimorophous - occurring in or representing two distinct forms fecundity - the ability to produce many new ideas autodidact - a self-taught person ossify - cease developing; be stagnant or rigid boffo asymptote - a line that continually approaches a given curve but does not meet it at any finite distance neophyte shambolic - chaotic, disorganized sanguine ennui _portmanteau__ - combine two words interstitial- gestalt verboten abdicate exonerate shibboleth - a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded or no longer important ersatz - made or used as a substitute, typically an inferior one, for something else atavistic - relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral. jejeune - naive, simplistic, and superficial. fealty anodyne - not likely to provoke dissent or offense; inoffensive, often deliberately so. obsequious - obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree. tautology - the saying of the same thing twice in different words, generally considered to be a fault of style solipsism - the view or theory that the self is all that can be known to exist. halcyon days - denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful bon vivant - a person who enjoys a sociable and luxurious lifestyle shambolic - chaotic, disorganized, or mismanaged ne plus ultra - the perfect or most extreme example of its kind; the ultimate. pernicious - having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way. exculpatory - clears someone or something of guilt or blame sanguine fait accompli moribund - at the point of death abattoir - a slaughterhouse; massacre absinthe - wormwood liquor of a bright-green color acciaccatura - grace note, an embellishing note usually written in smaller size acedia - ennui; state of torpor or listlessness; spiritual apathy acervuline - aggregated, heaped up, bundled, collected or localized acidulous - somewhat acidic or sour in taste or manner; somewhat sarcastic acolyte - ranked clergy member; assistant in liturgical rites acoustic - of or relating to sound, the sense of hearing, or the science of sound acquiesce - to passively accept; to accept, comply, or submit passively adroit - quick or skillful; adept in action or thought adumbrate - to explain faintly or opaquely outline; describe aeipathy - continued passion; unyielding disease aeneous - brassy; a type of golden-green aeolian - pertaining to, of, related to, caused by or like the wind or aeolus aeonian - continuing forever; eternal aerial - of, in, or caused by the air; existing or living in the air aesthete - person who appreciates art or beauty aestival - pertaining to, relating, designating, or of summer aeviternal - eternal, endless, never-ending afflatus - strong creative impulse, especially as a result of divine inspiration; inspiration aileron - small moveable platforms on the back of plane wings that alter air movements ailurophile - cat-lover, one who loves or appreciates cats alabaster - dense translucent, white or tinted, fine-grained gypsum alienate - to estrange; to cause to become unfriendly or hostile aliment - something that nourishes; food; to supply with sustenance or food allegretto - music term, moderately fast tempo alleviate - to allay; to lessen in pain or negative occurrence or consequence alloquy - speaking to another; an address allure - attraction; temptation; to attract with something desirable alluvium - unconsolidated sediments carried by water amaranth - deep-hued purple; a type of purple flower; used as a metaphor for immortality amber - light brown; light yellow ambience - atmosphere; a particular environment or surrounding influence; aura ambivalence - simultaneous, conflicted feelings towards a thing, person, etc. ambrosia - the food of the gods; something overpoweringly delicious or fragrant ameliorate - to make better; improve, enhance amelus - individual exhibiting amelia (the congenital absence of one or more limbs) amethyst - deep purple; deep-purple gemstone amnesia - partial or total loss of memory amphisbaena - greek mythological being, a two-headed snake with a head on each end amphora - ceramic, two-handled vase with a narrow neck, usually containing alcohol amulet - a charm against evil or impurity, often a piece of jewelry analemma - sundial, figure-8 indicating sun’s position ancestry - the inception or origin of a phenomenon, object, idea, or style; lineage andante - music, moderately slow anemone - a flowery marine creature antebellum - before or existing before a war, especially the american civil war anxiolytic - preventing or reducing anxiety; antianxiety medication; tranquilizer aperitif - alcoholic drink taken as an appetizer before a meal aphelion - point indicated when the orbit of the earth is furthest from the sun aphesis - omission of sound or verbiage at the beginning of a word or phrase aphotic - devoid of light, especially of areas where no light naturally occurs apocope - omission of sound or verbiage at the end of a word or phrase apophenia - the perception of or belief in connectedness among unrelated phenomena apoplexy - stroke; impairment or neuralgia from cerebral hemorrhage aposiopesis - abrupt stop of a thought in a sentence, as if the speaker could not continue apostasy - abandonment of one's religious faith, political party, one's principles, or a cause apostolicity - being of or contemporary with the apostles in character apotheosis - deification; quintessence; exaltation to divine rank or stature apropos - appropriate of; appropriate aquarelle - painting done in transparent watercolors; watercolor; watercolor painting aqueous - of, relating to, or resembling water; made from, with, or by water aquiline - resembling an eagle’s beak; hooked like a beak arabesque - a ballet twirl; type of artistry involving a continuous, rotating design aria - air or song; a melody, solo in an opera accompanied by instrumentation artemisia - type of plant, genus of aromatic shrubs or herbs ascertain - to understand specific facts; to ferret out information ashlar - a squared block of building stone and dressed for outward placement asphodel - a type of flower, often associated with the underworld astral - of or pertaining to the aster; stellar; star-shaped; pertaining to the stars asylum - refuge; a place to restore sanity or facilitate recovery atelier - an artist’s studio; a place designated to create or perform art athanasy - quality of being deathless; immortality athenaeum - institution for the promotion of literary or scientific learning; phrontistery aubade - poem or song about or evocative dawn or morning, the opposite of nocturne auburn - moderate reddish-brown aura - distinctive and pervasive quality or character; air; atmosphere; emanation austere - severe or stern in disposition, discipline, or appearance; somber and grave autumnal - pertaining to, like, relating, or evocative of autumn auxiliary - additional, supplementary; reserve; acting as a subsidiary avarice - extreme greed for wealth or material gain avenue - wide street or thoroughfare; roadway lined with tress azalea - type of plant, a common garden plant azoth - mythologized universal solvent; panacea azuline - light blue; similar to a light blue azure - sky-blue or a light blue baccalaureate - bachelor’s degree; valedictory speech balustrade - architectural term, series of balusters or parapet banderilla - a decorated dart that is shot into the neck of the bull during a bull fight bardiglio - finely-grained, multi-gray italian marble basilica - large, public building the romans used, usually as a courtroom or meeting hall bastille - imprisonment, jail, prison bayonet - blade adapted to fit the muzzle-end of a rifle and as a weapon in close combat belladonna - a type of plant, highly poisonous; “pretty woman” belle-lettres - “beautiful letters” aesthetic literature, as opposed to didactic bellicose - inclined or eager to fight; aggressively hostile; belligerent; pugnacious bellwether - leader or indicator of future trends, trendsetter belvedere - roofed structure, on top of another building, which commands a large view berceuse - lullaby; song used to put someone to sleep bethesda - a hallowed, sanctified, or holy place; a chapel; holy ground bezaleel - the shadow of god, god’s shadow bibelot - trinket, bauble; small object which is rare or valuable or beautiful; a small book bibliophile - someone who loves (and usually collects) books; book collector bijouterie - pl. trinkets or jewelry, gallery thereof, display thereof bivouac - temporary military or squad encampment blaze - bright flame of fire; bright steady light or glare; hot gleam blellum - an idle, indiscreet talker; noisy fainéant bliss - joy, rapture, elation, felicity blithe - carefree, nonchalant; heedless; lacking concern; joyous blossom - billowing; period or condition of flowering or growth bloviate - to make pompous or arrogant discourse boeotian - marked by stupidity and philistinism; crudely obtuse; loutish borasca - a squall, usually accompanied by thunder and lightning bordereau - a detailed note or memorandum of account boulevard - broad street, avenue; broad spectrum of something bouleversement - reversal of fortunes; overturning; tumult bourgeoisie - the middle class; the middle class in communist theory braggadocio - arrogant person; braggart; arrogant or boastful behavior brecciate - to form rock into breccia (rocks made of sharp fragments set in a grainy matrix) breeze - gentle push of the wind breviloquence - speech characterized by brevity; shortness, briefness brevity - briefness; swiftness; evanescence bricolage - something made or put together using any materials that happen are available brio - joie de vivre; vivacity; alacrity; gusto; esprit burnish - to polish; the shine of a polished surface caballero - skilled horseman; gentleman; cavalier cabaret - a restaurant with live entertainment cadence - rhythmic flow of the sounds of language; lilt cadenza - musical or literary improvisation caesious - a type of bluish gray caesura - a pause in a line of verse, usually in poetry calico - coarse, brightly printed cloth; a type of pattern caliginous - misty; dim; obscure; dark; gloomy; tenebrous calliope - musical instrument fitted with steam whistles, played from a keyboard callipygian - having a beautiful, admirable, or sexy butt callow - immature; green, lacking experience; naïve calypso - a type of rare orchid; a tribal and fervid dance cancrizans - backwards movement; crab walking; music moving backwards candelabra - pl. branched candlestick with several candles canticle - a song, poem, or hymn, usually of a church choir capriccio - music, improvisation, without adherence to rules capriccioso - music, lively and free of restraint, restriction, or direction capricious - impulsive; whimsical; unpredictable caress - touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner cartesian - of or relating to the philosophy of descartes cascarilla - west indian shrub with aromatic bark, typically used in incense or tonics catena - closely linked series; connected series of related things, especially of writing cathismata - pl. one of the 20 divisions in a greek psalter cavil - to object or criticize adversely for trivial reasons; flimsy objection or qualm cedilla - a diacritic beneath a letter designed to alter pronunciation “façade” celadon - a type of pale green celeripedean - quick-footed; swift; fast-running celerity - speed; alacrity; briskness celesta - ancient musical instrument celestial - heavenly; of a higher plane; empyreal; pertaining to or of space cello - large, stringed instrument that generates deep tones cellophane - thin, flexible, transparent cellulose material used as moisture-proof wrapping cellular - pertaining to cells or their structure; containing cells cellulite - fatty deposit causing a dimpled appearance, as around the thighs or buttocks celluloid - transparent, colorless, synthetic plastic used to manufacture photographic film cenotaph - an unmarked grave centennial - of or relating to a period of 100 years; occurring once every 100 years cerulean - a type of watery blue cerumen - yellow, wax-like secretion from the external ears; “earwax” cessation - pause; interruption; ceasing; ending chalice - cup for consecrated wine; goblet chamois - goatlike antelope; type of cloth for cleaning champagne - a type of bubbling alcohol with fruity taste chandelier - ceiling-mounted light fixture or glass structure chantpleure - to cry while singing; to cry and sing simultaneously chariot - two or four-wheeled, horse-drawn war or procession vehicle chartreuse - a type of swampy green chatelaine - the mistress or lady of a castle or large household chatoyant - like or resembling a cat’s eye chauffer - a designated paid driver for formal occasions cheilion - the corner of the mouth or oral cavity chevelure - head of hair; hair on the head; tresses; a nebulous aura (as around a comet) chiaroscuro - composition of strong contrasts in light and dark chiasmus - rhetorical term, inverse sentence, “one should eat to live, not live to eat” choreography - the art of creating and arranging dances or ballets cicada - loud, locust-like insect that chirrups cigány - gypsy; hungarian gypsy cinder - burned substance, one which is no longer capable of combustion cinnabar - bright red; glowing red cinquefoil - five-leave; plant with limbs that are five-leaved; five-pointed leaves circlet - ring-shaped ornament or piece of jewelry, especially for the head circuitous - having a circular or winding course; indirect; roundabout circular - of, like, related to, or resembling a circle cislunar - of or relating to the space between earth and the moon or the moon’s orbit cistern - an underground reservoir citadel - bulwark; a fortress or stronghold; refuge cithara - ancient greek instrument, like a lyre civility - formal or perfunctory politeness; state of being civil clandestine - kept secretly or done secretively clarion - medieval trumpet with clear shrill tones; clear and shrill; loud burst of sound clavicle - the collarbone of a human clavilux - an odd machine that generates light to the rhythm of music cleanse - to free from dirt, defilement, or guilt; purge or clean clemency - mercy; an act of mercy; showing mercy clerisy - the well-educated or learned class; intelligentsia; cognoscenti clinquant - glittering as gold; glittering with tinsel; showily ornate clithridiate - keyhole-shaped; resembling a keyhole cloister - monastatic establishment; convent of living coalesce - to fuse, intersect, or entwine to create a unity; to unify by an external means coelacanth - a type of prehistoric fish, initially thought to be extinct coercion - the act of coercing; the use of pressure, threats, blackmail, or intimidation collectanea - selection of pieces of writing by an author or by several authors colliquate - to change from solid to liquid; to liquefy colloquial - informal, as in speech; conversationally informal colophon - inscription at the end of a book; an identifying emblem for a book coloratura - elaborate or technical vocal music with florid ornamentation comestibles - items suitable to be eaten; edible sundries; articles of food; victuals communiqué - an official announcement; bulletin board; a dispatch; an official report conciliabule - secret meeting of conspirators conciliate - to win over from a state of hostility or distrust; appease concinnity - harmony in the arrangement or fitness of parts with respect to a whole concupiscence - lasciviousness; lewdness; ardent lust congelifraction - splitting or disintegration of rocks as a result of the freezing of the water constellation - specific arrangement of stars to form an image convalesce - to recover or recuperate; recover from a serious injury copse - thicket of small trees or shrubs; a coppice; small wood; a tree coquelicot - a type of plant, red poppy coquette - woman who makes teasing sexual or romantic overtures; a flirt or tease coracle - small rounded boat made of waterproof material stretched over a frame cordillera - group of mountain ranges forming a mountain system of great linear extent coriander - a type of aromatic herb, herb used in a variety of perfumes corinthian - pertaining to corinth or its culture, architectural term cortical - of, relating to, derived from, or consisting of cortex coruscate - sparkle; reflect brightly; shimmer cosmology - study of the physical universe considered a mass of phenomena in spacetime cosmopolitan - pertaining to the world at large, without localized prejudices coterie - tightly-knit group of persons having a common purpose or interest; cadre, clique craquelure - fine pattern of dense cracking formed on the surface of paintings crescendo - music, gradual increase of tempo, volume, or intensity crystal - mineral with many possible permutations; gemstone-like cumulonimbus - type of cloud that augurs, foretells, or indicates bad weather cuneiform - wedge-shaped; sumerian language curlicue - fancy curl or twist; flourish of writing cursive - flowing, effusive, wavy, type on handwriting in english curvilinear - consisting of or bound by curved lines; represented by a curved line cuvette - a small, transparent, often tubular laboratory vessel cyan - a type of greenish-blue cyaneous - a type of deep blue, cerulean cygnet - a baby swan; young swan cylinder - long, tubular geometric shape rendered in three dimensions cymbal - percussive instrument, usually attached to a drum kit cynophilist - dog-lover; one who loves or appreciates dogs cynosure - that which garners great attention by calling to its brilliance; interest cypress - type of swampy tree or plant, plant or tree occurring in swamps cytherean - pertaining to beauty or the goddess, aphrodite daedalian - intelligent; crafty; deft; practical; pertaining to daedalus dalliance - flirtation; dawdling; procrastination; frivolous action daphnean - shy; timid; demure; modest; bashful dapple - a spot or mottled marking, usually occurring in clusters; different tones and hues dawn - daybreak; first light of day; the onset of an idea; enlightenment decrescendo - gradual lowering of tempo in music or in a situation degringoladé - a rapid decline or deterioration, as in strength, position, or condition deign - to condescend to do something thought to be slightly beneath one's dignity delenda - that which needs to be deleted; something that has been deleted delineate - to describe, explain, or demonstrate deliquesce - to dissolve; transform into liquid from a solid delirium - state of mental disarray and unstable consciousness from intoxication or fever delitescent - hidden, concealed; kept secret dell - small, usually wooded valley; vale delphic - brotherly; oracular or prophetic demarche - course of action; maneuver; specific movement demesne - a lord’s privately owned manor or section of land demure - shy; modest; reserved in demeanor or behavior; having sedate reserve or sobriety denouement - final resolution or clarification of a dramatic or narrative plot desuetude - state of disuse; state of uselessness diablerie - dealing with the devil or devils; witchcraft; sorcery; consorting with demons diaphanous - light; delicate; gossamer; translucent diaspora - dissemination, dispersion; random or selective re-distribution dilettante - one who dabbles in an occupation or hobby without serious intent dioscuric - describing a twin, whether person or event, of a twin; of a duplicate dislodge - to remove or force out from a position or dwelling previously occupied dissemble - disguise or conceal one's true motives, feelings, or beliefs; to mislead dissimulate - to conceal or disguise; to hide with the intent of deceit divisi - music term, divided, separated dulcet - sweet-sounding; mellisonant dulciloquy - speech characterized by sounding soft or sweet dulcimer - stringed instrument having three or four strings and a fretted fingerboard dulcinea - sweetheart; lovely person; one whom a person loves or cares about dyslexia - disorder in which lexical figures are perceived in a chaotic order ebon - black; made of ebony echelon - tier; level; rank in job; formation of soldiers echo - a repetition of sound produced by the reflection of sound echolalia - immediate and involuntary repetition of words or phrases just spoken by others eclipsareon - a device for illustrating and demonstrating eclipses eclipse - any obscuration of light; reduction or loss of splendor, status, or reputation effervesce - to bubble over; to boil with frothy bubbles; to excite effleurage - a light, stroking movement used in massage; a soft caress effluvium - foul discharge or emanation; emission efflux - something that flows out or forth; effluence; passing or an expiration, as of time effulgent - marked by as if by brightly shining light; coruscating; shimmering effusive - gushing out or expressive; moving; cascading eglantine - a type of plant, european rose; sweetbrier eiderdown - the down of a duck used as stuffing for quilts or pillows eidolon - ghost, specter; reappearing; continuously visiting or persisting image élan - esprit; brio; gusto; ardor; vivacity elapse - to pass or go by; to happen elasticity - quality or state of being elastic; the tendency to keep shape after stretching elation - quality or state of being elated; feeling or state of great joy or pride eleemosynary - of, relating to, or dependent on charity; contributed as an act of charity element - fundamental, essential, or irreducible constituent of a composite entity eleven - the eleventh integer in a series, “11” elicit - to bring or draw out (something latent); educe; summon; to provoke a reaction elision - omission of a vowel, consonant, or syllable in pronunciation elixir - solution of alcohol and water; substance believed to maintain life indefinitely ellipsis - omission of a word or phrase necessary for a complete syntactical construction elliptical - of, relating to, or having the shape of an ellipse; with a word or words omitted eloign - to move away a distance; to move a distance with something concealed eloquence - well-stated speech; flowing language; articulated speech and proper execution elucidate - to explain further; clarify; to elaborate upon elusive - difficult to find, catch, or achieve; avoiding or having a tendency to avoid or evade elysian - blissful, delightful; pertaining to the elysian fields or elysium elysium - a section of the underworld, the resting place of heroes and the virtuous emaciate - to make abnormally thin or weak, typically due to illness emanation - emission; something that is issued by a source embarcadero - a landing place, especially a landing place on an island waterway ember - small, glowing fleck of burning wood or coal emerald - deep, dark green; dark green gemstone emissary - an agent sent on a mission to represent or advance the interests of another emission - discharge; emanation; chemical release emollient - substance that softens and soothes the skin; lotion empyreal - related to the empyrean; celestial emulate - to strive to equal or excel, especially through imitation emulsify - to pour liquid into another non-soluble; creating visible density enamel - vitreous, usually opaque, protective or decorative coating or shell enceinte - pregnant, carrying a baby, gravid; line of fortification enclosing a town or castle encomium - formal, enthusiastic praise; abundant, exuberant expression of admiration enhalo - to affix with a halo; to cause to wear a halo; to encircle; surround ennui - listlessness; weariness; discontent ensconce - establish or settle in a safe, secure, or comfy place epée - fencing sword or blade without a cutting edge epergne - table centerpiece; object designated as a centerpiece ephebe - young man; swain, young suitor ephemeral - brief; transient; evanescent epicede - dirge, requiem; funeral song or ode epicurean - hedonistic; gastronomical; pertaining to good taste epigone - inferior imitator; disciple; second-rate replica; counterfeit epileptic - pertaining to epilepsy; flickering rapidly; seizing epiphany - revelation of thought, typically conceived after an eventful experience epistle - a formal letter; a letter with a cachet epitaph - an inscription on a tombstone epithelium - a type of body tissue epitome - a perfect example of a particular quality or type equestrian - of, relating to, or featuring horseback riding equinox - an annual event wherein after the sun reaches a height, night and day occur simultaneously equipoise - equal distribution of weight or balance; balanced eristic - characterized by disputatious, often subtle and specious reasoning escadrille - a small squadron, usually of six; a small team, typically of six airplanes escalade - the act of scaling a wall, usually with a ladder or rope escamotage - juggling; hand trickery; sleight of hand; legerdemain escarole - type of green chicory esclavage - a necklace having several rows of chains, beads, or jewels escritoire - writing desk; desk designed for studies esculent - edible; able or safe to be eaten esoterica - item or thing that is esoteric, obscure, rare, or valuable esper - a being of advanced mentality or with psychic abilities esprit - brio; wit; vivacity; joie de vivre essence - intrinsic or indispensable properties that serve to typify or identify something esssse - pl. archaic plural of ashes estuary - inlet or arm of the sea; an open river that connects to the sea esurient - hungry; greedy; hedonistic in pursuit of things ethereal - heavenly; airy in substance; spectral; insubstantial and light etiolate - to stunt growth; to deprive of strength; to whiten by blocking sunlight exposure etude - a piece of music designed for didactic purposes eunoia - normal mental health; beautiful thinking euphonious - nice-sounding; sounding pretty euphoria - feeling of great happiness or well-being; felicity evanescent - brief; transient; ephemeral evaporation - the act of liquid dissipating or drying due to humidity or exposure eviscerate - to disembowel; exenterate; to remove the viscera of something evocative - that which evokes; something that reminds, inspires, or impresses excelsior - fine, curled wood shavings exclusion - the act of excluding; the act of shutting out or preventing entrance existential - of, relating to, or dealing with existence; pertaining to existentialism expatiate - to speak or write at length or in considerable detail; expound, elaborate exuviate - to shed a shell; molt; unsheathe façade - affected aura or mannerisms to beguile or deceive facility - building made or used for convenience; ease of moving or doing; aptitude facsimile - copy or reproduction of an item, typically a book fainéant - sluggard; do-nothing; ne’er-do-well; idle and ineffectual falciform - falcate; curved; convex; sickle-shaped famished - extremely hungry; ravenous; starved famulus - sorcerer’s apprentice or assistant felicity - state of happiness; joy; ecstasy fissure - long narrow opening; a crack or cleft; process of splitting or separating; division fleur-de-lys - stylized insignia of a lily foliage - plant leaves or greenery, as a collective formulaic - being of no special quality or type; average; routine; undistinguished forte - niche in which a person excels foudroyant - dazzling; scintillating; sudden and overwhelming frescade - a cool, breezy walk; a shady place; a relaxing place with ample shade frolic - to behave playfully and candidly; romp; to engage in flirting, joking, or teasing frost - hoarfrost; degree or state of coldness; covering of minute ice needles fuchsia - bright pinkish-purple fuliginous - having the color of soot; dark; dusky; charcoal-colored fumarole - hole in an area of volcanic activity from which gases and hot smoke escape fumulus - a thin cloud resembling a veil and forming at any level furrow - to wrinkle; a wrinkle, a rut, groove, or trench fuselage - central body of an aircraft, to which the wings and tail assembly are attached fusillade - salvo; rapid discharge of firearms galaxy - collection of stars, gas, and dust bound together by gravity gale - a harsh gust of wind; a strong current of wind galleria - spacious passageway, court, or indoor mall, usually with a vaulted roof; gallery gallery - raised area, often having a stepped or sloping floor, in a public building gambol - to skip or jump merrily gaucherie - awkwardness; inexperience; embarrassments girandole - a mirror having attached candle holders glacial - slow; staggering; of or pertaining to glaciers or ice sheets glimpse - brief, incomplete view or look; to glance at glisten - to shine by reflection with a sparkling luster; coruscate; shimmer gloaming - dusk, twilight, evening, vesper gloom - sadness; melancholy; depression glyph - a sigil or specific insignia; a letter of language; an arcane mark gossamer - delicate; light; flimsy; transparent and thin, like a spider’s silk gracile - gracefully slender or thin; graceful grandeur - splendor; magnificence; quality or state of being grand grazioso - a direction in music, graceful, smooth, or elegant in style hacienda - the main building of a farm or ranch halcyon - legendary kingfisher; tranquil, calm, without strife, serene hallucinate - to affect or be affected with visions or imaginary perceptions hazel - light brown or light yellow heath - plain tract of wasteland; uncultivated land hegemony - predominant influence; dominance, supremacy, preeminence heliotrope - a type of purple flower; a light purple helix - a spiral; spiral-shaped object or string henna - reddish-brown dye used in tinting the hair, skin, or nails hubris - excessive pride; overbearing arrogance hue - gradation or variety of a color humiliate - to enervate or embarrass through specific actions or events hyacinth - tropical, american herb; red, transparent variety of zircon used as a gemstone icicle - a sliver of tapered, frozen water, usually hanging from something idyllic - like an idyll; extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque ilium - upper part of the bony femur at the hip joint illusion - erroneous mental representation; false image made by outside force or the mind illusory - produced by, based on, or having the nature of an illusion; deceptive illustrate - to clarify or explain with examples or comparisons imbroglio - extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation imbue - to embed with a quality, to inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality immaculate - spotless; free of sin; without blemish or impurity immure - to enclose with walls; ensconce impedimenta - pl. things that hinder growth or movement impetus - a drive or compelling force; motivation; a reason to do something impluvium - of a roman house, rectangular pool in an atrium used to gather rain water imprimatur - a sign or mark of approval; insignia of approval incalescent - becoming hotter or growing more ardent; boiling incarnadine - pinkish; flesh-colored; blood-red incense - to induce rage; infuriate; aromatic element designed to induce relaxation incipient - in or at an initial stage; beginning to exist or appear incisive - penetrating; clear, and sharp, as in operation or expression incunabula - pl. book printed before 1501 indolence - laziness; extreme ease or comfort ineffable - indescribable; impossible to describe; enchantingly amazing inertia - tendency of a body to resist acceleration, “a body at rest wants to stay at rest” influenza - acute contagious viral infection, commonly called the “flu” ingénue - a naive, innocent girl or young woman inglenook - a nook or corner beside an open fireplace; chimney corner ingravescent - gradually becoming more severe; worsening, usually of a medical condition innocent - without sin; pure, free from legal or specific wrong; guiltless; naïve; simple inoccuity - the quality or state of being harmless, trifling, or insipid inoculate - introduce an idea or view into the mind of; to inculcate; to inject a serum or vaccine insipid - lacking flavor or zest; lacking excitement, stimulation, or interest; dull; vapid intaglio - an engraving or incised figure in stone or other hard material inundate - deluge; to fill quickly beyond capacity; to cover with water; drench; overwhelm inure - to take effect or to become accustomed to something, typically unpleasant iris - the colored portion of the eye that encircles the pupil iscariotic - traitorous; treacherous; given to betrayal; having committed betrayal isinglass - thin sheet(s) of translucent mica isosceles - of a triangle, having two equal sides isthmus - narrow strip of land connecting two larger masses of land ivory - pure white color; material derived from elephant tusks jacqueminot - a type of flower, a crimson rose jaunt - short excursion for pleasure; brief stay jejune - naïve; juvenile; simplistic; uninteresting; superficial juxtapose - to place side by side, especially for comparison or contrast kaleidoscope - optical item that utilizes mirrors to create interior symmetrical visions kismet - fate; fortune; chance; faith in fate, chance, or fortune knell - to ring slowly and solemnly; funeral bell-ring l’esprit de l’escalier - “staircase wit”, the usage of a witty retort after the moment has passed labial - pertaining to, of, or utilizing the lips labyrinth - maze; puzzling complex or circuitous plan lacerate - to cut or tear irregularly; to distress; mangle laconic - brief in speech; matter-of-fact; terse, using few words lacquer - varnish that dries via evaporation lacuna - omission or empty space; gap in chronology lagniappe - gift for extended patronage; gift or compensation for valued customers lambent - glowing, gleaming, or flickering with a soft radiance laminate - to beat or compress into a thin plate or sheet; to divide into thin layers languid - characterized by disinclination for physical exertion laodicean - indifferent or lukewarm in politics and or religion lapis lazuli - a gemstone of intense blue largesse - the generous giving of gifts; a generous or courteous gift; charitable donation lascivious - lewd, lustful, prurient lassitude - weariness; lack of energy or motivation lathe - machine for shaping a piece of material by rotating it rapidly along its axis lattice - open framework of material, typically in a crisscross pattern lavadero - a laundry room; a place designated for washing gold lavender - a type of light purple; a type of flower; an oft perfumed scent lavish - expended, bestowed, or occurring in large amounts; using or giving in great amounts layer - single thickness of a material covering a surface legerity - mental or physical agility, dexterity, or quickness leitmotif - musical passage associated to a specific situation, character, or idea lemniscate - the infinity symbol; any figure-eight symbol lemonade - beverage typically consisting of lemon juice, sugar, and water lesbian - female sexually attracted to other women, exclusively lethe - the condition of forgetfulness; oblivion leveret - baby rabbit; a young rabbit leviathan - very large animal, especially a whale; something of unusually large size levitation - the act of floating; supernatural floating lexiphanes - pretentious word user; bombastic or magniloquent person liaison - illicit sexual relationship; case of contact between two parties, usually a person libeccio - southwest wind occurring in italy lilliputian - very small, tiny; pertaining to lilliput lilt - cadence of voice; rhythm of language or sentences; good vocal or musical structure limerence - extended infatuation or crush, contrast love limn - to delineate via depictions or suffuse things with light limousine - slender car used for formal occasions, notably expensive limpid - unclouded; clear; lucid; defined and deep lineaments - pl. the distinguishing or characteristic features of something immaterial linguistics - pl. the study of human speech, languages, and writing linoleum - a type of floor covering liquid - a state of matter, compare gas and solid; readiness to flow; a type of sound lissom - supple; easily bent; lithe; flexible listless - lacking energy or disinclined to exert effort; lethargic litany - large amount; plethora; long and tedious address or recital literati - intelligentsia; the educated class; clerisy; a group of litterateurs lithe - readily bent; supple; flexible; marked by effortless grace lithium - silvery, soft, and highly-reactive metal lithosphere - outermost shell of a planet; the crust and uppermost mantle litote - rhetorical term, a specific type of understatement litterateur - literary-minded person; one devoted to the study or writing of literature lixiviation - the act of separating soluble from insoluble substances via water or a solvent lochetic - lying in wait for prey, used especially of insects loom - the art of weaving; to come into view as a massive, distorted, or indistinct image loquacious - characterized by talking; talking freely or too much; excessively talkative lorgnette - a pair of eyeglasses or opera glasses with a handle lubricious - slippery with oil or lubricant; offensively lewd or intending to be lewd lucent - shining; gleaming brilliantly lugubrious - gloomy or dismal, especially exaggerated lullaby - song or tune devised to lull something to sleep luminal - of or pertaining to the lumen (the measure of light perceived by the human eye) luminary - one who is an inspiration to others; one who attained success in a chosen field lunacy - insanity; insanity with brief moments of clarity lunula - white crescent at the base of the fingernail luscious - delicious; sexy; cloying; alluring lustrous - having noticeable or vivid luster and sheen macedoiné - mixture of diced fruits and vegetables; medley; mixture magisterial - of, relating to, or having the features of a master or teacher; authoritative malady - sickness, illness; ague; ictus; ailment malaise - bodily weakness; nondescript illness; vague feeling of discomfort malapropos - out of place; inappropriate; in an inopportune or inappropriate manner malleable - moldable; able to be modified; easily reshaped; having the ease of form mannequin - articulated human figure used for design mantelletta - sleeveless vestment worn by cardinals maquette - scale model of a large item maraschino - cordial made from the fermented juice of the marasca cherry marasmus - a type of protein deficiency; state of emaciation marble - highly-polished building material; irregularly colored marcescent - flower term, withering, but not falling off marginalia - notes in the margin or margins of a book marionette - a puppet bound by strings and controlled with wooden bars marmalade - jellylike preserve made from the pulp of fruits, especially citrus fruits marmoreal - of, like, made of, or related to marble masquerade - festive gathering characterized by participants wearing masks material - secular; worldly; the substance(s) of which a thing is made of or composed matriculate - to become admitted to membership in a body, society, or institution matutinal - of, relating to, or occurring in the morning; early maudlin - overly sentimental; saccharine; mawkish; self-pitying mausoleum - large, stately tomb or building housing several tombs mauve - a type of pinkish purple medallion - jewelry or object worn from a necklace medley - heterogeneous mixture of typically complementing elements melisma - the stretching of a syllable over a series of notes mellifluous - flowing with sweetness or honey; smooth and sweet, often of a sound or voice mellisonant - wonderful-sounding; pleasant-sounding melody - a series or pattern of notes memento - an item of special significance, usually as a token of remembrance memorabilia - pl. things remarkable and worthy of remembrance or record menagerie - collection of animals in cages or enclosures; diverse hodgepodge; gallery; zoo mephitic - poisonous; noxious; lethally dangerous; insidious; toxic; putrid mercurial - fickle; erratic; ingenious; changeable; eloquent mere - being nothing more nor better than; small; lowly meretricious - drawing attention in a vulgar manner; gaudy, tawdry; superficially attractive meridian - of or at noon; imaginary line that extends from the north to south poles mestizo - a person of mixed racial ancestry métier - forte; niche in which a person excels; occupation; profession mewl - whimper; cry like an infant; meow like a kitten; to weakly cry mezzanine - partial story between two main stories of a building; lowest balcony of theater miasma - an atmosphere of disease; fine mist of effluvium or bacteria; noxious emanation mica - thin layers of specific, transparent minerals midst - in the middle of; among mien - air or bearing especially as expressive of attitude or personality; demeanor; aura milieu - surroundings or environment, especially of a social or cultural nature millennium - one thousand years; period of a thousand years milquetoast - timid, unassertive, spineless person; one who is easily intimidated mimesis - imitation or representation of the world, mostly in literature and art; mimicry mimosa - a type of plant; a cocktail drink mimsy - flimsy and miserable; someone who excels at what they do miniscule - very small; diminutive, when compared to a normal counterpart minutiae - pl, tiny, precise details; vestiges; trifles mirror - surface able of reflect enough undiffused light to form an image of an object miscellany - collection of various items, parts, or ingredients mist - mass of fine droplets of liquid mithril - a fictional, very light, and silvery steel mizzenmast - third mast or the mast aft the mainmast on a ship having three or more masts mizzle - fine rainfall; drizzle; mist moiety - one of two equal parts; half morceau - a small literary or musical composition mormorando - musical direction, murmuring or with a murmuring sound moue - pouting face or grimace; upset facial expression murmur - low, indistinct, and continuous sound; to utter such a sound myriad - multitude; litany; an amount of, usually large; collection in large numbers myrrh - fragrant resin gum from a type of tree, used chiefly for perfume mystique - the special, esoteric skill or mysterious faculty essential in a calling or activity mythopoeic - pertaining to the making of myths nacreous - iridescent; pearly; like mother-of-pearl or nacre naiad - a nymph; a river, lake, fountain, or spring nymph or spirit naïveté - inexperience; quality of being naïve; artlessness nebulae - pl. a collection of astral gases nemesis - source of harm or ruin; unconquerable foe or enemy; vengeful opponent nenuphar - a water lily, especially an egyptian lotus neophyte - a novice; tyro; beginner nepenthe - drug of forgetfulness; anti-depression drug; remedy for sorrow nepheliad - cloud nymph; nymph designated or of the clouds nephew - the son of a brother or sister in relation to you nickelodeon - a theater that charges a nickel (5 cents) for entry nimbus - dark, grey cloud bearing rain; splendid atmosphere or aura; cloudy radiance nimiety - excess, overabundance, superfluity nirvana - a place or state of rest, harmony, or pleasure niveous - snowy or resembling snow; like, of, relating to, or made of snow nocive - harmful, injurious, or causing pain noctilucence - cloud phenomenon typified by lights at night, being visible or glowing at night nonchalant - feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; indifferent novae - pl. collapsing or dying stars novella - short prose tale often characterized by moral teaching or satire novitiate - novice; the living place of a novice; the state of being a novice; neophyte nucleus - central part about which other parts are grouped or gathered nugacious - trifling, trivial; insignificant; unimportant; worthless nullibicity - state of non-existence; quality or state of being nowhere nullifidian - a person having no faith, religion, convictions, or beliefs numeral - symbol used to represent, denote, or symbolize a number numina - pl. presiding divinities or spirits of a place; creative energies numismatics - study or collection or currency, coins, paper money, etc. nymph - seductive or lustful woman; fairy nymphet - pubescent girl regarded as sexually desirable; young, sexually precocious girl oasis - fertile, vibrant, or green spot in a desert or wasteland objet d’art - object of art; valuable or highly artistic piece or work oblivion - condition or quality of being completely forgotten; void; forgetfulness obsequious - fawning, sycophantic, servile obsidian - volcanic glass of a black shade ocelot - undomesticated cat, akin to a small leopard odalisque - female servant; female servant in a harem oeillade - an amorous glance; ogle oeuvre - the corpus of an author, canon, or a collective symposium oleander - a type of flower opacity - opaqueness; obscurity; impenetrability opalescent - milky and iridescent; shimmering with the colors of an opal opaque - impenetrable to light; not reflecting light; difficult to explain or understand ophidian - snake-like; like, shaped like, or relating to snakes opulence - wealth, affluence; great abundance; profusion; pretentiousness opusculum - a minor work of literature orbital - of, pertaining to, or relating to an orbit orchestra - large group of musicians with a variety of instruments oscillate - to swing or move in an uninterrupted motion ossuary - place, container, or receptacle for holding the bones of the dead otiose - indolent; lazy; serving no useful purpose; futile; being a leisure oubliette - dungeon with only opening at the top palatial - pertaining to a palace; grandiose; magnificent palaver - conference or discussion; idle chat; chat with flattery of cajolery involved palisade - a fence of pales or stakes set firmly in the ground palladian - of or relating to wisdom or learning palliasse - mattress consisting of a thin pad filled with straw, sawdust, or hay palliate - to alleviate, reduce, or remove pain pallid - pale, wan, or deficient in color panacea - a cure-all; medicine, herb, or concoction designed or functioning as a cure-all panoply - a full collection or array; full set of armor panoramic - unbroken view of an entire surrounding area; inclusive presentation; survey pantomime - communication through gestures and facial movements paradigm - clearly defined archetype; typical example or pattern of something paramour - lover, especially one in an adulterous relationship; lover; illicit lover paraph - a flourish at the end of a signature, may be used as a safeguard against forgery paroxysm - a sudden attack, convulsion, or seizure, usually of an emotional or medical nature parvenu - noveau-riche; person having risen to new status, but lacks the social skills necessary for it pasquinade - public farce, satire, or lampoon pastiche - literary patchwork, hodgepodge; collision of genres used to create a new item patina - natural tarnish from wear of usage and passage of time; verdigris patois - dialect other than the usual or literary dialect; uneducated or provincial language paucity - scarcity; lack of presence; fewness; a small number peccadillo - insignificant sin or wrongdoing; trifling fault peccavi - admission of guilt; confession pellucid - translucently clear, limpid, or ethereal peninsula - piece of land mostly surrounded by water, except on one side pensive - brooding; reflecting, involving, or engaged in deep or serious thought penumbra - a partial shadow; space of partial illumination; the limits of a shadow percolate - to filter; to cause to filter; to cause to pass through pores or small holes perennial - lasting throughout the year, typically of a plant perforate - to pierce, punch, or bore a hole or holes in; stab through; penetrate periphery - line that forms the boundary; limited circumference of sight; perimeter permeate - to pervade, to spread, or flow throughout; to diffuse through perpetuity - the quality or condition of being perpetual, ceaseless, or continual phantasm - something apparently seen but having no physical reality; illusion philander - to womanize or entertain or elicit casual or wanton sex philanthropy - the effort or drive to further the well-being of humankind; generosity philosophy - discipline comprising aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology, etc. philtrum - subtle curve beneath the nose and on the upper lip phoenix - mythical bird of fire which rises from its ashes in a cycle of rebirth pianissimo - musical direction, very softly piquant - aromatic, appetizing, or appealingly provocative pirouette - ballet spin, ballet technique pizzicato - music term, played by plucking rather than bowing placid - sedate, calm, peaceful, relaxed, serene plumage - entire feathery covering or portion of a bird; feathers collectively pluvial - characterized or relating to rainfall pococurante - nonchalant, indifferent lukewarm in opinion; insouciant poignant - profoundly moving; touching; physically or emotionally painful ponceau - a strong red to reddish orange porcelain - strong, vitreous, and translucent ceramic with glazed colored material portfolio - portable case for carrying documents portico - porch or walkway with a roof supported by columns, often leads into an entrance