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VOCABULARY LISTS > USER LISTS

Daily Words 248 words

April 13, 2007 By G. Evan B.

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Definitions Notes & Examples Words Only
  1. equivocation
    intentionally vague or ambiguous
  2. modicum
    a small or moderate or token amount
  3. funicular
    relating to or operated by a cable
  4. gamin
    (sometimes offensive) a homeless boy who has been abandoned and roams the streets
  5. bifurcate
    split or divide into two
  6. dichotomy
    being twofold; a classification into two opposed parts or subclasses
  7. autodidact
    a person who has taught himself
  8. temblor
    shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane of from volcanic activity
  9. exobiology
    the branch of biology concerned with the effects of outer space on living organisms and the search for extraterrestrial life
  10. internecine
    (of conflict) within a group or organization
  11. recondite
    difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge
  12. finnan
    haddock usually baked but sometimes broiled with lots of butter
  13. corbel
    (architecture) a triangular bracket of brick or stone (usually of slight extent)
  14. autochthonous
    originating where it is found
  15. chiromancy
    telling fortunes by lines on the palm of the hand
  16. contrition
    sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation
  17. palindrome
    a word or phrase that reads the same backward as forward
  18. spoonerism
    transposition of initial consonants in a pair of words
  19. malapropism
    the unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar
  20. antinomasia
    substitution of a title for a name
  21. euphemism
    an inoffensive or indirect expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive or too harsh
  22. doxology
    a hymn or verse in Christian liturgy glorifying God
  23. eponym
    the person for whom something is named
  24. onomatopoeia
    using words that imitate the sound they denote
  25. sibilant
    of speech sounds produced by forcing air through a constricted passage (as `f', `s', `z', or `th' in both `thin' and `then')
  26. selvage
    the edge of a fabric that is woven so that it will not ravel or fray
  27. martinet
    someone who demands exact conformity to rules and forms
  28. dreadnought
    battleship that has big guns all of the same caliber
  29. irrupt
    erupt or intensify suddenly
  30. marmoreal
    of or relating to or characteristic of marble
  31. refection
    a light meal or repast
  32. mariachi
    a group of street musicians in Mexico
  33. renascence
    a second or new birth
  34. vade mecum
    a concise reference book providing specific information about a subject or location
  35. fartlek
    a method of athletic training (especially for runners) in which strenuous effort and normal effort alternate in a continuous exercise
  36. onus
    an onerous or difficult concern
  37. eschew
    avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
  38. frenetic
    excessively agitated; distraught with fear or other violent emotion
  39. idiosyncratic
    peculiar to the individual
  40. garner
    store grain
  41. politesse
    courtesy towards women
  42. attar
    essential oil or perfume obtained from flowers
  43. ardent
    characterized by intense emotion
  44. putsch
    a sudden and decisive change of government illegally or by force
  45. doctrinaire
    a stubborn person of arbitrary or arrogant opinions
  46. materfamilias
    a female head of a family or tribe
  47. neologist
    a lexicographer of new words and expressions
  48. dystopia
    state in which the conditions of life are extremely bad as from deprivation or oppression or terror
  49. logorrhea
    pathologically excessive (and often incoherent) talking
  50. deleterious
    harmful to living things
  51. empyreal
    of or relating to the sky or heavens
  52. somniloquy
    uttering speech while asleep
  53. sidereal
    of or relating to the stars or constellations
  54. constellate
    form a constellation or cluster
  55. pellucid
    transmitting light; able to be seen through with clarity
  56. quatrain
    a stanza of four lines
  57. peroration
    (rhetoric) the concluding section of an oration
  58. campanulate
    shaped like a bell or campana
  59. ephemera
    something transitory; lasting a day
  60. Terry
    English actress (1847-1928)
  61. epistemology
    the philosophical theory of knowledge
  62. arcane
    requiring secret or mysterious knowledge
  63. esoteric
    confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle
  64. syllogism
    deductive reasoning in which a conclusion is derived from two premises
  65. sybarite
    a person addicted to luxury and pleasures of the senses
  66. idiolect
    the language or speech of one individual at a particular period in life
  67. exchequer
    the funds of a government or institution or individual
  68. effrontery
    audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right to
  69. malefactor
    someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
  70. vinegarroon
    large whip-scorpion of Mexico and southern United States that emits a vinegary odor when alarmed
  71. vestry
    a room in a church where sacred vessels and vestments are kept or meetings are held
  72. temporal
    of or relating to or limited by time
  73. confluence
    a place where things merge or flow together (especially rivers)
  74. otiose
    serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
  75. indolent
    disinclined to work or exertion
  76. asperity
    harshness of manner
  77. tonsure
    shaving the crown of the head by priests or members of a monastic order
  78. reprobate
    a person without moral scruples
  79. descant
    a decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added above a basic melody
  80. analogous
    similar or equivalent in some respects though otherwise dissimilar
  81. picot
    an edging of small loops, as on lace or ribbon
  82. paterfamilias
    the male head of family or tribe
  83. titivate
    make neat, smart, or trim
  84. heterodox
    characterized by departure from accepted beliefs or standards
  85. excrescence
    something that bulges out or is protuberant or projects from its surroundings
  86. taxonomy
    a classification of organisms into groups based on similarities of structure or origin etc
  87. omnivore
    an animal that feeds on both animal and vegetable substances
  88. redolent
    having a strong pleasant odor
  89. wastrel
    someone who dissipates resources self-indulgently
  90. proclivity
    a natural inclination
  91. antediluvian
    of or relating to the period before the biblical flood
  92. emolument
    compensation received by virtue of holding an office or having employment (usually in the form of wages or fees)
  93. foundling
    a child who has been abandoned and whose parents are unknown
  94. promulgate
    state or announce
  95. lachrymose
    showing sorrow
  96. holographic
    of or relating to holography or holograms
  97. obloquy
    a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions
  98. honorarium
    a fee paid for a nominally free service
  99. velocipede
    any of several early bicycles with pedals on the front wheel
  100. scintilla
    a tiny or scarcely detectable amount
  101. plangent
    loud and resounding
  102. beholden
    under a moral obligation to someone
  103. hawser
    large heavy rope for nautical use
  104. colophon
    a publisher's emblem printed in a book (usually on the title page)
  105. aesthete
    one who professes great sensitivity to the beauty of art and nature
  106. stalwart
    having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
  107. acolyte
    someone who assists a priest or minister in a liturgical service; a cleric ordained in the highest of the minor orders in the Roman Catholic Church but not in the Anglican Church or the Eastern Orthodox Churches
  108. remediable
    capable of being remedied or redressed
  109. bestiary
    a medieval book (usually illustrated) with allegorical and amusing descriptions of real and fabled animals
  110. piscatorial
    relating to or characteristic of the activity of fishing
  111. factotum
    a servant employed to do a variety of jobs
  112. sheepcote
    a pen for sheep
  113. anomaly
    deviation from the normal or common order or form or rule
  114. fleur-de-lis
    plants with sword-shaped leaves and erect stalks bearing bright-colored flowers composed of three petals and three drooping sepals
  115. Pantaloon
    a buffoon in modern pantomimes; the butt of jokes
  116. cacoethes
    an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action
  117. pernicious
    exceedingly harmful
  118. ascetic
    someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline
  119. dissipate
    to cause to separate and go in different directions
  120. obstreperous
    noisily and stubbornly defiant
  121. polonaise
    a woman's dress with a tight bodice and an overskirt drawn back to reveal a colorful underskirt
  122. novitiate
    the period during which you are a novice (especially in a religious order)
  123. suffusion
    the process of permeating or infusing something with a substance
  124. centesimal
    the ordinal number of one hundred in counting order
  125. etymon
    a simple form inferred as the common basis from which related words in several languages can be derived by linguistic processes
  126. brogue
    a thick and heavy shoe
  127. unctuous
    unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech
  128. kerfuffle
    a disorderly outburst or tumult
  129. quandary
    state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options
  130. modus operandi
    an unvarying or habitual method or procedure
  131. pinafore
    a sleeveless dress resembling an apron; worn over other clothing
  132. Zeitgeist
    the spirit of the time; the spirit characteristic of an age or generation
  133. concomitant
    following or accompanying as a consequence
  134. sequoia
    either of two huge coniferous California trees that reach a height of 300 feet; sometimes placed in the Taxodiaceae
  135. syllabary
    a writing system whose characters represent syllables
  136. clerihew
    a witty satiric verse containing two rhymed couplets and mentioning a famous person
  137. bergamot
    small tree with pear-shaped fruit whose oil is used in perfumery; Italy
  138. augur
    predict from an omen
  139. shofar
    an ancient musical horn made from the horn of a ram; used in ancient times by the Israelites to sound a warning or a summons; used in synagogues today on solemn occasions
  140. Revelation
    the last book of the New Testament; contains visionary descriptions of heaven and of conflicts between good and evil and of the end of the world; attributed to Saint John the Apostle
  141. roil
    make turbid by stirring up the sediments of
  142. incendiarism
    malicious burning to destroy property
  143. venial
    warranting only temporal punishment
  144. equipage
    equipment and supplies of a military force
  145. relegate
    assign to a lower position; reduce in rank
  146. wretch
    someone you feel sorry for
  147. autumnal
    of or characteristic of or occurring in autumn
  148. encephalitis
    inflammation of the brain usually caused by a virus; symptoms include headache and neck pain and drowsiness and nausea and fever (`phrenitis' is no longer in scientific use)
  149. convivial
    occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company
  150. vestigial
    not fully developed in mature animals
  151. deification
    the elevation of a person (as to the status of a god)
  152. apotheosis
    model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal
  153. persona non grata
    a person who for some reason is not wanted or welcome
  154. shibboleth
    a manner of speaking that is distinctive of a particular group of people
  155. sexagesimal
    of or relating to or reckoning in sixtieths
  156. indigent
    poor enough to need help from others
  157. plenipotentiary
    a diplomat who is fully authorized to represent his or her government
  158. ipso facto
    by the fact itself
  159. reminisce
    recall the past
  160. communique
    an official report (usually sent in haste)
  161. enervate
    weaken mentally or morally
  162. adjudicate
    put on trial or hear a case and sit as the judge at the trial of
  163. iridescent
    varying in color when seen in different lights or from different angles
  164. crepuscule
    the time of day immediately following sunset
  165. atoll
    an island consisting of a circular coral reef surrounding a lagoon
  166. murmur
    a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
  167. sinuous
    curved or curving in and out
  168. surfeit
    indulge (one's appetite) to satiety
  169. billow
    a large sea wave
  170. agglomeration
    the act of collecting in a mass; the act of agglomerating
  171. travail
    use of physical or mental energy; hard work
  172. rapacious
    living by preying on other animals especially by catching living prey
  173. largesse
    liberality in bestowing gifts; extremely liberal and generous of spirit
  174. torrent
    an overwhelming number or amount
  175. dyspepsia
    a disorder of digestive function characterized by discomfort or heartburn or nausea
  176. imprimatur
    formal and explicit approval
  177. exogenous
    derived or originating externally
  178. precipitate
    hurl or throw violently
  179. accretive
    growing by accretion
  180. lodestone
    a permanent magnet consisting of magnetite that possess polarity and has the power to attract as well as to be attracted magnetically
  181. comity
    a state or atmosphere of harmony or mutual civility and respect
  182. acrimonious
    marked by strong resentment or cynicism
  183. nettlesome
    causing irritation or annoyance
  184. parsimonious
    excessively unwilling to spend
  185. bifurcation
    the act of splitting into two branches
  186. sanguine
    inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life
  187. inexorable
    not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
  188. enamored
    marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness
  189. coalesce
    fuse or cause to grow together
  190. plethora
    extreme excess
  191. fissure
    a long narrow depression in a surface
  192. ardor
    feelings of great warmth and intensity
  193. tamp down
    press down tightly
  194. heady
    extremely exciting as if by alcohol or a narcotic
  195. mesa
    flat tableland with steep edges
  196. supercilious
    having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
  197. per capita
    per person
  198. aberrant
    markedly different from an accepted norm
  199. catenary
    the curve theoretically assumed by a perfectly flexible and inextensible cord of uniform density and cross section hanging freely from two fixed points
  200. apocope
    abbreviation of a word by omitting the final sound or sounds
  201. swain
    a man who is the lover of a girl or young woman
  202. dragoman
    an interpreter and guide in the Near East; in the Ottoman Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries a translator of European languages for the Turkish and Arab authorities and most dragomans were Greek (many reached high positions in the government)
  203. aide-de-camp
    an officer who acts as military assistant to a more senior officer
  204. guffaw
    a burst of deep loud hearty laughter
  205. lacrimation
    shedding tears
  206. quixotic
    not sensible about practical matters; idealistic and unrealistic
  207. nomenclature
    a system of words used to name things in a particular discipline
  208. parthenogenesis
    process in which an unfertilized egg develops into a new individual; common among insects and some other arthropods
  209. congeneric
    belonging to the same genus
  210. commodious
    large and roomy (`convenient' is archaic in this sense)
  211. collinear
    lying on the same line
  212. multicollinearity
    a case of multiple regression in which the predictor variables are themselves highly correlated
  213. regnant
    exercising power or authority
  214. raiment
    especially fine or decorative clothing
  215. Janus
    (Roman mythology) the Roman god of doorways and passages; is depicted with two faces on opposite sides of his head
  216. vignette
    a brief literary description
  217. prolix
    tediously prolonged or tending to speak or write at great length
  218. sommelier
    a waiter who manages wine service in a hotel or restaurant
  219. presbyopia
    a reduced ability to focus on near objects caused by loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens after age 45
  220. fustian
    a strong cotton and linen fabric with a slight nap
  221. muslin
    plain-woven cotton fabric
  222. sang-froid
    great coolness and composure under strain
  223. malinger
    avoid responsibilities and duties, e.g., by pretending to be ill
  224. lexeme
    a minimal unit (as a word or stem) in the lexicon of a language; `go' and `went' and `gone' and `going' are all members of the English lexeme `go'
  225. nescience
    ignorance (especially of orthodox beliefs)
  226. flummox
    be a mystery or bewildering to
  227. syncretism
    the union (or attempted fusion) of different systems of thought or belief (especially in religion or philosophy)
  228. parlance
    a manner of speaking that is natural to native speakers of a language
  229. algorithm
    a precise rule (or set of rules) specifying how to solve some problem
  230. extirpate
    destroy completely, as if down to the roots
  231. hejira
    a journey by a large group to escape from a hostile environment
  232. coracle
    a small rounded boat made of hides stretched over a wicker frame; still used in some parts of Great Britain
  233. umbrage
    a feeling of anger caused by being offended
  234. plebiscite
    a vote by the electorate determining public opinion on a question of national importance
  235. albedo
    the ratio of reflected to incident light
  236. recrudescence
    a return of something after a period of abatement
  237. concupiscence
    a desire for sexual intimacy
  238. banausic
    (formal) ordinary and not refined
  239. quondam
    belonging to some prior time
  240. hieratic
    associated with the priesthood or priests
  241. florilegium
    an anthology of short literary pieces and poems and ballads etc.
  242. echt
    not fake or counterfeit
  243. nonage
    any age prior to the legal age
  244. supernumerary
    more than is needed, desired, or required
  245. outlier
    an extreme deviation from the mean
  246. oneiric
    of or relating to or suggestive of dreams
  247. deracinate
    pull up by or as if by the roots
  248. samsara
    (Hinduism and Buddhism) the endless cycle of birth and suffering and death and rebirth