abstruse
difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge
actuate
put in motion or move to act
adiabatic
occurring without loss or gain of heat
afflatus
a strong creative impulse; divine inspiration
aleatory
dependent on chance
algid
chilly
NOTES:
abstrusenactuatenadiabaticnafflatusnaleatorynalgidnamenablenamenitynanathemananodynenapocalypsenapogeenapprobationnateliernautochthonousnbalefulnbanefulnbiometrynblatantnblazonnbravonbreachnbuccalnbullionncacoethesncalciminencamberncameoncantncantoncapari
amenable
disposed or willing to comply
amenity
pleasantness resulting from agreeable conditions
NOTES:
abstrusenactuatenadiabaticnafflatusnaleatorynalgidnamenablenamenitynanathemananodynenantinomynapocalypsenapocryphalnapogeenapprobationnateliernautochthonousnbalefulnbanefulnbiometrynblatantnblazonnbravonbreachnbuccalnbullionncacoethesncalciminencamberncameoncantncantoncaparisonncaptiousncaptiousncaptiousncaptiousncaptiousncaptiousncarvel-builtncashierncasuisticncatachresisncatalysisncessionnchampnchantrynchasublenchasublenchasublenchasublenchasublenchasublenchrysoprasencircumfusencodonncoefficie
anathema
a formal ecclesiastical curse accompanied by excommunication
anodyne
capable of relieving pain
antinomy
a contradiction between two statements that seem equally reasonable
apocalypse
a cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the ruling powers of evil
apocryphal
being of questionable authenticity
apogee
apoapsis in Earth orbit; the point in its orbit where a satellite is at the greatest distance from the Earth
approbation
official approval
atelier
a studio especially for an artist or designer
autochthonous
originating where it is found
baleful
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
baneful
deadly or sinister
biometry
a branch of biology that studies biological phenomena and observations by means of statistical analysis
blatant
without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious
blazon
the official symbols of a family, state, etc.
bravo
a cry of approval as from an audience at the end of great performance
breach
an opening (especially a gap in a dike or fortification)
buccal
of or relating to or toward the cheek
bullion
a mass of precious metal
cacoethes
an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action
calcimine
a water-base paint containing zinc oxide and glue and coloring; used as a wash for walls and ceilings
camber
a slight convexity (as of the surface of a road)
cameo
engraving or carving in low relief on a stone (as in a brooch or ring)
cant
a slope in the turn of a road or track; the outside is higher than the inside in order to reduce the effects of centrifugal force
canto
a major division of a long poem
caparison
stable gear consisting of a decorated covering for a horse, especially (formerly) for a warhorse
captious
tending to find and call attention to faults
captious
tending to find and call attention to faults
captious
tending to find and call attention to faults
captious
tending to find and call attention to faults
captious
tending to find and call attention to faults
captious
tending to find and call attention to faults
carvel-built
(of ships) built with flush (rather than overlapping) hull planks
cashier
a person responsible for receiving payments for goods and services (as in a shop or restaurant)
casuistic
of or relating to or practicing casuistry
NOTES:
abstrusenadiabaticnapocalypsenapogeenbanefulnbullionncameoncasuisticncatalysisncollatencomplaisantncorollaryndeprecatendesuetudendiffidentndiscomfitednelegiacnempiricalnexpostulationnfecundnfootlenfugaciousngainsayngalvanometernhomologisenhomologizenhomologousnintransigentnkiosknligaturenlintelnmonographnmuftinnicetynnugatorynobstreperousnpalpablenpleonasticnpredicatenpursynpusillanimousnramifynrefectionnrefectorynremonstrancenretrorsenscoriansedulousnsenescentnsenilensolicitousntemerariousntrea
catachresis
strained or paradoxical use of words either in error (as `blatant' to mean `flagrant') or deliberately (as in a mixed metaphor: `blind mouths')
catalysis
acceleration of a chemical reaction induced the presence of material that is chemically unchanged at the end of the reaction
cession
the act of ceding
champ
someone who has won first place in a competition
chantry
an endowment for the singing of Masses
chasuble
a long sleeveless vestment worn by a priest when celebrating Mass
chasuble
a long sleeveless vestment worn by a priest when celebrating Mass
chasuble
a long sleeveless vestment worn by a priest when celebrating Mass
chasuble
a long sleeveless vestment worn by a priest when celebrating Mass
chasuble
a long sleeveless vestment worn by a priest when celebrating Mass
chasuble
a long sleeveless vestment worn by a priest when celebrating Mass
chrysoprase
a green variety of chalcedony valued as a gemstone
circumfuse
spread something around something
codon
a specific sequence of three adjacent nucleotides on a strand of DNA or RNA that specifies the genetic code information for synthesizing a particular amino acid
coefficient
a constant number that serves as a measure of some property or characteristic
coeval
of the same period
collate
to assemble in proper sequence
complaisant
showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others
concatenate
add by linking or joining so as to form a chain or series
condign
fitting or appropriate and deserved; used especially of punishment
congeries
a sum total of many heterogenous things taken together
congruence
the quality of agreeing; being suitable and appropriate
console
give moral or emotional strength to
contraband
distributed or sold illicitly
convexity
the property possessed by a convex shape
convivial
occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company
corollary
(logic) an inference that follows directly from the proof of another proposition
cubicle
small area set off by walls for special use
decadent
a person who has fallen into a decadent state (morally or artistically)
denouement
the outcome of a complex sequence of events
deprecate
express strong disapproval of; deplore
dervish
an ascetic Muslim monk; a member of an order noted for devotional exercises involving bodily movements
desuetude
a state of inactivity or disuse
detraction
a petty disparagement
deviate
a person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable especially in sexual behavior
diffident
showing modest reserve
discomfited
people who are defeated
disinterested
unaffected by self-interest
distrait
having the attention diverted especially because of anxiety
divers
many and different
doff
remove
dolichocephalic
an adult with a long narrow head
donjon
the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
doric
of or pertaining to the Doric style of architecture
dottle
the residue of partially burnt tobacco left caked in the bowl of a pipe after smoking
dudgeon
a feeling of intense indignation (now used only in the phrase `in high dudgeon')
eclectic
selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
eclogue
a short poem descriptive of rural or pastoral life
electrolysis
(chemistry) a chemical decomposition reaction produced by passing an electric current through a solution containing ions
elegiac
resembling or characteristic of or appropriate to an elegy
empirical
derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
eschatology
the branch of theology that is concerned with such final things as death and Last Judgment; Heaven and Hell; the ultimate destiny of humankind
evince
give expression to
exiguous
extremely scanty
expostulation
an exclamation of protest or remonstrance or reproof
factitious
not produced by natural forces
fecund
capable of producing offspring or vegetation
fiduciary
relating to or of the nature of a legal trust (i.e. the holding of something in trust for another)
filial
designating the generation or the sequence of generations following the parental generation
finical
exacting especially about details
flageolet
a French bean variety with light-colored seeds; usually dried
flay
strip the skin off
flitch
salted and cured abdominal wall of a side of pork
fluster
cause to be nervous or upset
footle
be about
fruition
the condition of bearing fruit
fugacious
lasting a very short time
fugacious
lasting a very short time
gainsay
take exception to
galvanometer
meter for detecting or comparing or measuring small electric currents
gambit
a chess move early in the game in which the player sacrifices minor pieces in order to obtain an advantageous position
glaucous
having a frosted look from a powdery coating, as on plants
glutinous
having the sticky properties of an adhesive
glutinous
having the sticky properties of an adhesive
glutinous
having the sticky properties of an adhesive
glutinous
having the sticky properties of an adhesive
glutinous
having the sticky properties of an adhesive
glutinous
having the sticky properties of an adhesive
guillemot
small black or brown speckled auks of northern seas
hacienda
the main house on a ranch or large estate
hawser
large heavy rope for nautical use
hegemony
the dominance or leadership of one social group or nation over others
hibernal
characteristic of or relating to winter
hieratic
associated with the priesthood or priests
histology
the branch of biology that studies the microscopic structure of animal or plant tissues
homologise
make homologous
homologise
make homologous
homologize
be homologous
homologous
corresponding or similar in position or structure or function or characteristics; especially derived from an organism of the same species
imperturbable
not easily perturbed or excited or upset; marked by extreme calm and composure
impregnate
make pregnant
indue
give qualities or abilities to
indue
give qualities or abilities to
indue
give qualities or abilities to
indue
give qualities or abilities to
indue
give qualities or abilities to
indue
give qualities or abilities to
indue
give qualities or abilities to
inference
the reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation
insular
relating to or characteristic of or situated on an island
intransigent
impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, reason
ionization
the process of ionizing; the formation of ions by separating atoms or molecules or radicals or by adding or subtracting electrons from atoms by strong electric fields in a gas
jalousie
a shutter made of angled slats
jocose
characterized by jokes and good humor
kinetic
relating to the motion of material bodies and the forces associated therewith
kiosk
small area set off by walls for special use
lambent
softly bright or radiant
lamina
a thin plate or layer (especially of bone or mineral)
lazar
a person afflicted with leprosy
libel
a false and malicious publication printed for the purpose of defaming a living person
ligature
the act of tying or binding things together
lintel
horizontal beam used as a finishing piece over a door or window
lionize
assign great social importance to
livid
furiously angry
lout
an awkward stupid person
malignity
quality of being disposed to evil; intense ill will
mastic
an evergreen shrub of the Mediterranean region that is cultivated for its resin
matrix
an enclosure within which something originates or develops (from the Latin for womb)
matutinal
pertaining to or occurring in the morning
mayhem
violent and needless disturbance
metempsychosis
after death the soul begins a new cycle of existence in another human body
mew
cry like a cat
minded
(used in combination) mentally oriented toward something specified
monograph
a detailed and documented treatise on a particular subject
moraine
accumulated earth and stones deposited by a glacier
mordant
harshly ironic or sinister
mufti
a jurist who interprets Muslim religious law
mundane
found in the ordinary course of events
munificence
liberality in bestowing gifts; extremely liberal and generous of spirit
muniments
deeds and other documentary evidence of title to land
myrmidon
a follower who carries out orders without question
necromancy
conjuring up the dead, especially for prophesying
nectarine
a variety or mutation of the peach that has a smooth skin
nicety
conformity with some esthetic standard of correctness or propriety
nihilist
someone who rejects all theories of morality or religious belief
nonage
any age prior to the legal age
nondescript
lacking distinct or individual characteristics; dull and uninteresting
nostrum
patent medicine whose efficacy is questionable
nugatory
of no real value
nympholepsy
a frenzy of emotion; as for something unattainable
obliquity
the quality of being deceptive
oblivion
the state of being disregarded or forgotten
oblivion
the state of being disregarded or forgotten
oblivion
the state of being disregarded or forgotten
oblivion
the state of being disregarded or forgotten
oblivion
the state of being disregarded or forgotten
oblivion
the state of being disregarded or forgotten
obloquy
a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions
obstreperous
noisily and stubbornly defiant
obviate
do away with
odalisque
a woman slave in a harem
ontology
the metaphysical study of the nature of being and existence
oriflamme
an inspiring symbol or ideal that serves as a rallying point in a struggle
oriflamme
an inspiring symbol or ideal that serves as a rallying point in a struggle
oriflamme
an inspiring symbol or ideal that serves as a rallying point in a struggle
oriflamme
an inspiring symbol or ideal that serves as a rallying point in a struggle
oriflamme
an inspiring symbol or ideal that serves as a rallying point in a struggle
oriflamme
an inspiring symbol or ideal that serves as a rallying point in a struggle
ostensible
appearing as such but not necessarily so
palmy
very lively and profitable
palpable
capable of being perceived; especially capable of being handled or touched or felt
panegyrical
formally expressing praise
panoply
a complete and impressive array
parietal
of or relating to or associated with the parietal bones in the cranium
parvenu
a person who has suddenly risen to a higher economic status but has not gained social acceptance of others in that class
pediment
a triangular gable between a horizontal entablature and a sloping roof
pelagic
relating to or occurring or living in or frequenting the open ocean
peremptory
putting an end to all debate or action
perennial
lasting three seasons or more
perfidy
an act of deliberate betrayal
perforce
by necessity; by force of circumstance
peristyle
a colonnade surrounding a building or enclosing a court
persiflage
light teasing
pertinacious
stubbornly unyielding
pertinacious
stubbornly unyielding
pertinacious
stubbornly unyielding
pertinacious
stubbornly unyielding
pertinacious
stubbornly unyielding
pertinacious
stubbornly unyielding
perverse
deviating from what is considered moral or right or proper or good
pipes
pithy
concise and full of meaning
plenary
full in all respects
pleonastic
repetition of same sense in different words
plummet
drop sharply
poignant
keenly distressing to the mind or feelings
polity
the form of government of a social organization
polity
the form of government of a social organization
polity
the form of government of a social organization
polity
the form of government of a social organization
polity
the form of government of a social organization
polity
the form of government of a social organization
poltroon
an abject coward
postulate
maintain or assert
postulate
maintain or assert
predicate
involve as a necessary condition of consequence; as in logic
pristine
immaculately clean and unused
Procrustes
(Greek mythology) a mythical giant who was a thief and murderer; he would capture people and tie them to an iron bed, stretching them or hacking off their legs to make them fit; was killed by Theseus
Procrustes
(Greek mythology) a mythical giant who was a thief and murderer; he would capture people and tie them to an iron bed, stretching them or hacking off their legs to make them fit; was killed by Theseus
propitiate
make peace with
propound
put forward, as of an idea
protagonist
the principal character in a work of fiction
provident
providing carefully for the future
pursy
breathing laboriously or convulsively
pusillanimous
lacking in courage and manly strength and resolution; contemptibly fearful
pusillanimous
lacking in courage and manly strength and resolution; contemptibly fearful
quittance
a document or receipt certifying release from an obligation or debt
quizzical
perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)
ramify
have or develop complicating consequences
raptorial
relating to or characteristic of birds of prey
reave
steal goods; take as spoils
reave
steal goods; take as spoils
refection
a light meal or repast
refectory
a communal dining-hall (usually in a monastery)
refractory
stubbornly resistant to authority or control
remonstrance
the act of expressing earnest opposition or protest
requital
an act of requiting; returning in kind
retrench
tighten one's belt; use resources carefully
retrorse
bent or curved backward or downward
rimose
having a surface covered with a network of cracks and small crevices
rood
representation of the cross on which Jesus died
sanguine
inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life
saurian
any of various reptiles of the suborder Sauria which includes lizards; in former classifications included also the crocodiles and dinosaurs
scoria
the scum formed by oxidation at the surface of molten metals
scurrilous
expressing offensive reproach
seclusion
the act of secluding yourself from others
sedulous
marked by care and persistent effort
senescent
growing old
senile
mentally or physically infirm with age
sententious
concise and full of meaning
sidereal
of or relating to the stars or constellations
simony
traffic in ecclesiastical offices or preferments
sinecure
an office that involves minimal duties
solicitous
full of anxiety and concern
spectroscope
an optical instrument for spectrographic analysis
speculate
reflect deeply on a subject
spurious
plausible but false
stout
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
strappado
a form of torture in which the hands are tied behind a person's back and they are lifted off the ground by a rope tied to their wrists, then allowed to drop until their fall is checked with a jerk by the rope
Struthio
type genus of the Struthionidae: African ostriches
sumptuous
rich and superior in quality
sunder
break apart or in two, using violence
supposititious
based primarily on surmise rather than adequate evidence
susurration
the indistinct sound of people whispering
suttee
the act of a Hindu widow willingly cremating herself on the funeral pyre of her dead husband
suture
a seam used in surgery
sylvan
relating to or characteristic of wooded regions
teasing
the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule); provoking someone with persistent annoyances
telamon
a figure of a man used as a supporting column
temerarious
presumptuously daring
tergiversation
falsification by means of vague or ambiguous language
tesselate
tesselate
tesselate
tesselate
tesselate
tesselate
thrall
the state of being under the control of another person
transport
move something or somebody around; usually over long distances
treatise
a formal exposition
truculent
defiantly aggressive
trumpery
ornamental objects of no great value
tumbrel
a farm dumpcart for carrying dung; carts of this type were used to carry prisoners to the guillotine during the French Revolution
tumbril
a farm dumpcart for carrying dung; carts of this type were used to carry prisoners to the guillotine during the French Revolution
turbid
(of liquids) clouded as with sediment
turgid
ostentatiously lofty in style
untoward
not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society
unwonted
out of the ordinary
vassal
a person holding a fief; a person who owes allegiance and service to a feudal lord
venal
capable of being corrupted
venerate
regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of
veneration
a feeling of profound respect for someone or something
venial
warranting only temporal punishment
verticil
a whorl of leaves growing around a stem
voluptuous
displaying luxury and furnishing gratification to the senses
votary
a priest or priestess (or consecrated worshipper) in a non-Christian religion or cult
wattle
a fleshy wrinkled and often brightly colored fold of skin hanging from the neck or throat of certain birds (chickens and turkeys) or lizards
satrap
a governor of a province in ancient Persia
requite
make repayment for or return something
descry
catch sight of
abstruse
