New and Unusual Words
..  a n d  .  t h e i r  .  d e f i n i t i o n s  ..

My criterion for using a word is generally that I be able to define and pronounce it, which necessitates looking up unfamiliar words, words I know I can't pronounce, or words that I recognize, but can't define. I started this list of new and unusual words when I was in high school. It has grown to more than 300 entries, many of them very abstruse. 

A B . C D . E F . G H . I J . K L . M N 
O P . Q R . S T . U V . W X Y Z

Coming Soon: acumen, aesthete, antanaclasis, cicerone, concatenated, cresset, diablerie, empyrean, epical, epideictic, epigram, hyperbole, inured, litotes, metonymy, naif, otiose, panegyric, paranomasia, peripatetic, periphrasis, phaetons, pleached, portmanteau, prurient, quixotic, recondite, recusant, retruse, rubicund, rubrics, sacuista, saurian, scatheless, suborn (v.), syllepsis, synecdoche, syntagmatic, timocracy, tout (n.), triolet, truncheons, ukase, vitiated 

Definitions Needed: agurs (v.), ecbatic, glays, oreeses (pl.), succous

Disclaimers & Explications

A warning to readers: it is quite likely that some parts of any and all of these definitions are stolen from various dictionaries, including (but not limited to) Webster's New Encyclopedic Dictionary, Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, The World Book Dictionary and The American Heritage Dictionary. I generally read the definition in one or two dictionaries, and then attempted to re-write it in my own words, but the power of suggestion being strong, it is possible that I succumbed and actually copied. Also, many of the definitions or usages are archaic (not to mention the words themselves!). All told, this is not a reliable source; nonetheless, it sure is fun. 

A note about the pronunciation guides: I take full responsibility for those. Unlike the definitions, they are my own invention. That said, please do not hold me liable if, after reading the pronunciation, you cannot pronounce the word. The schwa sound is represented by the ø symbol. For vowels, an unadorned vowel is used to represent a short vowel sound, and a decorated vowel (e.g. ë) to represent a long vowel sound. Strong and weak accents are also marked. This system isn't standard and doesn't recognize various vowel sounds, but it works for me most of the time. Words marked with an asterisk* are defined elsewhere in the list.

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© 2002 Elisa Martinez | This page last updated May 20, 2002

 

 

A 
abalone (ab ø lö' në, ab') - any of several flattened, oval-shaped mollusks with fluted edges and lined with mother-of-pearl
ablution (ab lü shøn) - the act of washing, washing the body in preparation for religious duties
abstemious (ab stë' më øs) - sparing, especially in diet and enjoyment, temperate, moderate, plain, restricted
abstruse (ab strüs') - hid, concealed, difficult to be apprehended or understood
acidulate (ø sij'oo lät') - to make somewhat acid or sour
adroit (ø droit') - dexterous, skillful, active in use of the hands, hence, in the exercise of mental faculties fig: ingenious, ready in invention or execution
adumbral (ad um' brøl) - in shadow, shady
adumbrate (ad um' brät') - to outline in a shadowy, sketchy way, to suggest beforehand, foreshadow in a vague way, to obscure, overshadow
adventitious (ad' ven tish' øs) - not fundamental or inherent, appearing out of the usual or normal place, extrinsic, accidental, foreign
advert (ad vert') - to refer to, to direct the mind or attention toward, (used with to: he adverted to what was said, to which I shall advert, etc.)
aegis (ë' gøs) - protection, defense, patronage, sponsorship
alacrity (ø lak' rø të) - brisk and eager action, cheerfulness, gaiety, sprightliness, cheerful willingness
alchemy or, alchimy (al' kø më) - sublime and difficult parts of chemistry, actually not real science: transmutation of metals into gold, finding a universal remedy for disease, etc. popular in the 16th and 17th centuries
alluvium (ø lu' vë øm) pl. -viums, or -via; soil material (clay, silt, sand, gravel) deposited by running water 
altercation (ôl' tør kä' shøn) - a heated argument, controversy, dispute, contention
ameliorate (ø mël' yø rät, -më' lë ø-) = meliorate*
anodyne (an' ø dïn) adj. - serving to relieve pain, soothing; n. - an anodyne drug or agent
antipathy (an tip' ø thë) - a strong or natural dislike, aversion, repugnance, disgust, aversion contracted by experience or habit, or, that which arouses such feelings, an object of aversion or dislike; antonym: sympathy
apartheid (a part' hät, -hït, -hïd) - racial segregation, especially in the Republic of South Africa
aperitif (ap er ø tëf') - an alcoholic drink taken (as a cocktail) before a meal as an appetizer (from Latin aperire "to open)
argent (är' jønt) - the white color in coats of arms, intended to represent silver or purity, innocence, beauty, gentleness; silvery, of a pale white; bright
argosy, pl. -sies (ar' gø s ë) - a large ship, especially a merchant ship, a fleet of such ships
asperity (a sper' øt ë) - rigor, severity, roughness of surface, harshness of temper, manner or tone
assiduous (ø sij'u øs) - constant in application, attentive, careful, regular, performed with constant diligence, working hard and steadily
assonance (as' ø nøns) - resemblance of sound, in poetry, a substitute for a rhyme, in which the vowels are alike, but the consonants are different
assuage (ø swäj') - to soften, allay, ease or lessen, fig: to appease or pacify, to calm or soothe, to satisfy, quench
atavism (at' ø viz øm) - recurrence in an organism of a character typical of ancestors more remote than the parents usually due to a recombination of ancestral genes 
attrition (ø trish' en) - abrasion, the act or process of wearing away, the state of being worn, an imperfect repentance for sin, for fear of punishment
austere (ô stir') - severe, harsh, rigid, stern, sour, rigorous, relentless, severely simple, grave, sober, serious

B
barracuda (bar' ø kud' ø) - a species of fish found in the Bahamas and West Indies, of the pike family, ten feet in length, deep brown color, very voracious, flesh disagreeable and sometimes poisonous, or, any of several large predatory marine fish of warm seas related to the gray mullets
bellicose (bel' ø kös') - showing a readiness to fight or quarrel
bifurcation - to divide into two branches or parts (from Latin furca, meaning " fork" ) 
bijou (bë' zhu) - a jewel, trinket, something small and fine
bonhomie (bon' ø më') - Fr: good nature, courteous and pleasant ways 
bouffant (bü fänt') - adj: puffed out
bourgeoisie (bur'zwha zë) - the middle class
broach (bröch) - to open, to utter, to publish first, to begin to talk about, introduce
broacher - one who broaches*
burgeon, or, antiq: bourgeon (bør' gøn) - to put forth new growth, to bloom, to sprout, to expand rapidly and widely 

C
cabal (kø bal') - n. a faction, clique, a small group of people engaged in secret plotting or working, a secret scheme or plot of such a group, intrigue, a small group united to promulgate their private views in church or state by intrigue, v. to form such a group, to conspire
caitiff (ka' tif) - a mean villain, despicable knave, implies a mixture of wickedness and misery, mean, cowardly
calcimine (kal' sø mïn) - a white or titned wash of glue, whiting or zinc white, and water, used especially of plastered surfaces (of unknown origin) 
caliph or calif, kalif, khalif (kä' lif, kal' if) - a vicar, a successor of Mohammed, the former title of religious and political heads of Moslem states, having supreme dignity and religious power in these states 
calumny (kal' øm në) - slander, false accusations, with the purpose of harm, defamation, libel, vilification
candor (kan dør) - frankness, fairness, sincerity, freedom from disguise, honesty and openness in expressing one's opinion
carapace (kar' ø päs) - a bony or chitinous* case or shield covering all or part of the back of an animal (as a turtle or crayfish)
carp (kärp) v. - to find fault, complain fretfully 
catalepsy (kat'ø lep'së) - a condition, usually associated with schizophrenia, in which a person's muscles become rigid, and his arms and legs maintain any position into which they are placed (1986), a sudden suppression of motion or sensation, a kind of apoplexy, in which the patient is speechless, senseless, and fixed in one posture, without seeing or understanding, or, a retention of the breath, or the interception of the blood by bandages (1828) 
cataleptic - of or having catalepsy*
casuistic (kazh ø wis' tik) - having to do with casuistry* 
casuistry (kazh' wø strë) - the study or resolution of questions of right and wrong in human conduct; or, false reasoning or application of principles especially with regard to morals or law
cavalier - an armed horseman, a knight, a vivacious military man, a courteous gentleman; in English history: a supporter of Charles I, or, careless in manner, proud, scornful, haughty, arrogant; to be haughty or domineering
cavalierly (kav'ø lir'lø) - in a cavalier* manner, disdainfully
caveat (kav'ë at) - fig. a warning, admonition, caution
celandine (sel' øn dïn, -dën) a yellow-flowered biennial herb related to the poppy, a perennial tuber-forming buttercup
chamois (sham' ë) - small, goat-like antelope of Europe and western Asia, known for agility in climbing steep cliffs, also, the leather made from its skin, or that of a sheep goat or deer
chattel - personal property of any sort, excluding real estate
chatteldom (chat' øl døm) - the condition or position of a slave or bondman, that of being another's chattel*
chignon (shën' yan) - a knot of hair worn at the back of the head
chimerical (kø mer'ø køl, kï-, -mir'-) - imaginary, fanciful, fantastic, unreal, illusory, delusive, wildly or vainly conceived, existing only in thought, absurd, impossible
chitin (kï't n) - a horny substance that forms part of the hard outer integument* of some invertebrates (as insects or crustaceans) 
cipher (sï' fer) - a code, writing in a code, the key to code, zero, Arabic numerals, fig: a thing of no importance
clandestine (klan des' tøn) - held in or conducted with secrecy, furtive 
cloy - to weary or disgust with an excess usually of something once pleasing, to cause weariness or disgust through excess, to fill to loathing, to glut, to satiate, to surfeit
coalesce (kö' ø les) - to grow together, to unite
coign of vantage (koin) - an advantageous position (Middle English coyn, coigne "projecting corner, coin" )
commination (kom'ø nä' shøn) - threat, denunciation of punishment or vengeance, also, a recital of God's threatenings on sinners in the Church of England
conclave (køn' kläv') - a private meeting or secret assembly, a meeting of Roman Catholic cardinals to choose a pope, a gathering or group
conduits (kan' du øt) - a natural or artificial channel through which water or other fluid is conveyed, archaic: fountain, a pipe or tube for protecting wires or cables (from Medieval Latin: conductus, "to lead")
connive (kø nïv) - to pretend ignorance of something that one ought to oppose or stop, to cooperate secretly, or have a secret understanding, plot, conspire
contagion (køn tä' jøn) - lit: a touch, passing of a disease from one person to another by direct or indirect contact, a contagious disease or its causative agent, infection, rapid communication of an influence, an influence that spreads rapidly, that which communicates evil from one to another, that which propagates mischief
contumacious - lit: swelling against, haughty, obstinate, perverse, stubborn, unyielding, disobedient, in law, willfully disobedient to the orders of a court
contumacy (kan' tyoo mø së) - stubborn refusal to submit to authority, esp. that of a law court; insubordination, disobedience; Latin, tumere, to swell up; see contumacious*
contumelious (kan' tyoo më' lë øs) - rude in a contemptuous way; insulting and humiliating
copious (kö' pë øs) - abundant, wordy
cortege (kôr täzh', -tezh') - Fr. a train of attendants or followers, retinue, procession
cotillion (kö til' yøn) - any large, formal party for dancing, a brisk German dance for four or more couples, any quadrille, a piece of music for these dances
culpably (kul' pø blë) - blamably, in a faulty manner
curmudgeon (kør muj' øn) - a surly, ill-mannered, bad-tempered person; cantankerous fellow
Cynosure (sï' nø shur, sin'ø-) - the constellation Ursa Minor near the North Pole, consisting of six stars and the North star, formerly called the chariot, or Charles' wain, used by seamen for steering fig: that which directs or attracts attention, center of attention

D 
datum (dät' øm) - a single piece of data; from Latin, "something given" datus, past part. of dare "to give" 
décolletage (dä kal ø tazh') - the low-cut neckline of a dress, a décolleté* dress 
décolleté (dä kal ø tä') - wearing a strapless or low-necked dress, having a low-cut neckline
demagogue (dem' ø gäg) - a leader of the people; a person who appeals to the emotions and prejudices of people in order to arouse discontent and advance personal political ends; any leader of the populace; any factious man who influences the great body of people in a city or community
demesne (di män', mën') - possession of real estate in one's own right, land or estate belonging to a lord, not rented, but kept in his hands, the land around a mansion or estate, a region or domain
denigrate (den' ø grät)- to blacken, make black, to darken a reputation
denizen (den'ø zøn) - a foreigner given certain rights, an occupant, a foreign word that has been naturalized
derangement (di ränj mønt) - a putting out of order, embarrassment, insanity
desuetude (des' wø tud, -tyud) - disuse
digitate (dij' ø tät) - adj. having digits, having divisions arranged like fingers 
dilettante (dil' ø tant, -tant ë) - an admirer or lover of the arts; a person who engages, usually superficially, in an art or branch of knowledge as a pastime
diminution (dim' ø nü' shøn) - diminishing, reduction, decrease, discredit, loss of dignity or esteem, degradation; in music: a repetition of a theme in notes of shorter duration than those originally used; in architecture: the contraction of the upper part of a column
doughty (dou' të) - strong, bold, stout, valiant, formidable, worthy, noble, eminent

E
ebullient (i bool' yønt, -bul'-) - bubbling, boiling, overflowingg with enthusiasm, high spirits, effervescent, exuberant
effete (e fët, i-) - no longer capable of producing, spent and sterile; lacking vigor, force of character, moral stamina; decadent, soft, over-refined
effluvium (i flu' vë øm) - a vapor or odor, usually unpleasant, obsl: any odors, smells, or the noxious exhalations from diseased bodies or putrefying animal or vegetable substance
effulgence (i ful' jøns) - a radiant splendor, brilliance
egregious (i grë jøs) - conspicuously bad, flagrant
eleemosynary (el i mas' n er ë) - of, relating to, or supported by charity
Elysium (i lizh' ë øm) - the abode of the good after death in classical mythology Elysian - adj. 
emanating (em ø nät ing) - issuing or flowing from a fountain, coming forth, spreading from a source
emolument (i mol' yø mønt) - the profit arising from office or employment, compensation for services, salary, wages, fees, profit, advantage
enceinte (en sant') - the line of works enclosing a fortified place, the space so enclosed; Latin, incingere, to gird about, also, 
enceinte (Fr: an sant') - pregnant, with child; Lat. incinctus, ungirt
encomium (en kö' më øm) - a formal expression of high praise; eulogy; panegyric*; Gr. encomium, hymn to a victor
enigmatic (en' ig mat' ik) - perplexing, baffling, relating to or containing a riddle, obscure, darkly expressed, ambiguous
envisage (en viz' ij) - to form a mental picture of, visualize, to look in the face of, to face
epergne (i pern', ä pärn') - a ornamental dish having several divisions, branches, or tiers to hold fruit, candy, cakes or flowers 
ephemeral (i fem'ør øl) - beginning and ending in a day, short-lived, existing or continuing for a short time only, transitory
eponym (ep' ø nim') - a real or mythical person from whom the name of a nation, institution, etc. is derived; a person whose name has become identified with some period, movement, theory
ersatz - a substitute, synthetic; suggests inferior quality
erudite (er' yø dït) - instructed, taught, learned
escutcheon (es kuch' øn) - the shield on which a coat of arms is represented, the shield of a family, a protective metal plate around a keyhole, the panel on a ship's stern bearing her name
esoteric (es ø ter'ik) - private, secret, confidential, known and understood by only a small number, abstruse*
etiolate (ët' ë ø lät) - to make (a green plant) pale and spindling by lack of light, to make pale and sickly
exacerbate (eg za'sør bät) - to irritate, to exasperate, to inflame, to increase malignant qualities, to increase the severity of a disease, to make worse
execrable (ek' si krø bøl) - deserving a curse, hateful, detestable, abominable
exigency (ek' sø jøn së) - demand, urgent need or want, urgency, distress, necessity, a situation demanding prompt action or attention, emergency
eximious (eg zim'ë øs) - excellent, distinguished, eminent, select, choice
expatiate (ek spä' shë ät) - to roam or wander at large, or without restraint, to talk or write freely on a subject, to enlarge (on)
expiation (eks' pë ä'shen) - the act of atoning for a crime or sin, the means by which atonement is made

F
fallow (fal'ö) - pale red or pale yellowish-brown, or, unplowed, unseeded ground left to rest, ground left unseeded after plowing, uncultivated, fig: neglected
feud (fyud) - a long and deadly quarrel between two families, tribes, or persons, a quarrel; a grant of land held on certain conditions
feudal (fyu'døl) - pertaining to feuds*, fiefs*, or fees
fiacre (fë a'kør; French: fya' krø) - a four-wheeled carriage for hire, a horse drawn cab
fiat (fë' øt) - an authoritative often arbitrary order or decree
fief (fëf) - a piece of land held on condition of giving military and other services to its owner, in return for his protection, and the use of the land, feudal estate, feud, fee, fig: domain, realm
filibuster (fil' ø bøs tør) - an irregular mercenary, esp. an American stirring up rebellion in Latin America en the mid-19th century; also, the use of delaying tactics in an attempt to delay or prevent action in a legislative assembly
foetid or fetid (fë' tid) - smelling very bad, stinking
foot (fut) - in poetry, one of the parts into which a line of poetry is divided, a certain number of syllables constituting part of a verse
froid (frwa) - Fr. cold, indifferent, lifeless, reserved, unconcerned, dull
froideur - coldness, cold indifference, unfriendliness
fulsome - disgusting or offensive; abundant, disgustingly excessive
furze (førz) - gorse, whin, a thorny plant of the genus Ulex, a prickly evergreen shrub of the pea family with yellow flowers

G
gamin, gamine (gam'in, ga mën') - a neglected child left roam to the streets; street urchin; a girl with roguish, saucy charm
garrulity (gø ru' løt ë) n. see below
garrulous (gar'ø løs, -yø løs) - very talkative, especially about trifles, prating, or, using too many words, wordy, long-winded
genuflect (jen' yu flekt) - to bend the knee, as in worship

H
hegira (hi jï' rø , hej' ør ø) - a departure, a fleeing (particularly Mohammed's Hegira from Mecca - 622 A.D.), for the reason of safety
hiatus (hï ä'tøs) - an empty space; space that needs to be filled; chasm; defect; gap; Grammar: a slight pause between two vowels that come together in successive syllables, such as between the e's in preeminent, or the opening of the mouth when a word ending in a vowel is followed by a word beginning in a vowel; Anatomy: an opening 
hydra - a water serpent, a southern constellation containing 60 stars called the Water Snake, in mythology, a serpent or monster having many heads, which grew back when cut off, unless cauterized, thus applied to a multitude of evils, or a cause of many evils, a persistent evil

I
iconoclast (ï kän' ø klast) - one who destroys religious images or opposes their veneration; one who attacks established beliefs or institutions (from Gr. eikön "image" and klan "to break")
imbecility (im' bø sil' øt ë) - utter foolishness, nonsense, futility, lack of strength, weakness, feebleness of mind or body, inability to procreate
imbroglio (im bröl' yö) - a confused mass, an intricate or complicated situation, a painful or embarrassing misunderstanding, embroilment 
impetrate (im' pø trät) - to obtain by request or entreaty, to request earnestly, to entreat
imprecation (im'pre kä'shøn) - v. to invoke evil upon (another or self), to pray a curse or calamity upon, n. a curse
impunity (im pyu' nø të) - exemption from punishment or penalty, freedom from injury
inchoate (adj: in kö'it, verb: in' kö ät) - adj. just begun, in an early stage, undeveloped, incomplete, v. to begin, commence, start 
incongruous (in kong' gru øs) - inappropriate, unsuitable, not fitting, improper, out of place, not in harmony, inconsistent
indemnify (in dem' nø fï) - to secure against loss, harm, penalty, or damage, to insure, to reimburse, to rectify, to compensate, make good
ineffable (in ef'ø bøl) - unspeakable, unutterable, what cannot be expressed in words, too great to be described in words
ineluctable (in i løk' tø bøl) - not to be avoided, changed or resisted, inevitable
inert (in ert') - having no power to move or act, lifeless, dull, slow, sluggish
inexorable (in eks' rø bøl) - not to be persuaded or moved by entreaty, relentless
inimical (in im'ø køl) - unfavorable, unfriendly, adverse, harmful (Latin - inimicus: in "not" , amicus " "friendly")
insidious (in sid'ë øs) - deceitful, sly, treacherous, wily, crafty, tricky, waiting to ensnare or entrap, working secretly or subtly, developing without attracting attention 
insouciant (in soo' së ønt, -shønt) - calm and untroubled, carefree, indifferent
intarsia (in tar' së ø) - wood inlay, the art or process of inlaying wood, a design or pattern in fabric in which colors look like tapestry
integument (in teg' yø mønt) - something that covers or encloses, esp. an enclosing layer (as a skin, membrane or husk)
intrinsic (in trin' sik) - inward, internal, inherent, genuine, real, essential, intimate, closely familiar, belonging to a thing by its very nature
inveigle (in vë' gøl, -vä-) - to seduce, entice, lure, wheedle, to lead astray by trickery, deceit or flattery, to obtain by trickery 
invidious (in vid' ë øs) - tending to cause dislike, ill will, or envy
irascible (i ras'ø bøl, ï-) - susceptible of anger, easily provoked, irritable, quick tempered, showing anger
iterate (it' ø rät) - to reiterate, repeat, to utter or do a second time

J
jejune (ji jün') - wanting, empty, vacant, barren, dry, meager, scanty, hungry, not satisfied, lacking nourishing qualities, flat, uninteresting

K
kalsomine, kalsomining - var. of calcimine*
kitsch (kich) - art, writing, etc. of a pretentious but shallow kind, calculated to have popular appeal; Ger. gaudy, trash

L
laconic (lø kon' ik) - expressing much in few words, short, brief, concise, condensed, pithy, terse, succinct, sententious
lading (lä' ding) - the act of loading, or, (noun) load, freight, cargo, burden
languorous (lang'gør øs) - tedious, melancholy, listless, languid, causing languor
laryngeal (lø rin' jë øl) - having to do with the larynx, produced in the larynx
legerdemain (lej' ørd ø män') - sleight of hand, magic, a display of skill or adroitness
leitmotif or, leitmotiv (lit' mö tëf') - a short passage in a musical work, associated throughout with one person, situation, or idea; fig: a central, or recurrent, theme or motif
logomachy (lö gom'ø kë) - a contention about words or in words only, a war of words, a game similar to anagrams, in which words are formed from single letters
loquacious (lö kwä' shøs) - talkative, noisy, apt to disclose secrets
lugubrious (lu gu'brë øs, -gyu-) - overly or affectedly mournful, dismal, doleful, melancholy, indicative of sorrow

M 
magnum (mag' nøm) - a wine bottle holding twice as much as usual, or 1.5 L; a firearm, esp. a revolver, designed to fire magnum cartridges, designed to have more explosive force than ordinary cartridges of the same size
maudlin (môd' len) - drunk, fuddled, stupid, sentimental in a weak, silly way, tearfully silly because of drunkenness or excitement
meliorate (mël' yø rät) - to grow better, improve, advance in good qualities, to become better or more bearable
mellifluous (mø lif'lu øs) - flowing with honey, sweetly flowing, smooth
mendacity (men das' ø të) - a disposition to lie, untruthfulness, a lie, falsehood
meridian (mø rid' ë øn) - the highest point attained, an imaginary great circle on the face of the earth, passing through the north and south poles, and any given point in between, the half of such a circle, a representation of such a circle or half circle, numbered for longitude on a globe or map 
miasma (më az'me) - a bad smelling vapor, arising from decaying matter on the earth, formerly supposed to cause disease fig: anything considered to resemble this in ability to spread and poison
mitigate (mit' ø gät) - to make (wrath, harshness, adversity, etc.) less in force or degree, to alleviate, to assuage*, to moderate, to abate, to calm, to diminish, to reduce in amount or severity, to soften in a literal sense
mordant (mord' nt) - biting and caustic in thought, manner or style; incisive
moribund (mor'ø bund) - at the point of death or extinction, dying, n. dying person
mulct (mølkt) - n. a fine imposed as a punishment, v. to punish by a fine, to defraud, to swindle, to obtain by fraud, duress, or theft
multifarious (møl' tø fär' ë øs) - of various kinds; being many and varied

N
nadir (nä dør) - the point in the heavens directly beneath where one stands, the point opposite the zenith fig: the lowest point, time of greatest adversity
naphtha (naf' thø, nap-) - petroleum, any of various volatile often flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixtures used chiefly as solvents and diluting agents
narcissism (nar' sø siz øm) - an undue dwelling on one's own self or attainments, self-love 
nascent (nas'ønt, nä'sønt) - beginning to exist develop, or grow, coming into being, incipient, inchoate*, or, in chemistry, having to do with the state of an element at the instant it is set free from a combination
nefarious (ni fär' ë øs) - extremely wicked, vile, atrocious, heinous, villainous, abominable, detestably sinful, unlawful
nescience (nesh' øns) - want of knowledge, ignorance; the philosophical doctrine, implicit in many forms of agnosticism, that knowledge cannot rest on other than nature and God being both unknowable and unproveable.
nimbus (nim' bøs) - any rain-producing cloud; in mythology, a bright cloud surrounding gods or goddesses appearing on earth; an aura of splendor surrounding any person; a halo or bright disk surrounding the head of a divinity, saint, sovereign, etc.
novitiate (nö vish' øt) - the period or state of being a novice, novice, a house where novices are trained
nubile (noo' bil) - marriageable, said of a young woman who seems mature; sexually attractive

O 
oaf (öf) - an idiot or blockhead, stupid child or man, a clumsy person, changeling
obdurate (ob' dør it) - hard of heart, stubborn, unyielding, inflexible, harsh, rugged, obstinate, unrepentant
oblique (ø blëk', -blïk') - slanted, not perpendicular or horizontal, fig: indirect, not straightforward, not upright, underhanded
obloquy (ab' lø kwë) - strongly condemnatory utterance or language, bad repute, disgrace
obsequious (øb së' kwë øs) - humbly or excessively attentive, fawning, servile 
obstreperous (øb strep' røs, äb-, -ø røs) - uncontrollably noisy, clamorous, vociferous, stubbornly defiant, unruly
obtrude (øb trüd') - to thrust in or on, to throw, to crowd or thrust into any place or state by force or imposition, or without solicitation, to urge upon against the will, to put forward unasked and unwanted
obviate (ob' vë ät) - to meet in the way, to oppose, to intercept, to clear the way of obstacles, to remove at the beginning, to dispose of
ocher (ö'kør) - an earthy clay colored by iron oxide, usually yellow or reddish brown, used as a pigment in paints, the color of ocher
ochreous (ö'kør øs) - alt. spelling of ocherous, see ocher*
oligarchy (ol i gär' kë) - a form of government in which the supreme power is placed in a few hands; a type of aristocracy 
operose (op'ø rös) - laborious, tedious; of a person, industrious
oriel or, oriol (ôr'ë øl, or'-) - a small apartment next to a hall for the purpose of dining, a recess, a bay window projecting from the outer face of a wall

P
paean or, pean, pæon (pë' øn) - a song of thanksgiving, joy, or triumph, in ancient Greece, song or hymn of praise to a deity; in ancient poetry, a foot* of four syllables
palaver (pø lav' ør) - n a long parley usually between persons of different cultural levels, misleading or beguiling speech, vi to talk at length, or idly
panacea (pan'ø së' ø) - a remedy for all diseases, a cure-all
panache (pø nash') - an ornamental tuft of feathers, especially on a helmet, dash or colorfulness in style and action, verve 
parhelion - mock sun or meteor
paroxysm (par' øk si øm) - a severe, sudden attack, an exasperation or exacerbation of a disease, a fit of high excitement or violence in a disease that has remissions or intermissions, a sudden outburst of emotion or activity
parry (par' ë) - to ward off, as a thrust or blow
pathology (pø thol' e jë) - part of medicine that explains nature, causes, and symptoms of diseases
paucity (po' sø të) - smallness of number or quantity 
pecuniary (pi kyü' në ør' ë) - of, relating to, or consisting of money, financial
pedant (ped' ent) - a dull, narrow-minded schoolmaster or teacher, a person who vainly displays his knowledge in a tiring way, often without the ability to put it into practice
peignoir (pän war', pen-) - a woman's loose negligee or dressing gown 
pellucid (pø lü' sød) - perfectly clear, transparent, reflecting light evenly from all surfaces, very easy to understand
penumbra (pi num' brø) - partial shadow outside the complete shadow formed by the sun or moon during an eclipse fig: partial shade or shadow
perfidy (per fø dë) - the act of violating faith, promise, trust, vow, or allegiance, treachery, betrayal, disloyalty
perfunctory (pør fungk'tør ë) - careless, negligent, mechanical, indifferent, done only for the sake of getting rid of the duty, or from force of habit
pernicious (pør nish' øs) - destructive, having the quality of killing or injuring, causing great harm or damage, fatal, deadly, wicked, villainous
peroration (per ør ä' shøn) - the concluding part of a speech; a very rhetorical speech
persiflage (per'sø flazh) - light joking talk or writing, banter, jeering, ridicule 
perspicacious (pør spø kä' shøs) - having or showing keen understanding or discernment
philology (fø lol' e gë) - study of literature texts, to determine their truthfulness
plebeian (pli' bë øn) - a member of the Roman plebs, one of the common people, adj. of or relating to plebeians, crude or coarse in manner or style, common
plutocracy (plü tok'rø së) - a government in which the rich rule, a wealthy ruling class 
ply (plï) - to work with or upon, to employ with diligence, to lay on, to urge again and again, to put to or on with force and repitition, to go back and forth upon, to travel, go; a bend, fold, thickness, a strand or twist of yarn, cord, or thread; fig: an inclination of mind or character
polemic (pø lem' ik) - controversial, disputative, n. disputing discussion, a person who takes part in such
pontifical (pon tif'ø køl) - belonging to a high priest or pope, popish, splendid, magnificent, having to do with a bishop, episcopal, stately, dignified
précis (prä' së, prä së') - a concise or abridged statement, summary 
precocious (pri kö' shes) - developed earlier than usual in knowledge, skill, etc. too early, flowering or fruiting early
predilection (prë' dø lek' shøn, pred' ø-) - a previous liking, a predisposition of the mind in favor of, preference
primordial (prï mord' ë øl) - first created or developed, primeval, earliest formed in the growth of an individual or organ, primitive, fundamental, primary
probity (prö' bøt ë) - adherence to the highest principles and ideals, uprightness 
proletariat (prö' lø tär' ë øt) - lowest class, economically and socially (proletary n. - a common person, proletarian adj. - mean, vile, vulgar)
protagonist (pro tag' ø nist) - main character of a play, story or novel, a person who takes a leading part, active supporter, champion
protract (prö trakt') - to draw out, to lengthen in time, to prolong, to delay, to put off, to thrust or slide out, to extend, to draw using a protractor
puerile (pyü' ør øl) - childish, trifling
pusillanimous (pyü'sø lan'ø møs) - destitute of courage, bravery, or fortitude, cowardly, proceeding from weakness of mind
pyrotechnics (pi' rø tek' niks, pir' e- ) - fireworks, in military operations: signal rockets, flares, smoke bombs, the act of making fireworks, the use or display of fireworks fig: a brilliant or sensational display

Q
quaff (kwaf, kwôf) - to drink in large swallows, to drink deeply, freely, or luxuriously 

R
recherché (rø shär'shä, French: rø shar shä') - sought after, in great demand, rare, fig: too studied, far-fetched 
recondite (rek'øn dït, ri kon'-) - secret, hidden, concealed, abstruse*, profound, hard to understand, little known, obscure
rime - frost, crust, incrustation, or, a chink, fissure, rent, or long aperture, v. to freeze or congeal into frost 
riposte or, ripost (ri pöst) - in fencing: a quick thrust given after parrying* a lunge, a quick sharp reply or return, retort
risible (riz' ø bøl) - able or inclined to laugh, provoking laughter, funny

S 
salient (sä' lë ønt) - standing out, easily noticed, conspicuous, projecting, leaping, jumping; in heraldry, a lion on a coat of arms is salient when it stands with forepaws raised as if jumping
salvo (sal' vö) - an exception, a reservation, an excuse, a saving clause, proviso, a quibbling evasion, an expedient for saving a person's reputation or soothing offended pride
sanguine (sang' gwin) - naturally cheerful, hopeful, optimistic, confident, having a ruddy complexion, abounding with blood, the blood-red color in coats of arms, crayons colored red with iron oxide, a drawing in red chalk
sardonic (sar dan' ik) - bitterly scornful, cynical
scion or, cion (sï øn) - a young shoot, twig, intended for engrafting for propagation, also, descendant, heir
seditious (si dish' øs) - stirring up rebellion or discontent, exciting violent opposition to authority, turbulent, factious
sedulous (sej' u løs) - diligent in work or pursuit, painstaking, hardworking, constantly industrious
seine (sän) - a large fishing net kept vertical in the water by weights and floats, v. to fish with or catch with a seine
seraglio (sør al' yö) - harem (It. serraglio "enclosure" )
solecism (sol'ø siz øm) - impropriety in language, a departing from the rules of syntax, incongruity of words, lack of consistency, a mistake in social behavior, breach of good manners or etiquette, any unfitness, absurdity, or impropriety
sinecure (sï'ni kyur, sin'i) - an office or position that requires little or no work
sot - a habitual drunkard (Old English sott "fool")
sottish (sat' ish) - resembling a sot* (as in folly or intemperance) 
specious (spë' shøs) - seeming desirable, reasonable, or probable, but not really so, apparently good or right, but without merit, plausible, making a good outward appearance in order to deceive, showy, beautiful
specter (spek' tør) - an apparition, a ghost, a phantom, especially one of frightening appearance, fig: a thing that causes terror or dread
stevedore (stë' vø dör) - a person whose work is to load and unload ships or boats in port 
strand - n. shore or beach of an ocean, sea, large lake, or a navigable river, a landing place, v. to run, cause to drift, or drive onto a strand, to run aground, to leave in a strange or unfavorable place, especially without the means to depart
strophe (strö' fë) - part of an ancient Greek choric ode, a series of lines forming a division of a poem, having a metrical structure, repeated in a second group of lines (antistrophic), a stanza
strophic (strof'ik, ströf'ik) - having to do with a strophe*
supererogation (sü' pør er' ø gä' shøn) - the act of doing more than duty or circumstances require
supercilious (sü' per sil'ë øs) - showing scorn or indifference because of a feeling of superiority; haughty, proud, contemptuous, disdainful; dictatorial, overbearing 
supine (sü pïn', sü' pïn) - lying on the back, with face upward, opposed to prone, fig. lazy, inactive, languid, indolent, inert*, negligent, thoughtless, passive
sward (swôrd) - n. the grassy surface of land, turf, the part of the soil filled with the roots of grass, v. forming a mat, or, to produce or cover with sward, or, the skin of a bacon
swart or, swarth - of dark hue, color, complexion, or cast, tawny, swarthy, or, gloomy, malignant

T
tacit (tas' it) - silent, implied, but not expressed, consent by silence, still, silent
tawdry (tô' dre) - fine and showy without taste or elegance, having an excess of showy ornaments without grace, garish, gaudy, cheap
tawny (tô' në) - a dark yellowish brown, a rich tan color
terpsichorean (terp'sø kø rë'øn) - of or having to do with dancing 
threnody (thren'ø dë) - a song of lamentation, especially at a person's death, a dirge
tramontane (trø mon'tän, tram'øn-) - being beyond the mountains, especially the Alps as viewed from Italy, having to do with the other side of the mountains, of wind, coming from beyond the mountains, or, a person who lives on the other side of the mountains, especially the Alps, a foreigner, a cold wind from a mountain range
transmontane (trans mun'tän, tranz-) - beyond the mountains, tramontane*
transudation (tran' su dä' shøn) - the act or process of passing off or oozing out of a liquid through pores, as sweat; a liquid that has transuded
temerity (tø mer' ø të) - reckless boldness, rashness, unreasonable contempt of danger
trenchant (tren' chønt) - sharp, cutting, keen, vigorous, effective
troglodyte (trag' lø dït) - caveman, a person felt to resemble a troglodyte especially in unsocial habits (not a very good definition) 
truism (trü'iz øm) - an undoubted or self-evident truth, a statement that nearly everyone knows is true, especially one that has been needlessly repeated

U
ubiquitous (yu bik' wøt øs) - existing or being everywhere at the same time, widely or generally present
umbrage (øm' brij) - a shade, a screen of trees, shadow, suspicion of injury, offense, resentment
uxorious (øk sör' ë øs) - excessively fond of or submissive to a wife

V
vagary (vø gãr'ë, vä gør-) - a wandering of the thoughts, wild freak, whim, whimsical purpose, odd fancy, extravagant notion, odd action, caprice
vicissitude (vø sis' ø tüd) - regular change or succession of one thing to another, change, revolution, change in circumstances or fortune, variation
vichyssoise (vish' ø swaz) - a soup of pureed leeks or onions and potatoes, cream, and chicken stock that is usually served cold
virulent (vir' yø lønt) - very poisonous or venomous, deadly, able to cause disease by breaking down the protective mechanisms of the host, very bitter in enmity
vitriolic (vit rë ol' ik) - fig. bitterly severe, sharp, scathing
volatile (vol' ø tøl) - flying, having power to fly (used as a noun, meaning winged animals), capable of wasting away, as a vapor, also, lively, gay, airy, hence, fickle

W
weal (wël) - well-being, prosperity, happiness
wen (wen) - a cyst formed by obstruction of a skin gland and filled with fatty material (Old English wenn)

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