anathematize
v. curse or declare to be evil or anathema or threaten with divine punishment |
anomalous
a. deviating from normal or common order, form, or rule |
atavism
n. resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; deformity returning after passage of two or more generations |
bergamot
n. small tree with pear-shaped fruit whose oil is used in perfumery; Italy |
bilingualism
n. the ability to speak two languages colloquially |
bulbous
a. curving outward; shaped like a bulb |
caitiff
a. despicably mean and cowardly |
cantonment
n. temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers |
centurion
n. officer of ancient Roman army, in command of a century of soldiers or minor division |
coalescence
n. union of diverse things into one body or form or group; growing together of parts |
collier
n. someone who works in a coal mine |
complaisance
n. a disposition or tendency to yield to the will of others |
condign
a. fitting or appropriate and deserved; used especially of punishment |
consign
v. give, transfer, or deliver in a formal manner, as if by signing over into the possession of another |
continence
n. self control; self restraint; partial or complete abstention from sexual activity |
coquette
n. flirt; seductive woman who uses her sex appeal to exploit men |
corruptible
a. capable of being corrupted; susceptible to corruption |
cyan
n. a primary subtractive color for light; has a blue-green color |
deformity
n. an appearance that has been spoiled; an affliction in which some part of the body is misshapen or malformed |
delineation
n. a drawing of the outlines of forms or objects; a graphic or vivid verbal description |
demulcent
n. a medication in the form of an oil or salve that soothes inflamed or injured skin |
derelict
a. left and abandoned; negligent in performing a duty |
desuetude
n. a state of inactivity or disuse |
diatomic
a. of or relating to a molecule made up of two atoms |
disavow
v. refuse to acknowledge; disclaim knowledge of; responsibility for, or association with |
dishabille
n. the state of being carelessly or partially dressed |
dissipation
n. useless or profitless activity; using or expending or consuming thoughtlessly or carelessly; dissolute indulgence in sensual pleasure |
distention
n. the state of being stretched beyond normal dimensions; the act of expanding by pressure from within |
dragoon
v. compel by coercion, threats, or crude means; subjugate by imposing troops |
ebullient
a. showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm |
effluence
n. the action or process of flowing out; efflux |
electrotype
n. a duplicate printing plate made by electrolytically depositing a layer of copper or nickel onto a mould of the original |
elicit
v. draw out; bring forth or to light; generate or provoke as response or answer |
emporium
n. a large retail store organized into departments offering a variety of merchandise; commonly part of a retail chain |
engender
v. cause; bring into existence; give rise to |
epicurean
a. devoted to pleasure; displaying luxury and furnishing gratification to the senses |
eulogistic
a. formally expressing praise for someone's lifetime achievements |
execrate
v. find repugnant; curse or declare to be evil or anathema or threaten with divine punishment |
expectorate
v. discharge from the lungs and out of the mouth; clear out the chest and lungs |
extort
v. obtain from another by coercion; get money by threats |
felicitate
v. express congratulations; compliment upon a happy event |
flaccid
a. acting in strength, firmness, or resilience |
forswear
v. renounce or deny something, especially under oath; swear falsely, usually under pressure |
galvanic
a. affected by emotion as if by electricity; thrilling |
guillemet
n. one of two marks, used in French, Italian, and Russian printing to enclose quotations |
ichthyic
a. fishlike; characteristic of fishes |
inebriate
v. fill with sublime emotion; become drunk or drink excessively |
insentient
a. devoid of feeling and consciousness and animation |
intoxicant
n. a liquor or brew containing alcohol as the active agent; a drug that can produce a state of intoxication |
invidious
a. designed to create ill will or envy |
irradiate
v. expose to radiation; cast rays of light upon |
jaundice
n. a rough and bitter manner; yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes caused by an accumulation of bile pigment in the blood |
languor
n. feeling of lack of interest or energy; depression |
leonine
a. of or characteristic of or resembling a lion |
licit
a. authorized, sanctioned by, or in accordance with law; sanctioned by custom or morality especially sexual morality |
lithesome
a. moving and bending with ease |
lode
n. a deposit of valuable ore occurring within definite boundaries separating it from surrounding rocks |
maleficent
a. harmful or evil in intent or effect |
mellifluous
a. flowing or dropping like honey; sweetly or smoothly flowing, especially in sound |
micrometer
n. a metric unit of length equal to one millionth of a meter; caliper for measuring small distances |
misogamy
n. hatred of marriage; the emotion of intense dislike marriage |
monition
n. a warning of impending danger; cautionary advice about something imminent; a firm rebuke |
morphology
n. branch of biology that deals with the structure of animals and plants |
naphtha
n. any of various volatile flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixtures; used chiefly as solvents |
necrosis
n. the death of one or more cells in the body, usually within a localized area, as from an interruption of the blood supply to that part |
nihilist
n. one who believes traditional beliefs to be groundless and existence meaningless; absolute skeptic |
obstetrics
n. the branch of medicine dealing with childbirth and care of the mother |
opalescence
n. the visual property of something having a milky brightness and a play of colors from the surface |
ostentation
n. making ambitious display; unnecessary show; pretentious parade |
paramour
n. a woman who cohabits with an important man; a woman's lover |
peccant
a. liable to sin; violating a rule, principle, or established practice |
penitential
a. showing or constituting penance |
perforce
ad. by necessity; by force of circumstance |
perversity
n. deliberately deviating from what is good |
piscatorial
a. relating to or characteristic of the activity of fishing |
posit
v. assume existence of; put forward, as for consideration or study; suggest |
predilection
n. condition of favoring or liking; tendency towards; preference |
proscribe
v. command against; banish; condemn or forbid as harmful or unlawful |
refection
n. a light meal or repast; refreshment, especially with food or drink |
reprobate
n. person hardened in sin; person without moral scruples |
rococo
n. fanciful but graceful asymmetric ornamentation in art and architecture; having excessive asymmetrical ornamentation |
sapience
n. ability to apply knowledge or experience or understanding or common sense and insight |
sidereal
a. of or relating to the stars or constellations; determined by daily motion of the stars |
sonorous
a. having or producing full, loud, or deep sound; impressive in style of speech; easy to feel |
ukase
n. an edict of the Russian tsar; any order by an absolute or arbitrary authority |
vivify
v. give new life or energy to; make more striking or animated |