My collection of unknown (to me) words I found reading.
Updated 2Â days, 20Â hours ago
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
A
- Abattoir
- (n) A slaughterhouse
- Abstemious
- (n) Marked by restraint especially in the consumption of food or alcohol
- Acedia
- (n) Spiritual or mental sloth; apathy
- Aegis
- (n) The protection, backing, or support of a particular person or organization
- Agita
- (n) Anxiety, stress, or aggravation
- Apéritifs
- (n) Drinks, usually alcoholic, served before a meal
- Autopoiesis
- (n) Literally "self-creation"; refers to a system capable of reproducing and maintaining itself by creating its own parts
- Avuncular
-
- (adj) In the manner of an uncle
- (adj) Friendly, kind or helpful to younger people
B
- Baccanal
- (n) An occasion of wild and drunken revelry
- Bitumen
- (n) Bitumen is a black, sticky substance derived from petroleum or coal primarily used as a binder in road construction and waterproofing
- Bivouav
-
- (n) A temporary camp without tents or cover, used especially by soldiers or mountaineers
- (v) To set up a bivouac
- Brusque
- (adj) Abrupt or offhand in speech or manner
C
- Carnelian
- (n) An orange or orange red variety of semi-precious stone
- Clade
- (n) A group of organisms believed to have evolved from a common ancestor
- Coquettish
- (adj) Flirtatious
- Cote
- (n) A shelter for mammals or birds, especially pigeons
- Crenelation
- (n) A wall around the top of a castle with regular spaces in it through which defenders can shoot
- Cyanosis
- (n) A bluish or purplish discoloration of the skin, lips, and nail beds that indicates a lack of oxygen in the blood
D
- Daylighting
- (v) The opening up and restoration of a previously buried watercourse, one which had at some point been diverted below ground
- Decollate
- (v) To Behead
- Decolletage
- (n) A low cut neckline on a dress
- Demiurge
- (n) A being responsible for the creation of the universe
- Diaphanous
- (adj) (Especially of fabric) light, delicate, and translucent.
- Digestifs
- (n) Drinks, typically alcoholic, served after a meal
- Détante
- (n) The easing of hostility or strained relations, especially between countries
- Dysphemism
- (n) A derogatory or unpleasant term used instead of a pleasant or neutral one
E
- "Esse quam videri"
- To be, rather than to seem (Latin)
- Eucatasrophe
- (n) A sudden turn of events in a story that ensures that the protagonist does not meet some terrible, impending, and very plausible and probable doom.
F
- Fabulist
-
- (n) A liar, especially a person who invents elaborate, dishonest stories
- (n) A person who composes or relates fairy tales or fables
- Farpotshket
- Broken, because someone tried to fix it (Yiddish)
- Felid
- (n) A member of the cat family
- Flense
- (v) Slice the skin or fat from (a carcass, especially that of a whale)
- Florid
-
- (adj) Having a red or flushed complexion
- (adj) Elaborately or excessively intricate or complicated
- Frisson
- (n) A sudden, strong feeling of excitement or fear
G
- Grisaille
- (n) A method of painting in gray monochrome, typically to imitate sculpture
H
- Hepcat
- (n) A stylish or fashionable person, especially in the sphere of jazz or popular music
I
- Iatrogenesis
- (n) Harm caused by the healer
- Inchoate
-
- (adj) Just begun and so not fully formed or developed
- (adj) Anticipating or preparatory to a further criminal act (legal)
- Indolance
- (n) Laziness
- Irascible
- (adj) Having or showing a tendency to be easily angered
J
- Jeremiad
-
- (n) A long, mournful complaint or lamentation
- (n) A list of woes
L
- Lasivious
- (adj) Feeling or revealing an overt and often offensive sexual desire
- Latibulate
- (v) To lay oneself in a corner or hiding place
- Lurid
-
- (adj) Very vivid in color, especially so as to create an unpleasantly harsh or unnatural effect
- (adj) Presented in vividly shocking or sensational terms, especially giving explicit details of crimes or sexual matters
M
- Mendacity
- (n) Untruthfulness; lying
- Misericord
- (n) a long and narrow knife used during the High Middle Ages to deliver mercy killings to mortally wounded knights
N
- Noctilucent
- (adj) Shining or glowing at night
- Nonpareil
- (adj) Having no match or equal; unrivaled
O
- Obeisance
-
- (n) Deferential respect
- (n) A gesture expressing a deferential respect, such as a bow or curtsey
- Offal
- (n) The entrails and internal organs of an animal used as food
P
- Paean
- (n) A song of praise or triumph
- Parracide
- (n) The killing of a parent or other near relative
- Pot-valiance
- (n) Bold or courageous under the influence of alcohol
- Prandial
- (adj) During or relating to dinner or lunch
- Prima facie
- (adj) Based on the first impression; accepted as correct until proved otherwise (Latin)
- Prolix
- (adj) Using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy
- Prurient
- (adj) Having or encouraging an excessive interest in sexual matters
- Pseudopodia
- (n) A temporary arm-like projection of a eukaryotic cell membrane that is emerged in the direction of movement; literally "false foot"
- Psithurism
- (n) The rustling, whispering sound made by wind blowing through trees and leaves
- "Pulvis et umbra sumus"
- We are but dust and shadow (Latin)
- Pyrrhic
- (adj) Of a victory, won at too great a cost to have been worthwhile for the victor
Q
- Querent
- (n) An inquirer, specifically one who consults an astrologer
R
- Revanchism
- (n) A policy of seeking to retaliate, especially to recover lost territory
S
- Sedge
- (n) A grass-like plant
- Soporific
- (adj/n) Tending to induce drowsiness or sleep
- Sortition
- (n) The selection of public officials or jurors at random, i.e. by lottery, in order to obtain a representative sample
- Spoor
-
- (n) The track or scent of an animal
- (v) Follow the track or scent of (an animal or person)
- Supernal
-
- (adj) A being or coming from on high
- (adj) Located in or belonging to the sky
- Surcease
-
- (n) Cessation
- (v) Cease
T
- Tarn
- (n) A small mountain lake
- Thanatography
- (n) An account, usually written, of a person's death
U
- Ululation
- (n) Ululation is a high-pitched, wavering vocal sound produced by rapidly moving the tongue and uvula while vocalizing.
V
- Verger
- (n) An official in a church who acts as a caretaker or attendant
- Vergescu
- (n) A white shield carried byt a novice knight, particularly in arthurian legends
- Vestal
-
- (adj) Chaste or pure; virginal
- (adj) Relating to the Roman goddess Vesta
- Vicissitude
- (n) A change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant
W
- Wan
- (adj) Of a person's complexion or appearance, pale and giving the impression of illness or exhaustion