(PAL-id), adjective
A wan, sickly, washed-out appearance indicating illness or weakness, or lack of energy, strength, and vitality.
diffident (DIFF-ih-dent). Uncertain or unsure about a making a decision or taking an action; lacking confidence and boldness.
If you feel DIFFIDENT about driving a Rolls-Royce, you can always buy a Bentley.
ethereal (eh-THEER-ee-uhl). Light and airy; possessing a heavenly or celestial quality.
“ETHEREAL, their mauve / almost a transparent gray, / their dark veins bruise-blue.”—Denise Levertov, British-born American poet
languid (LANG-gwid). Characterized by weakness and fatigue; or, lacking spirit and animation.
“In doing good, we are generally cold, and LANGUID, and sluggish; and of all things afraid of being too much in the right.”—Edmund Burke, Anglo-Irish statesman, orator, and author
wan (WAWN). Showing or suggesting ill health or unhappiness.
“So shaken as we are, so WAN with care, / Find we a time for frighted peace to pant.”—William Shakespeare
melanin (MEL-uh-nin). The pigment that determines the color of one’s hair, eyes, and skin.
Tamara is unwilling to accept that, no matter how much time she spends on the sunny beaches of the Mediterranean, she will not achieve her desired tan due to her lack of MELANIN.
miasma (my-AZ-mah). An unhealthy atmosphere or environment; an unpleasant feeling pervading the air.
“These appearances, which bewilder you, are merely electrical phenomena not uncommon—or it may be there they have their ghastly origin in the rank MIASMA of the tarn”—Edgar Allan Poe, American author and poet
enervate (EN-er-vayt). To rob a person, organization, place, or thing of its energy, strength, and vitality.
Greenhouse gases ENERVATE the protective ozone layer surrounding the Earth.
wane (WAYN). To gradually decrease; to fade away; to become diminished.
Once she finally received the Cartier watch from her father, Karen’s interest in the timepiece quickly WANED.
florid (FLOOR-id). Excessively ornate and showy, as prose.
“All men are really most attracted by the beauty of plain speech, and they even write in a FLORID style in imitation of this.”—Henry David Thoreau, American author and transcendentalist
refulgent (rih-FULL-jent). Radiant, gleaming; shining brightly.
When Anastasia moved her bejeweled hand while lounging in the midday sunshine, her sparkling diamonds were REFULGENT.
stygian (STY-gee-an). So dark as to be almost pitch black.
“STAND close around, ye STYGIAN set, / With Dirce in one boat convey’d! / Or Charon, seeing, may forget / That he is old and she a shade”—Walter Savage Landor, British writer and poet
tenebrous (TEN-uh-bruss). Dark and gloomy.
Eloise and Marcus spent the day exploring the TENEBROUS forest that surrounded their family’s Maine compound.
(pan-DEM-ik), noun
An outbreak of a disease that threatens to spread rapidly and endanger the population of an entire nation or planet.
bereaved (beh-REEVD). In a state of grief as the result of the death of someone loved.
“Laughter would be BEREAVED if snobbery died.”—Peter Ustinov, British writer and dramatist
endemic (en-DEM-ik). Widespread, as a condition or characteristic found in a certain region, area, or group.
Affluence and influence seem to be just ENDEMIC to our group.
irremediable (eer-ree-MEE-dee-uh-bull). Impossible to cure or remedy.
Sylvia’s outdated concept of couture is completely IRREMEDIABLE.
ubiquitous (yu-BIK-wih-tuss). Everywhere; all around; constantly surrounding; inescapable.
Wireless communication in the United States became UBIQUITOUS toward the close of the twentieth century.
unbridled (un-BRY-duld). Without limitations or boundaries; uncontrolled and unrestrained.
The customer’s UNBRIDLED fury at being denied a refund was a sight to behold.
convalescence (kon-vah-LESS-sense). The time spent recovering from an illness and getting back to full health, often while being taken care of by others.
“CONVALESCENCE is the part that makes the illness worthwhile.”—George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright
homeopathy (ho-mee-OP-uh-thee). The medical practice of giving patients minerals, metals, herbs, and other bioactive compounds in extremely diluted form.
Most modern scientists believe the effectiveness of HOMEOPATHY in some cases is due mainly to the placebo effect.
nostrum (NAH-strum). An ineffective solution that is a quick fix or Band-Aid, covering up a problem or masking its symptoms, but never addressing its root cause for a permanent fix.
“America’s present need is not NOSTRUMS but normalcy.”—Warren G. Harding
metastasize (meh-TASS-tih-size). To spread harmfully from an original source, as with cancer cells.
Byron’s ugly nature quickly METASTASIZED in our group, as he spread lies and gossip among more and more of our social contacts.
permeate (PUR-mee-ayt). To penetrate; to spread throughout.
The scent of Donna’s exclusive perfume quickly PERMEATED the entrance hall of the Blakelys’ stately home.
sequester (see-KWESS-ter). To remove and isolate a portion from a larger whole.
“A great deal of genetic engineering must be done before we have carbon-eaters SEQUESTERING carbon in sufficient quantity to counteract the burning of fossil fuels.”—Freeman Dyson, English-born American physicist and mathematician
hermetic (her-MET-ik). Isolated, or unaffected by outside influences.
“Reality, whether approached imaginatively or empirically, remains a surface, HERMETIC.”—Samuel Beckett, Irish writer, dramatist, and poet
rarefied (RAIR-uh-fyed). Lofty; exalted; of high class or caliber.
Most copywriters don’t operate in the RAREFIED environment in which Clayton makes his millions.
salubrious (suh-LOO-bree-us). Favorable to one’s health.
After father’s asthma reasserted itself, the family began to spend more time at its Arizona compound because of the area’s dry weather, which is SALUBRIOUS toward asthmatics.
(pur-SWAYD), verb
To influence a person to an action, belief, etc.; to urge or induce; to convince through reasoning.
tendentious (ten-DEN-shuss). Promoting one’s beliefs or point of view.
Laura is TENDENTIOUS in extolling her belief in the efficacy of prayer in healing all illnesses.
leverage (LEHV-er-ij). Possessing an advantage or extra degree of influence in a given situation.
With his family’s connections, Eldridge required no LEVERAGE to obtain a sinecure in the financial industry.
adumbrate (ADD-um-brayt). To suggest or disclose something partially.
The factory workers were nervous when they learned the owner had ADUMBRATED a plan for layoffs.
blandish (BLAN-dish). To coax someone to do something for you through the use of flattery.
Your attempts to BLANDISH me into giving in to your point of view will not work.
inveigle (in-VAY-gull). To convince or persuade someone through trickery, dishonesty, or flattery.
Craig INVEIGLED the dean to allow him to graduate even though he failed to meet the foreign language requirement of the university.
jawbone (JAW-bone). To attempt to get someone to do something through persuasion rather than by force.
No matter how much he JAWBONED, Karl could not get Alison to sell her stock prior to the unveiling of the company’s disastrous new line of parvenu fashion.
posit (PAWZ-it). To suggest or propose a theory or explanation, especially one that represents new, unusual, or nonobvious thinking and conclusions.
Astronomers POSIT that Jupiter may sustain life in its clouds.
dissuade (dih-SWADE). To convince to take alternate action; to advise against.
Marge DISSUADED her brother from joining the army.
(FO-bee-uh), noun
An irrational, excessive, and persistent fear of a particular thing or situation.
acrophobia (ak-ruh-FO-bee-uh). An abnormal fear of heights.
Of course, his ACROPHOBIA ruled out any ride in the hot-air balloon.
monophobia (mon-uh-FOE-bee-uh). An abnormal dread of being alone.
Susan’s MONOPHOBIA never manifested until she moved to a different city to start a new job.
nyctophobia (nik-toh-FO-bee-uh). A severe fear of the dark.
William never outgrew his NYCTOPHOBIA and still sleeps with the light on.
ochlophobia (ok-luh-FO-bee-uh). An illogical fear or dread of crowds.
Betty never realized she suffered from OCHLOPHOBIA until she moved to the city, where she had great difficulty walking to and from work during rush hour.
ophidiophobia (oh-fid-ee-oh-FO-bee-uh). An abnormal fear of snakes.
My father wasn’t afraid of much, but his well-developed case of OPHIDIOPHOBIA indicated a bad experience with snakes at some point in his youth.
taphephobia (taff-uh-FOE-bee-uh). The abnormal fear of being buried alive.
After seeing the final scene of that horror film, The Grave Claims Its Own, I couldn’t sleep, and I had an inkling of what it must be like to suffer from TAPHEPHOBIA.
trypanophobia (try-pan-uh-FO-bee-uh). An abnormal fear of medical procedures involving injections or hypodermic needles.
My nephew, suffering from TRYPANOPHOBIA, considered terminating his education before high school so as to avoid the physical exam.
xenophobia (zee-nuh-FOE-bee-uh). Having an irrational fear or hatred of foreigners and immigrants.
We are not XENOPHOBIC; we dislike all strangers, regardless of their backgrounds, unless they are brought to us by other social contacts.
impavid (im-PAV-id). Not afraid; fearless.
Our IMPAVID guide was not averse to tangling with snakes, spiders, scorpions, or any other nasty and intimidating creature we encountered on the trip.
valiant (VAL-yuhnt). Brave; courageous; stout-hearted.
“Cowards die many times before their deaths; the VALIANT never taste death but once.”—William Shakespeare, English dramatist
(PLAYSS), noun
Defined portion of space that can be occupied, whether actually or virtually; area or location real or imagined.
domicile (DOM-ih-syl). A residence; one’s legal, permanent home.
The defendant at that time had no DOMICILE, your honor; she was a homeless person.
environs (en-VY-ruhnz). The area surrounding a town or city; suburbs; vicinity.
Washington D.C. and its ENVIRONS contain as many lobbyists as government workers.
epicenter (EP-ih-cen-tuhr). The spot on the surface of the Earth directly above the site where an earthquake occurs; the focal point or origin of an activity, event, fad, etc.
I wonder when it was that Seattle became the EPICENTER of gourmet coffee.
hinterland (HIN-ter-land). An area bordering on a coast or river; inland region; an area removed from populated areas; back country.
Tired of the pressures and compromises of urban living, Martha moved her family to the more gentle HINTERLAND.
hovel (HUV-ul). A modest, humble home or hut; a rude or dirty dwelling place.
In the storm scenes of King Lear, Edward is disguised as Poor Tom, a lunatic who has sought shelter in a HOVEL on the barren heath.
natatorium (nay-tuh-TOR-ee-um). An indoor swimming pool.
Although he had swum in hundreds of venues, Melvin still had a dream of competing in the world’s largest NATATORIUM.
periphery (puh-RIFF-uh-ree). The area at the extreme of a given boundary.
There among the homeless, at the furthest periphery of society, Maria found her calling.
pied-à-terre (pyay-duh-TARE). A second home or apartment, usually small, used as a place to stay for short trips to the location in lieu of renting a hotel room.
Alison and her family acquired a PIED-À-TERRE in the city because her work often requires her to spend days at corporate headquarters.
sanctum (SANK-tum). A holy, sacred place; a private place; retreat.
Brandon’s small home office contained little more than a computer, an encyclopedia, and a few pieces of furniture, but it was in this unprepossessing SANCTUM that he wrote his Pulitzer Prize–winning play.
egress (ee-GRESS). Exit; to go out; to leave a place.
The stewardess’s earnest request that we try to EGRESS from the burning plane in an orderly fashion had little effect.
abyss (uh-BISS). A bottomless gulf; deep fissure; vast chasm; anything profound or infinite.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the ABYSS will gaze back into you.”—Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher
vacuity (va-KYOO-ih-tee). The state of emptiness; without contents.
“Once you fully apprehend the VACUITY of a life without struggle, you are equipped with the basic means of salvation.”—Tennessee Williams, American playwright
(PAWR), adjective
Lacking material possessions; having little or no means to support oneself; impoverished.
destitute (DES-ti-toot). Without the means of self-support; unable to subsist.
“When a rich man becomes poor it is a misfortune, it is not a moral evil. When a poor man becomes DESTITUTE, it is a moral evil, teeming with consequences and injurious to society and morality.”—Lord Acton, English thinker and professor
impecunious (im-puh-KYOON-ee-us). To be poor or broke; to have little or no money.
Alex has been raving about his IMPECUNIOUS state ever since his trust fund was cut.
impoverished (im-POV-er-isht). Reduced to poverty.
“The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more IMPOVERISHED than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.”—H.U. Westermayer
indigent (IN-dih-junt). Lacking the essentials of life; impoverished.
At the shelter, I came across many INDIGENT families who had fallen victim to the failing economy.
penurious (peh-NOOR-ee-uss). Lacking in means; extremely poor; destitute.
Joan, raised in comfortable surroundings, was not cut out for such a PENURIOUS lifestyle.
proletarian (pro-luh-TAIR-ee-un). The poorest class of people; the working class.
The politician’s appeals to her PROLETARIAN constituents earned her many votes during the election.
opulent (OP-yoo-luhnt). Reflecting wealth and affluence.
Donald Trump showcases his OPULENT lifestyle by wearing designer suits, drinking Cristal champagne, and traveling in private airplanes.
(POW-ur-full), adjective
Having or showing great power or force; mighty; influential; strong.
authoritarian (aw-thor-uh-TAIR-ee-un). Describes a form of social control in which the government demands absolute, blind assent of its citizens.
The eerie, AUTHORITARIAN world of George Orwell’s 1984 continues to resonate today.
Herculean (hur-kyuh-LEE-un). Strong and powerful; reminiscent of the Greek hero Hercules in vitality.
Robert made a HERCULEAN effort to complete the project before midnight.
omnipotent (om-NIP-uh-tuhnt). All powerful.
“An OMNIPOTENT God is the only being with no reason to lie.”—Mason Cooley, American author
redoubtable (rih-DOW-tuh-bull). The quality of being a formidable opponent.
Michael’s REDOUBTABLE nature made him a successful negotiator and trial attorney.
stalwart (STAL-wart). Strong, steadfast, loyal; a staunch supporter of a group or cause.
Although Wayne is no longer a working engineer, he is a STALWART member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
vehement (VEE-uh-muhnt). Acting with great force and energy; intensely emotional; passionate.
Milly, a chronic worry wart, was VEHEMENT about her children calling her if they were going to be late getting home from school.
carte blanche (kart blonsh). Unrestricted power, access, or privilege; permission to act entirely as one wishes.
Jean had CARTE BLANCHE during her first month or so as office manager, but the vice president eventually came to supervise her much more closely.
forte (fort). One’s niche or strong point; that at which one excels.
Interior decorating was Frank’s FORTE, but he resisted making a career of it for fear of what the guys would say.
juggernaut (JUG-ur-not). An object or force so powerful that it flattens or destroys anything in its path.
The earthquake did some minor structural damage to the city, but the tornado that followed a week later was a JUGGERNAUT, destroying every home and building it touched.
magnate (MAG-nayt). An industrial leader; a powerful business figure.
Your Honor, I am no communications MAGNATE; I run a small-town newspaper.
potentate (POH-ten-tayt). A powerful dictator, king, leader, or ruler.
A much-feared POTENTATE, Victor Von Doom ruled Latveria with an iron fist.
tenuous (TEN-yu-us). Unsubstantiated and weak.
Roland’s arguments to prove to us that it’s better to give than to receive were TENUOUS at best.
titular (TITCH-uh-luhr). A person who is a leader by title only, but lacks any real power.
The queen is the TITULAR head of the United Kingdom.
(pri-DIKT), verb
To state in advance; make known beforehand; foretell.
delphic (DELL-fik). Obscurely prophetic.
For years, other economists, reporters, and just plain folks scrambled to interpret Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan’s DELPHIC comments about the strength or weakness of the economy.
prophetic (pruh-FET-ik). Of or having the powers of a prophet or prophecy; predictive.
When I was growing up, my mother seemed to have a PROPHETIC gift when it came to predicting my future.
bellwether (BELL-weh-thur). A leader, or something that indicates future developments.
We may have to change our plans. I’m afraid those dark clouds are a BELLWETHER of today’s weather shifts.
bibliomancy (BIB-lee-oh-man-see). Telling or divining the future using a book, especially the Bible, through interpretation of a passage chosen at random.
Our experience with the practitioner of BIBLIOMANCY was brief and unprofitable.
necromancy (NEH-kroh-man-see). The ability to gain new knowledge by communicating with the dead; magic and trickery in general.
“The so-called science of poll-taking is not a science at all but mere NECROMANCY.”—E.B. White, American author
numerology (noo-muh-RAWL-uh-jee). The supposed practice of divining the future through analyzing the occult significance of numbers.
Judy’s interest in NUMEROLOGY is the latest in a series of mystic doings; she was very big on tarot cards last week.
presentiment (prih-ZEN-tuh-ment). A feeling that something—especially something bad—is going to happen.
The flight was uneventful, despite Clyde’s PRESENTIMENT that a mid-air disaster would occur.
pyromancy (PY-ruh-man-see). Divining of the future by means of fire or flames.
Brian skillfully parlayed a love of sitting around camp fires into a profitable business of PYROMANCY.
augur (AW-ger). To predict or foretell the future.
The three witches of Shakespeare’s Macbeth AUGUR the cataclysmic fate of the play’s titular character.
portend (por-TEND). To suggest or foretell.
The tone of Joan’s voice this morning PORTENDS trouble.
prognosticate (prog-NOSS-tih-kayt). To predict; to foretell the future.
As to the game’s final outcome, I refuse to PROGNOSTICATE.
vaticinate (vuh-TIS-uh-nayt). To prophesy.
The ominous dark clouds and rising wind seemed to VATICINATE the end of the world or just a thunderstorm.
myopia (mye-OH-pee-uh). Inability to see close things clearly; to lack foresight.
My feeling is that by turning down that project, Fenster showed once again that he suffers from MYOPIA when it comes to marketing new consumer products.
(PRYD), noun
A sense of one’s own dignity or worth; self-respect; an overly high opinion of oneself; self-esteem; conceit; satisfaction in one’s own achievements, possessions, children, etc.
grandiose (GRAN-dee-ose). Pompous; having pretentions or ambitions that exceed one’s abilities, sensitivities, or means.
His GRANDIOSE scheme for career advancement simply will not pan out.
haughty (HOT-ee). Snobbishly proud.
I tried to apologize for bumping into the woman, but she only gave me a HAUGHTY glance and inspected her fur coat for damage.
overweening (OH-ver-WEE-ning). Extremely presumptuous, arrogant, and overconfident.
“Golf is an open exhibition of OVERWEENING ambition, courage deflated by stupidity, skill soured by a whiff of arrogance.”—Alistair Cooke, British-born American journalist and broadcaster
tumid (TOO-mid). Pompous and swollen with pride.
We cannot stand it when Katherine wins arguments about couture and art collecting because the TUMID expression that crosses her face after a conversational victory is so loathsome.
vainglorious (vayn-GLOR-ee-us). Conceited; boastful; prone to showing off and bragging.
Although the scion of a well-established family, Gordon is so VAINGLORIOUS that you’d think him a parvenu!
hubris (HYOO-briss). Excessive pride.
Colin may have begun as a pleasant and unassuming clerk, but by the time he took over the company in 1987 he showed signs of the HUBRIS that would accompany his downfall.
pique (peek). To injure a person’s pride and thereby engender harsh feelings.
Marcia was PIQUED at not having been invited to the party.
preen (preen). To take pride (in oneself or one’s accomplishments).
Barry PREENED himself on having received Broadcaster of the Year awards for three consecutive years.
chagrin (shuh-GRIN). A feeling of disappointment, humiliation, embarrassment, etc. caused by failure of some kind; mortification.
Much to the team’s CHAGRIN, they could not score a single point in the entire last half of the game, and lost to a much inferior opponent.
contrite (kuhn-TRYT). Crushed in spirit by a feeling of remorse or guilt.
After the media reported his drunken and loutish behavior, the actor appeared CONTRITE but it was clear that he was sorry only for having been caught.
(PROB-luhm), noun
A question proposed for consideration or solution; a perplexing or difficult matter.
conundrum (kuh-NUN-drum). A riddle or puzzle.
“I don’t understand anything,” Stan said, in the months following graduation. “Now that I’m out on my own, my whole life is one big CONUNDRUM.”
dilemma (dih-LEM-uh). An argument necessitating a choice between equally unfavorable or disagreeable alternatives.
“Our DILEMMA is that we hate change and love it at the same time; what we really want is for things to remain the same but get better.”—Sydney Harris, American journalist
exigency (EKS-ih-jen-see). A condition of some urgency requiring an immediate effort to alleviate or solve it.
“We should never despair, our Situation before has been unpromising and has changed for the better, so I trust, it will again. If new difficulties arise, we must only put forth New Exertions and proportion our Efforts to the EXIGENCY of the times.”—George Washington
imbroglio (im-BRO-lee-oh). Colloquially referred to as a “sticky situation”—a predicament that is difficult to get out of.
Our inability to decide which New Year’s Eve party to attend created an IMBROGLIO that disrupted our social calendar for months.
parameter (pah-RAM-ih-terr). A factor or variable that must be taken into account when solving a problem or understanding a situation.
The weight of Paul’s grand piano is a PARAMETER that must be considered when building the mansion’s new music room and ballroom.
predicament (prih-DIK-ih-muhnt). A condition or situation that is dangerous, unpleasant, or embarrassing; quandary.
Having moved in with Max, Alice now faced the PREDICAMENT of wanting to be alone.
quagmire (KWAG-myr). A thorny problem for which there is no ready solution; a messy situation from which there is no expeditious means of escape.
After years of fighting during which no visible progress occurred, the media and many vocal opponents started to refer to the Afghan War as a QUAGMIRE.
exposition (ek-spuh-ZISH-uhn). A setting forth of facts; detailed explanation.
“People who lean on logic and philosophy and rational EXPOSITION end by starving the best part of the mind.”—William Butler Yeats, Irish dramatist and poet
resolution (rez-uh-LOO-shun). A solving, as of a puzzle; answering, as of a question; solution.
“Through the centuries, men of law have been persistently concerned with the RESOLUTION of disputes in ways that enable society to achieve its goals with a minimum of force and maximum of reason.”—Archibald Cox, American lawyer
(PUHN-ish-muhnt), noun
The act or fact of punishing; a penalty imposed on an offender for a wrongdoing.
baculine (BAK-yuh-lin). Concerning a rod or stick, or with punishment administered with a rod.
It wasn’t that long ago when BACULINE discipline was common in American schoolrooms.
ferule (FARE-uhl). A stick used to punish children; punishment.
Spare the FERULE and spoil the child.
reparations (reh-par-AYE-shuns). Payments made by nations defeated in war to the victors, who impose these payments to recover some of the costs of battle.
After World War I, REPARATIONS of 132 billion gold marks were imposed on Germany by the French.
forfeiture (FOR-fih-cher). A forfeiting; payment of a penalty or fine.
The vandal’s FORFEITURE was thirty days of public service and six months probation.
mortification (mor-tuh-fi-KAY-shun). The practice of penitential discipline by controlling physical desires and passions.
In modern times, the practice of MORTIFICATION has either decreased or manifests itself differently from bygone days.
penance (PEN-uhns). A punishment undertaken or imposed as repentance for a sin or wrongdoing.
As PENANCE, Matt chose to give up chocolate ice cream.
retribution (ret-ruh-BYOO-shun). Punishment (as from God) for past wrongdoing.
Some saw the Mafia don’s debilitating illness as a form of divine retribution for a life of crime.
sanction (SANGK-shun). A penalty as discipline or punishment.
The United Nations imposes SANCTIONS on countries that violate international rules or regulations.
amerce (uh-MERSS). To punish, especially to punish with a monetary amount set by a court.
Barbara always watches her speed since she was AMERCED to the tune of a week’s pay.
dispensation (dis-puhn-SAY-shun). A release from obligation; special exemption or remission; the suspension of a statute for extenuating circumstances.
Fortunately for him, William received a DISPENSATION and he was able to complete the building although it violated use restrictions of the town.
impunity (im-PYOO-nih-tee). Freedom from punishment or penalty.
We cannot let such an act of naked aggression stand with IMPUNITY.