(VUR-dant), adjective
Lush with trees, bushes, ferns, and other green foliage.
bucolic (byoo-KALL-ik). A peaceful, serene, rural object, place, or environment.
We bought a weekend place in a BUCOLIC little village in the country.
effusive (eh-FEW-siv). Profuse and overflowing, without reservation.
In an effort to butter up the senator, the lobbyist was transparently EFFUSIVE in his praise of the new bill.
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
jocund (JOE-kund). Having a lust for life; possessing a positive attitude and desire to enjoy life to the fullest.
Ron’s JOCUND façade shattered when he found himself the victim of identity theft.
fecundity (Fe-KUN-di-tee). A person, organization, resource, or activity that is exceptionally productive, creative, fertile, or fruitful.
“Blistering heat suddenly took the place of Carboniferous moisture and FECUNDITY.”—Simon Winchester, British author and journalist
fruition (froo-ISH-un). The completion of a task; the achievement of a goal as the result of significant and persistent effort.
John Nash, a mathematician whose life was featured in A Beautiful Mind, received the Nobel Prize for the FRUITION of his work in game theory decades after he completed it.
renaissance (REN-ah-sonce). A period of great learning, thinking, and creativity—in art, literature, science, economics, and philosophy.
We were so pleased by the RENAISSANCE of wealth acquisition that arose during the closing years of the twentieth century.
defoliate (dee-FOH-lee-ayt). To strip bare of leaves.
During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military DEFOLIATED large parts of the country.
hoary (HOAR-ee). Impressively old; ancient.
“Feminism has tried to dismiss the femme fatale as a misogynist libel, a HOARY cliché. But the femme fatale expresses women’s ancient and eternal control of the sexual realm.”—Camille Paglia, American author, feminist, and social critic
stagnation (stag-NAY-shin). The condition of being inactive or the slowing of forward progress or lessening of activity.
“Economists’ statistical techniques are not refined enough to analyze unambiguously the causes of this long-term STAGNATION.”—Jeff Madrick, director of policy research at the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis, The New School.
(VUR-choo-us), adjective
Having or characterized by righteousness or moral virtue.
exemplary (ig-ZEM-pluh-ree). Serving as an example or model; worth imitating by others.
William’s EXEMPLARY behavior was repeated so frequently and embellished so enthusiastically, that the rest of us eventually turned to a life of crime.
inculpable (in-KUHL-puh-bull). Blameless; guiltless.
Because John wasn’t at the drinking party, he was deemed INCULPABLE.
seraphic (si-RAF-ik). Characteristic of a seraph; angelic.
Underneath her SERAPHIC appearance, Marjorie actually had a heart of gold.
probity (proh-bi-tee). Integrity; uprightness in one’s dealings with others; complete honesty.
The new parents were convinced that by setting a good example, their child would grow up to embrace the virtues of cleanliness and PROBITY.
rectitude (REHK-ti-tood). Conduct according to moral principles; moral virtue; strict honesty; rightness.
“The mind that’s conscious of its RECTITUDE, / Laughs at the lies of rumor.”—Ovid, Roman poet
veracious (vuh-RAY-shuss). Honest; truthful.
Your Honor, I ask that the defense’s assertion that none of the prosecution’s witnesses are VERACIOUS be stricken from the record.
nefarious (nih-FAIR-ee-us). Inherently evil, malicious, and unjust.
“Only a government that is rich and safe can afford to be a democracy, for democracy is the most expensive and NEFARIOUS kind of government ever heard of on earth.”—Mark Twain, American humorist and writer
peccadillo (pek-uh-DIL-oh). A slight offense; trifling fault, indiscretion.
Bob knew that shoplifting the package of gum was just a PECCADILLO, but his secret tormented him for his entire adult life.
(VIZ-aj), noun
Face or overall appearance.
countenance (KOWN-teh-nanss). Appearance, particularly the expression on one’s face.
Cervantes’s Don Quixote is sometimes referred to as the Knight of the Doleful COUNTENANCE.
face (FAYSS). The front part of the head, including the forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks, mouth, and chin. One’s facial expression.
Your FACE reminds me of the expressions on classical statues from ancient Greece. Your expression is timeless.
mien (MEEN). A person’s look or manner.
Dan’s country-bumpkin MIEN effectively hides his shrewd business tactics.
physiognomy (fizz-ee-AH-no-mee). One’s face as an expression of one’s character. The features of your face that show what kind of a person you are.
”You’re either sexy or you’re not. I’m very self-conscious about my PHYSIOGNOMY.”—Bobby Darin, American singer
tête-à-tête (TET-ah-tet). A face-to-face meeting.
Some of us had begun to believe that our servants were pilfering from us, so we sat down with the allegedly guilty parties and had a TÊTE-À-TÊTE.
envisage (en-VIZ-ij). To envision, imagine, or create a mental picture.
“I don’t ENVISAGE collectivism. There is no such animal, it is always individualism.”—Gertrude Stein, American author
overlook (OH-ver-LUK). Don’t notice, either unintentionally or, more often, intentionally.
Robert was so devoted to his two-year-old son that he tended to OVERLOOK the boy’s exhibitions of spoiled brattiness.
androgynous (Ann-DRAH-gen-us). Something or someone who is sexless; of indeterminate sex; or hermaphrodite (having characteristics of both a male and a female).
The models at fashion week were so ANDROGYNOUS that Katherine couldn’t tell if the clothes were designed for men or women.
efface (ih-FAYSS). To erase, obliterate, make inconspicuous.
“It is also true that one can write nothing readable unless one constantly struggles to EFFACE one’s own personality. Good prose is like a windowpane.”—George Orwell, British author