(WAFE), noun
A stray person or animal.
bereft (beh-REFT). Lacking a certain characteristic, possession, or trait; isolated and lonely.
“A woman moved is like a fountain troubled. / Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, BEREFT of beauty, / And while it is so, none so dry or thirsty / Will deign to sip or touch one drop of it.”—William Shakespeare
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 from $25,000 to $20,000 per month.
Lilliputian (lil-ee-PEW-shun). Small in stature; tiny in comparison to one’s peers.
Jules Vern’s LILLIPUTIAN appearance made people treat him like a child.
pusillanimous (pyoo-suh-LAN-ih-muss). Being mild or timid by nature; a shrinking violet; a person who seeks to avoid conflict, challenge, and danger.
Frank L. Baum’s most PUSILLANIMOUS fictional creation is the Cowardly Lion of Oz.
wan (WAHN). 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
gamine (gah-MEEN). A girl with a boyish demeanor and mischievous nature who is somehow still appealing.
Her GAMINE behavior and looks only made her that much more attractive to teenage boys her age.
paucity (PAW-city). A lack of something, a small supply or limited selection.
“It is very strange, and very melancholy, that the PAUCITY of human pleasures should persuade us ever to call hunting one of them.”—Samuel Johnson, British moralist and poet
debilitate (dih-BILL-uh-tayt). To make weak or feeble.
Several hours on the polo fields are enough to DEBILITATE even the most robust player.
ostracize (OS-truh-size). To exclude from society, friendship, community, etc.
Once we learned that Sasha had been planting stories about us in the society pages, we, of course, had to OSTRACIZE her permanently from our group.
scarify (SKAIR-ih-fy). To wound with harsh criticism.
We deemed it necessary to SCARIFY Eileen for having the nerve to criticize our fashion sense.
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
insouciant (in-SOO-see-unt). Acting as if one has not a care in the world; free of worry and angst.
We are never INSOUCIANT about our wealth because we must work at all times to ensure its protection.
vivacious (vy-VAY-shuss). Joyful; happy, spirited; possession a positive attitude about and enthusiasm for life; a person who lives life to the fullest.
Even after her family maintained some steep revenue losses, Sandra retained her VIVACIOUS character.
(WAWRN), verb
To caution others about a danger, impending evil, misfortune, etc.; to urge or advise to exercise care; caution.
premonitory (preh-MAHN-ih-tor-ee). Strongly indicative of or intuiting that something is going to happen.
The Harrisons sold their stock in that company because they had a PREMONITORY vision that the company would soon go bankrupt.
caveat (KAV-ee-ott). A precaution or warning.
Before Arthur applied to college, his sister offered him a CAVEAT: “Many of us do not consider Columbia to be a true Ivy League school.”
harbinger (HAR-bin-jer). A forerunner or warning sign of a future event or trend.
The asteroid’s shadow blotted out the sun as it speeded on a collision course with Earth, a HARBINGER of impending doom.
portent (POR-tent). A warning sign that something bad is going to happen.
In Ray Bradbury’s novel Something Wicked This Way Comes, the carnival coming to town is a PORTENT of evil things to come.
admonish (ad-MON-ish). To warn; caution against specific faults; to advise; exhort.
On our first day, the counselor ADMONISHED all campers to avoid the poison ivy, the deep end of the lake, and the scrambled eggs.
betoken (bee-TOE-ken). To serve as a warning.
For Mary and Paul, the breakdown of their new car while they were still two hours away from their summer home BETOKENED a disastrous vacation.
presage (press-ij). To foretell or indicate.
Such provocation may PRESAGE armed conflict in the region.
dissemble (diss-SEM-bul). To act with an insincere or disguised motive.
Although many on the committee were convinced that the undersecretary was DISSEMBLING about how much he knew of rebel activities, there was no hard proof to support this view.
obscure (uhb-SKYOOR). To make unclear or conceal by confusing.
The official explanation OBSCURED the fact that a number of people had been hurt by using the product in the way it was intended.
(WAY-fair-ing), adjective
Traveling on foot.
circuitous (sir-CUE-uh-tuss). Extremely twisty and winding; indirect.
Blanche called it a shortcut, but her CIRCUITOUS directions caused us to arrive very late at the debutante ball.
peripatetic (per-ih-pa-TET-ik). Wandering from career to career, job to job, company to company, or place to place, seemingly without a clear goal or definiteness of purpose.
While waiting to receive his trust fund at age thirty, Giles lived a PERIPATETIC lifestyle.
serpentine (SUR-pen-teen). Snake like in shape or movement.
“For it is not possible to join SERPENTINE wisdom with columbine innocency, except men know exactly all the conditions of the serpent.”—Francis Bacon, English philosopher, author, and statesman
wanderlust (WON-dehr-lust). A strong and innate desire to travel far from home.
“In our WANDERLUST, we are lovers looking for consummation.”—Anatole Broyard, literary critic for the New York Times
meander (me-AN-duhr). To wander aimlessly.
We fired that particular servant because he MEANDERED far too slowly from task to task.
geostationary (JEE-oh-STAY-shin-air-ee). Pertaining to a satellite in orbit 22,300 miles above the Earth’s surface so that the satellite is always directly over the same spot of ground.
Arthur C. Clark was the first to propose that three GEOSTATIONARY satellites orbiting Earth could provide a global communications network effectively covering every location on the planet.
immutable (im-MYOO-tuh-bull). Unable, or unwilling, to change.
“I don’t know what IMMUTABLE differences exist between men and women apart from differences in their genitals.”—Naomi Weisstein, American feminist
insular (IN-suh-ler). Self-contained and therefore isolated from the world and unaffected by outside influences, usually to one’s detriment.
The Pricewaters moved from the family’s tradition enclave to a more INSULAR compound further up the coast.
sedentary (SED-n-tair-ee). Resting a great deal and taking little exercise.
All we have to do is hire a personal trainer if our SEDENTARY habits begin to have negative effects on our well-being.
(WEEK), adjective
Not strong; having no strength, stamina, vigor, power, etc.
anemic (uh-NEE-mik). Of or pertaining to a medical condition in which one’s blood is deficient in red corpuscles; extraordinarily weak.
I made a few ANEMIC efforts to get some work done last night, but I couldn’t really focus on the job at hand.
decrepit (di-KREP-it). Enfeebled or weakened by old age; worn out; infirm.
The car’s DECREPIT appearance was deceiving; Colin found it capable of 75 mph on the highway, and it got very good mileage.
flaccid (FLASS-id). Lacking firmness, stiffness, vigor, or force.
The candidate’s FLACCID speech left the listeners unimpressed.
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
pallid (PAL-id). A wan, sickly, washed-out appearance indicating illness or weakness, or lack of energy, strength, and vitality.
Many of us maintain a PALLID pallor because we want to make it clear that we do not need to go outdoors unless we so choose.
infirmity (in-FUR-mih-tee). A physical weakness or ailment; mental or moral weakness.
Randall, get over yourself. An ingrown toenail is annoying. It’s not an INFIRMITY. You cannot park in the handicapped spot!
lassitude (LASS-ih-tood). A lack of energy or motivation; weariness.
“We know what boredom is: it is a dull / Impatience or a fierce velleity, / A champing wish, stalled by our LASSITUDE, / To make or do.”—Richard Wilbur, American poet
attenuate (a-TEN-you-ayt). To weaken or reduce; spread thin; to cause a decrease in amount, value, power, or severity.
Jim’s strategy was to ATTENUATE the impact of Joan’s accusations of harassment by suggesting that she had somehow invited his overtures.
debilitate (dih-BIIL-ih-tayt). To enfeeble or weaken; to devitalize or deplete strength.
Fran’s DEBILITATING illness slowly sapped her will to live.
dilute (die-LOOT). To thin or weaken by adding additional ingredients; to reduce the force, strength, or effectiveness of.
Frederica never DILUTES her words. She’ll tell you exactly how she feels.
enervate (EN-ur-vayt). To weaken; to deprive of vitality, strength, or endurance.
The vacation’s whirlwind pace actually served to ENERVATE Madge.
omnipotent (ahm-NIP-uh-tuhnt). All powerful.
“An OMNIPOTENT God is the only being with no reason to lie.”—Mason Cooley, American author
puissant (PYOO-uh-suhnt). Powerful; mighty.
“Methinks I see in my mind a noble and PUISSANT nation rousing herself like a strong man after sleep, and shaking her invincible locks.”—John Milton, English poet and historian
(WURK), noun
Physical or mental effort exerted to do or make something; labor; toil; employment.
laborious (luh-BORE-ee-us). Requiring a great deal of hard work and perseverance.
Even though the years in school were LABORIOUS, they were worth the effort when I earned my PhD.
operose (OP-uh-roass). Laborious; tedious; industrious.
What’s the point of taking on OPEROSE work when our social connections help us to achieve success with little effort?
sedulous (SEJ-yuh-luss). Done or crafted with perseverance, diligence, and care.
The teen’s SEDULOUS labors at the desert site were rewarded by the discovery of triceratops bones in the third week of the dig.
yeoman (YOH-muhn). Pertaining to or one who performs arduous tasks in a loyal and workmanlike manner.
We promoted Helga to upstairs maid because of her YEOMAN work ethic.
métier (MAY-tee-yay). One’s occupation, profession, field of work, etc.
Since her family started one of Wall Street’s most profitable houses, it’s only natural that Ellen’s MÉTIER would be finance.
moil (MOYL). Hard, grinding work.
The MOIL of paperwork made Sheila long for early retirement.
sinecure (SIN-eh-KYOOR). A job or office without regular duties but with regular pay; a position requiring minimal labor but conveying prestige or status to one who holds it.
Being elected as the new president of his trade association bestowed on Bill a much-needed SINECURE.
travail (truh-VALE). Hard work, especially work causing physical pain; the labor of childbirth.
It is not surprising that, given the TRAVAILS of the long journey westward, some settlers opted to return East rather than try to make a life on the frontier.
lucubrate (LOO-kyoo-breyt). To work, study, or write laboriously, particularly at night.
A night owl, Phyllis always LUCUBRATED into the wee hours.
disport (dih-SPORT). To amuse oneself.
Felicia loved to DISPORT with the proprietors of her favorite boutiques by arguing over price.
diversion (dih-VUR-zhuhn). A pastime; amusement.
“Politics is the DIVERSION of trivial men who, when they succeed at it, become important in the eyes of more trivial men.”—George Jean Nathan, American journalist and critic
(WURTH-lis), adjective
Without value or worth; of no use or importance.
brummagem (BRUHM-uh-juhm). Describes something that looks great but performs poorly.
“Our press is certainly bankrupt in… reverence for nickel plate and BRUMMAGEM.”—Mark Twain
nugatory (NOO-guh-tore-ee). Trifling, worthless, and ineffective.
We spend our time with the NUGATORY pastimes of polo, tennis on grass courts, and weekends in Europe.
paltry (PAHL-tree). Trivial; insignificant; worthless.
The PALTRY sum found in the cash register made us regret having picked this store for our first robbery.
picayune (pik-ee-YOON). Petty; trifling or unimportant.
Mr. Franks apparently couldn’t be bothered with such PICAYUNE concerns as what color shirt to wear.
chaff (chaff). Worthless stuff; material to be cast away.
I usually write for an hour straight in my journal, knowing full well that much of what comes out will be drivel, and allowing myself to go back later and separate the wheat from the CHAFF.
cipher (SIE-fur). A person or thing without meaning or value; a mystery; literally, the mathematical symbol for zero.
Despite the best efforts of the intelligence community to gather evidence against him, Doctor Lysenko remained a CIPHER.
dregs (DREGS). The leftover, least appealing or valuable part.
Though many in her town looked on ex-convicts as the DREGS of society, it was Debbie’s job as a social worker to try to rehabilitate everyone who came through her door, regardless of past history.
gimcrack (JIHM-krack). A showy object of little or no value.
“Haul them off! Hide them! / The heart winces / For junk and GIMCRACK, / for jerrybuilt things.”—Richard Wilbur, American poet
inutility (in-yoo-TIL-ih-tee). Something that’s useless.
The puddle of oil beneath the car confirmed that it had become a very expensive INUTILITY.
kitsch (KIHCH). Art, artifacts, or other objects of a cheap or junky nature produced by the popular culture.
His room was filled with KITSCH: lava lamps, Farrah Fawcett and Cheryl Tiegs posters, and plastic models of Frankenstein and Dracula.
obsolescence (ob-suh-LESS-uhnts). The state of being no longer current or useful.
Roderick found, to his dismay, that some of the new Maserati models had lapsed into OBSOLESCENCE almost as soon as they hit the showroom floor.
trumpery (TRUHM-puh-ree). Something without value; a trifle.
The TRUMPERY that the Smythingtons collect and call “art” is, clearly, distasteful dreck.
marginalize (MAR-jin-ul-eyes). To dismiss something as less important than it actually is.
Francine has too many connections for us to snub her completely, but we have done our best to MARGINALIZE her influence.
nullify (NUHL-uh-fy). To make something valueless or ineffective.
We keep our collections under lock and key because, sometimes, merely breathing on them NULLIFIES their value.
heirloom (AIR-loom). A possession of commercial or sentimental value handed down from generation to generation.
As the oldest child, I was given the most precious family HEIRLOOM, our old grandfather clock, when my mother passed away.
valuation (val-you-AYE-shun). The calculated worth or value of an asset, based on a rigorous appraisal.
One of the accounting firm’s services is business VALUATION, which provides an accurate appraisal of what your business would sell for if acquired.
(RY-ting), noun
The act of a person who writes; something written, such as a book, letter, document, inscription, etc.
verbose (ver-BOHS). Describes a person or composition using more words than are needed to get the point across.
Long-winded and VERBOSE, Mitch made his team members groan whenever he stood up to speak at a charity event.
elegy (EL-eh-gee). A poem of lament and praise for the dead.
“Modern ELEGIES tend to be unconvincing because the poet so clearly believes in the immortality that an ELEGY traditionally claims for its subject.”—Edward Mendelson, Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University
kenning (KEN-ing). A metaphorical compound word or phrase, used often in epic poetry.
Cliff’s letter to Natasha included such KENNINGS as “pearl-eyed dove” and “crinkly gowned angel.” It’s no wonder she broke up with him soon after.
missive (MISS-iv). An official or formal letter.
He sent out a MISSIVE informing all employees that, henceforth, there would be no smoking in their quarters—but he forgot to remove the ashtrays.
passim (PASS-im). A word used to indicate that a given source or element is used frequently throughout a written work.
References to a fictitious writer named Kilgore Trout appear PASSIM in a number of Kurt Vonnegut’s novels.
verbiage (VER-bee-ij). Words; in particular, prose written to fill space and impress others rather than communicate ideas and information.
“There’s some white space on the back page of the sales brochure,” the marketing manager told his ad agency, “so let’s fill it with some VERBIAGE about service and quality.”
vers libre (VERSS-LEE-breh). Free verse, a style of poetry requiring no rhyme or meter.
H.L. Mencken observed that VERS LIBRE is “a device for making poetry easier to write and harder to read.”
elucubrate (ih-LOO-kyoo-brait). To produce a written work through lengthy, intensive effort.
Thanks to a few hundred bucks passed along to a classmate, Miles did not have to ELUCUBRATE a term paper and could, instead, attend parties with us.
euphuism (YOU-few-iz-im). Ornate, flowery, overly elaborate language, often making the exact meaning difficult to discern.
Felicia’s words are full of EUPHUISM, particularly when describing the architecture of her family’s various houses.
indite (in-DITE). To write or compose a literary work.
“But if, both for your love and skill, your name / You seek to nurse at fullest breasts of Fame, / Stella behold, and then begin to INDITE.”—Sir Philip Sidney, English courtier, soldier, and poet
limn (LIM). To outline in detail, portray in words.
With all of the expressive terms he could muster, the theologian proceeded to LIMN an exposition of the pious life.
paraphrase (PAIR-uh-frayz). A restatement of a text or passage with a new meaning or as a clarification.
To call this work a new translation of the original Greek texts is an overstatement; it is a capable, but by no means groundbreaking, effort to PARAPHRASE existing English editions.
legible (LEJ-uh-bull). Capable of being read.
John’s handwriting was LEGIBLE but his prose was incomprehensible.
peruse (puh-ROOZ). To read through with attention; to examine with an eye to detail.
The witness PERUSED the document for some time, then declared that it was not the one he had signed.
See also: Language