(KAHF-kah-esk), adjective
Related to, typical of, or similar to the work of Franz Kafka, a writer whose novels and plays were complicated and disturbing; overly complex, seemingly pointless, and impersonal.
arbitrary (AR-bih-trayr-ee). Based solely on personal wishes, feelings, or perceptions, not on objective facts, reasons, or principles; chosen or determined at random; decided on discretion of an individual judge or court, rather than any pre-existing rule of law.
Lynne thought her parents’ rules about dating were ARBITRARY, for they were not like any her friends had to follow.
clandestine (klan-DESS-tin). Pertaining to activities that are secret, covert, and perhaps not fully authorized or sanctioned.
“CLANDESTINE steps upon imagined stairs / Climb through the night, because his cuckoos call.” —Wallace Stevens, American poet
esoteric (eh-suh-TARE-ik). Intended to be understood by a select and initiated few; secret or highly confidential.
ESOTERIC historians are not overly popular among college freshmen, but senior history majors tend to like them.
inane (in-ANE). Pointless or lacking in substance; empty; vacuous.
Among other INANE suggestions, Jeff proposed painting the lunchroom in a polka-dot pattern.
opaque (oh-PAYK). Impenetrable to light; hard to understand; obscure.
“The bottom of being is left logically OPAQUE to us, as something which we simply come upon and find, and about which (if we wish to act) we should pause and wonder as little as possible.” —William James, American psychologist and philosopher
bureaucracy (byoo-RAH-kruh-see). The concentration of power and authority in administrative bodies; an administrative body; a group of nonelective government officials.
The student government turned into an inefficient BUREAUCRACY, not a group representing the interests of its constituents.
catch-22 (KATCH twen-tee-TOO). A problem whose only solution is eliminated by some aspect of the problem itself; a situation that is illogical and self-contradictory.
The absent-minded professor created a CATCH-22 for the teaching assistant by requiring him to be certified before taking on any students while at the same time refusing to grant certification until he had experience teaching students.
circumlocution (sir-kum-low-KYOO-shun). Evasiveness in speech or writing; the use of excess language to avoid saying something directly or truthfully; overblown and tedious writing or speech.
The use of CIRCUMLOCUTION can lengthen term papers and help students meet a predetermined word count or page requirement, but it can also often lead to lower grades.
enigma (ih-NIG-ma). Someone or something that is not easily explained; that which is puzzling, perplexing, inexplicable, or ambiguous.
The Mona Lisa’s smile is probably the most popular ENIGMA in the world.
hierarchy (HIGH-uh-rahr-key). A pecking order or ranking according to status or level of authority.
In the HIERARCHY of the military, a medical doctor, who is assigned the rank of captain but is not a military man, automatically outranks a lieutenant, who may have years of battle experience.
labyrinth (LAB-uh-rinth). A maze or maze-like structure. In Greek mythology, the maze designed by Daedalus for King Minos of Crete to confine the Minotaur.
The hallways of the new high school seemed like a LABYRINTH to the new freshmen.
befuddle (bih-FUH-dil). To confuse, mystify, or confound; to make someone inebriated and/or unable to think clearly.
The absent-minded professor’s lectures so BEFUDDLED the students that they were quickly as confused as he was.
enmesh (en-MESH). To involve, entangle, or implicate someone in a way that makes it hard for him to extricate himself. Literally, to catch with a mesh net.
When Julie got home, she was immediately ENMESHED in the raging argument between her brother and sister.
elucidate (ih-LOO-si-dayt). To explain, clarify, or provide key information; to throw light on and clarify a subject.
“It [was] the mission of the twentieth century to ELUCIDATE the irrational.” — Maurice Merleau-Ponty, French philosopher
judicious (joo-DISH-us). Showing wisdom, good sense, or discretion, often with the intention of avoiding trouble or waste.
Since his earlier troubles, Johan has been very JUDICIOUS whenever he parties with friends.
(KYND), adjective
Possessing sympathetic or generous qualities; of a benevolent nature.
avuncular (A-VUNG-kyew-ler). Tolerant; genial; like an uncle.
Myron’s AVUNCULAR personality makes women think of him as a friend, not as a lover.
beneficent (beh-NEF-ih-sent). Magnanimous in action, purpose, or speech.
In a BENEFICENT gesture, the neighborhood raised $10,000 to help pay for the young boy’s leukemia treatments.
benevolent (beh-NEV-uh-lent). Characterized by feelings of charity and good will.
The BENEVOLENT behavior of the wealthy sometimes appears insincere when it is widely publicized.
benign (bih-NYN). Kindly, gentle, generous of spirit, not harmful.
“The universe seems neither BENIGN nor hostile, merely indifferent.” —Carl Sagan, American astronomer and writer
magnanimous (mag-NAN-ih-muss). Forgiving; unselfish; noble.
“In a serious struggle there is no worse cruelty than to be MAGNANIMOUS at an inopportune time.” —Leon Trotsky, Bolshevik revolutionary and Marxist theorist
bonhomie (bon-uh-MEE). A good-natured, genial manner.
Even though he has no family pedigree, Walker is accepted into our group because of his contagious BONHOMIE.
malevolent (muh-LEV-uh-luhnt). Wishing harm or evil to others; having ill will; malicious.
“Writers take words seriously . . . and they struggle to steer their own through the crosswinds of meddling editors and careless typesetters and obtuse and MALEVOLENT reviewers into the lap of the ideal reader.” —John Updike, American writer
malignant (muh-LIG-nuhnt). Having an evil influence; wishing evil; very harmful.
“Doubtless criticism was originally benignant, pointing out the beauties of a work rather than its defects. The passions of men have made it MALIGNANT.” — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet
(kih-NEH-tik), adjective
Pertaining to, caused by, or producing motion.
incendiary (in-SEN-dee-ayr-ee). Inflammatory or exciting; deliberately provocative.
Adam’s INCENDIARY remarks about my mother’s parentage resulted in a bloody nose for him and a night in jail for me.
catalyst (KAT-uhl-ist). Something that increases the rate of a chemical reaction; a person or thing that makes a change happen or initiates a process of events.
Together, alcohol and automobiles serve as CATALYSTS for trouble among teenagers.
exigency (EK-sih-jen-see). An urgent situation requiring immediate action or attention; an unexpected development that puts pressure on those involved.
“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
gizmo (GIZZ-moe). An overly complicated device, usually mechanical.
Justin’s father is always designing and building GIZMOS that cost more than things he could get from the store.
libido (lih-BEE-doh). Sexual drive; the psychic and emotional energy associated with basic human instincts, including the sex drive.
The LIBIDO of adolescents is sometimes difficult to understand and control.
periodic table (peer-ee-AW-dick TAY-bull). The table that shows all known elements arranged according to their atomic numbers.
Many chemistry students are asked to memorize the PERIODIC TABLE.
quark (KWORK). An elementary particle; the smallest known quantity of matter.
It’s amazing how something as small as a QUARK can generate so much interest among physicists.
galvanize (GAL-vuh-nyz). To stimulate someone or something into action, especially muscle fibers by means of electric current. In a technical sense, to coat a metal with zinc to prevent corrosion.
The hardships of winter GALVANIZE the isolated residents of Maine to help one another whenever needed.
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.
lax (LAKS). Not strict, tight, or tense; not easily controlled; lacking attention to detail.
After the investigation it was concluded that Bob had been LAX when inspecting the bridge for structural faults.
lethargic (luh-THAR-jik). Sluggish; inactive to such a degree as to resemble sleep or unconsciousness.
After many long hours of work, Pat and Corey were LETHARGIC but still unable to call it a night.
(KIZ-met), noun
Fate or destiny.
ineffable (in-EFF-uh-bull). Something so fantastic, incredible, or difficult-to-grasp it cannot be described in words.
Poet Ezra Pound wrote of “the infinite and INEFFABLE quality of the British empire.”
afflatus (uh-FLAY-tuss). Inspiration that seems to come from divine origin.
The Nobel Prize–winning novelist attributed her abilities to AFFLATUS, rather than to her own abilities.
manifest destiny (MAN-ih-fest DESS-tin-ee). Expansion into foreign lands, justified as being necessary or benevolent.
“It’s not greed and ambition that makes wars—it’s goodness. Wars are always fought for the best of reasons, for liberation or MANIFEST DESTINY, always against tyranny and always in the best interests of humanity.” —James Garner in The Americanization of Emily
predestination (pre-dess-tih-NAY-shun). The belief that we do not have free will and that our lives and destinies are preordained and beyond our control.
The problem with PREDESTINATION is that whatever happens, you can say that it was meant to be, and no one can prove you wrong.
haphazard (hap-HA-zurd). Happening or done in a way not planned; irregular; governed by chance. Something not guided by a regular or predetermined method.
After several rounds using a HAPHAZARD approach to his golf game, Mark decided that lessons were definitely in order.
(kao-TAO), verb
To give in to someone’s every wish; to grovel and behave in a subservient manner.
complaisant (kuhm-PLAY-zuhnt). Agreeable and eager to please.
Eleanor is far too COMPLAISANT with common strangers.
conciliatory (kon-SILL-ee-ah-tor-ee). Actions or words meant to settle a dispute or resolve a conflict in a manner that leaves no hard feelings on either side.
“If you are not very clever, you should be CONCILIATORY.” —Benjamin Disraeli, British statesman and literary figure
malleable (MAL-yuh-bull). Easily molded into different shapes; easily influenced to change one’s opinion or actions.
“I did not know that mankind was suffering for want of gold. I have seen a little of it. I know that it is very MALLEABLE, but not so MALLEABLE as wit.” — Henry David Thoreau, American author and transcendentalist
appeasement (uh-PEEZ-meant). The act of making others happy by agreeing to their demands.
Charlene realized too late that her policy of APPEASEMENT might please Warren, but it would not cause him to treat her with more respect.
capitulation (kuh-pitch-uh-LAY-shun). The act of surrendering or giving up.
Ross offered James no CAPITULATION during the confrontational lacrosse game.
homage (HOM-ij). Show of reverence, honor, and respect; a formal public acknowledgment, reverence, allegiance, or honor.
By visiting the lacrosse hall of fame, the team paid HOMAGE to the sport they played.
zealot (ZEL-it). A rabid follower; a true believer; a fanatical advocate.
“What a noble aim is that of the ZEALOT who tortures himself like a madman in order to desire nothing, love nothing, feel nothing, and who, if he succeeded, would end up a complete monster!” —Denis Diderot, French philosopher
abjure (ab-JOOR). To renounce, repudiate, or give up one’s previously held beliefs; to solemnly swear off or recant.
When taking the U.S. oath of citizenship, one must ABJURE allegiance to any other nation.
assuage (uh-SWAYJ). To ease; to make less severe; to mitigate.
“But history must not yet tell the tragedies enacted here; let time intervene in some measure to ASSUAGE and lend an azure tint to them.” —Henry David Thoreau, American author and transcendentalist
propitiate (pro-PISH-ee-ayt). To win over; to gain the approval and admiration of.
“The life that went on in [many of the street’s houses] seemed to me made up of evasions and negations; shifts to save cooking, to save washing and cleaning, devices to PROPITIATE the tongue of gossip.” —Willa Cather, American author
anathema (uh-NATH-uh-muh). Someone or something that is greatly disliked, detested, or shunned; one that is cursed, denounced, or excommunicated by a religious authority.
The events of the Holocaust are ANATHEMA to all moral and civilized human beings.
intransigent (in-TRAN-zih-jent). Stubborn; refusing to consider opinions other than one’s own.
“Lamont stared for a moment in frustration but Burt’s expression was a clearly INTRANSIGENT one now.” —Isaac Asimov, Russian-born American author and biochemist