(VUR-dant), adjective
Lush with trees, bushes, and other green foliage.
bucolic (byoo-KALL-ik). Expressive of rural serenity and charm.
We bought a weekend place in a BUCOLIC little village.
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
(ver-NAK-you-lur), noun
The everyday language of people as spoken in a particular country or region, in contrast to the official or formal language.
idiomatic (ih-dee-uh-MAT-ik). Characteristic of a phrase whose usage is peculiar to a particular language, in terms of grammar or meaning.
For the recent immigrant from Brazil, the IDIOMATIC character of many American expressions was very confusing.
connotation (KAH-noh-TAY-shun). The implied, figurative, or suggested additional meaning of a word or phrase, apart from the literal dictionary meaning.
As society changes, the CONNOTATIONS of particular words also change, and what was once an appropriate word sometimes becomes politically incorrect.
cultural literacy (KULCH-uhr-ul LIH-tuh-reh-see). The information authors assume readers have at certain stages of education; the educational background necessary for effective communication of ideas.
The debate regarding CULTURAL LITERACY and its part in our elementary and secondary school curricula continues to this day.
etymology (eh-tih-MAH-luh-jee). The study of word origins and how words have evolved into their current forms or meanings. The lineage of a word; description of origin and how the word came into its current use.
Those who have studied Greek or Latin can make educated and often correct guesses regarding a word’s ETYMOLOGY.
lexicon (LEK-sih-kawn). A dictionary composed for a specific, narrowly defined or professional audience; the vocabulary associated with a specific discipline or group.
The LEXICON of rap music seems a different language to many parents, but it is an adaptation of street English.
locution (low-KEW-shin). A phrase or expression typically used by a group of people; style of speaking. Also, a particular word, expression, or phrase.
Because Jacqueline was unfamiliar with this group’s particular LOCUTIONS, much of what they said was odd to her.
polyglot (PAW-lee-glot). A writing or other communication in more than one language; someone fluent in multiple languages.
Jordan left for overseas study an enthusiastic student of languages, and she returned a POLYGLOT, able to speak Spanish, English, and French.
semantics (suh-MAN-tiks). The study of how language conveys meaning; an excessive focus on the way something is phrased rather than what it says.
The coach’s urging to “play aggressive” rather than “hurt the opponents” was a matter of SEMANTICS, and its interpretation depended on which team you wanted to win.
confabulate (kuhn-FAB-yuh-layt). To chat or discuss something informally; to indulge in engaging, extravagant storytelling. Also, to invent and believe stories to fill mental gaps due to memory loss or dementia.
The two drivers stopped the flow of traffic east and west in order to CONFABULATE about who had caused the accident.
abstruse (ab-STROOCE). Arcane, complex, difficult to understand and learn.
After the first few classes, Jack thought that calculus was an ABSTRUSE collection of ideas.
(VIZ-aj), noun
Face or overall appearance.
countenance (KOWN-teh-nenss). 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 neighborhood children 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-LOOK). 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.
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
(voh-SIH-fur-rayt), verb
To shout something out loudly; to make a noisy exclamation, demanding attention.
garrulous (GAR-uh-lus). Excessively talkative; using many, many too many words.
Drunks are often described as GARRULOUS, since they tend to latch onto the nearest person and start babbling incoherently.
avowal (uh-VOW-uhl). A frank and open admission or statement.
The teachers’ AVOWAL of support for the students accused of cheating shocked almost everyone in the school.
diatribe (DYE-uh-trybe). A speech railing against injustice; a vehement denunciation.
The editorial was a mean-spirited DIATRIBE against school vouchers, written to prevent children from other towns from being sent by bus to Centerville High School.
oratory (ORE-uh-tor-ee). The art of speaking in public with style, knowledge, grace, and eloquence. It can also mean a pompous, boring, or inappropriately long speech.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s ORATORY lives well into the present day.
polemic (puh-LEH-mik). An aggressive argument against or refutation of the opinions of another; a person who argues in opposition to another; controversialist.
“He had a strong will and a talent for POLEMIC.” —Saul Bellow, American author
utterance (UH-ter-runts). Something vocalized; a word or sound spoken aloud. A style of speaking.
How proud they were that the baby’s first UTTERANCE sounded like “Daddy.”
bluster (BLUSS-ter). To speak loudly, arrogantly, and boisterously; to behave in a bullying way; to blow in loud gusts, as in the wind.
Senators filibuster while bullies BLUSTER, and both verbal strategies yield little action.
exhort (ig-ZORT). To urge; to plead with, usually in an attempt to warn or advise.
“The function of the moralist is not to EXHORT men to be good but to elucidate what the good is.” —Walter Lippmann, American journalist
fulminate (FUL-mih-nayt). To criticize or denounce loudly, dramatically, and forcefully. Also, to detonate an explosion.
Edmond FULMINATED against the bill on the floor of the Senate, but he knew he did not have the votes to defeat it.
ambivalent (am-BIH-vuh-lent). Uncertain, with mixed or conflicted feelings; of two minds regarding a potential course of action.
Although he was AMBIVALENT about both candidates, when the election day came, Gregory made his choice and cast his ballot.
taciturn (TASS-ih-turn). Quiet, of few words; regularly uncommunicative or reserved in manner and speech; avoiding conversation.
Kenny was concerned that Emily’s father’s TACITURN nature indicated he disapproved of their dating.