(FEYL), verb
To be lacking or deficient; to fall short of a goal or be unsuccessful.
founder (FOUN-der). To fail utterly or to become a complete wreck.
“Who would not rather FOUNDER in the fight / Than not have known the glory of the fray?”
—Richard Hovey, American poet
abortive (uh-BOR-tive). Unsuccessful or fruitless; not coming to fruition.
Although it was the astronauts’ failure to dock at the station that drew media attention, the ABORTIVE mission had many potentially more serious problems as well.
fallible (FAL-ih-bull). Capable of screwing up, making errors, or being wrong.
At a fairly young age children realize their parents are eminently FALLIBLE.
ignominious (ig-no-MIN-ee-us). Marked by failure or humiliation in public.
After his IGNOMINIOUS defeat in the election, Frank never ran for Congress again.
debacle (dih-BA-kull). Utter collapse or rout; a complete (often ludicrous) failure.
The initiative seemed promising enough, but turned out to be another of George’s DEBACLES.
dereliction (dare-uh-LIK-shun). Willful neglect; shirking of responsibility; the knowing failure to perform one’s duty.
The sergeant’s inaction that night led to troubling accusations of DERELICTION of duty.
fiasco (fee-ASS-koe). An utter and pathetic failure.
The failure of the administration to get the housing bill through Congress is only the latest in a series of legislative FIASCOS.
nonfeasance (non-FEEZ-unce). Failure to perform (a given duty).
The failure of the passersby to aid the injured woman was a heart rending example of urban apathy and NONFEASANCE.
underdog (UN-dur-dog). A person or entity expected to fail or to fare poorly.
San Diego, a decided UNDERDOG, somehow managed to pull out a win against the division-leading Miami team.
consummation (kon-suh-MEY-shun). The state of being consummated; fulfillment; perfection.
“The American Revolution was a beginning, not a CONSUMMATION.”
—Woodrow Wilson, American president
triumphant (trahy-UHM-fuhnt). Successful; victorious.
“I know nothing grander, better exercise, better digestion, more positive proof of the past, the triumphant result of faith in human kind, than a well-contested American national election.”
—Walt Whitman, American poet
(FAIR), adjective
Treating all sides alike, free from influence by outside or internal interests; unbiased.
disinterested (dis-IN-tuh-res-tid). Not influenced by personal motives or selfish interest; unbiased; impartial.
Kurt went out of his way to reinforce the reasons for his DISINTERESTED involvement in the project, but his ardor made us suspect that he stood to benefit from its outcome.
dispassionate (dis-PASH-uh-nit). Not affected or influenced by emotions; not influenced by personal involvement.
A referee must be DISPASSIONATE in order to officiate effectively.
egalitarian (ih-gal-uh-TARE-ee-uhn). To be fair and balanced in the extreme; to act in the belief that all men are created equal and should be treated so.
“Chinks in America’s EGALITARIAN armor are not hard to find. Democracy is the fig leaf of elitism.”
—Florence King, American author
equitable (EK-wih-tuh-bull). Free from bias; just to all involved.
The parties have reached what both sides believe to be an EQUITABLE settlement.
impartial (im-PAHR-shul). Not partial or biased; considering all equally; without favoritism.
The defendants were fortunate to have an IMPARTIAL judge presiding at their trial because they looked quite guilty.
nonpartisan (non-PAR-tih-zun). Not a member of a party (political group) or association; unbiased.
Although the commission was supposed to be NONPARTISAN, Martin knew for a fact that three of the members were dyed-in-the-wool Democrats who would never vote against the interests of their party.
objective (uhb-JEK-tiv). Unaffected by personal feelings or external influences; based on facts; unbiased.
Even though many of his minions did their best to sway the outcome, we could count on the general to issue completely OBJECTIVE directives.
biased (BYE-ussed). Predisposed to a particular view or direction; prejudiced.
“Of all the causes which conspire to blind Man’s erring judgment, and misguide the mind; What the weak head with strongest bias rules,—Is pride, the never-failing vice of fools.”
—Alexander Pope, English poet
iniquity (ih-NIK-wih-tee). Injustice or immoral action.
The many INIQUITIES suffered by American Indians at the hands of government authorities are only now being widely acknowledged.
See also: Independence
(FAWLS), adjective
Not correct or true; fake; deceptive; not genuine; erroneous.
ersatz (Er-ZATS). A phony, a fake, a counterfeit, an inferior copy, a pale imitation of an original.
Before his sentencing and jail term, the artist made an impressive living selling ERSATZ Rembrandt paintings.
factitious (fack-TISH-uss). Contrived; fabricated.
At first, we thought the rumor FACTITIOUS, but then we learned that couture-producer Hermes does, in fact, plan to design and market a helicopter.
fallacious (fuh-LAY-shus). An idea or conclusion based on one or more false assumptions.
Since my online subscriber list is double opt-in, accusing me of being a spammer is a wholly FALLACIOUS assumption.
faux (FOH). Fake; phony; artificial.
She wore a cheap second-hand dress and a FAUX pearl necklace made out of white beads.
sophistic (sahf-IS-tik). Sounding reasonable, yet patently false.
One can argue that what is learned in law school is largely the skill of making SOPHISTIC arguments that a jury can believe.
specious (SPEE-shus). Something that appears correct on the surface but is in fact wrong.
The judge summarily rejected the SPECIOUS arguments put forth by the defendant, which seemed to have no evidence to back them up.
spurious (SPYOOR-ee-us). False; inauthentic; not well thought out.
Every week I get SPURIOUS accusations of being a spammer even though my list is entirely double opt-in.
supposititious (suh-poz-ih-TISH-us). Substituted with the intent of deceiving or defrauding; counterfeit.
The SUPPOSITITIOUS documents looked genuine, even bearing the secret markings designed to prevent deception.
canard (kuh-NARD). A fabrication or unfounded story.
The claim that the president of the company is likely to resign soon has been thoroughly discredited, but you will still hear some members of the opposition spreading the CANARD.
fallacy (FAL-uh-see). A misconception; an erroneous perception; a deceit.
For some, childhood is a time of innocence; but it’s a FALLACY to say it is like this for all children.
feint (FAINT). A false advance or attack intended to catch an opponent off guard.
Jim made a FEINT with his left before decking his opponent with a fierce right cross.
subreption (sub-REP-shun). The dishonest misrepresentation or concealment of facts.
The board’s report was replete with statistics but as a summary of the situation was a complete SUBREPTION.
gainsay (GANE-say). To declare false; to oppose or contradict.
The principles of the Bill of Rights, Mr. Secretary, will admit no GAINSAYING.
misconstrue (miss-kuhn-STROO). To misinterpret or to take in a wrong sense.
The disagreement over the price of the yacht was due merely to the fact that David MISCONSTRUED the terms of the offer.
unerring (uhn-UR-ing). Consistently accurate; invariably precise or correct.
“The British public has always had an UNERRING taste for ungifted amateurs.”
—John Osborne, British playwright
veracious (vuh-RAY-shuss). Honest; truthful.
Many readers of a novel will feel cheated and complain if it fails to provide a VERACIOUS account of fictional circumstances.
See also: Mistake
(FYTE), verb
To be involved in a physical struggle or battle; to try to overcome someone or something; contend.
bellicose (BELL-ih-kose). Belligerent, surly, ready to argue or fight at the slightest provocation.
Doug is so touchy about his new Jaguar that he’ll instantly turn BELLICOSE if you so much as brush against it.
belligerent (buh-LIJ-er-ent). Aggressive or pugnacious; eager to instigate a fight.
Don became overbearing and BELLIGERENT with his employees after his divorce, causing many of them to resign.
internecine (in-ter-NEH-seen). Involving or relating to conflict within a group.
The INTERNECINE conflict became so intense that it prevented the board from functioning.
pugnacious (pug-NAY-shus). Inclined to fight or quarrel; belligerent; quarrelsome.
Teenagers are PUGNACIOUS by nature: If I say “no,” he invariably asks “why?”
truculent (TRUK-you-lent). Belligerent; argumentative; always ready for a fight.
Short-tempered and TRUCULENT, Lucy could be set off by the slightest incident or comment.
donnybrook (DAHN-ee-brook). A free-for-all, knock-down, drag-out fight.
Police expected a DONNYBROOK at the protest march, but both those for and those against the issue were peaceful and courteous.
guerrilla (guh-RILL-uh). A member of an informal group of fighters that attacks enemies with surprise raids, sabotage, booby traps, etc.
The nation’s army could not defeat the GUERRILLAS, who seemed to swoop down invisibly from the mountains, wreak havoc, then disappear.
pugilist (PYOO-juh-list). A person who fistfights; a boxer.
Finally, the two PUGILISTS stepped into the ring; the match was about to begin.
sciamachy (sahy-AM-uh-kee). Fighting with imaginary enemies; a sham fight.
Arthur refused to believe that we supported him; believing the worst, he engaged in a SCIAMACHY of his own making.
conciliatory (kon-SILL-ee-ah-tore-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 statesmen and literary figure
harmony (HAHR-muh-nee). Agreement in feeling, action, ideas, interests, etc.; peaceable or friendly relations.
“With an eye made quiet by the power of HARMONY, and the deep power of joy, we see into the life of things.”
—William Wordsworth, English poet
(FLAWS), noun
An imperfection or defect that impairs the quality of and detracts from one’s character.
Achilles’ heel (uh-KILL-eez HEEL). A vulnerable point.
Bob was a hard worker, but he often lost jobs because of his ACHILLES’ HEEL, his temper.
bibliomania (bib-lee-oh-MAY-nee-uh). A preoccupation with the acquisition and ownership of books.
Lauren’s BIBLIOMANIA extends only to her stockpile of catalogs for exclusive shops.
foible (FOY-bull). A small flaw, weakness, or defect.
For all his flaws and FOIBLES, Richard Nixon was perhaps the most effective President on foreign policy in the twentieth century.
histrionics (hiss-tree-AHN-iks). Over-the-top, unnecessarily dramatic behavior.
“Enough with the HISTRIONICS!” his mother scolded, immediately shutting off the flow of tears and silencing his bawling.
hypocrisy (hi-POK-ruh-see). Pretending to be something one is not, or pretending, for the sake of appearance, to have high moral beliefs; pretense.
In Marilyn’s view, a marriage counselor who advises others to live up to the ideal of fidelity but who cheats on his own wife exemplifies the worst kind of HYPOCRISY.
schadenfreude (SHAH-dun-froy-duh). Satisfaction or pleasure felt at the misfortune of another.
Wilson’s conviction on perjury charges set off a festival of SCHADENFREUDE among his many conservative detractors.
bibulous (BIB-yuh-luss). Related to drinking or to drunkenness.
Arthur thinks he’s “fine,” but his BIBULOUS activities are causing the club to consider permanent expulsion.
bilious (BILL-yuss). Having a nasty temperament or disagreeable disposition; to be “full of bile” and hatred.
The polo team’s BILIOUS captain made his team miserable as he proceeded to criticize their every move.
bumptious (BUMP-shuss). Overbearing or crudely assertive; overly pushy or impertinent.
We had difficulty crossing the border because Nan got into a squabble with a BUMPTIOUS border guard.
capricious (Kah-PREE-shus). Prone to quickly change one’s mind, decision, or course of action at the drop of a hat or on impulse.
“I do not understand the CAPRICIOUS lewdness of the sleeping mind.”
—John Cheever, American novelist
captious (KAP-shus). Fond of finding faults in others; ill-natured and overly critical; carping.
Ed’s CAPTIOUS remarks were entirely inappropriate and showed his lack of self-esteem.
churlish (CHUR-lish). Surly; mean; boorish; rude; characterized by a lack of civility or graciousness.
We found it almost impossible to believe that Diane’s new boyfriend was more CHURLISH than his predecessor.
déclassé (day-klass-AY). Of a fallen social position or inferior status.
Jean thought her imitation designer bag looked exactly like the real thing, but the other girls in her exclusive private school quickly ridiculed Jean—and her bag—for being DÉCLASSÉ.
desultory (DEH-sul-tor-ee). Lacking guidance or progressing randomly; aimless; fitful.
Unable to believe it was his last day on the job, Bill’s DESULTORY thoughts wandered through his mind.
effete (eh-FEET). Decadent and lacking in vigor due to decadence or self-indulgence.
The Eddingtons donated one of their serving sets to charity, so only the truly EFFETE would deign to label the family as snobs.
farouche (fuh-ROOSH). Unsociable; cranky; withdrawn; fierce.
Your FAROUCHE behavior will not win you any friends. In fact, it will simply alienate you from everyone.
gauche (GOHSH). Sorely lacking in the social graces and good manners; crude behavior.
Rhett was under the impression that one needed only money to join the country club. However, his GAUCHE demeanor caused him to be denied membership.
hapless (HAP-liss). Luckless; unfortunate.
Oliver presented a rather HAPLESS figure during his first few days on the job, but he soon mastered his new responsibilities.
hidebound (HIDE-bound). Inflexible and holding narrow opinions.
Arthur can be rather HIDEBOUND when pontificating on the virtues of the classic era versus the condition of the automobile industry at present.
jaundiced (JAWN-dist). Demonstrating prejudice, due to envy or resentment.
The Blythingtons’ JAUNDICED view of our dinner parties is due to their financial inability to entertain so lavishly.
maladroit (mal-uh-DROIT). Lacking adroitness; inept; awkward.
Ernie came in for a lot of teasing for his MALADROIT negotiations with the used car dealer.
parasitic (pair-uh-SIT-ick). Describes something or—more often—someone who acts like a parasite and lives off of another while doing little if anything useful.
My PARASITIC brother-in-law said he was just going to stay with us until he got back on his feet, but he’s been sitting around on our couch for nearly a month now!
pedantic (puh-DAN-tik). Intellectually showy or overblown; making a great display of knowledge; overly concerned with formal rules.
I found James’s PEDANTIC manner quite condescending.
ungainly (un-GANE-lee). Graceless.
Wilma, who had always thought of herself as UNGAINLY, was surprised at the ease with which she and Clive moved across the dance floor.
impeccable (im-PEK-uh-buhl). Without defect or error; faultless; flawless.
“No office anywhere on earth is so puritanical, IMPECCABLE, elegant, sterile or incorruptible as not to contain the yeast for at least one affair, probably more.”
—Helen Gurley Brown, American editor
paragon (PARE-uh-gone). A peerless model or pattern of perfection.
“What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculty, in form and moving how express and admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god—the beauty of the world, the PARAGON of animals!”
—William Shakespeare
(FOODS), noun
Substances consumed by eating or drinking for nourishment, to provide energy, to sustain life, or promote growth.
aperitif (uh-pair-uh-TEEF). An alcoholic beverage consumed before a meal.
The clock struck six o’clock and the guests at the dinner party were served APERITIFS.
bisque (BISK). A thick and creamy soup made with meat, fish, or shellfish.
Mom didn’t care what else was on the menu, as long as the restaurant offered lobster BISQUE.
bouillabaisse (BOO-yuh-base). A stew made from various kinds of fish, usually shellfish.
After Uncle Charlie helped us clean the fish and clams we’d caught, Aunt Pattie showed us how to make her famous BOUILLABAISSE.
compote (KOM-poat). A stewed fruit and sugar dessert.
In addition to an unidentifiable brownish meat in a dark, concealing sauce, many of the TV dinners I ate as a child included a rather leaden strawberry COMPOTE.
grenadine (GREN-uh-deen). A pomegranate-flavored syrup used in preparing mixed drinks.
Ted had planned to make tequila sunrises for the party, but as he had no GRENADINE to add a hint of red, he called the drinks “tequila sunbursts.”
gruel (GROOL). A thin, soup-like dish made from cooked cereal or grain.
In one of the most memorable scenes Dickens ever wrote, young Oliver Twist loses a lottery among the workhouse boys and must ask for an unprecedented second helping of GRUEL.
haggis (HAG-iss). A dish originating in Scotland made by combing the diced heart, liver, and lungs of a sheep or cow with onions, suet, oatmeal, and seasonings, and placing the mixture into the animal’s stomach, and boiling it.
Ivan had been enjoying the HAGGIS Mrs. MacIntyre had prepared for him until he asked her how it was made.
hardtack (HARD-tak). A hard biscuit once common in the rations of sailors and soldiers. Hardtack did not spoil—a major logistical benefit.
By the end of the war, the Union soldiers were thoroughly sick of the HARDTACK and vegetable soup that had been the mainstay of their diet.
jambalaya (jam-buh-LIE-uh). A spicy Cajun dish featuring rice cooked with ham, sausage, chicken, shrimp, or oysters, and seasoned with herbs.
Anna had so much ham left over from Easter dinner that she decided to try to whip up a JAMBALAYA.
marzipan (MAR-zuh-pan). A popular candy made from almonds, egg whites, and sugar, often molded into the shapes of animals.
In Europe it is quite common to decorate a Christmas tree with edible decorations, including gingerbread men, MARZIPAN animals, and miniature fruitcakes.
petit four (PET-ee FORE). A small decorated cake. Plural: petits fours.
Aunt Marcia always served tea and PETITS FOURS at three o’clock.
quahog (KO-hog). An edible clam found off of the Atlantic coastline of North America.
Every summer Grandpa would take us to his beach house in Maine, where we’d fish and dig for QUAHOGS in the quiet hours before dawn.
sake (SAH-kee). A wine-like Japanese beverage made with fermented rice.
When he returned from California, my father and I dined on sushi and drank warm SAKE at his favorite Japanese restaurant.
tangelo (TAN-juh-lo). A kind of citrus fruit; hybrid of a tangerine and a grapefruit.
The corner fruit market specialized in stocking the more exotic fruits and vegetables, and for most of the year was the only place in town where one could regularly purchase TANGELOS.
flambé (flom-BAY). To serve in flaming liquor (usually brandy).
Although the dinner was only so-so, the raspberry custard that the waiter FLAMBÉD at our table was both dramatic and delicious.
culinary (KYOO-lih-nar-ee). Relating to cooking or the preparation of food.
My CULINARY efforts these days are much humbler than my library of cookbooks would lead you to believe.
julienne (joo-lee-EN). In thin strips (of vegetables); the soup containing such vegetables.
Lisa knew JULIENNE vegetables would look more elegant on the plates of her dinner guests than those cut in the normal way, but she wasn’t up for the hours of preparation it would take to slice up carrots and celery for a party of twenty.
abstain (ub-STANE). To refrain from; to refuse to partake in; to go without voluntarily.
Maria, who had ABSTAINED from eating meat while in high school, was persuaded to try a cheeseburger on her graduation night.
See also: Eating
(FOOL), verb
To trick; deceive; dupe.
artifice (ARE-ti-fis). The use of clever strategies and cunning methods to fool or best others and tip an outcome in your favor.
“Every art and ARTIFICE has been practiced and perpetrated to destroy the rights of man.”
—Robert Ingersoll, American orator
gambit (GAM-bit). A remark used to redirect a conversation; or, a maneuver used to seek advantage.
“The catchphrase positively rejoices in being a formula, an accepted GAMBIT, a ready-made reaction.”
—John Gross, British literary critic
guile (GUY-ul). The act of being deliberately deceitful and treacherous, so as to gain advantage at someone else’s expense.
I was amazed at the GUILE Richard displayed in going after my biggest account.
legerdemain (le-juhr-duh-MAYN). Magic tricks; or, generally speaking, trickery and deception.
The Wilkinsons are one of the few of our families whose initial wealth did not come as a result of financial LEGERDEMAIN.
equivocate (ee-KWIV-uh-kate). To deceive through the use of ambiguous language.
The candidate seemed to EQUIVOCATE on the energy crisis with each speech he made.
palter (PAWL-ter). To talk or act insincerely; deal crookedly.
It seemed that in every conversation I had with her, Janice would PALTER and I would pretend to believe it.
prevaricate (pri-VARE-uh-kate). To avoid revealing the true nature of one’s position, actions, feelings, etcetera; to be untruthful.
My opponent has chosen to PREVARICATE rather than address his role in the scandal.
temporize (TEM-puh-rize). To gain time by being evasive or indecisive.
I unleashed a longwinded backstory in an effort to TEMPORIZE and come up with a logical explanation for my earlier behavior.
oblique (oh-BLEAK). Indirectly or deviously achieved; evasive; underhanded.
If direct appeals do not work, Amanda is always quick to use OBLIQUE methods in order to get her father to buy her whatever luxury item she wants.
ingenuous (in-JEN-yoo-us). Candid; frank; open; sincere; free from reserve or restraint.
Dorothy’s INGENUOUS remarks revealed the depth of her friendship toward the deceased.
naïveté (nah-eev-TAY). The state of being naïve; simplicity; artlessness.
Mother’s NAÏVETÉ was no act; she could not deceive and firmly believed everyone else was just as honest.
(fer-GIV), verb
To give up the desire to punish or resentment against; to stop being angry with; grant remission of an offense; pardon.
absolve (ab-ZOLV). To formally pronounce guiltless or blameless; to relieve of any responsibility for an actual or alleged misdeed.
The judge ABSOLVED the accused of any wrongdoing.
acquit (uh-KWIT). To release from a duty or obligation; to declare not guilty (of something); exonerate.
With little evidence of guilt, the jury had to ACQUIT the defendant.
exonerate (ig-ZON-uh-rate). To clear or free from blame or guilt; to restore (one’s reputation).
After the charges were thrown out and Brian was completely EXONERATED, he was free to continue his work in the securities industry.
exculpate (EKS-kull-payte). To free someone from an obligation or burden, or prove the innocence of someone suspected of being guilty.
Gerald Ford’s pardon EXCULPATED Richard Nixon legally, but history consigned him to the role of a disgraced president forever.
amnesty (AM-nuh-stee). Freedom from imprisonment for large numbers of people, initiated by a government.
The prisoners of war waited years for AMNESTY.
clemency (KLEM-uhn-see). Forbearance or mercy toward a wrongdoer or opponent; lenience in cases where circumstances warrant.
The governor’s show of CLEMENCY for Callahan may come back to haunt him at election time.
venial (VEE-nee-uhl). Forgivable; not serious; excusable.
Stealing a kiss may be a VENIAL offense depending on the circumstances.
chastise (chas-TAHYZ). To punish in order to correct; to criticize severely.
The boarding school lived up to its reputation as a severe environment where a boy would be CHASTISED for every infraction no matter how small.
oppressed (uh-PREST). Kept down by the unjust or cruel use of authority or power; burdened with harsh, rigorous impositions.
“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the OPPRESSED.”
—Martin Luther King, Jr., American minister and civil-rights leader
(FUHL), adjective
Containing all that is possible, all there is space for; filled; crowded.
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.
replete (rih-PLEET). Abundantly provided; complete.
“The highway is REPLETE with culinary land mines disguised as quaint local restaurants that carry such reassuring names as Millie’s, Pop’s and Capt’n Dick’s.”
—Bryan Miller, American food critic
rife (RIFE). Prevalent, abundant, abounding.
The hotel was RIFE with tourists, so we quickly went upstairs to the penthouse.
tumescent (too-MESS-ent). Becoming or already engorged, full, swollen, or rigid.
After the hurricane, our Florida compound was flooded by the TUMESCENT intra-coastal waterway.
voluminous (vuh-LOO-mih-nuss). Possessing great volume or fullness.
Michelle’s wedding dress was so VOLUMINOUS that there was barely room for Jon to stand next to her at the altar.
gamut (GAM-utt). The full spectrum of possibilities or choices.
The choice of places to eat near the mall ran the GAMUT from chain restaurants to five-star dining.
satiety (suh-TIE-ih-tee). The sensation or feeling of being full or having eaten too much.
Although we knew we would be struck by SATIETY, we could not resist the gustatory delights offered at the Whittingtons’ New Year’s gala.
devoid (dih-VOID). Lacking utterly; without.
“He who is DEVOID of the power to forgive, is devoid of the power to love.”
—Martin Luther King, Jr., American minister and civil-rights leader
vacuous (VAK-yoo-uss). Lacking content or substance; empty.
The critics were consistent in their dismissal of the new television series as VACUOUS, pointless, and amateurish.
(FUHN), noun
A source or cause of amusement or merriment; enjoyment.
carouse (kuh-ROWZ). To engage in boisterous social activity.
We CAROUSED until dawn at the New Year’s Eve party that the Weathertons hold every year.
disport (dih-SPOHRT). To amuse oneself.
Felicia loved to disport with the proprietors of her favorite boutiques by arguing over price.
gambol (GAM-bowl). To run, skip, or jump about in a playful or joyous fashion.
“We all have these places where shy humiliations GAMBOL on sunny afternoons.”
—W. H. Auden, Anglo-American poet
revelry (REV-uhl-ree). Boisterous festivity and merrymaking.
“Midnight shout and REVELRY, / Tipsy dance and jollity.”
—John Milton, English poet
facetious (fuh-SEE-shus). Meant to get a laugh rather than to be taken seriously; sarcastic.
“Boarding school manners and attitudes—stoic denial, FACETIOUS irony—are still deeply entrenched in the character of the country.”
—Jonathan Raban, British travel writer and novelist
gamesome (GAYM-suhm). Playful and frolicsome.
“[Nature] is GAMESOME and good, / But of mutable mood,— / No dreary repeater now and again, / She will be all things to all men.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson, American poet, essayist, and transcendentalist
risible (RIZZ-uh-bull). Capable of causing laughter due to its ludicrous nature.
Janine’s decision to summer in the Hamptons instead of on the French Riviera was deemed RISIBLE by the rest of us.
waggish (WAG-ish). Joking, witty, and mischievous; occasionally, dog-like.
“This species of ‘fame’ a WAGGISH acquaintance says can be manufactured to order, and sometimes is so manufactured.”
—Herman Melville, American author
dishearten (dis-HAHR-tin). To deprive of enthusiasm; to depress the spirits or courage of; discourage.
“A cynic can chill and DISHEARTEN with a single word.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson, American poet, essayist, and transcendentalist
somber (SOM-ber). Depressed or depressing; gloomy; dismal, melancholy; sad.
Due to the seriousness of the situation, the television announcer spoke in SOMBER tones.