(WAWRN), verb
To caution others about a danger, impending evil, misfortune, etc.; to urge or advise to exercise care; caution.
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.
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.
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.
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.
(WEYST), noun
Useless, unneeded, or superfluous matter; garbage; refuse.
dreck (DREK). Excrement; trash; junk.
Jonathan made his works using found objects, although many critics referred to his materials as “DRECK.”
dross (DROSS). Useless material; trash.
The young poet was scarred for life when her father described her poems as “DROSS” and told her to throw them away.
effluent (EF-loo-unt). A fluid discharged as waste; something that flows out.
Uncontrolled EFFLUENT from the factory has been polluting the river for decades.
litter (LIT-er). Objects scattered about; trash.
His uncle’s house was full of LITTER, items of former value and plain junk gathered and retained for some unknown purpose.
offal (AW-full). Rotting waste; decaying organic matter. In general, anything considered garbage or refuse.
“I have often told you that I am that little fish who swims about under a shark and, I believe, lives indelicately on its OFFAL.”
—Zelda Fitzgerald, American author
recrement (REK-ruh-muhnt). The worthless part of anything; waste; dross.
Jim’s goal as process manager was to reduce the operation’s amount of RECREMENT by half.
swill (SWIL). Otherwise worthless food items given to animals, especially kitchen waste given to swine.
“Advertising is the rattling of a stick inside a SWILL bucket.”
—George Orwell, English novelist
apposite (APP-uh-zit). Relevant, pertinent, or appropriate to a given situation.
Your objections are extremely APPOSITE, and I will address each of them.
beneficial (ben-uh-FISH-uhl). Offering benefit; advantageous; helpful; favorable.
“Learn to be pleased with everything; with wealth, so far as it makes us beneficial to others; with poverty, for not having much to care for, and with obscurity, for being unenvied.”
—Plutarch, Greek biographer and author
See also: Worthless
(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 (LAS-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-ate). 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-tate). To enfeeble or weaken; to devitalize 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 force, strength, or effectiveness of.
Frederica never DILUTES her words. She’ll tell you exactly how she feels.
enervate (EN-ur-vate). 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
(HOHL), adjective
Containing all of its parts or elements; comprising the full amount; complete; not divided or separated.
gestalt (geh-STALT). A unified and integrated structure or phenomenon.
“Feminism is an entire world view or GESTALT, not just a laundry list of women’s issues.”
—Charlotte Bunch, American feminist
ecumenical (ek-yoo-MEN-ih-kul). Universal; general; worldwide.
This is not a question for a single party, but a matter of ECUMENICAL significance.
holistic (ho-LISS-tik). Refers to medical practices that treat the whole person and not just a specific organ, condition, or disease.
Marsha’s HOLISTIC approach to healing involves channeling energy through crystals.
integral (IN-tuh-grul). Acting as a constituent and essential member of a whole.
Jane played an INTEGRAL role in the production’s success.
inviolate (inn-VY-oh-late). Without restriction or violation; undisturbed; unbroken.
“INVIOLATE, he could rupture wires, mangle flaps, destroy the balance of the ship.”
—Richard Matheson, American science fiction writer
plenary (PLEN-uh-ree). Full; complete; entire; attended by all qualified members.
The representative was somewhat nervous to be attending his first PLENARY session of Congress.
systemic (sih-STEM-ik). Relating to a system as a whole and not just its component parts.
The discarding of couture clothing that is less than a year old has become SYSTEMIC among our group.
unitary (YOU-ni-tare-ee). A thing that exists or occurs in discrete units, sections, parts, or steps; having the indivisible nature of a unit.
“Today we can see life as a UNITARY process, made up of a number of smaller processes.”
—Julian Huxley, English evolutionary biologist
redintegrate (ri-DIN-ti-greyt). To make whole or perfect again.
After experiencing a psychotic episode, Peter worked diligently to REDINTEGRATE his psyche.
moiety (MOY-ih-tee). A part, portion, or share.
When I go out to dinner with my wife and kids, I don’t order a meal for myself, as my dinner is a MOIETY from each of theirs.
rive (RAHYV). To tear apart; to separate; cleave; split.
Driven by a tornado’s winds, normally benevolent objects could RIVE houses and buildings with deadly force.
schism (SKIZ-um). A division; a break or rupture of relations, especially one due to ideological or political differences.
The SCHISM in the party over the issue of slavery reflected a division in the country itself.
severance (SEV-uh-runce). A division; a breaking away, as of a relationship.
Bill’s SEVERANCE from the company had generous terms, including a bonus.
(WURK), noun
Physical or mental effort exerted to do or make something; labor; toil; employment.
lucubrate (LOO-kyoo-breyt). To work, study, or write laboriously; particularly at night.
A night owl, Phyllis always LUCUBRATED into the wee hours.
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.
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.
disport (dih-SPOHRT). 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-fie). 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.
(RAHY-ting), noun
The act of a person who writes; something written, such as a book, letter, document, inscription, etc.
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
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.
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.
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 (PARE-uh-frase). 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.
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.
legible (LEJ-uh-buhl). Capable of being read.
John’s handwriting was LEGIBLE but his writing 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