Log In
Or create an account ->
Imperial Library
Home
About
News
Upload
Forum
Help
Login/SignUp
Index
Title Page
Copyright Page
Epigraph
Acknowledgments
Introduction
CHAPTER 1 - Animal Words
crabwise (KRAB-wyz)
testudinate (te-STOOD-in-ayt), also testudinal or testudinarian
gadfly (GAD-fly)
kangaroo court (kang-guh-ROO kort)
waspish (WOS-pish)
CHAPTER 2 - Latin Terms
quid pro quo (KWID pro kwo), plural quid pro quos or quids pro quo
rara avis (RAR-uh AY-vis), plural rarae aves (RAR-ee AY-veez)
sine die (SY-nee DY-ee, SIN-ay DEE-ay)
annus mirabilis (AN-uhs mi-RAB-uh-lis), plural anni mirabiles (AN-i mi-RAB-uh-leez)
sub rosa (sub RO-zuh)
CHAPTER 3 - Words to Describe People I
philosophaster (fi-los-uh-FAS-tuhr, fi-LOS-uh-fas-tuhr)
autocrat (O-tuh-krat)
adamantine (ad-uh-MAN-teen, -tin)
satrap (SAY-trap, SAT-rap)
anchorite (ANG-kuh-ryt), also anchoret (ANG-kuhr-it)
CHAPTER 4 - Lesser-Known Counterparts of Everyday Words
epizootic (ep-uh-zo-OT-ik)
anile (AN-yl, AY-nyl)
estivate (ES-tuh-vayt), also aestivate
thegosis (THEE-go-sis)
trilemma (tri-LEM-uh)
CHAPTER 5 - Words for Odds and Ends
aglet (AG-let)
chad (chad)
tittle (TIT-t1)
grommet (GROM-it), also grummet (GRUM-)
pintle (PIN-tl)
CHAPTER 6 - Reduplicatives
shilly-shally (SHIL-ee-shal-ee)
tussie-mussie (TUS-ee-MUS-ee) or tuzzy-muzzy (TUZ-ee-MUZ-ee)
herky-jerky (HUR-kee-JUR-kee)
wishy-washy (WISH-ee-wosh-ee)
knick-knack, also nick-nack (NIK-nak)
CHAPTER 7 - Discover the Theme I
tessera (TESS-er-a), plural tesserae
hypolimnion (hip-o-LIMN-ee-on)
decerebrate (de-CER-uh-brayt)
homonym (HOM-uh-nim)
extravasate (ik-STRAV-uh-sayt)
CHAPTER 8 - Gender-Specific Nouns
caryatid (kar-ee-AT-id), plural caryatids or caryatides (-i-deez)
telamon (TEL-uh-mon), plural telamones (-MOH-neez)
gynarchy (JIN-ar-kee, JYE-nar-, GYE-)
androcracy (an-DROK-ruh-see)
nymphomania (nim-fuh-MAY-nee-uh, -MAYN-yuh)
satyriasis (say-tuh-RI-uh-sis, sat-uh-)
CHAPTER 9 - Verbs
cogitate (KOJ-i-tayt)
decoct (di-KOKT)
perorate (PER-uh-rayt)
shamble (SHAM-buhl)
redact (ri-DAKT)
CHAPTER 10 - Coined Words I
googol (GOO-gol)
blurb (blurb)
boondoggle (BOON-dog-uhl)
heebie-jeebies (HEE-bee-JEE-beez)
runcible (RUN-si-buhl)
CHAPTER 11 - Back-Formations
emote (I-MOAT)
admix (ad-MIKS)
aesthete (ES-theet, EES-), also esthete
adulate (AJ-uh-layt)
accrete (uh-KREET)
CHAPTER 12 - Portmanteaux
cremains (kri-MAYNZ)
cinematheque (sin-uh-muh-TEK)
carmine (KAHR-min, -MYN)
birl (burl)
CHAPTER 13 - Short Words
vim (vim)
fey (fay)
gest (jest), also geste
dun (dun)
maw (maw)
CHAPTER 14 - Words That Make the Spell-Checker Ineffective
impassible (im-PAS-uh-buhl)
wether (WETH-uhr)
specie (SPEE-shee, -see)
angary (ANG-guh-ree) also angaria (ang-GAR-ee-uh)
demur (di-MUR)
CHAPTER 15 - Names for Things
crossbuck (KROS-buk)
hallux (HAL-uhks), plural halluces (HAL-yuh-seez)
septum (SEP-tuhm), plural septa (SEP-tuh)
ocellus (o-SEL-uhs), plural ocelli (o-SEL-eye)
newel (NOO-el, NYOO-)
CHAPTER 16 - Words Formed by Metathesis
scart (skart)
prad (prad)
bort (bort)
gride (gryd)
scrimmage (SKRIM-ayg)
CHAPTER 17 - Words Not to Put on Your Résumé
manqué (mahng-KAY)
distrait (di-STRAY)
recreant (REK-ree-uhnt)
garrulous (GAR-uh-luhs, GAR-yuh-)
truculent (TRUK-yuh-luhnt)
CHAPTER 18 - A Verbal Zoo
welkin (WEL-kin)
endogamy (en-DOG-uh-mee)
vamoose (va-MOOS, vuh-)
epigone (EP-i-goan), also epigon (EP-i-gon)
CHAPTER 19 - Words from Medicine
sternutation (stur-nyuh-TAY-shuhn)
nosocomial (nos-uh-KO-mee-uhl)
antitussive (an-tee-TUS-iv, an-ti-)
prophylaxis (pro-fuh-LAK-sis, prof-)
aperient (uh-PIR-ee-uhnt)
CHAPTER 20 - Semordnilap
avid (avid)
ogre (O-guhr)
debut (day-BYOO, DAY-byoo)
nonet (no-NET)
rebus (REE-buhs)
CHAPTER 21 - Words with Color as Metaphor
blue rinse (BLOO rins)
greenmail (GREEN-mayl)
brown study (broun STUD-ee)
purple passage (PUR-puhl PAS-ij), also purple patch, purple prose
pink collar (PINGK KOL-uhr)
CHAPTER 22 - Words That Make One Say, “I Didn’t Know There Was a Word for That!”
dol (dol)
murdrum (MUR-drum)
thalweg (TAHL-veg, -vek)
scurf (skurf)
mora (MOR-uh)
CHAPTER 23 - Wordpix I
verboten (vuhr-BOHT-n)
supernumerary (soo-puhr-NOO-muh-rer-ee, -NYOO-)
epicene (EP-i-seen)
diastema (die-uh-STEE-mah), plural diastemata (die-uh-STEE-muh-tuh)
ullage (UL-ij)
CHAPTER 24 - Wordpix II
chevron (SHEV-ruhn)
maverick (MAV-uhr-ik)
pecuniary (pi-KYOO-nee-er-ee)
pariah (puh-RI-uh)
CHAPTER 25 - Wordpix III
pendulous (PEN-juh-luhs, PEN-dyuh-, -duh-)
acclivity (a-KLIV-i-tee)
kowtow (kow-TOW)
oology (oh-OL-uh-jee)
inebriety (in-i-BRY-i-tee)
CHAPTER 26 - Words with Offbeat Pluralizations
opus (OH-pus), plural opera (OH-puhr-a, OP-uhr-a) or opuses
occiput (OK-suh-put), plural occipita (ok-SIP-i-tah) or occiputs
chrysalis (KRIS-uh-lis), plural chrysalises (KRIS-uh-lis-es) or chrysalides (kri-SAL-i-deez)
numen (NOO-muhn, NYOO-), plural numina (-muh-nuh)
virtuoso (vur-choo-OH-soh, -zos), plural virtuosos or virtuosi (-see)
CHAPTER 27 - Words about Relations
agnate (AG-nayt)
miscegenation (mi-sej-uh-NAY-shuhn, mis-i-juh-)
progenitor (pro-JEN-i-tuhr)
enate (i-NAYT, EE-nayt), also enatic
primogenitor (pry-moe-JEN-i-tuhr)
CHAPTER 28 - Collective Nouns
sounder (SOUN-duhr)
nide (nyde)
skein (skayn)
skulk (skulk)
bevy (BEV-ee)
CHAPTER 29 - Positive Words
sipid (SIP-id)
pervious (PUR-vee-uhs)
vincible (VIN-suh-buhl)
furl (furl)
requite (ri-KWYT)
CHAPTER 30 - Discover the Theme II
dekko (DEK-oh)
ait (ayt), also, eyot
bijou (BEE-zhoo, bee-ZHOO), plural bijoux (-zhoo, -zhooz)
horst (horst)
dotty (DOT-ee)
CHAPTER 31 - Lesser-Known Synonyms of Everyday Words
athenaeum (ath-uh-NEE-um), also atheneum (ath-uh-NEE-um)
tokology (to-KOL-uh-jee), also tocology
debark (di-BARK)
debark (dee-BARK)
sartorial (sar-TOR-ee-uhl)
cancrine (KANG-krin)
CHAPTER 32 - Words from Speeches
manacle (MAN-uh-kul)
chasm (KAZ-um)
attainder (uh-TAYN-duhr)
sentient (SEN-shent)
mirabile dictu (mee-RAH-bi-lay DIK-too)
CHAPTER 33 - Words That Contain the Vowels AEIOU Once and Only Once
armigerous (ahr-MIJ-ehr-us)
epuration (ep-yuh-RAY-shun)
inquorate (in-KWO-rayt)
ossuary (OSH-oo-eh-ree), plural ossuaries, also, ossuarium.
uvarovite (oo-VAR-uh-vyt, yoo-)
CHAPTER 34 - Coined Words II
eustasy (YOO-stuh-see)
Pangaea (pan-JEE-uh), also Pangea
McJob (mehk-JOB)
locust years (LO-kuhst yeers)
prehensile (pri-HEN-sil, -syl)
CHAPTER 35 - English as a Global Language
nous (noos, nous)
dyscalculia (dis-kal-KYOO-lee-uh)
timorous (TIM-uhr-uhs)
soporific (sop-uh-RIF-ik, so-puh-)
morose (mo-ROS)
CHAPTER 36 - Eponyms
Fletcherize (FLECH-uh-ryz)
grinch (grinch)
John Bull (jon bul)
aristarch (AR-uh-stark)
Chicken Little (CHIK-en LIT-1)
CHAPTER 37 - Words about Words I
haplography (hap-LOG-ruh-fee)
obiter dictum (OB-i-tuhr DIK-tuhm), plural obiter dicta
asyndeton (uh-SIN-di-ton, -tuhn), plural asyndeta
verbigeration (vuhr-bij-uh-RAY-shun)
brachylogy (bra-KIL-uh-jee)
CHAPTER 38 - Uncommon Words with Common Suffixes
oniomania (O-nee-uh-MAY-nee-uh, MAYN-yuh)
garbology (gar-BOL-uh-jee)
onychophagia (on-i-ko-FAY-juh, -jee-uh)
philography (fi-LOG-ruh-fee)
theophany (thee-OF-uh-nee)
CHAPTER 39 - Words to Describe People II
pertinacious (pur-tn-AY-shuhs)
pixilated (PIK-suh-layt-id), also pixillated
oscitant (OS-i-tant)
punctilious (pungk-TIL-ee-uhs)
pococurante (po-ko-koo-RAN-tee, -kyoo-)
CHAPTER 40 - Ordinal Words
fifth column (fifth KOL-uhm)
fourth estate (forth i-STAYT)
third degree (thurd di-GREE)
second fiddle (SEK-und FID-1)
first water (furst WA-tuhr)
CHAPTER 41 - Words for Odds and Ends
albedo (al-BEE-doh)
dewlap (DOO-lap, DYOO-lap)
chaplet (CHAP-lit)
gnomon (NO-mon)
finial (FIN-ee-ehl, FI-nee-)
CHAPTER 42 - Red-Herring Words
sextet (seks-TET)
potatory (POH-tuh-tor-ee)
gyrovague (JYE-ro-vayg)
discommode (dis-kuh-MOD)
obsequy (OB-se-kwee)
CHAPTER 43 - Discover the Theme III
mecca (MEK-uh)
redd (red)
ogee (oh-JEE, OH-jee)
vug (vug, voog)
plica (PLY-kuh), plural plicae (PLI-see, -kee)
CHAPTER 44 - Newer Words in the Oxford English Dictionary
full monty (ful MON-tee), also Full Monty, full Monty
bad hair day (bad hair day)
nutraceutical (noo-truh-SOO-ti-kuhl)
retail therapy (REE-tayl THER-uh-pee)
webliography (web-lee-OG-ruh-fee)
CHAPTER 45 - War of Words and Words of War
pyrrhic victory (PIR-ik VIK-tuh-ree)
casus belli (KAY-suhs BEL-y, BEL-ee), plural casus belli
fetial (FEE-shuhl), also fecial
polemology (po-luh-MOL-uh-jee)
spoliation (spo-lee-AY-shun)
CHAPTER 46 - Words for Physical Characteristics Used to Describe People Figuratively
louche (loosh)
clochard (KLOH-shahr)
myopic (my-OP-ik)
dexterous (DEK-struhs, -stuhr-uhs) also dextrous
ambisinister (am-bi-SIN-uh-stuhr)
CHAPTER 47 - Words Evolved from Folk Etymologies
humble pie (HUM-buhl pi)
kickshaw (KIK-shaw)
wiseacre (WIZ-ay-kuhr)
rakehell (RAYK-hel)
chaise longue (shayz LONG), plural chaise longues or chaises longues (shays LONG)
CHAPTER 48 - Words about Words II
Hobson-Jobson (HOB-suhn JOB-suhn)
dittography (di-TOG-ruh-fee)
eye dialect (eye-DY-uh-lekt)
epenthesis (uh-PEN-thu-sis)
idiolect (ID-ee-uh-lekt)
CHAPTER 49 - Words Formed Using Combining Forms
misocainea (mis-oh-KY-nee-uh, mi-soh-)
piliform (PIL-i-form)
ichnology (ik-NOL-uh-jee)
steganography (ste-guh-NOG-ruh-fee)
chiromancy (KY-ruh-man-see)
CHAPTER 50 - Toponyms, or Words Derived from Place Names
ultima Thule (UL-tuh-muh THOO-lee)
El Dorado (el doh-RAH-doh)
Timbuktu (tim-buk-TOO)
stoic (STOH-ik)
brigadoon (BRIG-uh-doon)
CHAPTER 51 - Words for Body Parts That Are Used Metaphorically
visceral (VIS-er-uhl)
liverish (LIV-er-ish)
adrenalize (a-DREEN-uh-lyz)
phlegmatic (fleg-MAT-ik)
jugular (JUG-uh-luhr)
CHAPTER 52 - Red-Herring Words Revisited
debridement (di-BREED-ment, day-)
escheat (es-CHEET)
antiphony (an-TIF-uh-nee)
limpid (LIM-pid)
sexcentenary (seks-sen-TEN-uh-ree)
CHAPTER 53 - Words from Nature’s Oeuvre
fjord (fyord), also fiord
estuary (ES-choo-er-ee)
peninsula (peh-NIN-su-lah)
archipelago (ar-kih-PEL-uh-go)
massif (ma-SEEF)
CHAPTER 54 - Words about People Who Love Books
bibliophage (BIB-lee-uh-fayj)
bibliophile (BIB-lee-uh-fyl), also bibliophil (-fil) or bibliophilist (bib-lee-OF-uh-list)
bibliotaph (BIB-lee-uh-taf) also bibliotaphe
biblioklept (BIB-lee-uh-klept)
bibliophobe (BIB-lee-uh-foab)
CHAPTER 55 - Mondegreens and Other Linguistic Faux Pas
mondegreen (MON-di-green)
spoonerism (SPOO-nuh-riz-em)
malapropism (MAL-uh-prop-iz-ehm)
Answers to the “Discover the Theme” Chapters
Bibliography
Index of Words
← Prev
Back
Next →
← Prev
Back
Next →