The Big Book of Words You Should Know

by David Olsen

  cynosure (SIN-uh-sure), noun

  Derived from the Latin word denoting the North Star, a cynosure is a center of attention or attraction.

  Even with all the games and the colorful parade, the fireworks were the obvious CYNOSURE of the Independence Day festivities.

  dandle (DAN-dull), verb

  To bounce (a child) on one’s knees or in one’s arms.

  To calm the baby down, Aunt Irene DANDLED her on her knee and sang nursery rhymes.

  decasyllabic (dek-uh-sil-LAB-ik), adjective

  In verse, having ten syllables in one line.

  The epic poem followed a DECASYLLABIC form.

  defalcate (dih-FAL-kate), verb

  To embezzle.

  No one knew for certain how the corrupt banker had made his fortune, but it was rumored that he had DEFALCATED funds from a bogus charitable organization.

  deleterious (del-i-TEER-ee-us), adjective

  Harmful or injurious. Deleterious is a word used primarily in legal circles to give a sense of formality to the assessment of harm.

  My client was regularly subjected to high radiation levels, hazardous compounds, and many other DELETERIOUS environmental conditions.

  delft (delft), noun

  A kind of glazed earthenware featuring blue and white patterns.

  My mother’s gift of DELFT cookware complemented our blue and white kitchen beautifully.

  demimonde (DEMM-ih-mond), noun

  This French word initially described prostitutes. The word still carries with it that connotation, but in general, it refers to women who are considered to have loose morals due to their indiscreet or promiscuous behavior.

  Unless you’re trying to get yourself labeled a DEMIMONDE, Sylvia, you need to stop hanging out with guys like Roger.

  demiurge (DEM-ee-urj), noun

  From the Greek meaning “artisan,” a demiurge is a powerful creative force or a creative personality.

  After trying several different professions, Jake realized he was a marketing DEMIURGE.

  dentifrice (DEN-ti-friss), noun

  Any substance used to clean the teeth.

  Dr. Sanchez gave me a lecture on the proper use of DENTIFRICES, and recommended several brands I could purchase in any supermarket.

  descant (DESS-kant), verb

  A descant is an improvised or composed harmonic melody sung above the main melody in a piece of music. As a verb, one descants if one talks or writes about a subject at great length.

  The way Jay DESCANTS about obscure sports stars just tends to bore me to tears.

  desideratum (di-sid-uh-RAH-tum), noun

  A thing to be desired. Desideratum finds its plural in desiderata, which is also the name of a popular short writing that outlines worthy spiritual objectives.

  He eventually accepted that her love was a fleeting DESIDERATUM, one he could learn in time to do without.

  desuetude (DEHZ-wih-tyood), noun

  From the French meaning “to become unaccustomed,” desuetude means disuse or discontinuance.

  Telephones plugged into walls are one of many once-ubiquitous items that have fallen into DESUETUDE.

  desultory (de-SUL-to-ree), adjective

  Aimless. A person or thing lacking guidance or progressing randomly can be said to be desultory.

  Unable to believe it was his last day on the job, Bill wandered through the building, DESULTORY.

  dialectic (die-uh-LEK-tic), adjective and noun

  Having to do with logical arguments. (Also: dialectical.) As a noun, dialectic means the practice of arriving nearer to the truth by means of logical examination.

  The DIALECTIC thoroughness with which Paul could destroy an opponent’s argument was legendary.

  didactic (die-DAK-tik), adjective

  Made or framed for the purpose of moral or ethical betterment. To say a work of art is didactic is to say that it forwards a clear vision of what is right and wrong, a vision the artist would like to pass on to his audience.

  Simpson’s early writings let the reader draw his own conclusions, but his later work is extremely DIDACTIC.

  dipsomaniacal (dip-so-muh-NIE-ih-kul), adjective

  Dipsomania is an uncontrolled craving for alcohol, so someone who suffers from this craving is considered dipsomaniacal.

  The private detective summed up his latest client, a booze-loving gold digger, as the “DIPSOMANIACAL dame.”

  diphthong (DIF-thawng), noun

  A sound made by smoothly pronouncing two vowel sounds within one syllable.

  English is full of DIPHTHONGS, examples of which can be found in such words as boil, house, and smile.

  dishabille (dis-uh-BEE-uhl), noun

  From the French meaning “to undress,” this word refers to someone who is dressed very casually or to someone with a careless manner.

  “The only problem with working near the beach,” said Jack, “ is seeing all those elderly folks in various states of DISHABILLE.”

  disport (dih-SPORT), verb

  To play or frolic. To find a diversion is to disport oneself.

  Jean and Michael DISPORTED themselves at the amusement park for the better part of the morning.

  dowse (dowze), verb

  To search for water with a divining rod.

  A skeptical man by nature, my father refused to believe that we had succeeded in locating the right spot for our well by DOWSING.

  doxology (doks-AH-lo-jee), noun

  A hymn praising God.

  This morning’s ceremony will conclude with the DOXOLOGY found on page 312 of your hymnals.

  dromedary (DROM-uh-dare-ee), noun

  A camel of North Africa and Arabia possessing only one hump.

  For a small zoo such as ours to have a pair of DROMEDARIES is, I think, something of a coup.

  dystopia (diss-TOPE-ee-uh), noun

  A utopia is a perfect world. A dystopia is the complete opposite, a world that has gone terribly wrong. A good example is Oceania, the setting for George Orwell’s novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four.

  With the rising price of gas and food, some are starting to wonder if the United States has become a DYSTOPIA.

  ebonite (EBB-ah-nite), noun

  Hard black rubber; vulcanite.

  The sturdy EBONITE hoses, flimsy and prone to breakdown in last year’s model, were just one of the improvements the company made in its product line.

  ebullition (ebb-uh-LISH-un), noun

  The tiny bubbles of a sparkling liquid; also, a sudden outpouring of strong emotion.

  The champagne’s delicate EBULLITION tickled my nose.

  ecumenical (ek-yoo-MEN-ih-kul), adjective

  Universal. Ecumenical is often used to refer to the beliefs, movements, and actions common to the various branches of Christianity worldwide.

  This is not a Protestant question or a Catholic question, but a matter of ECUMENICAL significance.

  educe (ee-DYOOCE), verb

  To draw out. Educe also means to reason out or establish from given facts.

  Myron’s attempts to EDUCE his sister’s whereabouts were futile.

  efflorescent (ef-flore-RES-sunt), adjective

  Blossoming. Efflorescent is a biological term used to describe the final development of something, but it is used by metaphor in other contexts, as well.

  The poet’s middle years were marked by some remarkable—and EFFLORESCENT— work of unparallelled quality.

  effluent (EF-loo-unt), noun

  In general, something that flows out, but more specifically, an effluent is a fluid discharged as waste.

  EFFLUENT from the factory polluted the river for decades.

  effulgent (ih-FULJ-unt), adjective

  Radiant; brilliantly shining. Something that is effulgent shines forth resplendently.

  The explosion, devastating though it was, left the night sky so effulgent that Belva could not help but marvel at the display.

  effusion (ih-FYOO-zhun), noun

  An outpouring; also, an unrehears
ed flow of speech or writing that is emotional in nature.

  Reviewing the old love letters he had written to Susan, Brian found it hard to believe that the EFFUSIONS of lovestruck prose he found on every page had actually come from his pen.

  eidetic (EYE-dett-ick), adjective

  Describes a memory or mental image recalled with perfect clarity.

  I’ d studied the travel brochures so much that I had a perfectly EIDETIC vision of what to expect on the cruise ship.

  eldritch (ELL-dritch), adjective

  Describes something (or possibly someone) eerie, spooky, supernatural, or unearthly.

  I was terrified by the ELDRITCH screeches until I realized they merely emanated from a cat in heat.

  eleemosynary (eh-lee-MAHSS-uh-nair-ee), adjective

  Having to do with charity or charitable activity.

  Our boss is always reminding us that we’re a for-profit business, not an ELEEMOSYNARY organization.

  elegy (ELL-uh-jee), noun

  A poem of mourning; a poem reflecting on and praising the deceased.

  At the funeral, Mitch read a touching ELEGY for his grandmother, reminding all present of the life of kindness and sacrifice she had led.

  elocution (el-oh-KYOO-shun), noun

  An individual’s style of public speech. Unlike eloquence (see eloquent below), which has to do with the content of a person’s speech, elocution refers to the manner in which speech is delivered.

  The cast’s ELOCUTION left a great deal to be desired.

  emend (ee-MEND), verb

  To change by means of editing; to correct (a text or reading).

  Many of Shakespeare’s most famous lines, such as “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” are the result of a critic’s choice to EMEND a troublesome source text.

  emeritus (ih-MARE-ih-tuss), adjective

  Emeritus describes the position of one who has retired but who still holds an honorary title corresponding to the position held prior to retirement.

  Watkins has been awarded the position of Professor EMERITUS.

  encomium (en-KOME-ee-um), noun

  A formal (and often, a spoken) expression of extreme praise.

  The evening, featuring warm ENCOMIUMS for basketball great Larry Bird from coaches, former opponents, and family members, concluded when his jersey was raised to the rafters and his number retired.

  enervate (EN-ur-vate), verb

  To weaken. To enervate is to deprive of vitality, strength, or endurance.

  The vacation’s whirlwind pace actually served to ENERVATE Madge.

  enfilade (EN-fuh-layd), noun

  From the French meaning “to thread a needle,” enfilade is a troop that is in a formation allowing it to be subject to sweeping gunfire, or it is the name for the sweeping gunfire itself. By extension, enfilade can refer to a barrage of any kind.

  The attorney’s ENFILADE of harsh questions quickly caused the accused murderer to admit to his guilt.

  entomology (en-tuh-MOL-uh-jee), noun

  The study of insects.

  Judy’s little boy so loved to collect bugs from the garden that we wondered if he might grow up to study ENTOMOLOGY.

  epaulet (EP-uh-let), noun

  An ornamental shoulder piece worn on a military uniform.

  Ernie tried his best to sew the EPAULET back on his uniform before morning inspection.

  epigraph (EP-ih-graff), noun

  An inscription written on a stone, monument, or building; also, a short quotation coming at the beginning of a book or chapter.

  The EPIGRAPH carved above the entrance to the college library, “That they may have life and have it abundantly,” confused some and inspired others.

  epistemology (uh-PIST-uh-mall-uh-jee), noun

  The study of the nature of knowledge and understanding. The adjective form, which you might see, is epistemological.

  An interest in people’s purchasing habits led Martina to begin studying EPISTEMOLOGY.

  eponymous (ih-PAHN-ih-muss), adjective

  An eponym is the name of a real or fictional person that has been adopted to name something else. Eponymous is the adjective form of the word.

  Burt has created a website about EPONYMOUS American cities like Lincoln, Nebraska and Buffalo, New York.

  equable (EK-wuh-bull), adjective

  Without variation.

  The island boasted a pleasant and EQUABLE climate, with temperatures in the low seventies virtually every day.

  equanimity (ee-kwa-NIM-ih-tee), noun

  Even-temperedness; calmness. Someone who possesses equanimity keeps his composure even in a difficult situation.

  He rebutted each of the charges against him convincingly and with EQUANIMITY.

  esplanade (ESS-pluh-nahd), noun

  An open, level strip of ground, usually near a body of water.

  While strolling along the ESPLANADE, we watched the rowing teams train for the upcoming regatta.

  estuary (ESS-choo-ayre-ee), noun

  The point of a water passage where a river empties into a tidal area.

  Dr. Green argued against allowing the plant to be built so near the river, on the grounds that it would threaten several important species living in the ESTUARY.

  etiolate (EE-tee-uh-late), verb

  To cause to become weak and sickly-appearing.

  Over time, Brad’s poor health choices increasingly ETIOLATED his once-handsome appearance.

  etymology (et-ih-MOLL-uh-gee), noun

  The study of the development and history of words. A word’s etymology is its lineage or descent.

  I took a little Greek in school, so I think I can make an educated guess at this word’s ETYMOLOGY.

  excelsior (ik-SEL-see-ur), noun

  Wood shavings used as a packing agent.

  The fragile china was shipped in sturdy wooden crates filled with EXCELSIOR.

  excoriate (ik-SORE-ee-ate), verb

  To denounce emphatically. Literally, excoriate means to remove the exterior (skin) of something.

  To be EXCORIATED in this way is bad enough; to endure such remarks on the floor of the Senate is a sad commentary on our times.

  exculpate (EK-skul-pate), verb

  To remove responsibility or guilt from. To exculpate someone is to clear his name.

  The fact that I was convicted is immaterial; I have been fully EXCULPATED.

  exigency (EK-si-jen-see), noun

  Something requiring immediate action or attention; an emergency. An exigency is an unexpected development of some urgency.

  The printer’s failure to meet the deadline presented us with an EXIGENCY we were ill-equipped to face.

  exiguous (ex-IG-you-uss), adjective

  Meager; small; scanty.

  Dinner turned out to be an EXIGUOUS offering of two thin slices of chicken, three green beans, and a potato—albeit quite artistically arranged.

  expatiate (ick-SPAY-she-ate), verb

  To speak or write at length. The word typically suggests that you are speaking or writing at too much length.

  I just tuned out Tyrone as he began to EXPATIATE again on his troubled relationship with Mavis.

  expeditious (ek-spuh-DISH-uss), adjective

  Speedy and efficient. That which is conducted in a brisk manner is expeditious.

  Ryan came upon an EXPEDITIOUS means of solving the problem that had vexed the firm for so long.

  expostulate (ick-SPAHSS-chew-late), verb

  To use reason and logic in an effort to talk someone out of doing something he or she intends to do.

  I EXPOSTULATED with Nora about the mistake I believed she was about to make, but she paid me no attention.

  expressionism (ex-PRESH-un-iz-um), noun

  An art movement with roots in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in which external forms of reality are distorted as a means of communicating an interior vision of the artist.

  For Edvard Munch, whose painting The Scream is perhaps the single most rec
ognizable image of EXPRESSIONISM, the themes of isolation and anxiety were of paramount importance.

  expurgate (EX-pur-gate), verb

  To remove or delete something unacceptable or objectionable, (particularly, passages in a text).

  Fearing a public backlash, the publisher promised that all offensive material would be EXPURGATED from future editions of the book.

  extempore (iks-TEM-puh-ray), adjective

  Without forethought or preparation; spontaneous, impromptu.

  As he watched the note cards to his speech fly away in the breeze, Griswold stood before the crowd and wished, once again and more fervently than ever before, that he had the ability to deliver a magnificent speech EXTEMPORE.

  fabulist (FAB-yuh-list), noun

  A liar. Someone who tells outrageously untrue stories is a fabulist.

  Sir Gerald, a notorious FABULIST, was not consulted for an authoritative account of the crime.

  factitious (fack-TISH-us), adjective

  Lacking spontaneity; contrived.

  The news network’s FACTITIOUS commentary seemed to be mere talking points for the current presidential administration.

  fainéant (FAY-knee-unt), adjective or noun

  Someone who is lazy and idle or the description of such a person. From a French contraction meaning “he does nothing.”

  I spent my vacation in such a FAINÉANT state that I found it hard to focus on work once I returned to my “real life.”

  fantasia (fan-TAY-zhuh), noun

  Originally used to signify a musical piece with an irregular form, fantasia has come to denote anything considered unreal, weird, or grotesque.

  I emerged from the darkened subway entrance and shaded my eyes from the FANTASIA of headlights and neon signs.

  farouche (fuh-ROOSH), adjective

  From the French meaning “belonging outside,” farouche describes someone who is unsociable, cranky, and withdrawn.

  Your FAROUCHE behavior will not win you any friends. In fact, it will simply alienate you from everyone.

  farrago (fuh-ROG-oh), noun

  A careless mixture; mish-mash.

  My four-year-old, who picked out his own outfit for the first time this morning, walked into the kitchen sporting a FARRAGO of mismatched clothing.

  fealty (FEE-ul-tee), noun

  Loyalty. Literally, fealty describes the historical obligation of a vassal (a person granted use of land) to a lord.

  I don’t think you have any right to keep me from looking for another job; I never took an oath of FEALTY here, sir.