The Big Book of Words You Should Know

by David Olsen

  gibber (JIB-bur), verb

  To speak nervously and incomprehensibly; to speak in a fast, jumbled, inarticulate manner.

  Zack may have been believable playing the part of a Casanova in the television show, but off-screen he could barely GIBBER his way through a conversation with a woman.

  gimcrackery (JIM-crack-ur-ee), noun

  An object or objects that have no real value except for the purpose of show.

  Paul’s father used to tell him that all the academic honors he earned in college amounted to so much GIMCRACKERY if he couldn’t put his intelligence to work for him in the “real” world.

  glom (glahm), verb

  To look at with rapt attention or to steal something. “Glom onto” means to take possession of something, such as someone else’s ideas.

  Once he realized it would get him votes, the candidate GLOMMED onto the plight of blue-collar workers and made the issue his campaign’s emphasis.

  glower (GLOU-ur), verb

  To give a brooding, annoyed, or angry look.

  Mark hoped GLOWERING at our mother would convey that he didn’t appreciate her telling his new girlfriend how difficult he had been to toilet train, but Mom didn’t seem to notice.

  gnash (nash), verb

  To grind or strike (usually the teeth) together.

  Although she claimed not to be, I could tell that Elaine was angry by the way she GNASHED her teeth.

  gradation (gra-DAY-shun), noun

  A progression by state or degree. To progress in gradation is to move ahead in measured, distinct stages.

  The portrait’s haunting effect may be due to Singer’s extremely subtle GRADATIONS of color.

  gradient (GRAY-dee-unt), noun

  An incline or slope.

  The hike was refreshing but not taxing because the trail had a gentle GRADIENT.

  grandiose (GRAN-dee-oce), adjective

  Pompous. Someone whose pretentions or ambitions exceed his abilities, sensitivities, or means could be considered grandiose.

  His GRANDIOSE scheme for career advancement simply will not pan out.

  gratuitous (gruh-TOO-ih-tuss), adjective

  Unnecessary. Also: given or granted without recompense or charge. Something that is gratuitous is excessive, out of place, or unnecessary.

  His GRATUITOUS attacks on the popular governor only weakened his standing among voters.

  gregarious (gri-GARE-ee-uss), adjective

  Outgoing, cordial, or friendly. Gregarious people enjoy the company of others.

  Many would have been put off by such a reception, but Bill was unusually GREGARIOUS; he made many friends that night.

  grouse (grouss), verb

  This common bird becomes something entirely different when transformed into a verb. Then, to grouse is to complain and grumble.

  We were just ten minutes late, but my in-laws GROUSED about our tardiness for the rest of the day.

  guffaw (guh-FAW), noun

  An instance of full, unrestrained laughter.

  From the howls and GUFFAWS I heard issuing from the auditorium, I gathered that the principal’s speech introducing a new dress code for the school was not going well.

  guise (guys), noun

  Semblance; outer appearance; manner of dress.

  Having assumed the GUISE of a pirate for the costume ball, Tom looked dashing and dangerous for what may well have been the first time in his life.

  habitué (huh-BICH-oo-ay), noun

  From the French meaning “to frequent,” a habitué is someone who frequents or spends a lot of time in a place, especially places like bars, casinos, nightclubs, etc.

  Ellen has become known as a HABITUÉ of the shadier coffeehouses.

  halcyon (HAL-see-on), adjective and noun

  Tranquil. Also: prosperous, carefree. A halcyon is a mythical bird, identified with the Kingfisher, that could supposedly calm ocean storms.

  The company’s HALCYON years were behind it; all was in chaos now.

  harangue (huh-RANG), verb

  Lecture; berate; also, an instance of such berating.

  Professor Thomas kept me after class to HARANGUE me for handing in a handwritten term paper.

  harbinger (HAR-bin-jur), noun

  Someone or something that announces the approach of another, or of a forthcoming event.

  The artist’s mediocre early work, while commercially unsuccessful, did serve as a HARBINGER of future triumphs that dealing with similar themes.

  hoary (HOHR-ee), adjective

  Gray or white with age. Also, describes someone or something that is old and venerable.

  Those HOARY urban myths about madmen lurking along lovers lanes no longer have the power to scare teenagers.

  homage (HOM-ij), noun

  Display of special respect or honor. To pay homage to someone is to act in a way that shows high reverence or alleigance.

  The family made the long auto trip primarily to pay HOMAGE to their dying uncle.

  hovel (HUV-ul), noun

  A modest, humble home or hut; a rude or dirty dwelling-place.

  In the storm scenes of King Lear, Edward is disguised as Poor Tom, a lunatic who has sought shelter in a HOVEL on the barren heath.

  hubbub (HUB-ub), noun

  A commotion; an outburst.

  The HUBBUB outside our window came as a surprise; the parade was not due for an hour, yet the streets were already thronged with people.

  iconoclastic (eye-kon-uh-KLASS-tik), adjective

  Given to attacking cherished institutions or beliefs. Taken most literally, iconoclastic describes a person who defaces or destroys holy images or icons.

  Shaw’s ICONOCLASTIC approach to issues of social class won him many enemies.

  ilk (ilk), noun

  Family, type, or category.

  I have no use for such vapid writers as Crennenfield, or anyone of his ILK.

  illusory (ih-LOO-suh-ree), adjective

  An illusion is something that appears real but is not. Thus, something illusory seems genuine but is probably fake or deceptive.

  After she moved to the beach, Lorna expected to feel joy but instead found that joy ILLUSORY.

  impalpable (im-PAL-puh-bull), adjective

  Impossible to perceive through use of the sense of touch. Impalpable also refers to anything extremely difficult to perceive or interpret.

  The prosecution has tried to connect my client with the murderer, but all the connections they have put forward have been IMPALPABLE ones.

  imparity (im-PARE-uh-tee), noun

  Inequality; disparity. Things that are unequal in scope or extent possess imparity.

  The treaty will rectify the serious IMPARITY that now exists in weapons systems.

  impasse (IM-pass), noun

  A situation that seems to offer no solution or escape. To reach an impasse is to come to a point of stalemate. Literally, an impasse is a dead-end street or passage.

  Torn realized that his relationship with Betty had come to an IMPASSE; divorce was now on her mind, and he knew it.

  impecunious (im-pih-KYOO-nee-uss), adjective

  Lacking in money; having little or nothing in the way of funds.

  When Greg and Cheryl first met, their IMPECUNIOUS circumstances led them to take a lot of long walks instead of going out to dinner or dancing.

  imperiled (im-PARE-uld), adjective

  Endangered.

  Fred knew that if he stumbled on the final history test of the year, the B-plus average he had worked toward all semester long would be IMPERILED.

  impertinent (im-PURR-tih-nent), adjective

  Rude; brash. Something that is improper or beyond established bounds is impertinent.

  What an IMPERTINENT thing to say!

  impetus (IHM-puh-tuss), noun

  The force that moves something or someone to action.

  Losing his job became the IMPETUS for John to focus full-time on his writing career.

  implore (im-PLORE), verb

&nbs
p; To beseech or beg for fervently. To implore is to plead urgently.

  She IMPLORED him to attend the party.

  impolitic (im-PAWL-i-tick), adjective

  Not expedient; injudicious.

  After a few drinks, Uncle Roland has an unfortunate habit of making IMPOLITIC remarks about my father’s failed business ventures.

  importunate (im-PORE-chuh-nit), adjective

  Demanding or impatient in issuing repeated requests. An importunate person makes many annoying entreaties.

  Two-year-olds, though lovable, can be IMPORTUNATE; Wesley seemed unprepared for this.

  imprecation (im-prih-KAY-shun), noun

  An oath or curse. The verb form is “imprecate.”

  When the wide receiver fumbled the ball, the crowd attacked him with numerous colorful IMPRECATIONS.

  impropriety (im-pruh-PRY-ih-tee), noun

  Incorrectness. An impropriety is a misdeed or crossing of established social mores.

  Beverly’s minor IMPROPRIETY at the dinner table was overlooked; the conversation turned quickly to other topics.

  impugn (im-PYOON), verb

  To brand as false in argument or discourse. Impugn usually implies an open attack or challenge upon another’s honesty or motives.

  Are you attempting to IMPUGN my husband’s version of the attack?

  inception (in-SEP-shun), noun

  Beginning. Inception refers to the generation of an idea or organism, from its initial developmental stages onward.

  The car was riddled with design flaws, most dating back to the auto’s INCEPTION in 1972.

  incipient (in-SIP-ee-unt), adjective

  Early in development; at a beginning stage.

  Attempting to stave off an INCIPIENT flu, Marsha consumed glass after glass of orange juice.

  inclement (in-CLEM-unt), adjective

  Harsh. Inclement is often used to refer to the condition of the weather.

  The unexpected INCLEMENT weather ruined our vacation.

  incongruous (in-CON-groo-uss), adjective

  Not consistent; incompatible.

  Much of the troupe’s humor relies on an absurd grouping of INCONGRUOUS elements, a technique best exemplified by the dapper-looking, by-the-numbers bureaucrat who heads up the Ministry of Silly Walks.

  incontestable (in-kuhn-TES-tuh-bull), adjective

  Cannot be argued with because it is unquestionable.

  The fact that Lloyd thinks his talent for birdcalls will be found attractive by women is INCONTESTABLE proof that he will remain a lifelong bachelor.

  inculcate (IN-kul-kate), verb

  To instill (learning) by means of repetition or instruction. To inculcate is to impress an idea upon someone with urging or earnest example.

  Rachel tried to INCULCATE the virtue of thrift in her daughter.

  indefatigable (in-di-FAT-ih-guh-bul), adjective

  Tireless. Someone who possesses unyielding stamina is indefatigable.

  Betty, an INDEFATIGABLE runner, never seemed to slow her pace.

  indignant (in-DIG-nunt), adjective

  Marked by indignation; offended by behavior perceived as unjust or immoral; angered.

  Although I apologized for the better part of a week for showing up raving drunk at Simon’s parent’s house, he remained INDIGNANT.

  indoctrinate (in-DOCK-truh-nate), verb

  To teach; to impart with the knowledge or views of a particular group, philosophy, or theory.

  Max’s earnest attempts to INDOCTRINATE me with the ideals of the Communist Party left me howling with laughter.

  indubitable (in-DOO-bih-tuh-bull), adjective

  Absolutely unquestionable and completely beyond doubt.

  Warren’s been right so many times that his judgment is considered INDUBITABLE.

  inebriated (in-EE-bree-ate-ud), adjective

  Intoxicated. Someone who is inebriated is drunk.

  The two men at the bar became steadily more INEBRIATED as the night wore on.

  inexorable (in-EK-sur-uh-bul), adjective

  Unyielding. Something that is stubborn or unwavering is inexorable.

  “The INEXORABLE advance of our troops,” the Union general said happily, “will complicate things for Mr. Davis.”

  inexplicable (in-eks-PLIK-uh-bul), adjective

  Defying explanation or interpretation. That which is hard to communicate is inexplicable.

  My opponent’s failure to file income tax returns is INEXPLICABLE.

  inextricable (in-ick-STRICK-uh-bull), adjective

  Incapable of being disentangled. Also describes something that is hopelessly complex. The adverb form, which you may see, is “inextricably.”

  The INEXTRICABLE problem remained unsolved, even after the company’s best minds spent three days attacking it.

  infer (in-FUR), verb

  To gather by reasoning. To infer is not the same as to imply, which means “to leave the suggestion that.”

  I think we can INFER here that the author is using the character as a mouthpiece of sorts to air her own concerns.

  infinitesimal (in-fin-uh-TESS-ih-mull), adjective

  So small that it can’t accurately be measured.

  Which color lipstick to wear tonight is an INFINITESIMAL, not a major, issue, so let’s get going already!

  infirmity (in-FUR-mih-tee), noun

  A physical ailment. Sometimes the word is used to denote a mental weakness, such as being overly cautious.

  Randall, get over yourself. An ingrown toenail is annoying. It’s not an INFIRMITY. You cannot park in the handicapped spot!

  inordinate (in-OR-den-it), adjective

  Excessive; too much.

  An INORDINATE number of students failed the last test, leading Professor Harris to believe he’d made it too difficult.

  inroad (IN-road), noun

  An opening or entry (said especially of a new idea, campaign, or undertaking).

  Inroad originally referred to a military maneuver during invasion.

  The new brand of cookies was still unknown in the South, although it had made significant INROADS in the Midwest.

  inscrutable (in-SKROO-tuh-bul), adjective

  Dense or difficult to fathom; resisting of scrutiny. Something that is hard to decipher could be called inscrutable.

  Tom’s INSCRUTABLE smile made many in the room uneasy.

  insuperable (in-SOO-pur-uh-bul), adjective

  Impossible to overcome.

  Faced with hostile rhetoric from members of his own party, mounting opposition in Congress, and a seemingly INSUPERABLE resistance to his policies on the part of the press, the president must sometimes have wondered why he ever selected this line of work.

  interminable (in-TUHR-mih-nuh-bull), adjective

  Describes something unpleasant that is seemingly without end.

  My wait in the doctor’s waiting room seemed INTERMINABLE.

  intractable (in-TRACK-tuh-bull), adjective

  Unwilling to be led; stubborn.

  Although Monty tried everything he could think of to help Elston overcome his habit of exploding at his coworkers, Elston proved quite INTRACTABLE and actually seemed to resent his efforts.

  intrinsic (in-TRIN-zik), adjective

  In the essential nature of a thing. Something intrinsic is fundamental in character.

  The INTRINSIC value of gold was one of the few common economic factors the nations could take advantage of.

  invective (in-VEK-tiv), noun

  Abusive language. Invective is denunciatory or overly harsh speech or writing.

  Clark’s stream of INVECTIVE near the end of the meeting was totally uncalled for.

  inveigh (in-VAY), verb

  To protest strongly. Inveigh is usually followed by against.

  The crowd INVEIGHED against the governor’s decision to commute Davidson’s sentence.

  inveterate (in-VET-er-ut), adjective

  Deep-rooted. A persisting or long-established habit is an inveterate one.


  Mike is an INVETERATE gambler; his marriage suffered greatly because of it.

  irremediable (ihr-ree-MEE-dee-uh-bull), adjective

  Describes something that cannot be repaired, cured, or remedied.

  One too many arguments between Rose and Jim finally left their fragile relationship IRREMEDIABLE.

  jocose (joh-KOHSS), adjective

  Characterized by joking and good humor.

  Everyone loves Bob because of his JOCOSE manner.

  jocund (JOK-und), adjective

  Given to merriment. Someone who possesses a cheery disposition is jocund.

  Tim’s JOCUND personality made him the life of the party.

  jurisprudence (joor-iss-PROO-dence), noun

  The science of law. Jurisprudence is the philosophy behind legal practice.

  Casey’s study of JURISPRUDENCE lasted for three long years.

  kibosh (KYE-bosh), noun

  The act of halting or squelching. To put the kibosh on something is to stop it.

  Literally, a kibosh is a spell that brings about the doom of something.

  We had wanted to go to the baseball game, but Ryan—who’s bored by the sport—put the KIBOSH on that pretty quickly.

  kow-tow (KOW-tow), verb

  To show respect, deference, or servility.

  For the sake of keeping peace in the family, Alice KOW-TOWED to her father, spending her evenings at home instead of joining her friends at the dance club.

  laborious (luh-BORE-ee-us), adjective

  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 Ph.D.

  lachrymose (LACK-rih-moce), adjective

  Causing tears or sadness.

  While most men I know dismiss An Affair to Remember as a LACHRYMOSE melodrama, the women in my office consider it one of the best movie romances in history.

  lambaste (LAM-baste), verb and noun

  To reprimand sharply or attack verbally. Lambaste originally meant “to beat harshly.”

  What a LAMBASTING he received from his mother for coming home late!

  lamentation (lam-en-TAY-shun), noun

  An expression of mourning. Originally, a lament was a song or poem expressing grief; a lamentation is the act of expressing grief and sorrow.

  Karl heard groans of LAMENTATION from his mother’s room.

  lascivious (luh-SIV-ee-us), adjective

  Wanton or lustful. That which excites sexual desires is lascivious.

  Grandmother Jones, upon being informed that the dancers at the club had done a cancan for us, denounced such LASCIVIOUS goings on.