The Big Book of Words You Should Know

by David Olsen

  At first Michael had doubts about his religious calling, but he eventually discovered that his tendency toward solitude and introspection were well suited to the life of an ASCETIC.

  assignation (as-ig-NAY-shun), noun

  A rather stuffy word for a rather “unstuffy” subject, an assignation is a secret meeting between lovers.

  The ASSIGNATIONS between the countess and the stable boy caused tongues to wag throughout the town.

  atavistic (at-uh-VIS-tic), adjective

  Having characteristics regressing to a more primitive type; resembling a distant relative.

  I can’t help thinking that when the men all congregate around the barbecue, some ATAVISTIC instinct from the stone age is at work.

  augur (AW-gur), verb

  To foretell future events, as though by supernatural knowledge or power; to divine; to indicate a future trend or happening.

  The chairman’s sour mood this morning does not AUGUR well for that budget proposal we made.

  azimuth (AZ-uh-muth), noun

  The distance in degrees in a clockwise direction from the southernmost point of a body.

  The AZIMUTH between the main mast and the sea varied as the boat pitched in the waves.

  bacchanalian (back-uh-NAIL-yuhn), adjective

  Drunken and carousing.

  The fraternity brothers seemed to have an insatiable appetite for BACCHANALIAN revelry.

  basilica (buh-SILL-ih-kuh), noun

  An oblong building used as a Christian church, especially one built in medieval Italy with strong horizontal accents and little attempt at rhythmic internal design; a building reminiscent of such a structure.

  The highlight of our visit to Rome was our visit to St. Peter’s BASILICA.

  bathos (BATH-oss), noun

  Something excessively trivial, sentimental, or melodramatic; also, a ludicrous change from the high-minded to the commonplace.

  The play’s BATHOS made it hard for me to take it seriously, but June thought it was the most moving drama she had ever seen.

  benighted (bee-NYT-ed), adjective

  Ignorant or unenlightened. Also: lost in night or darkness. A person in intellectual or moral darkness is said to be benighted. A culture or time that is considered primitive or crude can also be said to be benighted.

  It was a BENIGHTED era of superstition and folly, yet its problems were not all that different from ours.

  bibelot (BEE-buh-low), noun

  A beautiful trinket.

  The rest of the family dismissed the contents of Grandma’s jewelry box as junk, but I found a few BIBELOTS.

  bibulous (BIB-yuh-luss), adjective

  Ah, a fancy word for one of humankind’s favorite activities: drinking! Bibulous is related to drinking or to drunkenness.

  You may think you’re “fine,” but your BIBULOUS activities will put you in the poorhouse or in jail one of these days!

  bildungsroman (BILL-dungs-roh-man), noun

  Impress your friends with this German word for a coming-of-age novel, such as

  The Catcher in the Rye or Bastard Out of Carolina.

  I enjoyed Professor Graham’s class, but I wish he hadn’t limited us to studies of BILDUNGSROMANS.

  bilge (bilj), noun

  The lowest portion of a ship’s hull.

  The sailors ventured down to the bowels of the ship to find that the BILGE had sprung a leak.

  biogenesis (bye-oh-JEN-ih-siss), noun

  The process of life arising from other living things. Biogenesis, a scientific word, was coined by T.H. Huxley in 1870.

  BIOGENESIS involves an unending regenerative cycle of life and death.

  bluejacket (BLOO-jak-eht), noun

  A person enlisted in the United States or British Navy.

  Because San Diego is a big Navy town, many of its nightclubs cater to BLUEJACKETS and attract few civilians.

  bonhomie (bohn-uh-MEE), noun

  A pleasant disposition.

  Bill’s attempts at BONHOMIE were usually futile, limited to a curt and forced “hello” for each staff member as the day began.

  bouillabaisse (BOO-yuh-base), noun

  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.

  bovine (BO-vine), adjective

  Of or resembling a cow or ox; dull.

  The hardest part of teaching high school for me has been getting used to the look of BOVINE submissiveness on most of my students’ faces.

  brummagem (BRUHM-uh-juhm), noun or adjective

  Describes something that looks great but performs poorly, or brummagem can be used as the name for such a thing.

  I would have been better off getting an old heap with a good engine than buying this snazzy-looking BRUMMAGEM.

  bugaboo (BUG-uh-boo), noun

  An object of fear. Something that causes worry or dismay is a bugaboo.

  I hope you’re not going to be swayed by the old BUGABOO that changing a package design is a sure way to kill a product.

  bumptious (BUMP-shuss), adjective

  Overbearing or crudely assertive. Someone who is bumptious is overly pushy or impertinent.

  We had difficulty crossing the border because Nan got into a squabble with a BUMPTIOUS border guard.

  burlesque (burr-LESK), adjective

  This French word concerns literary works or plays that mock conventions by grotesquely caricaturing them.

  The play was intentionally BURLESQUE because the dramatist was trying to point out the absurdity of racial hatred.

  cadre (KAH-dray), noun

  This French word refers to the backbone or framework of a group, typically a government or military agency.

  Even after the war ended, a number of officers were left to form a CADRE in order to quell future unrest in the region.

  cambric (KAM-brik), noun

  A variety of fine linen.

  My grandmother gave us a beautiful CAMBRIC tablecloth as a wedding present.

  canard (kuh-NARD), noun

  A fabrication or unfounded story. Someone who spreads a rumor he knows to be false and harmful would be guilty of circulating a canard.

  The claim that the president of the company is likely to resign soon has been throughly discredited, but you will still hear some members of the opposition spreading the CANARD.

  canon (KAH-nun), noun

  A principle governing political or religious groups; a law or set of laws.

  Early in the play, Hamlet expresses his wish that God “ had not fix’ d his CANON ‘gainst self-slaughter.”

  canonical (kuh-NON-ih-kuhl), adjective

  In accordance with or conforming to established (church) law. Also: accepted as belonging within a body of work (especially the Bible). Orthodox behavior can be said to be canonical.

  The CANONICAL requirements of the sect were stringent and difficult to obey.

  caste (kast), noun

  A social class marked by strong hereditary and cultural ties. Caste also refers to the strict set of social boundaries and customs determined by birth within Hindu society.

  When Roland married the daughter of a shopkeeper, he was accused by some of having betrayed his CASTE.

  catarrh (kuh-TARR), noun

  An inflammation of the mucous membrane, especially one affecting the throat or nose.

  Dr. Alonzo promised us that his special elixir would relieve any and all illnesses, including influenza, CATARRH, and snakebite.

  catharsis (kuh-THAR-siss), noun

  To purify and rejuvenate the body and spirit by purging them of whatever is causing problems; to release tensions and achieve renewal by an outpouring of emotion.

  Jimmy’s therapist suggested that the young boy take up painting as a means of achieving a CATHARSIS after his father’s death.

  censer (SEN-sur), noun

  A vessel for burning incense.

  Fa
ther Riley looked in vain for the altar boy, then placed the CENSER on the altar himself.

  cerebellum (sare-uh-BELL-um), noun

  A region of the brain located at the back of the cerebrum and the brain stem; the portion of the brain concerned with muscle coordination and bodily equilibrium.

  Mary’s frequent dizziness after the car accident led doctors to believe that there might have been an injury to her CEREBELLUM.

  cerulean (suh-RUE-lee-un), adjective

  The color of the sky.

  The brochure told me to expect perfectly CERULEAN skies, but it rained so much during my vacation that I never saw them.

  chiaroscuro (kee-are-uh-SCURE-oh), noun

  This Italian word means a pattern of light and dark (or light and shadow) in a painting or literary work.

  The power of the painting comes from its CHIAROSCURO, which seems to indicate looming disaster.

  chimera (KI-mer-uh), noun

  In Greek mythology, a chimera is a terrifying monster, a cross between a lion, a goat, and a dragon. In modern times the word has come to mean an illusion of the mind or a dream that can’t possibly be realized.

  Leon’s painful shyness has become a CHIMERA that keeps him from realizing his goal of finding true love.

  chimerical (kih-MARE-ih-kull), adjective

  Fanciful, imaginary, or unreal. A chimerical event is one that seems dreamlike or surrealistic.

  A CHIMERICAL landscape greeted those brave enough to emerge from the ship.

  chloroform (KLORE-uh-form), noun

  A colorless, toxic liquid chemical possessing a strong ether smell, and sometimes used as an anesthetic.

  Police found a CHLOROFORM soaked-rag on the floor of the study and surmised that the kidnappers had used it to knock Mr. Robinson out.

  cinephile (SIN-uh-file), noun

  One who loves movies and is extremely knowledgeable about them. The word usually contains the suggestion that the movie-lover prefers obscure cult or foreign films rather than Hollywood blockbusters.

  Elaine is such a CINEPHILE that she won’t even go to see a film without subtitles.

  circumflex (SUR-kum-flex), noun

  An accent mark (^) placed over a letter to indicate a certain pronunciation.

  Much to the dismay of the European journalists in town to cover the road race, the American typewriters in their hotels had no keys for CIRCUMFLEXES or other accent marks.

  claque (klak), noun

  A group of people hired to applaud at an entertainment event.

  The first comedian was absolutely terrible; if it hadn’t been for the CLAQUE the management had assembled at the last minute, there wouldn’t have been any applause at all.

  climacteric (klih-MACK-ter-ick), adjective or noun

  In ancient Greece, the climacterics were considered important years in a person’s life, times when great changes occurred. Today, one meaning of climacteric is “menopause,” but it also means any pivotal time in a person’s life.

  After Gwen graduated from college and moved across the country, her life was filled with CLIMACTERIC events.

  codger (KOD-jur), noun

  A peculiar or eccentric man, generally of advanced years.

  Our next-door neighbor was Mr. Pottman, a likeable CODGER who used to wash his car every afternoon, even if it had rained in the morning.

  coeval (koh-EE-vuhl), adjective or noun

  Of the same period, having the same duration, or being of the same age.

  It’s interesting to think that the squeaky clean Cleavers of Leave It to Beaver and the polite society-shunning members of the Beat Generation were COEVALS.

  cogent (KOE-junt), adjective

  Compelling or convincing. Something that appeals effectively to the intellect or reason is said to be cogent.

  I must admit that my counterpart has put forward a COGENT argument in defense of his client.

  cognomen (kog-NO-muhn), noun

  A nickname.

  He doesn’t mind being called “Leopold,” but he prefers his COGNOMEN, “Lee.”

  cognoscente (kon-yuh-SHEN-tee), noun

  A connoisseur; an expert. (Plural: cognoscenti.)

  When it comes to wine-tasting, Arthur is well respected as a COGNOSCENTE.

  comity (KOM-ih-tee), noun

  Courtesy; mutual civility.

  The police were kind enough to grant me the COMITY of a private telephone call once I promised to stop removing pieces of clothing and flinging them at the sergeant.

  complaisant (kum-PLAY-zunt), adjective

  Eager to please; agreeable. Complaisant is frequently confused with the similar-sounding “complacent,” which means “self-satisfied.”

  After months of personality problems with Trish, Fran suddenly found her quite COMPLAISANT.

  conclave (KON-klave), noun

  A secret meeting; also, the room in which this meeting is held.

  Fearing he might crack under pressure, the rebels did not include Eli in the CONCLAVE in which they gathered to plan their attack strategy.

  concupiscent (kahn-KYU-puh-cent), adjective

  Marked by strong desire, especially strong sexual desire.

  Connie’s CONCUPISCENT manner makes some people question her virtue.

  conflate (kuhn-FLATE), verb

  Depending on the context, conflate means either a fusion—a coming together of disparate elements—or it means to confuse.

  I am completely CONFLATED by molecular physics.

  confraternity (kahn-fruh-TURN-ih-tee), noun

  An association of people united for a common cause.

  Eager to improve the condition of our neighborhood playgrounds, Carol and I joined a town CONFRATERNITY that had formed for that purpose.

  conoidal (kuh-NOYD-uhl), adjective

  Shaped like, or nearly like, a cone.

  My son’s paintings of CONOIDAL shapes are all the rage in his preschool.

  consanguineous (con-san-GWIN-ee-us), adjective

  Related by blood; of common lineage. Two people or entities that are consanguineous are commonly descended. The word derives from the Latin roots for “with” and “blood.”

  The two brothers learned of their CONSANGUINEOUS relationship after a series of blood tests.

  constant dollars (KON-stuhnt DOLL-urz), noun

  In economics, a measure of monetary value in which the factors of inflation and deflation are accounted for; a base year’s currency value used to determine what costs would presumably have been in other years.

  The figures on our division’s growth were extremely misleading because they had not been converted to CONSTANT DOLLARS.

  contravention (kon-truh-VEN-shun), noun

  An instance of contradiction or opposition; also, the condition of being overruled or disobeyed.

  Your appearance here without the full report is in blatant CONTRAVENTION of the instructions laid out in my memo.

  controvert (KON-truh-vert), verb

  To oppose with logical reasoning; to dispute or contradict.

  No matter how many attempts the defense makes to CONTROVERT the details of this sequence of events, the fact remains that the defendant was seen leaving the building immediately after the murder.

  contumely (kon-TYOO-muh-lee), noun

  A rude display in speech or deed; contemptuous behavior. Contumely can also mean humiliating derision.

  No matter how long he had held the grudge against Aaron, his CONTUMELY at the wedding was uncalled for.

  convocation (kon-vo-KAY-shun), noun

  An assembly of people gathered in response to a summons. Convocation also has a technical meaning within the Episcopal church: a gathering of laity requested by church officials.

  The address Mr. Freling gave at the CONVOCATION challenged all graduates to excel.

  corrigendum (kor-ih-JEHN-dum), noun

  An error to be corrected in a manuscript. (Plural: corrigenda.)

  The proofreader handed the manuscript back to Bill, who was horri
fied to find that it still contained hundreds of CORRIGENDA.

  costive (KAH-stiv), adjective

  Specifically, costive refers to constipation or something that causes constipation.

  More generally, the word describes slow and sluggish people or things.

  I took my car to a mechanic because of my car’s increasingly COSTIVE performance.

  countermand (KOUNT-er-mand), verb

  To cancel officially, especially to cancel a previous order.

  Once Harold began smoking again, he COUNTERMANDED the no-smoking policy he’ d recently adopted for his business.

  crapulous (KRAP-yuh-luss), adjective

  From the Latin meaning “sick with gluttony,” crapulous describes someone who eats and drinks too much, or it describes the effects of eating and drinking too much. In other words . . . it’s a great way to describe a hangover.

  Jim spent the day after the party in a CRAPULOUS state.

  crepitate (KREPP-uh-tate), verb

  To crack, crinkle, or pop. Crepitate has come to be a “polite” word for flatulence because flatulence often makes a cracking or popping sound.

  Joe jumped up and sat down several times, as if to prove that his chair—and not he—was CREPITATING.

  crepuscular (krih-PUSS-kya-lerr), adjective

  Having to do with twilight or things—like certain bugs—that are active at twilight. In addition, crepuscular means “dim.”

  There’s nothing like the CREPUSCULAR cast of the sky just before full dark falls.

  cubism (KYOO-biz-um), noun

  A school of sculpture and painting that came to prominence in the early twentieth century in which forms are rendered as geometric structures.

  Although Picasso is the first painter most people think of when asked to name a pioneer of CUBISM, his friend George Braque was equally important in the development of the movement.

  cubit (KYOO-bit), noun

  An archaic unit of measure, roughly equivalent to twenty inches.

  Most editions of the Book of Genesis give the measurements of Noah’s Ark in CUBITS, although some editors have converted such passages to modern terms of measurement.

  cygnet (SIG-nit), noun

  A young swan.

  The proud mother swan led her brood of CYGNETS toward the north end of the pond.