The Big Book of Words You Should Know

by David Olsen

  febrile (FEE-brul), adjective

  Feverish. That which is marked by elevated body temperature is febrile.

  Due to Mother’s current FEBRILE condition, we are uneasy about her accompanying us on the trip.

  femur (FEE-mur), noun

  The bone between the pelvis and the knee; the thighbone.

  The force of the tackle caused a hairline fracture that extended along the entire length of Eli’s right FEMUR.

  ferrous (FAIR-us), adjective

  Relating to iron; of or pertaining to a substance that contains iron.

  To counteract the loss of iron during menstruation, many doctors suggest that their female patients take a FERROUS vitamin supplement every day.

  ferule (FER-uhl), noun or verb

  A stick used to punish children, or the act of hitting with a ferule. More generally, the word is equivalent to “punish” or “punishment.”

  Since my distracted state had led to the accident, I stood patiently as the other driver FERULED me with harsh words.

  fiat (FEE-at), noun

  An arbitrary pronouncement or decree. To rule by fiat is to constantly issue orders on one’s own authority, without any check or consultation.

  The king issued a FIAT on the question of religious worship, but the citizenry ignored it.

  fibula (FIB-you-luh), noun

  The large outer bone of the lower portion of the leg.

  The little brat kicked me so hard I thought for a moment that she might have broken my FIBULA.

  filial (FILL-ee-ull), adjective

  That which is due from or befitting a son or daughter; pertaining to a son a daughter.

  Mother considered it my FILIAL responsibility to take over the family business when I graduated, but I wanted to pursue a career of my own.

  filigree (FIL-uh-gree), noun or adjective

  Delicate decorative work made of twisted wire.

  The crown was adorned with beautiful jewels and intricate gold FILIGREE.

  fillip (FILL-up), verb

  To strike or tap energetically. Also, to excite or stimulate, as though one were tapped.

  Unemployment FILLIPED my efforts to finish and publish my novel.

  fjord (fyord), noun

  A thin strip of sea flowing between cliffs or hills.

  Prison officials were able to determine that the two escapees had managed to escape the island fortress by drugging the guards, crawling through a secret tunnel, and swimming out to the small motorboat accomplices had hidden in the FJORD.

  flagitious (fluh-JISH-us), adjective

  Describes someone shamefully wicked or describes particularly heinous events.

  For many years, apartheid was the FLAGITIOUS wound around which South Africa was built.

  flambé (flom-BAY), verb

  To serve in flaming liquor (usually brandy).

  Although the dinner was only so-so, the raspberry custard FLAMBÉ, which the waiter ignited at our table, was both dramatic and delicious.

  floe (flow), noun

  A large chunk or sheet of floating ice.

  The penguins would amuse themselves for hours jumping and sliding off the broad, flat FLOES and careening into the water.

  four-flusher (FOR-flush-ur), noun

  In poker, a player who bluffs.

  Our Friday-night poker games aren’t played with the highest degree of honesty; everyone involved is a well-known FOUR-FLUSHER.

  fractious (FRAK-shuss), adjective

  Unruly; likely to cause disturbance or trouble. A fractious person is quarrelsome and difficult.

  Michael’s FRACTIOUS nature made him an unsuitable candidate for a career in customer service.

  frangible (FRAN-juh-bull), adjective

  Easily breakable.

  The FRANGIBLE vase did not survive the cross-country move.

  freebooter (FREE-boo-ter), noun

  A pirate; one who takes his loot—or booty—without asking.

  John quickly thought of Alan as a FREEBOOTER and not as a roommate splitting costs fifty-fifty.

  friable (FRY-uh-bull), adjective

  Easily crumbled; brittle.

  The FRIABLE pottery was packed in layers of bubble wrap to prevent breakage.

  frisson (free-SON), noun

  A brief shudder of excitement; a thrill.

  Maria felt a FRISSON of joy at winning the drama award, but it was tempered by the fact that one of the people she had beaten out was her best friend.

  fugacious (fyoo-GAY-shuss), adjective

  Fleeting, transitory, short-lived.

  The FUGACIOUS mid-summer cold snap was a welcome relief from the heat.

  fulminate (FUL-mih-nate), verb

  To explode. Also: to denounce loudly or forcefully. Someone who fulminates thunders forth or issues a dramatic attack.

  He FULMINATED against the bill on the floor of the Senate, but he knew he did not have the votes to defeat it.

  fulsome (FUL-sum), adjective

  Excessive and overdone, especially in a way inconsistent with good taste. Also: insincerely earnest in expression.

  Although Marian greeted my work with FULSOME praise, it was clear to me within five minutes of our meeting that she hadn’t read a page of it.

  fungible (FUHN-jih-bull), adjective

  A fancy way to say “interchangeable.”

  I don’t think a twelve-inch black and white television is FUNGIBLE for a forty-two inch color set.

  funicular (fyoo-NICK-you-ler), adjective

  A funicular railway contains cars that are toted up and down hillsides by means of a cord or cable. Thus, something funicular is related to ropes, cables, and cords as well as the tension on them.

  We got to the site and couldn’t go climbing because Jenny had left behind all the necessary FUNICULAR equipment.

  furbelow (FUR-buh-low), noun

  A showy ruffle.

  Deborah’s floor-length dress ended in a beautiful silk FURBELOW.

  futurism (FYOO-chur-ih-zim), noun

  An early 20th-century arts movement stressing the dynamics and movements of the industrial age.

  Jones was fascinated by early industrial art; last semester he took a course on FUTURISM.

  gamine (GAH-mean), adjective or noun

  A slight, diminutive girl who often is plucky or perky; or the description of such a girl.

  As the actress grew older and put on weight, she was no longer able to play the GAMINE roles that had made her reputation.

  garrulity (guh-ROO-lih-tee), noun

  Talkativeness. Garrulity refers to one who is overly or habitually given to talking.

  If Michael’s insight only matched his GARRULITY, he would be quite popular.

  gastropod (GAS-tro-pawd), noun

  A variety of mollusk having no shell or a single spiral shell and moving by means of a ventral disk or foot.

  June retorted that she hadn’t ever considered eating GASTROPODS in the United States, and saw no reason to do so in France no matter what they were called.

  gazetteer (gah-zih-TEER), noun

  A dictionary or index of geographical locations.

  The Smiths’ method of deciding where to go on their vacation is to open the GAZETTEER at random and stab the page with a finger; whatever they land on will become their summer destination.

  gelding (GEL-ding), noun

  A castrated animal and, by extension, an emasculated man.

  We called Al a GELDING, but he said he had no problem letting his wife, Mary, take charge of the couple’s financial decisions.

  gemology (jeh-MALL-uh-jee), noun

  The study of gems.

  Despite a lifelong interest in GEMOLOGY, Lucas knew he was in no position to make a valid assessment of the stone’s worth.

  gendarme (zhon-DARM), noun

  An officer in a police force in any of several European countries, but particularly those of France.

  After months of difficult undercover work, the Parisian GENDARME was able to recover
the stolen artwork and return it to its rightful place in the Louvre.

  gerontocracy (jare-un-TOCK-ruh-see), noun

  A group in which the order and rule is kept by a group of elders; government by the older members of a society.

  One of the potential drawbacks of a GERONTOCRACY, of course, is that people entrusted with great political power may well become mentally infirm.

  gerontology (jare-un-TOL-uh-jee), noun

  The field of medicine concerned with illnesses, diseases, and problems specific to old age.

  My decision to enter the field of GERONTOLOGY was greeted with skepticism by my father, who had hoped I would follow in his footsteps and become a general practitioner.

  gesticulate (jes-TICK-yoo-late), verb

  To employ gestures, especially in place of speech. Gesticulate usually implies more animation and excitement than the simpler gesture.

  Unable to speak French, Michael was forced to GESTICULATE to try to make himself understood.

  glaucoma (glaw-KOE-muh), noun

  A disease of the eye caused by increasing pressure on the eyeball, creating damage to the optic disk that, if severe enough, can cause loss of vision.

  The portion of my annual visit to the eye doctor that I like the least is the GLAUCOMA test, in which a blast of air is shot into each eye at close range.

  glissade (glih-SOD), noun

  In mountain climbing, a slide down a steep, snow-covered slope.

  The instructor had made the GLISSADE look easy, but as I looked after him down the slope, I had a feeling my own trek down wouldn’t be quite as smooth.

  glissando (glih-SAHN-doe), adjective

  In music, a smooth transition between intervals, such as the sound a slide trombone or pedal steel guitar makes in moving from one note to another.

  Since there is no way to “bend” its notes, the piano cannot produce a true GLISSANDO.

  Gnostic (NOSS-tik), adjective

  Pertaining to or reminiscent of certain early Christian sects (known as Gnostics) who valued personal knowledge and inquiry as supreme religious values transcending physical experience. (Gnostic also can mean “pertaining to knowledge,” especially in the context of spirituality. It is not normally used as the opposite of agnostic.

  The ancient GNOSTIC gospels, while not part of my formal church teaching, nevertheless made for illuminating reading.

  gormandize (GORE-mun-dize), verb

  To eat in a greedy, ravenous manner. Someone who gormandizes eats to satisfy a voracious appetite. Someone who does this is known as a gormand (or gourmand); this is very different from gourmet, which describes someone who cultivates refined tastes for food of the finest quantity.

  Tom’s tendency to GORMANDIZE eventually made him an unwelcome dinner guest.

  gourmand (GOOR-mahnd), noun

  One who eats well and to excess.

  A well-known GOURMAND, Uncle Abe was forced to change his eating habits after his heart attack.

  gravid (GRAV-id), adjective

  Large, due to pregnancy.

  Jean’s GRAVID condition made it difficult for her to climb stairs.

  gravitas (GRAV-ih-tahss), noun

  From the Latin meaning “heavy,” gravitas denotes seriousness and weightiness of thought.

  Jim’s boyish looks kept him from attaining the GRAVITAS he desired to convey.

  grenadine (GREN-uh-deen), noun

  Reddish-orange in color; also, a pomegranate-flavored syrup used in preparing mixed drinks.

  Ted had planned to make Tequila Sunrises for the party, but as he had no GRENADINE to add a hint of red, he called the drinks “Tequila Sunbursts.”

  grifter (GRIFF-ter), noun

  A person who engages in unseemly activities; a swindler, a dishonest gambler, etc.

  The small-town bar was filled with reprobates, toothless legions, and GRIFTERS. I felt right at home.

  guerrilla (guh-RILL-uh), noun and adjective

  A guerilla is a member of an informal group of fighters that attacks enemies with surprise raids, sabotage, booby traps, etc. When used as an adjective, the word guerilla describes these fighters or their actions.

  The nation’s army could not defeat the GUERRILLAS, who seemed to swoop down invisibly from the mountains, wreak havoc, then disappear.

  habiliment (huh-BIL-eh-ment), noun

  A piece of clothing; a garment.

  Much to the puzzlement of his staid colleagues, Professor Herriot looked upon the hippies of the 1960s, with their unorthodox choices in lifestyle and HABILIMENT, as welcome additions to a stagnant social order.

  halyard (HAL-yurd), noun

  A tackle or rope usually used on ships to help hoist and lower sails.

  As the storm intensified, Mary told us to slacken the HALYARD while Billy tried to guide the boat back toward shore.

  hardtack (HARD-tak), noun

  A hard biscuit once common in the rations of sailors and soldiers. Hardtack did not spoil—a major logistical benefit.

  By the end of the war, the Union soldiers were thoroughly sick of the HARDTACK and vegetable soup that had been the mainstay of their diet.

  hegemony (he-JEM-uh-nee), noun

  Predominant influence, especially in reference to the affairs of nations. To say one nation practices hegemony over another is to suggest that it exercises undue influence over conduct, mores, or administration within that nation.

  Our foe’s HEGEMONY will not stop with his control of smaller nations; his aim is world domination.

  hemophilia (hee-mo-FEE-lee-uh), noun

  A blood defect usually affecting males but transmitted by females in which the blood fails to clot normally, often leading to uncontrolled hemorrhaging.

  Because so many HEMOPHILIA patients have contracted the AIDS virus from contaminated blood, many will only accept transfusions using blood that has been donated by family and friends.

  herbicide (URB-ih-syde), noun

  A chemical that kills plants. Herbicide refers especially to that which eradicates weeds.

  Although originally described as a comparatively harmless HERBICIDE, Agent Orange was (as thousands of soldiers learned much later) anything but.

  hermaphrodite (hur-MAFF-ruh-dite), noun

  One who possesses both male and female reproductive organs.

  Sheldon brought back miniature statues of the island’s mythic hero, a HERMAPHRODITE warrior.

  heterodox (HETT-uh-ruh-docks), adjective

  Holding unorthodox opinions, especially opinions concerned with religion.

  I believe George will grow out of his HETERODOX beliefs as he gets older.

  hibachi (hih-BOCH-ee), noun

  A small, table-top charcoal grill.

  The manager of the apartment complex would not allow her tenants to keep full-sized gas or charcoal grills on the balconies, but she did make occasional allowances for HIBACHIS.

  hinterlands (HIN-tur-lands), noun

  An area far away from the coastline; also, an area far removed from a city.

  The blizzard dumped nearly three feet of snow on my relatives in the HINTERLANDS, while those of us in town had to deal with icy rain and flooding.

  hippodrome (HIP-uh-drome), noun

  Arena for events such as circuses and horse shows.

  Once a year Dad would take us down to the HIPPODROME in Springville for the 4-H Club’s exposition.

  hirsute (HUR-soot), adjective

  Hairy.

  “Here you are, my HIRSUTE friend,” Dr. Fredericks called out, “a nice juicy bone from the butcher.”

  hoarfrost (HORE-frost), noun

  White, frozen dew that coats surfaces on winter mornings.

  A layer of HOARFROST had covered the drab garden in silver, and the children squealed that the frost fairies had come.

  holistic (ho-LISS-tik), adjective

  Emphasizing wholeness and/or the cooperation of the constituent members of a thing. Holistic is often used to describe medical or healing practices that emphas
ize an organism’s totality, rather than focusing exclusively on one symptom or illness.

  Fenwick takes a HOLISTIC approach to problem-solving that has drawn much positive attention.

  homeopathy (ho-mee-OP-uh-thee), noun

  A means of treating a disease by administering small doses of medicine that in large doses would bring about effects similar to the disease being treated.

  HOMEOPATHY relies on the body’s ability to develop immune responses in warding off disease.

  homiletics (hom-ih-LET-iks), noun

  The art of preaching.

  Rather than risk being swayed by the HOMILETICS of its proponents and opponents, Grandpa made it a point to read the text of every ballot initiative in full before deciding how he would vote on it.

  hominid (HOM-ih-nid), noun

  A member of the animal family to which humans belong. Hominids are humans and their ancestors.

  The first ten minutes of the film depict the first use of tools by a group of ancient African HOMINIDS.

  hookah (HOOK-uh), noun

  A large multistemmed smoking apparatus that cools smoke by passing it through water.

  Terry brought back many artifacts from her trip to India, including incense, silk saris, and even an antique HOOKAH.

  hosanna (ho-ZAN-uh), noun

  From the Hebrew for “save us”; now an expression of praise, exaltation, and adoration typically heard in religious ceremonies; also, an instance of excessive praise.

  Mel’s agent warned him not to take too seriously the HOSANNAS that came his way after he won the acting award.

  house organ (HOUS-or-gun), noun

  A magazine or newsletter published by an organization for distribution within the organization.

  I read about Joanne’s promotion to sales manager in the last issue of On the Line, our HOUSE ORGAN.

  hydraulic (hie-DROLL-ik), adjective

  Related to the study of water, its properties, circulation, and distribution; powered by water.

  Senator Graham argued that harnessing the river could provide HYDRAULIC power to three counties.

  hyperthermia (hie-pur-THUR-mee-uh) noun

  Extreme increase of body heat. Hyperthermia derives from the Greek roots “hyper” and “thermia,” meaning “above” and “heat,” respectively. (Compare with hypothermia.)

  The reading is 108 degrees; we are dealing not with a simple fever, but with severe HYPERTHERMIA.

  hypodermic (hi-puh-DUR-mik), noun