The Big Book of Words You Should Know

by David Olsen

  ubiquity (yoo-BIK-wih-tee), noun

  The quality of being (or of seeming to be) everywhere.

  The UBIQUITY of that song, which you know I can’t stand, is really beginning to get on my nerves.

  ulterior (ul-TEER-ee-ur), adjective

  Being beyond what is obvious or put forth; lying beyond a recognized boundary.

  I flatly reject the notion that my proposal to your daughter is occasioned by any ULTERIOR motive, sir.

  unassuming (un-uh-SOOM-ing), adjective

  Modest; humble.

  Sam is the UNASSUMING type who refuses to take credit after a job well done, preferring to cite the contributions of others.

  underwrite (UN-dur-rite), verb

  To support as by subsidy. Also, to support in full as though undertaking (a risk or venture) oneself.

  A group of philanthropists UNDERWRITES our drama department’s annual play-writing competition.

  undulate (UN-dyoo-late), verb

  Move in a wavelike motion. That which undulates moves in regular wavy patterns.

  After a hard day at work, Ellis would sit on the seashore and stare ahead at the UNDULATING ocean to ease his mind.

  untenable (un-TEN-uh-bull), adjective

  Impossible; unsupportable.

  The paper’s central thesis, that Hamlet is a transvestite, is UNTENABLE to say the least.

  unwieldy (un-WEELD-ee), adjective

  Hard to handle or manage.

  The deliveryman had a tough time getting that UNWIELDY package to our front door.

  unwonted (un-WAHNT-id), adjective

  Not typical, habitual, or ordinary.

  January’s UNWONTED warm weather was far from unwanted!

  usurp (yoo-SURP), verb

  To assume forcibly and/or without right. To usurp is to take over.

  The authority of Congress was indeed USURPED by Lincoln during the war, but legislators briskly reasserted themselves once the crisis was past.

  vacuity (va-KYOO-ih-tee), noun

  Empty; without content.

  Staring out at the VACUITY of the Atlantic, Stan forgot for a moment the hazards of the journey ahead.

  vacuous (VAK-yoo-uss), adjective

  Lacking content or substance. That which is empty is vacuous.

  Televised debates are so potentially dangerous that most candidates settle for offering VACUOUS recitations of campaign speeches rather than saying something new and unexpected.

  valedictory (val-uh-DIC-tuh-ree), adjective

  Saying farewell; of or pertaining to departing.

  Karen was selected to give her class’s VALEDICTORY address.

  vapid (VA-pid), adjective

  Insipid; flat, dull, or lifeless.

  The movie’s scenery was appealing, but its VAPID characters made it hard for one to care about what was going on.

  venerable (VEN-er-uh-bul), adjective

  Commanding reverence; sacred.

  “Ladies and gentlemen” Bob intoned, “ it is my privilege to introduce tonight’s guest of honor, the VENERABLE Dr. Mildred Flint.”

  venerate (VEN-uh-rate), verb

  To regard or treat with the reverence due to one’s god/God or holy leader.

  “The way the United States VENERATES celebrities can be quite annoying,” Sylvia said.

  venial (VEE-nee-ul), adjective

  Forgivable; excusable. (See, for comparison, the entry for venal.)

  Mom told us that occasionally missing curfew was only a VENIAL offense, but lying to her about why we’d missed it was not.

  verve (vurv), noun

  A spirited and enthusiastic manner, particularly when embodied in an artistic performance; an air of vitality.

  The critics were unanimous in their opinion that, although the plot of the play was implausible and its production values poor, the actress playing the librarian brought a unique VERVE to the role.

  vet (vet), verb

  To appraise or evaluate for authenticity.

  The campaign manager thoroughly VETTED the short list of vice-presidential candidates.

  viable (VIE-uh-bul), adjective

  Capable of being performed or occurring.

  Mike argued quite persuasively that the only VIABLE solution to the company’s financial dilemma was for it to go public and raise money by selling stock.

  vicarious (vi-KARE-ee-uss), adjective

  Arising from the experiences of others rather than one’s own experience. To gain vicarious pleasure is to gain pleasure from actions not one’s own.

  I think Paul derives some VICARIOUS thrill from making us fight; every spat we have seems to spring from something he’s said to us.

  visceral (VISS-er-ul), adjective

  Deeply felt. Visceral means “from the viscera,” or bodily interior.

  A VISCERAL wave of panic ran through Clark’s body as he listened to the air-raid siren blare.

  viscous (VIS-kuss), adjective

  Having a gluey nature and consistency.

  I could barely gulp down the VISCOUS concoction my personal trainer called an “energy drink.”

  vivisection (viv-uh-SECK-shun), noun

  The practice of cutting on living animals in order to learn new physiological information.

  Animal-rights activists carried signs outside the clinic in which VIVISECTIONS took place.

  volition (vo-LISH-un), noun

  The mental faculty associated with free will and unhindered, uncoerced choice.

  Nothing you can say or do will be able to transform your father overnight; he will have to admit of his own VOLITION that he needs help and then make a commitment to work toward a recovery.

  voluble (VOL-yuh-bul), adjective

  Talkative; gregarious.

  Muriel’s little girl is the most VOLUBLE two-year-old I’ve ever met. She rattled on endlessly until her mother sent her upstairs to play.

  wanderlust (WAN-dur-lust), noun

  A strong, innate desire to travel.

  While Jerry told his family each Thanksgiving that he would someday settle down and raise a family, his irrepressible WANDERLUST kept him from putting down roots until he was well into his sixties.

  wanton (WON-tun), adjective

  Completely unrestrained. Wanton can also mean “done without any justification.”

  Such WANTON, pointless cruelty, even in the name of science, is inexcusable.

  weal (WEEL), noun

  Happiness and well-being, typically as a result of being financially secure.

  The public WEAL greatly improved under the successful policies of the president.

  whet (hwet), verb

  To stimulate; also, to sharpen a knife or a similar object by honing on a stone.

  Worried that I had eaten so little over the past few days, Mom tried to WHET my appetite by cooking my favorite foods: chicken fingers and mashed potatoes.

  wile (wile), noun

  A clever trick meant to attain a goal; an instance of or talent for beguiling deceit.

  As a verb: to lure, entice, or beguile.

  Headquarters trusts, as always, that the information with which you have been entrusted is secure even from the WILES of a spy of the opposite sex.

  winnow (WIN-oh), verb

  To analyze carefully in order to separate valuable parts from worthless parts.

  I WINNOWED through the stack of personal papers, looking for the ones I needed to present to the IRS.

  winsome (WIN-sum), adjective

  Pleasant; charming.

  Although he had overslept and been in a terrific rush to get out of the house, a WINSOME glance from the vaguely familiar woman at the toll collection booth helped put Milton’s morning back on track.

  wonk (wonk), noun

  A person who spends what many would consider too much time studying information in great detail. Wonk is a favorite word of pundits, who often use it to describe politicians who supplant personal experience with intense study of an issue.

  One candidate
touted his experience and said that his opponent was a policy WONK whose only knowledge of issues came from her ability to read.

  yaw (yaw), verb

  To deviate temporarily from course, as a ship in rough waters or as an airplane encountering turbulence.

  The ship YAWED in the strong winds.

  yearling (YEER-ling), noun

  An animal that has entered its second year; also, a horse that is one year old, dating from the beginning of the year following its foaling.

  Mr. Tompkin’s prize YEARLING is a thoroughbred Clydesdale.

  zephyr (ZEFF-ur), noun

  The west wind; any gentle wind.

  Mike christened his new boat the ZEPHYR, even though he planned to use it primarily during the rugged winters of his native Massachusetts.

  PART IV

  Foreign Idioms

  You Should Know

  Think you don’t know a foreign language? Au contraire (see below)! Chances are you’ve used at least a few of the expressions on this list. Each of the following items is a bona fide (see below) foreign idiom that has been adopted wholesale into English. Many of these idioms are de rigueur (see below) for the discerning conversationalist.

  a capella (ah kub-PELL-a), music, adjective

  Singing without musical accompaniment. Used as an adjective, a capella often refers to a rhythmic and highly inventive vocal style.

  The group’s A CAPELLA rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” was remarkably good, especially considering that the song is quite difficult to sing with musical accompaniment.

  ad hoc (ad HOK), adjective

  For a specific purpose or end; formed for immediate or present need. This Latin phrase translates literally to “for this purpose.” Anything that is designed or set aside for a specific purpose may be referred to as ad hoc.

  The council established an AD HOC committee to review textbook standards in the face of the sudden complaints from parents.

  ad infinitum (ad in-fi-NEYE-tum), adjective

  Without end. Literally, “to infinity.” The phrase refers to things without end or to something that is limitless. In practical use, ad infinitum usually carries a sense of ironic overstatement.

  Wilbur remarked wryly that he could probably discuss the treatment facility’s weaknesses AD INFINITUM.

  ad lib (ad lib), verb

  An off the cuff, spontaneous remark; also, to make such a remark.

  I marveled at Erika’s ability to AD LIB her way through the meeting, knowing as I did that she hadn’t even read the annual report.

  ad nauseam (AD NAW-zee-um), adverb

  To a sickening degree. This Latin phrase often is invoked when someone goes on and on about something and just doesn’t know when to stop.

  I know Helen loves her dogs, but she can go on about their exploits AD NAUSEAM.

  anorexia nervosa (an-uh-REX-ee-uh nur-VOH-suh), noun

  A disease in which the sufferer has a morbid fear of being obese and loses weight by means of virtual starvation, refusing to stop even when nearly emaciated.

  The late Karen Carpenter’s was perhaps the most widely publicized case of ANOREXIA NERVOSA.

  art nouveau (ART NEW-voh), noun

  From the French meaning “new art,” “art nouveau” remains a popular form of design, which originated in the 1880s. It is characterized by wavy objects like flower stems, flowing hair, flames, etc.

  That museum’s collection of ART NOUVEAU jewelry makes it one of the town’s best-kept secrets.

  au contraire (oh kon-TRARE), noun

  On the contrary; the opposite.

  “AU CONTRAIRE, you pompous fool,” cried Jeanne; “I’m not playing hard to get at all, but rather despise you with all my heart!”

  au courant (oh kuh-RONT), adjective

  Up-to-date; current.

  Mary Ann prided herself on her ability to stay AU COURANT with the latest trends in fashion.

  au naturel (oh nat-choo-RELL), adjective

  As is, without embellishment or adornment; also, nude.

  Karen wanted to crawl under the table when her mother started showing her fiance the family photo album, which featured a number of embarrassing photos of her on the changing table, AU NATUREL.

  au revoir (oh rih-VWAHR), interjective

  Goodbye; until we meet again.

  I thought I had bid my last party guest “AU REVOIR,” and was about to retire for the night, when I found Philbert passed out in the bathtub.

  avant-garde (ahv-ahnt-GARD), adjective

  Relating to the latest trends, especially in the world of art; of a new or experimental nature. The term is French for “fore guard”, or furthest from the line of battle. The avant-garde is the latest, most advanced work in a field, especially in the arts. As a noun, avant garde refers to the group doing this work.

  Milton found keeping pace with AVANT-GARDE work in sculpture both challenging and rewarding for his own work.

  bete noire (bett NWAHR), noun

  Something one does not like or finds extremely fearful. Bete noire is French for “black beast.”

  Jean got A’s in all subjects except geometry, her longtime BETE NOIRE.

  billet-doux (bill-ay-DOO), noun

  A love letter. (Plural: billets-doux.)

  The young couple exchanged BILLETS-DOUX almost every day the summer they were apart.

  bon mot (bon moe), noun

  A clever or witty comment.

  The secretary of state’s well-timed BON MOT about the shortcomings of American beer helped to put everyone at ease at a tense moment of the summit meeting.

  bon vivant (bon vih-VAHNT), noun

  A person who enjoys living well.

  In Paris with her rich aunt, Janice lived the life of a BON VIVANT, shopping and dining out to her heart’s content.

  carpe diem (KAR-pay DEE-uhm) noun

  Relish the present and take joy now in the pleasure of life, rather than focusing on the future. Carpe diem is Latin for “seize the day.”

  His final admonition was to live life to the fullest—a CARPE DIEM he seemed to have heeded rarely himself.

  carte blanche (kart blonsh), noun

  Unrestricted power, access, or privilege; permission to act entirely as one wishes. Carte blanche is from the French for “blank document”; the essential meaning is that one is free to “write one’s own ticket.”

  Jean had CARTE BLANCHE during her first month or so as office manager, but the vice-president eventually came to supervise her much more closely.

  caveat emptor (KAH-vee-ott EMP-tore), noun

  “Let the buyer beware.” Caveat emptor is a Latin phrase warning that swindles and misrepresentation are common in the world of commerce. (A caveat is a warning.) The term can also mean that goods are sold without warranty.

  Fran bought the goods at her own peril and regretted her act: CAVEAT EMPTOR!

  comme ci, comme ça (kum SEE kum SA), adverb

  Middling; neither extraordinarily good nor extraordinarily poor. French for “like this, like that.”

  “COMME CI, COMME ÇA,” shrugged Wells when I asked him how he was doing.

  coup de grace (koo duh GRAHCE), noun

  A decisive act or event that brings a situation to a close; the finishing blow.

  The COUP DE GRACE came when Paul threw his bowl of oatmeal at Mona’s feet, leading her to reevaluate their relationship.

  de facto (dih FAK-toe), noun

  In fact; actual.

  The death of the prime minister left Jones, for the moment, the DE FACTO leader of the nation.

  deja vu (day-zhuh VOO), noun

  The experience of seeming to have seen or experienced a present event at some time in the past. Deja vu is French for “already seen.”

  Those who remember the format of last year’s test may feel a sense of DEJA VU upon reviewing this year’s.

  de rigueur (deuh rih-GER), adjective

  Required by etiquette; in good taste or form.

  Since black tie
and tails were DE RIGUEUR for the social events his new wife attended regularly, Julian found himself buying a tuxedo for the first time in his life.

  en masse (on MASS), adverb

  Together; in one body or group. En masse is a French term that translates loosely as “in the form of a crowd.”

  The mob moved EN MASSE toward the Capitol.

  e.g. (ee jee), abbreviation, adverb

  An abbreviation for the Latin term exempli gratia, “for example.”

  Many of the luxury cars so popular twenty years ago, E.g., Cadillacs and Lincoln Continentals, have been forced to develop smaller models to compete with today’s popular compact vehicles.

  et al. (et al), abbreviation, adverb

  The abbreviation for the Latin term et alia, meaning “and others.”

  Members of Congress, the justices of the Supreme Court, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ET AL. waited for President Clinton to enter and give his first State of the Union address.

  ex officio (ECKS uh-FISH-ee-oh), noun

  This Latin expression denotes someone who holds a title by virtue of his or her office.

  The president of the United States is the EX OFFICIO commander in chief of the United States’s armed forces.

  fait accompli (FATE uh-com-PLEE), noun

  Something undertaken and already concluded. A fait accompli (from the French for “accomplished fact”) is an act or event presented as beyond challenge or attempted reversal.

  Clive simply signed the contract without consulting his superior and presented the agreement as a FAIT ACCOMPLI.

  faux pas (foe PAW), noun

  A social error. Faux pas is French for “false step.”

  I’m afraid that by publicly refusing to shake hands with your opponent you’ve done more than commit a FAUX PAS; you may well have lost the election.

  femme fatale (femme fuh-TAL), noun

  A seductive woman who uses her charms to trick men into compromising or dangerous situations; a woman who uses her feminine wiles for gain.

  Although the movie industry makes much of its supposed progressiveness, feminists note with disdain that most leading roles for women still lean heavily on stereotype: the ingenue, the FEMME FATALE, the devoted mother battling for her children against all odds.

  fin de siecle (fahn-day-say-ECK-luh), adjective

  This French expression meaning “end of the century” typically refers to the fashions, art, ideas, etc. associated with the end of the nineteenth century, but in general use, the expression describes ideas, art, fashions, etc. considered modern and up-to-date.