by David Olsen
Bert’s reference to the accounting department’s “physical prudence” was only one of the morning’s many MALAPROPISMS.
mesmerize (MEZ-mur-ize), verb
To hypnotize. Mesmerize is derived from the name of a nineteenth-century physician, Franz Mesmer, whose early work in the field we now call hypnotism won him acclaim in Austria and throughout Europe.
It is said that Huey Long MESMERIZED his audiences more with his style of speaking than with the substance of his speeches.
milquetoast (MILK-toast), adjective
Describes an unassertive person who is easily intimidated. The word was adopted from Caspar Milquetoast, a character in a comic strip, who exemplifies such a timid person.
Unless you just want to be a pencil-pusher all your life, you’ve got to stop being so MILQUETOAST, Arthur!
minotaur (MIN-uh-tore), noun
In mythology, a creature that is part human, part bull.
Half-human, half-animal creatures such as the MINOTAUR, the centaur, and Medusa were pervasive in ancient Greek mythology.
narcissistic (nar-sis-SIS-tik), adjective
Possessed by self-love. Someone whose egotism replaces (or seems to replace) attention to others can be said to be narcissistic.
Self- promotion is one thing; the NARCISSISTIC zeal with which Gerald asserts himself is quite another.
neanderthal (knee-AND-er-thall), adjective or noun
Capitalized, Neanderthal denotes an early human species, whose remains were first discovered in Germany’s Neanderthal valley. As an adjective and with a lower-case “n,” neanderthal is used negatively to describe someone with backward, outdated, old-fashioned attitudes and beliefs. The lower-case version also can serve as a noun.
Of course she was scared away by your NEANDERTHAL impulses, Stephen!
Orwellian (or-WELL-ee-un), adjective
Resembling the qualities or subject matter of the writing of George Orwell, particularly the totalitarian future world of his book 1984.
My father saw the surveillance cameras in suburban supermarkets as the first sign of an ORWELLIAN clampdown on civil liberties.
pander (PAN-der), verb and noun
To appeal to the worst in someone. Literally, a pander is a pimp.
Despite accusations that he was PANDERING to the voters, the candidate insisted on repeatedly raising the issue of his opponent’s extramarital affairs.
Pavlovian (pav-LOW-vee-uhn), adjective
Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov pioneered research in conditioned responses. For example, he would give dogs food immediately after ringing a bell, and before long, the dogs would salivate just by hearing the bell . . . even if no food was given to them. Today, Pavlovian describes any kind of conditioned response.
Roger always has this sort-of PAVLOVIAN response whenever he hears Julie’s voice. He immediately starts to sweat and look flushed. At this rate, he’s never going to ask her out!
philistine (FILL-uh-steen), adjective and noun
In the Bible, the Philistines were opponents of the Israelites. They were quintessential bad guys. Today, a philistine is someone who is smug, commonplace, and conventional, and he or she often is antagonistic toward intellectual pursuits.
Laura always found it difficult to be an intellectual while surrounded by her childhood friends, PHILISTINES whose main concern was shopping.
platonic (pluh-TON-ik), adjective
Free from sexual desire. Platonic also refers to the ideal form of something.
Emily knew that her relationship with Paul had to remain a PLATONIC one.
plebeian (plih-BE-uhn), adjective or noun
In ancient Rome, the plebeians were the common people. Today, the word still pertains to common tastes. Sometimes, the word can be used in a negative way, to suggest that someone is being common, as in vulgar.
“I don’t get wine,” Bart said. “I guess my tastes are just too PLEBEIAN.”
pompadour (POMP-uh-dore), noun
A male hairstyle in which the hair is set high in a wave in the front.
Don wore a POMPADOUR, a black leather jacket, and blue jeans to the costume party in imitation of his hero Fonzie from “Happy Days.”
proletarian (pro-luh-TARE-ee-un), adjective
In ancient Rome, proletarians were the poorest class of people. Today, proletarian describes members of the working class. The noun form, which you may see, is proletariat.
The politician’s PROLETARIAN appeals earned her many votes during the election.
Promethean (pruh-ME-thee-un), adjective
In ancient Greek myth, Prometheus was the son of a titan, and he created humankind and then taught it how to use fire. Today, Promethean describes someone who is visionary, someone who produces bold new ideas.
Who could have foretold in the 1950s that people tinkering around with computers would be such PROMETHEAN pioneers?
puritanical (pyoor-ih-TAN-ih-kull), adjective
Reminiscent of the Puritans (whose strict lifestyle took an extremely narrow view of what was morally acceptable). To issue or follow overly restrictive, moralistic standards about work or socializing is to be puritanical.
Faith took a rather PURITANICAL outlook on the importance of working a full day; a simple cold was not going to stop her from showing up at work.
pyrrhic (PEER-ik), adjective
Gained at an injustifiably high cost. A pyrrhic victory refers to the ancient King Pyrrhus of Epirus, who observed after a particularly bloody battle that another similar victory would destroy his kingdom.
You must admit that selling a great many products on which we will lose money would be something of a PYRRHIC victory.
quisling (KWIZ-ling), noun
One who betrays his or her own country and aids an invading one; particularly, an official who serves in a puppet government.
That the Vichy government in France was composed primarily of cowards, profiteers, and QUISLINGS is hardly open to dispute.
quixotic (kwik-SOT-ik), adjective
Hopelessly and impractically idealistic. Quixotic is derived from the literary character Don Quixote, whose romantic view of the world is at odds with the harsh realities of existence.
Arthur’s QUIXOTIC search for financial backing for his get-rich-quick schemes only amused Betty.
rabbinical (rub-BIN-ih-kul), adjective
Of or pertaining to rabbis. Another acceptable form of rabbinical is rabbinic.
I intend to take up RABBINICAL studies in September.
sadistic (suh-DISS-tick), adjective
The French count, Donatien A.F. de Sade (1740–1815), wrote novels that depicted cruel sexual practices. Over time, his name became synonymous with cruelty and with describing those who delight in being cruel to others.
Only a SADISTIC creep would give out as much homework as Mr. Thomas.
saturnalia (sat-uhr-NAIL-yuh), noun
Risque merrymaking, possibly including an orgy. The festival for the Roman god, Saturn, was marked by unrestrained merrymaking.
Anyone looking at the party’s aftermath the next day would have thought it was a SATURNALIA, not a fairly quiet reunion of five old friends.
satyr (SAY-ter), noun
A lecherous man. In Greek mythology, satyrs were part-man, part-horse (or part-goat) creatures noted for their high spirits and lasciviousness. The word “satirical” also is derived from the mythological satyrs.
Everyone knows Professor Roth is a SATYR. He puts all the girls with the most cleavage in the front row.
serf (serf), noun
a member of the lower feudal class bound to the land in medieval Europe; a slave. At times, Rufus felt he was moored to his little computer like a SERF to his plot of land.
Sisyphean (sis-uh-FEE-uhn), adjective
Describes something, such as a task, that is tortuous and seems endless. In classical mythology, Sisyphus was a king noted for his trickery. He was punished by having to roll a stone uphill. Just before the stone got to the top
of the hill, it would roll back down, and Sisyphus would have to start the arduous task all over again.
Some days, keeping paperwork under control seems a SISYPHEAN task.
spartan (SPAHR-tin), adjective
Self-disciplined, frugal, and stoic. People who lived in the ancient Greek city of Sparta were known for their discipline and austerity.
Paul lives such a SPARTAN life that his apartment has more exercise equipment than furniture.
Spoonerism (SPOO-ner-iz-uhm), noun
The transposition of initial consonants of two or more words. For example, one might intend to say, “The bloom is off the rose” but say instead, “The room is off the blose.” English clergyman W.A. Spooner (1844–1930) was well known for committing this linguistic “sin.”
My mother’s frequent, unintended SPOONERISMS make her an endless source of mirth at our family reunions.
sylvan (SIL-vuhn), adjective
Of, about, or characteristic of the woods. Sylvanus was the god of the woods for ancient Romans.
The bed and breakfast deep in the forest was a SYLVAN paradise.
tantalize (TAN-tuhl-ize), verb
To tease or taunt by keeping something desired just out of reach. Tantalus was a mythical king whose bad deeds caused him anguish in the afterlife. He was made to stand in a lake with boughs of fruit just out of his reach. When he tried to get a drink, the water disappeared, and he could never quite reach the fruit in order to satisfy his hunger.
Lotteries TANTALIZE people with their implied promise of instant wealth. Of course, most people don’t win.
terpsichorean (turp-sih-KORE-ee-uhn), adjective
Having to do with dancing. Terpsichore is the ancient muse of dancing.
Our awkward post-wedding dance could hardly be called an example of TERPSICHOREAN splendor.
Walter Mitty (WAHL-ter-MIH-tee), noun
A timid person who compensates for his or her timidity by having a rich fantasy life; someone who is self-aggrandizing. Walter Mitty is the titular character of a short story by humorist James Thurber. Thurber’s character is, not surprisingly, the quintessential Walter Mitty.
You’ve always got all these grandiose plans, but it’s time for you to stop being a WALTER MITTY and actually do something!
Xanadu (ZAN-uh-doo), noun
A place of great beauty and luxury. Xanadu is the setting of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem, “Kubla Khan.”
The Caribbean resort, with its palm trees and ocean breezes, was a XANADU of earthly delights.
Xanthippe (zan-TIP-ee), noun
A scolding, shrewish, ill-tempered woman or wife. Xanthippe was the wife of the philosopher, Socrates.
Listen, Esther, I know you say you want what’s best for our son, but your tone has more than a hint of the XANTHIPPE in it.
yeoman (YOH-mun), adjective
Characterized by performing a difficult task with a great deal of effort, loyalty, and valiance. Yeoman was a social class during the Middle Ages.
The boss praised me for doing such a YEOMAN job on the McKenzie Account.
PART VI
Words You Should Know
to Sound Overeducated
Drop a few of these words into casual conversation, and your friends, colleagues, and bosses will think you are particularly sagacious (see below). But be careful! If you use too many of these words, you run the risk of sounding obstreperously overweening (see below)!
aberrant (AB-uh-runt), adjective
Abandoning the correct, expected, or proper way of doing things; straying from the “right” or norm.
Alice’s decision to quit college and tour the country on motorcycle seemed so ABERRANT to her parents that they asked her to get a psychiatric evaluation.
aberration (ab-uh-RAY-shun), noun
Diverging from a moral standard or expected course. Aberration refers to a usually temporary departure from what is normal or expected. Something that deviates from a customary or natural course of action is an aberration.
Sally’s poor work in the first part of October was hardly grounds for dismissal; it was an ABERRATION caused by serious problems at home.
abide (uh-BIDE), verb
To withstand, patiently wait for, or tolerate. To abide is to tolerate or endure.
Abiding also refers to the ability to withstand and/or persevere.
I could ABIDE my dinner companion’s bigotry for only so long; by evening’s end, I had to challenge him.
ablution (ab-BLOO-shun), noun
Washing or cleansing the body as part of a religious rite; any cleansing, purification, or purging. Ablution is the washing away or cleansing of sin or spiritual uncleanness.
Pilate turned away from the crowd and called for a bowl of scented water with which to perform his ABLUTIONS.
abnegate (AB-ne-gate), verb and noun
To renounce, surrender, or deny privilege to oneself. Abnegation is the act of denying oneself something considered vital or important. Hunger strikes or long fasts are a form of abnegation.
The activist’s fast lasted for forty-seven days; in an election year, such ABNEGATION draws headlines and attention from elected officials.
abortive (uh-BOR-tive), adjective
Unsuccessful or fruitless. Something that is abortive has failed to come to fruition. The word also refers to something that is partially or imperfectly developed.
Although it was the astronauts’ failure to dock at the station that drew media attention, the ABORTIVE mission had many potentially more serious problems as well.
abrogate (AB-ro-gate), verb
To nullify or cancel. Abrogation is an official action used to formally and unilaterally conclude an agreement or deed. Something that has been repealed or abolished has been abrogated.
The United States ABROGATED the treaty after evidence appeared suggesting that the other nations had failed to honor the agreement.
abscond (ab-SKOND), verb
To depart quickly and in secret, especially to avoid criminal charges. To abscond is to secretly flee the consequences of one’s acts, particularly those acts leading to illicit gain. Prosecuting attorneys might accuse someone convicted of embezzling of absconding with company funds if the person left the firm shortly after the alleged crime.
The bank robbers immediately ABSCONDED with the money to Mexico.
acclimated (AK-lih-may-tud), verb
Having adapted or become accustomed to.
At first Tami found college life lonely and stressful, but after a few weeks she became ACCLIMATED and never longed for home again.
accoutrement (uh-KOO-truh-mint), noun
A superficial characteristic that, nonetheless, identifies a person, group, etc.
Accoutrement also can refer to accessory items of clothing or equipment. In both cases, the word is usually plural.
Five televisions per household is just one of the ACCOUTREMENTS of American life.
adduce (uh-DUCE), verb
To cite as an example or justification. To adduce is to bring something forward for consideration. To cite an example or put forth a proposition is to adduce.
I would ADDUCE the following reasons in support of rewriting the club charter.
adjudicate (ad-JOO-di-cate), verb
To employ judicial procedure as a means of hearing and settling a case.
To adjudicate is to have a judge or someone in authority reach a decision on some difficult point. It is usually reserved to describe processes of resolution within a legal setting.
Gentlemen, if this case is hard for you to argue, rest assured it is equally difficult for me to ADJUDICATE.
adventitious (add-vin-TISH-us), adjective
Arising or occurring sporadically or in unusual locations. Adventitious has a meaning similar to “accidental.”
Every time I plant a garden, ADVENTITIOUS wildflowers pop up to ruin my design.
aegis (EE-jiss), noun
From the Latin meaning “shield,” an aegis is a controlling
or conditioning influence. Also, control by one individual, group, organization, etc.
Tom tried to explain his illegal activity by claiming he was under the AEGIS of a crooked boss.
aggrandize (uh-GRAND-ize), verb
To raise the importance of or make to appear great. To aggrandize is to increase the prestige, influence, reputation, or power of a person or institution.
What had started out as a simple report quickly degenerated into meaningless self-promotion; Peter could not resist the urge to AGGRANDIZE himself.
akin (uh-KIN), adjective
Showing a similar feature or quality. Two things that are comparable or related in some important way are said to be akin.
I feel that Harry’s repeated falsification of his records is much more than a breach of policy: it is AKIN to outright perjury.
albeit (all-BE-it), conjunction
A favorite word of pundits and editorial writers, albeit means simply “even though.”
“I love chocolate,” Kate said, “ALBEIT it makes me hyper.”
alliterative (uh-LIT-er-ah-tive), noun
Using the repetition of initial consonant sounds in language.
“Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” is an ALLITERATIVE tongue-twister.
amalgamate (uh-MAL-guh-mate), verb
To blend into a coherent single unit. Originally, an amalgamation was the mixture of an alloy or metal with mercury. Today, to amalgamate is taken to mean to combine of a number of elements into a whole.
The two boards voted to AMALGAMATE the firms as soon as possible.
amble (AM-bul), verb
To walk in an easy or leisurely manner; to saunter or stroll. To amble is to go at an unhurried pace. Someone who explores a garden by walking through it slowly and reflectively at a comfortable pace could be said to amble through the garden.
The day’s last customer AMBLED from one end of the shop to the other; no amount of staring from the clerk, it seemed, could make him come to the register.
anachronism (uh-NAK-ruh-niz-um), adjective
The depiction of something as occurring or existing at a point in time it did not. An anachronism is an intentional or unintentional representation of a historically incorrect situation. A portrait of George Washington holding a pocket calculator would be an example of an anachronism.
