The Big Book of Words You Should Know

by David Olsen

dissimulate (diss-IHM-you-late), verb

  To hide one’s feelings from another, often by using untruths.

  Feeling extremely guilty about his affair, Jake would DISSIMULATE behind a wall of anger whenever Tricia asked him pointed questions.

  distraught (dih-STRAWT), adjective

  Deeply hurt emotionally.

  Phyllis was DISTRAUGHT after her favorite cat died.

  doleful (DOLE-full), adjective

  Causing or expressing grief or affliction.

  I decided to rescue Rex from the animal shelter because I was entranced by his DOLEFUL expression.

  domicile (DOM-ih-sile), noun

  A residence. A domicile is one’s legal, permanent home.

  The defendant at that time had no DOMICILE, your honor; she was a homeless person.

  donnybrook (dahn-EE-brook), noun

  A free-for-all, knock-down, drag-out fight.

  Police expected a DONNYBROOK at the protest march, but both those for and those against the issue were peaceful and courteous.

  dossier (DOSS-ee-ay), noun

  A collection of documents offering detailed information on a particular individual or topic. Keeping or referring to a dossier on someone often carries sinister overtones of that person’s espionage or subversion.

  Marie finally obtained her DOSSIER by means of an appeal under the Freedom of Information Act.

  droll (drole), adjective

  Wryly amusing. Something that is strikingly odd and humorous is droll.

  The little volume was filled with DROLL illustrations that further undermined any attempt at authoritativeness.

  dross (dross), noun

  Useless material; trash.

  The young poet was scarred for life when her father described her poems as “DROSS” and told her to throw them away.

  ebullience (ih-BOLL-yunce), noun

  The quality of being optimistic in speech or writing; vivaciousness. Ebullience is the expression of feelings or notions in a lively, upbeat manner.

  Sharon’s EBULLIENCE in delivering the presentation really set her apart from the others on the team.

  éclat (ay-KLAH), noun

  This French word suggests great public acclaim . . . or notoriety.

  The ÉCLAT that greeted the reclusive author’s last book seemed to cause him dismay rather than joy.

  edification (ed-ih-fih-KAY-shun), noun

  Enlightenment. To edify someone is to instruct him or share important insights with him; edification is the process by which this is done.

  Although the author includes several supplements on ancient Egyptian construction methods for the EDIFICATION of his readers, these are not directly connected with the book’s central idea.

  effervescent (eff-ur-VESS-unt), adjective

  Bubbly; sparkling; lively.

  Myra’s EFFERVESCENT personality makes her a favorite guest at our parties.

  efficacious (eff-ih-KAY-shuss), adjective

  Producing the desired outcome; effective.

  Tom’s lawyer tried a battery of shrewd negotiating techniques during the meeting, but only outright threats to walk away from the deal proved EFFICACIOUS.

  effrontery (ih-FRON-ter-ee), noun

  Impudent boldness. Effrontery is shameless audacity.

  She had the EFFRONTERY to ask for a raise after three months of dreadful performance.

  egress (EE-gress), noun

  Exit.

  The stewardess’s earnest request that we try to make an orderly EGRESS from the burning plane had little effect.

  élan (AY-lahn), noun

  From the French meaning “to hurl,” élan is high-spirited morale that results from extreme confidence.

  The ÉLAN with which my son attacked the obstacle course filled me with pride.

  elision (ih-LEE-zhun), noun

  A deliberate act of omission or the omission of one or more syllables in a word, such as when a poet writes “ne’er” for “never.”

  Keeping some of the details of the accident from the children seemed like a reasonable ELISION.

  emasculate (ee-MASS-kyoo-late), verb

  To castrate; also, to deprive of strength or essential elements.

  In the editor’s view my book had been subject to “deft pruning of occasional offensive passages”; in mine, it had been utterly EMASCULATED.

  enceinte (en-SAYNT), adjective

  French, by way of Latin, for “enclosed area,” enceinte describes a woman who is pregnant.

  After two years of trying to get pregnant, Lena was overjoyed the day she learned she was ENCEINTE.

  engender (en-JEN-dur), verb

  To beget; to cause to exist.

  My decision to move east has ENGENDERED a good deal of hostility on my brother’s part.

  ennui (on-noo-EE), noun

  Listlessness, dissatisfaction, or boredom. Ennui is French for “boredom.”

  A sense of ENNUI pervaded the office during the long offseason period.

  ensue (in-SOO), verb

  To come afterward; to follow; to happen as a result.

  When a tractor-trailer skidded out of control and spilled its load of lumber across Route 128 yesterday afternoon, a huge rush-hour backup ENSUED.

  envisage (en-VIZ-uj), verb

  To picture or conceive of. To envisage is also to consider or project mentally.

  The group of developers ENVISAGED an apartment complex on the waterfront property.

  ephemeral (ih-FEMM-uh-rul), adjective

  Lasting only a short while.

  Our school’s joy at winning the state basketball championship turned out to be EPHEMERAL, as the title was suspended when officials learned of the presence of an ineligible player on the team’s roster.

  episodic (ep-ih-SOD-ik), adjective

  Made up of episodes; consisting of a group of separate but only externally related anecdotes; tending to digress.

  Although the novels of Dickens and Twain still enthrall modern readers, many are puzzled by their EPISODIC structures.

  epistle (uh-PISS-uhl), noun

  An epistle is a formal letter. Christians and biblical scholars are familiar with the epistles of the Apostle Paul.

  As the popularity of text messaging rises, the EPISTLE is becoming a dying art form.

  epithet (EP-ih-thet), noun

  A word, description, or expression (often disparaging) meant to characterize a person.

  The EPITHETS used by members of the Nixon administration to describe their political enemies were often unsuitable for publication in family newspapers.

  epitome (ee-PIT-uh-mee), noun

  The highest or supreme example.

  Many people consider “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” to be the EPITOME of 1970s situation comedy.

  eroticize (ih-ROT-uh-size), verb

  To take something “tame” and sexualize it.

  There’s no need to EROTICIZE Shakespeare because his works are already filled with bawdy—sometimes downright filthy—puns.

  errant (AIR-unt), adjective

  Describes someone who likes to travel or something that/someone who wanders about aimlessly.

  The buzzing of ERRANT flies practically wrecked the contentment I had been feeling while sitting on the dock.

  erroneous (ih-RONE-ee-us), adjective

  Wrong.

  Your suggestion that I spent the summer on the coast of California avoiding writing my book is completely ERRONEOUS.

  erstwhile (URST-hwile), adjective

  Former; of or pertaining to a long-past time.

  Boston Red Sox fans can only dream of what might have been had their ERSTWHILE star Babe Ruth not been sold to their archrivals, the New York Yankees.

  eructation (ih-ruhk-TAY-shun), noun

  A fancy word for “belch.” The verb form is “eructate.”

  Miss Smithers hid her dainty ERUCTATIONS behind a charming cloth napkin.

  eschew (ess-CHOO), verb

  To shun; to stay away from, especially as a re
sult of moral or ethical concerns.

  Chuck ESCHEWED his coworkers’ nights out on the town, knowing they almost always concluded with a visit to a strip club.

  espouse (ih-SPOWZ), verb

  To advocate as though one’s own. Espouse can also mean to take in marriage.

  Do you have any idea how complicated it would be to implement the plans you are ESPOUSING?

  ethos (EE-thoass), noun

  From the Greek meaning “custom” or “habit,” an ethos is the underpinning philosophy that guides a person, community, nation, group, etc.

  I can’t support any group that seems to have divisiveness as its guiding ETHOS.

  excogitate (ecks-CAHJ-ih-tate), verb

  To study something carefully in order to understand it as fully as possible.

  Dad spent so much time EXCOGITATING over the map that we missed our flight.

  exemplar (ig-ZEHM-plur), noun

  The original, to which all future examples are compared.

  For many, Abraham Lincoln is the EXEMPLAR of a war-time president.

  exorbitant (egg-ZORE-bih-tunt), adjective

  Beyond what is reasonable; extreme or excessive.

  Christopher had thought he needed a laptop computer to make his business trips easier, but after seeing the EXORBITANT prices, he decided he could go without for another year.

  expedite (EKS-puh-dite), verb

  To speed up (a process or action); to complete promptly.

  My father’s friend at the Registry of Motor Vehicles was able to EXPEDITE my driver’s license application, and I was spared the standard six-week wait.

  extant (ik-STANT), adjective

  Existing; in existence.

  The EXTANT laws on the subject did not make adequate provisions for issues of sexual harassment, Maria argued, and would have to be updated.

  extricate (EKS-trih-kate), verb

  To remove from an entanglement.

  Having gotten us into an impossible dilemma, Warren appeared to have no idea how we should go about EXTRICATING ourselves from it.

  extrinsic (iks-TRINZ-ik), adjective

  Not part of the true nature of something.

  The revolution was less of a spontaneous eruption of anger against capitalism as a system, and more of a reaction to EXTRINSIC forces like the constant oil shortages that came about because of international sanctions.

  fabricate (FAB-rih-kait), verb

  To create something. Often, this word is used negatively, to suggest that one is lying, or “creating” false information.

  Mom shook her head because she could tell I was just FABRICATING my explanations.

  facet (FASS-it), noun

  A component or aspect. A facet is also the flat smooth surface of a polished gem. To say something is multifaceted is to say it has many dimensions or components.

  I am afraid I am unfamiliar with this FACET of the case.

  facetious (fuh-SEE-shuss), adjective

  Meant to evoke laughter or enjoyment; not intended seriously.

  My suggestion that we pack the children off to live with their grandparents for a few decades was FACETIOUS.

  facile (FASS-ill), adjective

  Describes something accomplished easily.

  The teacher said the work would be difficult, but most students found it rather FACILE.

  fallacious (fuh-LAY-shuss), adjective

  False; containing a logical error or serious misapprehension. Fallacious is derived from fallacy, which means a false notion.

  As it turned out, McCarthy’s accusations against the Army were totally FALLACIOUS.

  fallacy (FALL-uh-see), noun

  A misconception; an erroneous perception; a deceit.

  For some childhood is a time of innocence; but it’s a FALLACY to say it is like this for all children.

  fauna (FAW-nuh), noun

  The animal population of a particular region or time period. (A plural noun.)

  According to this article, the FAUNA of Australia include more marsupials than are found on any other continent.

  faux (foe), adjective

  Fake or counterfeit in nature.

  Jill made such commotion over the FAUX pearls I gave her that I began to suspect she thought they were real.

  felicity (fih-LISS-ih-tee), noun

  Bliss; extreme happiness. Felicity can also refer to something that gives rise to sublime contentment.

  Her FELICITY at the news that her brother had been located knew no bounds.

  fiefdom (FEEF-dum), noun

  The domain over which a feudal lord rules; an area over which one has control or domain.

  Mr. Duncan treated his wife and children as if they were his subjects, the lucky few privileged to occupy his FIEFDOM.

  flagellate (FLADGE-uh-late), verb

  To whip.

  My daughter, a lifelong animal lover, refused to go on the stage coach ride at the amusement park because of the way the driver FLAGELLATED the horses.

  florid (FLOOR-id), adjective

  Describes something or someone with a reddish, rosy tint. In addition, florid can be used to describe writing or speech one considers too showy and ornate.

  Critics praised her, but I found the pundit’s FLORID prose a real turnoff and got through only the first twenty pages of her book.

  folderol (FALL-duh-rahl), noun

  Foolishness, a trifle, something nonsensical and unimportant.

  The commentator called all of the political wrangling nothing but FOLDEROL that kept anything substantive from being done to solve the problem.

  foliage (FOLE-ee-udge), noun

  A group of leaves, branches, and flowers.

  The best time to view the fall FOLIAGE in New England is at generally early October, when the reds, oranges, and golden yellows are at their most brilliant.

  foment (fo-MENT), verb

  To aid, nourish, feed, or encourage.

  Some in the university argued that our group’s purpose was to FOMENT a revolution, not work for reform, and they demanded that we dissolve.

  foofaraw (FOO-fuh-raw), noun

  A lot of fuss about a lot of nothing, or an excessive amount of decoration on oneself, in a room, etc.

  Whether or not the celebrity had removed a mole became a FOOFARAW debated for days by the entertainment press.

  foray (FORE-ay), noun

  An initial try. Originally, a foray was a sudden military advance.

  Elizabeth’s FORAY into the world of publishing was not without disheartening moments.

  forebear (FORE-bare), noun

  An ancestor; forefather.

  Kate’s illustrious FOREBEAR was a pre-eminent figure in the abolitionist movement.

  forefend (for-FEND), verb

  To protect, defend, secure, etc.

  After he bought a television with a fifty-five inch screen, Keith bought an alarm system to FOREFEND it.

  foreordained (fore-or-DANED), verb

  To ordain or appoint in advance; predestined.

  Although Milton viewed his promotion to management as FOREORDAINED, his wife had her doubts.

  forestall (for-STALL), verb

  To anticipate an action and thus work to prevent it from happening.

  Alice saw that the driver was going to run the red light, so she paused at the intersection, FORESTALLING an accident.

  forte (fort), noun

  One’s niche or strong point; that at which one excels.

  Interior decorating was Frank’s FORTE, but he resisted making a career of it for fear of what “the guys” would say.

  fortuitous (fore-TOO-ih-tuss), adjective

  Accidental; lucky or fortunate. A fortuitous event is one that comes as a pleasant surprise.

  After years of trial and error, Dr. Powers made a FORTUITOUS discovery when he mistakenly combined two chemical compounds.

  fracas (FRAK-us), noun

  Commotion; a noisy disagreement.

  The nightly FRACAS between the couple next door is always
loud enough to wake me out of a sound sleep.

  fribble (FRIB-uhl), verb or noun

  To waste one’s time in a foolish manner, or the term for someone who does this.

  Tom knew he needed to focus on the project, but he couldn’t keep himself from FRIBBLING away his time with video games.

  fructify (FRUCK-tih-fie), verb

  To bear fruit or to make fruitful.

  I believe the partnership of our firms will FRUCTIFY both our companies.

  futz (futs), verb

  To pass the time idly or without purpose.

  Kevin spent so much time this morning FUTZING around with his new espresso maker that he was late for work.

  gadabout (GAD-uh-bout), noun

  A person who wanders about aimlessly or restlessly, especially one in constant search of pleasure.

  Though most everyone thought of her as a flighty GADABOUT, Karen certainly knew when to bear down and get serious about her schoolwork.

  gainsay (GANE-say), verb

  To declare false. To gainsay is to oppose or contradict.

  The principles of the Bill of Rights, Mr. Secretary, will admit no GAINSAYING.

  galoot (guh-LOOT), noun

  An eccentric or foolish person.

  Mike’s outdated clothes and hairstyle cause many to consider him a GALOOT.

  gambol (GAM-buhl), verb

  To skip or frolic about with delight.

  The birds GAMBOLED outside my screened-in porch as I sat there with my morning coffee.

  gamut (GAM-ut), noun

  The full range or extent. Gamut also refers to the entire series of standard musical notes.

  His house featured an entertainment center whose components ran the GAMUT of state-of-the-art equipment.

  genuflect (JENN-you-flect), verb

  To bow deeply on one knee. Often, the word is used negatively, to suggest that someone is acting in a servile or overly reverential way toward someone else.

  “The way Harold GENUFLECTS to Mr. Thomas at staff meetings just makes me want to barf,” Alice said.

  germinate (JUHR-muh-nate), verb

  To cause something, such as a concept, to come into existence.

  The ideas we GERMINATED that day have led to numerous improvements in the area of global communication.

  gestation (jes-TAY-shun), noun

  Inception and creation. The period of gestation among humans, for instance, would be the nine months spent within the womb. Concepts and ideas are also said to have gestation.

  The ad campaign’s GESTATION was fraught with conflict, but the end result was well worth all the quarrelling.