Word of the day

Spielgame said:
bilk
/bɪlk/

verb
verb: bilk; 3rd person present: bilks; past tense: bilked; past participle: bilked; gerund or present participle: bilking
  1. 1.
    informal
    obtain or withhold money from (someone) unfairly or by deceit; cheat or defraud.
    "an apparently benevolent elderly gentleman bilked me of twenty dollars"

    Similar:
    swindle

    defraud

    cheat

    fleece

    exploit

    deceive

    trick

    con

    bamboozle

    do

    diddle

    sting

    rip off

    screw

    shaft

    take for a ride

    take to the cleaners

    pull a fast one on

    put one over on

    sell someone a pup

    gull

    rook

    finagle

    clip

    skin

    swizzle

    stiff

    euchre

    bunco

    hornswoggle

    sucker

    snooker

    pull a swifty on
    cozen

    sharp

    mulct

    do someone in the eye
    • obtain (money) fraudulently.
      "some businesses bilk thousands of dollars from unsuspecting elderly consumers"
  2. 2.
    archaic
    evade; elude.
Origin
22698a9c24bd63231abee47eeb94b110994c7c0669b758a63307a7b8eb1a651e.png

mid 17th century (originally used in cribbage meaning ‘spoil one's opponent's score’): perhaps a variant of balk.

Use over time for: bilk
Click to expand...
You may not be old (ancient) enough to remember Sgt. Bilko (The Phil Silvers Show) about
a fast-talking "con-artist" sort of guy with a name that suited him well.

 
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cudgel
/ˈkʌdʒ(ə)l/
A cudgel is a short, thick stick or club used as a weapon, but it also refers to the figurative act of thinking very hard (cudgel your brains) or taking strong action in defense (take up the cudgels), often appearing in phrases like using something as a "cudgel" to pressure or beat someone figuratively. Synonyms for the weapon include club, bludgeon, or baton, while the verb form means to beat with such a club, or metaphorically, to attack someone or something relentlessly with words or actions.

As a Noun (Weapon)
  • Definition: A short, heavy, thick stick or club, often with a rounded head, used for striking.
  • Examples: A rioting mob might carry cudgels, or someone might keep one for self-defense.
  • Synonyms: Club, bludgeon, truncheon, baton.

As a Verb (Figurative)
  • Definition: To hit someone with a cudgel; metaphorically, to attack or criticize relentlessly, or to use something as a tool for pressure.
  • Example: "The press cudgeled the politician for his failures".

In Idioms/Phrases
 
Catamount- A shortened form of "cat of the mountain" and and can be used as a general term for
for any medium to large sized wild cat, but is most commonly applied to the cougar, puma,
mountain lion, panther. I happened to see the movie Calamity Jane the other day and one of
the (rustic/cowboy) characters referred to Jane as a "catamount" . I don't think the term was used in the
same sense as "cougar" is used today (a mature woman "on the prowl" for younger men). I think they
meant a scarry "wildcat", quick to anger.

Blousy (or Blowsy)- Is often used to refer to the appearance of someone and means "messy", "disheveled",
"untidy" or "dowdy". It can also describe someone's complexion- having a ruddy, flushed look.
It can also be used to describe flowers that are past their prime and have become loose and floppy.
A blousy woman, with messy hair and shabby clothes, answered the door. A man was selling flowers
on the street corner. They were inexpensive, but had become blousy and discolored.


Smithereens- Small pieces- from Gaelic (little bits or fragments)- as in
"Be careful with that grenade or it will blow you to smithereens".

Peccadillo- A small, relatively unimportant offense or sin-
Things like leaving dishes in the sink, forgetting a person's name, wearing slippers
shaped like chicken feet...

Saccharine-excessively sweet or sentimental. Dean tended to escape from doing his homework by
watching saccharine romance movies where angels or good witches caused lonely people to meet and
made sure there was a happy ending.
 
hulk
/hʌlk/
A hulk refers to the large, derelict body of an old ship, vehicle, or building, or, by extension, a large, clumsy person or object that appears imposing or threatening, often described as a "great hulk of a man" or "hulking". The term also describes a ship kept afloat but unusable, serving as a prison or storage.

Meanings of Hulk
  • Ship Remains: The main part or wreck of an old, unused ship, often a rusting shell.
  • Prison Ship: Historically, an old ship used as a floating prison, called a "prison hulk".
  • Bulky Person/Thing: A large, heavy, and often awkward person, or a massive, imposing object.
  • Large Object: Anything huge and intimidating, like the "concrete-glass hulk of the metropolis".

Examples in Use
  • "The rusty hulk of the ship sat abandoned in the harbor."
  • "A great hulk of a man stood at the doorway."
  • "Factories hulked along the river." (Verb: to appear impressively large)

Synonyms

Origin
  • The word comes from Greek roots meaning "to pull," evolving to describe heavy, unwieldy things.


A hulk is a ship that is afloat, but incapable of going to sea. 'Hulk' may be used to describe a ship that has been launched but not completed, an abandoned wreck or shell, or a ship whose propulsion system is no longer maintained or has been removed altogether. The word hulk also may be used as a verb: a ship is "hulked" to convert it to a hulk. The verb was also applied to crews of Royal Navy ships in dock, who were sent to the receiving ship for accommodation, or "hulked".[1] Hulks have a variety of uses such as housing, prisons, salvage pontoons, gambling sites, naval training, or cargo storage.

960px-Lebreton_engraving-09-hulk.jpg

A hulk moored in Toulon harbour, 19th century.


In the age of sail, many hulls served longer as hulks than they did as functional ships. Wooden ships were often hulked when the hull structure became too old and weak to withstand the stresses of sailing.

More recently, ships have been hulked when they become obsolete or when they become uneconomical to operate.
 
Vapid- Dull, uninteresting, lacking intelligence, and personality- possibly superficial as well
Duke was clearly uncomfortable trying to appear interested in Molly's vapid conversation
about knitting.

Leveret vs kit- It's kind of odd, that although rabbits and hares are similar, the young of
a hare is called a leveret, and a young rabbit is called a kit (or kitten).

Tarnation- So when someone says, "What in tarnation, well, what is tarnation, anyway"?
Basically "tarnation is a portmanteau (a combining of two words) and a "minced oath"
(a euphemism used in place of a "swear word"). In the "old days" "darnation was used
instead of "damnation and "tarnal" was a clipped form of eternal and when you combine them-
you get "tarnation"

Imperative- Means "of vital (or critical) importance- an essential or urgent thing.
It is imperative that we contact Janice before she goes to the bank tomorrow.

Catagorical imperative- A categorical imperative, according to Kant has two primary forms: first,
that individuals should act according to maxims they would wish to become universal laws;
and second, that people should treat others as ends in themselves and never merely as means to an end.


I thought I remembered hearing the term used in the movie Real Genius, but they actually used the term
"moral imperative" which is similar...

A categorical imperative (Kant's idea) is an unconditional moral rule, like "don't lie," that applies to
everyone regardless of desires, tested by universalizing the rule (can everyone lie all the time?).
A moral imperative is a broader term for any strong, often conscience-driven, principle compelling
moral action, and Kant's categorical imperative is a specific type of moral imperative—one derived purely
from reason, not consequences or goals.
 
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sapiosexual
/ˌseɪpiəʊˈsɛkʃʊəl/
adjective
adjective: sapiosexual; adjective: sapio-sexual
  1. finding intelligence sexually attractive or arousing.
    "I met a PhD student from Germany who told me that he was sapiosexual"
noun
noun: sapiosexual; plural noun: sapiosexuals; noun: sapio-sexual; plural noun: sapio-sexuals
  1. a person who finds intelligence sexually attractive or arousing.
    "I'm a sapiosexual and I like to talk"
Origin
early 21st century: from Latin sapiens ‘wise’ + sexual, on the model of heterosexual and homosexual.

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Use over time for: sapiosexual

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Soap vs Detergent- Both are surfactants- a substance that helps water to loosen and lift dirt of a surface.
The main difference is that what we call soap tends to be made from "natural" substances (like fats, oils
and an alkali like lye) and is less harsh than detergent which tends to be petroleum based. Detergents tend to
have superior cleaning power to loosen oily stains. It is also probable that a lot of products we think
of as soap (a bar of soap for example) are really detergents. So check ingredients.


Umpteen, umpteenth (or umpty)- is possibly evolved from military slang and means a large, but indefinite quantity.
"Lisa Mae, this is the umpteenth time I have told you to take off your shoes in the mudroom".
It can also be used as a kind of placeholder or substitute for some other word.
" look at that umpty guy over there, going on as if he was mister know-it-all".

Rubenesque-Is an eponym (a word taken from a person's name) based the paintings of Peter Paul Rubens whos
pictures often depicted full-figured (voluptuous and plump) women.

 
Parsimonious- Unwilling to spend money or use resources- stingy, frugal.
The parsimonious mother tried to set her son's broken humerus, herself, rather than
splurge on a Doctor visit.

Conspicuous- Standing out so as to be clearly seen, obvious in such a was as to draw attention
to itself. I read somewhere that early military flight jackets had bright orange linings, so
that if the pilot crashed, it could be worn inside-out, conspicuous against forest greens or
snowy white and aiding in rescue.
The account found several conspicuous errors in my deductions.

Unctuous- Unctuous means "oily". It can refer to actual oil, as when you anoint someone with
ceremonial oils in a religious ritual, but most often it is used to mean having an excessively flattering
or ingratiating manner, like a car salesperson- fawning, sycophantic, obsequious, wheedling, smarmy.

YOLO- Is an acronym for You Only Live Once. It is sort of a shorthand way of texting something
like, "Yes, I say buy the new sports car, after all YOLO. It is sort of a modern day way of
saying "carpe diem".
 
Perquisite- (per-qui-zit) Sounds like some kind of medicine, but it means some special right or privilege
enjoyed as a result of one's position. One perquisite of being President is that (as long as you have the votes)
you can act with impunity toward the law.

Prerequisite- (pre-reck-whiz-it) Is something that is required (pre-required) as a condition for something else to happen or exist.
A bachelor's degree. a strong LSAT score, letters of recommendation and a well-constructed resume are all
prerequisites to acceptance in a good law school.

Loggerheads- There is a kind of turtle called a loggerhead (because it has a big blocky head), but "at loggerheads"
is used most commonly to mean in strong/total disagreement- two people, two groups, opposing each other are at loggerheads.
We were at loggerheads over what to order for dinner. I wanted pizza, my sister wanted sushi, we fought over the phone
until my sister's boyfriend showed up and suggested we order both. Genius.

Main Character Syndrome- Though not an official, clinical syndrome, is a popular term for someone
who acts as if they are the protagonist in in their own movie. They seem always self-centered, always "performing",
overly dramatic, have difficulty seeing other's perspectives, and need lots of attention and validation from others.
 
Ramekin- A ramekin is a small (usually oven-safe) dish or cup-sized
bowl (usually with straight, often fluted sides) that is used
for baking and or serving individual portions- such as souffles', custards, baked eggs...


Cut bait- Is from an idiomatic expression- usually in the form "either fish or cut bait",
and generally means something like "do something positive and productive" or
"stop shilly-shallying and make a decision".
The company chair-person could not decide if their product needed advertising. His
sassy assistant snapped back at him. "We need to get this done- so, either fish or cut bait".

Curtilage- Comes from an Old French term meaning a small court or courtyard and
in these more modern time is used in a legalistic sense to refer the the area immediately
surrounding a dwelling (including outlying structures) and in which one should
have a reasonable expectation of privacy and freedom from searches and seizure
or strange neighbors parking in your driveway...

Craven- Means cowardly, lacking in courage, weak. The President has a preference
for craven "yes men" than for true leaders in his inner circle.

Imago- the final (adult) stage in development of an insect, typically winged, like a butterfly,
for example. In psychoanalysis the term "imago" has been used to refer to
an idolized image of someone- parent, teacher, angelic vision...

 
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Tor- A tor is a rocky outcropping or "peak" exposing the underlying
stone through erosion- usually above an earth-covered hill. It is most
likely derived from a Celtic term for hill or rock.
Babushka- Is a Russian word meaning Grandmother formed from
roots that mean "little old woman" and is considered an affectionate
term. In the USA we often use babushka to mean a triangular headscarf
tied under the chin and is commonly associated with older women.

Emeritus-Is an honorary title granted to a a person who retires from a
position of distinction. So it doesn't just mean retired, but retires with
distinction and still retaining some connection to the former office.
Emeritus is normally associated with professors, but can also be found
as former bishops, judges and that sort.

Aplomb- Means self-confidence, self-assurance, coolness and composure
under stressful or demanding situations. It is derived from a French term
for straight up and down- as a ballet dancer's steady balanced posture
indicates stability and poise. Note: same root as plumber and for a similar reason.

Scourge- A scourge is someone or something that causes great trouble,
destruction and suffering.. The word is derived from Old French and Latin
terms for a whip, thong or lash used in torture. Attila the Hun was called "The
Scourge of the World" because of his extreme brutality and destruction all
across the Roman Empire.
 
Contrite- Means feeling or expressing remorse for something one feels guilty about-
remorseful, rueful, repentant for a wrong that one has done. You might think these
politicians would feel contrite over their mismanagement of funds, but, unfortunately,
that is seldom the case.

Genuflect- (From Latin knee + bend) means to lower one's body by bending one knee to the ground-
typically as a sign of respect or subservience. It can be an actual bending of the knee, or some
symbolic showing of submission. Robin refused to genuflect before the King whom he believed to be his
moral inferior.


Welkin- Comes to us from Germanic roots that basically just mean "sky" (or clouded sky) or
"vault of the sky". Way back when, stars and other sky stuff were not seen a gigantic suns subject to
gravity, but more like bright decorative things pasted on the inside of a great globe (or vault)
that rotated around the Earth. The Firmament is a word with similar meaning. Both are used, now,
in more of a poetic sense rather than a literal descriptive meaning.

The sun of heaven, methought, was loath to set
But stay'd and made the western welkin blush.
(Shakespeare)

Sub rosa- From Latin roots meaning "under the rose" and is used now to refer to something
done secretly or covertly. In Greek myth, Aphrodite gave a rose to her son Eros, who passed it on to
Harpocatres, the god of silence to ensure that his mother's indiscretions remained secret.
The rose became a symbol of secrecy and might adorn chambers where one's conversations were safe
from exposure.
The (sort of) opposite of "sub rosa" might be "sub vino" (under the wine) which implies that
some are indiscreet while "under the influence of alcohol".

Bob's your uncle- Is a British saying that means something like "as easy as that".
Supposedly, the term goes back to British Prime Minister Lord (Robert/Bob) Salisbury Named his nephew,
(Arthur Balfour) Irish Secretary in a move of blatant nepotism. So, landing that position was a cinch-
(if) Bob's your uncle. Here in the USA, we don't have that saying. Instead we might say- it's
a piece of cake, easy as pie, in the bag, back of the net...

 
Bellwether- Comes from "bell", yes a bell, and "wether" a shepherd's term for
a castrated ram (with a bell) that was used to lead the other sheep. Now, since
we don't have that many shepherds anymore, bellwether is used to mean an indicator
of future trends, a trendsetter. A bellwether might indicate changes in direction
of the stock market, trends in education, how the voters are trending as to support
of laws and candidates...

Cavalcade- A cavalcade (from Latin roots meaning "horse") is a formal procession of people
on horseback, carriages, or, most likely, automobiles. A cavalcade of classic cars headed
down Main Street toward the fairgrounds.

Phalanx- A phalanx is a group of people, cluster, horde, brigade, formation- standing close
to each other for the purpose of defense or attack- as in. "The body guards formed a solid
phalanx around the actress after hearing the sound of footsteps running.

Deus ex machina Means (in Latin) "god from out of the machine" and refers to Greek plays
where a guy dressed up like a god would be lowered onto the "stage" by a crane to sort out
the ending (denouement) and tie up loose ends. Now days a Deus ex machina is,
simply, an unexpected, contrived, plot device that helps to resolve a play, book... movie-
for example, the sudden discovery of a will, the dog digs up the lost necklace, we discover
the protagonist has a long-lost twin...

 
Busking- Is performing music, dancing, juggling, acrobatics, magic- and so on in a public place,
usually for tips, like with a box or hat for people to donate.


Vexillology- is the study of flags- the history, symbolism, uses and so on of all sorts of flags, not
just national flags, military flags, diving , pirate, banners, designers, state flags and so on...

Estuary- An estuary is an area (typically enclosed) where fresh water from a river or stream
flows out and mixes with the salty water of the ocean creating a habitat that for diverse life
forms and protects the coast from storm damage. They are sometimes referred to as "nurseries
of the sea".

Esplanade- An esplanade (the name comes from French and Spanish terms meaning "to make level")
is a long, wide area, often along a coast with things to do- like markets, restaurants, etc., by a waterfront or a river.
We walked along the esplanade past public beaches and a shop, selling pizza by the slice, until
we came upon the estuary teeming with otters, seals and nesting birds.

Cryoseism- A cryoseism is sometimes known as a "frost quake". It is a winter event caused when the ground
freezes deep into the soil layer- the water expands, creating intense pressures and sometimes results
in a loud cracking or booming noise and a small tremor which can be mistaken for thunder or an earthquake.

 
High dudgeon- Is an idiom that describes a state of intense indignation, resentment
and furious anger- often accompanied with theatrical ranting and gestures. Someone
may have been insulted, discover an injustice or plot against him, feel betrayed
and become deeply upset, furious- as in, "Glenda left the meeting in in high dudgeon".

Juju- The most common meaning is a charm or fetish (of West African origins), but now
is used to mean good or bad mystical energy- in the sense of "good juju" or "bad juju".
Some of the high school soccer team members thought the new uniforms had been giving
them bad juju and causing their losing streak. The new lead singer for their garage band
was a big hit, definitely good juju as far as ticket sales.

Wreak- Is most commonly used in the sense of "wreak havoc"- which means to cause
widespread damage, disorder, chaos destruction. Wreak, by itself, means to cause or bring about.
Havoc, by itself, means widespread destruction or devastation.

Anthropomorphic- Means projecting human forms or attributes onto nonhuman things- for example,
like Greek gods who had human forms and qualities like jealousy, pettiness, pride, desire for revenge
and so on, or cartoon characters that are animals like rabbits or pig that wear human clothing
and walk on two legs (and talk).
 
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Assiduous- Showing great care and perseverance, marked with unremitting attention and persistence.
A Television producer must be assiduous about the thousands of details that go into a simple half-hour show.

Dissolute- (from Latin- disconnected, loose) Someone who is dissolute is lacking in morals, licentious,
living a life of vice, excess, indulgence, corrupt, profligate. He was a dissolute, drunken, disreputable pig.

Bully pulpit- The term originated with Theodore Roosevelt who coined the term. He tended to use the
word "bully" (meaning great or excellent) a lot. A "bully pulpit is an advantageous platform or position of power or influence that
gives someone an advantage in getting their message out to the public. Being the top player on the
school's water polo team gave Mike a bully pulpit for pressuring the school council to bring back "chili-dog Fridays".

Haberdasher- A haberdasher is dealer that specializes in men's clothing and accessories- suits, jackets, trousers,
shoes, shirts, ties, gloves... Clive went to the local haberdasher's to buy a new suit for the prom and have it
altered to fit his athletic form. In the movie "The Kingsman", the spy network has their headquarters in a
Savile Row Haberdashery.

Milliner- a milliner is a person who designs, makes, or sells women's hats and headpieces. There are a few
shops in town that might be described as haberdashers, but, offhand, I can't think of a millinery shop- as hat
seem to be worm by fewer and fewer people these days.

Bespoke tailor- Well, a tailor, as we know, makes and alters clothing, so what is a "bespoke tailor"? A
bespoke tailor is the kind of tailor who has special, unique, individual patterns they created themselves for each customer- and a
bespoke pattern is one made from scratch from the individual's measurements- unlike clothing that is "off the rack"
and then altered to to fit better.
 
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Anamorphic- Somewhere up above we hade the word "anthropomorphic".
Morphic comes from a root meaning "shape" or "form" and ana "back" or "again"
as in "re' "shaping".
So anamorphic refers to something reshaped or reformed- typically with a lens or mirror.
In the "old days" movies were shot on standard 35 millimeter film and so the projected
image on the screen was basically the same for any movie. But eventually, using the same film
stock, but a different lens, they were able to create "wide-screen" movies like "Cinemascope".
So, anything that distorts, changes, alters the way something is seen could be termed anamorphic.
Below is an example of anamorphic art that uses a mirror.
 
Prognosticate- means to foretell or prophesy. To use various methods
to predict future events- signs, visions, magical artifacts, trances, and so on.
A person might use AI or a powerful computer program to prognosticate
good investment opportunities.

Halitosis- Is a word that the Listerine company culled out of old journals to
better sell their product. "bad breath" sounds common and ordinary, but "halitosis"
(Latin roots meaning something like "breath + "medical condition". The idea was to
instill a sense of fear of offending and not belonging for which mouthwash was the only cure.



Epitome- Means a person or thing that is a perfect example of particular quality,
or type. Even at a very young age Lawanda was the epitome of style, finding interesting
clothes in thrift shops and altering them at home to create something comfortable, stylish
and unique. The Studebaker Avanti was the epitome of futuristic design in the early 1960s.

 
Trepanning- Also known as trepanation, trephination or cutting a burr hole is the, drilling
or scraping of a hole into the skull to permit surgery, relieve pressure or release the demons-
depending circumstances.
Trepanning has been a thing since prehistoric times and is something still used in modern surgery.
The the same term (trepanning) is used to describe drilling a hole through a finger or toe nail
to relieve a subungual hematoma (blood under the nail).

Obstreperous- Means noisy and difficult to control- defiant, aggressive, boisterous...
The obstreperous child screamed like a banshee and pushed the shopping cart into a display of watermelons.

Mulct- The city began a program designed to mulct residents with excessive parking tickets and fines
for leaving out their garbage cans.
 
Just for fun
Match the numbered word to
to a lettered "definition".

1. Chorine
2. Puerile
3. Debacle
4. Pariah
5. Ascetic
6. Pander
7. Lithe
8. Fiat
9. Assauge
10. Encumber

a. relieve, b. fiasco, c. indulge, d. showgirl, e. graceful, f. burden, g. stoic, h. outcast, i. childish, j. decree

answers: 1-d, 2-i, 3-b, 4-h, 5-g, 6-c, 7-e, 8-j, 9-a, 10-f
 
Impecunious- Having little or no money- penniless, penurious, poor, insolvent.

Pecunious- Is basically the opposite of impecunious. It means wealth and financially independent.
It was the late 1920s; a red Dusenberg convertible pulled to the curb, a pecunious
gentelman stepped out wearing spats and a diamond pin- then he spotted an impecunious ragamuffin
and handed him a nickle. (I have never actually heard anybody say "pecunious"."

Simulacrum- An image or representation of someone or something. Most often the term is used to
indicate an imitation or less than satisfactory subdtitute for the real deal.
The store brand breakfast cereal, though a visual simularcum of the real "Fuzzy Bears" best seller,
had an odd taste, somewhat like asphalt and old socks

Recidivism- Is the tendency, rate, percentage or probibility of someone, once convicted, to relaps
into old criminal habits. Yes, in many places suicide is against the law, but it has a very low recidivism rate.
 
Jeopardy level words

Ombre (OM-bray, sort of like "hombre") is a French term meaning shaded- gradually blended into each other,
usually from light to dark or dark to light- creating a soft, gradient, effect especially seen in hair coloring, but
also in fingernails, fashion, design even the frosting of a cake.


Dendrite- Is another word that is derived from French term meaning "tree".
Dendrites are the branching, tree-like extentions of a neuron that recieve and transmit electro-chemical
signals. Snowflakes come in many shapes or forms, but one type is the "dendrite snowflake" which resembles
six tiny, white branching trees diverging from a central hub. Dendtite flakes are especially light and airy
and cover the earth with a greater volum of "fluff" than most other forms. This light, airy, fluffiness
acts like insulation and makes the landscape seem especially quiet.
River systems with tributaries flowing into eash other or branching out, can be described as dendrites

Dipthong- A dipthong is a "gliding vowel" sound formed when two vowels are next to each other so
that, when the word is spoken, the tongue changes position all within one syllable, adding complexity to the
language. Common combinations include- ou/ow (loud/cow, oi,oy (coin/boy)au/aw (author/saw)
and oo (food/book). Oh, and I almost forgot, "dipthong" has been uses as a mild insult, meaning someone is stupid,
dull, imbecilic, idiotic.. and was used on the ICarly show.



Sanctomonious- Means or refers to putting on a big show of being morally superior to other people, being hypocritically pious,
holier-than-though and self-righteous. The sanctimonious politition made speeches about deporting
evil foreigners, while he surreptiously stole millions of dollars that had been designated for healthcare to the poor.

 
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Vestibule- A small, enclosed entryway or transition space between a buildings
exterior and interior- most often used as a transitional area to block noise, weather,
control crowds... Similar words might include antechamber, anteroom, foyer, lobby,
narthex (a vestibule in a church), mudroom. Vestibule is also a term in anatomy
for a space or cavity, like betwween the cheeks and gums, or within the ear.

Repercussion- An unintended consequence, occurring some time after an action
or event- especially an unwelcome one.
One repercussion of Ned wearing the silly, plaid dinner jacket is that Lila thought of it
as an insult- and so he would never be invited to her parties again. In the sense that
"percussion" referrs to something being tapped, banged, struck or pounded-
a repercussion can be thought of as a sort of "aftershock" or rippling effect- like a rock
thrown into a pool causes waves to spread out in all directions.

Masque- In the 16th and 17th centuries a masque was an elaborate entertainments
thrown by the aristocracy (wealth and influence were required) and involved music, dancing,
singing, actors, costumes and the wearing of masks- all of them performing to some
central theme or motif. The following video is kind of long(ish), but has some relevant information.

 
Aggrandize- Means to increase, magnify, enlarge, enhance, make appear greater- especially
regarding wealth, power, status, property- and especially beyond what is justified by facts.
The home was in poor shape when they bought it, but by spending a moderate sum
on improvements the owners were able to aggrandize its value and make a good profit.
Self-aggrandizing (behavior)- Refers to inflating or exaggerating one's own importance through
boasting, self-promotion, attention seeking, putting down others
Gerta claimed to have famous rich parents and an important job, but that was all just self-aggrandizing
behavior- she really lived in a trailer park and worked at Walmart.

Antithesis- Refers to the contrasting of opposing types, things or ideas.
Kara and Judy were the antithesis of each other when it came to personal finances; Kara drove a Porsche,
Judy rode a bicycle; Kara was in debt, Judy had savings in the bank.
In writing, antithesis is when contrasting ideas are mentioned in quick succession, like- It was the best of
times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness...
Antithesis can also be seen as part of a dialectical process. a) thesis- a proposed idea or situation or "given".
b) antithesis- an idea or conflicting contrary to the thesis. c) synthesis- the result (new formulation, idea or outcome) after
these conflicts have been resolved.

Enervate- Means to weaken, drain of energy, sap the vitality out of something- exhaust, debilitate
enfeeble...
The coaches droning, confused, "pep-talk" at half time tended to enervate the team rather than pep them up
causing them to lose by a huge margin. Some may think that enervate means to excite or stir up, but that is not so
Another word, "innervate", means to supply with nerves especially in an anatomical sense, but it can also
mean to stimulate or energize.
 
Wanton- Refers to actions that are malicious, cruel, unprovoked, deliberate,
involving reckless disregard, , wasteful behavior and destruction. It is often used
in phrases like- wanton disregard for life, wanton destruction, wanton waste,
wanton behavior...
The new law is an example of the party's wanton disregard for the health and
welfare of the poor.
"Wonton" is also the word for an Asian dumpling.

Vicarious- means experiencing something indirectly, second-hand, through
imagined participation in others experiences rather than one's own.
Football is a way for the common couch-potato to experience strong emotions like
victory and the crushing of other's hopes and dreams- through identifying vicariously with
a team to the point where he will say, "We won", rather than, "They won".

Moue (Moo) Comes from an Old French word for "grimace" or "lip". Basically it is where a
person sort of puckers their lips and scrunches them to the side in an expression of
distaste or "pouting" or even flirtatiousness.
I suppose a moue might be considered a "micro-expression" a quick, sometimes unconscious
facial expression that (in the case of a moue) might indicate disappointment, distaste,
annoyance, petulance...


Abstruse- Something abstruse is difficult to understand, obscure, esoteric, recondite or intellectually deep-
so deep that it is not easily grasped by the average person. Sometimes the subject matter is just plain difficult
like quantum theory, or it could be someone is needlessly complicating something to make himself seem
intelligent.
Sometimes I will begin a book on physics and at first everything seems understandable, but by about three quarters
through, the math has become abstruse and I give up trying to understand why string theory requires
visualizing fifteen dimensions to understand it's workings properly.
 
Picaresque vs Picturesque
Picaresque ( picka-resk, from Spanish for "rogue") refer to a type of fiction writing that deals with the adventures of
a rogue- a rough, dishonest, rascal that becomes involved in (or instigates) various episodic situations.
Most often the stories are first-person narratives involving a picaro (rogue)- therefore giving
a sometimes unreliable viewpoint. the story tends to jump from one situation or event to another
with the protagonists main focus to simply survive in an often corrupt and dangerous world..
There may be more elements that I have missed, and not all may be found in every picaresque tale
as writing develops over time and sensibilities change.
Though more loco than picaro, Don Quixote is often classed as picaresque- other, more recent,
examples might include The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Pickwick Papers, The Sot-Weed Factor,
Dead Souls and some of Thomas Pynchon's books.
Picturesque (derived from an Italian word for "painterly") on the other hand, refers not so much to writing
as to scenery, photography, landscapes, quaint-old villages and stuff visually appealing.

 
Argillaceous- This was a spelling word from the movie Akeelah and the Bee.
In geology, it refers to soils or sediments that are composed of, resemble, or contain clay.
A clay tennis court, would, by definition, be argillaceous.

Linchpin- A person or thing that is vital to an enterprise or organization.
Boris, our most experienced technician, is the linchpin of our company, without him all would be lost
and we would flounder about like......... well, flounders.
A linchpin can also be an actual pin- used to hold a wheel to an axle, for example.

Kingpin- Has a definition similar to linchpin referring to someone essential- who heads,
leads, controls an organization. The main difference between kingpin and linchpin is
a kingpin leads from the top, an executive, head honcho, big kahuna, while a linchpin
holds things together from within the ranks. A kingpin (in comic books, for example) is often a master
criminal who heads up a crime syndicate. A kingpin can also be an actual pin or bolt-
usually around which everything rotates.

Probity- Is the quality of being decent and honest and having strong fundamental principals.
Let us show no favoritism here; we need to treat all of our customers to the same
standards of probity and integrity that we believe we deserve ourselves.

Piquant- Means having a pleasant, intriguing, tangy, pleasantly-sharp taste.
Yes, dried bear ears may not seem all that interesting a food to be served for a special dinner,
but once we add our piquant sauce made from our special chilis, herbs, and spices,
with crushed beoberries and clam juice, well, they have become our number one seller.
 
Analects- A collection of short literary or philosophical extracts.
The Analects of Confucius is just such a collection- of sayings, ideas, anecdotes...
attributed to Confucius and his disciples.

Contrapposto- Is a term for a sculpture/drawing of a human figure standing with most of its
weight on one leg, creating an more natural looking image, than, for example, some
of the rigid-looking Egyptian depictions.


Contrapasso- Is derived from a Latin term for "to suffer the opposite" and refers to the
punishment of souls in Dante's Inferno where each punishment may resemble the initial sin
or contrast (as an opposite) with it- sort of like "poetic justice"


Impasto- The technique of laying on paint thickly so that it stands out on the surface.
It comes from an Italian word for "paste" so that the brush or palette knife marks visible.

 
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Insouciance- means casualness and lack of concern, indifference or nonchalance and comes
from French terms for "not worrying". So, an insouciant person gives off a carefree, relaxed,
lighthearted "what me worry" kind of attitude.


Ascerbic- (uh-SUR-bik) Originally, ascerbic refered to taste. Things that were bitter, sharp-tasting, would be ascerbic.
it can still be used that way, but is more commonly used to denote an attitude that is cutting,
sarcastic, scathing, caustic. Some TV commercial refers to Bill Maher as an ascerbic comedian. George Carlin is also considered
ascerbic- ridiculing peoples sacred beliefs and corrupt institutions. Here is a song that also has an ascerbic attitude.


Willy-nilly- Originated in the 16th centurary that basically meant "williing or unwilling" ("will I, nil I" or "will he, nil he").
Now it is used to mean to do something "regardless of the consequences", or it can mean "like it or not", or it can mean
in a haphazard or unplanned way. When the school bully started teasing Craig, the new kid, Aldo, walked up to him, willy-nilly, and
took his hand in a jujitsu hold- and in an insoucient manner (or maybe it was ascerbic)- said, "Let's just go for a walk
while you learn about manners".

Conniption- (possibly from German "knipchen") Means a fit of hysterics or rage or a tantrum.
The TV writers had a conniption when they were told they needed to make scene changes ten minutes.
before filming. Sandy threw a conniption fit when she learned what her boyfriend said about her new hair style.
 
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Catharsis- (ancient Greek- purification or cleansing) Is a process of releasing (and providing
release from) pent up emotions. Greek tragedies were often part of a larger, communal "spa-like"
experience (Panigiria, Dionysia or Gymnopaedia) where the public could relax, experience ritual cleansing,
athletic competitions, and plays, especially tragedies, where they could identify with the protagonist's
mistakes and punishments. Later, with the emergence of psychology, the term was used to explain a
similar mental process to "awaken" repressed emotions, and bring them up to a conscious level where
they can be dealt with.
One example in the movies is the scene in Good Will Hunting where the psychiatrist tries to convince
Will, that things that happened in his childhood were not his fault.

Discombobulated- dazed, confused, disconcerted, disorganized, befuddled, shaken and flustered...
Basically the word was invented or came about in the early 1800's as a humorous way of sawing that someone
is confused and "out of it".
The man woke up on the bus all discombobulated, in a town he had never herd of.

Colophon- A colophon is a book publisher's logo, trademark or imprint, typically found on the title page
of the book- often giving details of its publication.


Sedulous- Refers to a person or a person's actions that show dedication and diligence.
Little Sandy Brown practiced her piano lessons with sedulous care for exactly one hour- then
ran to the kitchen and ate blueberry pie, which was her reward.
 
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Stigma vs Stigmata- Both of these words have the same origin- Greek for "mark"- however they
have developed over time to have different meanings.

Stigma means a mark of shame, disgrace or dishonor and can refer to one person or a group.
Brady wanted to be known as a great actor, but his opening night on Broadway he had a gas attack
and was stigmatized "the farter".

Stigmata are actual physical marks that resemble the crucifixion injuries of Jesus in the Bible- "wounds
on the palms of the hands, bleeding from the forehead and temples or marks resembling whip-lashes.

Noble vs Ignoble-
Noble can mean a person born to a hereditary class with high social or political status- aristocratic.
It can also refer to the qualities of a person with high moral or ethical principles and ideals.

Ignoble has the opposite associations. A person of humble origins born to a low station in life, possibly to unwed parents,
could be called "of ignoble birth". And just like noble can refer to a person's high principles, ignoble
can refer to their dishonorable character or intentions. The politician's tactics were ignoble, based on greed and self-interest
rather than the good of his constituents.

Nadir vs Zenith- Nadir and Zenith are opposites in astronomy and also in figurative language.

Zenith- If the moon is directly above your head it is at your zenith (highest point) while the earth below you
is your nadir (lowest point). It can also mean "highest point" figuratively, emotionally or in terms of success.
Gracie felt that winning the Oscar for best actress was the zenith of her career.
Nadir can also be used figuratively and refer to failure or emotions. The absolute nadir of their marriage
came when, despite various attempts, they were unable to have children.

 
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Inchoate- (in-co-ate) Means not fully formed or developed.
Like, maybe, a new country with an inchoate democracy that
needs time to strengthen through testing its laws and institutions.
Larry had to write a term paper for his class, but his inchoate
ideas caused him to ramble, digress, and express feelings rather than
support facts.

Munificence- Is the quality of being extremely generous- especially
gifts or donations. Friska's munificence allowed the shelter to continue
aiding the homeless, even after the government stopped funding the
program.

Rosicrucianism- Is an esoteric, spiritual and philosophical movement
that developed in the 1600s and was sort of a secret brotherhood
or guild that combined elements of alchemy, Hermeticism and the kabbalah.
Their symbol is/was a rose and a cross. Today similar groups still exist and focus
on mystical self-development and the discovery of spiritual truths rather
than religious dogma.


Serendipity- Means an unplanned, un-looked for, but fortunate or beneficial development.
Kirk has been planning to make an appointment to get a new prescription for
glasses, but it was serendipity that he found some nice frameless glasses at an antique
store that worked for him perfectly- and saved him $800.00.
 
Cabal- A cabal is a small, secretive, group of people united for some common purpose-
often political and involving conspiracy and manipulation. The term comes from Kabbalah
(Jewish mysticism) and implies underhanded, covert means to apply pressure, manipulate
candidates, coerce funding, political favors...

Jibbitz- Jibbitz are those little "charms" or adornments that people sometimes apply
to the holes in their Crocs (a brand of plastic clogs). A woman, Sheri Schmelzer, noticed
that some people were already decorating their Crocs with personalized bit of this and that.
So when she went into business to capitalize on the trend she named the add-on objects
jibbitz after her nickname "Flibbidee Jibbits".

Thistle- So, why is thistle in the word list? We know what a thistle is. Just because I like
the sound of it and think it would make a nice name for a person. So, if you're thinking
of having a child...

Marmoreal- Marmoreal means having the cold, smooth, white qualities of marble
or a marble statue. The Evil Queen towered over Snow White. The moonlight accentuated
her marmoreal features and her cold, hateful nature.
 
Selcouth- (sel-kooth) comes from an Old English word meaning "seldom known",
but is used today (if it is used at all) to mean strangely wonderful or rarely experienced.
As Dean rounded the corner he encountered the most selcouth and mysterious
aroma- like candy lipstick, new leather, and jasmine blossoms rising from the earth.

Boketto- Is a Japanese term for the act of gazing vacantly into the distance with an empty mind.
It is considered a meditative, peaceful state that allows the the mind to wander and relax,
devoid of any particular awareness. While jogging I fell into a relaxing boketto-like
state until I tripped on some uplifted sidewalk and began thinking of excruciating pain.

Stultify- Means to negate, stifle, inhibit, thwart, impede, smother. It is derived from a
Latin term for "to make foolish" in the sense of feeling dull, foolish and ineffective.
Lucy wanted to become an artist after college and felt that working in fast food
would stultify her creativity.

de facto- Is a Latin term that means "in fact", or "in practice" or "in reality".
A Government that holds power through force, tradition, manipulation, instead of
legal, constitutional means would be a de facto government. If the owner of a company
promoted men and ignored the talent of female employees, that would be de facto
discrimination. A de facto marriage is where a couple live together as if married, but
without a legal marriage contract.
 
Procrustean- Is used to refer to enforced conformity- forcing people to predetermined, rigid,
arbitrary, unnatural standards. The term comes from Greek mythology where the
robber Procrustes tortures unfortunate travelers to conform to the size of his bed-
either by stretching them or loping off their feet. Totalitarian governments tends to be
procrustean- like "Big Brother" in 1984.

Parochial- Means relating to matters of a church parish. We call the schools of small
parishes "parochial schools". Parochial or parochialism implies a small town, insular,
"small minded", disapproving perspective, and limited viewpoint. The mayor of the
small town of Buzzard's Bend was criticized for his parochial views on hiring women into
supervisory roles.

Bimble- Is a term used more often in England and is basically just a slow, relaxed,
leisurely "wander". It can also be used to describe a leisurely bike ride. Similar terms might be-
wander, stroll, amble, potter.

Paracosm- Is a fairly detailed imaginary "world" that many people develop during
childhood. These childhood creations can grow/develop over the years until they become
complex entities. The Bronte sisters (and brother) created paracosms when, they were
young, that they later developed and used in some aspects of their novels.
 
Nape vs Scruff- Nape is a term for the back of the neck and is primarily
used tin reference to humans.
Scruff is also the back of a neck, but usually refers to the loose skin by which
animals (like cats) carry their young.
The barber trimmed the hair on my head and shaved the nape of my neck.
Scruff can sometimes be used for humans , as below.
The mother grabbed her child by the scruff of the neck and guided him back into the house.

Open a can of worms- means to create a situation that could lead to unexpected
complications. Timothee Chalamet opened up a can of worms when he made negative
comments about opera and Ballet. Back in the "old days" worms for fishing often came
in cans- sort of like beans or soup. Once they started to escape, it was difficult to get
them back inside, kind of a messy business altogether.

Tom Swifties- There was (is) a whole series of books, from about 1910 onward that
revolves around Tom Swift an inventive and adventurous young kid. The novel's
overuse of descriptive adverbs to describe how things were said, prompted the creation
of "Tom Swifties", puns using self-referencing adverbs- like...
I am going to the mausoleum, Tom said cryptically.
They ran out of shellfish, Tom moped crabbily.
I love hot dogs, Tom said with relish.

MacGuffin- Is a term popularized by Alfred Hitchcock, that is really a "plot device",
that basically could be almost anything at all, that simply gets the story moving- a mistaken
identity, a secret blueprint, a valuable statuette, a coded message, an historic artifact...
Virtually any of these triggers that cause various characters to engage in various conflicts
could be replaced by any of the others that would work just as well to get the action rolling.

 
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