Nouns 2 of 3
gammon              deceptive talk                                                         
ganglion            mass of nerve cells                                                    
garniture           an embellishment or trimming                                           
garret              the part of a house just under the roof; attic                         
gaucherie           a tactless or awkward act                                              
gewgaw              a showy bauble or trinket                                              
ghoul               legendary being that robs graves and feeds on the corpses              
gilt                a gold or gold-resembling substance laid onto an object's surface      
glen                narrow and secluded valley                                             
gloaming            dusk or twilight
goad                something that urges or spurs something onward                         
gonfalon            a flag that hangs from a frame or crosspiece                           
gourmand            a person who is excessively fond of eating or drinking                 
gracesavvy          practical grasp                                                        
gravamen            the significant part of a complaint                                    
grig                a lively, bright person                                                
grommet             a ring of rope                                                         
grove               a small wood with little or no underbrush                              
guerdon             reward
gumption            initiative; common sense                                               
haberdasher         dealer in men's clothing                                               
habiliment          trappings; dress                                                       
haft                handle of a tool or weapon                                             
hagiography         biography of saints or venerated persons                               
halcyon             mythical bird which nests at sea and calms the waves                   
halitosis           condition of chronic bad breath                                        
hamlet              a small village                                                        
handsel             a gift given as a sign of good luck                                    
harangue            explosive ranting speech; lecture                                      
harbinger           one that announces or foreshadows what is to come                      
harlequin           a buffoon or professional idiot                                        
harridan            a bitter or scolding old woman
hauberk             a coat of mail                                                         
hawser              a large rope for towing or mooring a ship                              
hearth              the floor of, or in front of a fireplace                               
hedonism            the doctrine that pleasure is the prime directive of life              
hegira              a journey away from unpleasant circumstances                           
helot               a serf or slave                                                        
helve               a handle or haft of a weapon or tool                                   
hermitage           a secluded dwelling; the home of an eremite                            
hiatus              a break in continuity                                                  
hinterland          a region remote from cities or behind a coast                          
hippodrome          arena for equestrian performances                                      
histrionics         display of emotions for effect                                         
holocaust           thorough destruction                                                   
homeostasis         tendency towards equilibrium                                           
homily              sermon                                                                 
hostel              supervised lodging for the young; inn                                  
hostler             a caretaker of horses or mules                                         
hovel               a small and often decrepid or filthy house                             
hoyden              female of saucy, boisterous, or carefree behavior                      
hubris              immoderate pride or self-confidence                                    
humus               the dark part of soil formed from decayed organic matter               
hyperbole           exaggeration used as a figure of speech                                
hypertrophy         excessive growth of a body part                                        
ichor               an ethereal fluid that flows in the veins of gods as blood             
iconoclast          one who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions                      
ideogram            a symbol which expresses an entire word or concept                     
idiom               figure of speech that doesn't make sense when taken apart              
idiosyncrasy        a personal peculiarity                                                 
idyll               a simply descriptive or narrative passage                              
immolation          a sacrifice                                                            
impedimenta         things which hinder                                                    
impetus             driving force or impulse; the tendency of a moving object to keep movingtravail       childbirth; agony or torment; painful work or exertion                 
impuissance         state of powerlessness                                                 
inamorata           a woman with whom one is in love                             
inanition           a weak state as if from lack of food or water                          
inception           beginning or commencement                                              
incertitude         doubt; insecurity                                                      
incunabulum         swaddling clothes or cradle                                            
indemnity           security against damage                                                
indicia             distinctive marks                                                      
indignation         anger aroused by injustice                                             
infarct             area of dead tissue caused by a blockage of local blood circulation    
infirmity           disease; personal failing; feebleness                                  
ingle               flame; fireplace                                                       
ingot               a mass of metal cast in a convenient form for storage                  
ingrate             one marked by ungratefulness                                           
iniquity            wickedness                                                             
inquietude          restlessness                                                           
insouciance         a lighthearted concern; trifle                                         
insurgent           one who fights against civil authority or the government               
insurrection        a revolt against a civil authority or government                       
intaglio            an engraving or incised figure into a hard surface                     
integument          a covering layer of an organism                                        
intemperance        lack of moderation                                                     
interdiction        a decree prohibiting something                                         
interjection        an exclamatory word                                                    
interment           burial                                                                 
interstice          a space or chink                                                       
intinction          administration of communion by dipping bread into wine                 
intrados            the inside curve of an arch                                            
intumescence        area of swelling or enlargement                                        
inundation          a covering or overflowing                                              
invective           abusive expression of speech                                           
involucre           whorls or bracts close to fruit or flowers
involution          act of entangling; intricacy or complexity                             
issuance            act of giving; official giving                                         
jabot               ruffle down the front of a dress or shirt                              
jackanapes          impudent or conceited person; ape                                      
jape                a gibe or jest                                                         
jaundice            yellowish discoloration of the skin                                    
jennet              a female donkey; small Spanish horse                                   
jenny               a female bird or donkey                                                
jeremiad            prolonged lamentation or complaint                                     
jesuit              one given to subtle casuistry                                          
jetsam              goods tossed overboard to lighten a ship in distress                   
junta               group of people controlling a government                               
junto               group of people joined for a common purpose                            
juxtaposition       side by side placement                                                 
karst               area of limestone where erosion has produced caverns and sinkholes     
keen                wordless and wailing lamentation for the dead                          
kip                 undressed hide of a small animal                                       
knell               a stroke of a bell; indication of an end or failure                    
knoll               small, round hill                                                      
knout               a whip used to flog criminals                                          
knurl               one of a series of small ridges in metal to improve grip               
labret              an ornament inserted into a perforation in the lip                     
laccolith           dome-shaped bulging in earth caused by intrusions of igneous rock      
laceration          a rough tear                                                           
lacuna              blank space or hollow                                                  
lading              freight or cargo                                                       
laggard             one that lingers                                                       
lagniappe           something given freely out of good will                                
laity               mass of people as distinguished from those of a specific field         
lambency            a flickering or soft radiance                                          
lamia               a female demon                                                         
lamina              a scale or thin plate                                                  
lanai               porch furnished for use as a living-room                               
languor             listless indolence                                                     
lanyard             piece of rope for fastening things to a ship                           
lapidary            one who cuts or polishes stones                                        
lapin               rabbit fur                                                             
lares and penates   personal or household effects; gods of the household                   
largess             generous giving of gift                                                
lark                frolic or a prank                                                      
lassitude           fatigue; languor                                                       
latitude            freedom of action or choice                                            
laudanum            opiate                                                                 
lazar               leper                                                                  
lea                 pasture or meadow                                                      
leaven              something that lightens or modifies a mass or aggregate                
lechery             inordinate indulgence in sexual activity                               
lector              one whose principle duty is to read the lessons in a church service    
leer                a malicious, suggesting, or knowing look                               
lees                dregs                                                                  
legacy              something that has come from an ancestor or predecessor                
legerdemain         sleight of hand                                                        
leitmotif           a recurring and dominant theme                                         
lesion              an abnormal structural change in the body due to injury or disease     
lethargy            state of laziness or indifference                                      
leviathan           something very large of its kind; large sea animal
liaison             an illicit sexual relationship; a close bond                           
libertine           one who leads a life of loose morals or conduct                        
lineament           an outline, contour, or feature of a body or face                      
liniment            liquid preparation rubbed on the skin for pain relief                  
literati            men of letters; the educated class                                     
litterateur         a professional writer                                                  
liturgy             a body of rites prescribed for public worship                          
loam                loose soil of mixed clay, sand and silt                                
locution            a particular form of expression or phraseology                         
loess               yellowish brown loamy deposit                                          
loquacity           tendency towards excessive talk
lucerne             alfalfa                                                                
luminary            a source of light; a famous person                                     
lummox              clumsy person                                                          
lyceum              hall for public lectures; association which provides public events     
macrocosm           the universe                                                           
maelstrom           a large, violent whirlpool                                             
maenad              a woman participating in a drunken orgy; an excited or distraught woman
magdalen            reformed prostitute                                                    
magnate             person of rank, influence, or distinction                              
magnum opus         an artist's greatest achievement                                       
maisonette          a small house or apartment on two floors                               
majuscule           a large letter on a page                                               
malaise             sense of physical ill-being                                            
malapropism         misuse of a word                                                       
malediction         a curse or execration                                                  
malefactor          an evildoer or one who commits an offense against the law              
malfeasance         wrongful conduct                                                       
malison             a curse or denouncement                                                
mammon              material wealth with a debasing influence                              
mandamus            a writ from a higher court demanding a certain action                  
marplot             one who endangers the success of an enterprise by meddling             
martinet            a strict disciplinarian                                                
mast                nuts accumulated on the forest floor                                   
mattock             a digging implement with features of an adze, ax, and pick             
meander             winding of a stream; to wander aimlessly                               
meed                reward or fitting return                                               
meerschaum          a tobacco pipe made from white clay material                           
menagerie           collection of wild animals for display                                 
mendicant           a beggar; a friar                                                      
meniscus            crescent-shaped body; curved surface of water in a column              
mesa                flat-topped hill with steep sides
mestizo             a person of mixed blood                                                
mettle              temperament; spirit or courage                                         
midge               a small fly                                                            
mien                demeanor as expressive of mood or personality                          
milieu              setting or environment                                                 
mimesis             imitation                                                              
misanthrope         one who hates mankind                                                  
misanthropy         hatred for the human race                                              
miscegenation       mixture of races                                                       
miscreant           one who behaves viciously or criminally                                
miscue              error or mistake                                                       
misfeasance         performane of a lawful act in an unlawful manner                       
mishmash            a collection or mixture of unrelated things                            
misnomer            wrong designation or name                                              
misogamist          one who hates the institution of marriage                              
misogynist          one who hates or distrusts women                                       
modicum             small amount                                                           
moiety              one of two approximately equal parts                                   
monition            a caution or warning                                                   
morass              a bog or swamp                                                         
moratorium          a suspension of activity                                               
morbidity           a focus on disease or unwholesome ideas                                
mortmain            the often oppressive influence of the past on the present              
moue                little grimace                                                         
mountebank          a quack or charlatan                                                   
mucilage            sticky solution                                                        
muliebrity          the state of being a woman; femininity                                 
mullion             vertical strip separating window panes                                 
murrain             plague                                                                 
myopia              short-sightedness                                                      
myrmidon            a loyal follower                                                       
nabob               a man of great prominence or wealth                                    
narcissism          sexual desire or love for one's own body
narcosis            state of unconsciousness or stupor caused by chemicals                 
naris               an opending of the nose; nostril                                       
narthex             a vestibule in the church                                              
nave                the central part of the church running lengthwise                      
ne plus ultra       the highest attainable point                                           
neb                 the beak of a turtle or bird                                           
nebulosity          the quality of haziness or indistinctness                              
necrology           list of the recently dead; obituary                                    
necromancy          the practice of communicating with the spirits of the dead             
necropolis          large, elaborate cemetary                                              
necrosis            local death of bodily tissues                                          
ne'er-do-well       idle, worthless person                                                 
negation            the act of denying or invalidating completely
nemesis             one that inflicts retribution; a formidable rival                      
neology             use of a new or established word or expression in a new sense          
neophyte            a new convert; a beginner or novice                                    
nepotism            favoritism shown to a relative                                         
nevus               a pigmented birthmark                                                  
newel               post around which a spiral staircase winds; post at a stair's landing  
nexus               link or connection                                                     
nicety              a small, good thing; a fine detail                                     
niggard             a stingy person                                                        
nihilism            doctrine that traditional beliefs or existence itself is useless       
nimbus              uniform raincloud over the entire sky; cloud from which rain falls     
nimrod              a hunter                                                               
noblesse oblige     the obligation of honorable behavior associated with high rank or birth
no-brainer          achieved without much thought
noddle              head                                                                   
noddy               a simpleton                                                            
node                an area of a vibrating body that is free of vibration                  
nomenclature        name or designation; system of designation of the arts or sciences     
non sequitur        jump in logic; inference that does not follow from given premises      
nonagenarian        a person in their nineties                                             
nonpareil           individual of unequaled excellence; paragon                            
nostalgia           wistful yearning for a time or place that is irrecoverable
nostrum             questionable medicine or remedy                                        
novice              new member of a religious order; one who is untrained or inexperienced 
obduracy            stubborn resistance or adamance                                        
obeisance           deference or homage; a bow to show respect or submission               
obelisk             four-sided pillar that tapers and ends in a pyramid                    
oblation            a religious offering                                                   
obliquity           having the quality of being slanted or indirect                        
obloquy             strong condemning utterance or language; bad repute                    
obscurantism        opposition to the spread of knowledge; deliberate vagueness            
obsequiousness      a state of humble or excessive attentiveness                           
obsolescence        the condition of being no longer useful                                
ochre               the red or yellowish color of iron ore                                 
octogenarian        a person in their eighties                                             
oeuvre              substantial body of work constituting the lifework of an artist        
offal               the by-product or waste of a process; the viscera of a butchered animal
offing              the part of the deep sea seen from the shore                           
oligarchy           government where power is held by a few people                         
olio                a medley or hodgepodge                                                 
onomatopoeia        words in imitation of natural sounds; words whose sounds suggestsense  
onus                burden; obligation; blame                                              
opalescence         a rainbowlike display of colors or iridescence                         
opaqueness          state of being impervious to light; not easily understood, obtuse      
opprobrium          something that brings disgrace                                         
opulence            quality of wealth or rich abundance                                    
opuscule            a minor work of an artist                                              
ordure              excrement                                                              
oriflamme           brightly colored banner held in battle                                 
orison              prayer                                                                 
ormolu              an imitation of gold                                                   
orogeny             the process of mountain formation                                      
orrery              a mechanical model of the solar system                                 
orthoepy            customary pronunciation of a language                                  
osculation          a kiss                                                                 
ossuary             a depository for human bones                                           
ostentation         excessive or pretentious display                                       
oubliette           dungeon with an opening at the top                                     
overture            opening offer                                                          
pabulum             digestible food; soft digestible food                                  
pacifism            opposition to violence or war as a means to settle disputes            
paddock             enclosed area for exercising or pasturing animals                      
paean               an exultant song of praise                                             
palimpsest          an object, a place, or an area that reflects its history               
palindrome          a word, phrase, or verse that reads the same way backward as forward   
paling              a fence made of posts; pickets                                         
palinode            a formal statement of retraction                                       
palisade            a tall fence of stakes for defensive purposes; line of cliffs          
palsy               condition marked by tremor; paralysis                                  
panacea             a remedy for all ills                                                  
panache             dash of flamboyance in style and action                                
pandemic            widespread outbreak of a disease                                       
pander              go-between in love intrigues; pimp; exploiter of others' weaknesses    
panjandrum          a powerful person or pretentious official                              
panoply             something forming a protective covering; an impressive array           
panspermia          theory that microorganisms from space started life on earth            
pantheism           doctrine that equates God with the forces of the universe              
papilla             small projecting body part                                             
papillote           greased paper wrapper in which food is cooked                          
papist              a Roman Catholic                                                       
papule              a small solid lesion of the skin                                       
paragon             model of perfection                                                    
parallax            difference in apparent direction of something as seen from two points  
paramour            an illicit lover                                                       
parasol             umbrella used as a shield against the sun                              
paregoric           an alcoholic preparation of opium and camphor                          
paresis             incomplete paralysis                                                   
pariah              outcast                                                                
parity              equality or equivalence                                                
parlance            speech or manner of speaking                                           
paroxysm            sudden sharp attack; spasm                                             
parquetry           fine woodwork inlaid in patterns                                       
parsimony           extreme or excessive frugality                                         
parti pris          a preconceived opinion                                                 
parturition         childbirth                                                             
parvenu             one who has suddenly risen to wealth or power but not social position  
passel              a large number                                                         
patella             kneecap                                                                
paten               plate; thin disk                                                       
paterfamilias       the father of a family or the male head of household                   
pathogen            specific cause of a disease                                            
pathos              element in experience or art that evokes pity or compassion            
patina              green film formed on copper or brass with exposure to moisture
patois              nonstandard dialect; jargon                                            
patrician           person of high birth                                                   
patronymic          name derived from paternal ancestry                                    
paucity             smallness of number of quantity                                        
paunch              a large belly                                                          
peccadillo          slight offense                                                         
peccavi             an acknowledgment of sin                                               
pedagogue           a teacher or schoolmaster                                              
pedagogy            the profession of teaching                                             
pedant              person who makes a display of his education; uninspired teacher        
pederast            one that practices anal intercourse; one who has intercourse with    boys
peduncle            a narrow supporting stalk                                              
peen                the end of a hammer opposite the face
pelage              the hairy covering of a mammal                                         
pelf                riches or money                                                        
penitent            a person who feels sorrow for sins and offenses                        
penumbra            partial shadow surrounding a complete shadow                           
penury              extreme poverty                                                        
perdition           eternal damnation                                                      
peregrination       a journeying about from place to place                                 
perfidy             violation of loyalty or faith                                          
perigee             point in an orbit where the orbiting object is nearest to earth        
perihelion          point in the path of a celestial body when it is nearest the sun       
peripetia           a sudden change of events or reversal of circumstances                 
periphrasis         circumlocution                                                         
permutation         transformation; one in a number of possible changes                    
peroration          the concluding part of a speech                                        
perpetuity          endless time                                                           
perquisite          a profit or privilege incidental to regular wages or salary            
persiflage          jesting or mocking talk                                                
personage           a character of rank or distinction                                     
perspicacity        acuteness of discernment or mental vision                              
perspicuity         quality of being plain to the understanding                            
phalanx             group or body in compact formation                                     
phantasmagoria      a constantly changing scene composed of numerous elements              
pharisee            a self-righteous or hypocritical person                                
pharos              lighthouse                                                             
philippic           a rant or tirade                                                       
philter             a charm, drug, or potion used to arouse sexual passion                 
phosphorescence     illumination from radiation absorption that continues after radiation  
physiognomy         facial appearance; face as a reflection of internal character          
pillion             cushion behind a saddle for an extra rider; passenger seat on motorcycle
pique               offense taken by one slighted                                          
pith                spongy tissue; the core or essential part                              
placard             a notice posted in a public place                                      
platitude           a trite or flat remark                                                 
plexus              an interlacing network                                                 
pogrom              an organized massacre of helpless people                               
polder              a piece of low land reclaimed from the sea                             
polity              a politically organized unit                                           
poniard             dagger                                                                 
popinjay            a supercilious, strutting person                                       
portage             the carrying of boats overland between bodies of water or its route    
poseur              an affected person                                                     
posy                a brief sentiment or motto
potation            an alcoholic drink or the act of drinking                               ombudsman           government official who investigates complaints against public officials
potentate           one who wields controlling power                                       
preceptor           tutor                                                                  
preciosity          fastidious refinement                                                  
precipice           a steep cliff                                                          
predilection        a favorable inclination                                                
prepuce             foreskin                                                               
presage             soemthing that forshadows a future event                               
presbyopia          farsightedness                                                         
presentiment        feeling that something is about to occur; premonition                  
prestidigitation    sleight of hand                                                        
prevarication       deviation from the truth                                               
prevision           foresight or prescience; prediction                                    
prig                one who irritates by rigid or pointed observance of proprieties        
primogenitor        ancestor or forefather                                                 
primogeniture       state of being the first born; right of inheritance to the eldest son  
privation           an act, condition, or result of loss                                   
proem               preliminary comment or prelude                                         
progenitor          originator or precursor; direct ancestor                               
prognostic          phrophesy or portent                                                   
prolegomenon        prefatory remarks                                                      
proletariat         the laboring class                                                     
prolixity           the state of being verbose or redundant                                
promulgation        a making known or putting into force by open declaration               
