Great Words
A
B C
D E
F G
H I J
K L
M N
O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A:
Abbattoir : Slaughterhouse
Abecedarian: Relating to the alphabet ; a beginner
Abeyance : A suspension, temporary
pause
Abrogate : Annul/abolish
; do away with
Abstruse : Hard to understand
Accede : Agree to
Admonition : Friendly
form of warning
Aficionado
: Fan/admirer
Aggrandize : To make
grander/increase ; promote ;
Aggress :
To commit the first hostile act
Aggrestic : Pertaining to fields/country
Agog : Keen ; full of excitement
Alacrity : Ready
willingness followed by prompt action
Alfresco : Open air
Alpenglow
: Reddish sunrise/set seen on top of
mountains
Amity : Friendship - esp between nations
Anathema : A curse, cursed person ; intensely disliked
Animadversion : Harsh
criticism/disapproval
Animus : Showing
hostility/animosity
Antediluvian
: Antiquated; from a much earlier time
Apocryphal : Doubtful authority ; false , spurious
Apologia : A formal defence of ones actions, opinions.
Apothegm : Short, witty instructive
saying
Apprise : Give notice to ; To inform
Approbation : Formal approval ; praise
Arcane : Understood
or known by only a few
Argus
eyed : Extremely observant, watchful
Ascetic : One who
practices extreme self denial often in
religious devotion
Asperity : Roughness
Assidious : Constant in application/attentive;
hard working
Atrablilious : Gloomy ; irritable
Autocrat : Monarch who has absolute
power
Avatar : A physical incarnation of a deity.
Avuncular : Relating to uncle
B:
Bailiwick : Someone's area of knowledge/interest ; District
of a bailiff
Bedaub : Smear : Overdecorate
Bellicose
: Of a warlike nature
Benefaction : The act
of giving a benefit
Benignant : To be kind/gracious;
beneficial/favourable
Berate : To scold
severely
Bibelot
: Small decorative object with no practical
use
Bifurcate
: Split into 2 branches/parts
Bilious : Relating to bile
; ill-tempered
Bivouac : A nightcamp with
little/no shelter
Bombast :
Pretentious/pompous speech/writing
Bombinate : To buzz, hum
Bowlderize : Remove words/material considered offensive
Brobdingnagian : Gigantic,
of extreme size
Bromide : Potassium used as a sedative ; dull person; commonplace
saying
Bucolic : relating to country lifestyle
; pastoral
Buss : A kiss
C:
Cadge : Beg/sponge
Cap-a-pie : From head to foot
Carom : Strike or rebound
Caveat : Notice given regarding an act
; caution/warning
Caesura : Break or pause
in verse; any break or pause
Canorous : Richly melodious, aurally
pleasant
Censorious : Tend to blame/criticise
Censure : The act of blaming/finding
fault ; Official reprimand/expressing disapproval
Chicanery : Trickery/deception
Chimerical : Imaginery/fantastic/unrealistic
Choleric :
Easily irritated ; angry
Circumspect : Cautious/Way/Heedful
Clamber : To climb with
difficulty
Cognoscente : Person with special
knowledge ; connoisseur
Comestible : Edible
Comity : Civility, friendship, harmony
between nations or groups
Commensurate : Equal in measure
Commodious : Roomy/spacious
Complaisant
: A desire to please/compliant
Compunction
: With guilt/conscience
Concinnity : An internal synergy
Concupiscence
: Strong desire ; sexual lust
Conflagration : A fierce fire; conflict
Confluence : Coming together ; large assemblage
Confrere : A fellow colleague,
comrade, close associate
Congenial : Suited to ones nature, friendly.
Connubial : Of or pertaining to marriage
Conspectus : Synopsis;
general sketch
Constitutional : A walk
taken for the benefit of ones health.
Contemporaneous : Occuring, originating,
existing at the same time
Copious : Abundant
supply
Coterminous : Equal extent/duration
Cozen : To cheat/defraud by petty
tricks
Countermand :
To revoke an order by giving another
one, a contrary order
Crabwise : Move sideways, in a cautious manner
Crux : Central, critical feature ; anything puzzling
Cum : Combined with - used
in combination
D:
Daedal : Skillful, artistic ; complex,
intricate in form
Dapple : Small
contrasting spot esp coat of an animal
(horses)
Defensetrate : Throw out of the window
Deign : Condescend
Denizen : Inhabitant
Deprecate : To strongly
disapprove; to belittle; to pray
against an evil
Deracinate : To uproot/displace
Derogate : To deviate
from what's expected ; To take away;detract
Desultory
: Disappointing progress ; haphazard,
random
Diadem : Crown, ornamental
headband worn by Eastern monarchs,regal
power
Discrete :
Separate
Disheveled : Unkempt
; loose order
Disparate
: Different/distinct in quality or
kind
Dissimulate : To conceal
under a false appearance.
Donnybrook : Brawl
; heated argument
Doppleganger : Ghostly double
Doughty : Valiant, brave
Dour : Harsh ; gloomy ; obstinate
Doyen : A senoir member of a group ; someone who possesses skill/knowledge
due to experience.
Dyspeptic : Relating to dyspepsia (indigestion) ;
irritable/ill humored
E :
Effete : Barren/infertile ; Exhausted
Effiicacious : Effective ; able to produce
Eleemosynary
: Relating to charity
Elysium : State
of perfect bliss ; paradise
Embonpoint : Plumpness of person
Emolument :Wages/gain/compensation
Encomium : Formal
expression of warm/high praise
Encumbrance : Burden/hindrance
En masse : Together as one/collectively
Enmity :
Hostility
Ephemeron
: Short lived
Epigone : Inferior imitator especially
of writing, music, philosophy
Equable : Equal/uniform unvarying;
not easily disturbed/flustered
Eremite : Hermit
Evince : To show in a clear manner, to make
evident
Excoriate : To strongly denounce
; To tear/wear the skin off
Exemplar : Ideal model/example ; a patter/model to
be copied
Expeditious : acting with
speed/efficiency
Expiate : To atone
Explicate : To explain, to
clear of difficulties
Expropriate : To deprive possession of ; To
transfer property of someones else to ones own
Expunge : To obliterate/delete
; To annihilate
Extraneous
: Coming from outside
F :
Facile : Easily
done
Factitious : Artificial
; sham
Fait accompli : An accomplished deed/action that is
irreversible
Fatuous
: Inane/stupid ; delusion/false belief
Febrile : Pertaining
to fever
Feckless : Weak/worthless
Felicitous
: Appropriate ; well chosen
Fetor : Offensive smell ; stench
Fey : Having an irresponsible air ; to
see spirits/the future
Filial : Pertaining to the obedient behaviour
of offspring
Fillip : Snap of the finger
from the thumb ; something to stumulate
; trivial addition
Flibbertigibbet : Scatterbrain, esp woman
Florid
: Lively reddish colour ; Ornate in a
flowery style
Flout : Treat with contempt/disregard
Forcible : Use force against resistance
Forfend : To
ward off/ forbid / defend
Fractious :
Irritable/unruly
Frangible : Can easily be broken
Funereal : Relating to a funeral;
gloomy
Furtive : Secretive
; sneaky
Fustian : Pompous language
G:
Gainsay : To oppose/contradict/deny
Gallimaufry : Medley/hodgepodge
Galvanic : Stimulated or as
if stimulated by electricity ; startling
Gambol : To prance around
Gauche : Lacking social tact.
Gaucherie
: socially awkward/tactless act;
boorishness.
Glabrous : Without hair ; smooth
Gravid : Pregnant
Genial : Friendly; pleasant comfortable,
favourable to life/growth
Grandee : Person
of elevated station/rank
Grandiloquent : Lofty in style
Gustatory : Relating to
taste
H:
Harbinger : A herald of what is to come
Hardscrabble : Barren ; marked by poverty
Harridan
: A vicious scolding woman; a shrew/hag
Hebetude : Mental slowness/sluggishness
Hector : To bully
Heterodox : Holding unusual views
Heuristic : Stimulating
Hinterland : A backcountry
Hobson's Choice ;
Only having one choice
Holistic : The importance
of the whole & the dependance
of its parts
Hortatory : Strong urge to encourage/incite
Hubris : Pride/arrogance
Hugger mugger : Disorderly jumble; secrecy,
concealment; confusion
Hullabaloo : Confused noise, uproar
Hyperbole : Extravagent exaggeration
I:
Idee
Fixe : An idea that dominates the mind
; an obsession
Idyll : A simple poem/prose regarding rural life ;
lighthearted experience ; romantic pause
Ignoramus : An ignorant or foolish person
Immolate : To sacrifice,
destroy usually by fire
Impregnable : Able to resist attack
Improvident : Lack of foresight ; Thoughtless
Impugn : To attack
by words/argument
Inanition : condition
or quality of being empty;exhaustion
from hunger;lack of vitality/spirit
Inclement : Harsh conditions (weather)
; severe, cruel
Incommunicado : Without means/right
to communicate
Inculcate
:Teach/impress by repetetive instruction
Inhere : Belonging
to as attributes/qualities
Inimical : Unfriendly/hostile
Inscrutable : Hard to understand
Insuperable : Unable to be passed over
or overcome.
Interlard
: To insert between, to intermingle
Internecine : Conflict within a country/organization
; destrucutive/marked by slaughter
Interpolate
: To alter/corrupt by inserting new
material
Interregnum : The gap
between 2 reigns
Interstice
: A gap between things normally narrow
eg a crook ; an interval of time
Inure : Get accustomed to something
difficult; inconvenient, harden
Invective
: Swearing/abusive language ; insulting/abusive
use of speech
Inveigh : To protest/attack with harsh
or bitter language
Inveigle
: To persuade/obtain by the use of
flattery
Irenic : Tending to promote
peace.
Irrefragable : Undeniable/unquestionable
Irrupt : To burst in/intrude
Iterative : Repetetive
Invidious : Envious; To
provoke envy/ill will
J:
Junta : Government
council/ruling body esp after a revolution
Juxtaposition : The act of laying side by side
K:
Ken : Insight/knowledge ; Range of vision
L:
Lacuna : Missing part, gap
Lambaste : To severely thrash ; To verbally
assault
Languor : Mental/physical fatigue
; oppressiveness in the air
Lascivious
: Arousing sexual desire; Lewd, lustful
Latitudinarian : Someone who holds broad
minded beliefs esp religion.
Lexicon : Dictionary; vocabulary of
someone, subject or language
Limn : To describe/portray
in words or to depict by painting/drawing
Limpid
: Clear ; Calm
Lucubration : Nocturnal study
Lugubrious
: Mournful often in a way that seems
feigned; gloomy, dismal
Luminary : Any body
that gives light esp from heavenly bodies ; A person
of eminence/brilliance
M:
Maelstrom : Large powerful or destructive
whirpool; state of turbulent
affairs
Maladroit : Clumsy, inept
Malapropism : Unintentional humorous misuse of
words.
Malcontent : Someone
who is dissatisfied
Malinger : To feign illness
Martinet : Strict disciplinarian
Mazy : Resembling
a maze ; confusing
Melange : Mixture/medley
Mendacious : Untruthful
Mephetic : Offensive to smell
Meretricious : Relating
to prostitutes ; vulgar dress sense
Miasma : A corrupting atmosphere ;
a thick vaporous atmosphere
Microcosm : A little world
Milieu : Setting/environment
Militate : To have power/influence
Mimetic : Prone to imitating
Minatory : Menacing/Threatening
Miscreant
: Depraved/bad behaviour ; heretical
Misnomer : Misnaming a
person/object; a wrong name or designation
Mollify : Pacifiy/reduce
in intesity/to temper
Mores: Customs/moral
attitudes/habits
Mounteback : Quack ; charlatan
Myrmidon : A loyal supporter
Mythopoeic : Relating to creating myths
N:
Nascent : Come into existenc
Neologism : A new word/expression ; a new use for a word/expression
Neoteric : New/recent
Nettlesome
: Causing irritation, vexation or distress
Noisome : Noxious,
harmful; offensive to the senses
esp smell, disgusting
Nonage : Period of youth/immaturity
; Before one comes of age
Nonplus : Confound ; bewilder
O:
Objurgate : Criticise severely,
show strong disapproval
Obstreperous : Noisily defiant;
Noisy.
Obtrude
: To push/thrust out
Olla Podrida : A stew ; A mixture/hodgepodge
Oneiric : Relating to dreams;
dreamy
Opprobrium : Disgrace, reproach
with contempt
Ossify : To harden or to become bone
Ostracize :
Banish, expel
Otiose : Ineffective;
idle (at leisure) ; of no use
Outre : Bizarre, eccentric
P:
Pablum : Simplistic/insipid
writing
Palaver : Idle talk
Panacea : Universal cure for all diseases/problems
Panoply : Impressive array; ceremonial
dress; full suit of armour/complete
defence
Pantheon : Temple dedicated
to the Gods ; A group of esteemed people
Paradox : A
statement that appears contradictory
but not necessarily so.
Paterfamilias
: Male head of the family/household
Patina :
Sheen/crust given to an object due to its age..eg green
rust
Patrician : Nobleman ; person of refined upbringing/taste
Paucity : Fewness
of number ; scarcity
Pedagogical
: Relating to the science of teaching.
Pejorative : Tending to make worse ; tending
to belittle
Penury : Extreme poverty
; Insufficient
Perambulate : Walk/stroll
Peremptory : Putting an end to debate/action
Perfidy : Treachery ; faithlessness
Peripatetic : Pertaining to walking/travelling
Perorate : To sum up a long discourse ; To speak at great
length
Perquisite : A benefit
in addition to normal wages ; tip/gratuity
Pertinacious : Obstinately
holding on to a belief ; stubbornly persistent
Pettifoger : Unscrupulous solicitor ; also quibbles
over trivia
Phantasmagoria : Shifting
series or succession of things as dreamt ;
Any contantly changing scene
Physiognomy : The art of
detecting how facial features/characterisitics
reveal temperament of someone.
Piebald : Mottled
colour spots of black & white,
having incongruous parts
Plaint : Expression
of sorrow ; complaint
Plaintive : Sorrowful ; melancholy
Plangent : Beating
with a deep sound ; expressing grief
Plaudit
: Expression of approval
Plebian : Of common people,
crude
Pleonasm : Overuse of words to describe an idea
; extra words
Plethora : Superabundance
Potentate : One with great power eg ruler/monarch
Preponderate : To exceed
in weight, to be weighed down, to
exceed in power/influence
Prestidigitation
: Sleight of hand; skill in tricks
Preternatural : Inexplicable, abnormal
Prevaricate
: To depart from the truth, speak
ambiguously
Privation : The state of being deprived of something
Profligate : Excessively wasteful ; shamelessly
immoral
Proscribe : To forbid
Proselyte : A new convert to doctine/religion
Proselytize : To convert
to someone elses faith ; To persuade
someone to join a different poltitcal institute/cause
Provender
: Dry food (eg hay) for animals ; rations/provisions
Puckish : Impish/whimsical
Pulchtritude : Quality that is pleasing
on the eyes eg beautiful, graceful etc
Putative : Supposed, reputed to;
commonly thought
Pyrrhic victory :
A victory achieved at a ruinous/great cost
Q:
Qua : In the capacity/character of
Quiescent : In a state of rest,
inactive
Quietus : Rest from activity (death) ; To
suppress ; Final discharge from debt
Quixotic : The pursuit and romance
of unreachable goals
R :
Rapacious
: Seizing by force(plunder) ; greedy
Rapport : Mutual trust, relationship
Recidivism : Tendency to relapse to a previous condition
esp with crime
Recrudescent : Breaking out after a brief abatement
Redact : To draw up a statement in
writing ; make ready for publication
Redoubtable : Arousing fear; formidable ; illustrious
Redound : To cause to have an effect
Remonstrate : To show/present reasons for opposition
Renege : To go back on
Repletion : The condition of being excessively full
Requisite : Necessary,
vital
Rotund : Spherical ; chubby
Roue : A man devoted to sensual desires, a rake/debauchee
Rusticate :
To be reside in the countryside
S :
Sacrosanct : Sacred; inviolable
Salad days : Time of youthful inexperience
Salmagundi : a mixed salad
plate; mixture/medley
Salutary : Producing
beneficial effect; wholesome,
promoting health
Sanctum : A place of retreat ; sacred place
Sapient : Wise, sage
Sardonic : Mocking, scornful; disdainfully
humorous
Sartorial : Relating to clothes/tailoring;
relating to a style of dress
Satiety
: State of being gratified beyond satisfaction.
Scapegrace : One who is reckless/wild
Scion : Descendant ;
heir
Scrabble : Scrape/scratch
with hands or feet, struggle
with hands feet, to scramble with hands/feet,to
scribble
Segue
: Smooth transition, carrying on without
interruption
Sempiternal
: Eternal, without end
Sentient : Capable of perception by use of the senses
Serendipity : The ability
to make fortunate accidental discoveries.
Simulacrum : Vague likeness; image,
representation
Sine qua non : An essential
condition ; something indispensible
Skulk : To sneak about ; avoid
ones duties
Slaver : To drool, slobber
Small beer : Weak beer (as seen on Time Team)!
Soi-disant : Self styled
Solace : To comfort
in grief
Solicitous : Full of care/concern ; Meticulous ; Full
of desire
Sough: A soft
rustling sighing sound as the
wind
Sotto Voce : Speaking with hushed voices
Specious
: Apparantly right but no so; Deceptively
attractive/pleasing
Spoony : Foolish,
silly, excessively sentimental
Staid : Sedate in character ; composed
Stanch : To
stop the flowing of
Stentorian : Extremely loud
Stertorous
: Like a heavy snoring sound, hoarse
breathing
Stolid : Having little emotion ;
not easily excited
Stormy petrel
: birds that have dark plumage with
paler underparts, someone
who brings discord or appears at the
onset of trouble
Stripling : A youth/lad
Suasion : The act of persuasion
Sub Rosa
: Secretive, in confidence
Superannuated : Outmoded
; Discharged/disqualified due to old age
Supercilious : Arrogant/haughty
Supererogatory : Going beyond
whats required; unnecessary
Supine : Laying on the back, listless
Supposition : Fraudulent
substitute, spurious, counterfeit;
hypothetical, supposed
Surfeit :
Excessive amount ; overindulgence
Surly : ill-humoured
Surreptitious : Stealthily
Susurrus : Whispering or rustling
sound ; a murmur
Sycophant : One who
seeks to progress by flattery ; A toady
Sylvan : Relating
to woods/living in woods
Symbiosis : Interaction between two
organisms to mutual benefit.
Syncretic : Blending/uniting
of different systems
Synergy : Co-operation
between two organizations eg business
to business.
T:
Tarradiddle : A petty lie ; pretentious nonsense
Tchotchke : trinket ;
nicknack
Tenet : Principal held as true
Termagant
: Nagging, scolding woman, a shrew
Tervigersation : Act of
practising evasion, being ambiguous.
Tetchy : Peevish, irritable
Thaumaturgy
: Acts of magic & miracles
Timorous : Fearful
Tirade : Long angry speech/rant
Titivate : To smarten/spruce up
Tmesis : The seperation of a
word for humourous effect eg : abso-
bloody- lutely
Toothsome : Agreeable ; delicious ; sexually
attractive
Toper : Someone
who drinks to excess
Tractable : Easily led ; Easily handled
Travail : Arduous/painful
work ; agony ; the labour of childbirth
Trencherman : Someone
who eats heartily
Trepidation : Fear/dread
Trice :
A very short moment
Troglodyte : Cave dweller
Truckle : To bend to the will of another, to be subservient
Tutelage : Act of guardianship;
being under a tutor ; instruction
by close attention
Tutelary
: Being responsible for protecting guarding someone
or something
Turgid : Bloated/swollen ; pompous language
U :
Ubiquitous
: Seemingly present everywhere at the
same time; often encountered
Umbrage : Shade ; take offense
Unguent : Salve/ointment
for sores and burns
Upbraid : To
criticize severely, harshly
Urbane : Smooth, well presented manner
Uxorious : Excessively fond/submissive of
wife
V :
Vagary : Unexpected erratic action/idea
Vapid : Lacking liveliness/dull ; flavourless
Variegated : Patchy colours
; varied
Vehement : With great emotion
; strong energy
Velleity : Lowest
desire ; slight wish
Venerate : To treat with
reverence/respect
Verbiage : To overuse words;
manner of style of expression/diction
Verdant : Green, unripe
in knowledge/experience
Verily : Really
/ truly
Verisimilitude : The quality of seeming to be true
Vertiginous : Causing dizziness ; giddy
Vestibule : antechamber/hall just inside a building
Vet : To examine carefully ; provide veterinary
care for animals
Virago : Courageous,
strong woman; loud/scolding/overbearing
woman
Virtu : Taste for the arts; having
artistic quality; production of art-esp
antiques
Visage
: Face, appearance of a person
Vitiate: To corrupt/debase; to make
faulty
Vivify : To enliven
Votary :
Someone dedicated to a subject,way
of life; a believer, admirer,
adherent member of religion/cult
W:
Wag : Wit/humourist
Wan : Pale ; feeble
Wheedle : Obtain
by flattery/guile
Woebegone : Run down ; dreadful
Wraith : Apparition/spectre
Wunderkind : Child prodigy ;
one who achieves great success at a young
age
Y:
Yen : Strong desire/inclination
Any
errors please let me know :-)