Words Of The Week 01

Whenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don’t know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun … etc.

ABLUTION

noun

Pronounced: ab-LOO-shun

Meaning: The washing of one’s body or part of it as a religious rite.

Example: A common example of

ablution

in Judaism is washing the hands before a meal that includes bread.

* * * * *

CLANDESTINE

adjective

Pronounced: clan-DES-tin

Meaning: Marked by, held in, or conducted with secrecy or concealment.

Example: Mike and Sally made

clandestine

plans for their mother’s surprise birthday party.

* * * * *

INDOCTRINATE

verb

Pronounced: in-DOC-trin-ate

Meaning: To give instructions especially in fundamentals or rudiments.

Example: Special classes were designed to

indoctrinate

new employees.

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MALEDICTION

noun

Pronounced: mal-a-DIC-shun

Meaning: Curse.

Example: The villain’s last words were a

malediction

on the entire royal family.

* * * * *

OLFACTORY

adjective

Pronounced: ole-FAC-tory

Meaning: Of, relating to, or connected with the sense of smell.

Example: Humans have relatively weak

olfactory

abilities compared to many other animals.

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PAUCITY

noun

Pronounced: PAW-city

Meaning: A small number or fewness.

Example: The choir suffered from a

paucity

of male voices.

* * * * *

BEVY

noun

Pronounced: BEV-ee

Meaning: An unusually large group or collection.

Example: A

bevy

of reporters crowded around the gold medal winner.

* * * * *

REGURGITATE

verb

Pronounced: re-GUR-gi-tate

Meaning: To throw up, cast out or pour out again.

Example: Brenda watched the redbird

regurgitate

food to feed his nestlings.

* * * * *

SOMNAMBULANT

adjective

Pronounced: som-NAM-bue-lent

Meaning: Walking or addicted to walking while asleep.

Example: Sheila could remember nothing of her

somnambulant

activities when she was told of them the next morning.

* * * * *

ZEPHYR

noun

Pronounced: ZEF-fur

Meaning: A soft warm breeze from the West.

Example: The gentle

zephyr

was not sufficient to keep Renee’s kite airborne.

* * * * *

DETERRENT

noun

Pronounced: de-TUR-rent

Meaning: Something that discourages or prevents from acting by fear or consideration of unpleasant consequences.

Example: The police hoped that Ted’s severe jail sentence would serve as a

deterrent

to criminal activity by the other gang members.

* * * * *

JETTISON

verb

Pronounced: JET-tih-sohn

Meaning: Drop (as auxiliary equipment, bombs, cargo or fuel) from an airplane in flight (as for lightening the load or providing greater safety).

Example: The airplane’s malfunctioning engine prompted the crew to

jettison

all unnecessary cargo.

* * * * *

VINCULUM

noun

Pronounced: VINK-u-lum

Meaning: A unifying bond.

Example: Their mutual love of dolls is the

vinculum

between Delia and Christine, who are otherwise very different.

* * * * *

HERMITAGE

noun

Pronounced: HER-mi-tidge

Meaning: A secluded residence or private retreat.

Example: Dave’s father has always dreamed of living in the city during the week and escaping to some country

hermitage

on the weekends.

* * * * *

TURMOIL

noun

Pronounced: TURR-moyl

Meaning: An utterly confused, extremely agitated or tumultuous state or condition.

Example: Jacob experienced unrelenting

turmoil

after his parents informed him that the family might move.

* * * * *

EGREGIOUS

adjective

Pronounced: uh-GREE-jus

Meaning: Flagrant or glaringly evident.

Example: As a medical researcher, Laura knew that many reports of medical breakthroughs on television contained

egregious

errors.

* * * * *

QUISLING

noun

Pronounced: KWIS-ling

Meaning: A traitorous national who aids the invader of his country and often serves as chief agent or puppet governor.

Example: Many French citizens thought that Marshal Petain, head of the Vichy regime during World War II, was little better than a

quisling

.

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LAMPOON

noun

Pronounced: lam-POON

Meaning: A light mocking satire.

Example: The new movie is a

lampoon

of the horror films that are made especially for teenagers.

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FIEFDOM

noun

Pronounced: FEEF-dum

Meaning: An area over which one exercises control.

Example: The manager’s

fiefdom

consisted of two departments and the company newsletter.

* * * * *

UNREQUITED

adjective

Pronounced: un-ree-KWITE-ted

Meaning: Not returned in kind.

Example: Several passages in the novel were devoted to Harriet’s

unrequited

love for Mr. Ethan.

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GREGARIOUS

adjective

Meaning: Marked by an instinctive or temperamental preference for a social rather than a solitary existence.

Example: Because of their

gregarious

nature, dogs make good house pets.

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YEOMANRY

noun

Pronounced: YO-men-ree

Meaning: The whole body of small farmers who cultivate their own land; specifically, the body of small landed proprietors of the middle class.

Example: Among the legal privileges of the

yeomanry

was the right to serve as a juror.

* * * * *

KUDOS

noun

Pronounced: KUU-doze

Meaning: Praises given for achievement.

Example: Daphne received many

kudos

from the drama coach after her performance in the school play.