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.
BARRAGE
noun
Pronounced: bar-RAAJ
Meaning: A massive concentrated and usually continuous discharge or shower (as of missiles or blows)
Example: In Puritan New England, those who broke the law were sometimes put to death by a
barrage
of stones.
* * * * *
PINNACLE
noun
Pronounced: PIN-akle
Meaning: A lofty or high point.
Example: The clouds obscured the
pinnacle
from the view of those in the valley below.
* * * * *
LANGUID
adjective
Pronounced: LANG-wid
Meaning: Sluggish in character or disposition.
Example: In India, Mary always felt hot and too
languid
to care about much of anything.
* * * * *
HISTRIONICS
noun
Pronounced: HIS-tree-on-iks
Meaning: Theatrical performances (also known in today’s words as DRAMA!)
Example: Teresa loved the theater from an early age and excelled in
histrionics
while in school.
* * * * *
COGNIZANT
adjective
Pronounced: COG-niz-ent
Meaning: Aware; perceiving with a degree of controlled thought or observation.
Example: Watching television commercials can make viewers more
cognizant
of fads and fashions.
* * * * *
SATURNINE
adjective
Pronounced: SA-tur-nine
Meaning: Possessing a moody or surly character; morose or sullen.
Example: Shirley’s father-in-law is a
saturnine
person with a quick temper.
* * * * *
VACUOUS
adjective
Pronounced: VAK-u-us
Meaning: Emptied of or lacking content.
Example:
Vacuous
spaces within the meteorite made it easy to split in half.
* * * * *
FISSURE
noun
Pronounced: FISH-ure
Meaning: A narrow opening, chasm or crack or some length and considerable depth, usually occurring from some breaking, rending or parting.
