Words of the Wee (2005) 03

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.

ASSUASIVE

adjective

Pronounced: aw-SWAY-siv

Meaning: Having a pleasantly soothing quality or effect; calming.

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BALLYHOOED

verb

Pronounced: BAL-lee-hooed

Meaning: Drummed up interest in by means of exaggerated, flamboyant publicity.

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CATAWBA

noun

Pronounced: cah-TAW-ba

Meaning: A very dark to blackish red.

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DEVOTIONS

noun singular; singular: DEVOTION

Pronounced: dee-VO-shun

Meaning: Prayers or service of worship, usually intended for private non-liturgical services.

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ENACT

verb

Pronounced: in-AKT

Meaning: Make into a law, especially perform the last aspect of legislation upon a bill that gives the validity of law.

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FLOE

noun

Pronounced: FLOW

Meaning: Floating ice formed in a large sheet on the surface of the sea or other body of water.

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GOOGOL

noun

Pronounced: GOO-gull

Meaning: The figure 1 followed by 100 zeroes equal to a number that is ten to the 100

th

power.

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HIATUS

noun

Pronounced: high-ATE-us

Meaning: Gap; aperture.

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ICARIAN

adjective

Pronounced: ih-CARE-ree-in

Meaning: Inadequate for or incapable of bringing about an ambitious project.

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JOINERY

noun

Pronounced: JOY-nur-ree

Meaning: The fastening together of pieces of wood to construct furniture, cabinetry or other articles.

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KIKEPA

noun

Pronounced: kih-KAY-puh

Meaning: A sarong worn by Hawaiian women with the top under one arm and over the shoulder of the opposite arm.

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LEXICOLOGY

noun

Pronounced: lecks-sih-COL-lah-gee

Meaning: The science of the derivation and signification of words.

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MOMUS

noun

Pronounced: MO-muss

Meaning: A carping critic; fault finder.

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NIX

noun

Pronounced: NICKS

Meaning: A creature originating in German folklore, usually having the form of half-human and half-fish and usually unfriendly to humans.

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ODORANT

adjective

Pronounced: OH-dough-rent

Meaning: Anything that emits a scent.

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PARANDRUS

noun

Pronounced: PEAR-ann-druss

Meaning: A mythical stag being able to change colors like the chameleon.

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QUOTIDIAN

adjective

Pronounced: kow-TID-dee-an

Meaning: Daily; ordinary or everyday, something that recurs daily.

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RECONSTITUTE

verb

Pronounced: ree-KON-stih-tue-t

Meaning: Restore the composition of an item by adding water.

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SCRIM

noun

Pronounced: SCRIHM

Meaning: A transparent theater drop or a transparent section in a drop that appears opaque when a scene in front is lighted and transparent when a scene in the back is lighted.

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TRILOGY

noun

Pronounced: TRILL-oh-gee

Meaning: A series of three dramas, literary or musical compositions that although each is in one sense complete, have a close mutual relation and form one theme or develop aspects of one basic concept.

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UNLAURELED

adjective

Pronounced: un-LORE-alld

Meaning: Having no acclaim or reward.

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VERSICLE

noun

Pronounced: VER-sick-el

Meaning: A brief poem or set of metrical lines.

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WARBONNET

noun

Pronounced: WORE-bon-net

Meaning: An American Indian ceremonial headdress with a feathered extension down the back.

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XANADU

noun

Pronounced: ZAN-uh-doo

Meaning: A place of great beauty, luxury and contentment.

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YIN & YANG

noun

Pronounced: YIN / YANG

Meaning: Two principles: one negative, dark and feminine (YIN) and one positive, bright and masculine (YANG), whose interaction influences the destinies of creatures and things.

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ZAFTIG

adjective

Pronounced: ZAFF-tig

Meaning: Having a pleasantly plump figure; juicy or succulent.

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YAKUZA

noun

Pronounced: YAH-koo-zah

Meaning: Any of various tightly-knit crime syndicates of Japan; a gangster.

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ZYDECO

noun

Pronounced: ZI-deck-ko

Meaning: A blues-influenced type of Cajun dance music popular in Louisiana and Texas, usually played on accordion, guitar and violin.

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ARRANT

adjective

Pronounced: AIR-rent

Meaning: Thorough; unmitigated; wandering.

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BEATIFY

verb

Pronounced: bee-AT-tih-fye

Meaning: To make blissfully happy.

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CADGE

verb

Pronounced: CADJ

Meaning: To obtain by begging or imposing on another's generosity.

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DECORUM

noun

Pronounced: deh-CORE-rum

Meaning: Dignified propriety of conduct, manners or appearance.

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EQUIVOCATE

verb

Pronounced: ee-KWI-voh-kate

Meaning: To use ambiguous or unclear expressions.

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FELICITOUS

adjective

Pronounced: fuh-LIH-sit-tuss

Meaning: Well-suited for the occasion; Having a special ability for suitable manner or expression, as a person; enjoyable; pleasant.

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GARRULOUS

adjective

Pronounced: GARE-ruh-luss

Meaning: Excessively talkative in a rambling manner, especially about trivial matters.

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HIRSUTE

adjective

Pronounced: HERE-suit

Meaning: Hairy; shaggy; of, pertaining to or characteristic of hair.

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INVEIGH

verb

Pronounced: in-VAY

Meaning: To protest strongly or attack vehemently with words; to rail against.

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JIM CROW

noun

Pronounced: GEM CROH

Meaning: A practice or policy of segregating or discriminating against blacks.

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KOSHER

adjective

Pronounced: KOH-shure

Meaning: Fit or allowed to be eaten or used, according to the dietary of ceremonial laws of Judaism.