A
Alacrity - brisk and cheerful readiness. Anodyne - not likely to provoke dissent or offense; inoffensive, often deliberately so.
C
Caparison - (of horse) be decked out in rich decorative coverings. Caveat emptor - the principle that the buyer alone is responsible for checking the quality and suitability of goods before a purchase is made. Chafe - irritate, vex Chancel Charred - burned and blackened Clink - prison Cobble Confessio Convalescence - time spent recovering from an illness or medical treatment; recuperation
D
Dapple Debenture - an unsecured loan certificate issued by a company, backed by general credit rather than by specified assets. Dole out - distribute charitably Dribs and drabs - (informal) in small scattered or sporadic amounts. Druthers
E
Enrapture - give intense pleasure or joy to. (“Ruth was enraptured by the child who was sleeping in her arms so peacefully”) Ensorcelled - enchant; fascinate Eschew - to avoid habitually especially on moral or practical grounds; shun.
F
Finagled - (informal) obtain (something) by devious or dishonest means. Flaxen Frock Frumble - use the hands clumsily while doing or handling something. Fubar - out of working order; seriously, perhaps irreparably, damaged.
G
Gable - the part of a wall that encloses the end of a pitched roof. Gaffer - an old man; a lighting electrician on a motion-picture or television set Gaudy Geld - to castrate (an animal); to deprive of a natural or essential part Glen - a narrow valley. Goatherd - one who tends goats Gutful - a quantity of food or drink sufficient to fill one’s stomach.
H
Haar - a cold wet sea fog Halloo - used to incide dogs to the chase during a hunt Hubris - excessive pride or self-confidence
I
Impressionable - easily impressed or affected forcibly or deeply
J
Jerkins Jetty - a landing stage or small pier at which boats can dock or be moored. Juxtapose - to place (different things) side by side (as to compare them or contrast them or to create an interesting effect)
L
Languor - the state or feeling, often unpleasant, of tiredness or inertia. Largesse - generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others. Lassitude - a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy Lip service - support for someone or something that is expressed by someone in words but that is not shown in that person’s actions. Lisp - to pronounce the sibilants \s\ and \z\ imperfectly especially by turning theminto \th\ and \t͟h; to speak falteringly, childishly, or with a lisp Lush - habitual heavy drinker Luxuriate - enjoy oneself in a luxurious way; take self-indulgent delight
M
Madcap Maelstrom - a powerful whirlpool in the sea or a river; a situation or state of confused movement or violent turmoil. Mauve Mendicant - given to begging Mien - a person’s look or manner, especially one of a particular kind indicating their character or mood Minuet - a slow graceful dance in ³/₄ timecharacterized by forward balancing, bowing, and toe pointing Moor - verb; to make fast with or as if with cables, lines, or anchors
N
Nave Nondescript - lacking distinctive or interesting features or characteristics.
O
Ochre Onamism - a formal word for masturbation
P
Paisley Picaresque - relating to an episodic style of fiction dealing with the adventures of a rough and dishonest but appealing hero. Pithy - (of language or style) concise and forcefully expressive. Pitter-patter - a sound as of quick light steps or taps. Poplar Portentous - done in a pompously or overly solemn manner so as to impress. Punctilio - a fine or petty point of conduct or procedure. Pundit - a person who gives opinions in an authoritative manner usually through the mass media
R
Ratiocination - reasoning; the process of exact thinking Refectory - a room used for communal meals in an educational or religious institution.
S
Sanction - a formal decree; the detriment, loss of reward, or coercive intervention annexed to a violation of a law as a means of enforcing the law Sandal - to walk on sandals Scrawl - an example of hurried, careless writing Shams - decorative pillow case Shutter - window cover Smothered - kill (someone) by covering their nose and mouth so that they suffocate. Spire - Stall - to stop or delay Stoop - bend one’s head or body forward and downward. Strew - to spread by scattering Surly - bad-tempered and unfriendly.
T
Taut - (of writing, music, etc.) concise and controlled. Thrall - the state of being in someone’s power or having great power over someone. Tinny - resembling tin Transept
U
Undergrowth - a dense growth of shrubs and other plants, especially under trees in woodland. Unkempt - not combed; deficient in order or neatness
V
Vilify - to utter slanderous and abusive statements against Voile
W
Waft - pass or cause to pass easily or gently through or as if through the air. (“the smell of stale fat wafted out from the cafe”) Whittle - create Windiness Wonk - a person who takes an enthusiastic or excessive interest in the specialized details of a particular subject or field