alter-ego – Another side of oneself; a second self. 2. An intimate friend or a constant companion. [Latin : alter, other + ego, I, self.] alter ego [ˈæltər ˈiːgəʊ ˈɛgəʊ]. n …
ascend – v. as·cend·ed, as·cend·ing, as·cends. v.intr. 1. To go or move upward; rise. See Synonyms at rise. 2. To slope upward. 3. To rise from a lower level or station; …
adrenal – ( -dr n l). adj. 1. At, near, or on the kidneys. 2. Of or relating to the adrenal glands or their secretions. n.
aficionados – a·fi·cio·na·do ( -f sh – -nä d , -f s -, -f s -). n. pl. a·fi·cio·na·dos. An enthusiastic admirer or follower; a fan. [Spanish, past participle of aficionar, to induce a liking for.
badgering – n : the act of harassing someone [syn: worrying, torment, bedevilment
bon mot – n. pl. bons mots (bô m , m z ). A clever saying; a witticism. [French : bon, good + mot, word. bon mot (French) [bɔ̃ mo]. n pl bons mots [bɔ̃ mo]. a clever and fitting …
cacophonous – cacophonous adj. Having a harsh, unpleasant sound; discordant. [From Greek kakophōnos : kakos , bad + phōnē , sound. cacophonously
cannibalistic – noun. a person who eats human flesh; an animal that eats its own kind. Origin: Sp canibal, a savage, cannibal (term used by Columbus) < Arawakan Caniba, …
easement – A right of use over the property of another.
ecumenically – a movement promoting union between religions –
erudite – knowledgeable; smart. People who are described as erudite often have spent long periods of time pursuing knowledge through school,
evoke – tr.v. e·voked, e·vok·ing, e·vokes. 1. To summon or call forth: actions that evoked our mistrust. 2. To call to mind by naming, citing, or suggesting: songs that evoke emotion.
exploitation – 1. The act of employing to the greatest possible advantage: 2. Utilization of another person or group for selfish purposes: exploitation of unwary consumers. 3. An advertising or a publicity program.
forte – for·te 1 (fôr t , fôrt, f rt). n. 1. Something in which a person excels. 2. The strong part of a sword blade, between the middle and the hilt. …
genealogy – ge·ne·al·o·gy (j n – l -j , – l -, j n -). n. pl. ge·ne·al·o·gies. 1. A record or table of the descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor or ancestors; a family tree.
germinated – v. ger·mi·nat·ed, ger·mi·nat·ing, ger·mi·nates. v.tr. To cause to sprout or grow. v.intr . 1. To begin to sprout or grow. 2. To come into existence:
hypochondriac – A person with hypochondria is called a hypochondriac.
A psychiatric disorder characterized by the conviction that one is ill or soon to become ill, often accompanied by physical symptoms, when illness is neither present nor likely.
hypocrisy – hy·poc·ri·sy (h-pkr-s)
n. pl. 1. The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness. 2. An act or instance of such falseness.
inanimate – 1. Not having the qualities associated with active, living organisms. See Synonyms at dead. 2. Not animated or energetic; dull. 3. Grammar Belonging to the class of nouns that stand for nonliving things: The word car is inanimate; the word dog is animate
inauspicious – presaging ill fortune; “ill omens”; “ill predictions”; “my words with inauspicious thunderings shook heaven”- P. B. Shelley; “a dead and ominous silence prevailed”; “a by-election at a time highly unpropitious for the Government.”
innuendo – . An indirect or subtle, usually derogatory implication in expression.
insinuation – v 1. To introduce or otherwise convey (a thought, for example) gradually and insidiously. 2. To introduce or insert (oneself) by subtle and artful means.
irreverent – without due respect or veneration; disrespectful; flippant
jeopardy – 1. Risk of loss or injury; peril or danger. 2. Law A defendant’s risk or danger of conviction when put on trial.
lethargic – deficient in alertness or activity
lore – 1. Accumulated facts, traditions, or beliefs about a particular subject. 2. Knowledge acquired through education or experience
metaphorically – met·a·phor (mt-fôr, -fr)
n.1. A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making an implicit comparison, as in “a sea of troubles” or “All the world’s a stage” (Shakespeare). 2. One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol:
morph – To transform (an image) by computer:
ort – An ort is a morsel or remaining scrap; orts is another name for leftovers. A n obscure word used by Will Shortz a lot!
obviated – obviate [ˈɒbvɪˌeɪt] vb (tr) to do away with or counter. Only things which have not yet occurred can be obviated.
perpetrator – someone who perpetrates wrongdoing. per·pe·trate (pûrp-trt)
tr.v. per·pe·trat·ed, per·pe·trat·ing, per·pe·trates To be responsible for; commit: perpetrate a crime; perpetrate a practical joke.
promulgate – 1. to announce or declare officially. 2. to make widespread 3. to put into effect (a law, decree, etc.), esp by formal proclamation
prototypical – representing or constituting an original type after which other similar things are patterned; “archetypal patterns”; “she was the prototypal student activist”
protuberance – something that bulges out or is protuberant or projects from its surroundings; “the gun in his pocket made an obvious bulge”; “the hump of a camel”; “he stood on the rocky prominence”; “the occipital protuberance was well developed”; “the bony excrescence between its horns”
roiling – of a liquid) agitated vigorously; in a state of turbulence; “the river’s roiling current”; “turbulent rapids” agitated – physically disturbed or set in motion; “the agitated mixture foamed and bubbled”
sardonic – disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking;
sarcastic – expressing or expressive of ridicule that wound, marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws; “a critical attitude” . disrespectful exhibiting lack of respect; rude and discourteous; “remarks disrespectful of the law”; “disrespectful in the presence of his parents”; “disrespectful toward his teacher”
shtick – (Yiddish) a prank or piece of clowning; “his shtik made us laugh”
sociopathic – One who is affected with a personality disorder marked by antisocial behavior.
spay – To remove surgically the ovaries of (an animal).
stoic – One who is seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure, or pain, impassive.
superficiality – shallowness in terms of affecting only surface layers of something; “he ignored the wound because of its superficiality”
tiddlywinks – A game in which players try to snap small disks into a cup by pressing them on the edge with a larger disk.
undaunted – not discouraged or disheartened; resolutely courageous
underbelly – The soft belly or underside of an animal’s body. (The vulnerable or weak part)
vertiginous – Turning about an axis; revolving or whirling. Affected by vertigo; dizzy.
W.A.G. – slang: “wild ass guess!”
wanton – Unrestrainedly excessive. Luxuriant; overabundant, One that is undisciplined or spoiled, to waste or squander extravagantly.
xenophobia – any phobia (other than agoraphobia) associated with situations in which you are subject to criticism by others (as fear of eating in public or public speaking etc)
