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Click hereWhenever 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.
SPLENETIC
adjective
Pronounced: spleen-NET-tick
Meaning: Marked by morose bad temper, sullen malevolence, or spiteful, peevish anger.
Example: Thesplenetic critic gave the musical a scathing review.
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INSIPID
adjective
Pronounced: en-SIP-pid
Meaning: Dull, uninteresting, commonplace.
Example: Jed could hardly bear listening to the sportscaster’sinsipid comments.
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CHIMERICAL
adjective
Pronounced: ki-MARE-eh-kal
Meaning: Unreal and existing only as the product of a wild unrestrained imagination.
Example: Many video games pit the player againstchimerical monsters.
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FACILITATOR
noun
Pronounced: fuh-SILL-ih-tay-tore
Meaning: One that makes something easier or less difficult.
Example: As a teacher, Mr. Logan considers himself afacilitator of learning rather than a dispenser of information.
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PHEROMONE
noun
Pronounced: FAIR-o-moan
Meaning: A chemical substance that is produced by an animal and serves as a specific stimulus to other individuals of the same species for one or more behavioral responses.
Example: When attacked by another beetle, the defensive beetle emitted a repellentpheromone.
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JUDICIOUS
adjective
Pronounced: joo-DIH-shuss
Meaning: Directed or governed by sound, usually dispassionate judgment, characterized by discretion.
Example: Jane’s mom saw to it that her summer activities were ajudicious mixture of chores and amusement.
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HOAX
noun
Pronounced: HOKES
Meaning: An act intended to trick or dupe; a piece of trickery.
Example: Sarah forwarded the e-mail message, unaware she was participating in ahoax.
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ALOOF
adjective
Pronounced: uh-LOOF
Meaning: Removed or distant, either physically or spiritually and usually by choice and with indifference to the feelings, opinions or interests of others.
Example: Greg’saloof personality discouraged his gregarious colleagues.
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GUILLOTINE
noun
Pronounced: GEE-yo-teen
Meaning: A machine for beheading by means of a heavy ax or blade that slides down in vertical guides.
Example: Theguillotine was considered a merciful means of capital punishment when it was invented.
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BAMBOOZLE
verb
Pronounced: bam-BOO-zull
Meaning: Conceal one’s true motives from someone, especially by elaborately feigning good intentions so as to gain an end or achieve an advantage; to mislead or hoodwink.
Example: Gavin tried tobamboozle his neighbor into offering her garage for his party by saying how much it needed a good airing out.
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OBSTREPEROUS
adjective
Pronounced: ahb-STREP-err-uss
Meaning: Stubbornly defiant; resisting control or restraint, often with a show of noisy disorder.
Example: The noisy diner was asked to leave but becameobstreperous and had to be escorted out of the restaurant.
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DISMAL
adjective
Pronounced: DIZZ-mull
Meaning: Marked by gloom, dejection, somberness or depression of spirits.
Example: The children who forgot their gloves spent adismal recess looking out the window at the snow.
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VORTEX
noun
Pronounced: VORE-tecks
Meaning: A rapidly spinning current of water.
Example: The toy sailboat got caught in thevortex and spun wildly as the bathtub drained.
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LOUPE
noun
Pronounced: LOOP
Meaning: A small magnifying glass used by jewelers and watchmakers.
Example: At his jewelry store, Arlo always wears aloupe on a chain around his neck.
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TACITURN
adjective
Pronounced: TAH-sit-turn
Meaning: Habitually silent; temperamentally disinclined or reluctant to talk or converse.
Example: Mrs. Gibbons found it challenging to draw thetaciturn boy into class discussions.
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ENVISAGE
verb
Pronounced: in-VISS-sidge
Meaning: Have a mental picture in advance of realization.
Example: Benjamin could scarcelyenvisage the scale of the project, so he broke it down into smaller, more manageable units.
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MODICUM
noun
Pronounced: MAH-di-kum
Meaning: A small portion; a limited quantity or amount.
Example: Bernie displayed not even amodicum of modesty as he bragged about his hole-in-one.
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KERCHIEF
noun
Pronounced: KERR-chiff
Meaning: a square of cloth usually folded and worn by women as a head covering.
Example: Before Eileen went out to tend to her garden, she put on a blue and whitekerchief.
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QUAGMIRE
noun
Pronounced: KWAG-myer
Meaning: A complex or precarious position where disengagement is difficult.
Example: In his position as protocol officer, Russell often found himself in aquagmire of delicate relationships.
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WRAITH
noun
Pronounced: RAYTH
Meaning: An apparition of exact likeness of a living person usually seen just before that person’s death.
Example: Thewraith of a person shortly to die is a firm article in the creed of Scottish superstition.