1999

1999 emolument: the wages or perquisites arising from office, employment, or labor. palindrome: a word, verse, phrase, or sentence that reads the same backward or forward. deprecate: to disapprove of; also, to belittle. bivouac: a usually temporary encampment; also, to encamp. umbrage: offense; resentment. incipient: beginning to exist or appear. dapple: a small contrasting blotch; also, to mark with spots. pugnacious: combative; quarrelsome. capitulate: to surrender under agreed conditions. susurrus: a whispering or rustling sound. thaumaturgy: the performing of miracles or magic. capacious: able to contain much. glower: to stare angrily or with a scowl. canorous: melodious; musical. repast: a meal. spoonerism: the transposition of usually initial sounds in a pair of words. tenebrous: dark; gloomy. nescience: lack of knowledge or awareness. gewgaw: a trinket; a bauble. effulgence: the state of being bright and radiant. assuage: to soften; to ease, or lessen. exiguity: smallness; thinness; the quality of being meager. seriatim: in a series; one after another. tmesis: in grammar and rhetoric, the separation of the parts of a compound word. chthonic: dwelling in or under the earth; also, pertaining to the underworld. objurgate: to scold or rebuke sharply. plethora: excess. lissom: supple; nimble. badinage: light, playful talk. propitious: presenting favorable circumstances. inclement: harsh; severe -- especially said of the weather. kobold: a kind of domestic spirit in German mythology. knell: the stoke of a bell tolled at a funeral. cogent: appealing to the mind or to reason; convincing. regale: to entertain with something that delights. mordant: biting; caustic; sarcastic. agog: in eager desire. captious: disposed to find fault or raise objections. arbitrage: the nearly simultaneous purchase and sale of an asset in order to profit from price discrepancies. redoubt: a stronghold. chichi: affectedly trendy. taw: a large marble.

vexillology: the study of flags. quorum: such a number of the officers or members of any body as is legally competent to transact business. abscond: to depart secretly. virtu: love of or taste for fine objects of art; also, productions of art. junta: a governmental council or committee, esp. one that rules after a revolution. gamut: a complete extent or range. lexicon: a dictionary; also, the vocabulary of a person, group, etc. aestival: of or belonging to the summer. slugabed: one who stays in bed until a late hour. desultory: jumping from subject to subject; erratic; inconsistent. irascible: easily provoked to anger. acumen: quickness or keenness of perception or discernment. scion: a descendant; an heir. bandog: a large and fierce dog. multifarious: having great diversity or variety. sublunary: situated beneath the moon; terrestrial. ebullient: high-spirited. Brobdingnagian: gigantic; enormous. extant: still existing. verdant: green. Whig: a friend and supporter of the American Revolution. trepidation: a state of dread or alarm; apprehension. torrid: drying or scorching with heat; burning; parching. gnomic: uttering, containing, or characterized by maxims. comity: a state of mutual harmony, friendship, and respect. tyro: a novice. avarice: an excessive desire of gain; greediness. eke: to gain or supplement with great effort or difficulty. tittle-tattle: idle, trifling talk. bellwether: a leader or leading indicator. torpid: dull; sluggish; apathetic. grok: to understand. ameliorate: to make or grow better. bestow: to give or confer. comestible: suitable to be eaten. requisite: required; indispensable. prolix: wordy. sobriquet: a nickname. Zeitgeist: the spirit of the time. numismatics: the collection and study of coins. palpable: plain; distinct; obvious. listless: having no desire or inclination. antediluvian: extremely old. melee: a confused conflict. genial: sympathetically cheerful and cheering; kindly.

raucous: unpleasantly loud and harsh. aberrant: abnormal. diffident: bashful or unassertive. superfluous: more than is wanted or is sufficient. gregarious: seeking and enjoying the company of others. erudite: characterized by extensive reading or knowledge. insouciant: Marked by blithe unconcern; nonchalant. salubrious: healthful. verbiage: an overabundance of words. ascribe: to attribute. jovial: merry; joyous; jolly. adamant: not susceptible to persuasion; unyielding. desideratum: something desired. ersatz: being a substitute or imitation. solace: comfort in grief. triskaidekaphobia: fear of the number 13. stoic: indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; also, one who is stoic. encumbrance: a burden, impediment, or hindrance. puerile: juvenile; childish. innocuous: harmless; also, unlikely to offend or provoke. colloquial: characteristic of informal spoken language. eleemosynary: relating to charity; charitable. dour: stern or unyielding or gloomy. incongruous: lacking in harmony. winsome: light-hearted. apposite: of striking appropriateness and relevance. tumult: the commotion or agitation of a crowd. parvenu: an upstart; one newly risen in class or economic status. riparian: of or pertaining to the bank of a river. dilatory: given to, or marked by, procrastination or delay. edify: to instruct and improve. impecunious: habitually without money; poor. polyglot: speaking or containing many languages. sedulous: diligent in application or pursuit. juju: an object superstitiously believed to embody magical powers. chagrin: acute vexation or embarrassment. metier: an occupation, especially in which one excels. facile: easily done or performed. perforce: by necessity. evanescent: fleeting. quotidian: occurring daily; also, ordinary. specious: apparently right but not so in reality. munificent: very generous. indolent: lazy; inactive. intransigent: uncompromising. tortuous: marked by repeated turns and bends.

paucity: fewness; insufficiency. autodidact: one who is self-taught. fatuous: inanely foolish; stupid; also, llusory. complement: something that fills up or completes. taciturn: not inclined to talk. en masse: all together; as a whole. confluence: a flowing or coming together. maudlin: excessively sentimental. enervate: to weaken. recondite: difficult to understand. paroxysm: an outburst; a fit. copious: large in quantity; also, affording an abundant supply. exalt: to praise, glorify, or honor. erroneous: containing or characterized by error. prescience: knowledge of events before they take place. ineluctable: impossible to avoid or evade. obdurate: hardened in feelings or in wrongdoing; unyielding. banal: commonplace; trivial. affable: easy to speak to; also, gracious. noisome: offensive or disgusting; also, harmful; unwholesome. exacerbate: to aggravate; to make worse. misnomer: a misnaming. lackadaisical: lacking spirit or liveliness. hauteur: haughtiness; arrogance. skulk: to hide in a sneaking manner. voluble: characterized by a ready flow of speech. ostracize: to banish or expel. autocrat: a ruler with unlimited authority. beholden: obliged; indebted. aplomb: confidence; coolness. disheveled: in loose disorder; disarranged. precocious: characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development. reticent: inclined to keep silent. legerdemain: sleight of hand. vituperate: to overwhelm with wordy abuse. foment: to nurse to life or activity; to incite. contumely: rudeness compounded of haughtiness and contempt. philomath: a lover of learning; a scholar. aesthete: one who cultivates great sensitivity to beauty. nefarious: wicked in the extreme. proclivity: a natural inclination. flout: to treat with contempt and disregard. sesquipedalian: (of words) long; having many syllables. inchoate: partly but not fully in existence or operation. circumlocution: the use of many words to express an idea that might be expressed by few. wayworn: wearied by traveling.

potable: drinkable; also, a beverage, especially an alcoholic one. crepuscular: pertaining to twilight. doppelganger: a ghostly double. chimerical: merely imaginary; fanciful. sybarite: a person devoted to luxury and pleasure. gourmand: one who enjoys good food in great quantities. animadversion: harsh criticism or disapproval. desuetude: disuse. pusillanimous: cowardly. inculcate: to teach and impress by frequent repetition or instruction. mien: demeanor; also, aspect; appearance. garrulous: talkative; also, wordy. aggrandize: to make or make appear great or greater. sojourn: to dwell for a time; also, a temporary stay. bombast: pompous or pretentious speech or writing. cupidity: eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth. berate: to scold severely or angrily. supererogatory: going beyond what is required or expected; also, superfluous, unnecessary. encomium: expression of praise. sardonic: scornful, mocking. raconteur: one who excels in telling stories and anecdotes. polymath: a person of great or varied learning. extempore: without premeditation or preparation. blandishment: flattering speech or action. hugger-mugger: secret; also, muddled, disorderly. quiddity: the essence or nature of a thing. implacable: incapable of being pacified. edacious: given to eating. surfeit: an excessive amount; also, to supply to excess. perspicacity: clearness of understanding. aberrant: abnormal. ennui: a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction arising from lack of interest. invidious: tending to provoke envy or ill will. jocund: light-hearted; mirthful. panoply: a splendid or impressive array. miscreant: a scoundrel, a villain; also, a heretic. fugacious: lasting but a short time. respite: an interval of rest or relief. somnolent: drowsy; also, tending to cause sleepiness. cavil: to raise trivial objections; also, a trivial objection. daedal: skillful; artistic; ingenious. sang-froid: coolness in trying circumstances. clinquant: tinsel. assiduous: constant in application or attention. intractable: not easily governed, managed, or directed.

detritus: debris. eschew: to shun; to avoid. apogee: the highest point. cant: empty, solemn speech. imbroglio: a complicated and embarrassing state of things. levity: frivolity. choler: anger. inure: to make used to; also, to take or have effect. bonhomie: pleasant and easy manner. land of Nod: sleep. ineffable: incapable of being expressed. vociferous: clamorous; noisy. beneficence: the practice of doing good. plenary: full; complete. lassitude: lack of vitality or energy. chary: wary; cautious. descry: to catch sight of; to detect. cynosure: a center of attention. fin de siecle: characteristic of the close of the century; sophisticated; world-weary.