2000

2000 segue: to proceed without interruption. palimpsest: an object or place whose older layers or aspects are apparent. bete noire: something or someone particularly detested or avoided. farrago: an assortment; a medley. expatiate: to speak or write at length. nadir: the lowest point. protean: readily assuming different shapes or forms. fulsome: offensive from excess of praise. constitutional: a walk taken for one's health. quondam: former; sometime. sinecure: an office or position that involves little work or responsibility. vainglory: excessive pride or vain display. canard: an unfounded or false report. gainsay: to contradict; to deny. portend: to foreshadow; to bode. ratiocination: the process of reasoning. equivocate: to be deliberately ambiguous or unclear. frisson: a brief moment of intense excitement. tchotchke: a trinket; a knickknack. inveigh: to rail (against some person or thing). propound: to put forward for consideration. acrid: sharp and harsh; bitter. lachrymose: given to causing tears. fop: a man who is vain about his dress and appearance. defenestrate: to throw out of a window. brio: vigor; vivacity. supercilious: disdainfully arrogant. gesticulate: to make gestures or motions. probity: complete and confirmed integrity. inveterate: deep-rooted; of long standing. Hobson's choice: a choice without an alternative. rebarbative: repellent; irritating. afflatus: a divine inspiration. comport: to behave (oneself) in a particular manner. sunder: to break apart. espy: to see at a glance. compunction: anxiety or unease from guilt; also, a scruple. venial: capable of being forgiven; excusable. gimcrack: a showy but useless or worthless object. truculent: fierce; savage; ferocious. unctuous: marked by a false or smug earnestness or agreeableness. celerity: quickness; swiftness. vehement: marked by intensity of emotions or convictions. putative: commonly thought or deemed; supposed.

wheedle: to entice by flattery. stolid: unexcitable; unemotional. lugubrious: mournful; gloomy; dismal. abjure: to renounce, reject, or shun. vicissitude: a change in condition or fortune. redress: to set right. ubiquitous: being everywhere. propinquity: nearness. venal: capable of being bought; also, corruptible. obviate: to anticipate and dispose of or make unnecessary. mellifluous: flowing sweetly or smoothly. prestidigitation: sleight of hand. gastronome: a lover of good food and drink. exculpate: to clear from alleged fault or guilt. diaphanous: allowing light to pass through. supernumerary: exceeding a necessary or usual number. indomitable: incapable of being subdued or overcome. argot: a specialized vocabulary peculiar to a particular group. impugn: to call in question; to make insinuations against. lascivious: lewd; lustful. parsimony: excessive sparingness in the expenditure of money. atrabilious: irritable; ill-natured. peccadillo: a slight offense; a petty fault. logorrhea: excessive talkativeness. travail: painful, arduous work; also, agony, anguish. acquiesce: to accept or consent passively or without objection. elucidate: to make clear or manifest. recalcitrant: stubbornly resistant to and defiant of authority or restraint. abstemious: temperate; abstinent; refraining from indulgence. gravitas: high seriousness. Ides: the fifteenth day of March, May, July, and October, and the thirteenth day of the other months. mendacious: untruthful; also, untrue. verdure: greenness. emblazon: to display pompously; to decorate. collude: to act in concert; to conspire. risible: exciting or provoking laughter. surcease: cessation; stop; end. adumbrate: to outline; also, to foreshadow; also, to suggest; also, to shade. Elysium: paradise. demagogue: a leader who obtains power by means of appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace. augury: an omen; prediction. fulminate: to issue or utter verbal attacks or censures. sycophant: one who seeks favor by flattery; a toady. vitiate: to make faulty or imperfect.

factious: addicted to form parties and raise dissensions. quiescent: at rest; still; inactive. purblind: having greatly reduced vision. coxcomb: a vain, showy fellow. chicanery: the use of trickery to deceive. habitue: one who habitually frequents a place. pellucid: transparent, clear; also, easily understandable. buss: a kiss; to kiss. factitious: artificial; not authentic or genuine. profligate: shamelessly immoral; also, recklessly wasteful. bedaub: to besmear; also, to overdecorate. bifurcate: to divide into two branches. contumacious: obstinate; stubbornly disobedient. firmament: the sky; the heavens. arcane: understood or known by only a few. perfunctory: done routinely. temerity: unreasonable or foolhardy contempt of danger. superannuated: old; discharged or disqualified on account of old age. egregious: outrageously bad. tutelary: guardian; protecting. condign: deserved; adequate. lambent: playing on the surface; flickering. confabulation: familiar talk. expiate: to make amends for; to atone for. somniferous: causing or inducing sleep. aubade: a song greeting the dawn. cogitate: to think; to ponder. persiflage: frivolous or bantering talk. obfuscate: to darken or obscure. calumny: malicious misrepresentation; slander. ablution: the washing of the body or some part of it. undulate: to move in waves. cosset: to treat with excessive indulgence; to pamper. subterfuge: a deceptive device or stratagem. kismet: destiny; fate. turpitude: baseness; depravity. ephemeral: short-lived. inveigle: to persuade or obtain by ingenuity or flattery. portentous: foreboding; ominous. facetious: playfully jocular; humorous. deign: to condescend. restive: resisting control; stubborn. schadenfreude: a malicious satisfaction in the misfortunes of others. pari passu: at an equal pace or rate. mawkish: sickly or excessively sentimental. panache: dash or flamboyance in manner or style.

adventitious: added extrinsically; not essentially inherent. kvetch: to complain habitually. pejorative: disparaging; belittling. cognoscente: a person with special knowledge. alacrity: a cheerful readiness, willingness, or promptness. bravura: a showy display. vivify: to endue with life; to enliven. sonorous: yielding sound; impressive in sound. anathema: a curse; a person or thing cursed, or intensely disliked. laconic: using or marked by the use of a minimum of words. deleterious: harmful. platitude: a banal, trite, or stale thought or remark. quash: to annul; also, to crush; to subdue. meretricious: tawdry. bumptious: crudely, presumptuously, or noisily self-assertive. laudable: praiseworthy; commendable. inamorata: a woman whom one is in love with. penchant: a strong liking. disconcert: to disturb the composure of. physiognomy: the face or appearance. masticate: to chew. sempiternal: everlasting; eternal. harangue: a speech addressed to a public assembly; also, a noisy or pompous speech. supernal: being on high; celestial. rubicund: inclining to redness; ruddy. moribund: dying. apothegm: a short, witty, and instructive saying. wastrel: a person who wastes; a loafer. malodorous: having a bad odor. plangent: beating with a loud or deep sound; also, expressing sadness. immure: to enclose within or as if within walls. rara avis: a rare or unique person or thing. scapegrace: one who is wild and reckless. ruminate: to chew the cud; also, to ponder; to reflect. hirsute: covered with hair or bristles. admonition: gentle or friendly reproof; friendly warning. abrogate: to annul; to do away with. importunate: troublesomely urgent. kitsch: art in pretentious bad taste. monomania: obsession with a single subject. ribald: characterized by, or given to, vulgar humor. febrile: feverish. rapacious: grasping; greedy. extirpate: to eradicate; to destroy. uxorious: excessively fond of or submissive to a wife. anodyne: serving to relieve pain.

bootless: unavailing; useless. flummox: to confuse; to perplex. concomitant: accompanying; attending. busker: a street musician or performer. turgid: swollen, bloated; also, bombastic, pompous. denizen: an inhabitant. peregrination: a traveling from place to place. tocsin: a warning. palliate: to extenuate; also, to relieve. improvident: lacking foresight; negligent; thoughtless. inimical: unfriendly; unfavorable. halcyon: peaceful; undisturbed; happy. coeval: existing during the same period of time; also, a contemporary. obtrude: to thrust out; also, to impose on others. cozen: to deceive or obtain by deceit. perfervid: ardent; impassioned. recrudescent: breaking out again. deride: to laugh at with contempt. billingsgate: foul language. factotum: a person employed to do all kinds of work. jejune: lacking in nutritional value; also, immature; also, dull. evince: to show in a clear manner. cacophony: harsh or discordant sound. perfidy: faithlessness; treachery. onus: burden; also, blame; stigma. tergiversation: evasion; also, desertion of a cause, party, etc. opprobrium: reproach mingled with contempt. hoary: white or gray with age; hence, extremely old. tractable: docile; manageable, governable. recumbent: reclining; lying down. prevaricate: to depart from or evade the truth. libation: the act of pouring a liquid as a sacrifice; also, a beverage. quandary: a state of difficulty or perplexity. obsequious: servilely attentive; fawning. simulacrum: a representation; an insubstantial or vague semblance. miasma: a thick vaporous atmosphere, often noxious. ululate: to howl; to wail. toothsome: delicious; attractive; luscious. asperity: roughness of surface, sound, or manner. impervious: impenetrable; also, not capable of being affected. auspicious: favorable; also, prosperous; fortunate. puissant: powerful. otiose: ineffective; also, being at leisure; also, of no use. lucubration: nocturnal study. quaff: to drink with relish. perdurable: very durable; long lasting.

crapulous: sick from, or marked by, excessive drinking. equanimity: calmness; composure. megalomania: a mental disorder characterized by delusions of grandeur. verbose: wordy. gauche: lacking social polish; tactless. euphonious: pleasing or sweet in sound. fustian: pompous or pretentious language. contradistinction: distinction by contrast. disparate: fundamentally different; also, composed of dissimilar elements. palaver: idle talk; also, to talk idly. malleable: capable of being shaped; also, adaptable. termagant: a scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman. consanguineous: related by blood; descended from the same ancestor. verisimilitude: the quality of seeming to be true. tendentious: marked by a strong tendency in favor of a particular point of view. avoirdupois: weight; heaviness. dudgeon: a state or fit of intense indignation. rusticate: to go or send to the country. ascetic: one who practices extreme self-denial; also, austere, severe. excoriate: to express strong disapproval of; also, to flay. dilettante: an amateur; also, an admirer or lover of the fine arts. truckle: to act in a subservient manner. nugatory: insignificant; also, ineffectual. moiety: a half; a small part. variegated: having marks or patches of different colors; also, varied. convivial: relating to feasting, drinking, and good company; festive. posit: to postulate; also, to suggest. expunge: to strike out or erase; to obliterate. largess: generous giving; also, gifts of money or other valuables. woebegone: woeful; also, run-down. milieu: environment; setting. accede: to agree or assent; also, to become a party. salient: noticeable; also, projecting; also, leaping. wunderkind: one who achieves success or acclaim during youth. obeisance: an expression of deference. felicitous: apt or appropriate; also, delightful. grandee: a man of elevated rank or station; a nobleman. disconsolate: hopelessly sad; also, saddening; cheerless. malinger: to feign illness or inability. credulous: inclined to believe too readily. tryst: an appointment (as between lovers) to meet. paragon: a model of excellence or perfection. inscrutable: difficult to fathom or understand. soporific: causing sleep; also, something that causes sleep. congeries: a collection; an aggregation. didactic: conveying instruction; teaching some moral lesson.

officious: meddlesome. flippant: showing inappropriate levity; pert. castigate: to punish or criticize severely. aver: to assert as true. callow: immature. lucre: money; profit. epigone: an inferior imitator. imbue: to dye; to instill profoundly. concupiscence: lust. irrefragable: impossible to refute. rictus: a gaping grin or grimace. nostrum: a questionable remedy. scintilla: a tiny amount; a spark. ergo: therefore; consequently. animus: a feeling of ill will; also, animating spirit; disposition. ignoramus: an ignorant person; a dunce. interregnum: the interval between two reigns; also, any breach of continuity in an order. lexicography: the writing or compiling of dictionaries. circumambient: surrounding; encompassing. purdah: social seclusion. proscribe: to forbid; to prohibit. coquette: a flirt. cadre: a core or nucleus of trained or otherwise qualified personnel around which an organization is formed. titivate: to smarten up; to spruce. bromide: a commonplace or conventional saying. orotund: full in sound; also, bombastic. pertinacious: holding obstinately to a belief, purpose or design; also, stubbornly persistent. Promethean: of or pertaining to Prometheus; also, boldly original. extraneous: coming from the outside; also, not essential; also, irrelevant. amity: friendship; friendly relations. pettifogger: a petty, unscrupulous lawyer; also, who quibbles over trivia. mountebank: a quack; also, a charlatan. apparition: a ghost; also, an unexpected appearance. perquisite: a benefit in addition to a salary. exigency: state of requiring immediate action; also, an urgent situation; also, that which is required in a particular situation. succinct: brief; concise. ineffectual: without effect; weak; useless. sapient: wise; sage; discerning. pugilist: a boxer. deus ex machina: an agent who appears unexpectedly to solve an apparently insoluble difficulty. circumspect: cautious; prudent. tutelage: guardianship; protection; also, instruction.

visage: the face; also, appearance; aspect. introspection: the act or process of self-examination; reflection. missive: a written message; a letter. expropriate: to deprive of possession; also, to transfer (property) to oneself. malcontent: one who is discontented or dissatisfied. ukase: an edict. derogate: to deviate from expectation; also, to detract; also, to disparage. raillery: good-humored banter or teasing repartee. neologism: a new word or expression; the use or creation of new words or expressions. malaise: a condition of uneasiness or ill-being. raffish: tawdry; also, rakish. parlous: fraught with danger; hazardous. querulous: habitually complaining; also, expressing complaint. cornucopia: the horn of plenty; also, an abundance. panacea: a cure-all. sine qua non: an indispensable thing. fractious: tending to cause trouble; also, irritable. vim: energy; vigor. perambulate: to stroll; to walk through or over. wizened: shriveled; withered. modicum: a small or token amount. oneiric: pertaining to or suggestive of dreams. execrable: detestable; extremely bad. patina: a superficial layer. provenance: origin; source. caveat: a warning or caution. nonage: a period of youth or immaturity. atelier: a workshop; a studio. fetid: stinking. itinerant: traveling from place to place. conurbation: an aggregation or continuous network of urban communities. equipoise: equilibrium; also, counterbalance. coruscate: to give off or reflect bright beams or flashes of light. voluptuary: a person devoted to luxury and the gratification of sensual appetites. harridan: a scolding, vicious woman. ambit: circuit or compass; also, sphere of action or influence. rapport: relation characterized by sympathetic understanding. pandemic: affecting a whole people or a number of countries. apocryphal: of doubtful authority or authenticity. cormorant: a gluttonous or greedy person. microcosm: a smaller, representative system having analogies to a larger system. harbinger: a precursor; one that presages what is to come. censure: to criticize severely; also, an expression of disapproval. capricious: whimsical; changeable. sporadic: occuring singly, or occasionally, or in scattered instances.

wassail: an expression of good wishes on a festive occasion, especially in drinking to some one. quidnunc: a gossip; a busybody. impassible: incapable of suffering; also, unfeeling or not showing feeling. gloaming: twilight; dusk. manse: a large and imposing residence. Grub Street: the world or category of impoverished literary hacks. Hogmanay: the name, in Scotland, for the last day of the year.