2006 vim: energy; vigor. plenary: full; complete. gastronome: a lover of good food and drink. sine qua non: an indispensable thing. exegete: one who explains or interprets difficult parts of written works. recondite: difficult to understand. diktat: an authoritative decree or order. esurient: hungry; greedy. ineffable: incapable of being expressed. dubiety: the condition or quality of being doubtful; also, a matter of doubt. pugilist: a boxer. renascent: rising again into being; showing renewed vigor. sesquipedalian: (of words) long; having many syllables. encumbrance: a burden, impediment, or hindrance. pugnacious: combative; quarrelsome. capricious: whimsical; changeable. comity: a state of mutual harmony, friendship, and respect. quondam: former; sometime. ergo: therefore; consequently. susurration: a whispering; a soft murmur. irrefragable: impossible to refute. tutelage: guardianship; protection; also, instruction. incommunicado: without means or right to communicate. predilection: an established preference. flippant: showing inappropriate levity; pert. grandee: a man of elevated rank or station; a nobleman. wunderkind: one who achieves success or acclaim during youth. lucre: money; profit. epigone: an inferior imitator. sang-froid: coolness in trying circumstances. consanguineous: related by blood; descended from the same ancestor. malleable: capable of being shaped; also, adaptable. parlous: fraught with danger; hazardous. disparate: fundamentally different; also, composed of dissimilar elements. sapient: wise; sage; discerning. visage: the face; also, appearance; aspect. excoriate: to express strong disapproval of; also, to flay. tendentious: marked by a strong tendency in favor of a particular point of view. milieu: environment; setting. deus ex machina: an agent who appears unexpectedly to solve an apparently insoluble difficulty. autodidact: one who is self-taught. stertorous: characterized by a heavy snoring or gasping sound. eleemosynary: relating to charity; charitable. concupiscence: lust.
spoony: foolishly or sentimentally in love. desideratum: something desired. malaise: a condition of uneasiness or ill-being. imbue: to dye; to instill profoundly. canard: an unfounded or false report. probity: complete and confirmed integrity. titivate: to smarten up; to spruce. jovial: merry; joyous; jolly. salutary: beneficial; also, healthful. alacrity: a cheerful readiness, willingness, or promptness. munificent: very generous. cogent: appealing to the mind or to reason; convincing. apothegm: a short, witty, and instructive saying. posit: to postulate; also, to suggest. scion: a descendant; an heir. doula: a woman who assists in childbirth. largess: generous giving; also, gifts of money or other valuables. dilettante: an amateur; also, an admirer or lover of the fine arts. simulacrum: a representation; an insubstantial or vague semblance. toothsome: delicious; attractive; luscious. countermand: to revoke (a former command) or recall by a contrary order. expropriate: to deprive of possession; also, to transfer (property) to oneself. perambulate: to stroll; to walk through or over. contradistinction: distinction by contrast. ululate: to howl; to wail. crapulous: sick from, or marked by, excessive drinking. parvenu: an upstart; one newly risen in class or economic status. manse: a large and imposing residence. uxorious: excessively fond of or submissive to a wife. Ides: the fifteenth day of March, May, July, and October, and the thirteenth day of the other months. megalomania: a mental disorder characterized by delusions of grandeur. verdant: green. amalgam: an alloy of mercury with other metals; also, a mixture. dudgeon: a state or fit of intense indignation. paragon: a model of excellence or perfection. aubade: a song greeting the dawn. succor: aid; help; also, to help or relieve. paterfamilias: the male head of a household; the father of a family. stolid: unexcitable; unemotional. metier: an occupation, especially in which one excels. bellwether: a leader or leading indicator. confluence: a flowing or coming together. superfluous: more than is wanted or is sufficient. invidious: tending to provoke envy or ill will. benignant: kind; gracious; favorable. edacious: given to eating. chicanery: the use of trickery to deceive.
defenestrate: to throw out of a window. martinet: a strict disciplinarian. brummagem: cheap and showy; also, spurious. cum: with; along with; combined with. hobbledehoy: an awkward, gawky young fellow. fustian: pompous or pretentious language. bonhomie: pleasant and easy manner. rusticate: to go or send to the country. stripling: an adolescent youth. panoply: a splendid or impressive array. coeval: existing during the same period of time; also, a contemporary. salmagundi: a mixture or assortment; also, a kind of mixed dish or salad. desuetude: disuse. land of Nod: sleep. hortatory: serving to encourage or incite. choler: anger. expeditious: characterized by speed and efficiency. implacable: incapable of being pacified. patina: a superficial layer. caveat: a warning or caution. itinerant: traveling from place to place. agog: in eager desire. rebarbative: repellent; irritating. sporadic: occuring singly, or occasionally, or in scattered instances. equipoise: equilibrium; also, counterbalance. harridan: a scolding, vicious woman. provenance: origin; source. microcosm: a smaller, representative system having analogies to a larger system. gloaming: twilight; dusk. luminary: any body that gives light; also, a person of eminence or brilliant achievement. daedal: skillful; artistic; ingenious. temerity: unreasonable or foolhardy contempt of danger. wag: a humorous person; a wit. execrable: detestable; extremely bad. rapine: the act of plundering. pablum: something (as writing or speech) that is trite, insipid, or simplistic. aspersion: a damaging or derogatory remark. otiose: ineffective; also, being at leisure; also, of no use. turgid: swollen, bloated; also, bombastic, pompous. derogate: to deviate from expectation; also, to detract; also, to disparage. virtu: love of or taste for fine objects of art; also, productions of art. appurtenance: an adjunct or accessory. cupidity: eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth. multifarious: having great diversity or variety. fulsome: offensive from excess of praise. arrant: outright; thoroughgoing. palimpsest: an object or place whose older layers or aspects are apparent.
spurious: not genuine; false; illegitimate. cognoscente: a person with special knowledge. bombinate: to buzz, hum, or drone. incontrovertible: indisputable; unquestionable. protean: readily assuming different shapes or forms. torpid: dull; sluggish; apathetic. junta: a governmental council or committee, esp. one that rules after a revolution. variegated: having marks or patches of different colors; also, varied. malcontent: one who is discontented or dissatisfied. cerebration: the act or product of thinking. forfend: to avert; also, to protect or preserve. equable: equal and uniform; also, not easily disturbed. pleonasm: the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea. stormy petrel: a type of seabird; also, one fond of or bringing strife. neoteric: recent in origin; new. glabrous: without hairs or projections; smooth. extricate: to free or release from a difficulty or entanglement. contumely: rudeness compounded of haughtiness and contempt. bravura: a showy display. paucity: fewness; insufficiency. arbiter: one having the power of judging and determining. discrete: constituting a separate thing; also, consisting of distinct or unconnected parts. gainsay: to contradict; to deny. emolument: the wages or perquisites arising from office, employment, or labor. billingsgate: foul language. practicable: feasible; also, usable. choleric: easily angered; also, indicating or expressing anger. juxtaposition: the act or an instance of placing in nearness. salad days: a time of youthful inexperience, innocence, or indiscretion. gravid: pregnant. transmogrify: to transform. ephemeron: something short-lived. clemency: disposition to show mercy; also, an act of mercy. languor: lack of energy or vitality. sobriquet: a nickname. littoral: on a coastal or shore region. Brobdingnagian: gigantic; enormous. sedulous: diligent in application or pursuit. autocrat: a ruler with unlimited authority. copious: large in quantity; also, affording an abundant supply. venal: capable of being bought; also, corruptible. timorous: full of apprehensiveness; fearful. aficionado: an enthusiastic admirer; a fan. plaudit: enthusiastic approval. depredation: an act of plundering or ravaging. complaisant: exhibiting a desire to please. emblazon: to display pompously; to decorate.
apotheosis: a model of excellence or perfection of a kind. hubris: overbearing pride or presumption. genuflect: to bend the knee, as in worship; also, to grovel. histrionic: theatrical. quisling: a collaborator; a traitor. cap-a-pie: from head to foot. mountebank: a quack; also, a charlatan. connubial: of or pertaining to marriage. florid: flushed with red; also, excessively ornate. arrant: outright; thoroughgoing. quandary: a state of difficulty or perplexity. imbroglio: a complicated and embarrassing state of things. innocuous: harmless; also, unlikely to offend or provoke. scuttlebutt: gossip; rumor. bon ton: the height of the fashion; fashionable society. nescience: lack of knowledge or awareness. exculpate: to clear from alleged fault or guilt. cursory: hastily or superficially performed. mordant: biting; caustic; sarcastic. limn: to draw or paint; also, to describe. plebeian: common; vulgar. grandiloquent: lofty in style. apologia: a formal defense or justification. germane: appropriate or fitting; relevant. eschew: to shun; to avoid. heterogeneous: consisting of dissimilar elements. contretemps: something inopportune or embarrassing. prima facie: at first view. supercilious: disdainfully arrogant. concatenation: a chain; a succession. inveigh: to rail (against some person or thing). sough: to make a soft, low sighing or rustling sound. avuncular: resembling an uncle, as in kindness or indulgence. peremptory: precluding or putting an end to all debate or action. ascribe: to attribute. compunction: anxiety or unease from guilt; also, a scruple. animus: a feeling of ill will; also, animating spirit; disposition. piebald: mottled; also, mixed. eremite: a hermit. corroborate: to strengthen or make more certain with other evidence. fatuous: inanely foolish; stupid; also, llusory. arrogate: to claim or seize without right or justification. chary: wary; cautious. fortuitous: happening by chance. adumbrate: to outline; also, to foreshadow; also, to suggest; also, to shade. supposititious: fraudulently substituted; also, hypothetical. renege: to go back on a promise or commitment. vagary: an extravagant, erratic, or unpredictable notion, action, or occurrence.
tete-a-tete: a private conversation. expiate: to make amends for; to atone for. denizen: an inhabitant. robustious: boisterous; vigorous. provender: food or provisions. habitue: one who habitually frequents a place. aegis: a shield; protection. sui generis: unique. requisite: required; indispensable. explicate: to explain. acquiesce: to accept or consent passively or without objection. confute: to refute conclusively. insouciant: Marked by blithe unconcern; nonchalant. surcease: cessation; stop; end. arcane: understood or known by only a few. verisimilitude: the quality of seeming to be true. pervicacious: stubborn; obstinate. small beer: weak beer; also, matters of little importance. vade mecum: a book or other thing that one regularly carries about. suasion: the act of persuading. pejorative: disparaging; belittling. tetchy: peevish; testy; irritable. erudite: characterized by extensive reading or knowledge. fanfaronade: empty boasting; bluster. riparian: of or pertaining to the bank of a river. inhere: to be inherent. staid: steady or sedate in character. commodious: comfortably spacious; roomy. improvident: lacking foresight; negligent; thoughtless. cataract: a large waterfall; also, a downpour, a flood. solace: comfort in grief. opprobrium: reproach mingled with contempt. stanch: to stop the flowing of; to check. vertiginous: causing dizziness; also, giddy; dizzy. militate: to have force or influence. ostensible: appearing to be true, but not necessarily so. fulsome: offensive from excess of praise. aesthete: one who cultivates great sensitivity to beauty. monomania: obsession with a single subject. prescient: knowing or anticipating the outcome of events before they happen. swan song: a final or farewell appearance, action, or pronouncement. recalcitrant: stubbornly resistant to and defiant of authority or restraint. indomitable: incapable of being subdued or overcome. bloviate: to speak or write in a pompous manner. tutelary: guardian; protecting. privation: the state of being deprived of something. gambol: to dance and skip about in play. deprecate: to disapprove of; also, to belittle.
braggadocio: empty boasting. perorate: to conclude or sum up a long discourse; also, to speak at length. hypnagogic: leading to sleep; hypnotic. concinnity: elegance -- used chiefly of literary style. extraneous: coming from the outside; also, not essential; also, irrelevant. lascivious: lewd; lustful. facile: easily done or performed. tchotchke: a trinket; a knickknack. exemplar: an ideal model or type. obstreperous: noisily and stubbornly defiant; also, boisterous. qua: in the capacity or character of; as. ken: perception, view; especially, reach of sight or knowledge. ancillary: subordinate, subsidiary; auxiliary. perfidy: faithlessness; treachery. felicitous: apt or appropriate; also, delightful. solicitous: manifesting, expressing, or full of care or concern. crabwise: sideways; also, in a cautiously indirect manner. rapport: relation characterized by sympathetic understanding. inveterate: deep-rooted; of long standing. virtu: love of or taste for fine objects of art; also, productions of art. contemporaneous: originating, existing, or occurring at the same time. febrile: feverish. wan: pale; also, lacking vitality or intensity. prevaricate: to depart from or evade the truth. ostracize: to banish or expel. fillip: a snap; also, a stimulus. apocryphal: of doubtful authority or authenticity. harangue: a speech addressed to a public assembly; also, a noisy or pompous speech. copse: a thicket of small trees. obfuscate: to darken or obscure. agrestic: pertaining to fields or the country. congeries: a collection; an aggregation. peripatetic: walking about or traveling from place to place. turgid: swollen, bloated; also, bombastic, pompous. idyll: a poem or prose work depicting rural or pastoral life; also, a carefree episode or experience. ab ovo: from the beginning. gauche: lacking social polish; tactless. inexorable: unyielding; relentless. putative: commonly thought or deemed; supposed. dotage: feebleness of mind due to old age. bootless: unavailing; useless. proclivity: a natural inclination. exacerbate: to aggravate; to make worse. subaltern: subordinate. mollify: to reduce in intensity; to soothe; to soften. trencherman: a hearty eater.
avoirdupois: weight; heaviness. inclement: harsh; severe -- especially said of the weather. travail: painful, arduous work; also, agony, anguish. equivocate: to be deliberately ambiguous or unclear. redact: to edit. vapid: flat; dull; spiritless. galvanic: pertaining to a direct current of electricity; also, having the effect of an electric shock. debouch: to emerge; to issue. machination: a crafty scheme intended to accomplish some usually evil end. unguent: an ointment. skulk: to hide in a sneaking manner. dictum: an authoritative statement. risible: exciting or provoking laughter. sartorial: of or relating to a tailor, tailoring, or clothing. interstice: a space between things or parts. Argus-eyed: extremely observant; watchful. syncretic: uniting and blending together different belief systems. ossify: to harden or to become bone. approbation: formal or official approval; also, praise. inkhorn: affectedly or ostentatiously learned. olla podrida: a kind of seasoned stew; also, a mixture, a hodgepodge. neologism: a new word or expression; the use or creation of new words or expressions. pule: to whimper; to whine. reticent: inclined to keep silent. opportune: suitable for a given purpose or occasion. impassive: devoid of emotion; also, showing no emotion. derogate: to deviate from expectation; also, to detract; also, to disparage. malaise: a condition of uneasiness or ill-being. flibbertigibbet: a silly, flighty, or excessively talkative person. urbane: polished and smooth in manner. wassail: an expression of good wishes on a festive occasion, especially in drinking to some one. irenic: promoting peace. bricolage: construction or something constructed by using whatever materials happen to be available. efface: to cause to disappear by rubbing out, striking out, etc. equanimity: calmness; composure. acuity: acuteness of perception or vision. ignoramus: an ignorant person; a dunce. fait accompli: an accomplished and presumably irreversible deed or fact.