Some words taken from the anthology The Best American Essays, a book I purchased for a class, read one chapter out of, and never touched again. I've been trying to read one essay per day, and here are a few words I have gleaned from doing so.
sui generis: (adj) of its' own kind, unique in its characteristics
lacunae: (n) an unfilled space or interval, a gap
sisyphean: (adj) used to describe an impossible task, seemingly endless or futile
rood: (adj) another word for crucifix
appellation: (n) a uniquely identifying title or name
pleiad: (n) a brilliant and talented group, traditionally consisting of seven members (from the Greek Pleiades)
caliph: (n) an Islamic leader
sericulture: (n) the raising and breeding of silkworms for the production of raw silk
rubaiyat: (n) quatrains in poetry (in Middle Eastern writings)
schismatic: (n) one who engages in schism (breach of union in a religious group or sect)
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