From WICKED, by Gregory Maguire
unctuous: (adj.) greasy or oily. Or, when describing a person: a groveling kiss-ass type
apothegm: (n.) a concise saying or maxim, an aphorism
etiolated: (adj) weak, feeble, and pale
amanuensis: (n.) a literary or artistic assistant of manuscripts
terpischorean: (adj.) related to dancing
pince-nez: (n.) old-style glasses held up by the bridge of the nose
sostenuto: (adj.) musical descriptor for a "sustained" note or style
terricolous: (adj.) living or growing in or on the ground
fulsome: (adj.) excessively flattering and fawning
sfumato: (adj) smoky style of painting with soft lines
doyenne: (n.) the most respected woman in a particular field
scree: (n.) small stones covering a mountain slope
assignation: (n.) secret rendezvous, typically for affairs
lambaste: (v.) harshly criticize
tripartite: (adj) of three parts or involving three parties
fascia: (n.) a thin piece of flat material that covers rafters of a house
moue: (n.) a pouting, annoyed expression
trapunto: (n.) a decorative raised quilting style
From SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS, by David Guterson
lissome: (adj.) thin, supple, graceful
effusive: (adj.) gushy and expressive
torpid: (adj.) lethargic
effluvium: (n.) unpleasant odor of decay
austelle: (n.) couldn't find a real definition, but it might be a type of fabric
creosote: (n.) oil-based wood preservative
portents: (n.) omens, augury, or forewarnings
hypoid: (n.) a beveled gear in a vehicle transmission mechanism
From FROM THE MONKEY HOUSE, by Kurt Vonnegut
angstrom: (n.) 10 to the -10th of a meter length
ptomaine: (n.) a biological compound that causes food poisoning
yawl: (n.) a type of two-masted boat
depredations: (n.) attacks and plunders
seraglio: (n.) Turkish palace quarters for women concubines
humidor: (n.) a jar for keeping tobacco moist
parvenus: (n.) an obscure person who recently gained fame or status, a social climber
maudlin: (adj.) self-pityingly sentimental and emotional, lachrymose
From THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS, by Ursula K. Le Guin
aphelion: (n.) point in a planet's orbit where it is farthest from the sun. "at aphelion"
oviparous: (adj.) egg-laying
fumaroles: (n.) openings in a volcano where sulfurous gases emerge
semiotics: (n.) the study of meaning, making, and the philosophy of signs and symbols
susurrus: (n.) whispering, murmuring, or rustling
invocation: (n.) summoning incantation to a diety
paraverbal: (n.) messages transmitted through tone of voice. How something is said or implied, as opposed to what is said.
educe: (v.) to bring out or develop something
blotto: (adj.) completely drunk
cyanotic: (adj.) turning blue or purple from lack of oxygen
caromed: (v.) to strike and rebound
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