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52 Cards in this Set
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sitophobia (sy-tuh-FO-bee-uh) noun
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Morbid aversion to food.
[From Greek sito- (food) + -phobia (fear, aversion).] |
From Greek
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polyphagia (pol-ee-FAY-jee-uh) noun
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1. Excessive appetite or eating.
2. The habit of feeding on many kinds of food. [From Modern Latin, from Greek polyphagia, from polyphagos, from poly- (much, many) + phagy (eating).] |
From Greek
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bibacious (by-BAY-shuhs) adjective
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Overly fond of drinking.
[From Latin bibere (to drink).] |
From Latin
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postprandial (post-PRAN-dee-uhl) adjective
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After a meal, especially dinner.
[From Latin post- (after) + prandium (meal).] |
From Latin
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gamboge (gam-BOJ, -BOOZH) noun
toponym |
1. A reddish yellow color.
2. A gum resin obtained from the sap of trees of the genus Garcinia, used as a yellow pigment and as a cathartic. [From New Latin gambogium, variant of cambugium, after Cambodia where, among other places in southeast Asia, this tree is found.] |
toponym
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vernissage (ver-nuh-SAZH) noun
toponym |
A private showing or preview of an art exhibition before the public opening; also the reception celebrating the opening of an art exhibition.
[From French vernissage (varnishing), from vernis (varnish), ultimately from Berenik, the name of an ancient city in Cyrenaica in northern Africa where natural resins were first used as varnish.] |
toponym
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Finlandization (fin-luhn-duh-ZAY-shuhn) noun
toponym |
The policy of neutrality of a country under the influence of another more powerful one without being formally allied to it, similar to the neutralization of Finland with respect to the Soviet Union after 1944.
[After Finland.] |
toponym
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Fleet Street (fleet street) noun
toponym |
The British press.
[After Fleet Street in London, where many British newspapers used to be published.] |
toponym
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hackney (HAK-nee) adjective
toponym |
1. Trite.
2. Let out for hire. [Probably after Hackney in East London, where such horses were raised. The word hack, in related senses, is a short form of hackney.] |
toponym
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hackney (HAK-nee) verb tr.
toponym |
1. To make banal or common by frequent use.
2. To hire out. [Probably after Hackney in East London, where such horses were raised. The word hack, in related senses, is a short form of hackney.] |
toponym
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hackney (HAK-nee) noun
toponym |
1. A breed of horses developed in England, having a high-stepping gait.
2. A horse suitable for routine riding or driving. 3. A carriage or coach for hire. [Probably after Hackney in East London, where such horses were raised. The word hack, in related senses, is a short form of hackney.] |
toponym
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undecennary (uhn-di-SEHN-uh-ree) noun
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1. A period of eleven years.
2. An eleventh anniversary. [From Latin undecim (eleven), from unus (one) + decem (ten), + -ennary, from annus (year).] |
From Latin
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undecennary (uhn-di-SEHN-uh-ree) adjective
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1. Of or pertaining to a period of eleven years.
2. Occurring every eleven years. [From Latin undecim (eleven), from unus (one) + decem (ten), + -ennary, from annus (year).] |
From Latin
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elevenses (i-LEV-uhn-ziz) noun
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A midmorning break for refreshments taken between breakfast and lunch, usually around 11am.
[Double plural of eleven, perhaps as ellipsis of eleven hours (eleven o'clock).] |
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hendecagon (hen-DEK-uh-gon) noun
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An eleven-sided polygon.
[From Greek hendeca- (eleven), from hen, neuter of heis (one) + deka (ten) + -gon (angled), from gonia (angle).] |
From Greek
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eleventh hour (i-LEV-uhnth our) noun
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The last moment.
[From the parable in the Bible where laborers hired at the eleventh hour of the twelve-hour workday were paid the same as those hired earlier.] |
A parable in the Bible
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hendecasyllabic (hen-dek-uh-si-LAB-ik) adjective
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Having eleven syllables.
[From Latin hendecasyllabus, from Greek hendekasyllabos, from hendeca- (eleven), from hen, neuter of heis (one) + deka (ten), + syllabic.] |
From Greek
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hendecasyllabic (hen-dek-uh-si-LAB-ik) noun
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A word or line of eleven syllables.
[From Latin hendecasyllabus, from Greek hendekasyllabos, from hendeca- (eleven), from hen, neuter of heis (one) + deka (ten), + syllabic.] |
From Greek
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fractious (FRAK-shuhs) adjective
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1. Irritable; cranky.
2. Unruly. [From Middle English fraccioun, from Late Latin fraction-, stem of fractio (act of breaking), from Latin fractus, past participle of Latin frangere (to break).] |
From Latin
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subdolous (SUB-duh-luhs) adjective
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Sly; crafty; cunning.
[From Latin subdolus, from sub- (slightly) + dolus (deceit).] |
From Latin
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incogitant (in-KOJ-i-tuhnt) adjective
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Thoughtless; inconsiderate.
[From Latin incogitant-, from cogitare (to think), from agitare (to agitate), from agere (to drive).] |
From Latin
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execrable (EK-si-kruh-buhl) adjective
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Detestable; wretched.
[From Middle English, from Latin execrabilis (accursed), from execrari (to curse), from ex- + sacrare (to consecrate).] |
From Latin
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refractory (ri-FRAK-tuhr-ree) adjective
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1. Hard to manage; stubborn.
2. Resistant to usual methods or treatment. 3. Difficult to fuse: resistant to high temperature. [From alteration of refractary, from Latin refractarius (stubborn), from refractus, past participle of refringere (to break up), from re- + frangere (to break).] |
From Latin
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refractory (ri-FRAK-tuhr-ree) noun
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A heat-resistant material.
[From alteration of refractary, from Latin refractarius (stubborn), from refractus, past participle of refringere (to break up), from re- + frangere (to break).] |
From Latin
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antanaclasis (ant-an-uh-KLAS-is) noun
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A play on words in which a key word is repeated in a different, often contrary, sense.
[From Greek antanaklasis (echo or reflection), from anti- (against) + ana- + klasis (breaking or bending).] |
From Greek
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paralipsis (par-uh-LIP-sis) noun, plural paralipses (-seez)
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Drawing attention to something while claiming to be passing over it.
[From Late Latin paralipsis, from Greek paraleipsis (an omission), from paraleipein (to leave on one side), from para- (side) + leipein (to leave).] |
From Greek
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antiphrasis (an-TIF-ruh-sis) noun
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The humorous or ironic use of a word or a phrase in a sense opposite of its usual meaning.
[From Late Latin, from Greek antiphrazein (to express by the opposite), from anti- + phrazein (to speak).] |
From Greek
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oxymoron (ok-see-MOR-on, -mor-) noun, plural oxymora or oxymorons
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A figure of speech in which two contradictory terms appear together for emphasis, for example, "deafening silence".
[From Greek oxymoron, from neuter of oxymoros (sharp dull), from oxys (sharp) + moros (dull). The word moron comes from the same root.] |
From Greek
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esprit d'escalier (e-SPREE des-kal-i-YE) noun, also esprit de l'escalier
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1. Thinking of a witty remark too late; hindsight wit or afterwit.
2. Such a remark. [From French esprit de l'escalier, from esprit (wit) + escalier (stairs).] |
From French
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halcyon (HAL-see-uhn) adjective
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1. Peaceful; tranquil.
2. Carefree; joyful. 3. Golden; prosperous. [From Greek halkyon (kingfisher). A mythical bird, identified with the kingfisher. It nested at sea and had the power to charm the wind and waves so that they became calm.] |
From Greek
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halcyon (HAL-see-uhn) noun
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Any of various kingfishers of the genus Halcyon.
[From Greek halkyon (kingfisher) via Latin and Middle English. Halcyon was a mythical bird, identified with the kingfisher, that was said to breed around the winter solstice. It nested at sea and had the power to charm the wind and waves so that they became calm.] |
From Greek
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Cerberus (SUR-buh-ruhs) noun
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A powerful, hostile guard.
[From Latin, from Greek Kerberos.] |
From Greek
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cyclopean (sy-kluh-PEE-uhn, si-KLOP-ee-uhn) adjective
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1. Of or suggestive of Cyclops; one-eyed.
2. Huge. 3. Formed with large, irregular stones closely fitted without the use of mortar. [From Latin Cyclopeus, from Greek Kyklops (Cyclops), from kyklos (circle) + ops (eye). Savage one-eyed giants in Greek mythology. Forged thunderbolts for Zeus.] |
From Greek
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Minotaur (MIN-uh-tawr) noun
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Someone or something monstrous, especially one that devours.
[From Latin Minotaurus, from Greek Minotauros, from Minos (a king of Crete) + tauros (bull).] |
From Greek
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dragon's teeth (DRAG-uhns teeth) noun
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Seeds of discord. Usually used in the form "to sow dragon's teeth": to take an action that leads to future conflict.
[In Greek mythology, the Phoenician prince Cadmus killed a dragon and sowed its teeth. From those teeth sprang an army of men who fought each other until only five were left.] |
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pontificate (pon-TIF-i-kayt) verb intr.
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To speak in a pompous and dogmatic manner.
[From Medieval Latin pontificatus, past participle of pontificare (to be an ecclesiastic), from ponti-, from pons (bridge) + facere (to make).] |
From Latin
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colporteur (KAWL-por-tuhr) noun
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A peddler of religious books.
[From French colporteur (peddler), from col (neck) + porter (to carry), from Latin portare, from the idea of a peddler carrying his wares in a bag hung around his neck.] |
From Latin
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catholicity (kath-uh-LIS-i-tee) noun
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1. Wide-ranging; universality.
2. Broad-mindedness; inclusiveness. [From Latin catholicus, from Greek katholikos (general), from kata (according to, by) + holou (whole).] |
From Latin
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hagiarchy (HAG-ee-ar-kee, HAY-jee-) noun
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A government by holy persons. Also a place thus governed.
[From Greek hagi- (holy) + -archy (rule).] |
From Greek
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latitudinarian (lat-i-TOOD-n-ar-ee-uhn, -TYOOD-) adjective
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Holding broad and tolerant views, especially on matters of religion.
[From Latin latitudin-, stem of latitudo (breadth), from latus (broad).] |
From Latin
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latitudinarian (lat-i-TOOD-n-ar-ee-uhn, -TYOOD-) noun
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One who is broadminded and tolerant, especially concerning religion.
[From Latin latitudin-, stem of latitudo (breadth), from latus (broad).] |
From Latin
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festschrift (FEST-shrift) noun, plural festschriften or festschrifts
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A volume of writing by many authors as a tribute to a scholar, for example, on the occasion of retirement of a colleague.
[From German Festschrift, from Fest (celebration) + Schrift (writing).] |
From German
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feuilleton (FOI-i-ton) noun
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1. The part of a European newspaper devoted to light literature, criticism, and the like; also something printed in this section.
2. A novel published in installments. 3. A short literary piece [From French, from feuillet (sheet of paper), diminutive of feuille (leaf), from Old French foille, from Latin folium (leaf).] |
From Latin
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roman a clef (ro-mahn ah KLAY) noun, plural romans a clef
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A novel that depicts (usually famous) real people and events under the guise of fiction.
[From French roman à clef, literally, a novel with a key.] |
From French
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variorum (var-ee-OR-um) adjective
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1. Containing various versions (from manuscripts, earlier editions, etc.) of a text.
2. Containing notes and commentaries by various editors and commentators. [From Latin editio cum notis variorum (edition with notes of various) [authors/sources].] |
From Latin
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variorum (var-ee-OR-um) noun
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1. A book containing various versions (from manuscripts, earlier editions, etc.) of a text.
2. A book containing notes and commentaries by various editors and commentators. [From Latin editio cum notis variorum (edition with notes of various) [authors/sources].] |
From Latin
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chrestomathy (kres-TOM-uh-thee) noun
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1. A volume of selected literary passages, usually by one author.
2. A selection of literary passages from a foreign language, especially one assembled for studying a language. [From Greek chrestomatheia, from chrestos (useful) + manthanein (to learn).] |
From Greek
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temporize also temporise (TEM-puh-ryz) verb intr.
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To delay so as to gain time or to avoid making a decision.
[From French temporiser (to bide one's time), from Medieval Latin temporizare (to pass the time), from Latin tempor-, from tempus (time).] |
From Latin
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adduce (uh-DOOS, uh-DYOOS) verb tr.
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To offer as evidence; to offer something as proof.
[From Latin adducere (to bring forward), from ad- (towards) + ducere (to lead).] |
From Latin
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perpend (pur-PEND) verb tr. and intr.
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To reflect upon; to consider; to ponder.
[From Latin perpendere (to weigh thoroughly), from per- (thoroughly) + pendere (to weigh).] |
From Latin
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animadvert (an-uh-mad-VURT) verb intr.
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To comment critically (upon) or to express criticism.
[From Latin animadvertere (to turn the mind to), from animus (mind) + advertere (to turn).] |
From Latin
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palter (PAWL-tuhr) verb intr.
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1. To talk or act in an insincere or deceitful manner.
2. To haggle. [Origin unknown.] |
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