callow \KAL-oh\ (adjective) - Immature; lacking adult perception, experience, or judgment.

"If anybody thinks that I am callow they ought to see het -- she's so callow it makes me laugh. It even makes het laugh, too, to think how callow she is." -- F. Scott Fitzgerald, 'What I Think and Feel at 25'

Callow is from Old English calu, "featherless...Read more

lucre \LOO-kuhr\ (noun) - Monetary gain; profit; riches; money; -- often in a bad sense.

"The need of lucre never looms so large
As when 'tis gotten in some devious way;
It mitigates the blackness of the charge
That every nether level needed pay."
-- Herbert Quick, 'Double Trouble'

Lucre comes from Latin lucrum, "gain...Read more

imbue \im-BYOO\ (transitive verb) - 1 : To tinge or dye deeply; to cause to absorb thoroughly; as, "clothes thoroughly imbued with black." 2 : To instill profoundly; to cause to become impressed or penetrated.

"...I propose to throw you into a cataleptic sleep, in order that, while you are in that condition, I may imbue you with an absolute ...Read more

amity \AM-uh-tee\ (noun) - Friendship; friendly relations, especially between nations.

"This amity, begun at this time and place, was not an amity that polluted their souls; but an amity made up of a chain of suitable inclinations and virtues..." -- Izaak Walton, 'Lives of John Donne, Henry Wotton, Rich'd Hooker, George Herbert, AC'

Amity ...Read more

purdah \PUR-duh\ (noun) - 1 : A curtain, screen, or veil shielding women from the sight of men or strangers in Hindu and Muslim communities. 2 : A striped cotton cloth from which a curtain is made, often blue and white. 3 : The system of secluding Hindu or Muslim women. 4 : A state of seclusion or concealment; social seclusion.

'Weaned on royal...Read more

sycophant \SIK-uh-fuhnt\ (noun) - A person who seeks favor by flattering people of wealth or influence; a parasite; a toady.

"But many wiser than McGonagle succumb to the blandishments of the sycophant because, as is well known, the sycophant praises in them what they believe most worthy of praise." -- Alan Isler, 'Clerical Errors'

Sycophant ...Read more

chimerical \ky-MER-ih-kuhl; -MIR-; kih-\ (adjective) - 1 : Merely imaginary; produced by or as if by a wildly fanciful imagination; fantastic; improbable or unrealistic. 2 : Given to or indulging in unrealistic fantasies or fantastic schemes.

"...At the same time he could not believe that that trove, supposing it had ever existed, still existed...Read more

inculcate \in-KUHL-kayt; IN-kuhl-kayt\, transitive verb) - To teach and impress by frequent repetition or instruction.

"As we have said, Franval was generously endowed with all the charm of youth and all the talents which embellish it; but so great was his conempt of both moral and religious duties that it had become impossible for his tutors ...Read more

edacious \i-DAY-shus\ (adjective) - Given to eating; voracious; devouring.

"Occasionally the road must be set back, and once the lighthouse was moved back from the cliffs, eaten away by the edacious tooth of the sea." -- Henry White Warren, 'Among the Forces'

Edacious is from Latin edax, edac-, gluttonous, consuming, from edo, edere, to eat.

surfeit \SUR-fit\ (noun) - 1 : An excessive amount or supply. 2 : Overindulgence, as in food or drink. 3 : Disgust caused by overindulgence or excess.

(transitive verb) - To feed or supply to excess.

"It is from boredom, our boredom, not from surfeit, on the contrary, from our thirst... not surfeit, you're mistaken there!" -- Fyodor ...Read more

extempore \ik-STEM-puh-ree\ (adverb) - Without premeditation or preparation; on the spur of the moment.

(adjective) - Done or performed extempore.

"...I must repeat to you some extempore verses I made yesterday at the house of a certain duchess... I am deuced clever at extempore verses." -- Moliere, 'The Pretentious Young Ladies'

Extempore is...Read more

supererogatory \soo-puhr-ih-ROG-uh-tor-ee\ (adjective) - 1 : Going beyond what is required or expected. 2 : Superfluous; unnecessary.

"He was close to her doors: his standing was sufficient: his qualities were even supererogatory." -- Thomas Hardy, 'Far From the Madding Crowd'

Supererogatory comes from Latin supererogare, "to spend over and ...Read more

superfluous \soo-PER-floo-us\ (adjective) - More than is wanted or is sufficient; rendered unnecessary by superabundance; unnecessary; useless; excessive. (adverb) superfluously, (noun) superfluousness

"All this is useless, superfluous, and often even sinful. Similarly, I saw workmen whose entire art and occupation consisted in making ...Read more

ascribe \uh-SKRYB\ (transitive verb) - 1 : To attribute, as to a source or cause; as, "they ascribed the poor harvest to drought." 2 : To attribute, as a quality; to consider or allege to belong; as, "ascribed jealousy to the critics."

"Far be it from me to ascribe a divine purpose to anything, particularly when I examine the sea of ...Read more

verbiage \VUR-bee-ij\ (noun) - 1 : An overabundance of words; wordiness. 2 : Manner or style of expression; diction.

"I'm aware that I may be boring you, I'm cognizant of the fact that I have a tendency to excessive verbiage..." -- David Bosworth, 'The Death of Descartes'

Verbiage comes from French, ultimately from Latin verbum, "word."

insouciant \in-SOO-see-uhnt\ (adjective) - Marked by lighthearted unconcern or indifference; carefree; nonchalant.

"Jonas's insouciant good humor concealed something more. There was certainly nothing insouciant in his hazel eyes." -- Stephanie Laurens, 'All About Love'

Insouciant is from the French, from in-, "not" + souciant, "caring," ...Read more

erudite \AIR-yuh-dyt; -uh-dyt\ (adjective) - Characterized by extensive reading or knowledge; learned.

"My dear colleague, Dr. Mercier, you who are a poet of space geometry, and your erudite friends, you are the first envoys of this new world which is emerging from the sea..." -- Karel Čapek, 'War With the Newts'

Erudite comes from Latin ...Read more

gregarious \grih-GAIR-ee-us\ (adjective) - 1 : Tending to form a group with others of the same kind. 2 : Seeking and enjoying the company of others.

"It turned out that unlike my fun-loving and gregarious lover, I was rather antisocial." -- Laurie Colwin, 'Goodbye Without Leaving'

Gregarious is from Latin gregarius, "belonging to a herd or ...Read more

propound \pruh-POWND\ (transitive verb) - To offer for consideration; to put forward; to propose.

"And does she not propound her riddles to us? Of each man she asks daily, in mild voice, yet with a terrible significance, 'Knowest thou the meaning of this day?'" -- Thomas Carlyle, 'Past and Present'

Propound is a variation of earlier propone, ...Read more

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Thank you. Are you a reluctant beaver? A guilty bystander? A slim cat who got in on the top floor of an unsure-fire investment? Do you wish you were one of the great washed, a high man on...Read more