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Click hereWhenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don’t know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun … etc.
ABLUTION
noun
Pronounced: ab-LOO-shun
Meaning: The washing of one’s body or part of it as a religious rite.
Example: A common example ofablution in Judaism is washing the hands before a meal that includes bread.
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CLANDESTINE
adjective
Pronounced: clan-DES-tin
Meaning: Marked by, held in, or conducted with secrecy or concealment.
Example: Mike and Sally madeclandestine plans for their mother’s surprise birthday party.
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INDOCTRINATE
verb
Pronounced: in-DOC-trin-ate
Meaning: To give instructions especially in fundamentals or rudiments.
Example: Special classes were designed toindoctrinate new employees.
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MALEDICTION
noun
Pronounced: mal-a-DIC-shun
Meaning: Curse.
Example: The villain’s last words were amalediction on the entire royal family.
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OLFACTORY
adjective
Pronounced: ole-FAC-tory
Meaning: Of, relating to, or connected with the sense of smell.
Example: Humans have relatively weakolfactory abilities compared to many other animals.
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PAUCITY
noun
Pronounced: PAW-city
Meaning: A small number or fewness.
Example: The choir suffered from apaucity of male voices.
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BEVY
noun
Pronounced: BEV-ee
Meaning: An unusually large group or collection.
Example: Abevy of reporters crowded around the gold medal winner.
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REGURGITATE
verb
Pronounced: re-GUR-gi-tate
Meaning: To throw up, cast out or pour out again.
Example: Brenda watched the redbirdregurgitate food to feed his nestlings.
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SOMNAMBULANT
adjective
Pronounced: som-NAM-bue-lent
Meaning: Walking or addicted to walking while asleep.
Example: Sheila could remember nothing of hersomnambulant activities when she was told of them the next morning.
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ZEPHYR
noun
Pronounced: ZEF-fur
Meaning: A soft warm breeze from the West.
Example: The gentlezephyr was not sufficient to keep Renee’s kite airborne.
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DETERRENT
noun
Pronounced: de-TUR-rent
Meaning: Something that discourages or prevents from acting by fear or consideration of unpleasant consequences.
Example: The police hoped that Ted’s severe jail sentence would serve as adeterrent to criminal activity by the other gang members.
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JETTISON
verb
Pronounced: JET-tih-sohn
Meaning: Drop (as auxiliary equipment, bombs, cargo or fuel) from an airplane in flight (as for lightening the load or providing greater safety).
Example: The airplane’s malfunctioning engine prompted the crew tojettison all unnecessary cargo.
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VINCULUM
noun
Pronounced: VINK-u-lum
Meaning: A unifying bond.
Example: Their mutual love of dolls is thevinculum between Delia and Christine, who are otherwise very different.
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HERMITAGE
noun
Pronounced: HER-mi-tidge
Meaning: A secluded residence or private retreat.
Example: Dave’s father has always dreamed of living in the city during the week and escaping to some countryhermitage on the weekends.
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TURMOIL
noun
Pronounced: TURR-moyl
Meaning: An utterly confused, extremely agitated or tumultuous state or condition.
Example: Jacob experienced unrelentingturmoil after his parents informed him that the family might move.
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EGREGIOUS
adjective
Pronounced: uh-GREE-jus
Meaning: Flagrant or glaringly evident.
Example: As a medical researcher, Laura knew that many reports of medical breakthroughs on television containedegregious errors.
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QUISLING
noun
Pronounced: KWIS-ling
Meaning: A traitorous national who aids the invader of his country and often serves as chief agent or puppet governor.
Example: Many French citizens thought that Marshal Petain, head of the Vichy regime during World War II, was little better than aquisling.
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LAMPOON
noun
Pronounced: lam-POON
Meaning: A light mocking satire.
Example: The new movie is alampoon of the horror films that are made especially for teenagers.
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FIEFDOM
noun
Pronounced: FEEF-dum
Meaning: An area over which one exercises control.
Example: The manager’sfiefdom consisted of two departments and the company newsletter.
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UNREQUITED
adjective
Pronounced: un-ree-KWITE-ted
Meaning: Not returned in kind.
Example: Several passages in the novel were devoted to Harriet’sunrequited love for Mr. Ethan.
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GREGARIOUS
adjective
Meaning: Marked by an instinctive or temperamental preference for a social rather than a solitary existence.
Example: Because of theirgregarious nature, dogs make good house pets.
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YEOMANRY
noun
Pronounced: YO-men-ree
Meaning: The whole body of small farmers who cultivate their own land; specifically, the body of small landed proprietors of the middle class.
Example: Among the legal privileges of theyeomanry was the right to serve as a juror.
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KUDOS
noun
Pronounced: KUU-doze
Meaning: Praises given for achievement.
Example: Daphne received manykudos from the drama coach after her performance in the school play.