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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.
BARRAGE
noun
Pronounced: bar-RAAJ
Meaning: A massive concentrated and usually continuous discharge or shower (as of missiles or blows)
Example: In Puritan New England, those who broke the law were sometimes put to death by abarrage of stones.
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PINNACLE
noun
Pronounced: PIN-akle
Meaning: A lofty or high point.
Example: The clouds obscured thepinnacle from the view of those in the valley below.
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LANGUID
adjective
Pronounced: LANG-wid
Meaning: Sluggish in character or disposition.
Example: In India, Mary always felt hot and toolanguid to care about much of anything.
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HISTRIONICS
noun
Pronounced: HIS-tree-on-iks
Meaning: Theatrical performances (also known in today’s words as DRAMA!)
Example: Teresa loved the theater from an early age and excelled inhistrionics while in school.
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COGNIZANT
adjective
Pronounced: COG-niz-ent
Meaning: Aware; perceiving with a degree of controlled thought or observation.
Example: Watching television commercials can make viewers morecognizant of fads and fashions.
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SATURNINE
adjective
Pronounced: SA-tur-nine
Meaning: Possessing a moody or surly character; morose or sullen.
Example: Shirley’s father-in-law is asaturnine person with a quick temper.
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VACUOUS
adjective
Pronounced: VAK-u-us
Meaning: Emptied of or lacking content.
Example:Vacuous spaces within the meteorite made it easy to split in half.
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FISSURE
noun
Pronounced: FISH-ure
Meaning: A narrow opening, chasm or crack or some length and considerable depth, usually occurring from some breaking, rending or parting.
Example: Afissure ran through Irene’s backyard after the earthquake.
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NOXIOUS
adjective
Pronounced: KNOCK-shus
Meaning: Harmful or destructive to man or to other organisms.
Example: Emma is studying thenoxious effects of gasoline fumes.
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YENTA
noun
Pronounced: YEN-ta
Meaning: A person that meddles.
Example: Evelyn’s children laughingly refer to her as ayenta when she tries to set them up on blind dates.
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ACRIMONIOUS
adjective
Pronounced: ak-ri-MOAN-ee-uss
Meaning: Caustic, biting or rancorous, especially in feeling, language or manner; bitter.
Example: It was obvious that Marjorie’s comments wereacrimonious and complaining.
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WANDERLUST
noun
Pronounced: WAAN-dur-lust
Meaning: Strong or unconquerable longing for or impulse toward traveling.
Example: Kate’swanderlust caused her to postpone college so that she could tour Europe.
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DUPLICITY
noun
Pronouced: doo-PLIH-suh-tee
Meaning: Deception by pretending to entertain one set of feelings and acting under the influence of another.
Example: When the candidate’sduplicity was exposed, his supporters felt embarrassed and betrayed.
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OMINOUS
adjective
Pronounced: AHM-in-nuss
Meaning: Indicative of future misfortune or calamity; causing anxiety or fear.
Example: For an instant, there was anominous stillness, quieter and more silent than ever before, as if even the air was holding its breath.
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RUEFULLY
adverb
Pronounced: ROO-ful-lee
Meaning: In a pitiable or woeful manner.
Example: Joeruefully replied that he hadn’t been able to bring any lunch with him.
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KABUKI
noun
Pronounced: kah-BOO-kee
Meaning: Traditional Japanese popular drama with singing and dancing performed in a stylized manner.
Example: Performers ofKabuki must learn to move with great control.
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ONYX
noun
Pronounced: AH-nix
Meaning: Of the color jet black.
Example: The teacher told the schoolchildren that space looksonyx from the shuttle.
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EMBELLISH
verb
Pronounced: emm-BELL-ish
Meaning: Enhance, amplify or garnish (an account) by elaboration with inessential but decorative or fanciful details.
Example: Ivan likes toembellish his stories a little differently each time he tells them.
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RADIANT
adjective
Pronounced: RAY-dee-ent
Meaning: Marked by or expressive of joy, pleasure, love, confidence or happiness.
Example: Emily looked positivelyradiant when she saw her newborn sister for the first time.
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IMPECUNIOUSLY
adverb
Pronounced: emm-peck-KUHN-nee-uss-lee
Meaning: In an indigent, penniless manner.
Example: George squandered his inheritance and plodded through the remainder of his lifeimpecuniously.
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TIRADE
noun
Pronounced: TYE-rayd
Meaning: A protracted speech usually marked by abusive language.
Example: The grumpy woman screamed atirade of protest whenever children made joyful noises outside her window.
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JOVIAL
adjective
Pronounced: JOE-vee-uhl
Meaning: Characterized by or showing marked good humor especially as exhibited in mirth, hilarity or conviviality.
Example: Thejovial chef made cooking look easy and enjoyable.
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ZEPPELIN
noun
Pronounced: ZEPP-eh-linn
Meaning: A rigid airship.
Example: Olga’s dream was to ride in azeppelin one day.