The Lexicon
The difference between the right word and the almost right word
is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.
~ Mark Twain
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
    Abtruse~adj.
  1. Difficult to understand; recondite. See Synonyms at ambiguous.
    Alackaday~interj.
  1. [For alack the day. Cf. Lackaday.] An exclamation expressing sorrow.
    Ambuscade~noun/trans. verb
  1. An ambush.
  2. To attack by surprise from a concealed place; to ambush.
    Anathema~noun
  1. A ban or curse pronounced with religious solemnity by ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by excommunication. Hence: the denunciation of anything as accursed.
  2. An imprecation; a curse; a malediction.
  3. Any person or thing cursed by ecclesiastical authority
  4. Any person or thing that is intensely disliked.
    Antipodal~adj.
  1. Of, relating to, or situated on the opposite side or sides of the earth: Australia and Great Britain occupy antipodal regions.
  2. Diametrically opposed; exactly opposite.
    Aphotic~adj.
  1. 1. Having no light.
  2. 2. Of or relating to the region of a body of water that is not reached by sunlight and in which photosynthesis is unable to occur.
    A Posteriori~adj.
  1. Derived by or designating the process of reasoning from facts or particulars to general principles or from effects to causes; inductive; empirical. Justified by appeal to experience. Knowable from experience
    Apocryphal~adj.
  1. (Bible) Pertaining to the [1]Apocrypha.
  2. Not canonical. Hence:Of doubtful authority or authenticity; spurious; false.
    Apotheosis~noun
  1. Exaltation to divine rank or stature; deification.
  2. Elevation to a preeminent or transcendent position; glorification: �Many observers have tried to attribute Warhol's current apotheosis to the subversive power of artistic vision� (Michiko Kakutani).
  3. An exalted or glorified example: Their leader was the apotheosis of courage.
    Appurtenance~noun
  1. Something added to another, more important thing; an appendage. See Synonyms at appendage.
  2. appurtenances; Equipment, such as clothing, tools, or instruments, used for a specific purpose or task; gear.
  3. Law. A right, privilege, or property that is considered incident to the principal property for purposes such as passage of title, conveyance, or inheritance.
    A Priori~adj.
  1. Proceeding from a known or assumed cause to a necessarily related effect; deductive. Derived by or designating the process of reasoning without reference to particular facts or experience. Knowable without appeal to particular experience. Made before or without examination; not supported by factual study.
    Apropos~adj/adv/prep
  1. Being at once opportune and to the point
  2. At an appropriate time; opportunely. By the way; incidentally
  3. With regard to; concerning
    Arcane~adj.
  1. Understood, or known only by a few.
    Asseverate~trans. verb
  1. To affirm or declare positively or earnestly.
    Avatar~noun
  1. The incarnation of a deity -- chiefly associated in Hinduism with the incarnations of Vishnu.
  2. An embodiment, as of a quality, concept, philosophy, or tradition; an archetype
  3. A temporary manifestation or aspect of a continuing entity
    Avuncular~adj.
  1. Of or pertaining to an uncle.
  2. Resembling an uncle, especially in kindness or indulgence.
B
    Bellicose~adj.
  1. Warlike in manner, or temperament; pugnacious
    Bete Noire~noun
  1. Something or someone particularly detested or avoided; a bugbear.
    Bifurcate~verb
  1. To divide into two branches
    Blackguard~noun
  1. A rude or unscrupulous person; a scoundrel.
  2. A person who uses foul or abusive language.
    Bowdlerize~verb
  1. To remove or modify the parts (of a book, for example) considered offensive.
  2. To modify, as by shortening, simplifying, or distorting in style or content.
C
    Cabal~int. verb/adj.
  1. To form a cabal; to conspire; to intrigue; to plot.
  2. A secret, conspiratorial association of plotters or intriguers whose purpose is usually to bring about an overturn especially in public affairs.
  3. The schemes or plots of such an association.
    Cadre~noun
  1. A nucleus of trained personnel around which a larger organization can be built and trained: a cadre of corporals who train recruits.
  2. A tightly knit group of zealots who are active in advancing the interests of a revolutionary party.
    a: A member os such a group.
  3. A framework.
    Capacious~adj.
  1. Capable of holding a large quantity.
    Cataract~noun
  1. A large or high waterfall.
  2. A great downpour; a deluge.
  3. Pathology. Opacity of the lens or capsule of the eye, causing impairment of vision or blindness.
    Cavalcade~noun
  1. A procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages.
  2. Any procession.
  3. A sequence; a series.
    Celerity~noun
  1. Rapidity of motion or action; quickness; swiftness.
    Censure~verb
  1. The act of blaming or finding fault with and condemning as wrong; reprehension; blame.
  2. An official reprimand or expression of disapproval.
    Chimerical~adj.
  1. Created by or as if by a wildly fanciful imagination; highly improbable. Given to unrealistic fantasies; fanciful. often chimeric Of, related to, or being a chimera.
    Circumabient~adj.
  1. Surrounding; being on all sides; encompassing.
    Concinnity~noun
  1. Internal harmony or fitness in the adaptation of parts to a whole or to each other.
  2. Studied elegance of design or arrangement -- used chiefly of literary style.
  3. An instance of concinnity.
    Congenial~adj.
  1. Having the same tastes, habits, or temperament; sympathetic.
  2. Of a pleasant disposition; friendly and sociable: a congenial host.
  3. Suited to one's needs or nature; agreeable: congenial surroundings.
    Connubial~adj.
  1. Pertaining to marriage.
    Contumacious~adj.
  1. Obstinately disobedient or rebellious; insubordinate.
    Copacetic~adj.
  1. Very satisfactory; fine.
    Coquette~noun
  1. A woman who habitually trifles with the affections of men; a flirt.
    Coup d'etat~noun
  1. The sudden overthrow of a government by a usually small group of persons in or previously in positions of authority.
    Credulity~noun
  1. A disposition to believe too readily.
D
    Declination~noun
  1. A sloping or bending downward.
  2. A falling off, especially from prosperity or vigor; a decline.
  3. A deviation, as from a specific direction or standard.
  4. A refusal to accept.
  5. Magnetic declination.
  6. Astronomy. The angular distance to a point on a celestial object, measured north or south from the celestial equator.
    Defenestrate~verb
  1. To throw out of a window.
    Deracinate~verb
  1. To uproot.
    Diatribe~noun
  1. A bitter, abusive denunciation.
    Doldrums~noun
  1. a. A period of stagnation or slump.
    b. A period of depression or unhappy listlessness.
  2. a. A region of the ocean near the equator, characterized by calms, light winds, or squalls.
    b. The weather conditions characteristic of these regions of the ocean.
E
    Efficacious~adj.
  1. Producing or capable of producing a desired effect.
    Encyclical~adj/noun
  1. Intended for wide, or general circulation.
  2. Roman Catholic Church: A papal letter addressed to the bishops of the Church or to the hierarchy of a particular country.
    Egalitarian~adj.
  1. Affirming, promoting, or characterized by belief in equal political, economic, social, and civil rights for all people.
    Eremite~noun
  1. A hermit, especially a religious recluse.
    Expectorate~verb
  1. To eject from the mouth; spit.
  2. To cough up and eject by spitting.
    Expiate~verb
  1. To atone, or make amends for.
F
    Faineant~noun/adj.
  1. Doing nothing or given to doing nothing; idle; lazy.
  2. A do-nothing; an idle fellow; a sluggard.
    Fait Accompli~noun
  1. An accomplished and presumably irreversible deed or fact.
    Fecundity~noun
  1. The quality or power of producing abundantly; fruitfulness or fertility.
  2. Productive or creative power: fecundity of the mind.
    Felicitous~adj.
  1. Suitably applied or expressed; appropriate; apt.
  2. Happy; delightful; marked by good fortune.
    Fiat~noun
  1. An arbitrary or authoritative command or order.
  2. Formal or official authorization or sanction.
    Fiduciary~noun
  1. Someone who stands in a special relation of trust, confidence, or responsibility in certain obligations to others; a trustee.
    Flibbertigibbet~noun
  1. A silly, flighty, or scatterbrained person, especially a pert young woman with such qualities.
    Fugacious~adj.
  1. Lasting but a short time; fleeting.
    Fulminate~verb
  1. To issue a thunderous verbal attack or denunciation: fulminated against political chicanery.
  2. To explode or detonate.
G
    Gauche~adj.
  1. Lacking social polish; tactless.
    Gelid~adj.
  1. Extremely cold; icy.
    Graniloquent~adj.
  1. Pompous or bombastic speech or expression.
H
    Harangue~noun
  1. A long pompous speech, especially one delivered before a gathering.
  2. A speech or piece of writing characterized by strong feeling or expression; a tirade.
    Hebetude~noun
  1. Mental dullness or sluggishness.
    Hegemony~noun
  1. The predominant influence, as of a state, region, or group, over another or others.
    Hermeneutic~adj.
  1. Interpretive; explanatory.
    Hoi Polloi~noun
  1. The common people generally; the masses.
I
    Iconoclast~noun
  1. One who attacks and seeks to overthrow traditional or popular ideas or institutions.
  2. One who destroys sacred religious images.
    Impetus~noun
  1. An impelling force; an impulse.
  2. The force or energy associated with a moving body.
  3. Something that incites; a stimulus.
  4. Increased activity in response to a stimulus: The approaching deadline gave impetus to the investigation.
    Inamorata~noun
  1. A woman whom one is in love with; a mistress.
    Incipient~adj.
  1. Beginning to exist or appear: detecting incipient tumors; an incipient personnel problem.
    Inscrutable~adj.
  1. Difficult to fathom or understand; difficult to be explained or accounted for satisfactorily; obscure; incomprehensible; impenetrable.
    Insipid~adj.
  1. Lacking flavor or zest; not tasty.
  2. Lacking qualities that excite, stimulate, or interest; dull.
    Intrinsic~adj.
  1. Of or relating to the essential nature of a thing; inherent.
  2. Anatomy. Situated within or belonging solely to the organ or body part on which it acts. Used of certain nerves and muscles.
    Irenic~
  1. Tending to promote peace; conciliatory.
J
K
    Kvetch~intransitive verb/noun
  1. To complain habitually.
  2. A complaint
L
    Lachrymose~adj
  1. Given to shedding tears; suffused with tears; tearful.
  2. Causing or tending to cause tears.
    Largesse~noun
  1. Liberality in bestowing gifts, especially in a lofty or condescending manner.
  2. Generosity of spirit or attitude.
    Latitudinarian~adj.
  1. Holding or expressing broad or tolerant views, especially in religious matters.
    Legerdemain~noun
  1. Sleight of hand.
  2. A display of skill, trickery, or artful deception.
    Levant~adj.
  1. The countries bordering on the eastern Mediterranean Sea from Turkey to Egypt.
    Lumpen~adj.
  1. Of or relating to dispossessed and displaced individuals, especially those who have lost social status.
  2. Common; vulgar.
M
    Matutinal~adj.
  1. Of, relating to, or occurring in the morning; early.
    Melliflous~adj.
  1. Flowing as with honey; flowing sweetly or smoothly; as, a mellifluous voice.
    Mephitic~adj.
  1. Of, relating to, or resembling mephitis; poisonous or foul-smelling.
    Mercurial~adj.
  1. Roman Mythology. Of or relating to the god Mercury.
  2. Astronomy. Of or relating to the planet Mercury.
  3. Having the characteristics of eloquence, shrewdness, swiftness, and thievishness attributed to the god Mercury.
  4. Containing or caused by the action of the element mercury.
  5. Quick and changeable in temperament; volatile: a mercurial nature.
    Miasma~noun
  1. A vaporous exhalation (as of marshes or putrid matter) formerly thought to cause disease; broadly, a thick vaporous atmosphere or emanation.
  2. A harmful or corrupting atmosphere or influence; also, an atmosphere that obscures; a fog.
    Modus~noun
  1. The arrangement of, or mode of expressing, the terms of a contract or conveyance.
    Modus Operandi~noun
  1. A method of operating or functioning.
  2. A person's manner of working.
    Modus Vivendi~noun
  1. A manner of living; a way of life.
  2. A temporary agreement between contending parties pending a final settlement.
    Moratorium~noun
  1. An authorization to a debtor, such as a bank or nation, permitting temporary suspension of payments.
  2. An authorized period of delay in the performance of an obligation.
  3. A suspension of an ongoing or planned activity: a moratorium on the deployment of a new weapon.
N
    Neoteric~adj.
  1. Of recent origin; modern.
    Nimiety~noun
  1. The state of being too much; excess.
O
    Obstreperous~adj.
  1. Noisily and stubbornly defiant; unruly.
  2. Noisy, clamorous, or boisterous.
    Opprobrium~noun
  1. Disgrace; infamy; reproach mingled with contempt.
  2. A cause or object of reproach or disgrace.
    Orison~noun
  1. A prayer.
P
    Panacea~noun
  1. A remedy for all diseases, evils, or difficulties; a cure-all.
    Paramount~adj.
  1. Of chief concern or importance: tending first to one's paramount needs.
  2. Supreme in rank, power, or authority.
    Parsimonious~adj.
  1. Excessively sparing or frugal.
    Peccadillo~noun
  1. A small sin or fault.
    Pecuniary~adj.
  1. Relating to money; monetary.
  2. Consisting of money.
  3. Requiring payment of money.
    Pejorative~adj.
  1. Tending to make or become worse.
  2. Disparaging; belittling.
    Pellmell~adverb
  1. In a jumbled, confused manner; helter-skelter.
  2. In frantic disorderly haste; headlong:
    Penchant~noun
  1. A definite liking; a strong inclination. See Synonyms at predilection.
    Penury~noun
  1. Extreme want or poverty; destitution.
  2. Extreme dearth; barrenness or insufficiency.
    Perfidy~noun
  1. The act of violating faith or allegiance; violation of a promise or vow; faithlessness; treachery.
    Perspicacity~noun
  1. Clearness of understanding or insight; penetration, discernment.
    Plaintive~adj.
  1. Expressive of sorrow or melancholy; mournful; sad.
    Plebiscite~noun
  1. A direct vote in which the entire electorate is invited to accept or refuse a proposal: The new constitution was ratified in a plebiscite.
  2. A vote in which a population exercises the right of national self-determination.
    Pleonasm~noun
  1. The use of more words than are required to express an idea; redundancy.
  2. A superfluous word or phrase.
    Pococurante~noun/adj.
  1. Indifferent; apathetic.
  2. One who does not care.
    Polymath~noun
  1. A person of great or varied learning; one acquainted with various subjects of study.
    Postprandial~adj.
  1. Happening or done after a meal.
    Prestidigitation~noun
  1. Performance of or skill in performing magic or conjuring tricks with the hands; sleight of hand.
  2. A show of skill or deceitful cleverness.
    Priapus~noun
  1. Priapus Greek & Roman Mythology. The god of procreation, guardian of gardens and vineyards, and personification of the erect phallus.
  2. An image of this god, often used as a scarecrow in ancient gardens.
  3. A representation of a phallus.
    Pro Forma~adj.
  1. Done as a formality; perfunctory.
  2. Provided in advance so as to prescribe form or describe items: a pro forma copy of a document.
    Promulgate~verb
  1. To make known (a decree, for example) by public declaration; announce officially. See Synonyms at announce.
  2. To put (a law) into effect by formal public announcement.
    Proscribe~trans. verb
  1. To denounce, condemn, or forbid as harmful; to prohibit.
  2. To put outside the protection of the law; to outlaw.
  3. To publish the name of (a person) as condemned to death with his property forfeited to the state.
    Pugnacious~adj.
  1. Combative in nature; belligerent.
    Pukka~adj.
  1. Authentic; genuine.
  2. Good of its kind; first-class.
    Pulchritude~noun
  1. Great physical beauty and appeal.
Q
    Qua~prep.
  1. In the capacity or character of; as: The President qua head of the party mediated the dispute.
    Quixotic~adj.
  1. Caught up in the romance of noble deeds and the pursuit of unreachable goals; idealistic without regard to practicality.
  2. Capricious; impulsive.
    Quotidian~adj.
  1. Everyday; commonplace.
R
    Repletion~noun
  1. The condition of being completely filled or supplied.
  2. Excessive fullness, as from overeating.
    Riven~verb
  1. To rend or tear apart.
  2. To break into pieces, as by a blow; cleave or split asunder.
  3. To break or distress (the spirit, for example).
S
    Salad Days~pl.n.
  1. A time of youth, innocence, and inexperience: �my salad days,/When I was green in judgment, cold in blood� (Shakespeare).
    Salient~adj.
  1. Projecting or jutting beyond a line or surface; protruding.
  2. Strikingly conspicuous; prominent. See Synonyms at noticeable.
  3. Springing; jumping: salient tree toads.
    Salubrious~adj.
  1. Favorable to health; promoting health; healthful.
    Scatological~adj.
  1. The study of fecal excrement, as in medicine, paleontology, or biology.
  2. An obsession with excrement or excretory functions.
  3. The psychiatric study of such an obsession.
  4. Obscene language or literature, especially that dealing pruriently or humorously with excrement and excretory functions.
    Sectarian~noun/adj.
    Noun
  1. A member of a sect.
  2. One characterized by bigoted adherence to a factional viewpoint.
    Adjective
  3. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a sect.
  4. Adhering or confined to the dogmatic limits of a sect or denomination; partisan.
  5. Narrow-minded; parochial.
    Seraph~noun
  1. A celestial being having three pairs of wings.
  2. seraphim Christianity. The first of the nine orders of angels in medieval angelology.
    Plural: Seraphim, Adverb: Seraphical
    Serendipity~noun
  1. The faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident.
  2. The fact or occurrence of such discoveries.
  3. An instance of making such a discovery.
    Sophistry~noun
  1. Plausible but fallacious argumentation. A plausible but misleading or fallacious argument.
    Spoonerism~noun
  1. The transposition of usually initial sounds in a pair of words.
    Some examples:
    * We all know what it is to have a half-warmed fish ["half-formed wish"] inside us.
    * The Lord is a shoving leopard ["loving shepherd"].
    Stygian~adj.
  1. Of or pertaining to the river Styx, the principal river of the underworld in Greek mythology; hence, hellish; infernal.
  2. Dark and dismal.
    Surreptitious~adj.
  1. Obtained, done, or made by clandestine or stealthy means.
  2. Acting with or marked by stealth. See Synonyms at secret.
    Sycophant~noun
  1. A servile self-seeker who attempts to win favor by flattering influential people.
T
    Teleology~noun
  1. The study of design or purpose in natural phenomena.
  2. The use of ultimate purpose or design as a means of explaining phenomena.
  3. Belief in or the perception of purposeful development toward an end, as in nature or history.
    Tergiversation~noun
  1. The act of practicing evasion or of being deliberately ambiguous.
  2. The act of abandoning a party or cause.
    Tophet~noun
  1. An extremely unpleasant or painful condition or place. Hell.
    Torpid~adj.
  1. Deprived of the power of motion or feeling; benumbed. Dormant; hibernating. Lethargic; apathetic
    Tripartite~adj.
  1. Composed of or divided into three parts.
  2. Relating to or executed by three parties: a tripartite agreement.
    Tutelary~noun
  1. Being or serving as a guardian or protector: tutelary gods.
  2. Of or relating to a guardian or guardianship.
U
V
    Verisimilitude~noun
  1. The quality of appearing to be true or real. See Synonyms at truth.
  2. Something that has the appearance of being true or real.
    Vicissitude~noun
  1. A change or variation.
  2. The quality of being changeable; mutability.
  3. One of the sudden or unexpected changes or shifts often encountered in one's life, activities, or surroundings.
    Vis-a-vis~adv./prep./noun
    Prep.
  1. Face to face with; opposite to.
  2. Compared with.
  3. In relation to.
    Adv.
  4. Face to face.
    Noun
  5. One that is face to face with or opposite to another.
  6. A date or an escort, as at a party.
  7. One that has the same functions and characteristics as another; a counterpart.
    Vituperation~noun
  1. The act or an instance of speaking abusively to or about.
  2. Sustained and severely abusive language.
    Vociferous~adj.
  1. Making, given to, or marked by noisy and vehement outcry.
W
    Woebegone~adj.
  1. Beset or overwhelmed with woe; immersed in grief or sorrow; woeful.
  2. Being in a sorry condition; dismal-looking; dilapidated; run-down.
X
Y
Z