UIL Spelling Vocabulary list

1. abapical—from Latin ab (away from) and apex (highest point); Of or pertaining to something at

its lowest point, the part opposite to the apex.

2. ablutions—from Latin ab (away) and luere (to wash); washing or cleansing, (PLURAL ONLY:) a

building housing bathing and toilet facilities on a UK military base.

3. abstemious—from Latin abstemius (abstaining from wine [ab (from) + temetum (intoxicating

drink)]); Sparing in diet or temperate.

4. adipocere—from Latin adeps (fat) and cera (wax); Grave wax, a brown, fatty, waxy substance

appearing on the tissue of dead animals in response to hydrolysis.

5. aiguillette—from Middle French aiguillette (little needle [diminutive of aguille]); A tip on a

ribbon or cord which prevents fraying and makes tying easier, often of metal or plastic.

6. Alamogordo—from Spanish alamo (poplar tree) and gordo (fat); a city in Otero County, New

Mexico, established 1898.

7. alienation—from Latin alienatio (separation; aversion); estrangement or isolation.

8. altocumulus—from Latin alto (high) and cumulus (heaped); Middle-altitude clouds characterized

by globular masses or rolls in layers or patches.

9. amentaceous—from Latin amentum (strap); (botanical) Bearing a catkin (a type of arboreal

flower as on a poplar or willow).

10. amphorae—from Greek ἀμφορεύς (amforeus, ornamental vase); (plural of amphora) Two-

handled jars with narrow necks used to transport wine or oils by the Greeks and Romans.

11. analemma—from Greek ἀνάλημμα (analemma, pedestal of a sundial); An egg-shaped or figure-

eight curve that results when the Sun's position in the sky is plotted out over the year at the

same hour of mean solar time every day.

12. anamnesis – from ἀνάμνησις (anamnesis, remembrance); The ability to recall past events, or,

rhetorically, the mention of the past or recollection of established authors’ quotes from

memory.

13. anemochory—from Greek ἄνεμος (anemos, wind) and χωρέω (khoreo, to move); The dispersal

of seeds or spores by wind.

14. anosmic—from Greek ἀν (an, without) and ὀσμή (osme, smell); lacking a sense of smell.

15. ao dai—from Vietnamese ao (dress, coat, tunic) and dai (long); A two-panelled dress worn by

Vietnamese women.

16. apparatchik—from Russian аппаратчик (apparatchik, operator of a mechanical device);

Historically, a Communist agent or bureaucrat, now used in reference to a politician or

bureaucrat who is blindly loyal.

17. axilla—from Latin axilla (armpit); The armpit.

18. bagasse—from French bagasse (sugarcane residue); The residue from processing sugarcane

after the juice is extracted.

19. ballottement—from French ballottement (rocking); A method of diagnosing pregnancy, in which

the uterus is pushed with a finger to feel whether a foetus is moving inside, alternately, an

increased amount of fluid in the suprapatellar pouch of the knee.

20. bascule—from French basculer (to topple); A seesaw (or, when presented as bascule bridge, a

drawbridge).

21. bathypelagic—from Greek βαθύς (bathys, deep) and πέλαγος (pelagos, sea); Of or pertaining to

the parts of the oceans at depths between 1000 and 4000 metres deep.

22. batik—from Javanese amba (to write) and titik (dot); A wax-resist method of dyeing fabric.

23. bdellium—from Latin bdellium (plats in the genus Commiphora and their resins); An aromatic

gum exuded from trees in the genus Commiphora (used as an adulterant of myrrh).

24. Beauvoir—from French beau (beautiful) and voir (to see); An estate in Biloxi, Mississippi, built

1848, which served as the retirement home of former President of the Confederate States of

America Jefferson Davis.

25. bicephalous—from Latin bis (twice) and Greek κεφαλή (kephale, head); Having two heads.

26. biometeorology—from Greek βίος (bios, life) and μετέωρος (meteoros, lifted high in the air);

The study of the relationship between living organisms and the weather.

27. bissextile—from Latin bis (twice) and sextus (sixth) [due to the fact that in the Roman calendar

as designed by King Numa Pompilius, a leap year had two sixth days before March]; Having an

extra day in the year, of or pertaining to a leap year.

28. bodhisattva—from Sanskrit (bodhi-sattva, the essence of perfect knowledge); A

Buddhist who forgoes his own reaching of nirvana in order to help others find enlightenment, or

the Buddhist concept of enlightened beings existing beyond the ordinary forms of reality as

recognised by scientific thought.

29. bonhomie—from French bon (good) and homme (man); An atmosphere of friendliness, or an

affable, good-natured manner.

30. bossism—from Dutch baas (master of a household) and –ism; An American political system with

control centering about one powerful figure, or boss, and a complex hierarchy of lesser figures,

or the political machine, bound by reciprocity in promoting financial and/or social self-interest.

31. brevetcy—from Latin brevis (short), through Middle English brevet (official letter); The rank or

condition of a brevet officer (one who is entitled to hold a higher rank temporarily, but without

an increase in pay).

32. Buchenwald—from German Buchen (beech trees) and Wald (forest); A German Nazi

concentration camp established on Etter Mountain near Weimar, Germany in 1937.

33. calathus—from Greek καλαθος (kalathos, wicker basket); A vase-shaped basket commonly used

for fruits, also a genus of beetle.

34. calvados—ultimately from Latin calva (bald) and dorsa (backs) [in reference to two smooth

rocks off the French coastline]; An apple brandy from the French region of Lower Normandy.

35. canescent—from Latin canescere (to whiten); Turning white or grey.

36. castanet—from Spanish castañeta (little chestnut); A handheld percussion instrument formed

from a pair of concave shells joined on one side by string.

37. catastasis—from Greek κατάστασις (katastasis, catastasis); The third and penultimate section of

a classical play, leading up to the catastrophe or final scene.

38. celeriac—from Greek σέλινον (selinon, parsley); A variety of celery cultivated for its edible roots,

hypocotyl, and shoots.

39. cenacle—from Latin cena (dinner); A dining room, especially one on an upper floor.

40. cephalic—from Greek κεφαλή (kephale, head); Of or pertaining to the head.

41. Cézanne—name, from the Italian town of Cesana Torinese; A French Post-Impressionist painter

who used planes of colour and small brushstrokes which build up to form complex fields.

42. chanterelle—from Latin cantharus (drinking vessel) through French; An edible yellow trumpet-

shaped mushroom.

43. chthonic—from Greek χθών (khthon, soil); Dwelling within or under the earth.

44. cismontane—from Latin cis (on this side) and mons (mountain); From this side of the

mountains.

45. clinquant—from French clinquer (to clink); Cheaply and garishly glittery, or decorated with

tinsel.

46. coccyx—from Greek κόκκυξ (kokkuks, cuckoo) [so named for the shape of the bone, which bears

a slight resemblance to that of a cuckoo’s beak]; The final fused vertebrae at the base of the

spine.

47. collocation—from Latin collocare (to arrange); The grouping of things, especially words or

sounds.

48. comedogenic—from Latin comedo (blackhead) and Greek γίγνομαι (gignomai, to come into

being); Tending to produce acne.

49. commination—from Latin cum (with) and minari (to threaten); A formal denunciation

threatening divine punishment read out in church on Ash Wednesday.

50. complaisant—from Latin complacere (to please); Willing to do what pleases others.

51. compleat—from Latin complere (to fill up); To finish, or to make whole [archaic spelling of

complete].

52. concrescence—from Latin cum (with) and crescere (to grow); The growing together and merging

of like or unlike separate particles.

53. connubial—from Latin connubium (wedlock); Of or pertaining to the state of being married.

54. contraindicate—from Latin contra (against) and indicare (to point out); To warn against.

55. corban—from Hebrew ָקְרָבן (korban, ritual sacrifice); an offering to God, or a vessel to receive

charitable offerings.

56. cruet—from Old French crue (earthen pot); A small flat-bottomed vessel with a narrow neck

used to hold liquid condiments such as vinegar and oil, also used to hold water and wine for use

during the Eucharist.

57. cumulonimbus—from Latin cumulus (heaped) and nimbus (cloud); A cloud with a tall structure

and a flat base.

58. decumbent—from Latin decumbere (to lie down); A botanical term used to describe plants

which lie on the ground with tips turned upwards.

59. defalcate—from Latin de (off, away) and falx (scythe); To cut off, to deduct (especially money).

60. defeasance—from Latin de (away) and facere (make, do); An annulment of a contract or deed,

or an overthrow or destruction.

61. denizen—from Latin deintus (from within); One who frequents or dwells in a place.

62. dentifrice—from Latin dens (tooth) and facere (make, do); Toothpaste or any other substance

used to clean the teeth.

63. derailleur—from French dérailler (to derail); The mechanism on a bicycle used to move the

chain from one gear to another.

64. desideratum—from Latin desiderare (to desire); Something that is considered desirable or to be

wished for.

65. diatomaceous—from Greek διά (dia, through) and τέμνειν (temnein, to cut) and Latin –aceus (of

a certain kind); Of, pertaining to, or concerning diatoms [minute unicellular algae with siliceous

coverings].

66. dirndl—from Bavarian Dirndl (young woman); a traditional Alpine women’s dress having a tight

bodice and full skirt.

67. doppelganger—from German Doppel (double) and gänger (one who goes); A ghostly double of

a living person, or one with the name name or similar looks to another.

68. dramatis personae—from Latin dramatis (dramatic play) and personae (people); A list of

characters in a play, generally arranged in order of first appearance.

69. drupaceous—from Greek δρῦς (drus, tree) and πέπτειν (peptein, to ripen); Of or pertaining to

drupes [stone fruits, like peaches and nectarines].

70. dubiety—from Latin dubitabilis (doubtful); Doubtfulness, or an instance of uncertainty.

71. dunnage—etymology unknown; Scrap materials used to fill spaces and prevent cargo from

shifting during transport.

72. ecce homo—from Latin ecce (behold) and homo (man); A picture representing Jesus Christ

wearing a crown of thorns as he was given up to the people by Pontius Pilate.

73. ecchymosis—from Greek ἐκχέω (ekkheo, to pour out); Bleeding underneath the skin: a bruise.

74. echolocation—from Greek ἠχή (ekhe, sound) and Latin locus (location); The use of echoes to

detect objects, as bats or dolphins do.

75. effete—from Latin effetus (exhausted from giving birth); Weak, worn-out, powerless,

effeminate.

76. ekistics—from Greek οἶκος (oikos, house or settlement); The scientific study of human

settlements and urban planning.

77. elutriate—from Latin e (out of) and lutriare (to wash); To purify something by straining it.

78. eminent domain—from Latin eminare (to project) and dominus (master); The right of a

government over the lands within its jurisdiction.

79. emolument—from Latin emolumentum (payment to a miller for grinding grain); Compensation

for a job (generally monetary),

80. enervate—from Latin enervare (to weaken); To weaken morally, physically, or mentally.

81. equinoctial—from Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night); Of or pertaining to an equinox.

82. erysipelas—from Greek ἐρυθρός (erythros) and Latin pellis (skin); Severe streptococcal skin

disease marked by continued spreading inflammation.

83. estaminet—from French estaminet (café); A small bar or café.

84. ethereal—from Latin aetherius (of or pertaining to the sky or air); Celestial or otherworldly,

delicate and light.

85. ex nihilo—Latin ex (from) and nihil (nothing); From or out of nothing.

86. Excalibur—from Welsh Caledfwlch (caled [hard] + bwlch [crack]); King Arthur’s legendary sword.

87. exegesis—from Greek ἐξηγέομαι (eksegeomai, to interpret); An explanation of a text (especially

a religious one).

88. exodontics—from Greek ἔξω (ekso, out) and ὀδούς (odous, tooth); The extraction of teeth.

89. exsanguinate—from Latin ex (out) and sanguis (blood); To drain of blood.

90. extemporaneous—from Latin ex (from) and tempus (time); Without preparation or advance

planning.

91. facetiae—from Latin facetiae (humour); Witty or amusing writings or remarks.

92. falcate—from Latin falx (scythe); Resembling a sickle or scythe.

93. farandole—from Occitan farandole (farandole); A lively chain dance in 6/8 time of Provencal

origin.

94. farouche—from Latin forasticus (belonging outside); Sullen, unsociable, or stubborn.

95. fecundity—from Latin fecundus (fruitful); Ability to produce offspring or capacity of offspring

production.

96. femme fatale—from French femme (woman) and fatale (deadly); An attractive and seductive

but ultimately dangerous woman.

97. fieri facias—from Latin fieri (to become) and facere (to make); A writ of execution issued after

judgment obtained in a legal action for debt or damages.

98. fissipalmate—from Latin findere (to split) and palma (palm); Having separate, lobed or partially

webbed toes (usually of birds).

99. fixity—from Latin figere (to fix); The state of being fixed, or something which has been fixed.

100. foudroyant—from French foudroyer (to cause to be thunderstruck); Having an awesome

and overwhelming effect.

101. Fransiscan—after St Francis of Assisi; A monk or nun belonging to the religious order

founded by St Francis.

102. fremitus—from Latin fremitus (a dull roaring sound); A vibration in the body perceptible

either by touch or by listening.

103. fulguration—from Latin fulgur (lightning); The quality of flashing like lightning.

104. gadfly—from Old Norse gaddr (spike) and Anglo-Saxon fleoge (fly); One who irritates

without making any useful contributions or a bloodsucker (one who takes advantage of

another’s generosity)—alternatively, any insect of the family Tabanidae, who sucks the blood of

animals.

105. gegenschein—from German gegen (across, counter) and Schein (shine); A faint

brightening in the night sky directly opposite the Sun on its orbit.

106. gisarme—from French guisarme (gisarme); A pole weapon comprising a spearhead and

a backward-facing hook beside it.

107. gloze—from Greek γλῶσσα (tongue); Deceit, flattery, or, in verb form, to ameliorate or

disguise something’s seriousness.

108. Goidelic—from Old Irish Goidel (Gael, one who speaks Gaelic); A sub-branch of the

Celtic language family comprising Irish, Gaelic, and Manx.

109. gouache—from Italian guazzo (water paint); A type of watercolour paint consisting of

pigment, a binding agent (such as gum Arabic) and inert white material which makes it opaque,

or a painting created using gouache.

110. gracioso—from Spanish gracioso (funny, silly); A buffoon or clown character in Spanish

comedies.

111. grenadier—from Latin pomum granatum (pomegranate [lit. seeded fruit]); A type of

soldier which throws grenades, or any species of African weaverbird.

112. grimalkin—from Old English graez (grey) and the diminutive of the given name Maud;

An elderly female cat, or a bad-tempered old woman.

113. guillemot—from the French given name Guillaume; Any black-and-white seabird

belonging to the genera Uria and Cepphus.

114. gustatory—from Latin gustus (taste); Of or pertaining to the sense of taste.

115. habergeon—from Old French hauberc (a long coat of mail); A sleeveless coat of

chainmail.

116. Haifa—etymology disputed: possibly named for the high priest Caiaphas, or from the

Hebrew word (hof yafe, beautiful shore); The third-largest city in Israel, built on the

slopes of Mount Carmel, and a major seaport on the Bay of Haifa.

117. halophile—from Greek ἅλς (hals, salt) and φίλος (filos, love); An organism that thrives in

an environment of high salinity.

118. haplology—from Greek ἁπλόος (haplos, simple) and λόγος (logos, explanation); The

linguistic process of deleting one of two almost identical syllables within a word.

119. hecatomb—from Greek ἑκατόν (hekaton, hundred) and βοῦς (bous, ox); In Ancient

Greece and Rome, a great feast and sacrifice to the gods of a hundred oxen, or any great

sacrifice.

120. hemialgia—from Greek ἥμισυς (hemisus, half) and ἄλγος (algos, pain); A state of pain

affecting only one side of the body.

121. heresiarch—from Greek ἁιρεσιαρχης (hairesiarkhes, leader of a sect); The founder of a

heresy (a doctrine held at variance with accepted belief).

122. hidalgo—from Spanish hijo de algo (son of something); A member of the Spanish

nobility, especially one with no title.

123. hippodrome—from Greek ἵππος (hippos, horse) and δρόμος (dromos, course); A

horseracing course.

124. hookah—from Arabic قة A pipe with a long flexible tube that draws ;(ħúqqa, jar) ح

smoke through water, generally used for smoking flavoured tobacco.

125. huarache—from Purepecha kwarachi (sandal); A Mexican sandal or a Mexican dish

consisting of salsa, meat, potato or cheese atop a fried masa base shaped like a sandal.

126. hydrarch—from Greek ὕδωρ (hudor, water) and ἀρχή (arkhe, beginning); Originating in

a wet or watery habitat.

127. ichneumon—from Greek ἴχνος (ikhnos, footstep); The Egyptian mongoose or the

ichneumon wasp.

128. ikebana—from Japanese 生 (ikeru, to keep alive) and 花 (hana, flower); Japanese

minimalist flower arrangement which is structurally based on a scalene triangle, with each point

representing heaven, earth, and man, or sun, moon, and earth.

129. imbroglio—from Italian imbrogliare (to tangle); A complicated situation or an

entanglement.

130. immanent—from Latin immanere (to remain within); Integral, naturally part of

something, or something which is restricted to the mind.

131. immolation—from Latin immolare (to sacrifice); The act of immolating, which is to

sacrifice, especially by burning.

132. impetigos—from Latin impetere (to attack); (plural of impetigo) A contagious bacterial

skin disease forming pustules and yellow crusty sores chiefly on the face and hands.

133. impudicity—from Latin impudicus (shameless); Immodesty or shamelessness.

134. in absentia—from Latin in (in) and absentia (absence); Legal term: While not present.

135. in vacuo—from Latin in (in) and vacuum (void); In a partial or full vacuum (environment

devoid of air).

136. innominate—from Latin in (no) and nomen (name); Having no name, anonymous.

137. interminable—from Latin in (without) and terminus (end); Ceaseless, occurring without

interruption or end.

138. ipse dixit—from Latin ipse (himself) and dicere (to say); An unproved position based

solely on the authority of someone who is known to have asserted it.

139. irascible—from Latin irasci (to anger); Irritable, easily provoked to anger.

140. jaconet—from Hindi (jagannāth, former name of the town from which this

material originated); A type of cotton cloth, generally dyed and waterproofed.

141. jaguarondi/jaguarondi—from Old Tupi yawaum’di (jaguarondi); Puma yagouaroundi, a

small wild cat native to Central and South America.

142. jejune—from Latin ieiunus (fasting); Devoid of substance, lacking nutrition.

143. jugate—from Latin iugatus (connected by a yoke); Forming a pair.

144. kaffiyeh—from Arabic ية وف A traditional Middle ;(kufiyyah, from the city of Kufa) ك

Eastern headdress commonly used to provide protection from direct sun exposure and dust/

sand particles in high winds, fashioned from a square, usually cotton scarf and often held in

place by a rope circlet.

145. kakemono—from Japanese 掛け物 (kakemono, hanging scroll); A Japanese scroll

painting or calligraphy mounted usually with silk fabric edges on a flexible backing so that it

might be rolled up for storage.

146. kedge—etymology unknown; A small anchor used for warping a vessel.

147. keratectomy—from Greek κέρας (keras, horn) and ἐκτέμνω (ektemno, to cut out); An

operation that removes part of the cornea.

148. kerygma—from Greek κῆρυγμα (kerugma, preaching); The Apostolic proclamation of

religious truths, especially as stated in the Gospel.

149. kinesthesia—from Greek κινέω (kineo, to move) and αἴσθησις (aisthesis, to percieve);

Sensation or perception of motion.

150. knobkerrie—from Afrikaans Knop (knob) and Khoi-San keeri (stick); A South African

fighting stick with a knob at the end.

151. languet—from French languette (little tongue); A tongue shaped implement, specifically

a flat plate in the pipe of an organ, a flat piece of metal on a sword hilt which overhangs the

scabbard, or a narrow blade on the edge of a spade.

152. lathyrism—from the plant genus Lathyrus; A neurological disease caused by eating

certain legumes (especially the grass pea) of the genus Lathyrus, characterized by paralysis and

emaciation.

153. lavaliere—after Louise Francoise de la Baume le Blanc de La Valliere (Duchesse de La

Valliere, who is thought to have popularized the style); a type of pendant on a chain which is

worn about the neck

154. lazulite—from Arabic د . A blue-tinted semi-precious gemstone ;(lazuward, heaven)الزور

155. leachate—from Old English lǣċe (muddy stream); The liquid produced when water

percolates through any permeable material.

156. leishmaniasis—from the genus Leishmania; Any of various ulcerative skin diseases

caused by protozoans of the genus Leishmania.

157. lemniscus—from Latin lemniscus (a hanging ribbon); One of two bodies hanging from

the interior walls of the body in the Acanthocephala (an intestinal worm).

158. leveret—from Latin lepus (hare); A young hare.

159. lexicography—from Greek λέξις (lexis, word) and γράφω (grafo, to write); The art of

compiling, writing, and editing dictionaries, or analysing and describing the semantic,

syntagmatic, and paradigmatic relationships of a language’s vocabulary.

160. Liechtenstein—from German Licht (light) and Stein (stone); A principality in the

European Alps.

161. limicoline—from Latin limus (mud); Shore-dwelling (especially birds).

162. limicolous—from Latin limus (mud); Dwelling in mud.

163. lineolate—from Latin lineola (little line); Marked with small or fine lines.

164. lingua franca—from Latin lingua (tongue, language) and franca (French); A common

language used by people of varying backgrounds to communicate with one another, often a very

basic language with simplified grammar.

165. lobectomy—from Greek λοβός (lobos, lobe) and ἐκτέμνω (ektemno, to cut out); The

surgical removal of a lobe from an organ such as the lung or liver.

166. lobscouse—etymology unknown; A dish of meat stewed with vegetables and ship

biscuit.

167. locum tenens—from Latin locus (place) and tenens (holding); A professional person who

temporarily fulfills the duties of another.

168. lycanthropy—from Greek λύκος (lykos, wolf) and άνθρωπος (anthropos, man); The act

of shapeshifting between the form of a human being and an animal (generally a wolf) or the

delusion that one is able to do this.

169. macaque—from Bantu ma- (some) and kaku (monkeys); Any monkey of the genus

Macaca.

170. machicolate—from Old Provencal macar (to crush) and col (neck); To furnish something

(especially a fortress) with machicolations, or openings from which to shoot or drop missiles or

burning/melted substances

171. maelstrom—from Dutch malen (to whirl) and stroom (stream); A large and violent

whirlpool or a similarly turbulent situation.

172. Magnificat—from Latin magnificare (to glorify); The liturgical canticle, or hymn, of the

Virgin Mary, sung in Christian churches.

173. magnum opus—from Latin magnus (great) and opus (work); A masterpiece, or the most

renowned achievement of an artist.

174. maieutic—from Greek μαιεύομαι (maieuomai, to serve as a midwife); Serving to assist

childbirth or, more figuratively, Socratic (bringing forth answers by questioning)

175. mal de mer—from French mal (pain) and de (of) and mer (sea); Seasickness.

176. malapropos—from French mal (bad) and a propos (appropriate); Inappropriate, out of

place.

177. maleficent—from Latin male (bad) and facere (to make); Evil in intent or effect.

178. malodor—from Latin male (bad) and odor (smell); A bad smell.

179. mandrill—etymology unknown; A primate, Mandrillus sphinx.

180. maquette—from Latin maculare (to stain); A preliminary sketch used in preparation for

sculpting a statue.

181. maquiladora—from Spanish maquila (miller’s price); An assembly plant in Mexico near

the US border.

182. masseter—from Greek μασᾶσθαι (masasthai, to chew); The large muscle beneath the

jaw, which helps to chew.

183. matin—from Latin matutinum (morning); Morning, or pertaining to morning prayers.

184. mecopteran—from the order Mecoptera; Any carnivorous insects in the order

Mecoptera.

185. megalomania—from Greek μέγας (megas, large) and μανία (mania, madness); An

obsession with grandiose things or actions, or a psychological condition associated with

delusions of importance, wealth, or grandeur.

186. Mescalero—from the Mescalero tribe’s association with the mescal agave (Agave

parryi); A Native American tribe, originally found in the territory ranging from the Rio Grande to

the Llano Estacado, or their language.

187. mesomorph—from Greek μέσος (mesos, middle) and μορφή (morfe, shape); A person

with pronounced muscular development and low body fat.

188. mezzotint—from Italian mezzo (half) and tinto (tint); A form of intaglio etching in which

a metal plate is roughened evenly and then smoothened in order to make an image, or a print or

etching made in this fashion.

189. miasma—from Greek μίασμα (miasma, pollution); A noxious atmosphere or influence.

190. minaudière—from French minaudier (coquettish); A woman who is exaggeratedly

coquettish or affected, or a type of formal women’s clutch handbag lacking handles or a strap.

191. minuend—from Latin minuere (to diminish); A number from which another is to be

subtracted.

192. mirabile dictu—from Latin mirabilis (miraculous) and dicere (to speak); ‘It’s a miracle!’,

amazingly.

193. misology—from Greek μισέω (miseo, to hate) and λόγος (logos, explanation); Hatred or

fear of reasoning or argument.

194. mithridate—named for its inventor, Mithradetes VI, King of Pontus; A semi-mythical

universal antidote against poison.

195. mobocratic—from Latin mobile vulgus (unruly crowd) and Greek κράτος (kratos, rule);

Pertaining to rule by the mob or by a mass of ordinary people.

196. mojarra—from Spanish mojarra (cichlid); A family of fishes in the order Perciformes,

found in the Caribbean and South America, and often used as bait.

197. monochasium—from Greek μόνος (monos, solitary) and χάσις (khasis, separation); A

type of cyme (flower cluster) on which each single axis bears one flower.

198. monocoque—from Greek μόνος (monos, solitary) and Latin concha (shell); A structure

design in which the frame and body are built as a single integrated structure.

199. monotreme—from Greek μόνος (monos, solitary) and τρῆμα (trema, aperture); A

mammal that lays eggs and has a single urogenital and digestive orifice.

200. muezzin—from Arabic مؤذن (mu’áḏḏin, announcer of prayer); The person who issues the

call to prayer from one of the minarets of an Islamic mosque.

201. mujahidin—from Arabic مجاهد (mujahid, freedom fighter); (plural) Muslim holy warriors

engaged in a jihad.

202. mulligatawny—from Tamil (milagu thanni, pepper water); An

Indian soup having a meat base and curry seasoning.

203. mythomania—from Greek μῦθος (mythos, story) and μανία (mania, madness); A

compulsion to tell lies and exaggerate the truth, pathological lying.

204. narcoanalysis—from Greek ναρκόω (narcoo, to numb) and ἀνάλυσις (analysis, analysis);

A form of psychotherapy in which the patient is administered drugs in order to attain a sleeplike

state.

205. nidicolous—from Latin nidus (nest); Of animals, tending to remain in the nest or at the

birthplace for a while, due to dependence on parents for food and protection.

206. nidifugous—from Latin nidus (nest) and fugere (to flee); Of birds, leaving the nest

shortly after hatching.

207. nihil obstat—from Latin nihil (nothing) and obstare (to hinder); Nothing hinders.

208. nisus—from Latin nisus (exertion); A mental or physical effort to achieve a goal.

209. noetic—from Greek νοέω (noeo, to perceive); Of or pertaining to the mind or intellect,

or originating in reason.

210. nonagenarian—from Latin nonagenarius (one who has reached 90 years of age); One

whose age is between 90 and 99.

211. noria—from Classical Syriac ܥܘܪܬܐ A water wheel with ;(na’orta, water wheel) ܢ

attached buckets, used to raise and deposit water.

212. nystagmus—from Greek νυστάζω (nystazo, to feel tired); Rapid lateral involuntary eye

movement.

213. ochlocracy—from Greek ὄχλος (okhlos, crowd) and κράτος (kratos, rule); Government

by the masses, a mobocracy.

214. Oglala—from Lakota oglala (to scatter one’s own); One of the seven subtribes of the

Lakota people.

215. omphalos—from Greek ὀμφαλός (omfalos, navel); A sacred stone denoting the centre

of the world.

216. oneiric—from Greek ὄνειρος (oneiros, dream); Dreamlike, of or pertaining to dreams.

217. oriflamme—from Latin aurum (gold) and flamma (flame); Historically, the red silk

banner of St Denis, now any idea, symbol, or principle which serves as a rallying point for those

involved in a struggle.

218. orology—from Greek ὄρος (oros, mountain) and λόγος (logos, explanation); The study

of mountains and their formation.

219. osteoblast—from Greek ὀστέον (osteon, bone) and βλαστός (blastos, sprout); A

mononucleate cell from which bone develops.

220. osteopathy—from Greek ὀστέον (osteon, bone) and πάθος (pathos, to suffer); The

branch of medical therapy based on manipulation of bones and muscles.

221. pachinko—from Japaneseパチンコ (pachinko, little ‘chink’ sound); A mechanical

Japanese arcade game similar to pinball, where multiple balls must be captured in order to

exchange them for prizes.

222. paillard—named for its inventor, Mr Paillard, a 19th century chef; A slice of meat

pounded thin and grilled.

223. panjandrum—coined by Samuel Foote in the 18th century; An important )or simply

pretentious) person, or, during World War II, A massive, rocket-propelled, explosives-laden cart

designed by the British military.

224. papillon—from French papillon (butterfly); A breed of small dog with large ears.

225. paranoiac—from παρά (para, beyond) and νόος (noos, mind); One who is paranoid or

extremely, irrationally distrustful of others with feelings of persecution.

226. parapraxis—from παρά (para, beyond) and πρᾶξις (praxis, action); A mistake which

reveals a concealed thought or motive, like a Freudian slip.

227. paregoric—from Greek παρηγορειν (paregorein, to soothe); A painkiller.

228. Parnassian—from the Greek mountain Παρνασσός (Parnassos), home of the Muses;

Relating to Mount Parnassus, or to Parnassus as the source of literary inspiration, or relating to

the French Parnassianism literary movement 1850-1900, or, as a noun, a poet, or specifically a

poet of the Parnassianist movement, or an apollo butterfly of the genus Parnassius.

229. parthenocarpy—from Greek παρθένος (parthenos, virgin); production of seedless fruit

without fertilization of ovules.

230. patroclinous—from Latin pater (father) and clinare (to bend); Having mostly

characteristics inherited from the father.

231. penurious—from Latin penuria (scarcity); Impoverished, or scarce, or miserly.

232. percipient—from Latin percipere (to perceive); Having the ability to perceive quickly, or

perceiving events only in the moment, without reflecting upon their significance.

233. perfidious—from Latin perfidia (treachery); Disloyal to what should command

allegiance.

234. personalia—from Latin persona (person); All the personal belongings, writings, and/or

information of an individual.

235. perspicuous—from Latin perspicere (to see through); Easy to understand, with all steps

of reasoning clearly laid out, or transparent.

236. philately—from Greek φίλος (filos, love) and ἀτέλεια (ateleia, without tax); Stamp

collecting, or the study of postage stamps.

237. picaroon—from Spanish picaro (rogue); A pirate or pirate ship, or a rogue.

238. pisciculture—from Latin piscis (fish) and cultura (cultivation); The rearing of fish.

239. plagiarism—from Latin plagiarius (kidnapper); The act of copying another’s work or

ideas and presenting them as one’s own, or the work resulting from this act.

240. plasminogen—from Greek πλάσμα (plasma, something formed) and γένεσις (genesis,

origin); A zymogen (or enzyme precursor) to plasmin (the enzyme which dissolves the fibrin in

blood clots).

241. poco a poco—from Italian poco (a little); Little by little, or gradually (especially as a

musical pace)

242. poetaster—from Latin poeta (poet) and aster (incomplete); An unskilled poet.

243. polonaise—from French polonaise (from Poland); A stately Polish dance in triple time

and moderate tempo, or the music which goes with this dance, or a dress popular from 1770-

1790 consisting of a gown with a draped and swagged overskirt worn over a petticoat.

244. pomposity—from Greek πομπή (pompe, a solemn procession); Self-importance.

245. pontificate—from Latin pons (bridge) and facere (to make); To speak in a patronizing

manner, or to express one’s opinions as if they were absolutely correct, or to preside as a bishop

at mass, or the term of office of a pontiff (the Pope).

246. portamento—from Italian portare (to carry); In music, a smooth, gliding transition from

one note to another, especially with stringed instruments.

247. potsherd—from Old English pott (a pot) and sceard (shard); a A piece of ceramic from

pottery, often as archaeological material.

248. praenomen—from Latin prius (first) and nomen (name); A first name, in ancient Rome.

249. prelapsarian—from Latin pre (before) and lapsus (fall); Of or pertaining to the period

before the Fall of Man (in Judeo-Christian myth, the eating of the fruit from the Tree of

Knowledge by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden).

250. presidios—from Latin praesidium (garrison); (plural) A garrisoned place, especially one

under or having been under Spanish control.

251. prie-dieu—from French prier (to pray) and Dieu (God); A type of prayer desk with a thin,

sloping shelf for books or to rest one’s hands and a cushioned pad upon which to kneel.

252. prima facie—from Latin primus (first) and facies (face); At first appearance, or, in law,

not needing proof unless evidence to the contrary is shown.

253. propaedeutic—from Greek προπαιδεύω (propaideuo, to give preparatory instruction);

Proving preparatory or introductory teaching.

254. propitious—from Latin propitius (kind); Benevolent, or favourably disposed toward

someone.

255. protanopia—from Greek πρῶτον (proton, first) and ὀπτικός (optikos, seeing); A form of

colour blindness in which one cannot distinguish between red and green.

256. psittacosis—from Latin psittacus (parrot); An infection by Chlamydia bacteria, caught

from infected birds, and characterized by pneumonia, fever, and headaches.

257. psychogenesis—from Greek ψυχή (psykhe, soul) and γένεσις (genesis, origin); The origin

and development of psychological processes such as personality and behaviour, or the

development of a physical disorder from a psychological factor.

258. pulsatile—from Latin pulsare (to strike repeatedly); Pulsating, or characterized by

pulses.

259. pulverulent—from Latin pulvis (powder); Consisting of, covered with, or disintegrating

into a fine powder, or dusty.

260. quadrumvirate—from Latin quattuor (four) and vir (man); A group of four men,

especially joined in authority.

261. quaggy—from Old English cwabba (to tremble like something flabby); Marshy, flabby.

262. Quechuan—from Quechua kichwa (temperate valley); Of or pertaining to the Quechua

people or language.

263. quiescent—from Latin quiescere (to keep quiet and abstain from action); Of a letter:

silent or not sounded, of an animal or object: Inactive or at rest.

264. quodlibet—from Latin quod (what) and libet (it is pleasing); A form of music with

melodies in counterpoint, or a form of trompe l’oeil art which realistically renders domestic

items, or a mode of philosophical debate popular in the Middle Ages, in which any question

could be posed extemporaneously.

265. Rachmaninoff—from Russian а а и (Rakhmaninov); Sergei Vasilievich

Rachmaninoff (1873-1943), a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor.

266. rapprochement—from French rapprocher (to approach); A reconciliation, especially

between two countires.

267. rasorial—from the order Rasores (now obsolete); Scratching the ground for food, as

chickens and other domestic fowl do.

268. rebarbative—from Middle French rebarber (to oppose); Irritating, repellent.

269. rebus—from Latin res (thing); A kind of word puzzle using pictures to represent words or

parts of words.

270. recidivous—from Latin recidere (to fall back); Recurring (especially of disease) or, of a

person, prone to relapse into immoral or antisocial behaviour.

271. red herring—coined by William Cobbet circa 1805; A clue or information which is or is

intended to be misleading (or originally, a smoke-cured and salt-brined herring).

272. refection—from Latin reficere (to restore); Mental, spiritual, or physical refreshment, or

a light meal intended to refresh one from hunger.

273. refulgent—from Latin fulgere (to shine); Shining brightly and radiantly, or looking as if

giving off light or warmth

274. relume—from Latin lumen (light); To rekindle, to light (especially when lighting again).

275. reticent—from Latin tacere (to keep silent); Keeping one’s opinions to oneself, reserved.

276. retrovirus—from Latin retro- (reverse) and virus (venom); A virus with a genome

consisting of RNA.

277. revenant—from French revenir (to return); Someone who returns from a long absence,

or a person or thing reborn, or a zombie, or a ghost.

278. revetment—from French revêtir (to clothe); A layer of hard material (such as concrete

or stone) supporting the side of an embankment, or an armoured building which protects

against bombs.

279. rhizanthous—from Greek ριζομα (rizoma, mass of roots) and ἄνθος (anthos, flower);

Producing flowers from a rootstock.

280. rhodolite—etymology unknown; A purplish-red garnet.

281. rose acacia—rose: from Greek ῥόδον (rhodon, rose) and ἀκή (ake, point); A shrub,

Robinia hispida, of the southeast United States, with bristly branches and clusters of pale purple

or pinkish flowers.

282. roux—from Latin russus (red); A substance used to thicken soups, sauces, and stews,

created by cooking wheat flour and fat (usually butter).

283. rupicolous—from Latin rupes (cliff) and colere (to inhabit); Growing or dwelling on or

amongst rocks.

284. Rwandan—from Kinyarwanda rwanda (area occupied by a swarm); A person from the

nation of Rwanda (in Africa), or the language Kinyarwanda, or as an adjective, of or pertaining to

the nation of Rwanda or its people, culture, or language.

285. Saarland—from German Saar (ash tree) and Land (land); One of Germany’s sixteen

federal states.

286. sagamore—from Mi’kmaq saqamaw (chief); A Native American chief, especially of

Algonquin tribes.

287. salmagundi—from French salmigondis (seasoned salt-meats); Originally, a dish

consisting of chopped meat and pickled herring, with oil, vinegar, and onions, now any mixture

of various ingredients or a miscellany.

288. sanative—from Latin sanare (to save); That which cures or restores, curative.

289. sauropod—from Greek σαυρος (sauros, lizard) and πούς (pous, foot); A member of the

order Sauropoda (an infraorder of lizard-hipped dinosaurs with long necks, long tails, small

heads, and thick legs).

290. schipperke—from Dutch schipper (skipper); A small breed of dog developed in Belgium,

sometimes used as a watchdog on small boats.

291. scorpiod—from Greek σκορπίος (skorpios, scorpion) and εἶδος (eidos, form); Of,

pertaining to, or resembling a scorpion.

292. scrimshander—etymology unknown; The manufacture of handmade crafts (especially

as whittles from wood or bone) by sailors on long voyages.

293. sedulous—from Latin sedulus (diligent); Steadily industrious, persevering in one’s

pursuits

294. serigraphy—from Latin sericus (Chinese silk) and Greek γράφω (grafo, to write); Silk-

screen printing.

295. sesterce—from Latin sestertius (two and a half); An ancient Roman coin made of bronze

or silver, equaling one quarter of a denarius

296. Shakti—from Sanskrit (śakti, power); The Hindu concept or personification of the

divine feminine aspect, the Divine Mother, which represents the active, dynamic principles of

feminine power.

297. siccative—from Latin siccatus (dried out); Drier, a catalyst used to promote drying.

298. sinfonietta—from Italian sinfonia (symphony); A small orchestra or a small-scale

symphony (either in length or in size of the orchestra required).

299. slattern—from English slatter (to be careless or wasteful); A sexually promiscuous or

untidy woman.

300. soave—from Latin suavis (sweet); Italian adjective meaning gentle or sweet.

301. sobriquet—from French soubriquet (a chuck under the chin); A nickname.

302. sortilege—from Latin sortilegus (sorcerer); Witchcraft or magic, especially as a means of

divination or making decisions.

303. sthenia—from Greek σθένος (sthenos, strength); Vigour, vitality, or strength.

304. strafe—from German strafen (to punish); To attack ground targets with automatic

gunfire from a low-flying aircraft, or, in video games, to move sideways without turning.

305. stridulate—from Latin stridere (to make a shrill sound); To make a high-pitched chirping

or hissing sound, as male crickets and grasshoppers do by rubbing certain body parts together.

306. strontium—named for the Scottish town of Strontian; A metallic chemical element with

the atomic number 38.

307. subito—from Latin subito (suddenly); In music, suddenly.

308. sudatorium—from Latin sudare (to sweat); A hot room used to induce sweating.

309. sycophant—from σῦκον (sukon, fig) + φαίνω (phainō, I show, demonstrate [the gesture

of ‘showing the fig’ was a vulgar one, which was made by sticking the thumb between two

fingers, a display which vaguely resembles a fig, which is itself symbolic of a σῦκον (sukon),

which also meant vulva. The story behind this etymology is that politicians in ancient Greece

steered clear of displaying that vulgar gesture, but secretly urged their followers to taunt their

opponents by using it.]); One who uses compliments to gain self-serving favour from another.

310. tamarind—from Arabic مر A tropical tree, Tamarindus ;(tamr hindi, tamarind) هندي ت

indica, and its fruit.

311. tarradiddle/taradiddle—from English duddle (to deceive); A trivial lie, or silly

talk/writing.

312. Tecumseh—from Shawnee Tekoomse (panther across the sky); A Native American

leader of the Shawnee who opposed the United States during Tecumseh’s War and the War of

1812.

313. tenebrific—from Latin tenebrae (darkness); Gloomy or obscure.

314. tetramerous—from Greek τέσσαρες (tessares, four) and μέρος (meros, part); In four

parts, or, in a flower, each whorl of flower parts has four flower parts.

315. thaumaturge—from Greek θαῦμα (thauma, a marvel) and ἔργον (ergon, action); A

performer of miracles, or a magician.

316. thrasonical—from Greek θρασυς (thrasus, spirited); Boastful.

317. thyrsus—from Greek θύρσος (thursos, a wand carried by followers of Dionysus,

wrapped in ivy and vine leaves with a pinecone at the top); A staff topped with a conical

ornament, or a type of inflorescence with many flowers each attached to a central axis by a

small stem, obscuring the axis itself with their petals.

318. titivate—from Old English tid (time); To make small improvements, to add finishing

touches.

319. tocsin—from Provencal tocar (to strike) and senh (bell); An bell used to sound an alarm.

320. traducianism—from Latin tradux (a plant’s aerial root/shoot for propagation); The

doctrine that the soul is inherited from one or both parents.

321. transcendentalism—from Latin transcendere (to climb over); A religious and

philosophical movement developed during the late 1820s and 1830s in the eastern United

States as a protest against organized religion and political parties, and stressing the inherent

goodness of people and nature.

322. transhumance—from Latin trans (across) and humus (ground); The moving of cattle or

other grazing animals to new pastures according to the change in season.

323. trochaic—from Greek τροχός (trokhos, wheel); Referring to poetry composed of

trochees, one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed syllable.

324. tuatara—from Maori tuatara (peaks on the back); A reptile, Sphenodon punctatus

endemic to New Zealand.

325. twaddle—etymology unknown; Empty or idle talk, or nonsense.

326. umbonate—from Latin umbo (projection, protuberance); Of a mushroom, having a

rounded protuberance or bump in its cap.

327. uninucleate—from Latin unus (one) and nucleus (core); Having a single nucleus.

328. unpropitious—from Latin propitius (kind); Unfavourable, untimely.

329. Ursa Minor—from Latin ursus (bear) and minor (smaller); A circumpolar constellation of

the northern sky, including the pole star Polaris.

330. usufruct—from Latin usus (use) and fructus (enjoyment); The legal right to profit or

otherwise benefit from property that belongs to another person, as long as it is not damaged.

331. utopian/Utopian—from Greek οὐ (ou, not) and τόπος (topos, place); Of, pertaining to,

or reselmbling a utopia (a world in which everything works in perfect harmony), or idealistic but

impractical.

332. veinstone—from Latin vena (vein) and Old English stan (stone); The earthy waste

substances occurring in metallic ore.

333. veracious—from Latin verus (true); Truthful.

334. vibrissa—from Latin vibrare (to shake); Any of the tactile whiskers on the face of an

animal (like a cat), or similar feathers near the mouths of birds.

335. viraginous—from Latin virago (a female warrior); Resembling an Amazon, a woman with

great bravery or stature, or resembling an overbearing woman.

336. voir dire—from Anglo-Norman voir (truth) and dire (to speak); The preliminary phase of

a jury trial in which the jurors are examined and selected, or a preliminary hearing without a jury

in order to determine whether the evidence meets the test for admissibility to go to a full

hearing at a criminal trial.

337. voussoir—from Latin volvere (to turn); One of a series of wedge-shaped blocks forming

an arch or vault.

338. waff—from Scots waff (etymology uncertain); To move to and fro.

339. wainwright—from Old English wægn (wagon) and wyrhta (creator); A person who

builds and repairs wagons.

340. wentletrap—from Dutch wentelen (to turn) and trap (staircase); Any elegant, usually

white marine shells of the genus Scalaria, especially Scalaria pretiosa.

341. widget—coined by George S Kaufman circa 1924; A placeholder name for an unspecified

or hypothetical manufactured product, or a portable code which can be easily installed and

executed by an end user, or a floating device inside a beer can, meant to create foam when the

can is opened, or a small scraping tool consisting of a blade and a handle, commonly used to

scrape paint from glass and other smooth surfaces.

342. Xanadu—from Mandarin Chinese 上都 (Shàngdū, higher capital); The capital of Kublai

Khan’s Yuan Dynasty in China before the capital was moved to what is now Beijing.

343. Xenophanes—from Greek ξένος (ksenos, foreign) and φαίνω (faino, to appear);

Xenophanes of Colophon (c. 570 – c. 475 BCE) , a Greek philosopher, poet, theologian, and

social/ religious critic.

344. xerosere—from Greek ξηρός (kseros, dry) and Latin serere (to sow, to beget); A plant

succession in extremely dry environments.

345. Yurok—from Karuk yurúkvaarar (downriver people); A Native American tribe which lives

in northwestern California near the Klamath River and the Pacific coast, or the language spoken

by the Yurok people.

346. zastruga—from Russian заструга (zastruga, snow ridge); Any of a series of long,

wavelike ridges or grooves formed on a snow surface by wind, especially in polar plains.

347. Zeitgeist—from German Zeit (time) and Geist (spirit); The spirit of the age (the taste,

outlook, and spirit characteristic of a period).

348. zinnia—named for the botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn circa 1767; Any of several brightly

coloured flowering plants of the genus Zinnia.

349. zwieback—from zwie (twice) and backen (to bake); A sweetened bread enriched with

eggs which is baked and then sliced and toasted until dry and crisp, generally used as a teething

food for young children.

350. zyzzyva—coined by Thomas Casey circa 1922, a tropical American weevil of the genus

Zyzzyva.