Rose Swan's Party House

Beautiful Words <3

Vignette: a sketch, brief literary or visual event, description, tableau

 Ethereal: heavenly, airy in substance, spectral, insubstantial and light

 Loquacious: characterized by talking, talking freely or too much, excessively talkative

 Salient: prominent or conspicuous, most important

 Balustrade: architectural term, series of balusters or parapet

 Lustrous: having noticeable or vivid luster and sheen

 Chauffeur: a designated paid driver for formal occasions

 Penumbra: partial shadow, space of partial illumination, limits of a shadow

 Selenian: designating, relating to, pertaining to, or of the moon

 Escarole: type of green chicory

 Amethyst: deep purple, deep purple gemstone

 Scilicet: to wit, that is, namely

 Berceuse: lullaby, song used to put someone to sleep

 Susurrus: a whisper, something which resembles a whisper

 Vista: view, prospect, perspective, spectrum of peripheral boundaries

 Aestival: pertaining to, relating, designating, or of Summer

 Tranquility: peace, serenity, calmness, relaxation

 Alluvium: unconsolidated sediments carried by water

 Ensconce: establish or settle in a safe, secure, or comfy place

 Astral: of or pertaining to the aster, stellar, star-shaped, pertaining to the stars

 Chantpleure: to cry while singing, to cry and sing simultaneously

 Vesuviate: to erupt, explode, fulminate

 Effusive: gushing out or expressive, moving, cascading

 Bezaleel: shadow of God, God’s shadow

 Delenda: that which needs to be deleted, something that has been deleted

 Obsequious: fawning, sycophantic, servile

 Civility: formal or perfunctory politeness, state of being civil

 Immure: to enclose with walls, ensconce

 Resplendent: sublime, full of color, dazzling, splendid

 Silhouette: picture as an outline, often a human profile, filled in by a solid color

 Cynophilist: dog-lover, one who loves or appreciates dogs

 Pristine: in primordial condition, untouched, belonging to the earliest period or state

 Taciturn: reticent, quiet, not talkative, insouciant

 Icicle: a sliver of tapered, frozen water, usually hanging

 Meretricious: drawing attention in a vulgar manner, gaudy, tawdry, superficially attractive

 Chatoyant: like or resembling a cat’s eye

 Reverie: an idle daydream, a thought of idle desire, a surrendering to imagination

 Tacenda: things to not be mentioned or things to be passed over in silence

 Violin: stringed instrument played with a bow

 Sequacious: pertaining to sequence or order, following

 Celesta: ancient musical instrument

 Redolent: piquant, aromatic, or memory-invoking

 Evocative: that which evokes, something that reminds, inspires, or impresses

 Aeviternal: eternal, endless, never-ending

 Celeripedean: quick-footed, swift, fast-running

 Effluvium: foul discharge or emanation, emission

 Ailurophile: cat-lover, one who loves or appreciates cats

 Soliloquy: dramatic monologue, intense speech with exposition but not addressed

 Velleity: flimsy wish or desire, perfunctory hope or dream

 Citadel: bulwark, a fortress or stronghold, refuge

 Lagniappe: gift for extended patronage, gift or compensation for valued customers

 Escalade: the act of scaling a wall, usually with a ladder or rope

 Niveous: snowy or resembling snow, like, of, relating to, or made of snow

 Veracity: truth, state of being true, trueness

 Exuviate: to shed a shell, molt, unsheathe

 Zyzzyva: a type of weevil

 Cislunar: of or relating to the space between earth and the moon or the moon’s orbit

 Acquiesce: to passively accept, to accept, comply, or submit tacitly or passively

 Glyph: a sigil or specific insignia, a letter of language, an arcane mark

 Wyvern: type of dragon, typically without legs

 Vernal: pertaining to spring

 Autumnal: pertaining to, like, relating, or evocative of Autumn

 Demure: shy, modest, reserved in demeanor or behavior, having sedate reserve or sobriety

 Lilt: cadence of voice, rhythm of language or sentences, good vocal or musical structure

 Celadon: pale green

 Vacillate: to waver between actions or decisions, to hesitate

 Epiphany: revelation of thought, typically conceived after an eventful experience

 Valance: an ornamental drapery hung across a top edge, as of a bed, table, or canopy

 Effervesce: to bubble over, to boil with frothy bubbles, to excite

 Scintilla: an infinitesimal item or mote, tiny thing

 Deliquesce: to dissolve, transform into liquid from a solid

 Aphelion: when the orbit of earth is furthest from the sun

 Eidolon: ghost, specter, revenant, reappearing, continuously visiting or persisting image

 Halcyon: legendary kingfisher, tranquil, calm, without strife, serene

 Terpsichorean: pertaining, relating to, or referring to dancing or the art thereof

 Emulsify: to pour liquid into another non-soluble, creating visible density

 Chiaroscuro: composition of strong contrasts in light and dark

 Tintinnabulation: ringing or sounding of bells, the sound of bells

 Fuchsia: bright pinkish-purple

 Peccadillo: insignificant sin or wrongdoing, trifling fault

 Rhapsody: impassioned, inspired, or vibrant literature or music

 Coalesce: to fuse, intersect, or entwine to create a unity

 Novitiate: novice, the living place of a novice, the state of being a novice, neophyte

 Amaranth: deep-hued purple, flower, metaphor for immortality

 Lexiphanes: pretentious word user, bombastic or magniloquent person

 Ephebe: young man, swain, young suitor

 Asphodel: flower of the underworld

 Syzygy: alignment or unity of specific objects, notably in space or literature

 Ratatouille: French dish, vegetable stew

 Odalisque: female servant, female servant in a harem

 Aquiline: resembling an eagle’s beak, hooked like a beak

 Lacuna: omission or empty space, gap in chronology

 Nullibicity: state of non-existence, quality or state of being nowhere

 Oeuvre: the corpus of an author, canon, or a collective symposium

 Solstice: one of two times in the year when the sun is furthest from the equator

 Psithurisma: whisper, sound of wind through the trees, sound of wind-rustled leaves

 Myriad: multitude, litany, an amount of, usually large, collection in large numbers

 Tolutiloquent: speech characterized by rapidity

 Sorcerer: practitioner of sorcery, wizard, warlock, magician

 Elation: quality or state of being elated, feeling or state of great joy or pride

 Delineate: to describe, explain, or demonstrate

 Boulevard: broad street, avenue, broad spectrum of something

 Schadenfreude: satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else’s misfortune, sadism

 Cumulonimbus: type of cloud that augurs, foretells, or indicates bad weather

 Noctilucence: cloud phenomenon typified by lights at night, visible or glowing at night

 Adumbrate: to explain faintly or opaquely outline, describe

 Chevelure: head of hair, hair on the head, tresses, a nebulous envelop(as around a comet)

 Seraphim: pl. six-winged angel

 Largesse: the generous giving of gifts, a generous or courteous gift, charitable donation

 Etude: a piece of music designed for didactic purposes

 Cadenza: musical or literary improvisation

 Selcouth: unusual, rare, unique, or strange

 Tessellation: tile pattern sans gaps or extraneous spaces, mathematical pattern

 Videlicet: to wit, that is, namely

 Marasmus: protein deficiency, state of emaciation

 Sempiternal: eternal, endless, lasting forever, ceaseless

 Cistern: an underground reservoir

 Rimulose: characterized by or having small chinks, fissures, or cracks

 Vicissitudes: changes of circumstances of fortune

 Stasis: equilibrium causing a peaceful inactivity via equal opposing forces

 Mythopoeic: pertaining to the making of myths

 Inure: to take effect, or to accustom to something, typically unpleasant

 Risorgimento: a time of renewal or renaissance, revival

 Marcescent: flower term, withering, but not falling off

 Viola: like a violin, but with a lower pitch

 Peccavi: admission of guilt, confession

 Zitella: maiden, unmarried woman, bachelorette

 Nepenthe: drug of forgetfulness, anti-depression drug, remedy for sorrow

 Famulus: sorcerer’s apprentice or assistant

 Crescendo: music, gradual increase of tempo, volume, or intensity

 Evanescent: brief, transient, ephemeral

 Demesne: a lord’s privately owned manor or section of land

 Kaleidoscope: optical item that utilizes mirrors to create interior symmetrical visions

 Pastiche: literary patchwork, hodgepodge, collision of genres used to create a new item

 Banderilla: decorated dart that is shot into the neck of the bull during a bull fight

 Cinquefoil: five-leaved, plant with limbs that are five-leaved, five-pointed leaves

 Daedalian: intelligent, crafty, deft, practical, pertaining to Daedalus

 Lixiviation: act of separating soluble from insoluble substances via water or solvent

 Pasquinade: public farce, satire, or lampoon

 Oubliette: dungeon with only opening at the top

 Clavilux: machine that generates light via music

 Lapis Lazuli: gemstone of intense blue

 Esprit: brio, wit, vivacity, joie de vivre

 Daphnean: shy, timid, demure, modest, bashful

 Absinthe: wormwood liquor of a bright-green color

 Convalesce: to recover or recuperate, recover from a serious injury

 Sapphire: bright blue, valuable gemstone of a bright yet deep blue

 Arabesque: ballet twirl, type of artistry involving a continuous, rotating design

 Caesious: blue-gray

 Isosceles: having two equal sides, of a triangle

 Linoleum: type of floor covering

 Sisyphean: pertaining to or involving endless labor, pertaining to Sisyphus

 Amulet: a charm against evil or impurity, often a piece of jewelry

 Ophidian: snake-like, like, shaped like, or relating to snakes

 Hyacinth: tropical, American herb, red, transparent variety of zircon used as a gemstone

 Lullaby: song or tune devised to lull something to sleep

 Coelacanth: prehistoric fish still alive today

 Labyrinth: maze, puzzling complex or circuitous plan

 Quaquaversal: directed outward from a common center to all points, omnidirectional

 Scialytic: dispersing shadows, typically with light

 Cerulean: watery blue

 Lilliputian: very small, tiny, pertaining to Lilliput

 Emanation: emission, something that is issued by a source

 Liaison: illicit sexual relationship, case of contact between two parties, usually a person

 Azure: sky-blue or a light blue

 Silver: shimmering gray color, type of metal

 Empyreal: related to the empyrean, celestial

 Conciliabule: secret meeting of conspirators

 Quotidian: daily, mundane, occurring every day

 Dilettante: one who dabbles in an occupation or hobby without serious intent

 Soigné: elegant, sophisticated, well-groomed

 Glimpse: brief, incomplete view or look, to glance at

 Ennui: listlessness, weariness, discontent

 Tapestry: heavy cloth woven with rich, varicolored designs or scenes, often hung on walls

 Palatial: pertaining to a palace, grandiose, magnificent

 Cenotaph: an unmarked grave

 Sonata: music, series of three solos

 Alleviate: to allay, to lessen in pain or negative occurrence or consequence

 Diaspora: dissemination, dispersion, random or selective re-distribution

 Salubrious: health-giving, healthy, healthful, relating to good health

 Azoth: mythologized universal solvent, panacea

 Lemniscate: the infinity symbol, any figure-eight symbol

 Millennium: one thousand years, period of a thousand years

 Sylph: graceful woman, fairy, air elemental

 Symphony: extended orchestral movements

 Orchestra: large group of musicians with a variety of instruments

 Nemesis: source of harm or ruin, unconquerable foe or enemy, vengeful opponent

 Felicity: state of happiness, joy, ecstasy

 Lunacy: insanity, insanity with brief moments of clarity

 Vitiate: impair, spoil, to the reduce quality of, to make worse

 Chiasmus: rhetorical, inverse sentence, “One should eat to live, not live to eat”

 Atelier: artist’s studio

 Vicennial: happening every twenty years

 Acervuline: aggregated, heaped up, bundled, collected or localized

 Cynosure: that which garners great attention by calling to its brilliance, interest

 Peninsula: piece of land mostly surrounded by water, except on one side

 Eloquence: well-stated speech, flowing language, articulated speech and proper execution

 Diaphanous: light, delicate, gossamer, translucent

 Echelon: tier, level, rank in job, formation of soldiers

 Vaticinate: prophesy, prognosticate, augur, foretell

 Nebulae: pl. collection of astral gases

 Litany: large amount, plethora, long and tedious address or recital

 Asylum: refuge, a place to restore sanity or facilitate recovery

 Midst: in the middle of, among

 Imprimatur: a sign or mark of approval, insignia of approval

 Nymph: seductive or lustful woman, fairy

 Talisman: item marked with magic signs though to confer magical powers or repel evil

 Ephemeral: brief, transient, evanescent

 Moiety: one of two equal parts, half

 Desuetude: state of disuse, state of uselessness

 Pyrrhic: of a victory, having high levels of casualties or damage on both sides

 Eunoia: normal mental health, beautiful thinking

 Colophon: inscription at the end of a book, an identifying emblem for a book

 Stiletto: high-heel with sharp point, small dagger

 Esoterica: item or thing that is esoteric, obscure, rare, or valuable

 Pirouette: ballet spin, ballet technique

 Boeotian: marked by stupidity and philistinism, crudely obtuse, loutish

 Zephyr: slight burst of gentle wind, gentle breeze

 Czigany: gypsy, Hungarian gypsy

 Porcelain: strong, vitreous, translucent ceramic with glazed colored material

 Mephitic: poisonous, noxious, lethally dangerous, insidious, toxic, putrid

 Sierra: ridge of a mountain or mountains

 Lunula: white crescent at the base of the fingernail

 Nacreous: iridescent, pearly, like mother-of-pearl or nacre

 Philander: to womanize or entertain or elicit casual or wanton sex

 Emission: discharge, emanation, chemical release

 Lithosphere: outermost shell of a planet, the crust and uppermost mantle

 Objet d’art: object of art, valuable or highly artistic piece or work

 Bibelot: trinket, bauble, small object which is rare or valuable or beautiful, a small book

 Cleanse: to free from dirt, defilement, or guilt, purge or clean

 Ineffable: indescribable, impossible to describe, enchantingly amazing

 Pellucid: translucently clear, limpid, ethereal

 Chandelier: ceiling-mounted light fixture or glass structure

 Sinecure: an easy occupation or one which requires almost no responsibility

 Panacea: a cure-all, medicine, herb, or concoction designed or functioning as a cure-all

 Girandole: a mirror having attached candle holders

 Element: fundamental, essential, or irreducible constituent of a composite entity elements

 Meniscus: anatomical term, the curve in a liquid when observed in a cylinder

 Recherché: elegant, refined or tasteful, sophisticated

 Souvenir: keepsake, memento, something of sentimental value

 Aphesis: omission of sound or verbiage at the beginning of a word or phrase

 Cadence: rhythmic flow of the sounds of language, lilt

 Legerity: mental or physical agility, dexterity, or quickness

 Symposium: conference for discussion of a particular topic

 Resonance: quality of being resonant, extension of sound via sympathetic vibration

 Parabola: mathematical term, looks akin to a “u” or “n”

 Xenoglossy: language learned spontaneously and without prior knowledge

 Elicit: to bring or draw out (something latent), educe, summon, to provoke a reaction

 Synecdoche: a reference to a part as opposed to the whole, girl as “skirt” ship as “sail”

 Amphora: ceramic, two-handled vase with a narrow neck, usually contains alcohol

 Essence: intrinsic or indispensable properties that serve to typify or identify something

 Belle-lettres: “beautiful letters” aesthetic literature, as opposed to didactic

 Andante: music, moderately slow

 Pallid: pale, wan, deficient in color

 Oasis: fertile, vibrant, or green spot in a desert or wasteland

 Aubade: poem or song about or evocative dawn or morning, opposite of nocturne

 Literati: intelligentsia, the educated class, clerisy, a group of litterateurs

 Colliquate: to change from solid to liquid, to liquefy

 Vincible: able to be harmed, vulnerable, susceptible, vulnerable

 Coloratura: elaborate or technical vocal music with florid ornamentation

 Grandeur: splendor, magnificence, quality or state of being grand

 Vivisepulture: the act of being buried alive or burying alive

 Emerald: deep, dark green, dark green gemstone

 Sojourn: brief visit, stopover, jaunt

 Revenant: specter, ghost, one who returns after a long absence

 Stillicide: water falling from the roof of a house or a gutter

 Quisquose: something which is difficult to deal with

 Serendipity: occurrence and progress of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way

 Nonchalant: feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed, indifferent

 Morceau: a small literary or musical composition

 Pianissimo: musical direction, very softly

 Marmoreal: of, like, made of, or related to marble

 Coracle: small rounded boat made of waterproof material stretched over a frame

 Lavadero: laundry room, place to wash gold

 Succinct: briefly stated, laconic, terse

 Capriccio: music, improvisation, without adherence to rules

 Nickelodeon: nickel theater

 Mimosa: plant, cocktail drink

 Azalea: type of plant, a common garden plant

 Lacquer: varnish that dries via evaporation

 Evaporation: the act of liquid dissipating or drying due to humidity or exposure

 Aesthete: person who appreciates art or beauty

 Regalia: the emblems and symbols of royalty, such as the crown and scepter, jewelry

 Clinquant: glittering as gold, glittering with tinsel, showily ornate

 Mezzanine: partial story between two main stories of a building, lowest balcony of theater

 Coquelicot: plant, red poppy

 Jejune: naïve, juvenile, simplistic, uninteresting, superficial

 Laconic: brief in speech, matter-of-fact, terse, using few words

 Dyslexia: disorder in which lexical figures are perceived in a chaotic order

 Swain: a young man, suitor, ephebe

 Epithelium: type of body tissue

 Apocope: omission of sound or verbiage at the end of a word or phrase

 Memento: an item of special significance

 Prairillon: a small meadow or tract of grassland, heath, plain

 Vespertine: crepuscular, pertaining to, of, or related to the evening

 Warble: trill, croon, purr, chirrup

 Sforzando: music, suddenly or strongly accented

 Miasma: atmosphere of disease, fine mist of effluvium or bacteria, noxious emanation

 Violet: shade of deep purple

 Athanasy: quality of being deathless, immortality

 Ventriloquist: puppeteer utilizing vocal techniques and manipulations

 Coruscate: sparkle, reflect brightly, shimmer

 Sangfroid: composure or coolness as shown in danger, imperturbability

 Vivify: to invigorate, revive, energize, galvanize

 Novella: short prose tale often characterized by moral teaching or satire

 Adroit: quick or skillful or adept in action or thought

 Transience: brevity, briefness, evanescence, shortness, the state of being temporary

 Redivivus: revived, come back to life, resurrected, resuscitated

 Emollient: substance that softens and soothes the skin, lotion

 Delitescent: hidden, concealed, kept secret

 Recidivism: act of repeating punished act, chronic tendency to repeat crimes

 Malleable: moldable, able to be modified, easily reshaped, having the ease of form

 Constellation: specific arrangement of stars to form an image

 Eclipsareon: a device for illustrating and demonstrating eclipses

 Influenza: acute contagious viral infection, commonly called the “flu”

 Nephew: the son of a brother or sister in relation to you

 Mantelletta: sleeveless vestment worn by cardinals

 Triste: sad, mournful, dismal, depressed

 Tilt: to cause to slope, as by raising one end, incline

 Cyaneous: deep blue, cerulean

 Decrescendo: gradual lowering of tempo in music or in a situation

 Thylacine: Extinct Tasmanian Tiger

 Melisma: the stretching of a syllable over a series of notes

 Roué: a rake, rouge, philanderer, lothario

 Cosmopolitan: pertaining to the world at large, without localized prejudices

 Equipoise: equal distribution of weight or balance, balanced

 Façade: affected aura or mannerisms to beguile or deceive

 Imbroglio: extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation

 Capriccioso: music, lively and free of restraint, restriction, or direction

 Umbrage: offense, affront, the shade beneath a tree, shade, suspicion, reason for doubt

 Theophany: religious epiphany or appearance of God to a person

 Sobriquet: nickname, moniker, adopted name

 Clemency: mercy, an act of mercy, showing mercy

 Abattoir: slaughterhouse

 Punchinello: short, fat clown or clown puppet

 Alloquy: speaking to another, an address

 Opalescent: milky and iridescent, shimmering with the colors of an opal

 Perennial: lasting throughout the year

 Vigesimal: based on, pertaining to or related to 20

 Bijouterie: general plural of trinkets or jewelry, gallery thereof, display thereof

 Lochetic: lying in wait for prey, used especially of insects

 Verisimilitude: the appearance or semblance of truth or reality in a fictional medium

 Quintessence: fifth element, perfect embodiment

 Zenith: point on the celestial sphere that is above the observer, highest point, maximum

 Aeolian: pertaining to, of, related to, caused by or like the wind or Aeolus

 Tregetour: juggler, mummer, conjurer

 Lavender: light purple

 Naïveté: inexperience, quality of being naïve, artlessness

 Clandestine: kept secretly or done secretively

 Marionette: a puppet bound by strings and controlled with wooden bars

 Epistle: a formal letter, letter with a cachet

 Dulcet: sweet-sounding, mellisonant

 Emaciate: to make abnormally thin or weak, typically due to illness

 Paradigm: clearly defined archetype, typical example or pattern of something

 Suicide: the act of murdering oneself

 Cygnet: a baby swan, young swan

 Philtrum: subtle curve beneath the nose and on the upper lip, palate

 Cancrizans: backwards movement, crab walking, music moving backwards

 Apropos: appropriate of, appropriate

 Efflux: something that flows out or forth, effluence, passing or an expiration, as of time

 Preterlabent: flowing beside or by, especially of a river or stream

 Eviscerate: to disembowel, exenterate, to remove the viscera of something

 Minutiae: pl, tiny, precise details, vestiges, trifles

 Bellicose: inclined or eager to fight, aggressively hostile, belligerent, pugnacious

 Visurient: hungry for visual stimuli, pertaining to the desire evoked from vision

 Humiliate: to enervate or embarrass through specific actions or events

 Turquoise: blue-green color

 Esurient: hungry, greedy, hedonistic in pursuit of things

 Moue: pouting face or grimace, upset facial expression

 Apoplexy: stroke, impairment or neuralgia from cerebral hemorrhage

 Calypso: rare orchid, a tribal and fervid dance

 Métier: forte, niche in which a person excels, occupation, profession

 Portfolio: portable case for carrying documents

 Celestial: heavenly, of a higher plane, empyreal, of space

 Illustrate: to clarify or explain with examples or comparisons

 Lassitude: weariness, lack of energy or motivation

 Scythe: agricultural implement with a long, curving blade fastened to a long handle

 Caballero: skilled horseman, gentleman, cavalier

 Excelsior: fine, curled wood shavings

 Medallion: jewelry or object worn from a necklace

 Blellum: an idle, indiscreet talker, noisy fainéant

 Eloign: to move away a distance, to move a distance with something concealed

 Cabaret: a restaurant with live entertainment

 Vivacity: brio, esprit, alacrity

 Imbue: to embed with a quality, to inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality

 Heliotrope: light purple, type of flower

 Gambol: to skip or jump merrily

 Lambent: glowing, gleaming, or flickering with a soft radiance, of humor or fire

 Sable: black, type of animal with a deep, black pelt

 Nepheliad: cloud nymph, nymph designated or of the clouds

 Gloom: sadness, melancholy, depression

 Mestizo: a person of mixed racial ancestry

 Etiolate: to stunt growth, deprive of strength , to whiten by blocking sunlight exposure

 Ancestry: the inception or origin of a phenomenon, object, idea, or style, lineage

 Esssse: pl. archaic plural of ashes

 Marmalade: jellylike preserve made from the pulp of fruits, especially citrus fruits

 Lugubrious: gloomy or dismal, especially exaggerated

 Concupiscence: lasciviousness, lewdness, ardent lust

 Equinox: when the sun reaches a height, night and day equalize, annual event

 Oeillade: an amorous glance, ogle

 Neophyte: a novice, tyro, beginner

 Material: secular, worldly, the substance(s) of which a thing is made of or composed

 Epergne: table centerpiece, object designated as a centerpiece

 Oleander: type of flower

 Shimmer: to shine with a subdued, flickering or wavering light

 Vetanda: taboo or forbidden things or topics

 Levitation: the act of floating, supernatural floating

 Sardonyx: type of stone(onyx) with sandy bands

 Cello: large, stringed instrument that generates deep tones

 Relinquish: voluntarily cease to keep or claim, surrender

 Mormorando: musical direction, murmuring or with a murmuring sound

 Phoenix: mythical bird of fire which rises from it’s ashes in a cycle of rebirth

 Novae: pl. collapsing or dying star

 Epitome: a perfect example of a particular quality or type

 Viridian: blue-green pigment

 Belladonna: poisonous plant

 Facsimile: copy or reproduction of an item, typically a book

 Mannequin: articulated human figure used for design

 Patois: dialect other than the usual or literary dialect, uneducated or provincial language

 Caliginous: misty, dim, obscure, dark, gloomy, tenebrous

 Helix: a spiral, spiral-shaped object or string

 Incarnadine: pinkish, flesh-colored, blood-red

 Elusive: difficult to find, catch, or achieve, avoiding

 Murmur: low, indistinct, continuous sound, to utter such a sound

 Symbiosis: mutual biological synergy between two dissimilar organisms

 Circuitous: having a circular or winding course, indirect, roundabout

 Swerve: to abruptly turn or deviate from an otherwise straight course

 Liquid: a state of matter, compare gas and solid, readiness to flow, type of sound

 Vociferous: loud, stentorian, vehement, angrily impassioned

 Aerial: of, in, or caused by the air, existing or living in the air

 Hue: gradation or variety of a color

 Inoccuity: the quality or state of being harmless, trifling, or insipid

 Vestigial: of, relating to, or constituting a vestige(trace, mark, or sign left by something)

 Cursive: flowing, effusive, wavy, type on handwriting in English

 Mauve: pinkish purple

 Colloquial: informal, as in speech, conversationally informal

 Echolalia: immediate and involuntary repetition of words or phrases just spoken by others

 Incisive: penetrating, clear, and sharp, as in operation or expression

 Caress: touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner

 Incunabula: pl. book printed before 1501

 Mica: thin layers of specific, transparent minerals

 Xenodochial: friendly or especially kind to strangers or foreigners

 Nirvana: a place or state of rest, harmony, or pleasure

 Tourmaline: multifarious gemstone of grossly differing colors

 Syllable: unit of spoken language consisting of a single uninterrupted sound

 Dapple: a spot or mottled marking, usually occurring in clusters, different tones and hues

 Prismatic: refractive light of a spectrum, brilliantly colored

 Layer: single thickness of a material covering a surface

 Maraschino: cordial made from the fermented juice of the marasca cherry

 Sotto voce: soft-voiced, emphasis on quiet speech

 Vanilla: ordinary, conventional, flavored with vanilla, flavor extracted from vanilla bean

 Sommelier: a waiter expertly trained in alcoholic beverages, wine steward

 Medley: heterogeneous mixture of typically complementing elements

 Cicada: loud, locust-like insect that chirrups

 Aphotic: devoid of light, especially of areas where no light naturally occurs

 Inglenook: a nook or corner beside an open fireplace, chimney corner

 Burnish: to polish, the shine of a polished surface

 Rapture: ecstasy, felicity, state of sheer happiness, happiness to the point of delirium

 Craquelure: fine pattern of dense cracking formed on the surface of paintings

 Maquette: scale model of a large item

 Phantasm: something apparently seen but having no physical reality, illusion

 Oscillate: to swing in an uninterrupted motion

 Ambivalence: simultaneous, conflicted feelings towards a thing, person, etc

 Numismatics: study or collection or currency, coins, paper money, etc

 Hazel: light brown or light yellow

 Esculent: edible, able or safe to be eaten

 Vellum: mammal skin prepared for writing or printing on

 Semblance: apparent form of something, especially when the reality is different

 Ingénue: a naive, innocent girl or young woman

 Gossamer: delicate, light, flimsy, transparent and thin, like a spider’s silk

 Eiderdown: down of a duck used as stuffing for quilts or pillows

 Chartreuse: swampy green

 Veranda: open, roofed porch or portico on the outside of a building

 Limn: to delineate via depictions or suffuse things with light

 Blossom: billowing, period or condition of flowering or growth

 Galaxy: collection of stars, gas, and dust bound together by gravity

 Champagne: bubbling alcohol with fruity taste

 Epicurean: hedonistic, gastronomical, pertaining to good taste

 Panoply: a full collection or array, full set of armor

 Inoculate: introduce an idea or view into the mind of, inculcate, inject a serum or vaccine

 Euphonious: nice-sounding, sounding pretty

 Surreptitious: stealthy, kept secret, hidden

 Cedilla: diacritic beneath word to alter pronunciation “façade”

 Foudroyant: dazzling, scintillating, sudden and overwhelming

 Dissemble: disguise or conceal one’s true motives, feelings, or beliefs, to mislead

 Canticle: a song, poem, or hymn, usually of a church choir

 Indolence: laziness, extreme ease or comfort

 Epée: fencing sword or blade without a cutting edge

 Inertia: tendency of a body to resist acceleration, a body at rest wants to stay at rest

 Mellisonant: wonderful-sounding

 Eleven: eleventh integer in a series

 Crystal: mineral with many possible permutations, gemstone-like

 Languid: characterized by disinclination for physical exertion

 Aeonian: continuing forever, eternal

 Callipygian: having a beautiful, admirable, or sexy butt

 Senescence: state of being old or growing old, cellular decomposition, studies thereof

 Ocelot: undomesticated cat, like a small leopard

 Prosody: the rhythm, stress, and intonation of speech

 Concinnity: harmony in the arrangement or fitness of parts with respect to a whole

 Palisade: a fence of pales or stakes set firmly in the ground

 Svelte: suave, urbane, savvy, slender, lithe, polished, sophisticated

 Threnody: song, hymn, or poem reflecting on mourning or a tribute to the deceased

 Encomium: formal, enthusiastic praise, abundant, exuberant expression of admiration

 Melody: a series or pattern of notes

 Tellurian: terrestrial, inhabiting the earth, pertaining to the earth, earthen

 Sibilant: hissing, making a sound that resembles hissing

 Panoramic: unbroken view of an entire surrounding area, inclusive presentation, survey

 Limerence: extended infatuation or crush, contrast love

 Cathismata: pl. one of the 20 divisions in a Greek Psalter

 Menagerie: collection of animals in cages or enclosures, diverse hodgepodge, gallery, zoo

 Reciprocity: the quality or state of requiting, mutual dependence

 Bouleversement: reversal of fortunes, overturning, tumult

 Amber: light brown, light yellow

 Forte: niche in which a person excels

 Lemonade: beverage typically consisting of lemon juice, sugar, and water

 Aeipathy: continued passion, unyielding disease

 Seizure: act, condition, or instance of seizing or being seized, fit, spasm, convulsion

 Prelude: preceding event or action, music term, preliminary, preambulate

 Cithara: ancient Greek instrument, like a lyre

 Mithril: fictional, very light, silvery steel

 Visceral: pertaining to the viscera, relating to deep feelings as opposed to the intellect

 Baccalaureate: bachelor’s degree, valedictory speech

 Velvet: soft type of material used in clothing

 Avarice: extreme greed for wealth or material gain

 Limpid: unclouded, clear, lucid, defined and deep

 Solace: comfort or consolation in a time of sadness or distress

 Ember: small, glowing fleck of aflame wood or coal

 Catena: closely linked series, connected series of related things, especially of writing

 Gracile: gracefully slender or thin, graceful

 Sublime: noble, exalted, majestic, empyreal

 Azuline: light blue, similar to a light blue

 Foliage: plant leaves or greenery, as a collective

 Delphic: brotherly, oracular

 Vaudeville: bygone slapstick era

 Cessation: pause, interruption, ceasing, ending

 Innocent: without sin, pure, free from legal or specific wrong, guiltless, naïve, simple

 Mizzle: fine rainfall, drizzle, mist

 Lattice: open framework of material, typically in a crisscross pattern

 Ambrosia: food of the gods, something overpoweringly delicious or fragrant

 Borasca: squall, usually accompanied by thunder and lightning

 Sentient: aware, characterized by the ability to feel or perceive, conscious

 Fusillade: salvo, rapid discharge of firearms

 Wan: pallid, of a sickly complexion

 Numeral: symbol used to represent, denote, or symbolize a number

 Bivouac: temporary military or squad encampment

 Splice: to infuse, join, interweave, unite

 Fainéant: sluggard, do-nothing, ne’er-do-well , idle and ineffectual

 Rupestrian: of or composed of rock, sculpted with or by rock

 Mercurial: fickle, erratic, ingenious, changeable, eloquent

 Avenue: wide street or thoroughfare, roadway lined with tress

 Sibyl: prophetess, fortune-teller, female prognosticator

 Escritoire: writing desk, desk designed for studies

 Celerity: speed, alacrity, briskness

 Athenaeum: institution for the promotion of literary or scientific learning, phrontistery

 Ivory: pure white color, material derived from elephant tusks

 Copse: thicket of small trees or shrubs, a coppice, small wood, a tree

 Gaucherie: awkwardness, inexperience, embarrassments

 Sidle: walk in a furtive or timid manner, especially obliquely or roundabout

 Pluvial: characterized or relating to rainfall

 Mimsy: flimsy and miserable, someone who excels at what they do

 Lissom: supple, easily bent, lithe, flexible

 Elapse: to pass or go by, to happen

 Whilom: formerly, former, erstwhile

 Swoon: fainting spell, collapse from ecstasy

 Reliquary: receptacle, such as a coffer or shrine, for keeping or displaying sacred relics

 Analemma: sundial, figure-8 indicating sun’s declination

 Elliptical: of, relating to, or having the shape of an ellipse, with a word or words omitted

 Rariora: pl. unusual collector’s items, outstanding items, prize pieces

 Grazioso: a direction in music, graceful, smooth, or elegant in style

 Maudlin: overly sentimental, saccharine, mawkish, self-pitying

 Esper: a being of advanced mentality or with psychic abilities

 Specious: superficially plausible, but actually wrong, misleading in appearance

 Cordillera: group of mountain ranges forming a mountain system of great linear extent

 Acoustic: of or relating to sound, the sense of hearing, or the science of sound

 Masquerade: festive gathering characterized by participants wearing masks

 Suffuse: gradually spread through or over, with light, color, music, or liquid

 Elucidate: explain further, clarify, to elaborate upon

 Silence: state or quality of soundlessness, lack of sound

 Paramour: lover, especially one in an adulterous relationship, lover, illicit lover

 Curlicue: fancy curl or twist, flourish of writing

 Shiver: a tremble, to tremble, shudder, or shake

 Lascivious: lewd, lustful, prurient

 Dulcimer: stringed instrument having three or four strings and a fretted fingerboard

 Slither: to glide or slide like a reptile

 Milieu: surroundings or environment, especially of a social or cultural nature

 Luscious: delicious, sexy, cloying, alluring

 Seven: seventh integer in a series

 Chariot: two or four-wheeled, horse-drawn war or procession vehicle

 Promethean: boldly creative, defiantly original, deviating genius

 Ashlar: a squared block of building stone and dressed for outward placement

 Tableaux: pl. deliberate picture, arrangement , vivid, graphic description

 Patina: natural tarnish from wear of usage and passage of time, verdigris

 Enhalo: to affix with a halo, to cause to wear a halo, to encircle, surround

 Acolyte: ranked clergy member, assistant in liturgical rites

 Veneer: thin surface layer, superficial layer as an enhancement to inferior material

 Afflatus: strong creative impulse, especially as a result of divine inspiration, inspiration

 Jaunt: short excursion for pleasure, brief stay

 Sidereal: of, related, pertaining to, or determined by the stars or constellations

 Incalescent: becoming hotter or growing more ardent, boiling

 Ebon: black, made of ebony

 Cosmology: study of the physical universe considered a mass of phenomena in spacetime

 Illusion: erroneous mental representation, false image made by outside force or the mind

 Dell: small, usually wooded valley, vale

 Brio: joie de vivre, vivacity, alacrity, gusto, esprit

 Sluice: artificial channel for conducting water, with a valve or gate to regulate the flow

 Pococurante: nonchalant, indifferent, lukewarm in opinion, insouciant

 Comestibles: items suitable to be eaten, edible sundries, articles of food, victuals

 Portmanteaux: pl. large suitcase, merging of two words to form a new one, often a pun

 Malady: sickness, illness, ague, ictus, ailment

 Sough: a soft, gentle sigh, murmuring, purling, or rustling sound

 Auburn: moderate reddish-brown

 Opaque: impenetrable to light, not reflecting light, difficult to explain or understand

 Emissary: an agent sent on a mission to represent or advance the interests of another

 Ascertain: to understand specific facts, to ferret out information

 Idyllic: Like an idyll, extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque

 Linguistics: pl. the study of human speech, languages, and writing

 Epigone: inferior imitator, disciple, second-rate replica, counterfeit

 Aeneous: brassy, golden-green

 Permeate: to pervade, to spread or flow throughout, to diffuse through

 Circlet: ring-shaped ornament or piece of jewelry, especially for the head

 Echo: a repetition of sound produced by the reflection of sound

 Nenuphar: a water lily, especially an Egyptian lotus

 Synchronicity: theory of, coincidence of two or more curiously similar events

 Pantomime: communication through gestures and facial movements

 Eleemosynary: of, relating to, or dependent on charity, contributed as an act of charity

 Tenuous: long and thin, slender, flimsy, without great substance, diluted

 Malaise: bodily weakness, nondescript illness, vague feeling of discomfort

 Swath: width of a scythe-stroke, strips or radii made by something

 Clerisy: the well-educated or learned class, intelligentsia, cognoscenti

 Satellite: celestial body that orbits a planet, a moon, object designed to orbit a planet

 Mellifluous: flowing with sweetness or honey, smooth and sweet

 Philosophy: discipline comprising aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology, etc.

 Victuals: food to be eaten, provisions, food cache, pabulum, comestibles, nutrients

 Leitmotif: musical passage associated to a specific situation, character, or idea

 Emulate: to strive to equal or excel, especially through imitation

 Anemone: flowery marine creature

 Succor: to aid or assist in a time of need, assistance

 Mien: air or bearing especially as expressive of attitude or personality, demeanor, aura

 Lithium: silvery, soft, highly-reactive metal

 Dalliance: flirtation, dawdling, procrastination, frivolous action

 Myrrh: fragrant resin gum from a type of tree, used chiefly for perfume

 Blithe: carefree, nonchalant, heedless, lacking concern, joyous

 Kismet: fate, fortune, chance, faith thereof

 Slender: long and thin, tall

 Lesbian: female sexually attracted to other women, exclusively

 Cylinder: long, tubular geometric shape rendered in three dimensions

 Solecism: an impropriety, nonstandard grammatical construction, violation of etiquette

 Pensive: brooding, reflecting, involving, or engaged in deep or serious thought

 Nimiety: excess, overabundance, superfluity

 Candelabra: pl. branched candlestick with several candles

 Whimsy: quaint or fanciful idea, a whim, capricious humor or playful disposition

 Delirium: state of mental disarray and unstable consciousness from intoxication or fever

 Serenity: calmness, tranquility, relaxation

 Aura: distinctive and pervasive quality or character, air, atmosphere, emanation

 Hubris: excessive pride, overbearing arrogance

 Opusculum: minor work of literature

 Pizzicato: music term, played by plucking rather than bowing

 Miniscule: very small, diminutive, when compared to a normal counterpart

 Elysian: blissful, delightful, pertaining to the Elysian Fields or Elysium

 Psittacism: automatic speech without thought of the meaning of the words spoken

 Ultramarine: intense bluish-purple

 Mausoleum: large, stately tomb or building housing several tombs

 Schefflera: type of shrubby, tropical plants which are cultivated for their showy foliage

 Dissimulate: to conceal or disguise, to hide with the intent of deceit

 Torrential: resembling, flowing in, or forming torrents

 Lorgnette: a pair of eyeglasses or opera glasses with a handle

 Nymphet: pubescent girl regarded as sexually desirable, young, sexually precocious girl

 Auxiliary: additional, supplementary, reserve, acting as a subsidiary

 Mist: mass of fine droplets of liquid

 Seraglio: harem, harem house, brothel, living quarters thereof

 Viceroy: governor, representative of a sovereign

 Winnow: to filter out, to remove unnecessary or undesirable parts

 Callow: immature, green, lacking experience, naïve

 Tête-à-tête: private conversation between two people

 Spinal: pertaining to, relating to, of, or using the spine

 Marginalia: notes in the margin or margins of a book

 Vestibule: a small entryway between the outer door and the interior of a building

 Periphery: line that forms the boundary, limited circumference of sight, perimeter

 Obsidian: volcanic glass of a black shade

 Sfumato: definition or form without hasty outline by mild gradation from light to shadow

 Lineaments: pl. the distinguishing or characteristic features of something immaterial

 Denouement: final resolution or clarification of a dramatic or narrative plot

 Piquant: aromatic, appetizing, appealingly provocative

 Isinglass: thin sheet of translucent mica

 Placid: sedate, calm, peaceful, relaxed, serene

 Voluminous: having great volume, fullness, size, or number, large

 Chamois: goatlike antelope, type of cloth for cleaning

 Mere: being nothing more nor better than, small, lowly

 Bellwether: leader or indicator of future trends, trendsetter

 Tercet: group of three lines of verse, often rhyming together or with another triple

 Aqueous: of, relating to, or resembling water, made from, with, or by water

 Saline: salty, pertaining to salt

 Elysium: section of the underworld, resting place of heroes and the virtuous

 Lucent: shining, gleaming, brilliant

 Shrivel: wither due to lack of moisture, cause to contract, lose momentum

 Gale: a harsh gust of wind, a strong current of wind

 Tryst: an agreement, as between lovers, to meet at a certain time and place, a date

 Solemn: serious, dignified, formal, stern

 Whisper: soft speech produced without full voice, something uttered very softly

 Dulcinea: sweetheart, lovely person, one whom a person loves or cares about

 Sussurous: pertaining to whispering, whispering

 Intaglio: an engraving or incised figure in stone or other hard material

 Effulgent: marked by as if by brightly shining light, coruscating, shimmering

 Cellulite: fatty deposit causing a dimpled appearance, as around the thighs or buttocks

 Opacity: opaqueness, obscurity, impenetrability

 Smolder: burn without flame, to undergo slow and compressed combustion

 Wisteria: a genus of twisting, woody, and climbing vines

 Paucity: scarcity, lack of presence, fewness, a small number

 Ameliorate: to make better, improve, enhance

 Epileptic: pertaining to epilepsy, flickering rapidly, seizing

 Cloister: monastatic establishment, convent of living

 Parvenu: noveau-riche, person risen to new status, but lacks the social skills necessary

 Bloviate: to make pompous or arrogant discourse

 Inundate: deluge, to fill quickly beyond capacity, to cover with water, drench, overwhelm

 Lavish: expended, bestowed, or occurring in profusion, using or giving in great amounts

 Precocious: manifesting or characterized by unusually early development or maturity

 Epitaph: inscription on a tombstone

 Allegretto: music term, moderately fast tempo

 Scepter: rod or wand, usually adorned in regalia

 Braggadocio: arrogant person, braggart, arrogant or boastful behavior

 Cellular: pertaining to cells or their structure, containing cells

 Simulacrum: image or representation, false, unreal, or vague simulation or semblance

 Purlicue: space between the thumb and forefinger

 L’esprit de l’escalier: “staircase wit” usage of a witty retort after the moment has passed

 Cartesian: of or relating to the philosophy of Descartes

 Sigil: seal, signet, glyph, sign or image considered magical

 Aileron: small moveable platforms on the back of plane wings that alter air movements

 Existential: of, relating to, or dealing with existence, pertaining to existentialism

 Breviloquence: speech characterized by brevity, shortness, briefness

 Labial: pertaining to lips, vaginal or facial

 Apostasy: abandonment of one’s religious faith, political party, one’s principles, or a cause

 Portico: porch or walkway with a roof supported by columns, often leads into an entrance

 Isthmus: narrow strip of land connecting two larger masses of land

 Yowl: to utter a loud long cry of grief, pain, or distress, wail

 Dawn: daybreak, first light of day, the onset of an idea, enlightenment

 Collectanea: selection of pieces of writing by an author or by several authors

 Incense: to induce rage, infuriate, aromatic element designed to induce relaxation

 Sleep: state of slumber, position of rest for the physical and mental being of a living being

 Elasticity: quality or state of being elastic, tendency to keep shape after stretching

 Meridian: of or at noon, imaginary line that extends form the North to South poles

 Lubricious: slippery with oil or lubricant, offensively lewd or intending to be lewd

 Salve: remedial lotion or substance to soothe or allays

 Teleology: the study of the philosophical concept of the telos

 Mimesis: imitation or representation of the world, mostly in literature and art, mimicry

 Bardiglio: finely-grained, multi-gray, Italian marble

 Escadrille: a small squadron, usually of six, a small team, typically of six airplanes

 Tiramisu: dessert made with cake and espresso

 Antebellum: before or existing before a war, especially the American civil war

 Vale: the world, life, mortal or earthly life

 Ubiquitous: being or seeming to be everywhere at the same time, omnipresent

 Élan: esprit, brio, gusto, ardor, vivacity

 Sequester: to relegate to a small space, to cause to withdraw into seclusion

 Cymbal: percussive instrument, usually attached to a drum kit

 Limousine: slender car used for formal occasions, notably expensive

 Thionine: artificial red or violet dyestuff, usually for microscopic stains

 Bourgeoisie: the middle class, the middle class in Communist theory

 Verve: energy, brio, élan, vigor, joie de vivre

 Coterie: tightly-knit group of persons having a common purpose or interest, cadre, clique

 Laodicean: indifferent or lukewarm in politics and or religion

 Heath: plain, tract of wasteland, uncultivated land

 Vinyl: type of multi-use plastic resin

 Spiral: helix, string in a successively concentric pattern

 Cavil: to object or criticize adversely for trivial reasons, flimsy objection or qualm

 Matriculate: to become admitted to membership in a body, society, or institution

 Soothe: to allay, alleviate, relax, pacify

 Galleria: spacious passageway, court, or indoor mall, usually with a vaulted roof, gallery

 Luminary: one who is an inspiration to others, one who attained success in a chosen field

 Palliate: to alleviate, reduce or remove pain

 Elixir: solution of alcohol and water, substance believed to maintain life indefinitely

 Spool: cylinder with ridges that has spirals string around it

 Fumarole: hole in an area of volcanic activity from which gases and hot smoke escape

 Communiqué: an official announcement, bulletin board, a dispatch, an official report

 Tremulous: marked by trembling, quivering, or shaking

 Venial: pardonable, easily excused or pardoned, trivial

 Bethesda: a hallowed, sanctified, or holy place, a chapel, holy ground

 Umbrella: apparatus used as a personal rain repellant

 Circular: of, like, related to, or resembling a circle

 Allure: attraction, temptation, to attract with something desirable

 Scarlet: bright-red color

 Hegemony: predominant influence, dominance, supremacy, preeminence

 Sclera: the whites of the eyes

 Palliasse: mattress consisting of a thin pad filled with straw, sawdust, or hay

 Vavasor: superior vassal with other vassals beneath

 Trillium: type of flower

 Enceinte: pregnant, carrying a baby, gravid, line of fortification enclosing a town or castle

 Cuvette: a small, transparent, often tubular laboratory vessel

 Silkscreen: stencil method of printing, in which a design is put on silk or other fine mesh Tristiloquy: speech characterized by sadness or gloominess

 Realm: region, kingdom, plane, domain, territory

 Vacivity: vacuity, emptiness, absence, space with a lack of matter

 Fleur-de-lys: stylized insignia of a lily

 Sittella: small, gregarious songbird

 Amphisbaena: Greek mythological being, two-headed snake, a head on each end

 Corinthian: pertaining to Corinth or its culture, architecture

 Libeccio: southwest wind occurring in Italy

 Perpetuity: the quality or condition of being perpetual, ceaseless, or continual

 Knell: to ring slowly and solemnly, funeral bell-ring

 Illusory: produced by, based on, or having the nature of an illusion, deceptive

 Acciaccatura: grace note, an embellishing note usually written in smaller size

 Diablerie: dealing with the devil or devils, witchcraft, sorcery, consorting with demons

 Epicede: dirge, requiem, funeral song or ode

 Brevity: briefness, swiftness, evanescence

 Henna: reddish-brown dye used in tinting the hair, skin, or nails

 Alabaster: dense translucent, white or tinted fine-grained gypsum

 Frescade: a cool, breezy walk, a shady place, a relaxing place with ample shade

 Villain: dramatic or fictional character who is typically at odds with the hero

 Cellophane: thin, flexible, transparent cellulose material used as moisture-proof wrapping

 Simplicity: state or quality of being simple, freedom of complexity or intricacy

 Bliss: joy, rapture, elation, felicity

 Laminate: to beat or compress into a thin plate or sheet, to divide into thin layers

 Cinnabar: bright red, glowing red

 Nocive: harmful, injurious

 Cinder: burned substance, one which is no longer capable of combustion

 Sapience: rationality, compare sentience, wisdom or sagacity

 Mirror: surface able of reflect enough undiffused light to form an image of an object

 Sesquipedalian: having many syllables, long, given to or typified by the use of long words

 Quiver: shiver, shake, quaver, tremble

 Breeze: gentle push of the wind

 Amnesia: partial or total loss of memory

 Sirocco: hot, humid south or southeast wind of southern Italy

 Furrow: to wrinkle, a wrinkle, a rut, groove, or trench

 Querencia: the area of the bull-ring where the bull makes its stand

 Cortical: of, relating to, derived from, or consisting of cortex

 Immaculate: spotless, free of sin, without blemish or impurity

 Weather: state of the atmosphere at a given time and place

 Apotheosis: deification, quintessence, exaltation to divine rank or stature

 Vicious: having the nature of vice, evil, immoral, or depraved

 Prurient: having, relating to, or typified by lascivious or lustful thoughts or desires

 Vis-à-vis: “face to face” opposite to, in relation to, in regard to, a meeting

 Belvedere: roofed structure, on top of another building, which commands a large view

 Capricious: impulsive, whimsical, unpredictable

 Milquetoast: timid, unassertive, spineless person, one who is easily intimidated

 Anxiolytic: preventing or reducing anxiety, antianxiety medication, tranquilizer

 Jacqueminot: crimson rose

 Soubrette: saucy, coquettish woman in comedies

 Nugacious: trifling, trivial, insignificant, unimportant, worthless

 Philanthropy: the effort or drive to further the well-being of humankind, generosity

 Enamel: vitreous, usually opaque, protective or decorative coating or shell

 Cerumen: yellow, wax-like secretion from the external ears, “earwax”

 Apostolicity: being of or contemporary with the Apostles in character

 Malapropos: out of place, inappropriate, in an inopportune or inappropriate manner

 Caesura: a pause in a line of verse

 Hacienda: the main building of a farm or ranch

 Sienna: yellowish-brown, type of clay

 Leviathan: very large animal, especially a whale, something of unusually large size

 Dulciloquy: speech characterized by sounding soft or sweet

 Renaissance: rebirth or revival, renewal of cultural and intellectual thought

 Cyan: greenish-blue

 Brecciate: to form rock into breccia(rocks made of sharp fragments set in a grainy matrix)

 Fuliginous: having the color of soot, dark, dusky, charcoal-colored

 Listless: lacking energy or disinclined to exert effort, lethargic

 Sequence: succession, an arrangement, related or continuous series

 Cuneiform: wedge-shaped, Sumerian language

 Virtuoso: ace, someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field, especially music

 Iris: the colored portion of the eye that encircles the pupil

 Psyche: the mind or self as a functional entity, center of thought, feeling, and motivation

 Miscellany: collection of various items, parts, or ingredients

 Luminal: of or pertaining to the lumen (the measure of light perceived by the human eye)

 Sylvan: relating to or characteristic of woods or forest regions, forest sprite

 Degringolade: a rapid decline or deterioration, as in strength, position, or condition

 Matutinal: of, relating to, or occurring in the morning, early

 Leveret: baby rabbit, a young rabbit

 Aperitif: alcoholic drink taken as an appetizer before a meal

 Macedoine: mixture of diced fruits and vegetables, medley, mixture

 Sanguine: of a healthy reddish color, ruddy, blood-red, of the color of blood

 Divisi: music term, divided, separated

 Ossuary: place, container or receptacle for holding the bones of the dead

 Clithridiate: keyhole-shaped, resembling a keyhole

 Sonnet: fourteen-line poem with specific rhyme scheme

 Esclavage: a necklace having several rows of chains, beads, or jewels

 Palladian: of or relating to wisdom or learning

 Slice: a thin section of something, to slash or remove a small section of

 Lithe: readily bent, supple, flexible, marked by effortless grace

 Falciform: falcate, curved, convex, sickle-shaped

 Loom: the art of weaving, to come into view as a massive, distorted, or indistinct image

 Acidulous: somewhat acidic or sour in taste or manner, somewhat sarcastic

 Facility: building made or used for convenience, ease of moving or doing, aptitude

 Calico: coarse, brightly printed cloth, a type of pattern

 Aquarelle: painting done in transparent watercolors, watercolor, watercolor painting

 Scion: an heir or descendant, a twig or shoot used for grafting

 Proscenium: Greek or Roman theater stage, the part of a stage in front of the curtain

 Xysti: pl. covered portico of a gymnasium

 Clavicle: the collarbone of a human

 Puree: rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender

 Eglantine: European rose, sweetbrier

 Mystique: the special, esoteric skill or mysterious faculty essential in a calling or activity

 Amelus: individual exhibiting Amelia (the congenital absence of one or more limbs)

 Sweven: dream, vision, premonition

 Celluloid: transparent, colorless, synthetic plastic used to manufacture photographic film

 Aposiopesis: abrupt stop of a thought in a sentence, as if the speaker could not continue

 Siphon: to suck through, absorb through an appendage

 Gallery: raised area, often having a stepped or sloping floor, in a public building

 Centennial: of or relating to a period of 100 years, occurring once every 100 years

 Elision: omission of a vowel, consonant, or syllable in pronunciation

 Trinity: group consisting of three closely related members, unity of three special objects

 Numina: pl. presiding divinity or spirit of a place, creative energy, genius

 Memorabilia: pl. things remarkable and worthy of remembrance or record

 Replica: copy or reproduction of a work of art, especially one made by the original artist

 Chalice: cup for consecrated wine, goblet

 Lathe: machine for shaping a piece of material by rotating it rapidly along its axis

 Traipse: walk, to wander without destination, gad, aimlessly or blithely walk

 Roseate: rose-colored, rosy, optimistic, cheerful and bright, promising

 Expatiate: to speak or write at length or in considerable detail, expound, elaborate

 Demarche: course of action, maneuver, specific movement

 Propinquity: nearness in place, approximate location, proximity, vicinity

 Gloaming: dusk, twilight, evening, vesper

 Calliope: musical instrument fitted with steam whistles, played from a keyboard

 Aliment: something that nourishes, food, to supply with sustenance or food

 Sestina: poem of six six-line stanzas and a three-line envoy

 Blaze: bright flame of fire, bright steady light or glare, hot gleam

 Solipsism: philosophical idea that only one’s own mind is sure to exist

 Artemisia: type of plant, genus of aromatic shrubs or herbs

 Cypress: swampy tree or plant, plant or tree occurring in swamps

 Lethe: condition of forgetfulness, oblivion

 Shallow: lacking physical depth, lacking depth of intellect, emotion, or knowledge

 Ponceau: a strong red to reddish orange

 Frost: hoarfrost, degree or state of coldness, covering of minute ice needles

 Soufflé: light, fluffy baked dish

 Valiant: possessing valor, brave, marked by or done with valor

 Eclipse: any obscuration of light, reduction or loss of splendor, status, or reputation

 Alienate: to estrange, to cause to become unfriendly or hostile

 Basilica: large, public building the Romans used, usually as a courtroom or meeting hall

 Vacuity: emptiness, vacivity, absence, lack of matter in a space, vacuum

 Ilium: upper part of the bony femur at the hip joint

 Oblivion: condition or quality of being completely forgotten, void, forgetfulness

 Aria: air or song, a melody, solo in an opera accompanied by instrumentation

 Conciliate: to win over from a state of hostility or distrust, appease

 Magisterial: of, relating to, or having the features of a master or teacher, authoritative

 Bayonet: blade adapted to fit the muzzle-end of a rifle and as a weapon in close combat

 Nucleus: central part about which other parts are grouped or gathered

 Eristic: characterized by disputatious, often subtle and specious reasoning

 Perforate: to pierce, punch, or bore a hole or holes in, stab through, penetrate

 Vexation: the act of annoying, irritating, or vexing, quality or condition of being vexed

 Dislodge: to remove or force out from a position or dwelling previously occupied

 Impetus: a drive or compelling force, motivation, a reason to do something

 Vaccinate: to inoculate with a vaccine of prepared medicine

 Cytherean: pertaining to beauty or the goddess, Aphrodite

 Fumulus: a thin cloud resembling a veil and forming at any level

 Percolate: to filter, to cause to filter, to cause to pass through pores or small holes

 Apophenia: the perception of or belief in connectedness among unrelated phenomena

 Coriander: aromatic herb, herb used in a variety of perfumes

 Iscariotic: traitorous, treacherous, given to betrayal, having committed betrayal

 Lacerate: to cut or tear irregularly, to distress, mangle

 Bordereau: a detailed note or memorandum of account

 Hallucinate: to affect or be affected with visions or imaginary perceptions

 Semiotician: one who studies, applies, or explains the theories of semiotics

 Marble: highly-polished building material, irregularly colored

 Congelifraction: splitting or disintegration of rocks as a result of the freezing of the water

 Acedia: ennui, state of torpor of listlessness, spiritual apathy

 Estuary: inlet or arm of the sea, an open river that connects to the sea

 Scoliosis: abnormal lateral curvature of the spine, affliction thereof

 Austere: severe or stern in disposition, discipline, or appearance, somber and grave

 Orbital: of, pertaining to, or relating to an orbit

 Nimbus: dark, grey cloud bearing rain, splendid atmosphere or aura, cloudy radiance

 Bricolage: something made or put together using any materials that happen are available

 Litterateur: literary-minded person, one devoted to the study or writing of literature

 Shadow: shade within clear boundaries

 Effleurage: a light, stroking movement used in massage, a soft caress

 Coquette: woman who makes teasing sexual or romantic overtures, a flirt or tease

 Famished: extremely hungry, ravenous, starved

 Sussurant: whispering, making a continuous, low, and indistinct sound

 Otiose: indolent, lazy, serving no useful purpose, futile, being a leisure

 Poignant: profoundly moving, touching, physically or emotionally painful

 Ingravescent: gradually becoming more severe, worsening, usually of a medical condition

 Winceyette: cotton cloth, cloth made of cotton that has a raised surface

 Dioscuric: describing a twin, whether person or event, of a twin, of a duplicate

 Bibliophile: someone who loves (and usually collects) books, book collector

 Palaver: conference or discussion, idle chat, chat with flattery of cajolery involved

 Glacial: slow, staggering, of or pertaining to glaciers or ice sheets

 Opulence: wealth, affluence, great abundance, profusion, pretentiousness

 Naiad: a nymph, a river, lake, fountain, or spring nymph or spirit

 Euphoria: feeling of great happiness or well-being, felicity

 Cheilion: the corner of the mouth or oral cavity

 Frolic: to behave playfully and candidly, romp, to engage in flirting, joking, or teasing

 Radii: pl. any line segment from the center of a circle or sphere to its perimeter

 Provocative: tending or serving to provoke, inciting, stimulating, irritating, or vexing

 Deign: to condescend to do something thought to be slightly beneath one’s dignity

 Mewl: whimper, cry like an infant, meow like a kitten, to weakly cry

 Clarion: medieval trumpet with clear shrill tones, clear and shrill, loud burst of sound

 Escamotage: juggling, hand trickery, sleight of hand, legerdemain

 Plumage: entire feathery covering or portion of a bird, feathers collectively

 Fissure: long narrow opening, a crack or cleft, process of splitting or separating, division

 Choreography: the art of creating and arranging dances or ballets

 Impluvium: of a Roman house, rectangular pool in an atrium used to gather rain water

 Bastille: imprisonment, jail, prison

 Mizzenmast: third mast or the mast aft the mainmast on a ship having 3 or more masts

 Equestrian: of, relating to, or featuring horseback riding

 Impedimenta: pl. things that hinder growth or movement

 Repartee: swift, witty reply, conversation marked by the exchange of witty retorts

 Palimpsest: erased parchment, which is then reused, manuscript written over earlier ones

 Coercion: the act of coercing, the use of pressure, threats, blackmail, or intimidation

 Formulaic: being of no special quality or type, average, routine, undistinguished

 Serenade: courtesy performance given to honor or express love for someone, to serenade

 Ellipsis: omission of a word or phrase necessary for a complete syntactical construction

 Incipient: in or at an initial stage, beginning to exist or appear

 Glisten: to shine by reflection with a sparkling luster, coruscate, shimmer

 Ambience: atmosphere, a particular environment or surrounding influence, aura

 Insipid: lacking flavor or zest, lacking excitement, stimulation, or interest, dull, vapid

 Cascarilla: West Indian shrub with aromatic bark, typically used in incense or tonics

 Paraph: a flourish at the end of a signature, may be used as a safeguard against forgery

 Embarcadero: a landing place, especially a landing place on an island waterway

 Fuselage: central body of an aircraft, to which the wings and tail assembly are attached

 Nullifidian: a person having no faith, religion, convictions, or beliefs

 Triptych: work of art consisting of three pieces acting as one image or set of motifs

Ailurophile A cat-lover.

Assemblage A gathering.

Becoming Attractive.

Beleaguer To exhaust with attacks.

Brood To think alone.

Bucolic In a lovely rural setting.

Bungalow A small, cozy cottage.

Chatoyant Like a cat’s eye.

Comely Attractive.

Conflate To blend together.

Cynosure A focal point of admiration.

Dalliance A brief love affair.

Demesne Dominion, territory.

Demure Shy and reserved.

Denouement The resolution of a mystery.

Desuetude Disuse.

Desultory Slow, sluggish.

Diaphanous Filmy.

Dissemble Deceive.

Dulcet Sweet, sugary.

Ebullience Bubbling enthusiasm.

Effervescent Bubbly.

Efflorescence Flowering, blooming.

Elision Dropping a sound or syllable in a word.

Elixir A good potion.

Eloquence Beauty and persuasion in speech.

Embrocation Rubbing on a lotion.

Emollient A softener.

Ephemeral Short-lived.

Epiphany A sudden revelation.

Erstwhile At one time, for a time.

Ethereal Gaseous, invisible but detectable.

Evanescent Vanishing quickly, lasting a very short time.

Evocative Suggestive.

Fetching Pretty.

Felicity Pleasantness.

Forbearance Withholding response to provocation.

Fugacious Fleeting.

Furtive Shifty, sneaky.

Gambol To skip or leap about joyfully.

Glamour Beauty.

Gossamer The finest piece of thread, a spider’s silk.

Halcyon Happy, sunny, care-free.

Harbinger Messenger with news of the future.

Imbrication Overlapping and forming a regular pattern.

Imbroglio An altercation or complicated situation.

Imbue To infuse, instill.

Incipient Beginning, in an early stage.

Ineffable Unutterable, inexpressible.

Ingénue A naïve young woman.

Inglenook A cozy nook by the hearth.

Insouciance Blithe nonchalance.

Inure To become jaded.

Labyrinthine Twisting and turning.

Lagniappe A special kind of gift.

Lagoon A small gulf or inlet.

Languor Listlessness, inactivity.

Lassitude Weariness, listlessness.

Leisure Free time.

Lilt To move musically or lively.

Lissome Slender and graceful.

Lithe Slender and flexible.

Love Deep affection.

Mellifluous Sweet sounding.

Moiety One of two equal parts.

Mondegreen A slip of the ear.

Murmurous Murmuring.

Nemesis An unconquerable archenemy.

Offing The sea between the horizon and the offshore.

Onomatopoeia A word that sounds like its meaning.

Opulent Lush, luxuriant.

Palimpsest A manuscript written over earlier ones.

Panacea A solution for all problems

Panoply A complete set.

Pastiche An art work combining materials from various sources.

Penumbra A half-shadow.

Petrichor The smell of earth after rain.

Plethora A large quantity.

Propinquity Proximity; Nearness

Pyrrhic Successful with heavy losses.

Quintessential Most essential.

Ratatouille A spicy French stew.

Ravel To knit or unknit.

Redolent Fragrant.

Riparian By the bank of a stream.

Ripple A very small wave.

Scintilla A spark or very small thing.

Sempiternal Eternal.

Seraglio Rich, luxurious oriental palace or harem.

Serendipity Finding something nice while looking for something else.

Summery Light, delicate or warm and sunny.

Sumptuous Lush, luxurious.

Surreptitious Secretive, sneaky.

Susquehanna A river in Pennsylvania.

Susurrous Whispering, hissing.

Talisman A good luck charm.

Tintinnabulation Tinkling.

Umbrella Protection from sun or rain.

Untoward Unseemly, inappropriate.

Vestigial In trace amounts.

Wafture Waving.

Wherewithal The means.

Woebegone Sorrowful, downcast.