When I was in high school and even more insufferable than I am now, a friend and I started a tumblr called "sun words". The concept of this was to collect words that we discovered that were particularly succulent or mellifluous.
I have found myself learning more and more words recently. This is fun and good: I was worried for a while that my days of adapting and playing with the English language were largely behind me. I thought it would be interesting and illustrative to collect a list of the words I've learned recently alongside the sources from which I've gleaned them.
When I first started building this catalog, I expected the plurality to be from the NYT crossword 2, and the data appears to bear that out:
- manuport: a natural object that has been deliberately taken from its original environment and relocated without further modification
- parvenu: a person of obscure origin who has gained wealth, influence, or celebrity.
- asthenia: abnormal physical weakness or lack of energy
- hoosegow: a prison (via Fargo (Season 5))
- stentorian: loud (via NYT Crossword)
- ratiocination: a process of exact thinking
- limerence: a state of involuntary obsession with another person
- iatrogenic: relating to illness caused by medical examination or treatment.
- sequelae: a condition which is the consequence of a previous disease or injury.
- ostranenie: the artistic technique of presenting to audiences common things in an unfamiliar or strange way so they could gain new perspectives and see the world differently.
- lebensraum: the territory that a state or nation believes is needed for its natural development
- moksha: release from the cycle of rebirth impelled by the law of karma
- quondam: that once was; former
- lanai: a porch or veranda.
- analphabetism: illiteracy; the inability to read and write
- conurbation: an extended urban area, typically consisting of several towns merging with the suburbs of one or more cities.
- metanoia: change in one's way of life resulting from penitence or spiritual conversion
- pandiculation: the involuntary stretching of the soft tissues, which occurs in most animal species and is associated with transitions between cyclic biological behaviors, especially the sleep-wake rhythm
- rorqual: a streamlined whale
- quiddity: the inherent nature or essence of someone or something.
- katabasis: a mytheme or trope in which the hero embarks on a journey to the underworld
- axilla: the space below the shoulder through which vessels and nerves enter and leave the upper arm; a person's armpit.
- aborning: while being born or produced
- hormesis: a dose-response phenomenon characterized by low-dose stimulation and high-dose inhibition
- bezoar: a small stony concretion that may form in the stomachs of certain animals, especially ruminants, and which was once used as an antidote for various ailments.
- haruspicy: the art or practice of divination
- geodesy: the branch of mathematics dealing with the shape and area of the earth or large portions of it.
- buccal: Related to the cheek
- poteen: alcohol made illicitly, typically from potatoes.
- pentiment: an underlying image in a painting, especially one that has become visible when the top layer of paint has turned transparent with
- volvelle: a rotating paper 'wheel chart', often found in early astronomy or mathematical books
- diopter: a unit of refractive power that is equal to the reciprocal of the focal length (in meters) of a given lens.
- echolalia: meaningless repetition of another person's spoken words as a symptom of psychiatric disorder.
- amanuensis: a literary or artistic assistant, in particular one who takes dictation or copies manuscripts.
- ochlocracy: government by mob rule
- ferial: denoting an ordinary weekday, as opposed to one appointed for a festival or fast.
- baksheesh: a small sum of money given as a tip, bribe, or charitable donation
- finial: a distinctive ornament at the apex of a roof, pinnacle, canopy, or similar structure in a building.
- sockdolager: a forceful blow
- zhuzh: make more exciting, lively, or attractive.
- nychthemeron: a full period of night and day
- overmorrow: the day after tomorrow
- allopathy: the treatment of disease by conventional means, i.e., with drugs having opposite effects to the symptoms.
- hieratic: of or concerning priests
- paracosm: a detailed imaginary world, especially one created by a child
- morganatic: relating to or denoting a marriage in which neither the spouse of lower rank, nor any children, have any claim to the possessions or title of the spouse of higher rank.
- tulpa: an object or being that is created through spiritual or mental powers
- iatrogenic: relating to illness caused by medical examination or treatment.
- asthenosphere: the upper layer of the earth's mantle, below the lithosphere, in which there is relatively low resistance to plastic flow and convection is thought to occur.
- plat: a plot of land
- armillary: resembling an armlet or bracelet: consisting of rings or circles
- cabotage: the right to operate sea, air, or other transport services within a particular territory.
- clerestory: the upper part of the nave, choir, and transepts of a large church, containing a series of windows. It is clear of the roofs of the aisles and admits light to the central parts of the building.
- acedia: spiritual or mental sloth; apathy.
- anxiolytic: (chiefly of a drug) used to reduce anxiety.
- rhadamantine: rigorously strict or just
- eucatastrophe: a sudden and favorable resolution of events in a story; a happy ending.
- argot: the jargon or slang of a particular group or class.
- geas: an obligation or prohibition magically imposed on a person
- tonsure: a part of a monk's or priest's head left bare on top by shaving off the hair
- gruit: a herb mixture used for bittering and flavouring bee
- bouquiniste: a dealer in secondhand books
- anaglypta: a type of wallpaper that has a permanent raised design
- footling: trivial and irritating
- quango: a semipublic administrative body outside the civil service but receiving financial support from the government, which makes senior appointments to it
- mandinarate: a ruling class of scholars and elites
- spatulate: having a broad, rounded end.
- guerdon: a reward or recompense.
- aquarist: a person who keeps an aquarium
- moll: a gangster's female companion
- sedevacantism: a doctrinal position within traditionalist Catholicism which holds that the present occupier of the Holy See is not a valid pope due to the pope's espousal of one or more heresies
vranyo white lies or half-lies in Russian culture, told without the intention of (maliciously) deceiving, but as a fantasy, suppressing unpleasant parts of the truth
integument a tough outer protective layer, especially that of an animal or plant.
matutinal of or occurring in the morning.
shufti a look or reconnoiter, especially a quick one.
mahout a person who works with, rides, and tends an elephant
hob a flat metal shelf at the side or back of a fireplace, having its surface level with the top of the grate and used especially for heating pans.
pied having two or more different colors.
mandamus a judicial writ issued as a command to an inferior court or ordering a person to perform a public or statutory duty.
eigengrau the uniform dark gray background that many people report seeing in the absence of light
hegira an exodus or migration
bracken a tall fern with coarse lobed fronds, which occurs worldwide and can cover large areas.
gastrique caramelized sugar, deglazed with vinegar or other sour liquids, used as a sweet and sour flavoring for sauces
mittelstand a group of stable business enterprises in Germany, Austria and Switzerland that have proved successful in enduring economic change and turbulence
strix in the mythology of classical antiquity, was a bird of ill omen, the product of metamorphosis, that fed on human flesh and blood
souq A street market, particularly in Arabic- and Somali-speaking countries; a place where people buy and sell goods; a bazaar.
favela a slum or shantytown located within or on the outskirts of the country’s large cities
coracle a small round boat made of wickerwork covered with a watertight material, propelled with a paddle
atelic showing an action or happening as being unfinished
ignosticism the philosophical position that the question of the existence of God is meaningless
mawkish sentimental in a feeble or sickly way
leveret a young hare in its first year
orgone a supposed sexual energy or life force distributed throughout the universe that can be collected and stored (in an orgone box) for therapeutic use
grook a form of short aphoristic poem or rhyming aphorism
choreomania n uncontrollable urge to dance, especially in a frenzied, convulsive manner
spoor the track or scent of an animal
geognosis knowledge of the world
scaffa a cocktail prepared at room temperature
segigniorage revenue or a profit taken from the minting of coins, usually the difference between the value of the bullion used and the face value of the coin.
veridical coinciding with reality
dipsomania alcoholism, specifically in a form characterized by intermittent bouts of craving for alcohol.
nullifidian a person having no faith or religious belief.
ectopic in an abnormal place or position
banlieue a suburb of a French city, especially Paris.
gurn to make a grotesque face
apposite apt in the circumstances or in relation to something.
genetrix a female parent; a mother
ischemia an inadequate blood supply to an organ or part of the body, especially the heart muscles
narthex an antechamber, porch, or distinct area at the western entrance of some early Christian churches
parataxis the placing of clauses or phrases one after another, without words to indicate coordination or subordination, as in Tell me, how are you?
allograft a tissue graft from a donor of the same species as the recipient but not genetically identical
chrism a mixture of oil and balsam, consecrated and used for anointing at baptism
modiste a fashionable milliner or dressmaker
glasnost the policy or practice of more open consultative government and wider dissemination of information
jalopy an old car in a dilapidated condition
chiaroscuro the treatment of light and shade in drawing and painting.
hosanna an expression of adoration, praise, or joy
excursus a detailed discussion of a particular point in a book, usually in an appendix.
quadrille a square dance performed typically by four couples and containing five figures, each of which is a complete dance in itself.
apperception the mental process by which a person makes sense of an idea by assimilating it to the body of ideas he or she already possesses.
paternoster an elevator consisting of a series of linked doorless compartments moving continuously on an endless belt.
sumptuary relating to or denoting laws that limit private expenditure on food and personal items
catafalque a decorated wooden framework supporting the coffin of a distinguished person during a funeral or while lying in state.
oneiromancy the interpretation of dreams in order to foretell the future.
apricity the warmth of the sun in winter
oology the collection and study of birds' eggs especially in relation to their shape and coloration
terroir the complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced
nephology the study or contemplation of clouds
txoko a typically Basque type of closed gastronomical society where men come together to cook, experiment with new ways of cooking, eat and socialize
yegg a burglar or safecracker
marotte a prop stick or sceptre with a carved head on it
aubade a piece sung or played outdoors at dawn, usually as a compliment to someone
chrestomathy a selection of passages from an author or authors, designed to help in learning a language.
holon something that is simultaneously a whole in and of itself, as well as a part of a larger whole
feve a small trinket hidden in a king cake or similar dessert
scopophilia pleasure in looking; in Freudian psychoanalytic theory, an infantile instinct
apoptosis the death of cells which occurs as a normal and controlled part of an organism's growth or development.
hebetude the state of being dull or lethargic
deixis the function or use of deictic words, forms, or expressions.
pycnocline a layer in an ocean or other body of water in which water density increases rapidly with depth.
hircinous Of, or pertaining to goats; hircine
bogatyr a stock character in medieval East Slavic legends, akin to a Western European knight-errant
antinomy a contradiction between two beliefs or conclusions that are in themselves reasonable; a paradox.
adipose fat
propinquity the state of being close to someone or something; proximity.
sere (especially of vegetation) dry or withered
anosognosia a condition in which a person with a disability is cognitively unaware of having it due to an underlying physical condition
arrogate take or claim (something) without justification.
chiton a marine mollusk that has an oval flattened body with a shell of overlapping plates
hapax a word that only appears once in a work of or genus of literature or in a body of work by a particular author
etiology the investigation or attribution of the cause or reason for something, often expressed in terms of historical or mythical explanation.
polysemy the coexistence of many possible meanings for a word or phrase
slew to turn (something, such as a telescope or a ship's spar) about a fixed point that is usually the axis
berm a flat strip of land, raised bank, or terrace bordering a river or canal.
gantry a bridge-like overhead structure with a platform supporting equipment such as a crane, railroad signals, lights, or cameras.
mare large, dark, basaltic plains on Earth's Moon, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions
latibulate to hide oneself in a corner
enconium a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly.
xerophagy the practice of eating dry food, especially food cooked without oil
interstice a space that intervenes between things
figurant one that figures in a scene without speaking or without taking a prominent part
demotic denoting or relating to the kind of language used by ordinary people; popular or colloquial.
teratogen an agent that can disturb the development of the embryo or fetus
fictile capable of being molded; made of earth, clay, etc.; by a potter.
harridan an angry and unpleasant woman
concupiscence strong sexual desire; lust
picayune of little value or account; small; trifling
formulary an official list giving details of medicines that may be prescribed.
hybristophilia sexual interest in and attraction to those who commit crimes
widdershins in a direction contrary to the sun's course, considered as unlucky; counterclockwise.
pullulate to send forth sprouts, buds, etc.; germinate; sprout
factotum an employee who does all kinds of work.
gasconade extravagant boasting.
muliebrity womanly qualities; womanhood.
callipygian having well-shaped buttocks
meretricious apparently attractive but having in reality no value or integrity.
cloche a small translucent cover for protecting or forcing outdoor plants.
nictitate to blink
battement a movement in which one leg is moved outward from the body and in again
dissimulation concealment of one's thoughts, feelings, or character; pretense
ruction a noisy fight
propitiation the act of appeasing or making well-disposed a deity, thus incurring divine favor or avoiding divine retribution
lazarette a small compartment below the deck in the after end of a vessel, used for stores.
lordotic having an increased inward curving of the lumbar spine
bafflegab incomprehensible or pretentious language, especially bureaucratic jargon.
tonneau the part of an automobile, typically an open car, occupied by the back seats
redolent exuding fragrance : aromatic
snee to cut or thrust with a knife, esp when fighting
agnate a relative whose kinship is traceable exclusively through males
wainscott line (a room or wall) with wooden paneling
ariose characterized by melody; songlike
sangfroid composure or coolness, sometimes excessive, as shown in danger or under trying circumstances.
erumpent bursting forth or through a surface
mell to blend; mix; meld. to meddle; concern oneself
thurible censer
aureate denoting, made of, or having the color of gold
transom a strengthening crossbar, in particular one set above a window or door
febrile feverish
travois a type of sledge used to carry goods, consisting of two joined poles pulled by a horse or dog.
agential of, relating to, or expressive of an agent or agency
chaparral vegetation consisting chiefly of tangled shrubs and thorny bushes.
gamine a young woman with a mischievous, boyish charm
novena a form of worship consisting of special prayers or services on nine successive days.
oscular related to kissing
alterity the state of being other or different; otherness.
uxorious having or showing an excessive or submissive fondness for one's wife
interpellate to question (someone, such as a foreign minister) formally concerning an official action or policy or personal conduct
oriel a projection from the wall of a building, typically supported from the ground or by corbels
caconym an incorrect name for something
perihelion the point in the orbit of a planet, asteroid, or comet at which it is closest to the sun
pettifogging placing undue emphasis on petty details
agnotology the study of deliberate, culturally-induced ignorance or doubt, typically to sell a product or win favour
ontogenesis the development of an individual organism or anatomical or behavioral feature from the earliest stage to maturity
hiatal of, relating to, or involving a hiatus
hamartia a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine.
salubrious favorable to or promoting health or well-being
canticle a hymn or chant, typically with a biblical text, forming a regular part of a church service.
sacristy a room in a church where a priest prepares for a service, and where vestments and other things used in worship are kept.
cay a low bank or reef of coral, rock, or sand
palooka a stupid, clumsy, or uncouth person
deontic relating to duty and obligation as ethical concepts
tatterdemalion a person in tattered clothing; a shabby person
pythonist a person who professes to prophesy through some divine or esoteric inspiration
ataraxy a state of serene calmness
sybarite a person who is self-indulgent in their fondness for sensuous luxury
snood an ornamental hairnet or fabric bag worn over the hair at the back of a woman's head
peripatetic traveling from place to place, in particular working or based in various places for relatively short periods.
antrum a natural chamber or cavity in a bone or other anatomical structure
aneuploidy the presence of an abnormal number of chromosomes in a cell, for example a human cell having 45 or 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46
passerine relating to or denoting birds of a large order distinguished by feet that are adapted for perching, including all songbirds.
rill a small stream
gouache a method of painting using opaque pigments ground in water and thickened with a gluelike substance.
friable easily crumbled
panegyric a public speech or published text in praise of someone or something
efflux something given off in as or as if in a stream
tenebrous dark; shadowy or obscure
doyenne a woman who is the most respected or prominent person in a particular field
chiral asymmetric in such a way that the structure and its mirror image are not superimposable
solecism a grammatical mistake in speech or writing
exaptation a trait that has been co-opted for a use other than the one for which natural selection has built it
lustic vigorous; jovial
voluptuary a person devoted to luxury and sensual pleasure
bedizen dress up or decorate gaudily.
locavore a person whose diet consists only or principally of locally grown or produced food.
ostinato a motif or phrase that persistently repeats in the same musical voice and/or pitch
martinet a strict disciplinarian, especially in the armed forces.
attar a fragrant essential oil, typically made from rose petals.
apophasis a rhetorical device wherein the speaker or writer brings up a subject by either denying it
belletrist a person who writes essays, particularly on literary and artistic criticism, that are composed and read primarily for their aesthetic effect
psychosphere the sphere or realm of human consciousness
clowder a group of cats
ort a scrap or remainder of food from a meal
afflatus a divine creative impulse or inspiration
desacralize to divest of sacred qualities or status
apophenia the tendency to perceive meaningful connections between seemingly unrelated things
stertoreous snoring; hardly breathing
chiffonier a tall chest of drawers, often with a mirror on top.
recusancy refusal to submit to established authority
denude strip (something) of its covering, possessions, or assets; make bare
nudnik a pestering, nagging, or irritating person; a bore.
collimate make (rays of light or particles) accurately parallel
naphtha a flammable oil
threnody a lament
mishegaas craziness; senseless behavior or activity
antapex the point of the celestial sphere from which the solar system is moving
fissile able to undergo nuclear fission; easily split
dun to nag someone about paying a debt
quorate having a sufficient number of members to constitute a quorum
parimutuel a form of betting in which those backing the first three places divide the losers' stakes
graphomania the compulsion to write
pluviophile a lover of rain
remainderman the person who inherits or is entitled to inherit property upon the termination of the life estate of the former owner
fillip something which acts as a stimulus or boost to an activity.
unicursal relating to or denoting a curve or surface which is closed and can be drawn or swept out in a single movement
pikuach nefesh the principle in Jewish law that the preservation of human life overrides virtually any other religious rule. When the life of a specific person is in danger, almost any mitzvah lo ta'aseh of the Torah becomes inapplicable
shirr bake an egg without its shell
asperity harshness of tone or manner
gangue the commercially valueless material in which ore is found
pericarp the part of the fruit formed from the wall of the ripened ovary
pleonastic needlessly wordy or redundant (“I heard it with my own ears”)
poryphyry a hard igneous rock containing crystals, usually of feldspar, in a fine-grained, typically reddish groundmass.
syntony the state of being normally responsive to and in harmony with the environment
crypticity the condition or state of something being cryptic
quirt a short-handled riding whip with a braided leather lash
ailurophobe someone who is irrationally afraid of cats
votary a person, such as a monk or nun, who has made vows of dedication to religious service
anneal to heat something and allow it to cool slowly, in order to remove internal stresses and toughen it.
chanticleer rooster
burgess an inhabitant of a town or borough with full rights of citizenship
escheat the reversion of property to the state on the owner's dying without legal heirs
parson a beneficed member of the clergy; a rector or a vicar
ratiocination the process of exact thinking
stemwinder an entertaining and rousing speech
natant swimming or afloat
brumation a state or condition of sluggishness, inactivity, or torpor exhibited by reptiles
adumbrate report or represent in outline
dudgeon a feeling of offense or deep resentment
septentrional related to the north; northern
aileron a hinged surface in the trailing edge of an airplane wing, used to control lateral balance
antedating an example or instance of a word/phrase at a date earlier than previously known
antinomianism any view which rejects laws or legalism and argues against moral, religious or social norms
cotyledon an embryonic leaf in seed-bearing plants
crenellation the battlements of a castle or other building
engram a unit of cognitive information inside the brain
fibril a small or slender fiber
flexion the action of bending or the condition of being bent
roan denoting an animal with gray/silvery hair
spinnaker a sail designed specifically for sailing off the wind
calumny the making of false and defamatory statements about someone in order to damage their reputation; slander.
vibratiuncle a miniscule or slight vibration
bollix to bungle (ie a task)
tonsorial relating to hairdressing
gravitic of or pertaining to gravity
susurrus whispering, murmuring, or rustling.
culvert a tunnel carrying a stream or open drain under a road or railroad
quidnunc an inquisitive and gossipy person
interwork be able to connect, communicate, or exchange data
kvell feel happy and proud
piolet ice axe
muon an unstable subatomic particle of the same class as an electron
plenum an assembly of all the members of a group or committee
rodomontade boastful or inflated talk or behavior.
tref not kosher
geometer a specialist in geometry (i.e. for mapmaking or exploration)
irenic aiming at peace
egest to discharge, as from the body; void (opposed to ingest)
dolorous feeling or expressing great sorrow or distress.
autogyro a type of rotorcraft that uses an unpowered rotor in free autorotation to develop lift
neonate a newborn child
neotony the retention of juvenile features in the adult animal
quincunx an arrangement of five objects with four at the corners of a square or rectangle and the fifth at its center
neoteric new or modern; recent
ablation a procedure for restoring normal heart rhythm
clement mild and peaceful
oracular hard to interpret; enigmatic
carom strike and rebound
dysgenic exerting a detrimental effect on later generations through the inheritance of undesirable characteristics
oleaginous rich with, covered in, or heavily producing oil or grease
extirpate root out and destroy completely
suet the hard white fat on the kidneys and loins of cattle, sheep, and other animals, used to make foods including puddings, pastry, and mincemeat
offal the entrails and internal organs of an animal used as food.
syncytium a single cell or cytoplasmic mass containing several nuclei, formed by fusion of cells or by division of nuclei
funicular a cable railroad, especially one on a mountainside, in which ascending and descending cars are counterbalanced.
salvific leading to salvation
missal a book containing the texts used in the Catholic Mass throughout the year
aporia an irresolvable internal contradiction or logical disjunction in a text, argument, or theory
slatternly (relating to a woman’s appearance) dirty and untidy
chthonic concerning, belonging to, or inhabiting the underworld.
gongoozler a person who enjoys watching activity on the canals of the United Kingdom
soteriology the doctrine of salvation
trilemma a difficult choice from three options, each of which is (or appears) unacceptable or unfavourable
alimentary relating to nourishment or sustenance.
helpmate a helpful companion or partner, especially one's husband or wife.
squamous covered with or characterized by scales
dewclaw a rudimentary inner toe present in some dogs
dropsy a non-technical edema
concomitant naturally accompanying or associated
weir a low dam built across a river to raise the water level upstream
miserablist a person who appears to enjoy being depressed, esp a performer of or listener to gloomy music
autarky economic independence or self-sufficiency
slue turn or slide violently or uncontrollably in a particular direction.
elucubrate to solve, write, or compose by working studiously at all hours
toyetic potentially marketable as a toy or having merchandising potential
scripturient having a strong urge to write
lustration a rite of purification, especially washing
oryx a species of large antelopes
glabrous free from hair or down; smooth
orts table scraps
saturnine slow and gloomy
cachinnate to laugh loudly or immoderately
loge a small enclosure or booth in a theatre or arena
varietist one who varies from the norm
sestet the last six lines of a sonnet
doctrinaire seeking to impose a doctrine in all circumstances without regard to practical considerations.
impecunious having little or no money
arrant complete; utter
goldbrick invent excuses to avoid a task; shirk.
cartouche a carved tablet or drawing representing a scroll with rolled-up ends
timpani kettledrums, especially when played by one musician in an orchestra
coati a type of raccoon with a long snout and a striped tail
amphigory nonsense verse
apothegm short, witty aphorism
besserwisser know-it-all, wiseguy, wiseacre, smart aleck
enchiridion carried reference book
eunoia beautiful thinking
olio a miscellaneous collection of things
phrontistery a place for studying
selcouth strange; unfamiliar; marvelous
piste a ski run of compacted snow.
autochthonous native to the place where found (ant. allochthonous)
polity an organized society; a state as a political entity
calf a floating piece of ice detached from an iceberg.
