REPROVE (re·prove \ri-ˈprüv\), verb.
DEFINITION: to criticize or correct (in a gentle way).
EXAMPLE: Sensing the students’ regret, the headmaster reproved them for their tardiness and sent them on their way.
Cap-a-pie
CAP-A-PIE (cap–a–pie \ka-pə-‘pē\), adverb.
DEFINITION: from head to toe.
EXAMPLE: The little girl was dressed cap-a-pie as a princess – from her sparkling tiara to her ruby red slippers.
Degust
DEGUST (de·gust \dē-‘gəst\), verb.
DEFINITION: to taste or savour appreciatively.
EXAMPLE: The food critic took a careful bite, closing his eyes to fully degust the chef’s creation.
Plangent
PLANGENT (plan·gent \plan-jənt\), adjective.
DEFINITION: having a loud, mournful sound.
EXAMPLE: The veterans removed their hats and bowed their heads as the trumpeter played the first plangent notes of Taps.
Purfle
PURFLE (pur·fle verb \ˈpər-fəl\), verb.
DEFINITION: to ornament the border or edges of an object.
EXAMPLE: The craftsman purfled the edges of his hand-made cigar box with a mosaic of abalone shells, ebony and ivory.
Fleer
FLEER (fleer \ˈflir\), noun.
DEFINITION: a word or look of derision or mockery.
EXAMPLE: Caught with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar, the thief’s attempts to explain his actions were met with fleers from the police.
Inculcate
INCULCATE (in·cul·cate \in-ˈkəl-ˌkāt\), verb.
DEFINITION: to teach through repetition.
EXAMPLE: Months of daily repetition inculcated the multiplication tables into her mind.
Ruminate
RUMINATE (ru·mi·nate \ˈrü-mə-ˌnāt\), verb.
DEFINITION: to think deeply upon.
EXAMPLE: The scientist locked himself in his lab and spent the next four days ruminating about the problem.
Jink
JINK (jink \ˈjiŋk\), verb.
DEFINITION: to move quickly and unexpectedly, to dodge.
EXAMPLE: The champ jinked left to avoid the jab, then countered with a powerful uppercut to the ribs.
Inveigle
INVEIGLE (in·vei·gle \in-ˈvā-gəl\), verb.
DEFINITION: to persuade through flattery or deception.
EXAMPLE: “Of course, one as intelligent as your majesty would clearly choose the latter option,” inveighed the king’s shady counsellor.
Stroppy
STROPPY (strop·py \ˈsträ-pē\), adjective.
DEFINITION: ill-tempered, belligerent.
EXAMPLE: John McEnroe is known for his stroppy demeanor as well as his formidable tennis skills.
Mooncalf
MOONCALF (moon·calf \ˈmün-ˌkaf\), noun.
DEFINITION: a foolish person, a simpleton.
EXAMPLE: Billy strolled into the bandits’ saloon like an unsuspecting mooncalf, completely unaware of the evil swirling around him.
Kludge
KLUDGE (kludge \ˈklüj\), noun.
DEFINITION: a hastily assembled system of mismatched components.
EXAMPLE: The company’s IT system was a kludge of secondhand servers, ancient routers and salvaged hard drives.
Snollygoster
SNOLLYGOSTER (snol·ly·gos·ter \snŏl-ē-gŏs-tər\), noun.
DEFINITION: a shrewd but unscrupulous person.
EXAMPLE: That snollygoster of a politician allowed corporations to plunder the country’s natural resources in exchange for a hefty cut of the profits.
Pabulum
PABULUM (pab·u·lum \ˈpa-byə-ləm\), noun.
DEFINITION: simplistic speech, entertainment or writing.
EXAMPLE: With the world’s best books, art and music easily available, why do people still flock to pabulum like Honey Boo Boo?
Celerity
CELERITY (ce·ler·i·ty \sə-ˈler-ə-tē\), noun.
DEFINITION: speed of motion or action.
EXAMPLE: The samurai wielded his sword with pinpoint precision and breakneck celerity.
Bon Vivant
BON VIVANT (bon vi·vant \ˌbän-vē-ˈvänt\), noun.
DEFINITION: one who enjoys the finer things in life.
EXAMPLE: Richard was a bon vivant who consumed nothing but gourmet cuisine and vintage wines.
Execrate
EXECRATE (ex·e·crate \ˈek-sə-ˌkrāt\), verb.
DEFINITION: to dislike strongly, detest.
EXAMPLE: Billy execrated telemarketers so much that he never answered calls from unknown numbers.
Formicate
FORMICATE (for·mi·cate \ˈfȯr-mə-ˌkāt\), verb.
DEFINITION: to swarm with ants.
EXAMPLE: The leftovers from the picnic basket lay strewn on the grass, formicating with a black coating of ants and other assorted bugs.
Hortatory
HORTATORY (hor·ta·to·ry \ˈhȯr-tə-ˌtȯr-ē\), adjective.
DEFINITION: strongly urging, exhorting.
EXAMPLE: The wise old man’s hortatory pleas conveyed honesty and compassion, and inspired many to lead better lives.