A lexicon of unusual and archaic words.

abjure - 1. To repudiate or recant solemnly; to renounce under oath; forswear. 2. To give
abnegate - To deny to oneself; to give up; renounce; to practise self sacrifice.
abrogate - To abolish or annul by authority. Also n. Abrogation, n. Abrogator
abstruse - Difficult to understand due to technical complication or being somewhat obscure.
acephalous - 1. Headless or lacking a clearly defined head. 2. Having no leader eg: an acepha
acerate - Pointed at one end; needle shaped. Compare `acerose' which is used incorrectly t
acerbate - (rare) To vex or annoy
acrimonious - Bitter and caustic in speech, tone or manner; rancorous.
acrimony - Bitterness or ill natured animosity.
acuity - Keeness, sharpness or acuteness, especially of senses of the mind.
adduce - to cite as an example, reason, or proof in a formal discussion or analysis. e
aegis - Protection or sponsorship - `under the aegis of Zeus'
alacrity - 1. Cheerful willingness; willingness. 2. Lively action; sprightliness.
algophilist - One who enjoys pain. Could be used to describe a sadist, masochist or sado-maso
ambit - 1. An external boundary. 2. The sphere or scope of something.
ameliorate - To make better. Also 'amelioration (n.)' - something which has been improved, e
anacreontic - jovial, festive and amorous; celebrating love and drinking.
anlage - A fundamental principle; a primordium; the cells from which an embryo develops.
anodyne - 1. Able to soothe or relieve pain; relaxing. 2. Watered down; insipid; innocuous
anserine - Pertaining to a goose. Stupid, silly, foolish. Can also use `anserous' when mea
aphonia - A loss of speech, voiceless. adj. aphonic
aphotic - Without light, especially when designating the level below the ocean below which
apologist - A person who argues in defence or justification of another.
approbation - 1. Praise; commendation. 2. Official approval.
arrant - Notorious. eg The arrant thief.
arrogate - To presumptiously claim without right. eg: in the case of a usurper of a throne.
artisanal - (unattested) To be skilled in an art or craft.
asseverate - To declare seriously or positively; affirm.
assiduity - (pr. a siddew eti) (see assiduous) 1. Constant and constant application; unflagg
assiduous - 1. Constant in attentiveness; diligent; devoted. 2. Unceasing, persistent.
athwart - 1. Side to side, crossways. 2. So as to thwart or obstruct; perversely. 3. (naut
auriferous - Containing gold; gold bearing. Said of rocks or gravels.
auriform - Ear-shaped. Also `auriculate' - having ears or earlike projections; having the
auspice - pl. auspices 1. Protection or support; patronage - `under the auspices of'. 2. A
austere - (archaic) Having a bitter or sour taste; astringent.
aver - 1. To declare in a positive manner; affirm. 2. To assert formally as fact; prove
avulsion - 1. A ripping off or forciple separation, as of a part of the body by injury. 2.
avuncular - 1. Of, pertaining to, or resembling an uncle, especially a benevolent one. 2. Ki
baleful - Harmful or malignant in intent or effect. Portending evil.
baneful - Full of venom or harm, poisonous, destructive. Causing death or ruin.
bellicose - (pr.`belli-koss') Warlike in manner or temperament; pugnacious. adv. Bellicosit
benumb - 1. To make numb, especially by cold. 2. To make inactive; stupefy.
blandish - To coax by flattery or cajolement.
blandishment - (usually plural, see blandish) Flattery or wheedling.
blithesome - (archaic or poetic) Cheerful; merry.
bosky - (literary) 1. Covered by bushes, shrubs or trees. 2. Shaded by trees or bushes.
buckram - 1. (archaic) Stiffness; formality. 2. Coarse cotton fabric steeped in glue, used
bucolic - (pr. bew-kollic) 1. Of or characteristic of shepherds and flocks. 2. Of or char
- calumny - A malicious lie to injure a person's reputation.
cant - 1. Hypocritically mindless language. 2, Platitudes uttered mindlessly. 3. Specia
cantle - 1. The rear part of a saddle. 2. A corner or portion especially when cut off fro
caprice - (`ka-preese') 1. An impulsive change of mind. 2. An inclination to make such ch
casement - A window frame on a hinge. Suitably mediaeval term for a window
catafalque - The raised structure that a coffin rests upon, as during a state funeral.
cautery - A caustic agent or very hot or very cold instrument used, especially in wounds,
cavil - 1. To raise unnecessary or trivial objections; to carp. Used with at, about or w
celerity - 1. Rapidity of motion or action 2. Speed or quickness of thought. 3. www.celerit
chalcedony - A family of colored quartz, usually with a milky or waxy appearance, including c
choler - Biliousness; anger; irritability.
clave - Past tense of cleave (to split) and cleave (to cling).
cleave - (archaic) To adhere, cling or stick fast. To be faithful. "Cleave to that which
climacteric - A critical point. Especially in a person's life. Can also mean the menopause, b
colporteur - A peddlar of devotional literature.
comity - (pl. ~ties) Civility; Courtesy. This word is used in a formal sense.
condign - (pr. kon-dine) Deserved; adequate; merited. Said of punishment or censure. adv.
connive - 1. To feign ignorance of a wrong, thus implying tacit encouragement or consent.
connivent - (see connive) Converging and touching, but not fused together. Usually used for
connote - 1. To suggest or imply in addition to literal meaning. 2. To invoke as a conditi
contumacious - (see contumacy) Rebellious; insubordinate
contumacy - (pl. contumacies, see contumacious) Obstinate or contemptuous disregard for auth
contumely - (adj. contumelious, adv. contumeliously) 1. Rudeness or contempt in behaviour or
contuse - To injure without breaking the skin.
conventicle - 1. A religious meeting, especially a secret or illegal one, 2. A building used
Copernican Principle - The supposition that wherever one is in place or time, it is unlikely to be part
copula - (logic) The word or words that serve as a link between the subject and predicat
coterie - A small, select group of people who meet frequently and share an artistic abilit
couth - Refined, suave or cultured.
crepitus - 1. The rattling sound in the lungs heard from someone suffering from pneumonia.
crepuscular - 1. Active during twilight hours. 2. Dim or hazy like twilight.
culver - (poetic) A dove or a pigeon.
cumber - (archaic) 1. To weigh down; burden 2. To hamper; obstruct. May also be used as
curmudgeon - 1. A surly person. 2 A mean, miserly person.
curtail - (see curtal) To reduce by or as if by cutting short. n. curtailment.
curtal - (obsolete) To dock the tail of a horse - (see curtail)
deleterious - Having a harmful effect; injurious
depurate - 1. To cleanse or purify. 2. intr. To become cleansed or purified.
dewlap - The fold of wrinkly, pendulous skin found at the neck of an old person!
diffident - 1. Lacking self confidence; timid; unassertive.
discommode - (formal) To put to inconvenience; to disturb.
dolmen - Any prehistoric megalithic structure comprised of two or more vertical stones su
dribber - (archery) An inaccurate archer.
dulcify - To make agreeable or mollify gently. To sweeten. From archaic `dulcet' meaning
ebullient - 1. Overflowing with excitement, enthusiasm or exuberance. 2. Boiling. Said of a
ebullition - 1. The bubbling or effervescence of a liquid; a boiling. 2. A sudden, violent, o
effluvium - (pl. ~via) Foul smelling vapour or fumes emanating from decaying matter.
effulgent - Resplendent. Shining forth brilliantly.
effusive - 1. Irrepressibly demonstrative. 2. Unrestrained in emotional expression; gushing
egesta - Egested matter, especially excrement.
egregious - 1 (archaic) Distinguished. 2. Conspicuously bad.
empyreal - Of the sky. Heavenly. Sublime.
emulous - To have ambition fueled by rivalry.
encomium - A formal expression of lofty praise; a tribute; a eulogy.
ensiform - Sword shaped.
ephemeral - Short lived or transitory.
epispastic - Causing blisters. ~n. A blistering agent; a a vesicatory.
equivocal - 1. deliberately ambiguous, with the intention to mislead or confuse: "The langua
equivocate - 1 : to use equivocal language, especially with the intent to deceive 2 : to avo
erhine - Promoting nasal discharge ~n. An erhine medicine.
eschew - To habitually avoid, especially on moral or practical grounds :
esoteric - Intended for or understood only by a small minority.
excise - 1. To delete a passage of text. 2. To remove as if by cutting. Especially of an
execrable - 1. Detestable; abominable; abhorrent. 2. Extremely inferior; very bad.
execrate - 1. (archaic) To invoke a curse upon; curse. 2. To inveigh against; denounce. 3.
execration - 1. A curse. 2. Something that is loathed. 3. The act of execrating.
extirpate - 1. To uproot. 2. To destroy completely; exterminate. 3. To remove by surgery.
- fain - (all archaic) Preferably; Gladly. ~adj. 1. Ready, willing. 2. Obliged or require
febrile - Pertaining to fever. Feverish.
feckless - Feeble. Lacking in purpose. Also 'Feck' - one who is feckless (and an amusing
feculent - Full of foul matter, dregs.
fishtailing - (archery) Said of an arrow that flails from side to side in flight.
fledge - To take care of a young bird until it is ready for flight.
flense - To strip skin or blubber.
foetor - Strong stench. (variation : fetor)
Force Majeure - An unexpected event which releases one from ones obligations. Lit. superior forc
gadding - (archery) The erratic flight of an arrow.
gibbous - 1. Rounded; convex; protuberant. 2. More than half but less than fully illuminat
globate, globated - Having the shape of a globe; globular.
gracile - (pr. gras-eel) 1. Gracefully slender. 2. (rare) Graceful
gubbins - 1. Something worthless. 2. A device or utensil (sometimes used when the name i
gust - (archaic) Personal taste or inclination. `Gusted' - having a particular taste e
hiatus - 1. A gap or missing section; a lacuna. 2. Any loss or interruption in time or co
hie - (Poetic) To go quickly; hasten; hurry. Also `hied,' `hying,' `hieing,' `hies,'
hiemal - Occurring in or pertaining to winter.
hipped - (archaic) Melancholy; sad; depressed. (Note, I'm not particularly surprised
hircine - Having the characteristics of a goat, especially in the sense of having a strong
hirsel - 1. The sheep under charge of a shepherd. 2. The ground they occupy. (Note, this
hirsute - Covered or coated with hair.
hubris - (pr. hew-briss) 1. Overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance. adj. hubristic
impecunious - Lacking in money; penniless; poor.
importunate - 1. Stubbornly or unreasonably persistant in request or demand. 2. Urgent; pressi
imprecate - To invoke (usually evil or a curse) upon. (n. Imprecation.)
inchoation - A beginning; a start; an origin. (adj. Inchoate has much the same meaning as `in
incipient - In an initial or early stage. Just beginning to emerge or exist. Compare n. `in
incondite - (rare) Poorly constructed; crude. Said of literary or artistic compositions.
inculate - To teach or impress by forceful urging or frequent repetition; instil.
ineffable - 1. Beyond expression; indescribable or unspeakable. 2. Not to be uttered; taboo.
inefficacious - Not producing a desired effect or result.
ingeminate - Incessant urging or reiteration. Also 'ingeminated.'
iniquity - Wicked or sinful. Also 'iniquitous.'
intire - 1. Pertaining to integrity. "Honest and intire men" 2. Obsolete for `entire.' (n
intumescence - 1. The process or condition of swelling. 2. A swollen organ or part. intr.v. int
inure - To make used to something unpleasant by forced or prolonged subjection. Usually
inutile - Useless.
invaginate - 1. To enclose in or as in a sheath. 2. To turn within oneself; introvert.
inveigle - 1. To lead astray or win over by deceitful flattery or persuasion. 2. To obtain
invidious - 1. Tending to arouse ill will or animosity; offensive. "An invidious law." 2. C
irony - Having "ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife" could be ironic... "ra
jactation - (rare) Bragging or boasting.
jejune - 1. Childish, immature, unsophisticated. 2. Lacking in substance; insipid; dull.
jorum - 1. A large drinking bowl. 2. The amount of liquid such a bowl contains.
karst - A barren limestone or dolomite region typified by sinkholes, fissures, undergrou
lachrymose - 1. Weeping or inclined to weep; tearful. 2. Causing tears; sorrowful. 3. Lugubri
laciniate - 1. Fringed. 2. Having edges cut into narrow fringelike segments. (variation: l
laconic - Expressed in or using few words; terse; succinct.
lambent - 1. Flickering lightly or gently over a surface. 2. Flicking over subjects with e
lassitude - A state of exhaustion or torpor. Synonyms: lethargy, apathy, languorous, listle
limn - (archaic) To depict by painting or drawing. To describe. Also 'limned','limni
locus - A site considered to be the centre of a particular activity. pl. `Loci'
longueur - (often plural) 1. A boring or tedious period of time. 2. A tedious, overlong
loose - (archery) To release the arrow. Note: the word `fire' was only used after the in
losel - (archaic) One who is without worth.
lubricious - 1. Characterised by lewdness. 2. Elusive. 3. Slippery. (variation: lubricous)
lucubrate - To write in a scholarly fashion.
lucubration - 1. a. Laborious studying or writing. b. A product of such study, such as a treat
luculent - (archaic) Easily understood; clear; lucid.
lugubrious - 1. Mournful or doleful, especially to an excessive degree. 2.
lupine - (pr. loo-pin) 1. Wolflike. 2. Rapacious; ravenous.
margarite - (archaic) A pearl.
maugre - (archaic) 1. In spite of; Notwithstanding. eg: "I will follow you, maugre your
mawk - (obsolete) Maggot
meed - (archaic) A merited gift or reward.
melisma - A passage of several notes sung to one syllable of text eg Gregorian Chant. Also
mellifluous - 1. Flowing with honey or sweetness. 2. Smooth and sweet. Rich and harmonious. S
mendacious - (formal) A person who is lying or is untruthful. False, dishonest. Also 'Mendac
mendicant - 1. Dependent upon alms for a living. Having the characteristics or countenance
meretricious - 1a. Superficially attractive. 1b. Attracting attention in a vulgar manner. 2. La
meritocracy - A system or society where advancement is achieved on merit or ability. 2a. An el
militate - 1. To have force as evidence or influence. Used with against or (rarely) for. `t
milliner - 1. A person who makes, trims, sells or designs women's hats (sold in a millinery
misanthrope - A person who distrusts or dislikes humankind. Also `misanthropist.'
misologist - A person who doesn't tolerate reason, argument or enlightenment (everybody knows
mittimus - (Law) 1. A writ committing someone to prison. 2. (British Archaic) A dismissal.
moratorium - 1. A deferment or delay of any action
morbific - Causing or producing disease; pathogenic.
mordacious - 1. Given to biting. 2. Caustic; sarcastic adv. mordacity From Latin `mord
Mordant - 1a. Bitingly sarcastic. 1b. Incisive and trenchant. 2. Bitingly painful. n. 1. C
moue - (pr. moo) A sulky or disdainful expression; a pout.
mutable - Prone to change. Fickle. Also 'mutability.'
nacreous - 1. Consisting of mother-of-pearl. 2. Like mother-of pearl; pearly.
nidor - The smell of burned flesh. (This is very rare but has been verified...)
obdurate - Hardened against good or moral influence. Stubbornly impenitent.
obstreperous - 1. Noisily defiant; unruly, boisterously unmanageable.
opine - (formal) To hold or state as an opinion; to think.
opprobrious - 1. Expressing or carrying a sense of disgrace or contemptuous scorn - `opprobrio
opprobrium - 1. Disgrace inherent in or arising from shameful misconduct; ignominy. 2. Scorn
orthography - The art or study of correct spelling according to usage.
ossify - 1. To change into bone; to become bony. 2. To become set in a rigidly convention
palliate - 1. To make (an offence or crime) seem less serious; extenuate; excuse. 2. To mak
pari passu - A banking term, meaning at an equal rate or pace. It implies fairness and impart
parvenu - A person who has risen above their class or station. Usually used derogatorily.
penurious - 1. Miserly; stingy. 2. Poverty stricken; needy. 3. Yielding little; barren.
penury - [1] A state of extreme poverty; to be very poor [2] Dearth; barrenness; insuffi
peradventure - (archaic) Perhaps; perchance; it may be. ~n (archaic) Uncertainty; doubt - `beyo
peregrine - (archaic) 1. Foreign; alien. 3. Roving or wandering; migratory.
peremptory - 1. Overbearing; imperious. 2. Having the nature of or expressing command; urgent
perigrinate - -intr. To journey or travel from place to place, usually over a long time and ov
perorate - To speak at great length, often in an inflated, pompous manner; declaim
peroration - The concluding part of a speech or written discourse, usually consisting of a fo
perspicacious - 1. Acutely discerning, perceptive or understanding. adv. perspicacity
pike - (archery) To shorten a longbow and thus increase its draw weight.
pithy - Precisely meaningful, cogent and terse. Also `pithiness', `pithily'
plangent - Any sound which strikes with reverberation or is loud and resounding, eg. waves
pleonasm - 1. The use of more words than are required to express an idea; redundancy. 2. A
polemic - Any virulent criticism, especially of an established doctrine, eg. "Cease your
porpoising - (archery) Said of arrows that dip up and down whilst in flight.
precipitous - [1] reckless, hasty [2] characterized by precipices [3] abrupt: extremely stee
preclude - 1. To make impossible or impracticable by previous action; prevent. 2. To bar or
preferment - 1. The act of advancing to higher office or rank. 2. A position, appointment or
probity - Complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness; honesty.
procrastinate - 1. To put off doing something until a future time. n. procrastination.
prodigality - 1. Extravagant wastefulness. 2. Profuse genorosity. 3. Extreme abundance; lavish
pustulation - 1. The formatuion or appearance of pustules. 2. A pustule.
quiescent - Inactive or still; dormant.
quietus - 1. Anything that kills or eliminates; a deathblow. 2. Release from life; death.
quixotic - (pr. kwic-sottic) Caught up in the romance of noble deeds or unreachable ideals
repudiate - 1. To reject emphatically as unfounded or unjust. 2a. To refuse to accept or rec
repugn - (archaic) To resist or oppose. ~intr. to be opposed; conflict.
rhetorician - 1. An expert in or teacher of rhetoric. 2. An eloquent speaker or writer. 3. One
rill - A small rivulet of liquid.
rogation - (usually plural) A solemn prayer or supplication.
rubescent - Reddening; to go red.
rubicund - Having or showing a healthy rosiness; ruddy.
sanguinary - 1. Accompanied by bloodshed and carnage. 2. Bloodthirsty. 3. Consisting of or st
sanguine - 1a. (archaic) The colour of blood. b. Ruddy; florid. Said of the complexion. 2.
sardonic - Implying scorn or mockery overlaid with cynicism. Can describe both content and
sartorial - Pertaining to clothes, fashion or a tailor.
sectary - A dissenter from an established church.
sectile - Capable of being cut or severed smoothly by a knife.
segue - 1. (music) An uninterrupted transition from one movement to another. v. segued
sententious - Meaning: Terse, pithy and aphoristic in expression. Fond of using maxims or aph
sequacious - (archaic) Disposed to follow others in a slavish or unquestioning way.
sequestrate - 1. (archaic) To set apart. 2. (law) To seize.
seraglio - 1. A large harem. 2. A sultan's palace.
sere - (literary) Withered; dry.
setose - Bristly or bristle-like; setaceous.
similitude - 1. Similarity. 2. Something closing resembling another; a counterpart; a double.
slatternly - 1. Slovenly; untidy. 2. Characteristic of a slattern. n. Slattern. 1. A woman w
solicitude - Anxiety or concern.
solipsism - A theory holding that the self can know nothing but its own modifications and th
sorrel - 1. Brownish orange to light brown. 2. A horse of this colour.
soubriquet - An affectionate or humorous nickname. An assumed name. (variation: sobrique
sough - (pr. `sow' or `suf') To make a soft or soothing sound, especially murmuring or r
specious - 1. Seemingly fair or reasonable, but actually not so; deceptive - `a specious re
splenetic - 1. (archaic) Melancholy. 2. Ill tempered, spiteful or irritable. ~n. An ill-hum
stele - 1. An upright stone or slab with an inscribed or sculpted surface used as a monu
stertor - A heavy snoring sound in deep sleep, caused by obstruction of the air passages.
sybarite - A person devoted to pleasure and luxury. Also `sybaritic'
syllogism - 1. A deduction from a general premise to its logical conclusion. 2. A subtle or
ubiquitous - Being or seeming to be everywhere at the same time; omnipresent ~n. ubiquity.
ultracrepidarian - Acting or speaking outside one's experience, knowledge or ability. ~n. One who a
umbra (pl. umbras, umbrae) - A dark area; specifically, the blackest part of a shadow from which all light is
umbrage - (archaic & poetic) Something that affords shade; Shadow or shade; A shadowy hint
unction - 1. The act of anointing as part of a religious or healing ritual. 2. An ointment
unctuous - 1. Having the quality or characteristics of oil or ointment; greasy; slippery. 2
uxorious - (Formal and Literary) Excessively or irrationally devoted to one's wife.
vacillate - 1. To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another; be irr
veracious - 1. Honest; truthful. 2. Accurate; precise. ~n. veracity- Habitual adherence to t
vicarious - 1. An act fulfilled by the substitution of the actual offender or target with so
virid - Verdant; green with or as with vegetation.
vitiate - [1] to make faulty or defective; to impair the value or quality of; spoil. [2]
voluble - 1. Characterised by a ready flow of words in speaking; fluent; loquacious. 2. (a
vug, vugh - A small cavity in a rock or vein, especially one lined with crystals (From Corni
vulnerary - (rare) A remedy used in the healing or treatment of wounds.
wadmal - Any outer garment of thick, rough cloth, formerly used by country people in Nort
warison - A bugle call giving the command to attack. A war cry.
welkin - (archaic) 1. The vault of heaven; the sky; "make the welkin ring." 2. The upper
wieldy - 1. Easily wielded 2. Nimble, agile or vigorous. Also `wieldsome' (obsolete)
- yare - (pr. `Yair' archaic) 1. Responding easily, manoeuvrable. Said of a sailing vesse
yaud - (rare) An old mare or decrepit horse.
yeanling - The young of a sheep or a goat, ie. a lamb or a kid.