1999

emolument: the wages or perquisites arising from office, employment, or labor.

palindrome: a word, verse, phrase, or sentence that reads the same backward or forward.
deprecate: to disapprove of; also, to belittle.
bivouac: a usually temporary encampment; also, to encamp.
umbrage: offense; resentment.
incipient: beginning to exist or appear.
dapple: a small contrasting blotch; also, to mark with spots.
pugnacious: combative; quarrelsome.
capitulate: to surrender under agreed conditions.
susurrus: a whispering or rustling sound.
thaumaturgy: the performing of miracles or magic.
capacious: able to contain much.
glower: to stare angrily or with a scowl.
canorous: melodious; musical.
repast: a meal.
spoonerism: the transposition of usually initial sounds in a pair of words.
tenebrous: dark; gloomy.
nescience: lack of knowledge or awareness.
gewgaw: a trinket; a bauble.
effulgence: the state of being bright and radiant.
assuage: to soften; to ease, or lessen.
exiguity: smallness; thinness; the quality of being meager.
seriatim: in a series; one after another.
tmesis: in grammar and rhetoric, the separation of the parts of a compound word.
chthonic: dwelling in or under the earth; also, pertaining to the underworld.
objurgate: to scold or rebuke sharply.
plethora: excess.
lissom: supple; nimble.
badinage: light, playful talk.
propitious: presenting favorable circumstances.
inclement: harsh; severe -- especially said of the weather.
kobold: a kind of domestic spirit in German mythology.
knell: the stoke of a bell tolled at a funeral.
cogent: appealing to the mind or to reason; convincing.
regale: to entertain with something that delights.
mordant: biting; caustic; sarcastic.
agog: in eager desire.
captious: disposed to find fault or raise objections.
arbitrage: the nearly simultaneous purchase and sale of an asset in order to profit from
price discrepancies.
redoubt: a stronghold.
chichi: affectedly trendy.
taw: a large marble.
vexillology: the study of flags.
quorum: such a number of the officers or members of any body as is legally competent to
transact business.
abscond: to depart secretly.
virtu: love of or taste for fine objects of art; also, productions of art.
junta: a governmental council or committee, esp. one that rules after a revolution.
gamut: a complete extent or range.
lexicon: a dictionary; also, the vocabulary of a person, group, etc.
aestival: of or belonging to the summer.
slugabed: one who stays in bed until a late hour.
desultory: jumping from subject to subject; erratic; inconsistent.
irascible: easily provoked to anger.
acumen: quickness or keenness of perception or discernment.
scion: a descendant; an heir.
bandog: a large and fierce dog.
multifarious: having great diversity or variety.
sublunary: situated beneath the moon; terrestrial.
ebullient: high-spirited.
Brobdingnagian: gigantic; enormous.
extant: still existing.
verdant: green.
Whig: a friend and supporter of the American Revolution.
trepidation: a state of dread or alarm; apprehension.
torrid: drying or scorching with heat; burning; parching.
gnomic: uttering, containing, or characterized by maxims.
comity: a state of mutual harmony, friendship, and respect.
tyro: a novice.
avarice: an excessive desire of gain; greediness.
eke: to gain or supplement with great effort or difficulty.
tittle-tattle: idle, trifling talk.
bellwether: a leader or leading indicator.
torpid: dull; sluggish; apathetic.
grok: to understand.
ameliorate: to make or grow better.
bestow: to give or confer.
comestible: suitable to be eaten.
requisite: required; indispensable.
prolix: wordy.
sobriquet: a nickname.
Zeitgeist: the spirit of the time.
numismatics: the collection and study of coins.
palpable: plain; distinct; obvious.
listless: having no desire or inclination.
antediluvian: extremely old.
melee: a confused conflict.
genial: sympathetically cheerful and cheering; kindly.
raucous: unpleasantly loud and harsh.
aberrant: abnormal.
diffident: bashful or unassertive.
superfluous: more than is wanted or is sufficient.
gregarious: seeking and enjoying the company of others.
erudite: characterized by extensive reading or knowledge.
insouciant: Marked by blithe unconcern; nonchalant.
salubrious: healthful.
verbiage: an overabundance of words.
ascribe: to attribute.
jovial: merry; joyous; jolly.
adamant: not susceptible to persuasion; unyielding.
desideratum: something desired.
ersatz: being a substitute or imitation.
solace: comfort in grief.
triskaidekaphobia: fear of the number 13.
stoic: indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; also, one who is stoic.
encumbrance: a burden, impediment, or hindrance.
puerile: juvenile; childish.
innocuous: harmless; also, unlikely to offend or provoke.
colloquial: characteristic of informal spoken language.
eleemosynary: relating to charity; charitable.
dour: stern or unyielding or gloomy.
incongruous: lacking in harmony.
winsome: light-hearted.
apposite: of striking appropriateness and relevance.
tumult: the commotion or agitation of a crowd.
parvenu: an upstart; one newly risen in class or economic status.
riparian: of or pertaining to the bank of a river.
dilatory: given to, or marked by, procrastination or delay.
edify: to instruct and improve.
impecunious: habitually without money; poor.
polyglot: speaking or containing many languages.
sedulous: diligent in application or pursuit.
juju: an object superstitiously believed to embody magical powers.
chagrin: acute vexation or embarrassment.
metier: an occupation, especially in which one excels.
facile: easily done or performed.
perforce: by necessity.
evanescent: fleeting.
quotidian: occurring daily; also, ordinary.
specious: apparently right but not so in reality.
munificent: very generous.
indolent: lazy; inactive.
intransigent: uncompromising.
tortuous: marked by repeated turns and bends.
paucity: fewness; insufficiency.
autodidact: one who is self-taught.
fatuous: inanely foolish; stupid; also, llusory.
complement: something that fills up or completes.
taciturn: not inclined to talk.
en masse: all together; as a whole.
confluence: a flowing or coming together.
maudlin: excessively sentimental.
enervate: to weaken.
recondite: difficult to understand.
paroxysm: an outburst; a fit.
copious: large in quantity; also, affording an abundant supply.
exalt: to praise, glorify, or honor.
erroneous: containing or characterized by error.
prescience: knowledge of events before they take place.
ineluctable: impossible to avoid or evade.
obdurate: hardened in feelings or in wrongdoing; unyielding.
banal: commonplace; trivial.
affable: easy to speak to; also, gracious.
noisome: offensive or disgusting; also, harmful; unwholesome.
exacerbate: to aggravate; to make worse.
misnomer: a misnaming.
lackadaisical: lacking spirit or liveliness.
hauteur: haughtiness; arrogance.
skulk: to hide in a sneaking manner.
voluble: characterized by a ready flow of speech.
ostracize: to banish or expel.
autocrat: a ruler with unlimited authority.
beholden: obliged; indebted.
aplomb: confidence; coolness.
disheveled: in loose disorder; disarranged.
precocious: characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development.
reticent: inclined to keep silent.
legerdemain: sleight of hand.
vituperate: to overwhelm with wordy abuse.
foment: to nurse to life or activity; to incite.
contumely: rudeness compounded of haughtiness and contempt.
philomath: a lover of learning; a scholar.
aesthete: one who cultivates great sensitivity to beauty.
nefarious: wicked in the extreme.
proclivity: a natural inclination.
flout: to treat with contempt and disregard.
sesquipedalian: (of words) long; having many syllables.
inchoate: partly but not fully in existence or operation.
circumlocution: the use of many words to express an idea that might be expressed by few.
wayworn: wearied by traveling.
potable: drinkable; also, a beverage, especially an alcoholic one.
crepuscular: pertaining to twilight.
doppelganger: a ghostly double.
chimerical: merely imaginary; fanciful.
sybarite: a person devoted to luxury and pleasure.
gourmand: one who enjoys good food in great quantities.
animadversion: harsh criticism or disapproval.
desuetude: disuse.
pusillanimous: cowardly.
inculcate: to teach and impress by frequent repetition or instruction.
mien: demeanor; also, aspect; appearance.
garrulous: talkative; also, wordy.
aggrandize: to make or make appear great or greater.
sojourn: to dwell for a time; also, a temporary stay.
bombast: pompous or pretentious speech or writing.
cupidity: eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth.
berate: to scold severely or angrily.
supererogatory: going beyond what is required or expected; also, superfluous,
unnecessary.
encomium: expression of praise.
sardonic: scornful, mocking.
raconteur: one who excels in telling stories and anecdotes.
polymath: a person of great or varied learning.
extempore: without premeditation or preparation.
blandishment: flattering speech or action.
hugger-mugger: secret; also, muddled, disorderly.
quiddity: the essence or nature of a thing.
implacable: incapable of being pacified.
edacious: given to eating.
surfeit: an excessive amount; also, to supply to excess.
perspicacity: clearness of understanding.
aberrant: abnormal.
ennui: a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction arising from lack of interest.
invidious: tending to provoke envy or ill will.
jocund: light-hearted; mirthful.
panoply: a splendid or impressive array.
miscreant: a scoundrel, a villain; also, a heretic.
fugacious: lasting but a short time.
respite: an interval of rest or relief.
somnolent: drowsy; also, tending to cause sleepiness.
cavil: to raise trivial objections; also, a trivial objection.
daedal: skillful; artistic; ingenious.
sang-froid: coolness in trying circumstances.
clinquant: tinsel.
assiduous: constant in application or attention.
intractable: not easily governed, managed, or directed.
detritus: debris.
eschew: to shun; to avoid.
apogee: the highest point.
cant: empty, solemn speech.
imbroglio: a complicated and embarrassing state of things.
levity: frivolity.
choler: anger.
inure: to make used to; also, to take or have effect.
bonhomie: pleasant and easy manner.
land of Nod: sleep.
ineffable: incapable of being expressed.
vociferous: clamorous; noisy.
beneficence: the practice of doing good.
plenary: full; complete.
lassitude: lack of vitality or energy.
chary: wary; cautious.
descry: to catch sight of; to detect.
cynosure: a center of attention.
fin de siecle: characteristic of the close of the century; sophisticated; world-weary.