Eric's Word test last updated 1/99
The following are a bunch of words I've seen in different publicationsI frequent. In an effort to check their real meaning (the dictionary oftenlags real usage) and to see if they are really used - i ran them againsta bunch of people of better verbal skills than I.
capital letters are used to imply accent. The trailing notation lists abbreviationsfor where I saw the word used: t- Time inky- Philly Inquirer h- Harpersus - US News and World Report SI- Skeptical Inquirer
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Aphorisms Galore!Eric Krieg word quiz Summer 94
m'etier MA tyA field of work, forte newsweek middling medium,moderate average us newsmyrmidon mythical warlike people mindless following insitenabe slang movie theater inkyparvenu Par va Noo one who suddenly obtains money us newspas de deux dance by two persons t -artsPer Curiam opinion of whole court inky -legal noticepiquant PE kent agreeably pungent, stimulating tpoetasting po et ast er inferior poet us newspointe pwant Fr. on extreme toe tip t -artsposse comitatus people called to help preserve peace insitepraxis practice (not theory) application knowledgeprobity integrity, honestyprosody study of poetic metersquotidian daily, commonplace, regular (report) t -artsraffish mildly disreputable, rakish, nonconformist t -artsrebarbative causing annoyance or aversionrecondite Rek en DIte having difficult subject matter us newsrecused to object or challenge, reject one inky -legal noticerejiggernig to modify in unethical way trenminbi in r. inkyreprise FR restart trescissions act of making void bottom linesallow pale sickly yellowish colorsangfroid san fraw cold bloodedness tsaraband vigorous spanish castenent dance tsheeny slang offensive -jew (or shinny) hsolicitude state of being anxious or concerned tsotto voce So tO VOchE in a soft voice (secretive) inkysphexism free inquiryspoor trail of a wild animal funny timessuasion advising, persuasion us newssuborn saBorn bribe inky -legal noticesui generis of its own kind, unique tsurcease desist, cease tsylphlike slender graceful (legendary) girl US newssynecdoche siNekdakE part used for whole -symbol tthrenodies elegiac, distich salubrious dirge us newstravertine a kind of limestone deposited by hot spring smithsoniantrice 1. a moment 2. to pull with a rope US newstrope a rhetorical device -words outside literal ttruculent fierce, cruel brutal vitriolic far sideuntrammeled unfettered, unhindered timevox populi voice of the peoplewend wander, to purse ones way US newswheedling to to beguile via flattering words newsweekwisteria climbing shrub with bright flowers newsweekwizened withered, shriveled inkyspecial calibration quiz
These are words from someone else's test I used just to see where I actuallystand among people who were using my list
atavismanaphorism -repetition in demagogueryaugeande rigueurdictumeclat n. aClAegregiousfaux pasglomminghagiographyhegemonyideologypatoisperfidyplethorapliepuditryredolentripostedsanguinaryschadenfreudesobriquettriptychvelleityweltanschauungyeleptyeshivazeitgeistaesthete inkyabnegationapollonian utneauctorial utnebaluos inkycassandra inkychthonic utnecineastes insitede novo em sysderacination inkydesultory timedionysian utnedoyenne timedross timeequably inkyexculpation insitefeted adj. celebrated inkyfortiori insiteflagrante utnefulminous utneinexpiable insiteinvidious insitelatte far sideleonine timelucre timemodus vivendi utnenaifen??ombudsman us newspanegyric inkyquixotic timerococo timesaturnine us newssedulous timeskunk v. timeSvengali bribe embed sysWinter 1993 Eric Krieg word test part 1
abStEmious light or moderate in in diet talights v. dismount, to settle on newsweekancien regeime french pre-revolution government tappurtenances n. something subordinate to anothertimeargot ar gO local vocabulary for special grouparmoire arm war large wardrobe or moveable cupboardinkybathos ludicrous descent from exalted, insincerebauble tchotchkes ng, Ellenbombination humming or buzzing sound t -artsbrevet honorary higher commission without pay inc.readers disgustbrocaded woven fabric with raised design hcadges to take advantage of friendship to borrow usnewscaitiff kA tif a lowly despicable person insitecalumny a false malicious statement insitecavil v. annoying objection, niggle em syschortle to chuckle gleefully (lewis carrol) sesameSt..cladistic classification of objects with branchingscienceconcierge Kon cE arz fr. door keeper us newscongeries Kon JEr Ez n. assemblage of items hcontessa itln. countess ngconurbation coalescing multicity urban area free inquirycormorant bird -used captive in china for fishingngdandle v. to move a child on knee US newsdollop n. lump or blob of substance inkydulcet pleasant to ear free inquirydreikanter pebble or boulder with 3 faces dictionaryellipsis . . . or intentional omission smithsonianevinced to show clearly, to prove timeexegesis critical examination of text (often bible)us newsexparte eks Par tE w\o chance for other side speakinky -legal noticeextant in existence smithsonianfactitious non natural, contrived insiteflorid reddish; flowery sigravamen most important part of accusation newsweekhectoring v. bullying domineering (greek hero)heGira (islam) an escape or journey hherm bust, sculpture (often of hermes) Chris todayhistrionics theatrics, over-reactingimportunist one making requests or soliciting tinterlarded v. diversify by adding unique things-speech newsweekinternecine mutually destructive, slaughteringipso facto based on the fact of itself insitejejune lacking in nutrition or interest calvin and hobesm'etier MA tyA field of work, forte newsweekmiddling medium, moderate average us newsmyrmidon mythical warlike people mindless following insitenabe slang movie theater inkyparvenu Par va Noo one who suddenly obtains money us newspas de deux dance by two persons t -artsPer Curiam opinion of whole court inky -legal noticepiquant PE kent agreeably pungent, stimulating tpoetasting po et ast er inferior poet us newspointe pwant Fr. on extreme toe tip t -artsposse comitatus people called to help preserve peace insitepraxis practice (not theory) application knowledgeprobity integrity, honestyprosody study of poetic metersquotidian daily, commonplace, regular (report) t -artsraffish mildly disreputable, rakish, nonconformist t -artsrebarbative causing annoyance or aversionrecondite Rek en DIte having difficult subject matter us newsrecused to object or challenge, reject one inky -legal noticerejiggernig to modify in unethical way trenminbi in r. inkyreprise FR restart trescissions act of making void bottom linesallow pale sickly yellowish colorsangfroid san fraw cold bloodedness tsaraband vigorous spanish castenent dance tsheeny slang offensive -jew (or shinny) hsolicitude state of being anxious or concerned tsotto voce So tO VOchE in a soft voice (secretive) inkysphexism free inquiryspoor trail of a wild animal funny timessuasion advising, persuasion us newssuborn saBorn bribe inky -legal noticesui generis of its own kind, unique tsurcease desist, cease tsylphlike slender graceful (legendary) girl US newssynecdoche siNekdakE part used for whole -symbol tthrenodies elegiac, distich salubrious dirge us newstravertine a kind of limestone deposited by hot spring smithsoniantrice 1. a moment 2. to pull with a rope US newstrope a rhetorical device -words outside literal ttruculent fierce, cruel brutal vitriolic far sideuntrammeled unfettered, unhindered timevox populi voice of the peoplewend wander, to purse ones way US newswheedling to to beguile via flattering words newsweekwisteria climbing shrub with bright flowers newsweekwizened withered, shriveled inkyFall 1993 Eric Krieg word test
aNimadVersions unfavorable censoring critique siaNodyne medicine to allay pain tanomie lawless breakdown of society tasthenic adj. of weak build, slender science newsbaleful malign influence pernicious sibiota n. life of a region or period smithsonianbon vivant n. Bon vE vant gourmand enjoying luxurycabalistic referring to mystical dualistic religion smithsoniancockalarums cok e Lor em self important little man sicrotchets crockit -whimsical notion t -artsculm coal dust or stem stalk inkyeffrontery shameless audacity (not just affront) smithsoniane'lan impetuous, elan vital creative forceescmotage ???? siextremis n. fight-or-flight condition smithsoniandefalcator misappropriations of funds sidistaff first woman appearing in field ifilial fitting a son or daughter smithsonianfunicular foo Nik yuler pertaining to top inkygrousing v. kvetch smithsonianharridan scolding vicious women, hag, srew t -arthoyden boisterous carefree tomboy t -artinfelicity n. unhappiness, bad luck embedded systemsinsuperably implacable, incapable of being passed over smithsoniankeen n. wailing, lamentations national geog.libertine liber tEn profligate, dissolute smithsonianlilt n.cadence comic stripManichaean n. dualistic religious system good vs bad tmien mEn air breathing, demeanor of noble m_ t -artsmoribund in dying state smithsonianmorose gloomynacelle n. enclosed part of airplane, dirigibleniggle repeated petty criticism inoir nwar fr. black t -artsoeuvre n. o'vr fr. whole of artist's works corpus t-artsopining v. offering an opinion embedded systemsopPrObrium n. disgrace earned by shameful conduct siossuaries receptacle for bones, charnel house smithsonianperegrination n. travel (usually by foot) US newsper StirpEs dividing estate between descendantsphiz slang face (abbr. of physiognomy) ipirouette pir oot eT dancing spin smithsonianplanchettes plan shet pointer for ouija board siplangent adj. resounding loudly or plaintively t -artspreprandial prE Pran dE al before a meal smithsonianscreeds n. a long discourse (esp. a diatribe) t -artssoigne' adj. Swan YA fr. carefully elegantly donetstanch v. stop flow US newsstygian stij' Ean pertaining to river styx gloomy ttawn dull yellowish browntittering v. giggling, hecklingtremulous timid, trembling smithsonianturpitude vile shameless character depravity siveridical veracious, pertaining to real siwhit mote, "not a whit better"Summer 1993 Eric Krieg word test
aPproBation n. approval tAprioRi existing in mind independent of observation n. penn reporteraugust adj. inspirational, venerable inkyauteur n. O Tur filmmaker with complete control tbanty adj. skinny from diet low in fat tcanard n. absurd story, hoax icarom n. a shot when one ball strikes others synergeticscheeky adj. feisty] shinning town stationcomity n. mutual courtesy icorpus n. large colledction of writing tcoterie n. group of people, clique tcri de couer n. outcry, of suffering (french) icuckolded adj. husband with unfaithful wifedenouement n. dA NOO man final plot resolution tdryad n. female who likes the woods -wood nymph inky (title)dyad n. 2 units treated as 1. group chromosome SIdysTOpian adj. lots of squalor, human misery inkyelegiac adj. mournful, salubrious, distich verse t art reviewenDogenous adj. derived internally tenTente n. international understanding iextirpate v. remove and destroy, pull up by roots ifeuilleton n. one terse uninflected paragraph uhoity toity adj. snobby, giddy thygroscopic adj. desiccant, something absorbing water product coveriambic adj. verse with meter and beat toastmasterimbroglia n.im BrOl yO complex bitter misunderstandg inkyinimical adj. adverse, harmful hostile tjApery n. a jest, fraud tkvetch V complain chronically (yiddish) tmilieu n. ME lyU environment -setting SInexus n. means of connecting, transition SINonpaReil adj. having no equal, candy inuminous adj. supernatural, preternatural tpalpable adj. easy to take tpalaver n. long talk (either parable, with enemy tpaparazzo n. freelance celebrity photographerparlous adj. perilous, dangerous US news &passel n. group of unknown number tpecksniffer n. hypocritically affecting benevolence tpecuniary adj. pertaining to money ?perspicacity n. have clear lucid sight, vision nprima facie n. definition, requirement ufoproscriptive adj. overly legalistic toastmasterriparian adj. plush (forests) tseminal adj. seed, possibilities of development tslavering adj. slobbering, fawning tsniggling v. fishing for eels, thrusting bait in holesylvan adj. of or pertaining to woods ttchotchkes n. chach ka cheap trinket (yiddish) US news &trundle v. to roll along sesame streetvintner n. wine maker or seller t'violon d'Ingres' foreign ivoluble adj. easy to roll -talkative iSpring 1993 Eric Krieg wordtest
aGlEy n. awry tarroyo n. often dry watercourse harTificer n. inventor, craftsman shhblithe adj. joyous, cheerful t,funny timesBonhomiE n. good heartedness tbuttery n. storage of provisions, wine shhcaTarrh n. inflammatory membranes nwconcomitant adv. existing with something else hconflation n. fusion sidetritus n. waste, debree hdrub v. to beat with stick, stamp feet inkyeldritch adj. eery (welsh) telysium n. heavenly paradise nwexigencies n. emergency needing action hfacile adj moving with ease shh,inkyfisSiporous adj reproducing via fission hfiat n. imprimatur, royal sanction shhfrissins n. frEsOnes passing thrill funny timesgambs n. legs (female) garyhagiographer n. writer about the saints himmanently n. inherent (pronounced as imminent) shhincubi n. pl. demon -visiting the sleeping shhlegatEe n. recipient of legacy or largess tlethe n. forgetful of past hmasque n. mask -- old dramatic dance imaunderings n. aimless ramblings funny timesmeretricious adj. alluring through pretense, seductive em sysmunificent adj liberal in giving funny timesnonplused adj. state of quandary, puzzle hpastiche n. literary work with borrowed motifs tpeignoir n. panWar women's dressing gown funny timespriapic adj. phallic tprofligacy n. wasteful prodigal, dissipation inkyraison d'etre n. justification for existence em sysredoubt n. defensive embattlement inkyseigniorial adj pertaining to royal rulers inkytendentious adj showing tendency htechy adj irritable funny timestrousseau n outfit of clothing for bride funny timesvetting v to treat, appraise tfealty n. submission, pledge of loyalty DAJlegend for above references
h - harpers leftist progressive (a single article)em embedded systems technical journalinsite right wing magazineinky philly inquirersi skeptical inquirershh book, science held hostaget - timeng national geographic us US news and world reportnw newsweekaPotropAic adj. magic to ward off evil tbesotted adj. hopelessly in love tbraggadocio n someone who brags tcharnel n. burial place tComintern n. international effort to export marxism inkycontretemps n. inopportune embarrassment tDAis n. elevated speakers platform hdemimonde n. class of society with loose women inkydeMotic adj. popular tdionysian hempyrean hfeckless adj. worthless, weak tflummoxed adj. bewildered timprimatur n. sanction -approval to print inkyinamorata n. woman in love inkyincipient adj. beginning to show itself em sysinstanciate? v. jpk jargoninveighs v. attack with words tjefe n. hA' fa chief military commander tlucubrations n. laborious study tmarmoreal adj. made of marble tpanspermia n. theory of many seeds in universe 4 life insitepullulated adj. sending up sprouts tprecipice n. vertical cliff tpreternatural hreNascent adj. being born again -vigor insiteredoubt - insitesclerotic adj. eye coated over tscrogging n em syssemiotics n. the study of symbols tsobriquet hwEal n. state of well-being inkySUBJECT: older list of words
abrihilo adv. from nothing (abnhilo)acrid adj. caustic, bitingadduced v. bring forward in argumentadmass n. high pressure adsaducate v. judgeaeric adj. highestacrimonious adj. caustic - contumely philippicafflation n. divine inspirationalfresco adj. in open airamphiboly n. dual meaningamphosa n. ancient vaseaplombapotheosis v. raising to god rankaPotropAic adj. magic to ward off evilapprobation adj. approvingarroyo n. often dry watercourseartifice n. contrivanceasolopsisticasperity n. roughness, negativeassiduous adj. dedicatedathwart adv. acrossauguries n. predictions prognosticationsautodidact n. self taughtautonomasiaaver v. declarebesotted adj. hopelessly in love, infatuated, drunkbillet v. to put up (usually military)braggadocio n. someone who bragsbromide n. trite platitudecatarrh n. inflammatory membranescharnel n. burial placechiton (Ki'ton) n. classical simple robeclaque n. hired applaudersComintern n. international effort to export marxismcompendious adj. great work in small spaceconflation n. fusioncontretemps n. inopportune embarrassmentDAis n. elevated speakers platformdemimonde n. class of society with loose womendemotic adj. popular, vernaculardetritus n. waste, debreedetumescence adj. de-swellingdilettantes n. amature artistsdionysiandisquisitron n. dissertationebullient adj. evervessent bubblyeffete adj. not fertile -snobelegy n. like eulogyeldritch adj. eery (welsh)elysium n. heavenly paradiseempyreanencomium n. praise of personennui adj. wearinessenthymeme n. argument with missing information - thanks to Jeff of TheButte County Jail for the following better definition: Enthymeme- Asyllogism with one or more premises not explicitly stated by the speaker,so that the audience helps to complete the persuasive form by "fillingin the blanks." Example- a speaker says "Saccharine causes cancer in rats,"the audience is left to fill in the missing information that what causescancer in rats is likely to cause cancer in humans. Thus leading the audienceto a conclusion that whatever causes cancer in rats also causes cancerin humans. Enthymemes are used extensively in advertising and politicalcampaigns.comportment n. behavioreponym n. near nameeponymous adj. name derived from personeudaemonia n. Aristotelian happiness from reasoneuphony n. pleasing soundevocation n. prayerful speechexigencies n. emergency needing actionexpurgated n. expungedfabulist n. Fable writer, liarfacile adj. easyfactitious adj. artificialfarrago n. mixture (usually negative)feckless adj. worthless, weakferal adj. wildflummoxed adj. bewilderedfolderol n. trite nonsensegambs n. legs (female)gerund n. havinggerund v. choosing beingglom v. gathergolem n. automatonhagiograph n. biography of saintsimpasto n. thick painting styleimprimatur n. sanction -approval to printinamorata n. woman in loveincipient adj. beginning to show itselfinsipid adj. tastelessinsouciant adj. apatheticinstanciate v.invective n. abusive speechinveighs v. attack with wordsirascible adj.jefe n. hA' fa chief military commanderjou joukitsch n. tackinesslachrymal adj. tearfullaconic adj. brief with wordslegerdemain n. prestidigitation (negative)lethe n. forgetful of pastlithe adj. flexiblelucubrations n. laborious studylugubrious adj. healthymarmoreal adj. made of marblemarplots n. meddlermelioristic adj. doctrine of human bettermentmultifarious n. great diversitymunificent adj. liberal in givingnoisum n. fetid stenchnonpareil adj. matchlessnonplused adj. state of quandary, puzzleobeisance n. a bowosculation v. kissostensible adj. avowedpanspermia n. theory of many seeds in universe 4 lifepatina surface mellowingpaucity n. fewnessperates n. household godsperipatctperquisite n. pirkpetulance adj. attacking-capriciousphilippic adj. abusive speechpiquant adj. stinging, sharpplangent adj. reverberatingplebeian adj. commonplenary adj. fully attendedpolymathportmanteanwood "sm-og" combinationprecipice n. vertical cliffprecispreternaturalprima-facie adj. at first thoughtprofligacy n. wasteful prodigal, dissipationprosaic adj. commonprotean adj. can assume any formpulchritude n. beautypullulated adj. sending up sproutsputative reputedraison d'etre n. justification for existenceredoubt n. defensive embattlementreNascent adj. being born again -vigorrenitent adj. reticent, recalcitrantresplendent adj. brilliant glowingrife adj. abundantriven adj. filled withroil adj. muddy mixrubicon n. irrevocable step takensaturnine adj. slow, lethargicsclerotic adj. eye coated overscrogging n.semiotics n. the study of symbolssinecure n. official of no valuesobriquetsonorous adj. high soundingsoporizedspecious adj. having the appearance of truthstatistsward n. plot of grassthaumaturgy n. miraclestocsin n. claxon, noisytorpid adj. lost motion, dulltorrid adj. parchedtriumvirate n. 3-person power teamtruculent adj. savageturgid adj. swelling, pompousvapidvariegated adj. variedvenal adj. corruptiblevitiatewEal n. state of well-beingDISTRIBUTION LIST:Tony L. fax 968-2983There is an excellent live wordtestsitecomic book wordsReadersDigest Word tests - I've always thought they had poor definition choicescheck out my mind challenging skeptics pages ormy rants pageThe Logical Worldof Etymologyneat page on faultyreasoningContrived Pedanticwords and intellectual humor I must admit to being accused of beingpedantic (displaying a frivolous use of language to appear educated).Eric's home page.
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