Definitions for 600-Word Vocabulary Test

Definitions for Levels 4, 5 and 6 of Tejay Sener's Vocabulary Test*

Since it can take a lot of time to look up the definitions for all the words in this test, I have prepared a summary list of the definitions of the items in Levels 4, 5 and 6—the more difficult words in the test. (Fifteen of these words I found only in my Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, and three more of them I couldn’t find even there.)

If anyone reveals their scores to me, I won’t convey them to anyone else without obtaining explicit authorization to do so. In a few weeks, I hope to have additional information about the meaning of these tests and then I’ll check to see what "you all" want to do with the results. (An anonymous summary curve or listing of scores would be one possibility.)

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.

Bob Seitz

August 11, 1998

* - Tejay mentions in his discussion of this test that the words come from Gyles Brandreth's, "The Joy of Lex". Gyles' book says of this test,
"The tests that follow -- scientifically devised by experienced educationalists and philologists and developed and refined over a period of years...", implying that the words have been carefully chosen and filtered to provide a proper test of total vocabulary.
Tejay has also pointed out that the definitions I'm summarizing below may vary from reference to reference, and that interpretations may be different in some contexts. What I've given below is a very casual and subjective list of definitions. The Oxford English Dictionary would undoubtedly have a lot more to say about these words, and would say it a lot better.

DEFINITIONS FOR TEJAY'S VOCABULARY TEST

Test 1:

Level 4:

abhorrent Repulsive

amorphous Formless, lacking a crystalline structure, as in amorphous rock

crustacean A family of shelled arthropods (crabs, lobsters, shrimp, barnacles)

declivity Decline, descending slope

emaciated Wasted away. Extremely thin.

fabrication Lie, deception.

galaxy A lens-shaped aggregation of stars

heretical Violating church dogma. Departure from established beliefs.

igneous solidifying from the molten state.. igneous rock

nomenclature A system of naming. A system of names used in an art or a science.

Level 5:

abscissa X-axis (vs. ordinate)

badinage Persiflage. Light, playful banter.

cartel Monopoly. A group of price-fixing businesses.

daemon Demon, Internet server

dendrite Nerve fiber (dendritic brushes); spreading filaments or fibers in general

exordium Beginning or introductory part, such as of a speech or treatise.

inchoate Just begun, not yet organized.

moraine Glacial moraine: dirt and pebbles typically laid down by glaciers

rubric Red 1^st letters in medieval manuscripts; something highlighted or emphasized

soutane A type of priest’s cassock.

Level 6:

abulia Lack of will. A psycho-physiological malady.

bicuspid semi-molar between molars and incisors

caracole A curvet (horse)

chalybeate Iron-bearing, as in water. Tasting of iron.

croton Bush (croton oil) Castor oil plant.

dysphoria Feeling bad.. the opposite of euphoria

gazebo As in gazebo concert. A pergola or belvedere

kymograph A pen-and-ink recorder

ortolan A European bunting.

quadrat Blank type face

Test 2:

Level 4:

actuate To effect, to set in motion

bravura Brilliant (musical) technique

comber A long, rolling, breaking sea wave

gouache A gum-based, water-color painting method

hieroglyphic "Sacred writings), ancient Egyptian pictographic script

hybrid Something of mixed origin or composition

iconoclast "Icon-breaker", a rebel or nonconformist

maelstrom Whirlpool of extraordinary violence

muezzin The blind cryer (in the Tower of Darkness) who calls the faithful to worship 5 times daily

resurgent To surge again, to surge back

Level 5:

antimony The metal

carronade A ship-born cannon

dithyrambic A wild, passionate poem. An irregular poetic expression.

hebdomada Seven-fold. (hebdomadal: weekly)

infusoria Miniscule diatomaceous sea animals, like plankton but with calciferous shells

linage Payment for poetry by the line

medusa The Medusa. One of the three Gorgons. Snakes for hair. Death to behold.

myrmidon Minion. Henchman. A faithful follower who carries out orders unquestionably.

paradigm An example or model. (Comes from grammatical declination).

topology That branch of mathematics that deals with shapes independently of formulae

Level 6:

antonomasia Epithets

cartouche Scrollwork on arch capitals; paper covering fireworks

dorter A dormitory, particularly in a monastery

elvan Pertaining to elves. A feldspathic, porphyritic dike rock found in Cornwall.

filemot The dull brownish color of dead leaves

isomer Same chemical formula but different chemical structure

lasher One who lashes.

noumenon Abstractions (like geometry) that exist independently of corporeal reality

pulvinate Having a swelling at the base, like a leafstalk.

velleity A faint wish or whim, unaccompanied by action. The lowest level of volition.

Test 3:

Level 4:

ecology Study of the relationships between living organisms and their environments

laconic Parsimonious in use of words (Jimmy Stewart)

linden Type of tree (Unter den Linden)

maxilla One of a pair of bones forming the upper jaw

paragon Outstanding role model ("A paragon of virtue"). A peerless example.

prolixity Verbosity ("Senator Bilbo waxed prolix")

redolent Fragrant, aromatic

stertorous Heavy snoring sound

timbre Quality of sound distinguishing it from other sounds

vellum A fine parchment made from skin

Level 5:

asymptotic Approaching its asymptotes (limiting lines of parabolas, hyperbolas).

burlap Coarse fabric made of hemp or jute

echidna Burrowing, egg-laying Australian anteater

henry Mks unit of magnetic inductance

interfacial Involved in interfacing (interfacial muscles)

jeton Counters or tokens of metal or ivory.

paregoric A narcotic. A soothing agent. Camphorated tincture of opium for diarrhea.

rachitic Spinal weakness caused by rickets. Pertaining to rickets.

tanager Bird (scarlet tanager)

syncretism Pulling disparate parts together into an synthesized whole (as in information and ideas)

Level 6:

bisque A seafood soup. A biscuit. Pale orange-yellow to yellowish gray. Salmon?

colporteur A street vendor, particularly of religious merchandise.

decuman Every tenth, in order (like the Tenth Legion)

grallotorial Wading (birds)

isomorphous Having the same shape

orc The killer whale (like a grampus)

parataxis The coordination of grammatical elements by arrangement, without using conjunctions.

riviere A necklace of diamonds or gems.

tanagra Terra cotta figurines

urticant Any substance like poison ivy that causes itching or stinging.

Test 4:

Level 4:

calculus That branch of mathematics that deals with the differentiation & integration of formulae

debouch To emerge or issue forth

gargantuan Gigantic

ibid. "The same place" Used for multiple references when referring the second or third time

laissez-faire "Let it be". Avoidance of governmental intervention in commerce beyond the minimum.

literati Leading literary figures

neurology The study of the nervous system.

obloquy Abusively detractive language or utterance.

patois A regional dialect. Illiterate or insubstantial speech.

rabid As in rabies. Fanatical, overzealous.

Level 5:

aclinic Flat. Neither rising nor falling. The magnetic equator. (Clinometer)

banshee Irish spirit that presages death ("The wail of the banshee!")

illation A conclusion, deduction, The act of inferring or drawing conclusions.

keelson A boat-keel stiffener above the keel.

lachrymal Relating to tears – lachyrmose

martingale A horse restraint designed to keep the horse from throwing back its head.

newton The mks unit of force (kilograms/g)

occipital Occipital lobe: the lower, posterior area of the brain that mediates vision

petrology Study and science of rocks

ratline The ladder-lines on the rigging of a boat

Level 6:

Babbittry Sinclair Lewis’ Babbitt – hence, narrow-mindedness, provincialism

calumet Ceremonial Indian pipe

dehiscent Opening, spreading pollen, blooming

gault A heavy, thick Lower Cretaceous clay

hypocaust Brick ductwork that distributed heat in ancient times.

kenosis Christ’s relinquishment of Godhood to become flesh.

knap To knap or chip flints

limnology The study of freshwater lakes, ponds, and streams

mithradatism Tolerance for a poison by taking gradually larger doses of it.

unau The two-toed sloth.

Test 5:

Level 4:

aurochs The extinct forerunner of domestic cattle

beriberi A vitamin-B1 deficiency disease

cornice Horizontal crown of a building. Crown molding. Concealing cover over drapery rods.

denary Based on tens, tenth

gratuitous Free. Unnecessary of unwarranted (gratuitous advice)

hertz One cycle per second

hiatus Lacuna. Interruption. Break in sequence.

medial At the median. In the middle.

teredo A ship-worm, or mollusk containing the worm

valetudinarian A hypochondriac

Level 5:

bergamot A pear-shaped fruit whose rind contains perfume base

brevier A type size (8-pt.) used in printing breviaries

deemster A judge.

homologous Corresponding.

lamina A layer.

largo Slow, stately (Handel’s Largo)

pantheon A temple for all gods; all the gods of a people.

refulgence Brilliance

savory Delectable

triolet A poem with rhyme scheme ABaAabaAB

Level 6:

anlegate To send a legate (ambassador) abroad.

algorism The decimal (Arabic number) system. algoristic: closed-form (exact) solution.

baltimore City?

bezel Beveled

leat An artificial water trench to or from a mill

mittimus Order for imprisonment

myosotis Forget-me-not family

peneplain Flat plain at late stage of erosion

prunella A strong, heavy fabric of worsted twill

windlestraw A weak grass straw used for making rope

Test 6

Level 4:

botulism An extremely violent form of food poisoning caused by bacterially-produced botulin.

cutaneous Pertaining to the skin

datum A single item of data

distrait Inattentive, especially through anxiety

encyclical A Papal letter to bishops intended for wide distribution

gamma The third letter in the Greek alphabet

lacerate Torn, mangled, wounded. Having jagged edges. To rip, cut or tear.

mandate An authoritative command. The wishes of the electorate.

martinet A stickler for rules. Demands absolute adherence.

nacelle Pod (jet engine nacelles)

Level 5:

chamfer To round off a corner or to cut a flute

eschatology Branch of theology dealing with last things

giaour A non-believer. An infidel (typically, a Christian)

imprest An advance or loan of government funds; past tense of impress.

lapidate To stone; to kill by stoning

nadir The lowest point

oblate Shortened (as opposed to prolate spheroid). Flattened at the poles. Acolyte.

samphire The glasswort. St. Peter’s herb.

satrap A Persian provincial governor.

ukase A Czarist decree.

Level 6:

champleve Engrailed enamel, fired

deadlight A strong porthole shutter or thick porthole

enchiridion a handbook

geodic pertaining to a geode; hollow

jokul A snow-covered mountain

laches negligence, delay in pressing a claim, neglect; lewd, wanton

maud Scottish woolen shawl

pedicular Of or pertaining to lice

spandrel The space between the curve of an arch and the rectangular frame.

vavosor The tenure of a fee (held in vavosor). Feudal tenant directly below a baron.

Test 7:

Level 4:

agoraphobia Fear of crowds

barograph Recording barometer

concatenation To connect in a series or chain

demography The study of the characteristics of human populations.

iceblink A white streak in the sky caused by reflection from ice.

megrim A migraine

olfactory Pertaining to smell.

radian The natural unit of angular measure = 57° 17’ 44.6". Angle for which arc-length = radius.

risotto Rice cooked in broth with grated cheese and seasonings.

Level 5:

animism The primitive idea that everything has a spirit in it

boulevardier A man about town.

canticle A non-metrical hymn taken from a prayer-book.

homophone Same sound, different spelling.

lammergeier A large, predatory, Old World bird.

mangone Catapult.

natterjack A common brownish-yellow toad.

Paleozoic The period of early life following the Archeozoic (single-celled) before the Mesozoic.

peignoir Loose-fitting, sexy dressing gown.

reticle A scale in the eyepiece of an instrument.

Level 6:

acarpous Fruitless, sterile.

chanterelle Edible yellow mushroom.

demersal Sinking to the bottom, as do fish eggs.

eclampsia Convulsions during pregnancy.

gonfalon Flag, emblem, insignia.

jeofail A mistake in legal proceedings, or the acknowledgement of same.

orris Iris, iris root.

pyx Chest in which eucharist is taken to sick; chest in mint in which coins are kept for assay.

ret To moisten or soak (as in flax).

sachem The chief or high official of a tribe

Test 8:

Level 4:

chicanery Deception by trickery or sophistry.

gravamen The part of a charge that weighs most heavily against the accused

holocaust Terrible disaster (as in the Jewish Holocaust). Great or total destruction.

lethargic Sluggish indifference, apathy.

pinnace A small rowboat or sailboat, often carried aboard a ship.

ramify Branch out.

scrutineer One who scrutinizes, as of elections

tangential Peripheral to or veering away from. Only superficially relevant.

unction An ointment, a balm

. That which soothes. Oily. Insincere earnestness.

Level 5:

ablaut A patterned change in root vowels

belvedere A gazebo. A lookout station.

dimity A sheer, crisp cotton fabic

gelation The process of forming a gel

homeopathy Natural medicine. Giving minute amounts of poisons to try build immunity.

morpheme A meaningful linguistic unit that cannot be divided into smaller units.

pis aller A last (dernier) resource.

psephology The study of political elctions (literally, pebbles. Used by the Greeks ato vote)

regulus The relatively pure metal that sinks to the bottom of a blast furnace.

sawder Flattery.

Level 6:

chibouk A turkish tobacco pipe with a long stem and a red clay bowl.

disembogue To discharge its water at the mouth of the river.

gemmule A bud. A gemma. A reproductive structure in sponges.

idolum An insubstantial image; a form of false thinking ("Idols of the Tribe").

lasque Flat, thin, inferior diamond.

oroide Imitation gold.

quintan Every fifth.

rampion Edible root plant (as in a "ramp" or wild scallion).

scammony The dried root of convolvulus scammonia or its resin. A cathartic.

sullage Sewage. Silt.

Test 9:

Level 4:

betise Stupidity; a stupid or foolish act.

clamant Urgent, compelling, clamorous.

dirigible Steerable. A lighter-than-air-ship with a rigid frame (unlike a blimp).

epitome The very essence of.. The peak.

histrionic Dramatic. Exaggerated emotional behavior calculated for effect.

logarithm The representation of a number as some other number raised to a power.

panegyric Encomium. Lavish praise. A eulogy.

rowel A spur-wheel.

simoom A strong, hot, sand-laden desert wind. A sandstorm.

stricture Something that restrains or limits. Censure. Constriction.

Level 5:

apercu A short outline or summary.

bleb A pustule; an air bubble.

decorticate To remove the cortex, as in a decorticated cat or removing the bark from a tree.

gauss The cgs unit of magnetic field strength

involute Having the margins rolled inward. Complexity. Curve made by a point on a rolling wheel

lambent Soft, gentle glow.

peculation Theft.

recidivist A repeat offender.

semiotics Semantics.

speculum A mirror used as a reflector in optical instruments.

Level 6:

crucian A European carp

deuteragonist The actor taking the parts of second importance

encaustic Prepared by means of heat

hoveler An unlicensed boatsman who assists at shipwrecks

immortelle Flowers which retain their shape and color after being dried

limpkin A brownish wading bird having a distinctive call.

mort A variety of dummy whist. Hunting horn note denoting the death of a deer. Great number.

peen The ball-shaped head on a hammer; metal pounded out that way

regelate Freeze together under pressure.

sandiver Glass gall. A saline whitish scum cast up by molten glass.

Test 10:

Level 4:

burnoose Cloak and hood worn by Arabs

cadenza Musical flourish

debenture An IOU. An unsecured voucher acknowledging a debt.

flense To strip the blubber or skin from a whale.

franklin A medieval freeholder of common birth but with extensive property

habergeon Jacket of mail, shorter than a hauberk

ignis fatuus Something that misleads or deludes, swamp gas glow

jocund Joking, jolly, jovial

mutability Changeability

napoleon A 20-franc gold coin of France

Level 5:

catchpole A sheriff’s officer who arrests debtors

Greek calends A time that will never come, since the Greeks had no calends

Heaviside Layer The ionized E-layer in the atmosphere that reflects long radio waves

ichor Dragon drool, the blood of the gods, watery, acrid discharge from a wound

jussive A word, move or form used to express command

limen Threshold of a psychological or physiological response

nescience Awareness

obi Black Japanese waistband sash

panhandle Texas Panhandle

ramose Having many branches

Level 6:

calamary A squid

eparch A high guy. A very important official. An archbishop’s archbishop.

fleury Flowery, having a fleur-de-lis on each of its arms

grangerize To over-illustrate or mutilate books

jacobus A gold coin. Also, the popular name of James I of England

levigate Grind into a smooth, fine powder

marshalsea Court in London and associated debtor’s prison

narthex The portico or lobby of a church

obol Small European coin, Greek coin

tetterwort The bloodroot, used to cure tetter

abhorrent	Repulsive
amorphous	Formless, lacking a crystalline structure, as in amorphous rock
crustacean	A family of shelled arthropods (crabs, lobsters, shrimp, barnacles)
declivity	Decline, descending slope
emaciated	Wasted away. Extremely thin.
fabrication	Lie, deception.
galaxy	A lens-shaped aggregation of stars
heretical	Violating church dogma. Departure from established beliefs.
igneous	solidifying from the molten state.. igneous rock
nomenclature	A system of naming. A system of names used in an art or a science.

abscissa	X-axis (vs. ordinate)
badinage	Persiflage. Light, playful banter.
cartel	Monopoly. A group of price-fixing businesses.
daemon	Demon, Internet server
dendrite	Nerve fiber (dendritic brushes); spreading filaments or fibers in general
exordium	Beginning or introductory part, such as of a speech or treatise.
inchoate	Just begun, not yet organized.
moraine	Glacial moraine: dirt and pebbles typically laid down by glaciers
rubric	Red 1^st letters in medieval manuscripts; something highlighted or emphasized
soutane	A type of priest’s cassock.

abulia	Lack of will. A psycho-physiological malady.
bicuspid	semi-molar between molars and incisors
caracole	A curvet (horse)
chalybeate	Iron-bearing, as in water. Tasting of iron.
croton	Bush (croton oil) Castor oil plant.
dysphoria	Feeling bad.. the opposite of euphoria
gazebo	As in gazebo concert. A pergola or belvedere
kymograph	A pen-and-ink recorder
ortolan	A European bunting.
quadrat	Blank type face

actuate	To effect, to set in motion
bravura	Brilliant (musical) technique
comber	A long, rolling, breaking sea wave
gouache	A gum-based, water-color painting method
hieroglyphic	"Sacred writings), ancient Egyptian pictographic script
hybrid	Something of mixed origin or composition
iconoclast	"Icon-breaker", a rebel or nonconformist
maelstrom	Whirlpool of extraordinary violence
muezzin	The blind cryer (in the Tower of Darkness) who calls the faithful to worship 5 times daily
resurgent	To surge again, to surge back

antimony	The metal
carronade	A ship-born cannon
dithyrambic	A wild, passionate poem. An irregular poetic expression.
hebdomada	Seven-fold. (hebdomadal: weekly)
infusoria	Miniscule diatomaceous sea animals, like plankton but with calciferous shells
linage	Payment for poetry by the line
medusa	The Medusa. One of the three Gorgons. Snakes for hair. Death to behold.
myrmidon	Minion. Henchman. A faithful follower who carries out orders unquestionably.
paradigm	An example or model. (Comes from grammatical declination).
topology	That branch of mathematics that deals with shapes independently of formulae

antonomasia	Epithets
cartouche	Scrollwork on arch capitals; paper covering fireworks
dorter	A dormitory, particularly in a monastery
elvan	Pertaining to elves. A feldspathic, porphyritic dike rock found in Cornwall.
filemot	The dull brownish color of dead leaves
isomer	Same chemical formula but different chemical structure
lasher	One who lashes.
noumenon	Abstractions (like geometry) that exist independently of corporeal reality
pulvinate	Having a swelling at the base, like a leafstalk.
velleity	A faint wish or whim, unaccompanied by action. The lowest level of volition.

ecology	Study of the relationships between living organisms and their environments
laconic	Parsimonious in use of words (Jimmy Stewart)
linden	Type of tree (Unter den Linden)
maxilla	One of a pair of bones forming the upper jaw
paragon	Outstanding role model ("A paragon of virtue"). A peerless example.
prolixity	Verbosity ("Senator Bilbo waxed prolix")
redolent	Fragrant, aromatic
stertorous	Heavy snoring sound
timbre	Quality of sound distinguishing it from other sounds
vellum	A fine parchment made from skin

asymptotic	Approaching its asymptotes (limiting lines of parabolas, hyperbolas).
burlap	Coarse fabric made of hemp or jute
echidna	Burrowing, egg-laying Australian anteater
henry	Mks unit of magnetic inductance
interfacial	Involved in interfacing (interfacial muscles)
jeton	Counters or tokens of metal or ivory.
paregoric	A narcotic. A soothing agent. Camphorated tincture of opium for diarrhea.
rachitic	Spinal weakness caused by rickets. Pertaining to rickets.
tanager	Bird (scarlet tanager)
syncretism	Pulling disparate parts together into an synthesized whole (as in information and ideas)

bisque	A seafood soup. A biscuit. Pale orange-yellow to yellowish gray. Salmon?
colporteur	A street vendor, particularly of religious merchandise.
decuman	Every tenth, in order (like the Tenth Legion)
grallotorial	Wading (birds)
isomorphous	Having the same shape
orc	The killer whale (like a grampus)
parataxis	The coordination of grammatical elements by arrangement, without using conjunctions.
riviere	A necklace of diamonds or gems.
tanagra	Terra cotta figurines
urticant	Any substance like poison ivy that causes itching or stinging.

calculus	That branch of mathematics that deals with the differentiation & integration of formulae
debouch	To emerge or issue forth
gargantuan	Gigantic
ibid.	"The same place" Used for multiple references when referring the second or third time
laissez-faire	"Let it be". Avoidance of governmental intervention in commerce beyond the minimum.
literati	Leading literary figures
neurology	The study of the nervous system.
obloquy	Abusively detractive language or utterance.
patois	A regional dialect. Illiterate or insubstantial speech.
rabid	As in rabies. Fanatical, overzealous.

aclinic	Flat. Neither rising nor falling. The magnetic equator. (Clinometer)
banshee	Irish spirit that presages death ("The wail of the banshee!")
illation	A conclusion, deduction, The act of inferring or drawing conclusions.
keelson	A boat-keel stiffener above the keel.
lachrymal	Relating to tears – lachyrmose
martingale	A horse restraint designed to keep the horse from throwing back its head.
newton	The mks unit of force (kilograms/g)
occipital	Occipital lobe: the lower, posterior area of the brain that mediates vision
petrology	Study and science of rocks
ratline	The ladder-lines on the rigging of a boat

Babbittry	Sinclair Lewis’ Babbitt – hence, narrow-mindedness, provincialism
calumet	Ceremonial Indian pipe
dehiscent	Opening, spreading pollen, blooming
gault	A heavy, thick Lower Cretaceous clay
hypocaust	Brick ductwork that distributed heat in ancient times.
kenosis	Christ’s relinquishment of Godhood to become flesh.
knap	To knap or chip flints
limnology	The study of freshwater lakes, ponds, and streams
mithradatism	Tolerance for a poison by taking gradually larger doses of it.
unau	The two-toed sloth.

aurochs	The extinct forerunner of domestic cattle
beriberi	A vitamin-B1 deficiency disease
cornice	Horizontal crown of a building. Crown molding. Concealing cover over drapery rods.
denary	Based on tens, tenth
gratuitous	Free. Unnecessary of unwarranted (gratuitous advice)
hertz	One cycle per second
hiatus	Lacuna. Interruption. Break in sequence.
medial	At the median. In the middle.
teredo	A ship-worm, or mollusk containing the worm
valetudinarian	A hypochondriac

bergamot	A pear-shaped fruit whose rind contains perfume base
brevier	A type size (8-pt.) used in printing breviaries
deemster	A judge.
homologous	Corresponding.
lamina	A layer.
largo	Slow, stately (Handel’s Largo)
pantheon	A temple for all gods; all the gods of a people.
refulgence	Brilliance
savory	Delectable
triolet	A poem with rhyme scheme ABaAabaAB

anlegate	To send a legate (ambassador) abroad.
algorism	The decimal (Arabic number) system. algoristic: closed-form (exact) solution.
baltimore	City?
bezel	Beveled
leat	An artificial water trench to or from a mill
mittimus	Order for imprisonment
myosotis	Forget-me-not family
peneplain	Flat plain at late stage of erosion
prunella	A strong, heavy fabric of worsted twill
windlestraw	A weak grass straw used for making rope

botulism	An extremely violent form of food poisoning caused by bacterially-produced botulin.
cutaneous	Pertaining to the skin
datum	A single item of data
distrait	Inattentive, especially through anxiety
encyclical	A Papal letter to bishops intended for wide distribution
gamma	The third letter in the Greek alphabet
lacerate	Torn, mangled, wounded. Having jagged edges. To rip, cut or tear.
mandate	An authoritative command. The wishes of the electorate.
martinet	A stickler for rules. Demands absolute adherence.
nacelle	Pod (jet engine nacelles)

chamfer	To round off a corner or to cut a flute
eschatology	Branch of theology dealing with last things
giaour	A non-believer. An infidel (typically, a Christian)
imprest	An advance or loan of government funds; past tense of impress.
lapidate	To stone; to kill by stoning
nadir	The lowest point
oblate	Shortened (as opposed to prolate spheroid). Flattened at the poles. Acolyte.
samphire	The glasswort. St. Peter’s herb.
satrap	A Persian provincial governor.
ukase	A Czarist decree.

champleve	Engrailed enamel, fired
deadlight	A strong porthole shutter or thick porthole
enchiridion	a handbook
geodic	pertaining to a geode; hollow
jokul	A snow-covered mountain
laches	negligence, delay in pressing a claim, neglect; lewd, wanton
maud	Scottish woolen shawl
pedicular	Of or pertaining to lice
spandrel	The space between the curve of an arch and the rectangular frame.
vavosor	The tenure of a fee (held in vavosor). Feudal tenant directly below a baron.

agoraphobia	Fear of crowds
barograph	Recording barometer
concatenation	To connect in a series or chain
demography	The study of the characteristics of human populations.
iceblink	A white streak in the sky caused by reflection from ice.
megrim	A migraine
olfactory	Pertaining to smell.
radian	The natural unit of angular measure = 57° 17’ 44.6". Angle for which arc-length = radius.
risotto	Rice cooked in broth with grated cheese and seasonings.

animism	The primitive idea that everything has a spirit in it
boulevardier	A man about town.
canticle	A non-metrical hymn taken from a prayer-book.
homophone	Same sound, different spelling.
lammergeier	A large, predatory, Old World bird.
mangone	Catapult.
natterjack	A common brownish-yellow toad.
Paleozoic	The period of early life following the Archeozoic (single-celled) before the Mesozoic.
peignoir	Loose-fitting, sexy dressing gown.
reticle	A scale in the eyepiece of an instrument.

acarpous	Fruitless, sterile.
chanterelle	Edible yellow mushroom.
demersal	Sinking to the bottom, as do fish eggs.
eclampsia	Convulsions during pregnancy.
gonfalon	Flag, emblem, insignia.
jeofail	A mistake in legal proceedings, or the acknowledgement of same.
orris	Iris, iris root.
pyx	Chest in which eucharist is taken to sick; chest in mint in which coins are kept for assay.
ret	To moisten or soak (as in flax).
sachem	The chief or high official of a tribe

chicanery	Deception by trickery or sophistry.
gravamen	The part of a charge that weighs most heavily against the accused
holocaust	Terrible disaster (as in the Jewish Holocaust). Great or total destruction.
lethargic	Sluggish indifference, apathy.
pinnace	A small rowboat or sailboat, often carried aboard a ship.
ramify	Branch out.
scrutineer	One who scrutinizes, as of elections
tangential	Peripheral to or veering away from. Only superficially relevant.
unction	An ointment, a balm

ablaut	A patterned change in root vowels
belvedere	A gazebo. A lookout station.
dimity	A sheer, crisp cotton fabic
gelation	The process of forming a gel
homeopathy	Natural medicine. Giving minute amounts of poisons to try build immunity.
morpheme	A meaningful linguistic unit that cannot be divided into smaller units.
pis aller	A last (dernier) resource.
psephology	The study of political elctions (literally, pebbles. Used by the Greeks ato vote)
regulus	The relatively pure metal that sinks to the bottom of a blast furnace.
sawder	Flattery.

chibouk	A turkish tobacco pipe with a long stem and a red clay bowl.
disembogue	To discharge its water at the mouth of the river.
gemmule	A bud. A gemma. A reproductive structure in sponges.
idolum	An insubstantial image; a form of false thinking ("Idols of the Tribe").
lasque	Flat, thin, inferior diamond.
oroide	Imitation gold.
quintan	Every fifth.
rampion	Edible root plant (as in a "ramp" or wild scallion).
scammony	The dried root of convolvulus scammonia or its resin. A cathartic.
sullage	Sewage. Silt.

betise	Stupidity; a stupid or foolish act.
clamant	Urgent, compelling, clamorous.
dirigible	Steerable. A lighter-than-air-ship with a rigid frame (unlike a blimp).
epitome	The very essence of.. The peak.
histrionic	Dramatic. Exaggerated emotional behavior calculated for effect.
logarithm	The representation of a number as some other number raised to a power.
panegyric	Encomium. Lavish praise. A eulogy.
rowel	A spur-wheel.
simoom	A strong, hot, sand-laden desert wind. A sandstorm.
stricture	Something that restrains or limits. Censure. Constriction.

apercu	A short outline or summary.
bleb	A pustule; an air bubble.
decorticate	To remove the cortex, as in a decorticated cat or removing the bark from a tree.
gauss	The cgs unit of magnetic field strength
involute	Having the margins rolled inward. Complexity. Curve made by a point on a rolling wheel
lambent	Soft, gentle glow.
peculation	Theft.
recidivist	A repeat offender.
semiotics	Semantics.
speculum	A mirror used as a reflector in optical instruments.

crucian	A European carp
deuteragonist	The actor taking the parts of second importance
encaustic	Prepared by means of heat
hoveler	An unlicensed boatsman who assists at shipwrecks
immortelle	Flowers which retain their shape and color after being dried
limpkin	A brownish wading bird having a distinctive call.
mort	A variety of dummy whist. Hunting horn note denoting the death of a deer. Great number.
peen	The ball-shaped head on a hammer; metal pounded out that way
regelate	Freeze together under pressure.
sandiver	Glass gall. A saline whitish scum cast up by molten glass.

burnoose	Cloak and hood worn by Arabs
cadenza	Musical flourish
debenture	An IOU. An unsecured voucher acknowledging a debt.
flense	To strip the blubber or skin from a whale.
franklin	A medieval freeholder of common birth but with extensive property
habergeon	Jacket of mail, shorter than a hauberk
ignis fatuus	Something that misleads or deludes, swamp gas glow
jocund	Joking, jolly, jovial
mutability	Changeability
napoleon	A 20-franc gold coin of France

catchpole	A sheriff’s officer who arrests debtors
Greek calends	A time that will never come, since the Greeks had no calends
Heaviside Layer	The ionized E-layer in the atmosphere that reflects long radio waves
ichor	Dragon drool, the blood of the gods, watery, acrid discharge from a wound
jussive	A word, move or form used to express command
limen	Threshold of a psychological or physiological response
nescience	Awareness
obi	Black Japanese waistband sash
panhandle	Texas Panhandle
ramose	Having many branches

calamary	A squid
eparch	A high guy. A very important official. An archbishop’s archbishop.
fleury	Flowery, having a fleur-de-lis on each of its arms
grangerize	To over-illustrate or mutilate books
jacobus	A gold coin. Also, the popular name of James I of England
levigate	Grind into a smooth, fine powder
marshalsea	Court in London and associated debtor’s prison
narthex	The portico or lobby of a church
obol	Small European coin, Greek coin
tetterwort	The bloodroot, used to cure tetter