Words Numbers
4H: Head, heart, hands, health. We learn to do by doing.
Words A-C
Absence Of Malice: a requirement against defamation in a court of law. In journalism, it brings to attention the conflict between disclosing personal information and the public's right to know.
accursed: infallible. Absolutely trustworthy or sure. Unfailing in effectiveness or operation; certain.
acumen: keen discernment; insight; the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions
adjudicate: to reach a judicial decision on something, to make an official decision
algorithm: a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer
aloof: not friendly or forthcoming; distant; disinterested
altruism: the principle or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to the welfare of others. The principle and moral practice of concern for happiness of other lives.
anecdotal: not necessarily true or reliable based on personal accounts rather than facts or research. Based on reports or observations from unscientific observations. Unreliable; hearsay; unscientific.
anecdote is a brief story, usually told because it is relevant to the subject at hand. An anecdote a short account of a particular incident or event, especially of an interesting or amusing nature. A short, obscure historical or biographical account.
antagonist: a person who is opposed to, struggles against, or competes with another, opponent, adversary. The adversary of the hero or protagonist of a drama or other literary work.
apathy: lack of interest in anything
aphantasia: [a-fan-tas-ia] the inability to visualize images in the brain. Mind blindness.
apolitical: not political; of no political significance
apprehensive: anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will happen
arbitrage: the simultaneous buying and selling of securities, currency, or commodities in different markets or in derivative forms in order to take advantage of different prices for the same asset. Buy and sell assets using arbitrage.
asinine: extremely stupid or foolish; unintelligent or silly; devoid of intelligence
assuage: to make milder or less severe; relieve; ease; mitigate; soothe, calm
astringent: 1 causing the contraction of skin cells and other body tissues. 2 taste or smell slightly acidic or bitter.
atomic: 1 of or relating to or comprising atoms. 2 of, using, or powered by nuclear energy; a source of immense power. 3 immeasurably small; an extremely small amount of a thing.
atrocious: 1 horrifying wicked. 2 of a very poor quality; extremely bad or unpleasant. Brutal, barbaric, appalling, cruel, awful.
attrition: the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure; wearing down; wearing away; weakening
au pair: a young foreign person, typically a woman, who helps with housework or child care in exchange for room and board
autoimmune disease: a disease the body's immune system attacks healthy cells
automaton: a machine moving by itself, designed to follow predetermined sequence of operations
awning: a covering attached to a building or residence
axiom: a statement or proposition which is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true
axiomatic: [ax-e-o-matic] self-evident or unquestionable; obviously true; accepted. For example, it's axiomatic good athletes have a strong mental attitude. It seems axiomatic people benefit from a good education.
bane: a person or thing that ruins or spoils. A deadly poison. Death; destruction; ruin.
benign: gentle and kindly. Not harmful in effect such as a benign medical condition; no cancer in a condition, tumor, or growth.
bereavement: [be-reav-ment] loss, grief, sorrow, sadness, death in the family, passing, passing away, decease.
blight: a specific symptom affecting plants in response to infection by a pathogenic organism
blithe: 1 happy, cheerful, carefree. 2 casually indifferent.
bravado: a bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate
capricious: tend to make sudden and unpredictable changes
carnauba: a fan palm with an edible root and leaves that yield carnauba wax. A carnauba tree.
catatonic: purifying. Producing a feeling of being purified emotionally, spiritually, or psychologically as a result of intense emotional experience or therapeutic technique.
catharsis: purification or purgation of the emotions (such as pity and fear) primarily through art, writing, theater, or music; spiritual renewal or release from tension
cay: a small low island; key
chyron: [ki-ron] a text-based graphic caption superimposed on a television screen or film frame; close captioning
cinderella liberty: a Navy jargon which is a shore pass which ends at midnight
cisgender: a person with gender identity is the same as their sex assigned at birth. Opposite of transgender.
clinch: 1 to settle a matter decisively. 2 to secure an object by beating object down. 3 boxing: to hold the opponent in the arms or body to prevent the opponent's punches. 4 slang: to embrace.
cockamamie: [cock-a-may-mie] ridiculous; implausible; pointless; stupid or silly
cohort: a group of people with commonality being together
compass rose: a diagram on a map displaying the directional orientation north, east, south, and west
concerto: a composition for one or more principal instruments, with orchestral accompaniment
concoct: 1 to create something by mixing or combining various ingredients in a new way. 2 to think up a story or plan.
conscientious objector: an individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service
conservatorship: legally defined as a court case where a judge appoints an individual or organization, called the conservator, to care for someone who "cannot care" for themselves or who cannot manage their own finances
contentious: causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial
coolly: in a way that lacks friendliness or enthusiasm
copyright trap: a publisher intentionally places wrong or fictitious information, so that if someone copies from them they can find out. Common examples are made-up cities and words in maps and dictionaries.
cordial: [kawr-juhl] As an adjective, courteous and gracious; friendly; warm. Sincere; heartfelt. As a noun, a strong, sweetened, aromatic alcoholic liquor; liqueur.
cordon: a line of circle of police, soldiers, or guards prevent access to or from an area or building. Prevent access to or from an area or building by surrounding it with police or other guards. The troops cordon around the headquarters. The city center was cordoned off after fires were discovered in two stores.
corollary: 1 a proposition which follows from and is often appended to one already proved. A proposition that follows directly from the proof of another proposition. 2 a direct or natural consequence or result; for example, the huge increases in unemployment were the corollary of expenditure cuts.
cull (verb): to remove as worthless. Remove an inferior thing or person from a larger groups.
culpable: deserve blame. Merits condemnation. Guilty, criminal, blameworthy.
cyclic: occurring in cycles; regularly repeated
Words D-F
daft: 1 silly, foolish British informal. 2 mad, insane British informal.
day of reckoning: the time when one is called to account for one's actions, to pay one's debts, or to fulfill one's promises or obligations
debutante: a young woman making a debut into society
decrement: a reduction or diminution. A gradual decrease in quality or quantity. Becoming smaller or shorter.
delectable: delightful, highly pleasing, enjoyable; delicious
demigod: a being with partial or lesser divine status such as a minor deity, the offspring of a god and a mortal, or a mortal raised to divine rank. Part human and part divine or part human and part deity.
dilemma: a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially equally undesirable ones. A difficult situation or problem. An argument forcing an opponent to choose either of two unfavorable alternatives.
discombobulate: to throw into a state of confusion; upset; frustrate
disintermediate: to remove middlemen from a transaction, supply chain, or decision making process. Reduce or eliminate intermediaries between producers and consumers.
dole: a portion or allotment of money, food, etc.; distributing. To distribute in charity.
dote: 1 to bestow or express excessive love or fondness habitually. 2 to show a decline of mental faculties, especially associated with old age.
dowager: a widow with a title or property derived from her late husband
dox: search for and publish private or identifying information about an individual on the internet with malicious intent. Doxxed is past tense or past participle. Doxing or doxxing is the act of publicly providing personally identifiable information about an individual or organization, usually via the Internet and without their consent to do so; for example, post a drivers license id on social media with contact information. A cyberbullying.
Drinking The Kool-Aid: refers to a person or people believing in something usually negative without examination
dysentery: bacterial diarrhea which is bloody diarrhea. The symptoms are fever, abdominal pain, and incomplete defecation. Causes include contaminated food and contaminated water with feces.
ELI5: explain like I'm 5
elucidate: make clear, explain, clarify
emaciated: [uh-mish-e-a-ted] abnormally thin or weak, especially because of illness or a lack of nutrition; malnutrition
embellish: to make something more attractive, interesting, or entertaining by adding details or features, especially ones not true
embolism: blockage of artery. A condition in which an artery is blocked by an embolus, usually a blood clot formed at one piece in the circulatory and then lodging in another.
endearment: a word or phrase expressing love or affection
engender: to produce, cause, or give rise to
enigma: somebody or someone not easily explained or understood
entailment: 1 a relationship between sentences where one sentence is true if the others are; for example, "Her son drives her to work every day" and "Her son knows how to drive" are related by entailment. Logical consequence.
entropy: a state of disorder or a gradual decline into disorder; chaos
ephemeral: [uh-feh-mir-uhl] anything short-lived. Lasting a very short time. For example, the ephemeral joys of childhood, a passing fancy, youth's transient beauty, and love is transitory yet it is essential.
erudite: having or showing great knowledge gained from studying and reading
esquire: (initial capital letter) an unofficial title of respect, having no precise significance
estrange: to cause somebody to stop feeling friendly or affectionate toward somebody else or sympathetic towards a tradition or belief
excelsior: a Latin word meaning ever upward
exogamy: marriage outside a specific tribe or similar social unit
expedient: [x-pee-di-ent] 1 appropriate, advisable, or useful requires action. 2 an advantage.
extort: to wrest or wring money or information from a person by violence, intimidation, or abuse of authority; obtain by force, torture, threat, or the like
facade: 1 the front of a building, especially an imposing or decorative one; any side of a building facing a public way or space and finished accordingly. 2 a superficial appearance or illusion of something.
fallible: capable of making mistakes or being erroneous
fealty: 2 fidelity; faithfulness
feebly: in a way that lacks strength or force. In a way that fails to convince or impress.
feral cat: a domesticated cat returned to the wild. In contrast, a stray cat is a pet cat lost or abandoned.
fibromyalgia: a chronic muscle pain, fatigue, sleep problems, and widespread tenderness
flabbergasted: greatly surprised or astonished; shocked
fledge: to raise a young bird until it's able to fly.
fledgling: an inexperienced, immature, underdeveloped person
forbear: to refrain or abstain from; withhold. To hold back, to be patient.
foregone conclusion: a result that is obvious to everyone even before it happens. A result that can be predicted with certainty. An inevitable conclusion or result.
fornication: voluntary sexual intercourse between two unmarried persons or two persons not married to each other
fritter: a word describing a wide variety of fried foods
Words G-I
gallows: a structure, typically of two uprights and a crosspiece, for the hanging of criminals; execution by hanging
garden variety: of the usual or ordinary type; commonplace
going commando: not wearing any underwear
golden handcuffs: an employer defers payments and benefits to an employee to prevent him or her working at another company
granular: resembling or consisting of small grains or particles. Finely detailed, highly detailed; having many small and distinct parts as in granular reports.
greenwash: a superficial or insincere display of concern for the environment by an organization; the process of conveying a false impression or providing misleading information about how a company's products are more environmentally sound
grift: a group of methods for obtaining money falsely through the use of swindles, frauds, dishonest gambling, etc.
gully: a small valley or ravine originally worn away by running water or prolonged rains. (slang) of or relating to the environment, culture, or life experience in poor urban neighborhoods.
haircut: 1 the act or process of cutting and shaping the hair. 2 a reduction in the value of an asset such as a stock or a bond.
harbor feelings: to have a thought or feeling in your mind for a long time
harlot: a prostitute
hedonism: the pursuit of pleasure; sensual self-indulgence
hegemony: leadership or predominant influence exercised by one nation over others. Aggression or expansionism by large nations in an effort to achieve world domination.
hemorrhage: a medical term for heavy discharge of blood from the blood vessels; ruptured blood vessel. A rapid or uncontrollable loss or outflow; the loss of assets.
heuristic: 1 encouraging discovery of solutions; discover solutions. 2 involving trial and error.
heuristicism: a method of solving a problem for which no formulas exist based from methods or experiences
hovel: a small, squalid, unpleasant, or simply constructed dwelling
hubris: excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance
hygge: a Danish term to relax with good friends or loved ones with food and drinks
hypochondriac: a person who is often or always worried about his or her own health. An excessive preoccupation with or anxiety about one's health.
hypocrisy: a pretense of having a virtuous character, moral, or religious beliefs or principles, etc. that one does not really possess. A pretense of having some desirable or publicly approved attitude.
idiosyncrasy: a characteristic, habit, mannerism, or the like, that is peculiar to an individual
idyllic: [i-dill-ic] serenely beautiful, untroubled, and happy
impassive: without emotion; apathetic; unloved
impertinence: lack of respect; rudeness
impertinent: not showing proper respect; rude. Not pertinent to a particular matter; irrelevant.
improv: short for improvisational theater. The actors make up scenes, dialogue, and characters on the spot. An improv time length is short lasting minutes.
incorrigible: a person not able to correct, improve, or reform their bad tendencies; uncontrollable, unruly
increment: Something added or gained; addition; increase. The act or process of increasing; growth.
indefinable: not able to be defined or described exactly. Hard to define. Hard to describe.
indict: formally accuse of or charge with a serious crime. To charge with a crime by the finding or presentment of a jury in due form of law.
ineffable: incapable of being expressed or described in words; inexpressible
inept: lacking the competence or skill for a particular task
infallible: incapable of making mistakes or being wrong; never fail; always effective. Absolutely trustworthy or sure.
inimitable: so good or unusual as to be impossible to copy; unique. Can't be imitated. Can't be copied.
insinuate: suggest or hint in an indirect and unpleasant way. Usually something bad or reprehensible.
insufferable: not to be endured; intolerable; unbearable
inure: [in-nor] to accustom to accept something undesirable. Frequent exposure to something bad; accustomed. Get used to something difficult or unpleasant. Past participle is inured. Law definition is come into operation; take effect.
irascible: having or showing a tendency to be easily angered
Words J-L
jackal: 2 a person who performs dishonest or base deeds as the follower or accomplice of another. 3 a person who performs menial or degrading tasks for another.
jaded: tired, bored, worn out, or lacking enthusiasm, typically after having had too much of something
jewel: a person unique, beautiful, pure, sweet like an angel; a precious possession; a person or thing treasured
juxtapose: to place or deal with close together for contrasting effect; black and white photos of slums were starkly juxtaposed with color images
keel: the longitudinal structure along the centerline at the bottom of a vessel's hull, on which the rest of the hull is built, in some vessels extended downward as a blade or ridge to increase stability. Base. Bottom. Bottom side.
kleptomania: a recurrent urge to steal, typically without regard for need or profit. A persistent neurotic impulse to steal especially without economic motive.
knee-jerk: readily predictable, react without thinking, react by a habitual manner
lame duck: an official (especially the president) in the final period of office, after the election of a successor
latchkey kid: a child left home alone or without supervision for most of the daylight because their parents are working. A child returns to an empty home after school or other activities without supervision.
leeway: the amount of freedom to move or act that is available. An allowable margin of freedom or variation; tolerance.
loath: unwilling; reluctant; disinclined; averse
loathe: to feel disgust or intense aversion for; abhor
lobotomize: 1 surgical operation nerves at the prefrontal lobe of brain severed. 2 make someone sluggish, mentally numb, lack energy, vitality.
Words M-O
macabre: to include gruesome and horrific details of death and decay
magnanimous: generous in forgiving an insult or injury, especially toward a rival or less powerful person
magnolia: any shrub or tree of the genus Magnolia, having large, usually fragrant flowers and an aromatic bark, much cultivated for ornament. Also the state flower of Louisiana and Mississippi.
maintain: to keep in existence or continuance; preserve; retain. To keep in an appropriate condition, operation, or force.
masticate: to chew
maven: an expert or connoisseur. A person who acquires knowledge.
melodramatic: behaving, speaking, done, or said in a way which is more dramatic, shocking, or highly emotional that the situation demands
microcosm: a little world; a world in miniature
mimosa: a cocktail drink composed of champagne or sparkling wine and citrus fruit juice
misassembled: to put the parts of something together in an incorrect manner; to assemble wrongly
misogyny: dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women
morbid: an unusual interest in disturbing and unpleasant subjects such as death and disease. A curiosity in grisly or gruesome matters
mutually exclusive: two or more things can't happen or exist at the same time. Or things which contradict each other.
myopic: lacking in foresight or discernment; narrow in perspective and without concern for broader implications. Lacking tolerance or understanding. Nearsighted.
mystic (noun): a person who claims to attain, or believes in the possibility of attaining, insight into mysteries transcending ordinary human knowledge, as by direct communication with the divine or immediate intuition in a state of spiritual ecstasy
mystic (adjective): involving or characterized by esoteric, otherworldly, or symbolic practices or content, as certain religious ceremonies and art; spiritually significant; ethereal
nebulous: hazy, vague, indistinct, or confused; hard to define
nefarious: a wicked or criminal action or activity. Crime. Villain. Evil.
nepotism: the unfair practice by a powerful or influential person of giving jobs and other favors to family and relatives
nihilist: a person who believes life is meaningless and rejects all religious and moral principles. Nihilism is a philosophy negating knowledge, the meaning of life, and morals.
non sequitur: a conclusion or reply which doesn't follow logically from the previous statement; a reply which has no relevance. A statement containing an illogical conclusion.
normalize: to make something normal or return something to normal, or become or return to normal. Make conform.
nothingburger: something that is or turns out to be insignificant or lacking in substance. Not deliver in promise. Nothing, nobody.
nubile: 1 (of a young woman) suitable for marriage. 2 (of a young person, usually a woman) sexually developed and attractive.
odious: deserving or causing hatred; hateful; detestable. Highly offensive; repugnant; disgusting.
oligarchy: a small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution. Government by the few. The government in which power rests with a small number of people.
omniscient: knowing or seeming to know everything. I'm the omniscient narrator.
op-ed: short for opposite the editorial page. Also opinion editorial.
Words P-R
pagan: [a broad definition] a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main or recognized religions
pageantry: elaborate display or ceremony. Spectacular display.
palimony: a form of alimony awarded to one of the partners in a romantic relationship after the breakup of that relationship following a long period of living together
panacea: 1 a remedy for all disease or ills; cure-all. 2 an answer or solution for all problems or difficulties.
panache: flamboyant or grand confidence of style or manner. Verve; style; flair. A stylish, original, and very confident way of doing things which makes people admire you.
pander: a person who caters to or profits from the weaknesses or vices of others
parasite: 1 an organism that lives on or in an organism of another species, known as the host, from the body of which it obtains nutriment. 2 a person who receives support, advantage, or the like, from another or others without giving any useful or proper return, as one who lives on the hospitality of others.
parenthetical: relating to or inserted as a parenthesis
parity: the state or condition of being equal, especially regarding status or pay. (of a number) the fact of being even or odd.
parlay: turn an initial stake or winnings from a previous bet into a greater amount in gambling. A cumulative series of bets in which winnings accruing from each transaction are used as a stake for a further bet.
parochial: 1 of or relating to a church parish. 2 confined or restricted; limited or narrow in scope or outlook.
partisan: a strong supporter of a person, group, or cause. A resistance fighter.
patrician: an aristocrat or nobleman. High social rank. A person of high birth. A group of ruling class families in ancient Rome.
pauper: a very poor person
pedantic: of or like a pedant. Pedantic describes a person who annoys others by correcting small errors, caring too much about minor details, or emphasizing their own expertise especially in some narrow or boring subject matter.
pedestrian (adjective): lacking uninspired or excitement; dull. Lacking in vitality, imagination, distinction.
penchant: a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something. A strong inclination, taste, or liking for something.
pensive: engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought
peregrine: coming from another region or country; stranger; wanderer
perfidy: treachery or deceit
perpetual: lasting forever, lasting indefinitely, occurring repeatedly
perverse: willfully determined or disposed to go counter to what is expected or desired; contrary; disobedient
phallocentric: focused on or concerned with the phallus or penis as a symbol of male dominance. Dominated by male attitudes. Having the male, or male sexual feelings or activity, as the main subject of interest.
phallus: a penis. An erect penis. Used to reference male potency or male dominance. An object resembles a penis.
philanderer: a person who frequently enters into casual sexual relationships or affairs; a womanizer
pinnace: a small boat, with sails or oars, forming part of the equipment of a warship or other large vessel
placate: to make someone less angry or hostile. To pacify by concessions or conciliatory gestures. Stop someone from feeling angry. Appease, soothe, pacify, comfort, calm.
plinth: a slab-like member beneath the base of a column or pier. A square base or a lower block, as of a pedestal.
pliable: flexible and easily bent. Easily persuaded or influenced.
polarize: to break up into opposing factions or groupings; divide into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs
polymer: a natural or synthetic compound that consists of large molecules made of many chemically bonded smaller identical molecules; for example, starch and nylon
pompous: excessively elevated or ornate; having or exhibiting self-importance or arrogance. Characterized by an ostentatious display of dignity or importance. Conceited. Inflated ego.
posh: sumptuously furnished or appointed; luxurious; very classy or sophisticated
posthumously: after the death of the originator
Potter's field: slang for an unmarked burial ground. Pauper's grave, common grave. Unknown, unclaimed, or indigent people are buried.
precipice: a very steep rock face or cliff. Close to a bad situation or dangerous situation.
premeditated: an action thought out or planned beforehand. Full conscious willful intent and a measure of forethought and planning. Thought of or planned before being done. Planned in advance with a purpose; no accident. Done deliberately. Planned in advanced. Planned. Calculated. Deliberate.
proselyte: a new convert to a religious faith or political doctrine
protagonist: the leading character, hero, or heroine of a drama or other literary work. A proponent for or advocate of a political cause, social program, etc. The leader or principal person in a movement, cause, etc.
punitive: inflicting or intended as punishment. Extremely high taxing or charging.
purgatory: in Roman Catholic, a place or state of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are explaining their sins before going to heaven. Having the quality of cleansing or purifying.
putative: generally considered or reputed to be. Commonly accepted or supposed. To be known as something by reputation or generally accepted.
QED: Latin for quod erat demonstrandum. Translated as that which was to be demonstrated.
quagmire: 2 an awkward, complicated, or dangerous situation difficult to escape
quorum: the smallest number of people who must be at a meeting for official decisions to be made by voting
reckoning: count; computation; calculation. The settlement of accounts as between two companies. Bill. An accounting, as for things received or done. An appraisal or judgment.
red herring: something intended to divert attention from the real problem or matter at hand; a misleading clue
regurgitate: bring swallowed food up again to the mouth. Repeat information without analyzing or comprehending it. Taken in at least partially digested and then spit back out. To bring back swallowed food into the mouth or back up through one's throat and out the mouth. Repeating facts.
remunerate: to pay, recompense, or reward for work, trouble, etc.
resonant: strong and deep in tone; echoing, as sounds
revenant: a person who returns; a person who returns as a spirit after death
rhetorical question: a question asked for effect that neither expects nor require an answer
rue: to feel sorry over; repent of; regret bitterly. To wish that something had never been done, taken place, etc. To feel sorrow, repentance, or regret. Sorry, repentance, regret.
Words S-U
sanctimonious: making a show of being morally superior to other people. Acting as if morally better than others. self-righteous; moralist; righteousness.
satire: the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices
sea grape: plant native to coastal beaches throughout tropical America and the Caribbean
secular: of or pertaining to worldly things or to things that are not regarded as religious, spiritual, or sacred
sentient: capable of feeling and perception. Capable of responding emotionally rather than intellectually.
shill: an accomplice of a hawker, gambler, or swindler who acts as an enthusiastic customer to entice or encourage others; one who acts as a decoy. To act as a spokesperson or promoter.
skibidi: [skip-pity] comes from a series of extremely popular YouTube videos titled "skibidi toilet." A nonsense word which means nothing.
skittish: 1 nervous or easily scared. 2 lively or playfully unpredictable.
sobriquet: a person's nickname
sportswash: an individual, group, corporation, or government using sports to improve their tarnished reputation hosting a sporting event, the purchase a sports team, or by participation in the sport itself
subsequent: 1 occurring or coming later or after. 2 following in time or order. Something that comes after something else.
succinct: short and clear; short and to the point
sundries: items, especially small, miscellaneous items of little value
sunset clause: a sunset clause is a provision in a contract, law, or regulation that automatically expires on a specified date or after a certain event. It essentially puts a time limit on the agreement or law, requiring renewal or modification to keep it in effect beyond that deadline.
superficial: existing or occurring at or on the surface. Appearing to be the true or real only until examined more closely.
superfluous: being more than is sufficient or required; excessive. Unnecessary or needless.
suprarational: beyond rational comprehension; based on or involving factors not to be comprehended by reason alone
sycophant: a person who tries to win favors from wealthy or influential people by flattering them up; a flatter; a suck up. A servile self-seeking person.
taciturn: [tass-a-turn] habitually uncommunicative or reserved in speech and matter
tertiary: third in order or level; in geology, the first period of the Cenozoic era
Timbuktu: slang for a place or location too far away. Timbuctoo is the incorrect spelling.
tonic immobility: can cause humans to be involuntary paralyzed during a trauma moment
transcendent: going beyond ordinary limits; surpassing; exceeding; exceeding usual limits
trepidation: tremulous fear or alarm; perturbation. A feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen.
trope: a word, phase, expression, or image that is used in a figurative way for rhetorical effect
tumescence: the quality or state of being tumescent. Ready for sexual activity marked especially by vascular congestion of the sex organs. The normal engorgement with blood of the erectile tissues, marking sexual excitation, and possible readiness for sexual activity.
tumescent: swollen or becoming swollen, especially as a response to sexual arousal
turd: a lump of excrement. A person regarded as obnoxious or contemptible.
uncanny: strange, mysterious, or unfamiliar, especially in an unsettling way. Being beyond what is normal or expected.
unequivocally: in a way which leaves no doubt. Clear and unambiguous.
ungodly: irreligious or immoral. Unreasonably. Denying or disobeying God. Extremely unacceptable.
uppity: self-important, arrogant, superiority, presumptuous
Words V-Z
veranda or verandah: a roofed, open-air hallway or porch, attached to the outside of a building. A veranda is often partly enclosed by a railing and frequently extends across the front and sides of the structure.
vicarious: performed, exercised, received, or suffered in place of another. Taking the place of another person or thing; acting or serving as a substitute.
vicariously: in a way that is experienced in the imagination through the actions of another person
vindictive: having or showing a strong desire for revenge motivated by a feeling of injustice or hurt; unwilling to forgive
virile: [ve-ril] having strength, energy, and a strong sex drive. Strength. Full of energy.
visceral: 2 relating to deep inward feelings rather than to the intellect; emotions over intelligence; instinctive. 1 relating to the viscera or internal organs in a body.
vitriol: something highly caustic or severe in effect as criticism
voir dire: the questioning of prospective jurors by a judge and attorneys in court; jury selection. French for to see and to say.
wallflower: (slang) someone who could be called shy, someone who doesn't feel comfortable around other people. They don't like to have attention on them because it makes them uncomfortable.
watershed: a turning point, or historic moment; e.g., the day you got your braces off might have been a watershed moment in your life. A turning point, the exact moment that changes the direction of an activity or situation. A watershed moment is a dividing point, from which things will never be the same. A critical turning point in time where everything changes that will never be the same as before.
whitewash: to gloss over or cover up an error, a fault, or some wrongdoing. In sports, it's to hold an opponent scoreless.
winsome: charming, especially with a naive and innocent quality
wistful: having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing. Melancholy. Sad longing. Sad appearance. Thinking sadly about something. Full of yearning.
yule log: a large log of wood that traditionally formed the backlog of the fire at Christmas
