As always, I should start by recommending the Firefox dictionary tooltip (and noting that Firefox even runs on Macs). Also, you can search for “define:pecuniary” &c on Google. Having said that,
pecuniary: relating to money and finances
smarmy: like a slick, greasy yes-man
brickbat: a heavy-handed insult
“in the offing”: in the distance, for close values of distance such as at the end of the block
stripling: youngster
apposite: similarly corresponding
phthisis: a debilitating disease such as tuberculosis
juxtapose: to offer up two things for a comparison or trade
lickspittle: a person who does unsavory things to curry favour
pulchritude: physically very sexy
disingenuous: giving a false impression of sincerity
phantasmagoric: dreamlike (or originally, like a shadow-puppet show)
ontic: having an existence
perfidy: treachery for the purpose of breaking someone’s trust
While I’m at it, here are some more for my “not yet used” column:
acquiesce: to passively agree
loquacious: making a lot of small talk
pidgin: a specialized dialect full of jargon
and one more for the “already used” list:
to be enamored of something: to be very fond of the thing, often romantically
I’m sure if you discuss certain politicians, you could stick ‘disingenuous’ into the sentence – and perhaps even ‘perfidy.’ :) And perhaps one could think of the Miss America pageant as a place where one could find pulchritude en masse (at least from the beauty aspect, I personally don’t find faces that are 60% blinding smile very sexy).
I have a similar list, but not quite as sophisticated as your’s:
Used:
– ubiquitous
– banal
– wicked awesome
– criterion
– “you know what else is _____?”
To Be Used:
– hella
– 2 point conversion (used in the proper context)
– persnickety
– “That’s what she said”
Oh, and I love the Pokemon one. I may use that today. It just sounds like a show-stopper. Oh, and how wicked is it that the new Firefox has automatic spell-checker? It’s almost as good as using a 2 point conversion to get past the bouncer. . . One day I’ll get it right.
I read more of that phantasmagoric comic that is full of striplings trading brickbats. And I saw this one and thought of you http://www.xkcd.com/c192.html
Hey Alan Im actually using a blog :) cant say i use too mant of those words- usually in the weather building we stick with things like LIDAR, Cumulonimbus cirrus spisatus, frontogenesis, potential vorticity or holy sh*t if there is a tornado :)
When you post these – if you are ever bored – Id love definitions with them, as about 1/3 of the words I dont know.
Ever since learning the word this fall, I too have been trying to work lickspittle into a conversation! We’ll see who wins!
You havent used disingenuous? Thats a fun word but it seems common enough to be able to use.
As always, I should start by recommending the Firefox dictionary tooltip (and noting that Firefox even runs on Macs). Also, you can search for “define:pecuniary” &c on Google. Having said that,
While I’m at it, here are some more for my “not yet used” column:
and one more for the “already used” list:
Is it enamored of? I thought it was enamored by or with? hmmm
I’m sure if you discuss certain politicians, you could stick ‘disingenuous’ into the sentence – and perhaps even ‘perfidy.’ :) And perhaps one could think of the Miss America pageant as a place where one could find pulchritude en masse (at least from the beauty aspect, I personally don’t find faces that are 60% blinding smile very sexy).
I have a similar list, but not quite as sophisticated as your’s:
Used:
– ubiquitous
– banal
– wicked awesome
– criterion
– “you know what else is _____?”
To Be Used:
– hella
– 2 point conversion (used in the proper context)
– persnickety
– “That’s what she said”
Oh, and I love the Pokemon one. I may use that today. It just sounds like a show-stopper. Oh, and how wicked is it that the new Firefox has automatic spell-checker? It’s almost as good as using a 2 point conversion to get past the bouncer. . . One day I’ll get it right.
I read more of that phantasmagoric comic that is full of striplings trading brickbats. And I saw this one and thought of you http://www.xkcd.com/c192.html
Weather words
Hey Alan Im actually using a blog :) cant say i use too mant of those words- usually in the weather building we stick with things like LIDAR, Cumulonimbus cirrus spisatus, frontogenesis, potential vorticity or holy sh*t if there is a tornado :)
Re: Weather words
Congrats! See? They’re useful for keeping in touch!
The $64,000 question, of course, is how do you pronounce LIDAR?