Vocabulary

Started: 1997-10-12

avarice (n.) / avaricious (adj.) 

extreme desire for wealth; greed. [<Lat. avarus, greedy.]

parsimony (n.) / parsimonious (adj.) 

extreme or excessive frugality; stinginess

penurious (adj.) 

1. miserly; stingy

force majeure (n.) 

a natural and unavoidable catastrophe that interrupts the expected course of events.

inveigle (v.) 

influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering.

avaritia (n.) 

reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth (personified as one of the deadly sins).

eudaimonia / eudaemonia (n.) 

a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous

eudemonism (n.) 

an ethical system that evaluates actions by reference to personal well-being through a life based on reason

philology (n.) 

the humanistic study of language and literature

Dionysia (n.) 

an orgiastic festival in ancient Greece in honour of Dionysus (=Bacchus)

bacchanalia (n.) 

a wild gathering involving excessive drinking and promiscuity

Saturnalia (n.) 

an orgiastic festival in ancient Rome in honour of Saturn

Hellenism (n.) 

the principles and ideals associated with classical Greek civilization

philistine (n.) 

a person who is uninterested in intellectual pursuits

philistine (adj.) 

smug and ignorant and indifferent or hostile to artistic and cultural values

asceticism (n.) 

the trait of great self-denial (especially refraining from worldly pleasures)

sonorous (adj.) 

full and loud and deep

propinquity (n.) 

the property of being close together

fecundity (n.) 

1. the intellectual fruitfulness of a creative imagination

raison d'être (n.) 

1. reason for being. 2. the purpose that justifies a thing's existence

heuristics (n.) 

a common-sense rule (or set of rules) intended to increase the probability of solving some problem

mephistophelean (adj.) 

showing the cunning or ingenuity or wickedness typical of a devil

ruminate (v.) 

reflect deeply on a subject

debonair (adj.) 

1. having a sophisticated charm 2. having a cheerful, lively, and self-confident air

panache (n.) 

distinctive and stylish elegance

antinomianism (n.) 

the theological doctrine that by faith and God's grace a Christian is freed from all laws (including the moral standards of the culture)

meretricious (adj.) 

1. (archaic) like or relating to a prostitute 2. tastelessly showy 3. based on pretense; deceptively pleasing

specious (adj.) 

1. plausible but false 2. based on pretence; deceptively pleasing

spurious (adj.) 

1. plausible but false 2. born out of wedlock 3. intended to deceive

preterite (adj.) 

(grammar) a verb tense used to relate past action

cognates (n.) 

1. one related by blood or origin; especially on sharing an ancestor with another 2. a word is cognate with another if both derive from the same word in an ancestral language

pariah (n.) 

a person who is rejected (from society or home); an Ishmael.

Harijan (n.) 

belongs to lowest social and ritual class in India.

servility (n.) 

abject or cringing submissiveness.

obsequiousness (n.) 

abject or cringing submissiveness

panegyrics (n.) 

a formal expression of praise [Also: encomium, encomia]

paeans (n.) 

1. a formal expression of praise. 2. a hymn of praise (especially one sung in ancient Greece to invoke or thank a deity)

enured (adj.) 

made tough by habitual exposure.

aspersion (n.) 

1. a disparaging remark 2. the act of defaming.

parvenu (n.) 

1. a person who has suddenly risen to a higher economic status but has not gained social acceptance of others in that class

parvenu (adj.) 

1. characteristic of someone who has risen economically or socially but lacks the social skills appropriate for this new position.

plutocrat (n.) 

someone who exercises power by virtue of wealth.

connivance (n.) 

1. agreement on a secret plot 2. (law) tacit approval of someone's wrongdoing

incorrigible (adj.) 

impervious to correction by punishment

dour (adj.) 

1. stubbornly unyielding 2. harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance 3. showing a brooding ill humour

saturnine (adj.) 

1. bitter or scornful 2. showing a brooding ill humour

collocation (n.) 

a grouping of words in a sentence

untenable (adj.) 

(of theories etc) incapable of being defended or justified

odalisque (n.) 

1. a woman who cohabits with an important man. 2. concubine. 3. paramour

seriatim (adv.) 

in a series; one after another.

ennui (n.) 

boredom from lake of interest: weariness and dissatisfaction with life that results from a loss of interest or sense of excitement. [in odio est –it is hateful]

avast (interj.) 

naut. Hold on! Stop! [<Du. houd vast, hold fast.] used by sailors as a command to stop doing something or to ignore a previous order

Les Rêves D'Amour 

Dreams of Love

nota bene (n.) 

a Latin phrase (or its abbreviation) used to indicate that special attention should be paid to something

sotto voce (Italian) (adj; adv) 

in a low voice, so as not to be heard by everyone.

sou (n.) 

2. (infml) very small amount of money.

sough (v./n.) (arch or fml) 

(make a) murmuring or whispering sound (as of wind in trees).

soporific (n.; adj)/soporifically (adv) 

(substance, medicine, drink, etc.) causing sleep (a s. speech).

turgid (adj) (derog.) 

(of languages, style, etc.) pompous and difficult to follow; boring.

tyke/tike (n.) (infml) 

(used as a term of abuse) worthless person.

ululate (v.)/ululation (n.) 

(fml) howl or wail.

unalloyed (adj) 

(fml) not mixed, e.g. with negative feelings; pure.

Paideia (Noun Feminine) 

1. the whole training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment) It also includes the training and care of the body. 2. whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, esp. by correcting mistakes and curbing passions. A. instruction which aims at increasing virtue B. chastisement, chastening, (of the evils with which God visits men for their amendment)

Dolchstoss (German) 

"stab-in-the-back"

Sündenbock (German) 

scapegoat

Los von Rom (German) 

Break with Rome [end of cultural and religious domination by Roman Catholicism]

hacks 

ad hoc implementations

Web 3.0 

semantic web

screen scraping 

a technique in which a computer program extracts text data from the display output of another program (see: "web scraping")

idempotent 

(adj) describing an action which, when performed multiple times, has no further effect on its subject after the first time it is performed

outro (sometimes "outtro" or "extro") 

a literary term used to indicate the conclusion to a piece. It is the opposite of an intro.

fauxtography 

faked or staged photographs (aka "Photoshopping")

soupçon 

(from French) a very small amount; a hint; a trace

Amandine Chauveau

Genealogy terms

Latin terms

As you read older records, you may come across some Latin terms. Below is a list of commonly used Latin words. If the word that you have come across is not in this list, try consulting a Latin dictionary.

Anno Domini (A.D.) 

in the year of our Lord

circa, circiter (c., ca., circ.) 

about

connubium 

marriage

et 

and, both

et alii (et al.) 

and others

et cetera (etc., &c.) 

and so forth

familia 

household

filiam 

daughter

filium 

son

item 

also, likewise

mater 

mother

materfamilias 

(female) head of household

mensis (menses) 

month(s)

nepos 

grandson. Also meant "nephew" in some records.

neptis 

granddaughter. Also meant "niece" in some records.

nota bene (N.B.) 

take note

obit 

(he or she) died

obit sine prole (o.s.p.) 

(he or she) died without offspring

pater 

father

requiescat in pace (R.I.P.) 

rest in peace

sic 

so, thus

testes 

witnesses

ultimo (ult.) 

last

uxor (ux, vx) 

wife

Verbi Dei Minister (V.D.M.) 

minister of the word of God

videlicet (viz, vizt) 

namely

ad inf., (ad infinitum) 

to infinity

ad lib. (ad libitum) 

as one wishes; as indicated

ad loc. (ad locum) 

to, or at, the place

ad val. (ad valorem) 

according to value

a.m. (anno mundi) 

in the year of the world

b.i.d. (bis in die) 

twice a day

c and sc 

capitals and small capitals (letters)

C.J. (corpus juris) 

body of law; Chief Justice

dc, (da capa) 

repeat from the beginning

do., (ditto) 

the same

e.g. (exempli gratia) 

for example

et al. (at alii) 

and others

etc. (et cetera) 

and so forth

et seq. (et sequens) 

and the following

ex lib. (ex libris) 

from the books o

ibid. (ibidem) 

in the same place

id. (idem) 

the same

i.e. (id est) 

that is

loc. Cit. (loco citato) 

in the place cited

L.S. (locus sigilli) 

place of the seal

N.B. (nota bene) 

note carefully

non seq. (non sequitur) 

does not follow; not in order

op. Cit. (opere citato) 

in the work cited

p.a., (per annum) 

by the year

P.D. (per diem) 

by the day

pro tem (pro tempore) 

for the time being

q.v. (quo vide) 

which see

qy 

query (question; inquire)

s.d. (sine die) 

without date

s.p. (sine prole) 

without issue

ss (scilicet) 

namely

ult. (ultimo) 

in the last month

vid. (vide) 

see

viz. (videlicet) 

namely

Ideonamé

Started: 1996-06-09

• COGNAC
• L'ART DE MARTELL
• L'OR
• FONDÉE EN
• ITIVENESS
• IRE
• TREX
• EAUX
• TANT
• SREE
• LUI
• LES
• DEUX
• MAGOTS
• Fr. DÉSIR FOU (wild desire)
• Fr. ÉLAN (DESIRE)
• Jag. ARDOR (DESIRE)
• Mdu. BOECWEITE
• Fr. CAMBRIC (A fine white linen or cotton fabric)
• Fr. CARILLON (A set of bells hung in a tower and played from a keyboard)
• Ofr. CARNELIAN, CORNELINE (jewelry)
• Fr. CHAPEAU [Shâ-pò'] (hat)
• OE BYRGAN (bury)
• ME BURLICH (strong)
• OE BISIG (busy)
• OE BUTAN [bútan] (no ifs, ands, or buts)
• OE BYCGAN (buy)
• ME BILAWE (bylaw)
• ONfr. CABARET [kâb'è-rá] (a shop selling liquor)
• Fr. CAFÉ AU LAIT [ó lá] (coffee with hot milk)
• ON CALLA (call)
• ME DURAN (to last)
• Mdu. DÚNE (hill)
• Bel. DUFFEL (bag)
• OE ÆGTHER (either)
• ON ELGR (deer)
• OE ENDLEOFAN
• ME JAGGE [jäg] (jag; n. a sharp projecting point)
• ME JENE, GENOA [jén] (jean; n. pants, made of jean)
• Ofr. JAQUE [jâk'it] (jacket; n. a short coat)
• ME JOBBEN [jâb] (jab; v. a quick stab or blow)
• Fr. JABOT [zhâ-bó, jâ-] (fluffy shirt; n. a series of ruffles down the front of a shirt)
• Fr. JALOUSIE [jâl'è-sé] (jealousy; n. a blind shutter with adjustable horizontal slats)
• Fr. JAUNTY, GENTIL [jôn'té, jän'-] (noble; adj. stylish)
• ME JOWE [jô] (To talk; v. converse)
• Ofr. JETER [jêt'é] (to protect; n., pl. -tles)
• Ofr. JÖEL [jõ'èl] (jewel; n. precious)
• Fr. JOIE DE VIVRE [zhwä dè vé'vrè] (enjoy; n. carefree enjoyment of life)
• Ofr. GISTE [joist] (pillars; n. beams)
• Ofr. JOLI [jôl'é] (happy; adj. -lier, -liest merry fun-loving)
• ME JOUNCE, JOUNCEN [jouns] (bump; v. jounced, jouncing)
• OE CEAFL [joul] (jaw; n. cheek or face)
• Fr. JULIENNE (POTATOES) [jõ-lí] (french fries, chips; adj. cut into long thin strips)
• Skt. JAGANÁTHAH [jûg'è-nôt] (juggernaut; n. lord of the world)
• ME JONK (rope; n. an old rope)
• Skt. JÚTAH [jõt] (twisted hair; n. curly hair)
• Fr. JUXTAPOSER [jûk'stè-póz'] (side by side; v. -posed, -posing. to place side by side)

From Old English texts

Started: 1996-10-05

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

spate 

a stream resulting from a sudden downpour of rain

yield 

reward

Sun of Glory 

King Arthur

tilt 

a mock combat between two knights on horseback

an 

if

Book of Hours 

a book containing prayers to be said at certain times of the day

a leash 

three

scullions and the kitchen knaves 

kitchen servants

villain kitchen vassalage 

lowborn kitchen service

thrall 

slave

jousts (justs or jousts)

still 

always

Anon 

at another time

changeling 

a child secretly exchanged for another by fairies of elves

Merlin's glamour 

the magic of Merlin, the magician at Arthur's court

enow 

enough

inveterately (in-vet' er-it-lé) 

intricately

boughts (bouts) 

coils

emblemings 

emblems

did their days in stone 

he presented their deeds in statues

boon 

a favour

reft 

carried off

charlock 

wild mustard plant which has yellow blooms

delivering 

announcing

vasal king 

King Mark is a vassal or subordinate to King Arthur

cousin 

cousin was used for any relative. Tristram was actually his nephew

fealty (fé' el-té) 

faithfulness, allegiance; the obligation of loyalty owed by a vassal to his feudal lord

pile 

building

blazoned 

painted in colours

stony shields 

shields carved in stone

churl 

the lowest rank of society, a medieval English peasant

lap him up in cloth of lead 

kill him; corpses were wrapped in sheets of lead to protect them from wild animals

seneschal (sen ' e-shel) 

a steward

mien (men) 

face

wot 

knows

sleuthhound 

bloodhound

or 

whether

Beaumains (Fr.) 

"fair hands"

broach 

spit

increscent and descrescent 

waxing and waning (growing larger and smaller)

quest 

a task to be accomplished by a knight

mellow 

soft, easy going

hold 

stronghold

purport 

purpose

a holy life 

convent

errantry 

[private missions]

scape 

escape

Slew the may-white 

Her face was flushed with anger

counter 

opposite

without 

outside

foul-fleshed agaric (ag'e-rik) in the holt 

a foul-smelling fungus in the wood

beknaved 

called a knave

mere 

a small lake or pond

caitiff (ka'tif) 

wicked

fain 

gladly

guerdon (gur'den) 

reward

harborage 

shelter

rout 

crowd

stoat 

weasel

isled (ild) 

taken refuge

ruth 

pity

her who lay among the ashes 

Cinderella

liefer (lef'er) 

more willingly

Avoid 

depart

crupper (krup'er) 

a leather strap looped under a horse's tail and attached to a harness or saddle; the rump of a horse

cloven 

split

felon (fel'en) 

evil

pricked 

spurred

rated 

berated, scolded

fleshless laughter 

a skull

imageries 

images

head prickled 

hair stood on end

cataract

proffered

precipitancy

perforce

vacillating

carrion

rend

sullen

stalwart

reave

pining

petulant

sully

suppliant

palfrey

Edgar Allan Poe

dissimulation 

a concealment of feelings in intentions; a disguise

definitiveness 

the quality of being definite or exact

dissemble 

to conceal one's motives; to pretend not to recognise

surcease 

end

yore 

long ago

Pallas 

Pallas Athene, Greek goddess of wisdom

Plutonian 

in Pluto's realm, the kingdom of the dead, according to Greek and Roman mythology

dirges 

funeral songs

divining 

predicting or prophesying

seraphim 

the highest order of angels

nepenthe (ni-pen'the) 

a drug that brings forgetfulness

quaff 

to drink deeply

sagacity

pallid

Quoth

Lenore

Omne ignotum pro magnifico 

Latin for "Everything unknown passes for miraculous."

partie carre' 

party of four

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

coster's 

street vendor's

billet 

job, employment

ennui (an'we) 

boredom