The Words You Should Know to Sound Smart (15 page)

raconteur
(RAH-kon-tour), noun

Someone who enjoys telling stories, does so frequently, and is good at it.

“O’Hara writes as a poetic one-man band, shifting rapidly among his roles as RACONTEUR, sexual adventurer, European traveler …” – Edward Mendelson, Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Colombia University

raillery
(RAIL-err-ee), noun

Good-natured teasing.

“RAILLERY,” said Montesquieu, “is a way of speaking in favor of one’s wit at the expense of one’s better nature.”

raiment
(RAY-muhnt), noun

Clothing or apparel of the finest quality.

When Priscilla entered the room attired in RAIMENT of pure gold, her guests gasped and more than one glass of wine was overturned on silken tablecloths.

raison d’être
(RAY-zohn-deh-truh), noun

The core reason why something exists; its central purpose and mission in this world.

When Jane’s children went off to college, her RAISON D’ÊTRE disappeared, and she fell into a deep depression.

rambunctious
(ram-BUHNGK-shuhss), adjective

Difficult to handle; wild and boisterous.

“The golden age, when RAMBUNCTIOUS spirits were regarded as the source of evil.” – Friedrich Nietzsche, nineteenth-century German philosopher

ramification
(ram-uh-fuh-KAY-shun), noun

A natural consequence of an action or circumstance.

A RAMIFICATION of a prolonged stay in low or zero gravity would be loss of bone mass and lean muscle.

rancor
(RAYN-core), noun

Conflict between individuals or groups, usually resulting from disagreement over an action or issue, and accompanied by ill will, bad feelings, and an escalation of the dispute over time.

“They no longer assume responsibility (as beat cops used to do) for averting RANCOR between antagonistic neighbors.” – Harlan Ellison, American author

rapacity
(ruh-PAH-sih-tee), noun

Greed for wealth, power, fame, and success, even at the expense of others.

An unquenchable desire for the finer things in life is not RAPACITY, as some have suggested. It is, instead, a mark of higher birth.

rapprochement
(rah-PROWCH-ment), noun

Re-establishment of friendly relations between nations following a period of hostility.

Lydia spoke at length about how RAPPROCHEMENT between the United States and some former Soviet nations has been a real boon to her family’s prestige and wealth.

rarefied
(RARE-uh-fyed), adjective

Lofty; exalted; of high class or caliber.

Most copywriters don’t operate in the RAREFIED environment in which Clayton makes his millions.

ratiocinate
(ray-shee-OSS-inn-ate), verb

To work toward the solution of a problem through logical thinking and reason.

Since the dawn of humanity, our best minds have failed to RATIOCINATE a method of proving God’s existence.

raze
(RAYZ), verb

To tear down or demolish.

We had to RAZE our Cape Cod home and rebuild it entirely, due to some structural damage to the home caused by high winds.

recalcitrant
(rih-KAL-sih-trunt), adjective

Unwilling to cooperate voluntarily; hesitant to step forward and do what one is asked or told to do.

On the witness stand, the mobster was RECALCITRANT and uncommunicative.

recant
(rih-KANT), verb

To withdraw or disavow formally.

“I cannot and will not RECANT anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.” – Martin Luther, the father of Protestantism

recapitulate
(ree-kah-PIT-chew-late), verb

To repeat something, but in a more concise form.

“To RECAPITULATE: always be on time for my class,” the professor told his freshman class on the first day of the semester.

recession
(ree-SESH-in), noun

A troubled economy characterized by a decline in gross domestic product for two consecutive quarters; a period during which unemployment is on the rise, inflation is increasing, and consumer confidence and spending power is eroded.

The looming RECESSION has even hurt some of our families, who have had to let go of second yachts and one or two homes.

reciprocity
(res-uh-PROS-ih-tee), noun

Doing business with—or a favor for—someone, because they have done a favor for, or bought from, you.

Giving customers free gifts increases sales because of the principle of RECIPROCITY.

recompense
(REE-kum-pense), verb, noun

To give someone cash or something else of value to make up for injury or inconvenience they suffered at your hands, either accidentally or deliberately.

recondite
(REHK-un-dite), adjective

Beyond typical knowledge and understanding.

For most people, opera, polo, and fine wine remain RECONDITE subjects.

recriminate
(rih-KRIM-uh-nayt), verb

To bring up accusations against someone who has accused you.

After Natasha was snubbed by us for blabbing to the gossip pages, she RECRIMINATED by pointing out that some of us had leaked gossip ourselves.

rectitude
(REHK-ti-tood), noun

Moral virtue; rightness.

“The mind that’s conscious of its RECTITUDE, / Laughs at the lies of rumor.” – Ovid, Roman poet

recumbent
(rih-KUHM-bent), adjective

Inactive, idle; lying down.

During our Italian cruise, we spent most of our time RECUMBENT on the bow of the yacht, soaking up the sun’s rays.

recursive
(ree-KURSS-iv), adjective

Pertaining to a process in which each step makes use of the results of the earlier steps.

The study of mathematics is a RECURSIVE learning experience.

redact
(re-DAKT), verb

To edit a comment, thought, or written document before going public with it.

“You may want to REDACT your opinion on your opponent’s health care policies,” his campaign manager warned him.

redolent
(RED-oh-lent), adjective

An object possessing a rich scent or alluring aroma, or a situation with a hint or promise of rich possibilities.

Her rose garden was REDOLENT with the perfume of a thousand flowers.

redoubtable
(rih-DOW-tuh-bull), adjective

The quality of being a formidable opponent.

Michael’s REDOUBTABLE nature made him a successful negotiator and trial attorney.

reflexive
(reh-FLEK-siv), adjective

Something that happens through reflex rather than deliberate choice or effort.

We don’t mean to act imperiously toward the nouveau riche; it’s just a REFLEXIVE and conditioned response.

refulgent
(rih-FUHL-jent), adjective

Radiant, gleaming; shining brightly.

When Anastasia moved her bejeweled hand while lounging in the midday sunshine, her sparkling diamonds were REFULGENT.

rejoinder
(rih-JOIN-der), noun

A clever or witty reply to a question or comment.

Lydia’s often catty REJOINDERS quickly made her the bane of our group.

remiss
(rih-miss), adjective

Negligent or careless.

Our servants know that if they ever are REMISS in their duties, then we will quickly fire them.

remittance
(ree-MITT-inss), noun

A payment for goods or services purchased on credit.

Lacking a credit card, he made a REMITTANCE on his account online using PayPal.

remonstrate
(rih-MON-strate), verb

To protest, object, or to show disapproval.

When Carlotta REMONSTRATED our snubbing of Julia, we simply began to snub Carlotta as well.

remunerate
(rih-MYOO-nuh-rate), verb

To settle a debt or other financial obligation by making a payment.

Peter’s supervisor at the insurance company would do anything to avoid REMUNERATING policyholders for the claims they made.

renaissance
(REN-ah-sonce), noun, adjective

A period of great learning, thinking, and creativity—in art, literature, science, economics, and philosophy.

We were so pleased by the RENAISSANCE of wealth acquisition that arose during the closing years of the twentieth century.

renunciation
(ree-nun-see-AYE-shun), noun

To distance yourself from a position or belief; to publicly state a shift in ideals or position on an issue while criticizing your past stance as wrong.

“With RENUNCIATION life begins.” – Amelia E. Barr, British novelist

reparations
(reh-par-AYE-shins), noun

Payments made by nations defeated in war to the victors, who impose these payments to recover from some of the costs of battle.

After World War I, REPARATIONS of 132 billion gold marks were imposed on Germany by the French.

repartee
(rep-er-TAY), noun

Conversation characterized by witty banter.

Our galas and balls are always marked by delightful REPARTEE around the grand dinner table.

repertoire
(REH-per-tware), noun

A library of works that a group knows and regularly performs.

The philharmonic’s REPERTOIRE includes most of the classical standards from Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and Mozart.

replete
(rih-PLEET), adjective

Abundantly provided; complete.

repose
(rih-POHZ), noun

To be in a position or state of rest.

reprobate
(REE-pro-bait), noun

A person who routinely commits illegal, immoral, or unethical acts without hesitation or remorse.

One reason that Anthony continues to be a REPROBATE is because his father, as well as his social contacts, keep bailing him out of jail.

reprove
(ree-PROOV), verb

To criticize and correct others.

We found it necessary to REPROVE Elyssia for some of her questionable fashion choices.

repudiate
(reh-pew-dee-AYTE), verb

To dispute an idea, decision, or belief; to distance oneself and refuse to be associated with someone or something.

We repeatedly REPUDIATED James for his assertion that Rolex watches surpass those of Cartier.

requisite
(REK-wiz-it), noun or adjective

A mandatory action, requirement, or condition; or, necessary and mandatory.

Being physically fit is a REQUISITE to getting a job as a firefighter.

requite
(rih-KWYTE), verb

To seek revenge for an actual or assumed wrong.

“… certain sets of human beings are very apt to maintain that other sets should give up their lives to them and their service, and then they REQUITE them by praise” – Charlotte Brönte, British novelist

rescind
(ree-SINNED), verb

Take away, revoke, cancel, withdraw, remove.

Richard RESCINDED his order for a yacht, opting instead to purchase a private aircraft.

respite
(RESS-pit), noun

A temporary delay from something distressing.

resplendent
(reh-SPLEN-dent), adjective

Garbed or decorated in lush fabrics and rich, vibrant colors.

The bride was RESPLENDENT in a beaded silk gown.

restive
(RESS-tihv), adjective

Impatient and stubborn.

Audrey was so worked up about her first summer abroad that her excitement came across as RESTIVE.

reticent
(REH-tih-scent), adjective

Reluctance to openly express one’s thoughts, feelings, and personal business to other people; behaving like an introvert in social situations.

“The shorter poems tend to be RETICENT, psychologically acute love poems about the shifting inequalities of love.” – Edward Mendelson, Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Colombia University