Read The Words You Should Know to Sound Smart Online
Authors: Bobbi Bly
The Words You Should Know to Sound Smart (7 page)
“Jealousy is a GRIEVOUS
passion that jealously seeks what
causes grief.”
Franz Grillparzer, Austrian poet
gable
(GAY-bull), noun
The triangular upper part of a wall at the end of a rigid roof.
The Sandersons could not resist purchasing a second Cape Cod home because they fell in love with the home’s colorful GABLES.
gainsay
(GANE-say), verb
To deny, dispute, or contradict.
Michael has made no attempt to GAINSAY the persistent rumors that his family’s fortune rests solely on insider trading.
galivant
(GAL-ih-vant), verb
To wander widely; to constantly travel to many different places, without an itinerary or plan; to freely go wherever and whenever the mood strikes you, and doing so frequently.
Some accuse us of GALIVANTING around the world, but cultural knowledge is de rigueur for cocktail conversation.
galleon
(GAL-ee-un), noun
A Mediterranean sailing vessel used by explorers for ocean voyages.
The GALLEONS of the Spanish fleet sailed annually from Seville to Panama and Cartagena.
galvanize
(GAL-vuh-nyze), verb
To propel someone or something into sudden activity.
The unveiling of new yachts quickly GALVANIZED the regatta.
gambit
(GAM-bit), noun
A remark used to redirect a conversation; or a maneuver used to seek advantage.
“The catchphrase positively rejoices in being a formula, an accepted GAMBIT, a ready-made reaction.” – John Gross, British literary critic
gambol
(GAM-bowl), verb
To run, skip, or jump about in a playful or joyous fashion.
“We all have these places where shy humiliations GAMBOL on sunny afternoons.” – W. H. Auden, Anglo-American poet
gamesome
(GAYM-suhm), adjective
Playful and frolicsome.
“[Nature] is GAMESOME and good, / But of mutable mood,— / No dreary repeater now and again, / She will be all things to all men.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, American poet, essayist, and transcendentalist
gamine
(gah-MEEN), noun
A girl with a boyish demeanor and mischievous nature who is somehow still appealing.
Her GAMINE behavior and looks only made her that much more attractive to teenage boys her age.
gamut
(GAM-utt), noun
The full spectrum of possibilities or choices.
The choice of places to eat near the mall ran the GAMUT from chain restaurants to five-star dining.
garnish
(GAR-nihsh), verb
A legal procedure for taking a portion of a person’s wages, property, and assets to pay his debts.
If you do not pay your taxes within thirty days, the county reserves the right to GARNISH a portion of your wages until the back taxes are paid in full.
garrulity
(gah-ROO-lih-tee), noun
The habit of talking way too much.
“The interview is an intimate conversation between journalist and politician wherein the journalist seeks to take advantage of the
GARRULITY
of the politician and the politician of the credulity of the journalist” –
Emory Klein, American journalist
gauche
(GOHSH), adjective
Sorely lacking in the social graces and good manners; crude behavior.
Rhett was under the impression that one needed only money to join the country club. However, his GAUCHE demeanor caused him to be denied membership.
gazetteer
(gaz-ih-TEERr), noun
A geographical index or dictionary of places organized by name.
The Rothschilds prefer their pilot simply head for the sun, rather than consult a GAZETTEER prior to short flights.
gelid
(JELL-uhd), adjective
extremely cold; icy.
The Vangelder’s yacht sluiced easily through the GELID waters of the Cape.
genome
(GEE-nome), noun
The collection of chromosomes that makes an individual organism unique from all others except its clone or identical twin.
Blake has become convinced that the GENOMES of those among his most important social contacts have more commonalities than differences.
genteel
(jehn-TEEL), adjective
Well-bred and possessing a refined temperament.
“[I am] a journalist in the field of etiquette. I try to find out what the most
GENTEEL
people regularly do, what traditions they have
discarded, what compromises they have made.” –
Amy Vanderbilt, American etiquette expert
geopolitical
(gee-oh-poh-LIH-tih-kull), adjective
Anything having to do with the politics affecting the relationships of two or more countries, especially when influenced by geographical factors.
GEOPOLITICAL instability in the Middle East is fueling rising crude oil prices.
geostationary
(GEE-oh-STAY-shin-air-ee), adjective
A satellite in orbit 22,300 miles above the Earth’s surface so that the satellite is always directly over the same spot of ground.
Arthur C. Clark was the first to propose that three GEOSTATIONARY satellites orbiting Earth could provide a global communications network effectively covering every location on the planet.
germane
(jehr-MANE), adjective
Relevant, pertinent, and fitting.
“Quotes from Mao, Castro, and Che Guevara … are as GERMANE to our highly technological, computerized society as a stagecoach on a jet runway at Kennedy airport.” – Saul Alinksy, American activist
germinal
(JUHRM-nuhl), adjective
Related to the earliest stage of development.
Roland’s foray into art-buying is in its GERMINAL phase.
gestalt
(geh-STALT), noun
A unified whole.
“Feminism is an entire world view or GESTALT, not just a laundry list of women’s issues.” – Charlotte Bunch, American feminist
gesticulate
(jes-TIH-cue-late), verb
To use gestures when talking, especially when speaker is eager or excited to get his ideas across.
“Okay, the man in the yellow shirt,” the seminar leader said, pointing to an audience member who was GESTICULATING wildly.
gimcrack
(JIHM-krack), noun
A showy object of little or no value.
“Haul them off! Hide them! / The heart winces / For junk and GIMCRACK, / for jerrybuilt things.” – Richard Wilbur, American poet
glean
(GLEEN), verb
To discover or learn slowly and deliberately.
Bentley GLEANED from the drop in Ferrari sales that a looming recession even had some of his social contacts feeling nervous.
globalization
(glow-bull-ih-ZAY-shin), noun
The movement toward a true world economy with open and free trading across national borders.
“Proponents of GLOBALIZATION insist that, as trade and investment move across borders, economic efficiencies raise the standards of living on both sides of the exchange.” – Arthur Goldwag, American author
globule
(GLAHB-yewl), noun
A small globe or ball.
“In yourself is the law of all nature, and you know not yet how a GLOBULE of sap ascends.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, American poet, essayist, and transcendentalist
Gnosticism
(NAH-stih-sih-zim), noun
The religious belief that salvation is attained through secret knowledge rather than through prayer, ritual, faith, divine grace, or good works.
Many of the key principles of Christianity were formed as a direct response to GNOSTICISM.
gorgonize
(GORE-guh-nize), verb
To paralyze or mesmerize with one’s looks or personality.
Even without her family’s wealth and connections, Marla would likely GORGONIZE all the men who enter her orbit.
gormandize
(GORE-mun-dize), verb
To eat like a glutton, as if one was starving.
We find GORMANDIZING on even the finest French cuisine to be quite tasteless and, therefore, to be avoided.
gossamer
(GAHSS-uh-muhr), adjective
Something delicate, light, and flimsy that will flutter in the slightest breeze.
Fairies flitted among the flowers on GOSSAMER wings.
grandiloquent
(grand-EL-oh-kwent), adjective
Having a pompous, overly inflated, hyperbolic, or pretentious way of presenting oneself in speech and mannerism.
The architect waxed GRANDILOQUENT about the visionary design of his new skyscraper.
granular
(GRAN-you-ler), adjective
The ability to divide, organize, and search through something at a fine level of detail.
Julian’s GRANULAR abilities allow him to extract the absolute best from among even the largest pile of uncut diamonds.
gratuitous
(grah-TOO-ih-tuss), adjective
Unnecessary; inappropriately excessive; uncalled for.
“Being accused of making money by selling sex in Hollywood, home of the casting couch and the GRATUITOUS nude scene, is so rich with irony that it’s a better subject for a comic novel than a column.” – Anna Quindlen, American author and opinion columnist
gravitas
(gra-vih-TAS), adjective
Behavior or manner that is dignified and serious, perhaps even a bit stiff, formal, and pompous
.
The GRAVITAS with which Lionel viewed the Harvard-Yale football game was quite amusing to many of us.
gregarious
(greh-GARE-ee-us), adjective
An extrovert; an outgoing person; one who is friendly and cheerful in nature.
“We are easy to manage, a
GREGARIOUS
people, / Full of sentiment, clever at mechanics, and we love our luxuries.” –
Robinson Jeffers, American poet
grievous
(GREE-vuhss), adjective
Flagrant and outrageous; or, causing grief and great sorrow.
“Jealousy is a GRIEVOUS passion that jealously seeks what causes grief.” – Franz Grillparzer, Austrian poet
grouse
(GRAUSS), verb
To complain or grumble about one’s situation.
We decided not to return to the restaurant after the maître d’ continuously GROUSED about the slovenliness of his wait staff.
guaranty
(gar-an-TEE), noun
The taking of responsibility by one person for another person’s debts or other financial obligations. Also, the act of giving security.
“The Constitution is the sole source and GUARANTY of national freedom.” – Calvin Coolidge
guerrilla
(guh-RILL-uh), noun
One who engages in warfare through small acts of harassment and sabotage.
With her keen eye for detail and authenticity, Lorissa has begun to wage a GUERRILLA war against stores that proffer knockoffs as legitimate couture.
guile
(GILE), noun
Deceitful cunning; trickery.
“Gaze no more in the bitter glass / The demons, with their subtle
GUILE
, / Lift up before us when they pass, / Or only gaze a little while.” –
William Butler Yeats, Irish poet and dramatist
gustatory
(GUSS-tuh-tore-ee), adjective
Of the sense of taste.
“Food has it over sex for variety. Hedonistically, GUSTATORY possibilities are much broader than copulatory ones.” – Joseph Epstein, American author and critic
gryphon
(GRIFF-uhn), noun
A mythical beast with the legs and body of a lion and the claws, head, and wings of an eagle.
“The GRYPHON’S claws were greatly prized, as they were reputed to change color in the presence of poison.” – Richard Barber, British historian
guile
(GUY-ul), noun
The act of being deliberately deceitful and treacherous, so as to gain advantage at someone else’s expense.
I was amazed at the GUILE Richard displayed in going after my biggest account.
gyrating
(jye-RAY-ting), adjective
Of a circular or spiral pattern.
When he first appeared on the
Ed Sullivan
show, Elvis Presley’s GYRATING hips during his act caused quite a stir.
“The HAUGHTY sommelier, with
his talismanic tasting cup and
sometimes irritating self-assurance,
is perceived more as the high priest
of some arcane rite than as a dining
room functionary paid to help you
enjoy the evening.”
Frank J. Prial, former
New York Times
wine columnist
habeas corpus
(HAY-bee-us-CORE-puss), noun
A written order requiring a prisoner or person under arrest or confinement to be brought before a judge to assess whether the restraint of said person is lawful and proper.
Following the nightclub brawl, Chad and Wendell managed to receive a writ of HABEAS CORPUS only after their father called the authorities and reminded them of his social contacts.
habile
(HAB-ill), adjective
Skillful and able; handy.
Our HABILE gardener has helped render our topiary into the shapes of dollar and pound signs.
habitude
(HAB-uh-tyood), noun
Customary behavior or customary procedure.
Alistair’s HABITUDE is for the servants to awake him just prior to noon.
hagiography
(hag-ee-OG-ruh-fee), noun
A biography that idealizes its subject.
The Van Gelders were disappointed with the volume written about their illustrious descendants because the book fell far short of being a HAGIOGRAPHY.
halation
(hal-AYE-shun), noun
A blurred image or ring of light caused by the reflection or dispersal of light.
The mysterious white ring he claims is a ghost is merely HALATION caused by the photographer’s lighting.
halcyon
(HAL-see-on), adjective
Calm, peaceful, carefree, prosperous.
“It was the most HALCYON summer I ever spent.” – Rick Bass, American author and environmental activist
hapless
(HAP-liss), adjective
Unlucky and unfortunate.
“Exile is the noble and dignified term, while a refugee is more HAPLESS.” – Mary McCarthy, American author
harangue
(ha-RANG), verb, noun
Verbally accost; yell at; berate.
“But on that hot July day she breaks—HARANGUING strangers in the street.” – Oliver Sacks, British neurologist
harbinger
(HAR-bin-jer), noun
A forerunner or warning sign of a future event or trend.
The asteroid’s shadow blotted out the sun as it speeded on a collision course with Earth, a HARBINGER of impending doom.
harpy
(HAR-pee), noun
A greedy and predatory person; or, a scolding and shrewish woman.
“That HARPY Charlotte can’t wait to get her claws into Bruce,” Nancy observed.
harry
(HAR-ee), verb
To torment with constant attacks.
“At middle night great cats with silver claws, / Bodies of shadow and blind eyes like pearls, / Came up out of the hole, and red-eared hounds / With long white bodies came out of the air / Suddenly, and ran at them and
HARRIED
them.” –
William Butler Yeats, Irish poet and dramatist
haughty
(HAW-tee), adjective
Snobbish and arrogant.
“The HAUGHTY sommelier, with his talismanic tasting cup and sometimes irritating self-assurance, is perceived more as the high priest of some arcane rite than as a dining room functionary paid to help you enjoy the evening.” – Frank J. Prial, former
New York Times
wine columnist
haute couture
(OAT-koo-TOOR), noun
Highly fashionable clothing on the cutting edge of the latest design fads and trends.
“HAUTE COUTURE should be fun, foolish, and almost unwearable.” – Christian Lacroix, French fashion designer
haut monde
(oh-MAHND), noun
High society.
“The literary wiseacres prognosticate in many languages, as they have throughout so many centuries, setting the stage for new
HAUT MONDE
in letters and making up the public’s mind.” –
Fannie Hurst, American novelist
hearsay
(HEER-say), noun
Information gathered from another that is not part of one’s direct knowledge.
“My talk to thee must be how Benedick / Is sick in love with Beatrice. Of this matter / Is little Cupid’s crafty arrow made, / That only wounds by HEARSAY.” – William Shakespeare
hedonism
(HEE-duh-niz-im), noun
The nonstop pursuit of personal pleasure as one’s primary goal.
“[Bad] taste supervenes upon good taste as a daring and witty HEDONISM. It makes the man of good taste cheerful, where before he ran the risk of being chronically frustrated.” – Susan Sontag, American literary theorist, philosopher, and political activist
hegemony
(hih-JEH-muhn-ee), noun
Domination of a region or the entire world by a single nation, or the authority of one individual over an entire group.
Alison should not achieve HEGEMONY over the rest of us merely because her list of social contacts is slightly longer than ours.
hellacious
(hel-AYE-shus), adjective
Extremely brutal, violent, and severe.
Madison’s foray into the corporate world was so HELLACIOUS that she quickly went back to being supported solely by her trust fund.
herculean
(her-kyuh-LEE-uhn), adjective
Of extraordinary power or difficulty. Often capitalized because the word alludes to Hercules.
“We found it a HERCULEAN effort not to chortle at the outlandish clothing of the nouveau riche attendees of our party,” said Lillian. “How inappropriate to wear evening attire to an afternoon garden party!”
heretic
(HER-eh-tik), noun
A person who boldly, loudly, and publicly defies the conventions of a religion, society, culture, or set of beliefs.
“The HERETIC is always better dead. And mortal eyes cannot distinguish the saint from the
HERETIC
.” –
George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright
hermetic
(her-MET-ick), adjective
Isolated, or unaffected by outside influences.
“Reality, whether approached imaginatively or empirically, remains a surface, HERMETIC.” – Samuel Beckett, Irish writer, dramatist, and poet
hiatus
(high-AY-tuss), noun
An interruption or break.
Lorelei’s coming-out party was a welcome HIATUS in our otherwise uneventful social calendar.
hidebound
(HIDE-bound), adjective
Inflexible and holding narrow opinions.
Wallace can be rather HIDEBOUND when pontificating on the virtues of classic Mercedes-Benz models versus the condition of the automobile company at present.
hierarchy
(HIGH-uhr-ahr-key), noun
A pecking order or ranking according to status or level of authority.
In the HIERARCHY of the military, a medical doctor, who is assigned the rank of captain but is not a military man, automatically outranks a lieutenant who may have years of battle experience.
histrionics
(hiss-tree-AHN-iks), noun
Over-the-top, unnecessarily dramatic behavior.
“Enough with the HISTRIONICS!” his mother scolded, immediately shutting off the flow of tears and silencing his bawling.
hoary
(HOAR-ee), adjective
Impressively old; ancient.
“Feminism has tried to dismiss the femme fatale as a misogynist libel, a HOARY cliché. But the femme fatale expresses women’s ancient and eternal control of the sexual realm.” – Camille Paglia, American author, feminist, and social critic
hoi polloi
(HOY-puh-LOY), noun
A pejorative term used to describe the masses or the common people.
“My practice is to ignore the pathetic wishes and desires of the HOI POLLOI,” the governor said haughtily.
holarctic
(hole-ARK-tik), adjective
Anything relating to the geographical distribution of animals in the Arctic region.
Our so-called Arctic safari was a bust. No one told us that, due to HOLARCTIC conditions, we would find no polar bears near our encampment.
holistic
(ho-LISS-tik), adjective
Refers to medical practices that treat the whole person and not just a specific organ, condition, or disease.
Marsha’s HOLISTIC approach to healing involves channeling energy through crystals.
homage
(HOM-ij), noun
Respect paid and deference shown to a superior or other person one admires, fears, or wishes to emulate or praise.
Gary took black and white photos with a non-digital camera in HOMAGE to Ansel Adams, whose works he greatly admired.
homeopathy
(HOME-ee-oh-path-ee), noun
The medical practice of giving patients minerals, metals, herbs, and other bioactive compounds in extremely diluted form.
Most modern scientists believe the effectiveness of HOMEOPATHY in some cases is due mainly to the placebo effect.
homeostatis
(ho-me-oh-STAY-sis), noun
A dynamic system in which balance between input and output has been achieved, so no net changes take place.
When HOMEOSTATIS is achieved in a sealed biosphere, the animals and plants can live without outside air, food, or water.
homogenous
(ho-mo-JEAN-yus), adjective
Consistent in composition or uniform in structure.
“By the mere act of watching television, a heterogeneous society could engage in a purely HOMOGENEOUS activity.” – William J. Donnelly, American media critic
honorific
(on-err-IF-ik), adjective
A tribute or reward given in an effort to honor someone as a sign of deep respect.
Lifetime achievement awards aren’t for any single work, but an HONORIFIC for long service and a track record of excellence.
hubris
(HYOO-briss), noun
To possess pride, arrogance, or conceit not justified by reality.
Those who accuse us of HUBRIS are simply unaware of the efforts our families have made to perfect our bloodlines.
humanism
(HEW-man-iz-um), noun
The philosophy or belief that the highest ideals of human existence can be fulfilled without regard to religion or supernatural intervention.
“The four characteristics of HUMANISM are curiosity, a free mind, belief in good taste, and belief in the human race.” – E. M. Forster, English novelist
humectant
(hue-MEK-tant), noun
A substance that absorbs moisture or retains water.
Sorbitol, a HUMECTANT, is used in the processing of dried fruit.
hygroscopic
(high-grow-SKOP-ick), adjective
Capable of absorbing moisture from the air.
Prescription pills are often packed with a container of HYGROSCOPIC material to keep the drugs dry.
hyperbaric
(hi-per-BARE-ik), adjective
Related to artificially high atmospheric pressure, used to treat certain diseases.
Divers who ascend to the surface too rapidly may be placed in a HYPERBARIC chamber to prevent the bends.
hyperbole
(high-PERR-buh-lee), noun
An over-exaggeration made for effect.
“The final key to the way I promote is bravado. I play to people’s fantasies. People may not always think big themselves, but they can still get very excited by those who do. That’s why a little
HYPERBOLE
never hurts.” –
Donald Trump, American entrepreneur
Hyperborean
(high-per-BORE-ee-an), noun
A person or animal who lives at or near the North Pole.
The polar bear, one of the great HYPERBOREANS, is in danger of extinction as the melting of the polar cap makes the ice floes on which they live disappear.
hypercritical
(high-purr-KRIT-ih-kuhl), adjective
Excessively or meticulously critical.
“Good writers have two things in common: they would rather be understood than admired, and they do not write for hairsplitting and HYPERCRITICAL readers.” – Friedrich Nietzche, German philosopher
hypnopompic
(hip-nuh-PAHM-pick), adjective
Having to do with the semiconscious state that precedes wakefulness.
With all of her partying at exclusive clubs, Madison spends most of her life in a HYPNOPOMPIC state.
hypothecation
(hi-POTH-ih-KAY-shun), noun
The practice of using property or other assets as the collateral for a loan.
Buying stock on margin is a useful form of HYPOTHECATION that encourages unsophisticated individual investors to buy more stock than they can afford.
hypothesis
(high-POTH-uh-sis), noun
A principle derived from limited evidence, seen as sensible based on an analysis of available data, but not proven to the point where it is an accepted theory, rule, or law.
“In order to shake a HYPOTHESIS, it is sometimes not necessary to do anything more than push it as far as it will go.” – Denis Diderot, French philosopher