The Words You Should Know to Sound Smart (9 page)

inveigle
(in-VAY-gull), verb

To convince or persuade someone through trickery, dishonesty, or flattery.

Craig INVEIGLED the dean to allow him to graduate even though he failed to meet the foreign language requirement of the university.

inveterate
(in-VET-uh-rett), adjective

A pattern of behavior or habit that never changes.

“Take all the garden spills, / INVETERATE, / prodigal spender / just as summer goes.” – Hilda Doolittle, American poet and memoirist

invidious
(in-VID-ee-us), adjective

Designed to give offense or to create ill will.

“In the name of all lechers and boozers I most solemnly protest against the INVIDIOUS distinction made to our prejudice.” – Aldous Huxley, British author and humanist

inviolate
(inn-VY-oh-late), adjective

Without restriction, violation, supervision, or fear of punishment.

“INVIOLATE, he could rupture wires, mangle flaps, destroy the balance of the ship.” – Richard Matheson, American science fiction writer

invious
(IN-vee-uhs), adjective

Unwalked, and thus, pristine.

The Wallenstones’ new compound contains many INVIOUS tracts perfect for hiking or fox hunting.

irascible
(ih-RASS-uh-bull), adjective

Easily irritated or annoyed; prone to losing one’s temper; quick to anger.

“I have never known anyone worth a damn who wasn’t IRASCIBLE.” – Ezra Pound, American expatriate poet

iridescent
(ear-ih-DES-uhnt), adjective

Showing luminous colors that seem to change depending upon the angle from which they are viewed.

“We passed … broken shells and the IRIDESCENT film of egg splatter reflected under streetlights where a battle had taken place.” – Jeffrey Ford, American fantasy author

irremediable
(ihr-ree-MEE-dee-uh-bull), adjective

Impossible to cure or remedy.

Sylvia’s outdated concept of couture is completely IRREMEDIABLE.

isochronous
(EYE-so-krone-us), adjective

Occurring consistently at regular intervals.

The ticking of a clock is ISOCHRONOUS, but the arrival of the elevator at different floors is not.

isolationism
(eye-so-LAY-shin-iz-um), noun

A foreign policy in which a country deliberately keeps its relationships and interactions with other nations to a bare minimum, effectively isolating itself from world affairs.

In the early twentieth century, American ISOLATIONISM stopped the U.S. from joining the League of Nations.

iteration
(ih-ter-AYE-shun), noun

The process of performing a series of instructions or steps repeatedly; also refers to one repetition of those repeated steps.

“Thou hast damnable ITERATION, and art indeed able to corrupt a saint.” – William Shakespeare

jactitation
(jak-ti-TAY-shun), noun

A false boast, especially one that is harmful to others.

Beatrice tried to impress her classmates by telling them her last name was Kennedy. However, her JACTITATION was discovered and her peers returned to ignoring her.

jaundiced
(JAWN-dist), adjective

Demonstrating prejudice, due to envy or resentment.

The Blythingtons’ view of our dinner parties is JAUNDICED by the fact that our personal chef is superior to theirs.

jaunt
(JAWNT), noun

A short journey taken for pleasure.

Nicole plans to take a JAUNT across the southern tip of Africa next year.

jawbone
(JAW-bon), verb

To attempt to get someone to do something through persuasion rather than by force.

No matter how much he JAWBONED, Karl could not get Alison to sell her stock prior to the unveiling of the company’s disastrous new line of parvenu fashion.

jejune
(jih-JUNE), adjective

Thoughts and actions that are not well thought out or fully formed; a poor performance or inferior work.

Samantha snidely informed Blake that her JEJUNE entertaining efforts might someday grow to maturity.

jeremiad
(jer-uh-MY-uhd), noun

A document or speech in which the author bitterly rails against the injustices of society or warns of impending death, destruction, or doom.

The Unabomber’s Manifesto was an intelligently written JEREMIAD.

jihad
(gee-HOD), noun

Striving toward an important goal; in modern usage, a holy war conducted in the name of Islam.

“The tradition I cherish is the ideal this country was built upon, the concept of religious pluralism, of a plethora of opinions, of tolerance and not the JIHAD. Religious war, pooh. The war is between those who trust us to think and those who believe we must merely be led.” – Anna Quindlen, American author and opinion columnist

jingoism
(GIN-go-iz-um), noun

Extreme nationalism, backed up by the explicit or implied threat of military force; more broadly, extreme enthusiasm and support for an idea or position without being open to contrary arguments or notions.

We cannot countenance JINGOISM, especially since it has such a negative impact on overseas markets.

jinn
(JIN), noun

A mythical creature created from fire long before man inhabited the Earth.

Failing in their rebellion against God, the JINN were banished to the deserts.

jocose
(joe-KOSS), adjective

Humorous, playful, and characterized by good humor.

The pony’s JOCOSE antics marked it for a career in polo, rather than on the racetrack.

jocund
(JOE-kund), adjective

Having a lust for life; possessing a positive attitude and desire to enjoy life to the fullest.

Ron’s JOCUND façade shattered when he found himself the victim of identity theft.

journeyman
(JUR-nee-man), noun

A person who, although not a top master of his profession, has become extremely competent, through long years of practice, at a particular craft or skill.

juggernaut
(JUG-er-nawt), noun

A large, overpowering, destructive force.

Once he begins arguing about the superiority of Maseratis, Jefferson becomes a JUGGERNAUT, capable of deflating anyone else’s arguments.

jurisprudence
(joor-iss-PROO-dense), noun

The philosophy and methodology behind the practice of law.

The study of JURISPRUDENCE was interminably dull to John; he longed to work with real clients and real court cases.

juvenilia
(joo-vuh-NILL-yuh), noun

Early work by a creative artist, typically produced when the artist or writer was young.

Lorna turned toward the stock market and away from poetry after we read her JUVENILIA and laughed uproariously.

juxtaposition
(juhk-stuh-puh-ZISH-uhn), noun

The observation of the differences between two items being compared side by side.

kabbalism
(KAH-bah-liz-um), noun

A Jewish mystical tradition, based on revelation instead of reason, in which mystical feats can be performed by manipulating the letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

Through meditation, KABBALISM enables practitioners to become one with God.

kaffeeklatsch
(CAW-fee-klatch), noun

An informal social gathering, typically including coffee and gossip.

Jeanette is not welcome at our KAFFEEKLATSCH because she refuses to gossip about her social contacts.

kapellmeister
(kuh-PELL-my-ster), noun

The director of a choir or orchestra.

Ever since the Prithingtons hired a personal KAPELLMEISTER for their Christmas parties, everyone else has had to follow suit.

kelvin
(KEL-vin), noun

A temperature scale in which absolute zero is zero degrees, and there are no negative values.

When we questioned Rachel about her purse, suggesting that it is a knockoff, she gave us a stare cold enough to measure on the KELVIN scale.

kenning
(KEN-ing), noun

A metaphorical compound word or phrase, used often in epic poetry.

Cliff’s letter to Natasha included such KENNINGS as “pearl-eyed dove” and “crinkly gowned angel.” It’s no wonder she broke up with him soon after.

kerning
(KER-ning), noun

In typography, the amount of spacing between letters in a word or line of type.

If the KERNING is too large or too small, words are difficult to read.

kibosh
(kih-BOSH), noun

Something that serves to stop something else.

Father put the KIBOSH on my plans to extend my summer trip to Europe by another three months.

kinesiology
(kih-nee-see-OL-uh-jee), noun

The science of muscles and their function, physical movement, and muscular development.

As a body builder, he studied both nutrition and KINESIOLOGY.

kismet
(KIHZ-met), noun

Fate or destiny.

Elaine’s parvenu background hardly seemed destined to make her part of our group, but KISMET has made her an important social contact.

kitsch
(KIHCH), noun

Art, artifacts, or other objects of a cheap or junky nature produced by the popular culture.

His room was filled with KITSCH: lava lamps, Farrah Fawcett and Cheryl Tiegs posters, and plastic models of Frankenstein and Dracula.

knavish
(NAY-vish), adjective

Untrustworthy, dishonest, and mischievous.

Despite, or perhaps because of, his KNAVISH behavior, Jonathan is always a success at our society balls.

knell
(NELL), noun

The sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly at a funeral.

kowtow
(KOW-tow), verb

To give in to someone’s every wish; to grovel and behave in a subservient manner.

Amy told Andrew that she was sick and tired of KOWTOWING to his every need.

kraken
(KRAH-ken), noun

A gigantic creature, somewhat like the Loch Ness Monster, reputedly sighted off the coast of Norway.

Most of the KRAKEN reported as washed up on beaches were probably giant squid.

Kwanzaa
(KWAN-zah), noun

An African holiday observed by many African Americans from December 26 to January 1.

We feel we are doing our part to foster multiculturalism by allowing the stray KWANZAA decoration at our Christmas parties.

kyphosis
(ki-FOE-sis), noun

Excessive curvature of the spine suffered by hunchbacks.

After William’s father forced him to help out the family gardener, William complained for weeks afterward that the outdoor work gave him KYPHOSIS.

labanotation
(la-bah-no-TAY-shun), noun

A nomenclature used to choreograph ballets, modern dance, and other performances so the dancers can follow the steps.

Even with the best-available LABANOTATION, Walker was unable to adequately perform a Viennese waltz at Natasha’s coming-out party.

labyrinth
(LAH-buh-rinth), noun

A mazelike series of connected tunnels and passages through which it is difficult to find one’s way.

He ran, terrified, as the enraged Minotaur chased him throughout the LABYRINTH.

lachrymose
(LAH-krih-mose), adjective

Describes someone who cries at the drop of a hat.

She was so LACHRYMOSE, she cried at commercials for long-distance phone companies.

lackadaisical
(lack-uh-DAY-zih-kuhl), adjective

Lazy and indolent; lacking determination.

No matter how many times a week her father allows her to go on a spending spree, Millicent is never LACKADAISACAL about her trips to Cartier.

laconic
(luh-KON-ik), adjective

Being a person of few words; expressing oneself with an economy of words.

Harold may be LACONIC, but when he does speak, he is certainly worth listening to.

lactation
(lak-TAY-shun), noun

The production of milk from the breasts of a mother mammal so her young can feed by sucking on the nipple.

When mother took us to visit the farm on one part of our property, she shielded our young eyes from the LACTATION of the various animals.

laggard
(LAG-uhrd), noun or adjective

A person who loiters; sluggish and reacting slowly.

“Reviewers … must normally function as huff-and-puff artists blowing LAGGARD theatergoers stageward.” – Walter Kerr, American theater critic

lagniappe
(lan-YAP), noun

An unexpected bonus gift or extra benefit; the icing on the cake.

Frederick would have bought the Porsche Panamera, even without the LAGNIAPPE of a free voice-activated navigation system.

laissez faire
(lah-zay-FAIR), noun

The belief that government should not interfere in economic affairs, but should instead let the economy take its natural course.

Our family began to place most of its money in hedge funds when we became convinced that the government intended to forego LAISSEZ FAIRE and take a more active part in the nation’s financial system.

lambaste
(lam-BAST), verb

To berate or criticize harshly, especially in an unkind way.

We LAMBASTED Marla for not visiting Comme des Garçons during her recent weekender to Beijing.

lammergeyer
(LAM-er-GEE-er), noun

A large black bird of the vulture family.

“The world is just that LAMMERGEYER, or bearded vulture, in the sky.” – Pico Iyer, British-born essayist of Indian descent

lampoon
(LAM-poon), noun or verb

A mean-spirited satire directed at a person or institution; or, the act of submitting someone to a mean-spirited satire.

We LAMPOONED the nouveau riche attendees of our April Fool’s Day party simply by dressing in the same overwrought couture favored by parvenus.

languid
(LANG-gwid), adjective

Characterized by weakness and fatigue; or, lacking spirit and animation.

lapping
(LAH-ping), noun

The practice of falsifying accounting records to conceal a shortage caused by theft or loss, usually by posting a financial transaction to an accounting period other than the one during which it actually took place.

Even after Skyler was indicted, he could not accept that LAPPING was an objectionable practice.

largesse
(lar-JESS), noun

The generous bestowal of gifts; or, generosity in general.

“A LARGESS universal, like the sun, / His liberal eye doth give to everyone, / Thawing cold fear.” – William Shakespeare

lascivious
(luh-SIV-ee-us), adjective

Interested in and eager to engage in sexual activity; sexual in nature.

lassitude
(LAS-ih-tood), noun

Having little energy or motivation; weariness.

latency
(LAY-ten-see), noun

A period of dormancy that precedes a period of great growth or action.

We knew that Abigail’s focus on extremely liberal causes was merely a LATENCY that would end with her focus solely on charitable giving to the proper charities.

latifundia
(lah-ti-FUN-dee-uh), noun

A large estate, plantation, or farm run by wealthy owners and staffed with underpaid or semi-servile workers.

Billings argued that his family’s sugar cane plantation in the Caribbean is not a LATIFUNDIA because the factory pays its workers what is considered a living wage for the country.

laudable
(LAW-duh-bull), adjective

Commendable; deserving of praise.

Rebecca’s decision to tell her mother that she lost the emerald brooch she borrowed without permission was LAUDABLE.

legerdemain
(le-juhr-duh-MAYN), noun

Magic tricks; or, generally speaking, trickery and deception.

The Wilkinsons are one of the few of our families whose initial wealth did not come as a result of financial LEGERDEMAIN.

lethargic
(luh-THAHR-jihk), adjective

Drowsy and sluggish; lacking vigor.

“Great talents, by the rust of long disuse, / Grow LETHARGIC and shrink from what they were.” – Ovid, Roman poet

levant
(leh-VANT), noun

The countries on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Ties between Western Europe and the LEVANT were first established during the Crusades.

leverage
(LEH-veh-ridge), noun

Possessing an advantage or extra degree of influence in a given situation.

With his family’s connections, Eldridge required no LEVERAGE to obtain a sinecure in the financial industry.

leviathan
(le-VY-ah-thun), adjective

A gigantic creature, structure, or thing, awe-inspiring in its sheer size.

“Wilson looked out through the window at the LEVIATHAN glitter of the terminal.” – Richard Matheson, American science fiction writer

levity
(LEHV-ih-tee), noun

Lack of appropriate seriousness; or, inconstant in nature.

lexicon
(LEK-sih-kahn), noun

The language or vocabulary of a specialized discipline or profession.

“In the LEXICON of lip-smacking, an epicure is fastidious in his choice and enjoyment of food, just a soupçon more expert than a gastronome.” – William Safire, American journalist and presidential speechwriter

liaison
(lee-ay-ZAWHN), noun

An adulterous relationship; or, a kind of illicit sexual relationship.

LIAISONS are much more common within our group than are stable marriages.

libation
(lye-BAY-shun), noun

An alcoholic beverage consumed at social gatherings, parties, and celebrations.

With the LIBATIONS flowing freely, each member of the winning team felt compelled to make a drunken speech.

libertine
(LIB-er-teen), noun, adjective

Licentious and free of moral restraint; or, a person so characterized.

“It is easier to make a saint out of a LIBERTINE than out of a prig.” – George Santayana, author and philosopher

libration
(ly-BRAY-shun), noun

The oscillation of Earth’s moon around its axis.

LIBRATIONS are caused by changes in the intensity of Earth’s gravitational pull on the moon.

licentious
(ly-SEN-shus), adjective

Promiscuous; slutty; someone who is sexually uninhibited and free.

Janine’s LICENTIOUS behavior was really a cry for attention, the school psychologist was convinced.

lien
(LEAN), noun

A creditor’s right to have debts paid out of the debtor’s property, if necessary by selling it.

It’s sad that we, at times, must place LIENS on our servants’ automobiles, but that is why they are the servers and we the “servees.”

Lilliputian
(lil-ee-PEW-shun), adjective

Small in stature; tiny in comparison to one’s peers.

Jules Vern’s LILLIPUTIAN appearance made people treat him like a child.

limpid
(LIM-pid), adjective

Clear and transparent; free from obscurity.

The Motsingers are fond of saying that they are capable of eschewing all of the most LIMPID tax dodges.

lineage
(LIN-ee-ij), noun

Ancestry; your family tree.

We still consider Rachel nouveau riche because her family can only trace its American LINEAGE to the mid-ninteenth century.

liquidity
(lih-KWI-dih-tee), noun

The relative ease with which a person can sell an asset.

Despite a firm belief in wealth LIQUIDITY, Dotson continues to buy such depreciable items as yachts and Porsches.

lissome
(LISS-um), adjective

Lithe; supple; flexible.

Moira acquired her LISSOME frame from years of swimming in her family’s Olympic-sized pool.

litany
(LIT-n-ee), noun

A prolonged and boring account.

literati
(lih-ter-AH-tee), noun

The segment of society comprised of learned or literary men and women.

We attract the LITERATI because of our constantly carefree and exciting exploits.

lithe
(LIthE), adjective

Having a body and/or mind that is limber, flexible, and supple.

“The coconut trees, LITHE and graceful, crowd the beach … like a minuet of slender elderly virgins adopting flippant poses.” – William Manchester, American historian

litigious
(lih-TIJ-us), adjective

Readily inclined to take someone to court; or, very argumentative.

“Our wrangling lawyers … are so LITIGIOUS and busy here on earth, that I think they will plead their clients’ causes hereafter,—some of them in hell.” – Robert Burton, English scholar and vicar at Oxford University

liturgy
(LIH-tur-jee), noun

The performance of a Christian religious service in a church.

During the LITURGY, the singing of the Christmas hymns filled the church with the sound of joy.

livid
(LIHV-id), adjective

Enraged or extremely angry.

Jennifer was LIVID when we suggested that her new outfit was three weeks out of date.

locution
(low-KEW-shin), noun

A person’s manner and style of speaking.

Neil prides himself on his precise LOCUTION, but some of the guys think he sounds rather prissy.

logy
(LOW-gee), adjective

Characterized by lethargy and sluggishness.

loquacious
(loh-KWAY-shus), adjective

Verbose; chatty; the habit of talking nonstop.

Amy and Donna are each so LOQUACIOUS, their average phone call lasts ninety minutes.

luciferous
(loo-SI-fuh-ruhs), adjective

Providing insight or enlightenment; illuminating.

Blake did not find the Ivy League LUCIFEROUS, so he decided to devote his life to world travel instead.

lucre
(LOO-ker), noun

Monetary reward or gain.

“I fear the popular notion of success stands in direct opposition in all points to the real and wholesome success. One adores public opinion, the other, private opinion; one, fame, the other, desert; one, feats, the other, humility; one, LUCRE, the other, love.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, American poet, essayist, and transcendentalist