Vocabulary: Kimmering Clachan Edition

Scots words and phrases from The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner

braird: the early shoots of a crop of grain like wheat or barley
luckpenny: a sort of discount given to a buyer for luck
windelstrae: a stalk of dry grass
bicker: wooden drinking vessel
wynd: a narrow alley (i.e. wind)
aumuse: a cap worn by clergy
ayont: beside or adjacent to
bourock: a hovel or shelter
shakel-bane: wrist bone
clachan: a small village
Auld Simmie: the devil
spleuchan: pouch
kimmer: gossip
shan: grimace
mense: honor
rowth: plenty
corbie: black
chafts: jaws
maun: must
bairn: child

Vocabulary: Corporeal Grandiloquence Edition

perorate: to speak formally or at great length, or to conclude a speech in such a way
irredenta: a region allied by race or history to one country but ruled by another
naometer: apparently a title given in secret societies. Possibly a fabrication.
abnegation: self-denial, or the relinquishment of a right or property
anchylosis: the adhesion or growing together of bones in a joint
tendentious: showing a tendency, bias, or purpose
hylic: material or corporeal; pertaining to matter
atabeg: a Turkish high official, such as a vizier
spagyric: related to or resembling alchemy
sacerdotal: of or relating to priests
rachitic: suffering from rickets

Vocabulary: Unfeeling Entitlement Edition

heliograph: a device with shutters and mirrors used for sending Morse code via sunbeams
auscultation: listening to internal organs for medical purposes (e.g. with a stethoscope)
erethism: physiologically or psychologically, abnormally sensitive or irritable
appanage: something one is entitled to by rank or position, real or figurative
arras: a tapestry or hanging, or a gift given by the husband at marriage
trepidant: characterized by trepidation (an uncommon adjective)
indurate: to make enduring, unfeeling, or hard, or to accustom
strathspey: a type of slow Scottish dance
corant: a quick but stately dance
pleach: to interweave or braid

Vocabulary: Touch Of Turf Edition

synarchy: a “joint rule” form of government, now with conspiratorial connotations
cicatrix: new tissue over a wound, or the scar left on a plant by a fallen leaf
ordure: excrement, or figuratively speaking, an offensive action
demiurge: creator of the universe, not necessarily God
amatory: expressive of, pertaining to, or inciting love
greensward: grassy turf or an area covered in such
halitus: a breath, exhalation, or vapor in general
etiolate: to drain of color or vigor, esp. plants
mansuetude: mildness or gentleness
scintilla: a trace, particle, or spark
ruction: a din or disturbance
wain: a wagon or cart

Vocabulary: Coarse Corruption Edition

shagreen: skin of sharks or rays used as an abrasive; also, a coarse, granular leather
macumba: a Brazilian cult that combined Christianity with occult practices
argolic: pertaining to Argolis, a southeastern district of ancient Greece
bolection: a raised molding surrounding a door, panel, window, etc
furbelow: a ruffle or showy bit of trimming, as on a woman’s dress
catoptric: the study of optics as created by or related to mirrors
conchologize: to take part in the collection and study of shells
polyantheon: undefined, but presumably “many-flowered”
garzoon: corruption of an oath, probably “God’s wounds”
cachinnation: a loud, improper, or uncontrolled laugh
impecunious: having (or yielding) little or no money
trivant: archaic version of “truant”
quillet: a subtlety or quibble

Vocabulary: Apophthegmatic Raillery Edition

apothegm: a cryptic or pithy, yet instructive, remark or phrase
venditate: to announce or cry out, or to exhibit or blazon
cicisbeo: the escort or lover of a married woman
cark: to care or worry, or a care or worry
disembogue: to discharge or flow forth
badinage: playful banter or raillery
tontine: a type of shared annuit
emmet: archaic term for an ant
tetric: harsh, sour, or rough
halser: rope

Vocabulary: Epic Bale Edition

drugget: a coarse, shabby fabric of cotton or wool (from the French drogue, trash)
murrain: a plague, especially among cattle (from the French moraine, pestilence)
gymnosophist: one of a sect of Indian ascetics who refused themselves clothes
prorogue: to postpone, discontinue, or suspend a legal or legislative meeting
cruet: one or more small bottles or containers for oil, vinegar, salt, etc
fadge: to agree or succeed; or, a bale of wool under 100kg
epopee: an epic poem, or epic poetry in general
spilth: something that was spilled (clearly)
nanger: apparently a type of gazelle?
tomrig: a wild girl or tomboy
fumid: smoky or vaporous
froppish: testy or contrary
diffide: to act distrustfully
peckled: speckled

Vocabulary: Recurring Herder Edition

jument: an ox, mule, or other beast of burden (from the Latin “jumentum”)
recrudescence: revival or reappearance after a period of dormancy
carle: a peasant or laborer (var. carl, from old Norse for karl, “man”)
quartan: something, usually a fever, recurring every fourth day
grazier: a rancher or farmer who grazes livestock on his land
ambage: an indirect method of expression or circumlocution
duenna: a chaperone or governess for a young lady
neatherd: a cow herder (like cowherd or shepherd)
exequy: a funereal ceremony or procession
rissole: a small, deep-fried, meat pastry
calid: warm (same root as calorie)
accoucheur: a male midwife

Vocabulary: I Am Errour Edition

metonymy: figure of speech in which a concept is replaced by a related object (“the crown”)
synteresis: innate moral knowledge. In Christianity, the part of the soul connected with god
ecpyrosis: the periodic destruction and recreation of the universe (ancient Greek belief)
pother: a commotion, heated discussion, or suffocating cloud (as of dust or ash)
defalcation: misappropriation of property (or the property so misappropriated)
simoniacal: guilty of practicing simony (profiting from ecclesiastical matters)
ascesis: self-discipline, often for religious purposes (var. askesis)
chasuble: a Catholic, sleeveless liturgical garment
ydrad: the state of being dreaded (middle English)
furze: “any spiny shrub of the genus Ulex.” Gorse.
hebetude: lazy or lethargic in mind or affect
inanation: exhaustion; lack of vigor or spirit
jape: a joke or mockery (v./n.)
ambulant: itinerant or shifting
brume: mist or fog

Vocabulary: Unspoken, Unclaimed, And Unrefined Edition

sorites: form of arguing in which intermediate arguments and conclusions are left unspoken
corrivation: the joining of two streams or rivers into one (obvious on reflection)
diapason: a range of standard musical pitches, or the exercise of said range
neoteric: modern, recent, or someone tending toward such trends
exegetical: criticism or interpretation of a text, esp. scripture
colloguing: to plot or conspire; to confer or inform secretly
advowsons: the right to present for a vacant church office
coadjutor: an assistant, esp. one bishop to another
bewray: to betray or expose (bee-ray, not boo-ray)
incult: uncultivated, unrefined, naturally wild
ingenite: inherent or inborn; congenital
divagation: to wander or digress

Vocabulary: Churning Hatred Edition

vatinian: extremely strong or bitter, esp. hatred (from the name of a very unpopular roman)
pettifog: to bicker about trifles; also, practicing law with dishonesty or pettiness
otacousticon: an instrument to aid hearing – ear-horns and such
wittol: a man who knows of and accepts his wife’s unfaithfulness
comminute: to break or divide into many small parts
moil: to work or toil hard; also, to churn or twist
desiderate: to wish for or feel the lack of
dorp: a small village (from the Dutch)
welkin: the sky or heavens
irrefragable: indisputable

Vocabulary: Anatomy of Quackery Edition

stentorian: uncommonly powerful in sound (after Stentor, a legendarily loud Greek herald)
pleonasm: the use of more words than necessary to express an idea; a redundancy
chorographical: a description or map of a region, or the technique of creating one
fleer: to mock or coarsely express mockery; a jeer or fleering action
maltster: a person who makes or sells malt (obvious in retrospect)
parasang: an ancient Persian unit of distance equal to ~3.5mi
wearish: withered and shrunken; tasteless; insipid
quacksalver: a charlatan; origin of “quack”
contemn: to treat with contempt; to scorn
chirurgeon: archaic term for surgeon

Vocabulary: Anatomy Of Ant-Bears Edition

ludeful: no definition. It appears to have appeared only once in history. (poss. lewdful)
mediatized: to annex a state or territory while preserving some of its ruler’s rights
franked: marked in such a way as to secure transmission or passage
gobonated: in heraldry, equal divisions forming squares (gobbets)
foliot: a mischevious woodland creature in Italian folklore
exornation: ornamentation or embellishment
chiromancy: palmistry and fortune-telling
sithence: archaic version of “since”
cit: 17th century slang for citizen
pelf: a scornful term for wealth
antbear: an aardvark
avaunt: begone

Vocabulary: Unrepentant Lappet Edition

morganatic: a marriage in which title or property will not be shared or bequeathed
lappet: a small flap or loose piece hanging from a piece of clothing; also, a wattle
supererogate: to do more, or perform better, than is required or expected
vedette: a mounted or mobile advance unit posted close to enemy lines
megrims: low spirits, a migraine, or some other transitive discomfort
unregenerate: unconvinced, unconverted, or unrepentant
sal volatile: ammonium carbonate (smelling salts)
omniana: information relating to… everything
intagli: incised carving, as oppose to relief
objurgate: to berate, reprimand, or curse

Vocabulary: Dare to be Anaractic edition

geognostic: having to do with the constituent parts of the earth (air, crust, etc)
cantatrice: a professional female singer (clearly, but an uncommon word)
dysgenic: having a negative effect on the offspring – opposite of eugenic
historiographer: an official historian of an institution, order, or society
crenated: having a notched or rounded saw-tooth pattern at the edge
plangent: resounding loudly, especially with a sad or plaintive noise
epos: an epic poem, or events which would be appropriate for one
faience: glazed earthenware; also, a strong greenish-blue color
monody: limited to or dominated by a single voice or melody
hygrometry: the branch of physics concerned with humidity
aseity: the property of being self-created or self-originating
ataraxy: the state of being emotionally undisturbed, calm
bibelot: a decorative object, trinket, or curiosity
commorient: dying simultaneously or together
conspectus: a general survey or summary

Vocabulary: Sponging the Guns Edition

syndic: a representative for a corporation or university; also, certain civil magistrates
pyx: a container for the eucharist; also, a container for specimen coins at a mint
lipsanotheca: the container inside a reliquary which contains the relic
mora: a unit of time equal to a short syllable (a poetic metric)
autochthonous: born of the earth; sprung from the ground
inenubilable: indistinct; unable to be made clearly visible
matross: obsolete term for an artillery gunner’s assistant
lief: beloved, or willing, or preferred
orgulous: proud, haughty

Vocabulary: Echoed Ebullitions Edition

deliquium: chemically, dissolution into air or liquid. otherwise, a swooning or faint mood
ebullition: boiling up or pouring out, either emotionally, physically, or linguistically
peripety: corruption of peripeteia, a sudden turn of events, usually in literature
bruit: (noun) a din or loud noise. (verb) to voice loudly or spread rumor
trumpery: showy, deceptive, or nonsensical (from tromper, to deceive)
voluptuary: a person devoted to luxury and sensual pleasure
maunder: to talk or move about aimlessly or confusedly
insouciant: carefree, indifferent, or nonchalant

Vocabulary: Golden Cloud of Silver Clangour Edition

dulia: a theological term signifying the honor paid to the saints (as opposed to god)
lazaret: a small ship, room or building used for quarantine (or simply set aside)
disseizin: wrongful dispossession of one in the possession of real property
surplice: a loose-fitting garment with fabric crossing diagonally in front
quillon: one of the two protrusions forming the crossbar of a sword
opetide: early spring, when flowers’ buds are beginning to open
omnisubjugant: one to whom everyone else is subject (clearly)
anchorite: a hermit or one who has otherwise isolated himself
propinquity: nearness or similarity in time, place, or nature
gallimaufry: a medley or jumble (originally a food term)
legerdemain: sleight of hand (French: “light of hand”)
dandiacal: of or pertaining to dandies; foppish
aureate: gold, brilliant, or ornate in style
apposite: relevant, apt, or well-suited
guerdon: a reward or compensation
pleach: to interweave or braid
portreeve: a port warden

Vocabulary: shadow of the gonfalon edition

anacreontic: after the style of Anacreon, a Greek poet fond of women and drinking
tholus: a circular building with a conical or vaulted roof (Greek)
architrave: the lowermost molding at the top of a colonnade
gonfalon: a standard or banner hung from a crossbar
caique: a rowboat or small sailing ship
fiacre: a small, four-wheeled carriage
pardine: a leopard or panther
nigrescent: not quite black

Vocabulary: Final Shandean Edition

hypallage: a reversal of an expected phrasing (i.e. doing well -> well doing)
renversé: a French term, meaning something performed with a bent waist
toise: an old French unit of length equivalent to 6.4ft (almost exactly 2m)
quinsy: an outdated term for some forms of tonsil-related disease
obliquity: divergent – mathematically, astronomically, or mentally
iracundulous: a redundant addition to iracund (prone to anger)
tunicle: a garment worn by certain religious functionaries
meseraick: an anatomical term relating to the humors
eleemosynary: pertaining to or supported by charity
prolegomena: an introductory essay or preface
whilom: formerly or at one time

Vocabulary: foppish naturalist edition

From Ten Thousand A-Year

pomatum: a perfumed unguent for the scalp (it’s pomade)
bedizen: to ornament or dress in a showy or pompous manner
opprobrious: expressing (or bringing) reproach or scorn
champerty: sharing the proceeds of a lawsuit by an outside party who has encouraged the
  litigation. Used to be illegal, is now the standard
animadversion: a critical or reproachful remark
jackanapes: an impudent person, especially a young man or child
fustian: a stout fabric of cotton and flax, or unnecessarily turgid language
virago: a strong and forward woman, or critical and scolding woman
palaver: to talk profusely or idly

From Glaucus; or, The Wonders of the Shore

congener: an organism belonging to the same class or group as another organism
coracle: a small boat made of wicker and a treated or waterproof material
sciolism: superficial knowledge, or a pretentious attitude of scholarship
tyro: a beginner or novice

Vocabulary: Lean Horse Edition

From the last hundred pages or so of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman:

obtruncate: to deprive of a limb (makes sense).
indissoluble: perpetual or incapable of being dissolved or destroyed. I love double negatives within words.
oedematous: of or pertaining to the edema (obviously). Edema: interstitial cellular fluid.
sententious: given to pithy or moralizing sayings.
ratiocination: the process of logical reasoning.
aposiopetic: (aposiopesis) breaking off a sentence in the middle, as if unable to proceed
parallelogramical: parallelogram-shaped (clearly; I just liked the word).
radix: the base of a numerical system, or the root of a plant (interesting).
jactitation: a boast that causes harm to another, also extreme restlessness in bed?
delectation: enjoyment (knew it).
saturnine: sluggish, melancholy, or bitter in temperament.
farthingal: hoops used to expand women’s skirts at the time of the book.
palfry: (palfrey) a woman’s saddle, smaller and softer.
placket-hole: the hole that goes into a pocket (!).
concupiscence: sexual lust, or more generally, passion.
windlass: a sort of crank-based lifting machine (no idea).
geniture: birth.
costive: constipated, slow to act, or stingy (very versatile word!).
impuissance: (impuissant) weak, feeble.
captious: of a disposition to point out faults, or ensnaring and perplexing when referring to argument.
farrago: a mixture or medley.
pannier: a basket or bag (i.e. breadbasket), or again hoops to expand skirts.
basilicon: an ointment made of wax, pitch, resin, and oil or lard.
ecliptic, trine, and sextil: all terms to do with astrological positions.
argute: shrewd or subtle (I assume it has roots in the hundred-eyed god Argus).

Gadzooks

It never occurred to me that the above oath, so benign and absurd in sound, is actually a corruption of “God’s hooks,” a euphemism for the nails in the cross. Gadzooks indeed!

Vocabulary: Fraught With Grammarye Edition

From Burton’s translation of the 1001 Nights.

grammarye: corruption of “grammary” or vice versa. General knowledge or erudition.
nenuphar: the “great white water lily of Europe.” Okay…
blee: complexion.
carnelian: a type of red chalcedony made into jewelry. Was a descriptor for some lady’s lips.
wot: know. Variation of “wit.”
lout: bend or stoop low out of courtesy. (I know what the other lout is)
wassail: to drink someone’s health or revel in general with drink.
sworder: swordsman or fighter.
eyne: archaic plural of “eye.” Really now, you could just say eyes.
hent: to seize or grab.
garth: a courtyard or garden.
syce: a groom or stable boy.
viaticum: supplies for a journey – also when the Eucharist is given to one near death.
gugglet: see guglet > see goglet > a long-necked earthenware container for water or liquid.
dight: to dress or adorn.
limn: to portray or illuminate – originally to literally illuminate.
meseemeth: it seems to me. Obviously… but come on.