sciential \sye-EN-shul\ (adjective) - 1 : relating to or producing knowledge or science 2 : having efficient knowledge : capable

Of the value of having a library at hand for a liberal education, Coleridge wrote: "There is no way of arriving at any sciential end but by finding it at every step."

You might expect "sciential," which derives ...Read more

festoon \fes-TUN\ (verb) - To drape a bushy rope of greenery or colorful cloth in loops that droop down between the points where it is attached, for festive decoration.

"Well, no, festooning the tree with toilet paper is not really what I had in mind when I asked for Christmas decoration in the front yard."

Today's word comes from French ...Read more

sitophobia \sy-tuh-FO-bee-uh\ (noun) - Morbid aversion to food.

"While lowering her little girl's weight was important, June was concerned about putting her on a diet as it could place her in danger of contracting sitophobia."

From Greek sito- (food) + -phobia (fear, aversion). The word is also spelled as sitiophobia. Two related words are...Read more

nosopoetic \no-seh-po-ET-ik\ (adjective) - Disease-causing, disease producing, infectious.

"One of the goals of early manned space flights was to test for any nosopoetic effects of extended periods of weightlessness."

Today's word comes to us, courtesy of Latin and French, from Greek nosopoi(etik)os "causing illness," which consists of ...Read more

quasquicentennial \kwah-skweh-sin-TE-ni-yehl\ (adjective) - Pertaining to 125 or 125th; the celebration of 125 years.

"Lawrence, this is the quasquicentennial time I've requested that you clean up your room."

Apparently, introduced for the city of Delavan, Illinois' rather odd 125th anniversary of its founding ...Read more

billabong \BI-leh-bang\ (noun) - 1 : A waterhole near a stream filled only during floods. 2 : A part of a river or creek that dries up after the rainy season.

"1985 was a positive billabong for Janice in an otherwise gushing career."

A common term in parts of Australia but not used in Great Britain or North America. ...Read more

crotchet \KRAH-chet\ (noun) - A highly individual and eccentric opinion or preference. Originally, a small hook or hooked instrument although that sense is now archaic.

"Guacamole on ice cream is just one of Jason's many gastronomic crotchets."

This word is merely the English pronunciation of French crochet "hook," diminutive of croche "...Read more

orotund \OR-eh-tehnd\ (adjective) - 1 : Clearly and elegantly articulated (speech), sonorous, full of deep, rounded sounds; 2 : bombastic, pompous.

"Miguel's orotund delivery of Lear's monologue carried easily to the back row of the balcony."

Today's word originated as a Latin phrase, ore rotundo "with a round mouth" ore "with the mouth" + ...Read more

doyen \doy-YEHN\ (noun) - The dominant senior member of a profession, activity, or social arena.

"When he retired, Walter Cronkite was considered by many as the doyen of the US press corps."

Today's word was borrowed from French doyen/doyenne "dean, most senior member," the legitimate heir of Late Latin decanus "leader of ten" (from Greek ...Read more

nidicolous \ni-DI-keh-lehs\ (adjective) - Nest-dwelling, nesting, usually referring to birds whose offspring are helpless at birth and must remain in a nest until they mature.

"When he married Mathilda, Frederick converted from the nomadic to the nidicolous life with unexpected aplomb."

Latin nidus "nest" + col(ere) "(to) inhabit" + -ous. ...Read more

imprimatur \im-pruh-MAH-toor or im-PRIH-muh-toor\ (noun) - A license to print or publish; official approval or sanction.

"Several members on the faculty were reprimanded for using students as subjects for medical experiments without the university's imprimatur."

"Imprimatur" means "let it be printed" in New Latin. From Latin "imprimere" -- ...Read more

canorous \kuh-NOR-us; KAN-or-uhs\ (adjective) - Richly melodious; pleasant sounding; musical.

"Even the most horrible of news was easier to take when delivered in the dulcet tones of Martin's canorous voice."

Canorous comes from the Latin canor, "melody," from canere, "to sing." It is related to chant, from French chanter, "to sing," ...Read more

fiction \FIK-shehn\ (noun) - 1 : The process of creative fabrication or its result, a creative fabrication; that is, something dreamed up and not real. 2 : A kind of completely creative writing in which the characters and actions have no basis in reality.

"In order to get an interview for the job, Melanie submitted a mostly fictional ...Read more

illation \i-LAY-shuhn\ (noun) - 1 : The act of inferring. 2 : An inference or conclusion drawn.

"As her friends were quick to point out, Courtney's political illations were by any standards excessively childish."

From Late Latin illation-, from Latin illatus, past participle of inferre (to bring in), from il- + ferre (to carry).

chuffed \chuft\ (adjective) - Pleased; satisfied.

"While not convinced that he had done his absolute best, Mike was chuffed that he had won the blue ribbon in spite of all the obstacles in front of him."

From chuff (boor, churl), from Middle English chuffe.

laconic \luh-KON-ik\ (adjective) - Sparing with words, concise, terse.

"Lana's laconic way of speaking was completely at odds with her wordy, rambling prose style."

From Latin Laconicus, from Greek Lakonikos, from Lakon, Laconian, a resident of Laconia, an ancient country in southern Greece (Capital: Sparta). From the the reputation of the ...Read more

recrudescent \ree-kroo-DES-uhnt\ (adjective) - Breaking out again after temporary abatement or suppression; as, a recrudescent epidemic.

"Jenna's recrudescent acne had a tendency to make its appearance at the most inconvenient of times, such as when she had a date or public appearance."

Recrudescent derives from the present participle of Latin...Read more

fain \fayn\ (adverb) - 1 : Willingly; gladly. 2 : Rather. (adjective) - 1 : Pleased. 2 : Obliged. 3 : Eager.

"As the delay continued Mordecai was both busy and happy at the Mill, for he liked and loved this damsel well, and was fain of her company."

From Middle English, from Old English faegen (glad).

libertine \LI-behr-teen\ (noun) - 1 : A free-thinker (originally used to refer to an emancipated slave or freedman). 2 : A person who lives without constraints, including moral ones.

"In her third affair in as many months, Michelle is treading the thin line between a libertine and a trollop."

Latin libertinus from liber "free". The origin ...Read more