Words to Impress
STRUNK AND WHITE, in The Elements of Style, tell us about sesquepedalian words: “Do not be tempted by a twenty-dollar word when there is a ten-center handy, ready and able.” But daring girls are never afraid to drop a spectacular multisyllabic bombshell when necessary. Here are some you can use when quotidian vocabulary fails.
aleatoric
(EY-lee-uh-tohr-ik) dependent on luck or a random outcome, like a roll of the dice
Aurora just laughed when doubters attributed her triumph over the pirate rogues to aleatoric influences.
brobdingnagian
(brob-ding-NAG-ee-uhn) gigantic, enormous, tremendous
Lydia made constant use of her brobdingnagian vocabulary.
callipygian
(kal-uh-PIJ-ee-uhn) having shapely buttocks
Jen’s callipygian beauty was matched only by her strong right hook.
crepuscular
(kri-PUHS-kyuh-ler) dim; resembling or having to do with twilight
Janet’s habit of planning all her best pranks to occur immediately after dinner led her mother to declare her utterly crepuscular in nature.
diaphanous
(dahy-AF-uh-nuhs) almost entirely transparent or translucent
Halloween had been a success, thought Belinda, even though little kids kept bumping into her costume’s diaphanous fairy wings.
echolalia
(ek-oh-LEY-lee-uh) repeating or echoing a person’s speech, often in a pathological way
The baby’s curious echolalia almost sounded like real conversation.
frangible
(FRAN-juh-bull) fragile; easily broken; brittle
After seeing what happened to his brothers, the third little pig resolved to build his house from a less frangible material.
frustraneous
(fruhs-TREY-nee-uhs) vain; useless; frustrating
After several frustraneous attempts, Katie gave up on trying to get her sister’s attention.
gustatory
(GUHS-tuh-tohr-ee) of or pertaining to taste or tasting
Rachael dug into her dinner with gustatory glee.
hagiology
(hag-ee-OL-uh-jee) literature dealing with the lives of saints; a list of saints
Julie’s notebook was practically a hagiology of current boy bands.
ineluctable
(in-ih-LUCK-tuh-bull) inevitable, inescapable (From the Latin word luctari, “to wrestle.”)
Sarah was unable to escape the ineluctable gaze of her mother.
jejune
(ji-JOON) immature, uninteresting, dull; lacking nutrition
Molly resolved to use an interesting vocabulary, the better to avoid appearing jejune.
(n×rl)
a knob, knot, or other small protuberance; one of a series of small ridges or grooves on the surface or edge of a metal object, such as a thumbscrew, to aid in gripping
Samira learned to rock climb by grabbing onto the knurls all the way up the wall.
languorous
(LANG-ger-uhs) lacking spirit or liveliness; dreamy; lazy
Amelia spent a languorous day by the pool.
luculent
(LOO-kyoo-luhnt) easily understood; clear or lucid
Sometimes Brianna’s homework needed to be a little more luculent.
mellifluous
(muh-LIF-loo-uhs) flowing with sweetness or honey; smooth and sweet
Anna always enjoyed chorus; she knew her voice was mellifluous.
miasma
(mahy-AZ-muh) foul vapors emitted from rotting matter; unwholesome air or atmosphere
Emi held her nose as she passed the miasma of what her little brother referred to as “the stinky parking garage.”
natalitious
(nay-tuh-LIH-shis) pertaining to one’s birthday
Mary designed elaborate invitations to announce her natalitious festivities.
nemesis
(NEM-uh-sis) a source of harm; an opponent that cannot be beaten; mythological Greek goddess of vengeance
On a good day, Christina’s brother was her ally; on a bad day, he was her nemesis.
obsequious
(uhb-SEE-kwee-uhs) fawning; attentive in an ingratiating manner
Eager to win her parents’ approval, Vanessa was polite to the point of being obsequious.
persiflage
(PURR-suh-flahzh) light banter; frivolous discussion
“We must be careful to keep our persiflage to a minimum,” Nola whispered to Margot during class.
(kwee-ES-uhns) stillness, quietness, inactivity
Esme reveled in the extraordinary quiescence of early morning when she awoke before anyone else.
quotidian
(kwoh-TIHD-ee-uhn) everyday, commonplace, ordinary; recurring daily
Dana sighed, bored by the quotidian sameness of it all.
rapprochement
(rap-rohsh-MAHN) reconciliation; the reestablishing of cordial relations
After holding a grudge against him for so long, Eleanor felt it was almost a relief to have reached a rapprochement with her brother.
risible
(RIZ-uh-buhl) laughable, causing laughter
The girls knew they could always count on Jasmine for a risible remark.
sesquipedalian
(SESS-kwih-puh-DAY-lee-un) characteristic of a long word; given to using long words
Daring girls are not shy about their sesquipedalian abilities.
sprezzatura
(SPRETTS-ah-TOO-ruh) nonchalance, effortlessness
After reading The Daring Book For Girls, Erin was able to cartwheel with sprezzatura and verve.
Truculent
(TRUCK-yuh-lunt) pugnacious, belligerent, scathing
When Nancy was pushed too far, she became truculent.
ultracrepidarian
(ull-truh-krep-ih-DAIR-ee-uhn)
giving opinions or criticizing beyond one’s own range of expertise
“I’d tell you what I think about your outfit, but I don’t want to be all ultracrepidarian,” said Karen.
vitiate
(VISH-ee-ayt) to weaken, impair, or render invalid
Penelope’s debate in class vitiated Rob’s argument.
winsome
(WIN-suhm) sweetly or innocently charming
Surya was too busy building her tree fort to act winsome.
xenophobe
(ZEE-nuh-fohb) a person who fears or hates foreigners
It was a nerve-racking moment at the potluck picnic, when the neighborhood xenophobe showed up with potato salad.
yawl
(Yawl) a ship’s small boat; a yowl or howl
Lanie let out a loud yawl as the boat tipped over.
zaftig
(ZAHF-tik) having a shapely figure (From the Yiddish word zaftik, “juicy.”)
Beyonce was proud of her strong, zaftig figure.
zeitgeist
(TSIYT-giyst) the spirit of the time; the outlook of a particular generation
Shonda was convinced the latest pop star embodied the zeitgeist of middle school.