Discriptive vocabulary Flashcards
Anthropomorphic
having human characteristics.
“anthropomorphic bears and monkeys”
famous examples of anthropomorphism include Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse
Transmogrify
[trans-MAH-ɡrə-fai]
Transform in a surprising or magical manner
Dynamism
[DY-nə-miz-əm]
The quality of being characterized by vigorous activity and progress.
Pensile
Hanging down; pendulous.
Soupçon
[soop-SAWn] Origin: French
A very small quantity of something.
Twee
Origin: British
Excessively or affectedly quaint, pretty, or sentimental.
Sedulous
[ SEH-jəl-əs ] Origin: Latin
(Of a person or action) showing dedication and diligence.
Recondite
[ rə-KAHN-diyt ] Origin: Latin
Little known; obscure, (specifically regarding knowledge).
Punctilious
[punk-TIL-ee-uhs] Origin: Latin
- Concerned with strict adherence to rules and codes of conduct.
- Precise or nitpicky.
Variegate
[VER-ee-ə-gait] Origin: Latin
- Alter in appearance, especially by adding different colors.
- Make more diverse or varied.
Garniture
[GAR-ne-CHər] Origin: French
A set of decorative accessories, in particular vases.
Metaphrase
[MEH-də-frayz] Origin: Greek
A literal, word-for-word translation, as opposed to a paraphrase.
Uxorious
[uhk-SOR-ee-əs] Origin: Latin
- Excessively affectionate toward one’s wife
- Devoted to one’s wife
Acuity
[ə-KYOO-ə-dee] Origin: Late Middle English
Sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing.
Recherché
[rə-sher-SHAY] Origin: French
Rare, exotic, or obscure.
Soigné
[swan-YAY] Origin: French
Dressed very elegantly; well-groomed.
Simpatico
[sim-PA-də-koh] Origin: Italian and Spanish
1. (of a person) likable and easy to get along with.
2. Having or characterized by shared attributes or interests; compatible.
“The new manager is a pleasant, simpatico man.”
Haecceity
[hak-SEE-ə-dee] Noun Origin: Latin
The property of being a unique and individual thing.
“Each vase she sculpted has a particular haecceity.”
“The teacher knew each child has haecceity and can’t be constrained by categories.”
Jocose
[jə-KOS] Adjective Origin: Latin
Playful or humorous.
“The playdate was filled with jocose laughter.”
“Jeannette was looking for a jocose writer to work on her sitcom.”
Gossamer
[GAH-sə-mər] Noun Origin: Middle English
- A fine, filmy substance consisting of cobwebs spun by small spiders, seen especially in autumn.
- Used to refer to something very light, thin, and insubstantial or delicate.
“The light caught the gossamer of a large, intricate spiderweb.”
“The wings on Mandy’s fairy costume were iridescent gossamer.”
Corybantic
[kor-ə-BAN-tik] Adjective Origin: Latin
Wild; frenzied.
“The audience at the rally became louder and corybantic.”
“The guitar solo became more complicated and corybantic.”
Oddments
[AHD-mənts] Noun Origin: Germanic
Remnants or parts of something, typically left over from a larger piece or set.
“The dress was layered with colorful oddments.”
“Denise collected oddments from different china sets to build her own collection.”
Winnow
[WIN-oh] Verb Origin: Old English
- Remove (people or things) from a group until only the best ones are left; find or identify (a valuable or useful part of something).
- Remove (chaff) from grain.
“The women winnow the grain every day of the harvest season.”
“Dana winnowed her list of admirers down to a select few.”
Vertiginous
[vər-TIJ-ən-əs] Adjective Origin: Latin
Causing vertigo, especially by being extremely high or steep; relating to or affected by vertigo.
“The roller coaster had a vertiginous effect on many who rode it.”
“Ray’s dog gets vertiginous on car rides and needs to be soothed.”
Interdigitate
[in-ter-DIJ-ə-teit] Verb Origin: Latin
(of two or more things) interlock like the fingers of two clasped hands.
“The chair was finely woven with interdigitating lines of colored cane.”
“When the safe’s lock is engaged, the protective steel bands interdigitate, making it impossible to open.”
Tutelary
[TYOO-dl-er-ee] Adjective Origin: Latin
Serving as a protector, guardian, or patron; relating to protection or a guardian.
“The state police provided tutelary services to the former governor.”
“Adam’s aunt was a tutelary presence in his childhood.”
Hermetic
[hər-MED-ik] Adj Origin: Latin
- (of a seal or closure) complete and airtight.
- Insulated or protected from outside influences.
“Thanks to the hermetic seal on the jar, the jam was still good 8 months later.”
“The locker room atmosphere was hermetic: the only topic allowed was hockey strategy.”
Infrangible
[in-FRAN-jə-bəl] Adjective Origin: French
Unbreakable; inviolable.
Autogenous
[ə-TAH-jən-əs] Adjective Origin: Greek
- Arising from within or from a thing itself.
- (Of welding) done either without solder or with a filler of the same metal as the pieces being welded.
“Dominique placed a lot of autogenous pressure on herself.”
“Adam felt autogenous welding was simpler and less wasteful.”
This word comes from the Greek “autogenetos,” meaning “self-born.” “Auto-” means “self,” and “genetos” means “born.” The latter stems from “genes,” meaning “formation, creation.”
Deuteragonist
[doo-də-RAH-gə-nəst] Noun Origin: Greek
The person second in importance to the protagonist in a drama.
“Tyler felt like he was a deuteragonist in his own life.”
“The role of a deuteragonist can be just as important as the protagonist.”
This word originates from the Greek “deuteragōnistēs,” which comes from “deuteros,” meaning “second” and “agōnistēs,” meaning actor.”
A deuteragonist isn’t necessarily the same from one story to the next. A deuteragonist may be on the protagonist’s side, like a sidekick or a love interest. Or they can be a villain, foil, or primary rival the protagonist must defeat. The deuteragonist can simply serve a neutral role, too.
Conversant
[kən-VER-sənt] Adj Origin: Middle English
Familiar with or knowledgeable about something.
“Charlene was conversant with wines, so we let her choose the vintage.”
“Video games have made some players surprisingly conversant with minute details of history.”
Conspectus
[kən-SPEK-təs] Noun Origin: Latin
A summary or overview of a subject.
“Professor Wells posted the course conspectus online.”
“The paper was a good conspectus of the impact of social media on the larger society.”
