Scripps Spelling Bee Finals 2015 Flashcards by Molly Anderson

**\ˌbü-yə-ˈbās, -ˈbāz, ˈbü-yə-ˌ, -ˌbāz**

Definition: a fish stew made of at least two and usually five or six kinds of fish, seasoned with onions and herbs, and flavored with saffron.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: French, which formed it from a Latin word.

Sample Sentence: Dane was horrified to find his mother had prepared *ˌbü-yə-ˈbās, -ˈbāz* as a sleepover snack for his friends.

bouillabaisse

\ˌbü-yə-ˈbās, -ˈbāz, ˈbü-yə-ˌ, -ˌbāz\

Definition: a fish stew made of at least two and usually five or six kinds of fish, seasoned with onions and herbs, and flavored with saffron.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: French, which formed it from a Latin word.

Sample Sentence: Dane was horrified to find his mother had prepared bouillabaisse as a sleepover snack for his friends.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

**\sə̇ˈras(ˌ)tēz**

Definition: a common desert-dwelling viper of Egypt and Asia Minor distinguished by a horn-like scale resembling a spike above each eye.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Latin, which formed it from Greek.

Sample Sentence: Angela appreciated the souvenirs her mother brought home with her from Egypt, except maybe the **\sə̇ˈras(ˌ)tēz** that slithered out of her carry-on.

cerastes

\sə̇ˈras(ˌ)tēz\

Definition: a common desert-dwelling viper of Egypt and Asia Minor distinguished by a horn-like scale resembling a spike above each eye.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Latin, which formed it from Greek.

Sample Sentence: Angela appreciated the souvenirs her mother brought home with her from Egypt, except maybe the cerastes that slithered out of her carry-on.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

**\hah-chek**

Definition: a wedge-shaped diacritic placed over a letter to modify it : an inverted circumflex — called also wedge or caron.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Czech

Sample Sentence: The priest, philosopher and reformer Jan Hus introduced the **\hah-chek** into Czech orthography.

haček

\hah-chek\

Definition: a wedge-shaped diacritic placed over a letter to modify it : an inverted circumflex — called also wedge or caron.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Czech

Sample Sentence: The priest, philosopher and reformer Jan Hus introduced the haček into Czech orthography.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

**\ˌsīt-ə-ˌpȯi-ˈē-səs**

Definition: production of cells

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Greek

Sample Sentence: When Marnie accused him of being lazy lounging in a hammock all day, Pranjal countered by saying his bone marrow was hard at work through \ˌsīt-ə-ˌpȯi-ˈē-səs.

cytopoiesis

\ˌsīt-ə-ˌpȯi-ˈē-səs\

Definition: production of cells

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Greek

Sample Sentence: When Marnie accused him of being lazy lounging in a hammock all day, Pranjal countered by saying his bone marrow was hard at work through cytopoiesis.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

**\ˈkra-nəg**

Definition: an artificial fortified island constructed in a lake or marsh originally in prehistoric Ireland and Scotland.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Irish Gaelic

Sample Sentence: Toby thought if he could construct a **\ˈkra-nəg** in the neighborhood pond, the boat ride might discourage his parents from coming to tell him to do his homework.

crannog

\ˈkra-nəg\

Definition: an artificial fortified island constructed in a lake or marsh originally in prehistoric Ireland and Scotland.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Irish Gaelic

Sample Sentence: Toby thought if he could construct a crannog in the neighborhood pond, the boat ride might discourage his parents from coming to tell him to do his homework.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

**\bəˈkīəs, ba-**

Definition: a metrical foot of three syllables, the first short, the other two long.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Latin, which formed it from Greek.

Sample Sentence: Rumor has it that Drake’s next mix-tape contains a rap in which every verse begins and ends with a **\bəˈkīəs, ba-**.

bacchius

\bəˈkīəs, ba-\

Definition: a metrical foot of three syllables, the first short, the other two long.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Latin, which formed it from Greek.

Sample Sentence: Rumor has it that Drake’s next mix-tape contains a rap in which every verse begins and ends with a bacchius.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

**\¦käkə¦zelē**

Definition: a cylindrical dark green summer squash usually with lighter green to yellow stripes or mottlings.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is probably from a Latin-derived Italian word.

Sample Sentence: Dianna still hasn’t heard back from the creator of the Emojis app about her petition to replace the eggplant emoji with a **\¦käkə¦zelē**.

cocozelle

\¦käkə¦zelē\

Definition: a cylindrical dark green summer squash usually with lighter green to yellow stripes or mottlings.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin:This word is probably from a Latin-derived Italian word.

Sample Sentence: Dianna still hasn’t heard back from the creator of the Emojis app about her petition to replace the eggplant emoji with a cocozelle.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

**\səˈmädē**

Definition: the meditative concentration that is the final step of the Eightfold Path in Buddhism.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Sanskrit

Sample Sentence: The monk explained that several external obstacles had to be overcome in order to attain **\səˈmädē**, but promised Sarah that getting through the 15th level of Candy Crush was not one of them.

samadhi

\səˈmädē\

Definition: the meditative concentration that is the final step of the Eightfold Path in Buddhism.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Sanskrit

Sample Sentence: The monk explained that several external obstacles had to be overcome in order to attain samadhi, but promised Sarah that getting through the 15th level of Candy Crush was not one of them.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

**\ˈäl-bəm-ˌblät, ˈal-bəm-ˌblat**

Definition: a short instrumental composition usually for piano.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: German

Sample Sentence: After losing to a dancing dog last year, Marissa was confident that playing an **\ˈäl-bəm-ˌblät, ˈal-bəm-ˌblat** while balancing a sword on her chin would finally win her first prize in the talent show.

Albumblatt

\ˈäl-bəm-ˌblät, ˈal-bəm-ˌblat\

Definition: a short instrumental composition usually for piano.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: German

Sample Sentence: After losing to a dancing dog last year, Marissa was confident that playing an Albumblatt while balancing a sword on her chin would finally win her first prize in the talent show.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

**\ˈbilə̇kən**

Definition: a squat smiling comic figure used as a mascot.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is probably formed from a name plus an English combining form.

Sample Sentence: The campus of Saint Louis University has a statue of its mascot, the **\ˈbilə̇kən**.

billiken

\ˈbilə̇kən\

Definition: a squat smiling comic figure used as a mascot.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is probably formed from a name plus an English combining form.

Sample Sentence: The campus of Saint Louis University has a statue of its mascot, the billiken.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

**\ˈhi-pə-ˌkrēn, ˌhi-pə-ˈkrē-nē**

Definition: poetic inspiration.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from Latin, which formed it from Greek.

Sample Sentence: As a budding young poet, the third-grader found **\ˈhi-pə-ˌkrēn, ˌhi-pə-ˈkrē-nē** in the graceful spill of Izadora’s long brown hair, though it’s unclear why that led him to repeatedly pull it.

Hippocrene

\ˈhi-pə-ˌkrēn, ˌhi-pə-ˈkrē-nē\

Definition: poetic inspiration.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from Latin, which formed it from Greek.

Sample Sentence: As a budding young poet, the third-grader found Hippocrene in the graceful spill of Izadora’s long brown hair, though it’s unclear why that led him to repeatedly pull it.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

**\ˈbäkˌfish**

Definition: an adolescent immature girl.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: German

Sample Sentence: Daley was horrified to find she related more to the novel’s antagonistic **\ˈbäkˌfish** than to the story’s heroine.

backfisch

\ˈbäkˌfish\

Definition: an adolescent immature girl.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: German

Sample Sentence: Daley was horrified to find she related more to the novel’s antagonistic backfisch than to the story’s heroine.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

**\¦pȯikə¦lid‧ik**

Definition: relating to a structural pattern in igneous rocks in which a lustrous mottling effect is produced.

Part of Speech: Adjective

Country of Origin: Greek

Sample Sentence: **\¦pȯikə¦lid‧ik** texture in rocks is most easily observed in petrographic thin sections.

poikilitic

\¦pȯikə¦lid‧ik\

Definition: relating to a structural pattern in igneous rocks in which a lustrous mottling effect is produced.

Part of Speech: Adjective

Country of Origin: Greek

Sample Sentence: Poikilitic texture in rocks is most easily observed in petrographic thin sections.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

**\ˈnāthəˌstōm, ˈnath-**

Definition: a vertebrate animal that possesses true jaws.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Both parts of this word are originally Greek.

Sample Sentence: In addition to opposing jaws, a **\ˈnāthəˌstōm, ˈnath-** also has teeth and paired appendages.

gnathostome

\ˈnāthəˌstōm, ˈnath-\

Definition: a vertebrate animal that possesses true jaws.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Both parts of this word are originally Greek.

Sample Sentence: In addition to opposing jaws, a gnathostome also has teeth and paired appendages.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

**\ˌpȯˌbläsēˈȯn**

Definition: a center of a municipality in the Philippines that is usually the barrio that gives the municipality its name and is the seat of government.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word went from Latin to Spanish to English.

Sample Sentence: Lemuel traveled to the **\ˌpȯˌbläsēˈȯn** every weekday for high school and for church on Sundays.

población

\ˌpȯˌbläsēˈȯn\

Definition: a center of a municipality in the Philippines that is usually the barrio that gives the municipality its name and is the seat of government.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word went from Latin to Spanish to English.

Sample Sentence: Lemuel traveled to the población every weekday for high school and for church on Sundays.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

**\ˌkäm-ə-ˌshu̇(ə)r-ˈät-ə-mē, -shə-ˈrät-**

Definition: the operation of cutting through a band of muscle or nerve fibers.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is made up of a part that went from Latin to French to English plus a Greek part.

Sample Sentence: After his mother went into detail about the **\ˌkäm-ə-ˌshu̇(ə)r-ˈät-ə-mē, -shə-ˈrät-** she performed on someone’s brain that morning, Dave requested that she just reply “fine” next time he asks how her day was.

commissurotomy

\ˌkäm-ə-ˌshu̇(ə)r-ˈät-ə-mē, -shə-ˈrät-\

Definition: the operation of cutting through a band of muscle or nerve fibers.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is made up of a part that went from Latin to French to English plus a Greek part.

Sample Sentence: After his mother went into detail about the commissurotomy she performed on someone’s brain that morning, Dave requested that she just reply “fine” next time he asks how her day was.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

**\rā-ˈkläm**

Definition: public attention or acclaim not necessarily based on or proportionate to real value or achievement : publicity.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: French

Sample Sentence: The critic attributed 50 percent of the singer’s fame to **\rā-ˈkläm**, and the rest to Auto-Tune.

réclame

\rā-ˈkläm\

Definition: public attention or acclaim not necessarily based on or proportionate to real value or achievement : publicity.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: French

Sample Sentence: The critic attributed 50 percent of the singer’s fame to réclame, and the rest to Auto-Tune.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

**\tär-ˈter-ē-ən**

Definition: of or relating to the infernal regions of ancient mythology : relating to or inhabiting hell.

Part of Speech: Adjective

Country of Origin: This word is from a word that went from Greek to Latin.

Sample Sentence: Bryan was grateful that having his MP3 player and headphones on the car trip kept him from suffering the **\tär-ˈter-ē-ən** depths of his sister’s taste in music.

tartarean

\tär-ˈter-ē-ən\

Definition: of or relating to the infernal regions of ancient mythology : relating to or inhabiting hell.

Part of Speech:Adjective

Country of Origin: This word is from a word that went from Greek to Latin.

Sample Sentence: Bryan was grateful that having his MP3 player and headphones on the car trip kept him from suffering the Tartarean depths of his sister’s taste in music.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

**\ˈȯˌfläg**

Definition: a German prison camp for officers.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: German

Sample Sentence: JP was fascinated by the memoirs of a British lieutenant who spent time in a World War II **\ˈȯˌfläg**.

oflag

\ˈȯˌfläg\

Definition: a German prison camp for officers.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: German

Sample Sentence: JP was fascinated by the memoirs of a British lieutenant who spent time in a World War II oflag.

**\ˈbī-ə-ˌdir, -ˌder**

Definition: a design of horizontal stripes in strongly contrasted colors.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from a word that went from Latin to Portuguese to French.

Sample Sentence: Morgan initially liked the t-shirt with its pattern of **\ˈbī-ə-ˌdir, -ˌder**, but later discarded it on account of the immense headache she got when looking at it.

bayadere

\ˈbī-ə-ˌdir, -ˌder\

Definition: a design of horizontal stripes in strongly contrasted colors.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from a word that went from Latin to Portuguese to French.

Sample Sentence: Morgan initially liked the t-shirt with its pattern of bayadere, but later discarded it on account of the immense headache she got when looking at it.

**-sī-ˈklīt-əs, -si-**

Definition: inflammation of the iris and the ciliary body.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word was formed in Latin, but is made up of originally Greek elements.

Sample Sentence: Treatment of **-sī-ˈklīt-əs, -si-** should begin as early as possible to prevent permanent vision damage.

iridocyclitis

-sī-ˈklīt-əs, -si-\

Definition: inflammation of the iris and the ciliary body.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word was formed in Latin, but is made up of originally Greek elements.

Sample Sentence: Treatment of iridocyclitis should begin as early as possible to prevent permanent vision damage.

**\kəˈnäsə, -ˈȯ-**

Definition: a place or occasion of submission, humiliation or penance.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from an Italian geographical name.

Sample Sentence: “Going to **\kəˈnäsə, -ˈȯ-**” involves more penance than does “eating humble pie.”

Canossa

\kəˈnäsə, -ˈȯ-\

Definition: a place or occasion of submission, humiliation or penance.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from an Italian geographical name.

Sample Sentence: “Going to Canossa” involves more penance than does “eating humble pie.”

**\¦tȯ(r)tē¦(y)än, -)ōn**

Definition: a small rolled-paper stump used in charcoal drawing for rubbing or blending.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: French

Sample Sentence: While looking for her dropped **\¦tȯ(r)tē¦(y)än, -)ōn** in art class, Susan Marie found yesterday’s chewing gum–and it was still good.

tortillon

\¦tȯ(r)tē¦(y)än, -)ōn\

Definition: a small rolled-paper stump used in charcoal drawing for rubbing or blending.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: French

Sample Sentence: While looking for her dropped tortillon in art class, Susan Marie found yesterday’s chewing gum–and it was still good.

**\min·hag**

Definition: Jewish religious custom.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from a Hebrew word.

Sample Sentence: When Ari returns home for Passover, the **\min·hag** is for his family to eat unleavened bread and also for his mother to ask him if he is seeing anyone.

minhag

\min·hag\

Definition: Jewish religious custom.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from a Hebrew word.

Sample Sentence: When Ari returns home for Passover, the minhag is for his family to eat unleavened bread and also for his mother to ask him if he is seeing anyone.

**\sə̇ˈba(a)rēəl**

Definition: relating to food.

Part of Speech: Adjective

Country of Origin: This word is from a Latin word that is perhaps of Greek origin.

Sample Sentence: The first time Kathy tried to cook moussaka, the result was a cardboard-like brick that could barely be considered **\sə̇ˈba(a)rēəl**.

cibarial

\sə̇ˈba(a)rēəl\

Definition: relating to food.

Part of Speech: Adjective

Country of Origin: This word is from a Latin word that is perhaps of Greek origin.

Sample Sentence: The first time Kathy tried to cook moussaka, the result was a cardboard-like brick that could barely be considered cibarial.

**\ˈzīgəˌn(y)u̇r, ˈzig-**

Definition: a connecting neuron.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is made up of Greek parts.

Sample Sentence: Brian knows much about the movie “Frozen” that he feels like his brain has the lyrics to “Let it Go” written in every **\ˈzīgəˌn(y)u̇r, ˈzig-**.

zygoneure

\ˈzīgəˌn(y)u̇r, ˈzig-\

Definition: a connecting neuron.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is made up of Greek parts.

Sample Sentence: Brian knows much about the movie “Frozen” that he feels like his brain has the lyrics to “Let it Go” written in every zygoneure.

**\ˈa-kri-ˌtärk**

Definition: any of a group of fossil one-celled marine planktonic organisms of uncertain taxonomic affinities that are held to represent the earliest known eukaryotes.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is made up of Greek parts.

Sample Sentence: The oldest **\ˈa-kri-ˌtärk** has been recovered from sediment deposited as far back as 3.2 billion years ago.

acritarch

\ˈa-kri-ˌtärk\

Definition: any of a group of fossil one-celled marine planktonic organisms of uncertain taxonomic affinities that are held to represent the earliest known eukaryotes.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is made up of Greek parts.

Sample Sentence: The oldest acritarch has been recovered from sediment deposited as far back as 3.2 billion years ago.

**\ˌbu̇k(ə)ˈtye(ə)r, -tēˈe(-**

Definition: garnished with vegetables.

Part of Speech: Adjective

Country of Origin: French

Sample Sentence: Jason tolerated Blair’s odd taste in food until he saw her eating a bowl of Cheerios **\ˌbu̇k(ə)ˈtye(ə)r, -tēˈe(-**.

Bouquetière

\ˌbu̇k(ə)ˈtye(ə)r, -tēˈe(-\

Definition: garnished with vegetables.

Part of Speech: Adjective

Country of Origin: French

Sample Sentence: Jason tolerated Blair’s odd taste in food until he saw her eating a bowl of Cheerios bouquetière.

**\ˌkau̇-thē-ˈyēz-(ˌ)mō, -thēl-ˈyēz-**

Definition: a form of government in which a dictator or small clique has absolute power without effective constitutional limitations.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from a Latin word that is perhaps of Greek origin.

Sample Sentence: After the vegetable-eating incident at dinner, Hector and Lucia had to remind their children the family was not a democracy but a **\ˌkau̇-thē-ˈyēz-(ˌ)mō, -thēl-ˈyēz-**.

caudillismo

\ˌkau̇-thē-ˈyēz-(ˌ)mō, -thēl-ˈyēz-\

Definition: a form of government in which a dictator or small clique has absolute power without effective constitutional limitations.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from a Latin word that is perhaps of Greek origin.

Sample Sentence: After the vegetable-eating incident at dinner, Hector and Lucia had to remind their children the family was not a democracy but a caudillismo.

**\¦thämə¦kau̇**

Definition: a large outrigger canoe used in the Fiji islands.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Fijian

Sample Sentence: Ratu hauled the enormous fish into the **\¦thämə¦kau̇** and paddled carefully back to shore.

thamakau

\¦thämə¦kau̇\

Definition: a large outrigger canoe used in the Fiji islands.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Fijian

Sample Sentence: Ratu hauled the enormous fish into the thamakau and paddled carefully back to shore.

**\ˈsitəl(ˌ)ē**

Definition: a message written in a method of cipher used especially by the Spartans in which a narrow strip of parchment was wound on a rod and the message written across the adjoining edges.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into Latin.

Sample Sentence: If the recipient of a Spartan **\ˈsitəl(ˌ)ē** did not possess a decoding rod of the same diameter as that of the sender’s, he would presumably be unable to read the enclosed message.

scytale

\ˈsitəl(ˌ)ē\

Definition: a message written in a method of cipher used especially by the Spartans in which a narrow strip of parchment was wound on a rod and the message written across the adjoining edges.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into Latin.

Sample Sentence: If the recipient of a Spartan scytale did not possess a decoding rod of the same diameter as that of the sender’s, he would presumably be unable to read the enclosed message.

**\täⁿ‧tyem**

Definition: a percentage or proportional share especially of profits or earnings.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: French

Sample Sentence: Sophie and Tyler were confused by the small **\täⁿ‧tyem** they received from their lemonade stand until they tasted their terrifyingly tart beverage.

tantième

\täⁿ‧tyem\

Definition: a percentage or proportional share especially of profits or earnings.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: French

Sample Sentence: Sophie and Tyler were confused by the small tantième they received from their lemonade stand until they tasted their terrifyingly tart beverage.

**\ˈsipsəˌlīn**

Definition: of or relating to the swifts, any of numerous small plainly colored birds constituting the family Apodidae that superficially resemble swallows.

Part of Speech: Adjective

Country of Origin: Greek

Sample Sentence: **\ˈsipsəˌlīn** birds often attach themselves by saliva to vertical surfaces, such as a tree, a building, or in one unfortunate incident, the back of Todd’s head at the aviary.

cypseline

\ˈsipsəˌlīn\

Definition: of or relating to the swifts, any of numerous small plainly colored birds constituting the family Apodidae that superficially resemble swallows.

Part of Speech: Adjective

Country of Origin: Greek

Sample Sentence: Cypseline birds often attach themselves by saliva to vertical surfaces, such as a tree, a building, or in one unfortunate incident, the back of Todd’s head at the aviary.

**\ˈu̇(ə)rˌgru̇nt**

Definition: a primal cause or ultimate cosmic principle.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from an originally German word.

Sample Sentence: Nuria tried in vain to explain to her son Javier that the **\ˈu̇(ə)rˌgru̇nt** behind all things in life was not FC Barcelona.

urgrund

\ˈu̇(ə)rˌgru̇nt\

Definition: a primal cause or ultimate cosmic principle.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from an originally German word.

Sample Sentence: Nuria tried in vain to explain to her son Javier that the urgrund behind all things in life was not FC Barcelona.

**\ˈfiləˌsīt**

Definition: a fossil fern.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is made up of Latin elements.

Sample Sentence: Sidney was able to find the largest **\ˈfiləˌsīt** in an old limestone quarry on the new reality show, “Who Can Find The Largest Filicite In An Old Limestone Quarry?”

filicite

\ˈfiləˌsīt\

Definition: a fossil fern.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is made up of Latin elements.

Sample Sentence: Sidney was able to find the largest filicite in an old limestone quarry on the new reality show, “Who Can Find The Largest Filicite In An Old Limestone Quarry?”

**\ˌmərməˈthēˌrīn, -rə̇n**

Definition: feeding on ants.

Part of Speech: Adjective

Country of Origin: This word is made up of Greek elements plus a combining form.

Sample Sentence: Emmy and Sicily hoped the bear would continue with his **\ˌmərməˈthēˌrīn, -rə̇n** activities and ignore the terrified humans slowly walking backward on the hiking trail.

myrmotherine

\ˌmərməˈthēˌrīn, -rə̇n\

Definition: feeding on ants.

Part of Speech: Adjective

Country of Origin: This word is made up of Greek elements plus a combining form.

Sample Sentence: Emmy and Sicily hoped the bear would continue with his myrmotherine activities and ignore the terrified humans slowly walking backward on the hiking trail.

**\ˈshpräḵ-gə-ˌfu̅e̅l**

Definition: sensibility to conformance with or divergence from the established usage (as in form or idiom) of a language.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from an originally German word.

Sample Sentence: The linguist was so skilled that the dependability of his **\ˈshpräḵ-gə-ˌfu̅e̅l** was never in question.

sprachgefühl

\ˈshpräḵ-gə-ˌfu̅e̅l\

Definition: sensibility to conformance with or divergence from the established usage (as in form or idiom) of a language.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from an originally German word.

Sample Sentence: The linguist was so skilled that the dependability of his sprachgefühl was never in question.

**\zə̇ˈmäkə**

Definition: a sponge of a massive more or less conical form occurring in the Mediterranean Sea.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Latin

Sample Sentence: While the **\zə̇ˈmäkə** is found in the Mediterranean Sea, my children are more familiar with its American cousin with the square pants known as Bob.

zimocca

\zə̇ˈmäkə\

Definition: a sponge of a massive more or less conical form occurring in the Mediterranean Sea.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Latin

Sample Sentence: While the zimocca is found in the Mediterranean Sea, my children are more familiar with its American cousin with the square pants known as Bob.

**\ˌnēshtəˈmäl**

Definition: limed kernels of corn ready to be ground into masa.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from Mexican Spanish which formed it from a Nahuatl word.

Sample Sentence: **\ˌnēshtəˈmäl** is nutritionally superior to plain ground cornmeal, providing a good source of niacin in the traditional Central American diet.

nixtamal

\ˌnēshtəˈmäl\

Definition: limed kernels of corn ready to be ground into masa.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from Mexican Spanish which formed it from a Nahuatl word.

Sample Sentence: Nixtamal is nutritionally superior to plain ground cornmeal, providing a good source of niacin in the traditional Central American diet.

**\¦hipə¦krepəˌfȯrm**

Definition: shaped like a horseshoe.

Part of Speech: Adjective

Country of Origin: This word is made up of Greek parts plus a part that went from Latin to English.

Sample Sentence: The pollen-producing anthers of some plants are **\¦hipə¦krepəˌfȯrm**.

hippocrepiform

\¦hipə¦krepəˌfȯrm\

Definition: shaped like a horseshoe.

Part of Speech: Adjective

Country of Origin: This word is made up of Greek parts plus a part that went from Latin to English.

Sample Sentence: The pollen-producing anthers of some plants are hippocrepiform.

**\pa·roe·mi·ol·o·gy**

Definition: the subject of proverbs.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Greek

Sample Sentence: The new collection of proverbs had been edited by Professor Mieder, a leading authority on **\pa·roe·mi·ol·o·gy**.

paroemiology

\pa·roe·mi·ol·o·gy\

Definition: the subject of proverbs.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Greek

Sample Sentence: The new collection of proverbs had been edited by Professor Mieder, a leading authority on paroemiology.

**\ˈskaˌkīt**

Definition: a mineral consisting of native manganese chloride found in volcanic regions.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from an Italian name plus a combining form.

Sample Sentence: At the base of the mountain, the geologist diligently searched for the presence of **\ˈskaˌkīt** to determine if a volcano could be nearby, while his colleagues merely looked at the towering cloud of ash exploding into the sky.

scacchite

\ˈskaˌkīt\

Definition: a mineral consisting of native manganese chloride found in volcanic regions.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from an Italian name plus a combining form.

Sample Sentence: At the base of the mountain, the geologist diligently searched for the presence of scacchite to determine if a volcano could be nearby, while his colleagues merely looked at the towering cloud of ash exploding into the sky.

**\pip-ˈsi-sə-ˌwȯ**

Definition: an evergreen herb of the genus Chimaphila (ky-MAF-uh-luh) whose astringent leaves have been used as a tonic and diuretic.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from Cree, an Algonquian language of North America.

Sample Sentence: Brad discovered that while \pip-ˈsi-sə-ˌwȯ\makes root beer taste delicious, adding it to his mother’s fish stew — not so much.

pipsissewa

\pip-ˈsi-sə-ˌwȯ\

Definition: an evergreen herb of the genus Chimaphila (ky-MAF-uh-luh) whose astringent leaves have been used as a tonic and diuretic.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is from Cree, an Algonquian language of North America.

Sample Sentence: Brad discovered that while pipsissewa makes root beer taste delicious, adding it to his mother’s fish stew — not so much.

**\brue-sel-ˈwä**

Definition: a native or resident of Brussels, Belgium.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: French

Sample Sentence: Much to the annoyance of the **\brue-sel-ˈwä** behind the counter, Rusty Instagrammed a photo of every single piece of chocolate in the shop.

Bruxellois

\brue-sel-ˈwä\

Definition: a native or resident of Brussels, Belgium.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: French

Sample Sentence: Much to the annoyance of the Bruxellois behind the counter, Rusty Instagrammed a photo of every single piece of chocolate in the shop.

**\¦pir-(y)ə-¦läk-sē-ə**

Definition: any bird of a genus of large showy finches related to the cardinal, having a short thick bill, a prominent crest, and gray and red plumage, and nesting through much of Mexico north to Texas.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is made up of two Greek parts.

Sample Sentence: While in Mexico, Jackson’s vociferous reaction to super-spicy salsa ruined his chance at spotting a local **\¦pir-(y)ə-¦läk-sē-ə**.

pyrrhuloxia

\¦pir-(y)ə-¦läk-sē-ə\

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: This word is made up of two Greek parts.

Sample Sentence: While in Mexico, Jackson’s vociferous reaction to super-spicy salsa ruined his chance at spotting a local pyrrhuloxia.

**\ˈshārənˌshnitə**

Definition: the art of cutting paper into decorative designs.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: German

Sample Sentence: It took Sarah much longer to learn how to spell **\ˈshārənˌshnitə** than to learn the art itself.

scherenschnitte

\ˈshārənˌshnitə\

Definition: the art of cutting paper into decorative designs.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: German

Sample Sentence: It took Sarah much longer to learn how to spell scherenschnitte than to learn the art itself.

**\ˈnə-nə-ˌtak**

Definition: a hill or mountain completely surrounded by glacial ice.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Inuit

Sample Sentence: Marlene hiked grudgingly to the **\ˈnə-nə-ˌtak**, wondering for the tenth day in a row why she hadn’t chosen tropical reefs instead of glaciers as the subject of her graduate work.

nunatak

\ˈnə-nə-ˌtak\

Definition: a hill or mountain completely surrounded by glacial ice.

Part of Speech: Noun

Country of Origin: Inuit

Sample Sentence: Marlene hiked grudgingly to the nunatak, wondering for the tenth day in a row why she hadn’t chosen tropical reefs instead of glaciers as the subject of her graduate work.

Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Scripps Spelling Bee Finals 2015 Flashcards

Brainscape's Knowledge Genome^TM