Word origins

• polemicA person who writes in support of one opinion, doctrine, or system, in opposition to another; one skilled in polemics; a controversialist; a disputant.
• contractileCapable of contracting, or of being contracted.
• inequitableunfair, unequal or unjust.
• opulenceWealth.
• gastronomicOf or pertaining to gastronomy.
• cantaloupeCantalupensis Group sensu stricto, with non- or slightly netted rind, also known as true cantaloupe or European cantaloupe, found in the Middle East and Europe.
• comatoseIn a coma: unconscious.
• dyneA unit of force in the CGS system; the force required to accelerate a mass of one gram by one centimetre per second per second. Symbol: dyn.
• resedaAny of various plants of the genus Reseda having small, pale grayish green flowers, such as dyer's rocket (Reseda luteola) and mignonette (Reseda odorata).
• grigioA Pinot Grigio wine.
• falsifyTo alter so as to make false; especially when done with intent to deceive.
• mandrelA round object used as an aid for shaping a material, e.g. shaping or enlarging a ring, or bending or enlarging a pipe without creasing or kinking it.
• propylEither of two isomeric univalent hydrocarbon radicals, C₃H₇, formally derived from propane by the loss of a hydrogen atom.
• illegalitythe state of being illegal
• melangeA mixture of different things; a disordered mixture.
• hooplaA bustling to-do, excited speech or noise.
• setteeA long seat with a back, made to accommodate several persons at once; a sofa.
• artesianOf a water supply, rising to the surface under its own hydrostatic pressure.
• retraceTo trace (a line, etc. in drawing) again.
• diableAn unglazed earthenware casserole dish.
• declarantA person who makes a formal declaration or statement
• improprietyThe condition of being improper.
• falconryThe sport of hunting by using trained birds of prey, especially falcons and hawks.
• promiscuityThe state or quality of being promiscuous.
• monogamyA form of sexual bonding involving a permanent pair bond between two beings.
• lungeA sudden forward movement, especially with a sword.
• minuetA slow graceful dance consisting of a coupé, a high step, and a balance.
• ferriera ferryman
• lexieA minimal unit of reading, such as a sentence or sentence fragment
• OccitanSomeone of the regional culture that speaks this language; an inhabitant of Occitania.
• volcanismAny of the natural phenomena and processes associated with the action of volcanos, geysers and fumaroles
• gargantuanHuge; immense; tremendous.
• cacophonyA mix of discordant sounds; dissonance.
• drollOddly humorous; whimsical, amusing in a quaint way; waggish.
• grenadierA type of soldier, originally one who threw grenades, later a member of a company formed from the tallest men of the regiment; now specifically, a member of the Grenadier Guards of Canada and the United Kingdom.
• spinelAny of several hard minerals of cubic symmetry that are mixed oxides of magnesium and aluminium and are used as gemstones of various colours.
• galvanicOf or pertaining to galvanism; electric.
• toxoplasmosisA disease, caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, that primarily affects felids, but also other mammals including humans.
• lianaA climbing woody vine, usually tropical.
• elanceTo throw like a lance; to hurl.
• verdunA 16th-century form of rapier.
• stridentLoud; shrill, piercing, high-pitched; rough-sounding.
• chronometerA device for measuring time, particularly a precision mechanism for measuring time of day.
• MapesA surname from French.
• fertilizeTo make (the soil) more fertile by adding nutrients to it.
• vendSynonym of sell, (now especially) to sell through a vending machine.
• tanninTannic acid or any of its derivatives.
• chablisA variety of dry white wine from this region
• fluenceFluency
• minusculeA lowercase letter.
• immemorialThat is beyond memory; ancient.
• limbicRelating to the limbic system.
• ineligibilityThe state or quality of being ineligible.
• CalvinismThe Christian religious tradition based upon the doctrines and forms of Christian practice of several Protestant reformers, especially John Calvin, in contrast to Catholicism, Lutheranism, Anabaptism, and Arminianism. One distinctive trait of the system is its Augustinian doctrine of predestination, which teaches that God has elected some for salvation, apart from anything they do or believe.
• marinateTo allow a sauce or flavoring mixture to absorb into something; to steep or soak something in a marinade to flavor or prepare it for cooking.
• litigantA party suing or being sued in a lawsuit, or otherwise calling upon the judicial process to determine the outcome of a suit.
• embarkationThe act of embarking.
• tenablecapable of being maintained or justified; well-founded
• plinthA block or slab upon which a column, pedestal, statue or other structure is based.
• BlaisA surname from French.
• barrasgalipot resin
• JolyA surname from French.
• perigeeThe point, in an orbit about the Earth, that is closest to the Earth: the periapsis of an Earth orbiter.
• pessimistSomeone who habitually expects the worst outcome; one who looks on the dark side of things.
• HuguenotA member of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th century.
• calabashA tree (known as the calabash tree; Crescentia cujete) native to Central and South America, the West Indies, and southern Florida, bearing large, round fruit used to make containers (sense 3); the fruit of this tree.
• AdelaA female given name from the Germanic languages.
• protrusionThe act of protruding.
• opportunismThe practice of taking advantage of any situations or people to achieve an end, often with no regard for principles or consequences.
• impressionableBeing easily influenced (especially of young people).
• delimitationThe act of delimiting something.
• niasA young hawk; an eyas.
• inexactImperfectly conforming; exceeding or falling short in some respect.
• stearicOf or relating to stearin, tallow etc.
• inattentionLack of attention, or failure to pay attention
• precipitousSteep, like a precipice
• sersA hamlet and village in Vayots Dzor, Armenia.
• pierrotAny of various lycaenid butterflies of the genera Tarucus and Castalia, notable for white contrasting with brown or black on the underwings.
• opalescentExhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal.
• torchiereA floor lamp with a bowl on top for reflecting light upwards.
• opportunistSomeone who takes advantage of any opportunity to advance their own situation, placing expediency above principle.
• hygrometerAn instrument that measures the humidity of the air or other gases, especially the relative humidity.
• piquetA game of cards for two people, with thirty-two cards, all the deuces, threes, fours, fives, and sixes being set aside.
• ravageTo devastate, destroy or lay waste to something.
• dentinThe hard, dense calcareous material that makes up the bulk of a tooth.
• trompeA trumpet; a trump.
• montreAn organ stop, usually the open diapason, having its pipes on display as part of the organ case, or otherwise specially mounted.
• julienneA garnish of vegetables cut into long, thin strips.
• boulangerEggplant; aubergine.
• avocetAny of four species of wading birds in the genus Recurvirostra, with long, slender recurved bills, long legs, and webbed feet.
• depreciableAble to be depreciated.
• decapitationBeheading; the act of beheading or decapitating.
• latrineAn open trench or pit used for urination and defecation.
• floryDecorated with fleurs-de-lis projecting from it.
• kerningThe adjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs in a typeface.
• equanimityThe state of being calm, stable and composed, especially under stress.
• percaleA fine, closely woven fabric, made from cotton, polyester or a mix of these, and used for sheets and clothing.
• pantonA horseshoe to correct a narrow, hoofbound heel.
• JamarA male given name.
• cornicheA road built on a ledge (cliff), especially along water (a river, sea, etc).