Word origins

• diaconalOf or pertaining to a deacon or the diaconate.
• reconquestThe act or process of conquering something again, such as a territory.
• reverberantTurned up sigmoidally, with the end pointing outward; reboundant.
• docilityThe quality of being docile.
• mummeryMumming; disguising oneself to perform as a mummer, or to take part in some other festivities or performance.
• hieroglyphAn element (individual sign or glyph) of a hieroglyphic writing system.
• petulanceRudeness, insolence.
• rarefactionA reduction in the density of a material, especially that of a fluid.
• cassockAn item of clerical clothing: a long, sheath-like, close-fitting, ankle-length robe worn by clergy members of some Christian denominations.
• perspicacityAcute discernment or understanding; insight.
• denudationThe act of stripping off covering, or removing the surface; a making bare.
• misfeasanceAn actual or alleged wrong that arises from an action; often, the wrongful use of legal authority.
• auspicePatronage or protection.
• purgativepurging
• flatulentAffected by gas in the intestine; likely to break wind.
• impetuosityThe quality of making rash or arbitrary decisions, especially in an impulsive or forceful manner.
• detestationHate coupled with disgust; abhorrence.
• countersignA second signature added to a document to affirm the validity of the signature of the first person.
• languorouslacking energy, spirit, liveliness or vitality; languid, lackadaisical.
• accepterA person who accepts; a taker.
• commiserationThe act of commiserating; sorrow for the hardships or afflictions of another; pity; compassion.
• alkermesThe desiccated bodies of certain insects (female Kermes ilicis and Kermes vermilio), which live on the kermes oak, formerly much used as a material for dye and a medicinal ingredient; also a given mixture, preparation etc. containing such insects.
• impalpableIncapable of being touched or felt; incorporeal, intangible.
• pilasterA rectangular column that projects partially from the wall to which it is attached; it gives the appearance of a support, but is only for decoration.
• enormenormous
• disenchantTo free from illusion, false belief or enchantment; to undeceive or disillusion.
• debilitationThe act or process of debilitating, or the condition of one who is debilitated; weakness.
• pinnaceA light boat, traditionally propelled by sails, but sometimes a rowboat, and usually serving to carry messages among the larger ships of a fleet.
• inutileuseless; unprofitable.
• indeterminableThat is incapable of being measured.
• foundressA female founder (“one who founds or establishes”).
• munificenceThe quality of being munificent; generosity.
• embarTo enclose (as though behind bars); to imprison.
• inciseTo cut in or into with a sharp instrument; to carve; to engrave.
• jouissanceEnjoyment, delight, pleasure.
• profanationThe act of profaning; desecration, blasphemous behaviour, defilement.
• petrifyTo turn to stone: to harden organic matter by permeating with water and depositing dissolved minerals.
• retraitA picture or other visual representation.
• derisoryLaughable, ridiculous, especially due to being small, inadequate, or low-quality; provoking derision.
• antipopeA person who claims or claimed to be the pope, usually as the result of a disputed election or deposition, but is not considered by the Roman Catholic Church to be the real pope.
• godetA drinking cup.
• declaimTo recite, e.g., poetry, in a theatrical way; to speak for rhetorical display; to speak pompously, noisily, or theatrically; bemouth; to make an empty speech; to rehearse trite arguments in debate; to rant.
• disfavourLack of favour; displeasure.
• decrepitudeThe state of being decrepit or worn out from age or long use.
• tyrannizeTo oppress (someone).
• lineamentAny distinctive shape or line, etc.
• irruptionThe action of irrupting or breaking into; a violent entry or invasion; an inbreaking; an intrusion.
• stupefactionThe state of extreme shock or astonishment.
• depravationDetraction; depreciation.
• geanA wild cherry tree, Prunus avium, native to Europe and western Asia or its small, dark fruit.
• dissuasiveTending to dissuade, or divert from a measure or purpose; dehortatory.
• grandiloquentGiven to using language in a showy way by using an excessive number of difficult words to impress others; bombastic; turgid.
• superscriptionSomething written (or engraved) on the surface, outside, or above something else; specifically, an address on a letter, envelope, etc.
• carouseTo engage in a noisy or drunken social gathering.
• sanctimonyA hypocritical form of excessive piety, considered to be an affectation merely for public show.
• interpellationThe act of interpellating (questioning); the period in which government officials are questioned about and explain an act, a policy or a point raised during a debate.
• voracityThe state of being voracious; rapacity or extreme gluttony.
• confuteTo show (something or someone) to be false or wrong; to disprove or refute.
• incertitudeuncertainty, doubt, insecurity
• petrousResembling rock or stone in its hardness.
• disconcertTo upset the composure of; to startle.
• reconquerTo conquer again.
• respondenceResponse, answer.
• fusilA bearing of a rhomboidal figure, originally representing a spindle in shape, longer than a heraldic lozenge.
• vicissitudeRegular change or succession from one thing to another, or one part of a cycle to the next; alternation; mutual succession; interchange; variability.
• dentaryRelating to, or bearing, teeth.
• imposableCapable of being imposed or laid on.
• pertinacityThe state or characteristic of being pertinacious.
• accoutrementA soldier's equipment, other than weapons and uniform.
• abastardizeTo stigmatize as a bastard; debase.
• abstergeTo make clean by wiping; to wipe away.
• abstersiveCleansing; purging; abstergent.
• accommodableThat may be accommodated; suitable.
• accoyTo soothe, to calm; to assuage, to subdue.
• -acityhaving the quality of
• adustAbnormally dark or over-concentrated (associated with various states of discomfort or illness, specifically being too hot or dry).
• advenementAn event.
• advocatriceA female advocate.
• affianceTo be betrothed to; to promise to marry.
• allodialPertaining to land owned by someone absolutely, without any feudal obligations; held without acknowledgement of any superior; allodial title.
• anteriorityThe state of being previous or preceding in time or in situation.
• ataraxyAtaraxia; freedom from mental disturbance; imperturbability, dogged indifference.
• ay meExpressing grief, sorrow etc.
• bel-accoyleA kind or favourable reception; friendly welcome.
• belamourA loved one; a darling, lover.
• bickernAn anvil with two projecting taper ends.
• bombazineA twilled or corded fabric made from silk, wool, or cotton dyed black.
• bougetA charge resembling a yoke and a pair of the water bags that were formerly used to supply an army in battle.
• calentureA heat stroke or fever, often suffered in the tropics.
• caparisonThe often ornamental coverings for an animal, especially a horse or an elephant.
• caryatidA sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar supporting an entablature on her head.
• castelletA commune of Var department, Provence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.
• cautelousSkillful in trickery or deception; cunning, wily.
• cellarageThe space or storerooms of a cellar.
• chimereThe upper robe worn by some bishops of the Anglican communion, usually without sleeves.
• chirographA kind of medieval document written in duplicate (or more) on a single piece of parchment, then cut across a single word, so that each holder of a portion can prove it matches the others.
• clysterA medicine applied via the rectum; an enema or suppository.
• connexityA state of connection; connectedness.
• corrivalA fellow rival; a competitor; a rival.
• costiveConstipated.