Word origins

• nasseSynonym of cyrtos.
• humusA large group of natural organic compounds, found in the soil, formed from the chemical and biological decomposition of plant and animal residues and from the synthetic activity of microorganisms.
• interrogatorOne who interrogates; a person who asks questions, especially one who is adversarial.
• viragoA woman given to undue belligerence or ill manner at the slightest provocation.
• collegiumA committee or council.
• HippocratesA transliteration of the Ancient Greek male given name Ἱπποκράτης (Hippokrátēs), notably borne by Hippocrates of Cos, an Ancient Greek physician, circa 5th century BC, sometimes called the "father of medicine".
• solusalone, unaccompanied (as a stage direction)
• rectoThe front side of a flat object which is to be examined visually, as for reading, such as a sheet, leaf, coin or medal.
• DalmatiaA historical region of Croatia, on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea.
• arcanumA mystery or deep secret.
• incredulousSkeptical, disbelieving, or unable to believe.
• lubricateTo make slippery or smooth (normally to minimize friction) by applying a lubricant.
• ricinAn extremely toxic lectin extracted from the castor bean.
• magisterMaster; sir: a title used in the Middle Ages, given to a person in authority, or to one having a licence from a university to teach philosophy and the liberal arts.
• autumnalOf or relating to autumn.
• ScyllaA dangerous rock on the Italian coast opposite the whirlpool Charybdis on the coast of Sicily. The passage between Scylla and Charybdis was formerly considered perilous; hence, the saying between Scylla and Charybdis signifies a great peril on either hand.
• emptionThe act of buying; purchase.
• viatorA wayfarer, traveler.
• ordoA musical phrase constructed from one or more statements of one modal pattern and ending in a rest.
• rimaA cleft or gap between two symmetrical parts, particularly between the vocal folds.
• VesuviusA kind of firework supposed to resemble a volcano eruption.
• staterOne who states.
• irrigateTo supply (farmland) with water, by building ditches, pipes, etc.
• MaimonidesA medieval Jewish philosopher.
• fugitthe optimal date to exercise an American option (or a Bermudan option)
• MagnificatThe liturgical canticle of the Virgin Mary, sung in Christian churches; taken from her reported words upon the occasion of her Visitation to her cousin Elizabeth.
• processusA process, or projecting part.
• omniumA multiple race event in track cycling. Historically the omnium has had a variety of formats. Currently it consists of the following six events: flying lap, points race, elimination, individual pursuit, scratch race, and time trial.
• Venetiaa historical region in northeastern Italy, roughly corresponding to the modern Veneto
• MelchiorA very large wine bottle (named after the King) with the capacity of about 18 liters, equivalent to 24 standard bottles.
• MenelausA male given name from Ancient Greek.
• vesperThe bell that summons worshippers to vespers; the vesper-bell.
• litigateTo go to law; to carry on a lawsuit.
• ludoA children's board game in which tokens are moved around a board.
• literatiWell-educated, erudite, literary people; intellectuals who are interested in literature.
• immaturityYouth; the condition of being immature or not fully grown
• occlusiveThat tends to occlude.
• raptSnatched, taken away; abducted.
• impingeTo make a physical impact on.
• EpicurusAn ancient Greek philosopher, founder of the movement known as Epicureanism.
• stadiaA level staff or graduated rod used by surveyors to measure differences in level, or to measure horizontal distances by sighting the stadia hairs (graduations) through a telescope.
• influentA stream which flows into another stream or a lake.
• ChiosOne of the Aegean islands of Greece.
• abhorrentInconsistent with, or far removed from, something; strongly opposed.
• acanthusA member of the genus Acanthus of herbaceous prickly plants with toothed leaves, (family Acanthaceae, order Lamiales (formerly Scrophulariales)) found in the south of Europe, Asia Minor, and India.
• criteriumA mass-start road-cycle race consisting of several laps around a closed circuit, the length of each lap or circuit ranging from about 1 km to 2 km (1/2 mile to just over 1 mile).
• subjugationThe act of subjugating.
• attenuateTo reduce in size, force, value, amount, or degree.
• titianA bright auburn colour, tinted with gold.
• aetiologyThe establishment of a cause, origin, or reason for something.
• nuptialOf or pertaining to wedding and marriage.
• honorariumCompensation for services that do not have a predetermined value.
• vasaAny parrot of the genus Coracopsis, native to Madagascar.
• manesThe souls or spirits of dead ancestors, conceived as deities or the subjects of reverence, or of other deceased relatives.
• exactaA bet in which the bettor must correctly pick the two runners who finish first and second, in the correct order.
• submergeTo sink out of sight.
• corvusA hooked ram for destroying walls.
• moribundApproaching death; about to die; dying; expiring.
• instigateTo bring about by urging or encouraging.
• excavateTo make a hole in (something); to hollow.
• delphineOf, pertaining to, or characteristic of dolphins.
• oscillateTo swing back and forth, especially if with a regular rhythm.
• ansaThe most protruding part of planetary rings as seen from a distance, perceived to project like handles on either side of the disc of the planet.
• areolaThe circular, darkly pigmented area surrounding a nipple; the areola mammae.
• dationThe act of giving, granting or conferring (e.g. an office) but not liberal as a donation or gift.
• involutionEntanglement; a spiralling inwards; intricacy.
• talusThe bone of the ankle.
• sonorousCapable of giving out a deep, resonant sound.
• gallicOf or related to Gaul or the Gauls.
• novumA new feature, a novelty.
• absentiaabsence
• beneficentGiven to acts that are kind, charitable, philanthropic or beneficial.
• luxuriantAbundant in growth or detail.
• recuperationGradual restoration to health.
• sicaA curved dagger used in Ancient Roman times, associated with the Thracian and Illyrians, gladiators, and Sicarii.
• nomenThe family name of an Ancient Roman, designating their gens.
• subsistTo survive on a minimum of resources.
• SymeAn island of the Dodecanese, Greece.
• extolTo praise; to make high.
• vectisAny of various surgical instruments with prying functions.
• ineptitudeThe quality of being inept.
• fascinateTo evoke an intense interest or attraction in someone.
• atresiaA condition in which a body orifice or passage in the body is abnormally closed or absent.
• regulusAn impure metal formed beneath slag during the smelting of ores.
• stromaThe tissue structure of an organ, etc., that serves to support it.
• AristophanesAn Ancient Greek male name, most famously borne by a playwright who lived from circa 446 BC to circa 386 BC.
• fabricaA workshop in an ancient Roman fort.
• obviateTo anticipate and prevent or bypass (something which would otherwise have been necessary or required); to render (something) unnecessary.
• FlaviusA male given name from Latin.
• quadricepsA muscle having four heads, especially the large extensor at the front of the thigh.
• tarasSynonym of Tarentum, former name of Taranto: a city in Italy.
• nihilA nihil dicit.
• quintusThe fifth voice in addition to the superius, altus, tenor and bassus in a piece of vocal polyphony.
• CirceAn enchantress who turned Odysseus's men into pigs.
• vindicateTo clear of an accusation, suspicion or criticism.
• morbusA disease.
• urnaA spiral or circular dot placed on the forehead of Buddhist images as an auspicious mark.
• squalorFilthiness and degradation, as from neglect or poverty
• PeleusA king of Phthia, son of Aeacus and Endeïs, brother of Telamon, and father of Achilles.
• flaccidFlabby; lacking firmness or muscle tone.