Prettiest Words, Alphabetized

Here's yet another alphabetization. This one for Prettiest. It serves as sufficient filler, though it's mostly redundant.





Prettiest Words, Alphabetized

Abattoir: slaughterhouse
Absinthe: wormwood liquor of a bright-green color
Acciaccatura: grace note, an embellishing note usually written in smaller size
Acedia: ennui, state of torpor of listlessness, spiritual apathy
Acervuline: aggregated, heaped up, bundled, collected or localized
Acidulous: somewhat acidic or sour in taste or manner, somewhat sarcastic
Acolyte: ranked clergy member, assistant in liturgical rites
Acoustic: of or relating to sound, the sense of hearing, or the science of sound
Acquiesce: to passively accept, to accept, comply, or submit tacitly or passively
Adroit: quick or skillful or adept in action or thought
Adumbrate: to explain faintly or opaquely outline, describe
Aeipathy: continued passion, unyielding disease
Aeneous: brassy, golden-green
Aeolian: pertaining to, of, related to, caused by or like the wind or Aeolus
Aeonian: continuing forever, eternal
Aerial: of, in, or caused by the air, existing or living in the air
Aesthete: person who appreciates art or beauty
Aestival: pertaining to, relating, designating, or of Summer
Aeviternal: eternal, endless, never-ending
Afflatus: strong creative impulse, especially as a result of divine inspiration, inspiration
Aileron: small moveable platforms on the back of plane wings that alter air movements
Ailurophile: cat-lover, one who loves or appreciates cats
Alabaster: dense translucent, white or tinted fine-grained gypsum
Alienate: to estrange, to cause to become unfriendly or hostile
Aliment: something that nourishes, food, to supply with sustenance or food
Allegretto: music term, moderately fast tempo
Alleviate: to allay, to lessen in pain or negative occurrence or consequence
Alloquy: speaking to another, an address
Allure: attraction, temptation, to attract with something desirable
Alluvium: unconsolidated sediments carried by water
Amaranth: deep-hued purple, flower, metaphor for immortality
Amber: light brown, light yellow
Ambience: atmosphere, a particular environment or surrounding influence, aura
Ambivalence: simultaneous, conflicted feelings towards a thing, person, etc
Ambrosia: food of the gods, something overpoweringly delicious or fragrant
Ameliorate: to make better, improve, enhance
Amelus: individual exhibiting Amelia (the congenital absence of one or more limbs)
Amethyst: deep purple, deep purple gemstone
Amnesia: partial or total loss of memory
Amphisbaena: Greek mythological being, two-headed snake, a head on each end
Amphora: ceramic, two-handled vase with a narrow neck, usually contains alcohol
Amulet: a charm against evil or impurity, often a piece of jewelry
Analemma: sundial, figure-8 indicating sun’s declination
Ancestry: the inception or origin of a phenomenon, object, idea, or style, lineage
Andante: music, moderately slow
Anemone: flowery marine creature
Antebellum: before or existing before a war, especially the American civil war
Anxiolytic: preventing or reducing anxiety, antianxiety medication, tranquilizer
Aperitif: alcoholic drink taken as an appetizer before a meal
Aphelion: when the orbit of earth is furthest from the sun
Aphesis: omission of sound or verbiage at the beginning of a word or phrase
Aphotic: devoid of light, especially of areas where no light naturally occurs
Apocope: omission of sound or verbiage at the end of a word or phrase
Apophenia: the perception of or belief in connectedness among unrelated phenomena
Apoplexy: stroke, impairment or neuralgia from cerebral hemorrhage
Aposiopesis: abrupt stop of a thought in a sentence, as if the speaker could not continue
Apostasy: abandonment of one's religious faith, political party, one's principles, or a cause
Apostolicity: being of or contemporary with the Apostles in character
Apotheosis: deification, quintessence, exaltation to divine rank or stature
Apropos: appropriate of, appropriate
Aquarelle: painting done in transparent watercolors, watercolor, watercolor painting
Aqueous: of, relating to, or resembling water, made from, with, or by water
Aquiline: resembling an eagle’s beak, hooked like a beak
Arabesque: ballet twirl, type of artistry involving a continuous, rotating design
Aria: air or song, a melody, solo in an opera accompanied by instrumentation
Artemisia: type of plant, genus of aromatic shrubs or herbs
Ascertain: to understand specific facts, to ferret out information
Ashlar: a squared block of building stone and dressed for outward placement
Asphodel: flower of the underworld
Astral: of or pertaining to the aster, stellar, star-shaped, pertaining to the stars
Asylum: refuge, a place to restore sanity or facilitate recovery
Atelier: artist’s studio
Athanasy: quality of being deathless, immortality
Athenaeum: institution for the promotion of literary or scientific learning, phrontistery
Aubade: poem or song about or evocative dawn or morning, opposite of nocturne
Auburn: moderate reddish-brown
Aura: distinctive and pervasive quality or character, air, atmosphere, emanation
Austere: severe or stern in disposition, discipline, or appearance, somber and grave
Autumnal: pertaining to, like, relating, or evocative of Autumn
Auxiliary: additional, supplementary, reserve, acting as a subsidiary
Avarice: extreme greed for wealth or material gain
Avenue: wide street or thoroughfare, roadway lined with tress
Azalea: type of plant, a common garden plant
Azoth: mythologized universal solvent, panacea
Azuline: light blue, similar to a light blue
Azure: sky-blue or a light blue
Baccalaureate: bachelor’s degree, valedictory speech
Balustrade: architectural term, series of balusters or parapet
Banderilla: decorated dart that is shot into the neck of the bull during a bull fight
Bardiglio: finely-grained, multi-gray, Italian marble
Basilica: large, public building the Romans used, usually as a courtroom or meeting hall
Bastille: imprisonment, jail, prison
Bayonet: blade adapted to fit the muzzle-end of a rifle and as a weapon in close combat
Belladonna: poisonous plant
Belle-lettres: “beautiful letters” aesthetic literature, as opposed to didactic
Bellicose: inclined or eager to fight, aggressively hostile, belligerent, pugnacious
Bellwether: leader or indicator of future trends, trendsetter
Belvedere: roofed structure, on top of another building, which commands a large view
Berceuse: lullaby, song used to put someone to sleep
Bethesda: a hallowed, sanctified, or holy place, a chapel, holy ground
Bezaleel: shadow of God, God’s shadow
Bibelot: trinket, bauble, small object which is rare or valuable or beautiful, a small book
Bibliophile: someone who loves (and usually collects) books, book collector
Bijouterie: general plural of trinkets or jewelry, gallery thereof, display thereof
Bivouac: temporary military or squad encampment
Blaze: bright flame of fire, bright steady light or glare, hot gleam
Blellum: an idle, indiscreet talker, noisy fainéant
Bliss: joy, rapture, elation, felicity
Blithe: carefree, nonchalant, heedless, lacking concern, joyous
Blossom: billowing, period or condition of flowering or growth
Bloviate: to make pompous or arrogant discourse
Boeotian: marked by stupidity and philistinism, crudely obtuse, loutish
Borasca: squall, usually accompanied by thunder and lightning
Bordereau: a detailed note or memorandum of account
Boulevard: broad street, avenue, broad spectrum of something
Bouleversement: reversal of fortunes, overturning, tumult
Bourgeoisie: the middle class, the middle class in Communist theory
Braggadocio: arrogant person, braggart, arrogant or boastful behavior
Brecciate: to form rock into breccia(rocks made of sharp fragments set in a grainy matrix)
Breeze: gentle push of the wind
Breviloquence: speech characterized by brevity, shortness, briefness
Brevity: briefness, swiftness, evanescence
Bricolage: something made or put together using any materials that happen are available
Brio: joie de vivre, vivacity, alacrity, gusto, esprit
Burnish: to polish, the shine of a polished surface
Caballero: skilled horseman, gentleman, cavalier
Cabaret: a restaurant with live entertainment
Cadence: rhythmic flow of the sounds of language, lilt
Cadenza: musical or literary improvisation
Caesious: blue-gray
Caesura: a pause in a line of verse
Calico: coarse, brightly printed cloth, a type of pattern
Caliginous: misty, dim, obscure, dark, gloomy, tenebrous
Calliope: musical instrument fitted with steam whistles, played from a keyboard
Callipygian: having a beautiful, admirable, or sexy butt
Callow: immature, green, lacking experience, naïve
Calypso: rare orchid, a tribal and fervid dance
Cancrizans: backwards movement, crab walking, music moving backwards
Candelabra: pl. branched candlestick with several candles
Canticle: a song, poem, or hymn, usually of a church choir
Capriccio: music, improvisation, without adherence to rules
Capriccioso: music, lively and free of restraint, restriction, or direction
Capricious: impulsive, whimsical, unpredictable
Caress: touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner
Cartesian: of or relating to the philosophy of Descartes
Cascarilla: West Indian shrub with aromatic bark, typically used in incense or tonics
Catena: closely linked series, connected series of related things, especially of writing
Cathismata: pl. one of the 20 divisions in a Greek Psalter
Cavil: to object or criticize adversely for trivial reasons, flimsy objection or qualm
Cedilla: diacritic beneath word to alter pronunciation “façade”
Celadon: pale green
Celeripedean: quick-footed, swift, fast-running
Celerity: speed, alacrity, briskness
Celesta: ancient musical instrument
Celestial: heavenly, of a higher plane, empyreal, of space
Cello: large, stringed instrument that generates deep tones
Cellophane: thin, flexible, transparent cellulose material used as moisture-proof wrapping
Cellular: pertaining to cells or their structure, containing cells
Cellulite: fatty deposit causing a dimpled appearance, as around the thighs or buttocks
Celluloid: transparent, colorless, synthetic plastic used to manufacture photographic film
Cenotaph: an unmarked grave
Centennial: of or relating to a period of 100 years, occurring once every 100 years
Cerulean: watery blue
Cerumen: yellow, wax-like secretion from the external ears, “earwax”
Cessation: pause, interruption, ceasing, ending
Chalice: cup for consecrated wine, goblet
Chamois: goatlike antelope, type of cloth for cleaning
Champagne: bubbling alcohol with fruity taste
Chandelier: ceiling-mounted light fixture or glass structure
Chantpleure: to cry while singing, to cry and sing simultaneously
Chariot: two or four-wheeled, horse-drawn war or procession vehicle
Chartreuse: swampy green
Chatelaine: the mistress or lady or a castle or large household
Chatoyant: like or resembling a cat’s eye
Chauffer: a designated paid driver for formal occasions
Cheilion: the corner of the mouth or oral cavity
Chevelure: head of hair, hair on the head, tresses, a nebulous envelop(as around a comet)
Chiaroscuro: composition of strong contrasts in light and dark
Chiasmus: rhetorical, inverse sentence, “One should eat to live, not live to eat”
Choreography: the art of creating and arranging dances or ballets
Cicada: loud, locust-like insect that chirrups
Cinder: burned substance, one which is no longer capable of combustion
Cinnabar: bright red, glowing red
Cinquefoil: five-leaved, plant with limbs that are five-leaved, five-pointed leaves
Circlet: ring-shaped ornament or piece of jewelry, especially for the head
Circuitous: having a circular or winding course, indirect, roundabout
Circular: of, like, related to, or resembling a circle
Cislunar: of or relating to the space between earth and the moon or the moon’s orbit
Cistern: an underground reservoir
Citadel: bulwark, a fortress or stronghold, refuge
Cithara: ancient Greek instrument, like a lyre
Civility: formal or perfunctory politeness, state of being civil
Clandestine: kept secretly or done secretively
Clarion: medieval trumpet with clear shrill tones, clear and shrill, loud burst of sound
Clavicle: the collarbone of a human
Clavilux: machine that generates light via music
Cleanse: to free from dirt, defilement, or guilt, purge or clean
Clemency: mercy, an act of mercy, showing mercy
Clerisy: the well-educated or learned class, intelligentsia, cognoscenti
Clinquant: glittering as gold, glittering with tinsel, showily ornate
Clithridiate: keyhole-shaped, resembling a keyhole
Cloister: monastatic establishment, convent of living
Coalesce: to fuse, intersect, or entwine to create a unity
Coelacanth: prehistoric fish still alive today
Coercion: the act of coercing, the use of pressure, threats, blackmail, or intimidation
Collectanea: selection of pieces of writing by an author or by several authors
Colliquate: to change from solid to liquid, to liquefy
Colloquial: informal, as in speech, conversationally informal
Colophon: inscription at the end of a book, an identifying emblem for a book
Coloratura: elaborate or technical vocal music with florid ornamentation
Comestibles: items suitable to be eaten, edible sundries, articles of food, victuals
Communiqué: an official announcement, bulletin board, a dispatch, an official report
Conciliabule: secret meeting of conspirators
Conciliate: to win over from a state of hostility or distrust, appease
Concinnity: harmony in the arrangement or fitness of parts with respect to a whole
Concupiscence: lasciviousness, lewdness, ardent lust
Congelifraction: splitting or disintegration of rocks as a result of the freezing of the water
Constellation: specific arrangement of stars to form an image
Convalesce: to recover or recuperate, recover from a serious injury
Copse: thicket of small trees or shrubs, a coppice, small wood, a tree
Coquelicot: plant, red poppy
Coquette: woman who makes teasing sexual or romantic overtures, a flirt or tease
Coracle: small rounded boat made of waterproof material stretched over a frame
Cordillera: group of mountain ranges forming a mountain system of great linear extent
Coriander: aromatic herb, herb used in a variety of perfumes
Corinthian: pertaining to Corinth or its culture, architecture
Cortical: of, relating to, derived from, or consisting of cortex
Coruscate: sparkle, reflect brightly, shimmer
Cosmology: study of the physical universe considered a mass of phenomena in spacetime
Cosmopolitan: pertaining to the world at large, without localized prejudices
Coterie: tightly-knit group of persons having a common purpose or interest, cadre, clique
Craquelure: fine pattern of dense cracking formed on the surface of paintings
Crescendo: music, gradual increase of tempo, volume, or intensity
Crystal: mineral with many possible permutations, gemstone-like
Cumulonimbus: type of cloud that augurs, foretells, or indicates bad weather
Cuneiform: wedge-shaped, Sumerian language
Curlicue: fancy curl or twist, flourish of writing
Cursive: flowing, effusive, wavy, type on handwriting in English
Cuvette: a small, transparent, often tubular laboratory vessel
Cyan: greenish-blue
Cyaneous: deep blue, cerulean
Cygnet: a baby swan, young swan
Cylinder: long, tubular geometric shape rendered in three dimensions
Cymbal: percussive instrument, usually attached to a drum kit
Cynophilist: dog-lover, one who loves or appreciates dogs
Cynosure: that which garners great attention by calling to its brilliance, interest
Cypress: swampy tree or plant, plant or tree occurring in swamps
Cytherean: pertaining to beauty or the goddess, Aphrodite
Czigany: gypsy, Hungarian gypsy
Daedalian: intelligent, crafty, deft, practical, pertaining to Daedalus
Dalliance: flirtation, dawdling, procrastination, frivolous action
Daphnean: shy, timid, demure, modest, bashful
Dapple: a spot or mottled marking, usually occurring in clusters, different tones and hues
Dawn: daybreak, first light of day, the onset of an idea, enlightenment
Decrescendo: gradual lowering of tempo in music or in a situation
Degringolade: a rapid decline or deterioration, as in strength, position, or condition
Deign: to condescend to do something thought to be slightly beneath one's dignity
Delenda: that which needs to be deleted, something that has been deleted
Delineate: to describe, explain, or demonstrate
Deliquesce: to dissolve, transform into liquid from a solid
Delirium: state of mental disarray and unstable consciousness from intoxication or fever
Delitescent: hidden, concealed, kept secret
Dell: small, usually wooded valley, vale
Delphic: brotherly, oracular
Demarche: course of action, maneuver, specific movement
Demesne: a lord’s privately owned manor or section of land
Demure: shy, modest, reserved in demeanor or behavior, having sedate reserve or sobriety
Denouement: final resolution or clarification of a dramatic or narrative plot
Desuetude: state of disuse, state of uselessness
Diablerie: dealing with the devil or devils, witchcraft, sorcery, consorting with demons
Diaphanous: light, delicate, gossamer, translucent
Diaspora: dissemination, dispersion, random or selective re-distribution
Dilettante: one who dabbles in an occupation or hobby without serious intent
Dioscuric: describing a twin, whether person or event, of a twin, of a duplicate
Dislodge: to remove or force out from a position or dwelling previously occupied
Dissemble: disguise or conceal one's true motives, feelings, or beliefs, to mislead
Dissimulate: to conceal or disguise, to hide with the intent of deceit
Divisi: music term, divided, separated
Dulcet: sweet-sounding, mellisonant
Dulciloquy: speech characterized by sounding soft or sweet
Dulcimer: stringed instrument having three or four strings and a fretted fingerboard
Dulcinea: sweetheart, lovely person, one whom a person loves or cares about
Dyslexia: disorder in which lexical figures are perceived in a chaotic order
Ebon: black, made of ebony
Echelon: tier, level, rank in job, formation of soldiers
Echo: a repetition of sound produced by the reflection of sound
Echolalia: immediate and involuntary repetition of words or phrases just spoken by others
Eclipsareon: a device for illustrating and demonstrating eclipses
Eclipse: any obscuration of light, reduction or loss of splendor, status, or reputation
Effervesce: to bubble over, to boil with frothy bubbles, to excite
Effleurage: a light, stroking movement used in massage, a soft caress
Effluvium: foul discharge or emanation, emission
Efflux: something that flows out or forth, effluence, passing or an expiration, as of time
Effulgent: marked by as if by brightly shining light, coruscating, shimmering
Effusive: gushing out or expressive, moving, cascading
Eglantine: European rose, sweetbrier
Eiderdown: down of a duck used as stuffing for quilts or pillows
Eidolon: ghost, specter, revenant, reappearing, continuously visiting or persisting image
Élan: esprit, brio, gusto, ardor, vivacity
Elapse: to pass or go by, to happen
Elasticity: quality or state of being elastic, tendency to keep shape after stretching
Elation: quality or state of being elated, feeling or state of great joy or pride
Eleemosynary: of, relating to, or dependent on charity, contributed as an act of charity
Element: fundamental, essential, or irreducible constituent of a composite entity elements
Eleven: eleventh integer in a series
Elicit: to bring or draw out (something latent), educe, summon, to provoke a reaction
Elision: omission of a vowel, consonant, or syllable in pronunciation
Elixir: solution of alcohol and water, substance believed to maintain life indefinitely
Ellipsis: omission of a word or phrase necessary for a complete syntactical construction
Elliptical: of, relating to, or having the shape of an ellipse, with a word or words omitted
Eloign: to move away a distance, to move a distance with something concealed
Eloquence: well-stated speech, flowing language, articulated speech and proper execution
Elucidate: explain further, clarify, to elaborate upon
Elusive: difficult to find, catch, or achieve, avoiding
Elysian: blissful, delightful, pertaining to the Elysian Fields or Elysium
Elysium: section of the underworld, resting place of heroes and the virtuous
Emaciate: to make abnormally thin or weak, typically due to illness
Emanation: emission, something that is issued by a source
Embarcadero: a landing place, especially a landing place on an island waterway
Ember: small, glowing fleck of aflame wood or coal
Emerald: deep, dark green, dark green gemstone
Emissary: an agent sent on a mission to represent or advance the interests of another
Emission: discharge, emanation, chemical release
Emollient: substance that softens and soothes the skin, lotion
Empyreal: related to the empyrean, celestial
Emulate: to strive to equal or excel, especially through imitation
Emulsify: to pour liquid into another non-soluble, creating visible density
Enamel: vitreous, usually opaque, protective or decorative coating or shell
Enceinte: pregnant, carrying a baby, gravid, line of fortification enclosing a town or castle
Encomium: formal, enthusiastic praise, abundant, exuberant expression of admiration
Enhalo: to affix with a halo, to cause to wear a halo, to encircle, surround
Ennui: listlessness, weariness, discontent
Ensconce: establish or settle in a safe, secure, or comfy place
Epergne: table centerpiece, object designated as a centerpiece
Ephebe: young man, swain, young suitor
Ephemeral: brief, transient, evanescent
Epicede: dirge, requiem, funeral song or ode
Epicurean: hedonistic, gastronomical, pertaining to good taste
Epigone: inferior imitator, disciple, second-rate replica, counterfeit
Epileptic: pertaining to epilepsy, flickering rapidly, seizing
Epiphany: revelation of thought, typically conceived after an eventful experience
Epistle: a formal letter, letter with a cachet
Epitaph: inscription on a tombstone
Epithelium: type of body tissue
Epitome: a perfect example of a particular quality or type
Epée: fencing sword or blade without a cutting edge
Equestrian: of, relating to, or featuring horseback riding
Equinox: when the sun reaches a height, night and day equalize, annual event
Equipoise: equal distribution of weight or balance, balanced
Eristic: characterized by disputatious, often subtle and specious reasoning
Escadrille: a small squadron, usually of six, a small team, typically of six airplanes
Escalade: the act of scaling a wall, usually with a ladder or rope
Escamotage: juggling, hand trickery, sleight of hand, legerdemain
Escarole: type of green chicory
Esclavage: a necklace having several rows of chains, beads, or jewels
Escritoire: writing desk, desk designed for studies
Esculent: edible, able or safe to be eaten
Esoterica: item or thing that is esoteric, obscure, rare, or valuable
Esper: a being of advanced mentality or with psychic abilities
Esprit: brio, wit, vivacity, joie de vivre
Essence: intrinsic or indispensable properties that serve to typify or identify something
Esssse: pl. archaic plural of ashes
Estuary: inlet or arm of the sea, an open river that connects to the sea
Esurient: hungry, greedy, hedonistic in pursuit of things
Ethereal: heavenly, airy in substance, spectral, insubstantial and light
Etiolate: to stunt growth, deprive of strength , to whiten by blocking sunlight exposure
Etude: a piece of music designed for didactic purposes
Eunoia: normal mental health, beautiful thinking
Euphonious: nice-sounding, sounding pretty
Euphoria: feeling of great happiness or well-being, felicity
Evanescent: brief, transient, ephemeral
Evaporation: the act of liquid dissipating or drying due to humidity or exposure
Eviscerate: to disembowel, exenterate, to remove the viscera of something
Evocative: that which evokes, something that reminds, inspires, or impresses
Excelsior: fine, curled wood shavings
Exclusion: the act of excluding, the act of shutting out or preventing entrance
Existential: of, relating to, or dealing with existence, pertaining to existentialism
Expatiate: to speak or write at length or in considerable detail, expound, elaborate
Exuviate: to shed a shell, molt, unsheathe
Facility: building made or used for convenience, ease of moving or doing, aptitude
Facsimile: copy or reproduction of an item, typically a book
Fainéant: sluggard, do-nothing, ne’er-do-well , idle and ineffectual
Falciform: falcate, curved, convex, sickle-shaped
Famished: extremely hungry, ravenous, starved
Famulus: sorcerer’s apprentice or assistant
Façade: affected aura or mannerisms to beguile or deceive
Felicity: state of happiness, joy, ecstasy
Fissure: long narrow opening, a crack or cleft, process of splitting or separating, division
Fleur-de-lys: stylized insignia of a lily
Foliage: plant leaves or greenery, as a collective
Formulaic: being of no special quality or type, average, routine, undistinguished
Forte: niche in which a person excels
Foudroyant: dazzling, scintillating, sudden and overwhelming
Frescade: a cool, breezy walk, a shady place, a relaxing place with ample shade
Frolic: to behave playfully and candidly, romp, to engage in flirting, joking, or teasing
Frost: hoarfrost, degree or state of coldness, covering of minute ice needles
Fuchsia: bright pinkish-purple
Fuliginous: having the color of soot, dark, dusky, charcoal-colored
Fumarole: hole in an area of volcanic activity from which gases and hot smoke escape
Fumulus: a thin cloud resembling a veil and forming at any level
Furrow: to wrinkle, a wrinkle, a rut, groove, or trench
Fuselage: central body of an aircraft, to which the wings and tail assembly are attached
Fusillade: salvo, rapid discharge of firearms
Galaxy: collection of stars, gas, and dust bound together by gravity
Gale: a harsh gust of wind, a strong current of wind
Galleria: spacious passageway, court, or indoor mall, usually with a vaulted roof, gallery
Gallery: raised area, often having a stepped or sloping floor, in a public building
Gambol: to skip or jump merrily
Gaucherie: awkwardness, inexperience, embarrassments
Girandole: a mirror having attached candle holders
Glacial: slow, staggering, of or pertaining to glaciers or ice sheets
Glimpse: brief, incomplete view or look, to glance at
Glisten: to shine by reflection with a sparkling luster, coruscate, shimmer
Gloaming: dusk, twilight, evening, vesper
Gloom: sadness, melancholy, depression
Glyph: a sigil or specific insignia, a letter of language, an arcane mark
Gossamer: delicate, light, flimsy, transparent and thin, like a spider’s silk
Gracile: gracefully slender or thin, graceful
Grandeur: splendor, magnificence, quality or state of being grand
Grazioso: a direction in music, graceful, smooth, or elegant in style
Hacienda: the main building of a farm or ranch
Halcyon: legendary kingfisher, tranquil, calm, without strife, serene
Hallucinate: to affect or be affected with visions or imaginary perceptions
Hazel: light brown or light yellow
Heath: plain, tract of wasteland, uncultivated land
Hegemony: predominant influence, dominance, supremacy, preeminence
Heliotrope: light purple, type of flower
Helix: a spiral, spiral-shaped object or string
Henna: reddish-brown dye used in tinting the hair, skin, or nails
Hubris: excessive pride, overbearing arrogance
Hue: gradation or variety of a color
Humiliate: to enervate or embarrass through specific actions or events
Hyacinth: tropical, American herb, red, transparent variety of zircon used as a gemstone
Icicle: a sliver of tapered, frozen water, usually hanging
Idyllic: Like an idyll, extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque
Ilium: upper part of the bony femur at the hip joint
Illusion: erroneous mental representation, false image made by outside force or the mind
Illusory: produced by, based on, or having the nature of an illusion, deceptive
Illustrate: to clarify or explain with examples or comparisons
Imbroglio: extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation
Imbue: to embed with a quality, to inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality
Immaculate: spotless, free of sin, without blemish or impurity
Immure: to enclose with walls, ensconce
Impedimenta: pl. things that hinder growth or movement
Impetus: a drive or compelling force, motivation, a reason to do something
Impluvium: of a Roman house, rectangular pool in an atrium used to gather rain water
Imprimatur: a sign or mark of approval, insignia of approval
Incalescent: becoming hotter or growing more ardent, boiling
Incarnadine: pinkish, flesh-colored, blood-red
Incense: to induce rage, infuriate, aromatic element designed to induce relaxation
Incipient: in or at an initial stage, beginning to exist or appear
Incisive: penetrating, clear, and sharp, as in operation or expression
Incunabula: pl. book printed before 1501
Indolence: laziness, extreme ease or comfort
Ineffable: indescribable, impossible to describe, enchantingly amazing
Inertia: tendency of a body to resist acceleration, a body at rest wants to stay at rest
Influenza: acute contagious viral infection, commonly called the “flu”
Inglenook: a nook or corner beside an open fireplace, chimney corner
Ingravescent: gradually becoming more severe, worsening, usually of a medical condition
Ingénue: a naive, innocent girl or young woman
Innocent: without sin, pure, free from legal or specific wrong, guiltless, naïve, simple
Inoccuity: the quality or state of being harmless, trifling, or insipid
Inoculate: introduce an idea or view into the mind of, inculcate, inject a serum or vaccine
Insipid: lacking flavor or zest, lacking excitement, stimulation, or interest, dull, vapid
Intaglio: an engraving or incised figure in stone or other hard material
Inundate: deluge, to fill quickly beyond capacity, to cover with water, drench, overwhelm
Inure: to take effect, or to accustom to something, typically unpleasant
Iris: the colored portion of the eye that encircles the pupil
Iscariotic: traitorous, treacherous, given to betrayal, having committed betrayal
Isinglass: thin sheet of translucent mica
Isosceles: having two equal sides, of a triangle
Isthmus: narrow strip of land connecting two larger masses of land
Ivory: pure white color, material derived from elephant tusks
Jacqueminot: crimson rose
Jaunt: short excursion for pleasure, brief stay
Jejune: naïve, juvenile, simplistic, uninteresting, superficial
Kaleidoscope: optical item that utilizes mirrors to create interior symmetrical visions
Kismet: fate, fortune, chance, faith thereof
Knell: to ring slowly and solemnly, funeral bell-ring
Labial: pertaining to lips, vaginal or facial
Labyrinth: maze, puzzling complex or circuitous plan
Lacerate: to cut or tear irregularly, to distress, mangle
Laconic: brief in speech, matter-of-fact, terse, using few words
Lacquer: varnish that dries via evaporation
Lacuna: omission or empty space, gap in chronology
Lagniappe: gift for extended patronage, gift or compensation for valued customers
Lambent: glowing, gleaming, or flickering with a soft radiance, of humor or fire
Laminate: to beat or compress into a thin plate or sheet, to divide into thin layers
Languid: characterized by disinclination for physical exertion
Laodicean: indifferent or lukewarm in politics and or religion
Lapis Lazuli: gemstone of intense blue
Largesse: the generous giving of gifts, a generous or courteous gift, charitable donation
Lascivious: lewd, lustful, prurient
Lassitude: weariness, lack of energy or motivation
Lathe: machine for shaping a piece of material by rotating it rapidly along its axis
Lattice: open framework of material, typically in a crisscross pattern
Lavadero: laundry room, place to wash gold
Lavender: light purple
Lavish: expended, bestowed, or occurring in profusion, using or giving in great amounts
Layer: single thickness of a material covering a surface
Legerity: mental or physical agility, dexterity, or quickness
Leitmotif: musical passage associated to a specific situation, character, or idea
Lemniscate: the infinity symbol, any figure-eight symbol
Lemonade: beverage typically consisting of lemon juice, sugar, and water
Lesbian: female sexually attracted to other women, exclusively
Lethe: condition of forgetfulness, oblivion
Leveret: baby rabbit, a young rabbit
Leviathan: very large animal, especially a whale, something of unusually large size
Levitation: the act of floating, supernatural floating
Lexiphanes: pretentious word user, bombastic or magniloquent person
Liaison: illicit sexual relationship, case of contact between two parties, usually a person
Libeccio: southwest wind occurring in Italy
Lilliputian: very small, tiny, pertaining to Lilliput
Lilt: cadence of voice, rhythm of language or sentences, good vocal or musical structure
Limerence: extended infatuation or crush, contrast love
Limn: to delineate via depictions or suffuse things with light
Limousine: slender car used for formal occasions, notably expensive
Limpid: unclouded, clear, lucid, defined and deep
Lineaments: pl. the distinguishing or characteristic features of something immaterial
Linguistics: pl. the study of human speech, languages, and writing
Linoleum: type of floor covering
Liquid: a state of matter, compare gas and solid, readiness to flow, type of sound
Lissom: supple, easily bent, lithe, flexible
Listless: lacking energy or disinclined to exert effort, lethargic
Litany: large amount, plethora, long and tedious address or recital
Literati: intelligentsia, the educated class, clerisy, a group of litterateurs
Lithe: readily bent, supple, flexible, marked by effortless grace
Lithium: silvery, soft, highly-reactive metal
Lithosphere: outermost shell of a planet, the crust and uppermost mantle
Litterateur: literary-minded person, one devoted to the study or writing of literature
Lixiviation: act of separating soluble from insoluble substances via water or solvent
Lochetic: lying in wait for prey, used especially of insects
Loom: the art of weaving, to come into view as a massive, distorted, or indistinct image
Loquacious: characterized by talking, talking freely or too much, excessively talkative
Lorgnette: a pair of eyeglasses or opera glasses with a handle
Lubricious: slippery with oil or lubricant, offensively lewd or intending to be lewd
Lucent: shining, gleaming, brilliantly
Lugubrious: gloomy or dismal, especially exaggerated
Lullaby: song or tune devised to lull something to sleep
Luminal: of or pertaining to the lumen (the measure of light perceived by the human eye)
Luminary: one who is an inspiration to others, one who attained success in a chosen field
Lunacy: insanity, insanity with brief moments of clarity
Lunula: white crescent at the base of the fingernail
Luscious: delicious, sexy, cloying, alluring
Lustrous: having noticeable or vivid luster and sheen
L’esprit de l’escalier: “staircase wit” usage of a witty retort after the moment has passed
Macedoine: mixture of diced fruits and vegetables, medley, mixture
Magisterial: of, relating to, or having the features of a master or teacher, authoritative
Malady: sickness, illness, ague, ictus, ailment
Malaise: bodily weakness, nondescript illness, vague feeling of discomfort
Malapropos: out of place, inappropriate, in an inopportune or inappropriate manner
Malleable: moldable, able to be modified, easily reshaped, having the ease of form
Mannequin: articulated human figure used for design
Mantelletta: sleeveless vestment worn by cardinals
Maquette: scale model of a large item
Maraschino: cordial made from the fermented juice of the marasca cherry
Marasmus: protein deficiency, state of emaciation
Marble: highly-polished building material, irregularly colored
Marcescent: flower term, withering, but not falling off
Marginalia: notes in the margin or margins of a book
Marionette: a puppet bound by strings and controlled with wooden bars
Marmalade: jellylike preserve made from the pulp of fruits, especially citrus fruits
Marmoreal: of, like, made of, or related to marble
Masquerade: festive gathering characterized by participants wearing masks
Material: secular, worldly, the substance(s) of which a thing is made of or composed
Matriculate: to become admitted to membership in a body, society, or institution
Matutinal: of, relating to, or occurring in the morning, early
Maudlin: overly sentimental, saccharine, mawkish, self-pitying
Mausoleum: large, stately tomb or building housing several tombs
Mauve: pinkish purple
Medallion: jewelry or object worn from a necklace
Medley: heterogeneous mixture of typically complementing elements
Melisma: the stretching of a syllable over a series of notes
Mellifluous: flowing with sweetness or honey, smooth and sweet
Mellisonant: wonderful-sounding
Melody: a series or pattern of notes
Memento: an item of special significance
Memorabilia: pl. things remarkable and worthy of remembrance or record
Menagerie: collection of animals in cages or enclosures, diverse hodgepodge, gallery, zoo
Meniscus: anatomical term, the curve in a liquid when observed in a cylinder
Mephitic: poisonous, noxious, lethally dangerous, insidious, toxic, putrid
Mercurial: fickle, erratic, ingenious, changeable, eloquent
Mere: being nothing more nor better than, small, lowly
Meretricious: drawing attention in a vulgar manner, gaudy, tawdry, superficially attractive
Meridian: of or at noon, imaginary line that extends form the North to South poles
Mestizo: a person of mixed racial ancestry
Mewl: whimper, cry like an infant, meow like a kitten, to weakly cry
Mezzanine: partial story between two main stories of a building, lowest balcony of theater
Miasma: atmosphere of disease, fine mist of effluvium or bacteria, noxious emanation
Mica: thin layers of specific, transparent minerals
Midst: in the middle of, among
Mien: air or bearing especially as expressive of attitude or personality, demeanor, aura
Milieu: surroundings or environment, especially of a social or cultural nature
Millennium: one thousand years, period of a thousand years
Milquetoast: timid, unassertive, spineless person, one who is easily intimidated
Mimesis: imitation or representation of the world, mostly in literature and art, mimicry
Mimosa: plant, cocktail drink
Mimsy: flimsy and miserable, someone who excels at what they do
Miniscule: very small, diminutive, when compared to a normal counterpart
Minutiae: pl, tiny, precise details, vestiges, trifles
Mirror: surface able of reflect enough undiffused light to form an image of an object
Miscellany: collection of various items, parts, or ingredients
Mist: mass of fine droplets of liquid
Mithril: fictional, very light, silvery steel
Mizzenmast: third mast or the mast aft the mainmast on a ship having 3 or more masts
Mizzle: fine rainfall, drizzle, mist
Moiety: one of two equal parts, half
Morceau: a small literary or musical composition
Mormorando: musical direction, murmuring or with a murmuring sound
Moue: pouting face or grimace, upset facial expression
Murmur: low, indistinct, continuous sound, to utter such a sound
Myriad: multitude, litany, an amount of, usually large, collection in large numbers
Myrrh: fragrant resin gum from a type of tree, used chiefly for perfume
Mystique: the special, esoteric skill or mysterious faculty essential in a calling or activity
Mythopoeic: pertaining to the making of myths
Métier: forte, niche in which a person excels, occupation, profession
Nacreous: iridescent, pearly, like mother-of-pearl or nacre
Naiad: a nymph, a river, lake, fountain, or spring nymph or spirit
Naïveté: inexperience, quality of being naïve, artlessness
Nebulae: pl. collection of astral gases
Nemesis: source of harm or ruin, unconquerable foe or enemy, vengeful opponent
Nenuphar: a water lily, especially an Egyptian lotus
Neophyte: a novice, tyro, beginner
Nepenthe: drug of forgetfulness, anti-depression drug, remedy for sorrow
Nepheliad: cloud nymph, nymph designated or of the clouds
Nephew: the son of a brother or sister in relation to you
Nickelodeon: nickel theater
Nimbus: dark, grey cloud bearing rain, splendid atmosphere or aura, cloudy radiance
Nimiety: excess, overabundance, superfluity
Nirvana: a place or state of rest, harmony, or pleasure
Niveous: snowy or resembling snow, like, of, relating to, or made of snow
Nocive: harmful, injurious
Noctilucence: cloud phenomenon typified by lights at night, visible or glowing at night
Nonchalant: feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed, indifferent
Novae: pl. collapsing or dying star
Novella: short prose tale often characterized by moral teaching or satire
Novitiate: novice, the living place of a novice, the state of being a novice, neophyte
Nucleus: central part about which other parts are grouped or gathered
Nugacious: trifling, trivial, insignificant, unimportant, worthless
Nullibicity: state of non-existence, quality or state of being nowhere
Nullifidian: a person having no faith, religion, convictions, or beliefs
Numeral: symbol used to represent, denote, or symbolize a number
Numina: pl. presiding divinity or spirit of a place, creative energy, genius
Numismatics: study or collection or currency, coins, paper money, etc
Nymph: seductive or lustful woman, fairy
Nymphet: pubescent girl regarded as sexually desirable, young, sexually precocious girl
Oasis: fertile, vibrant, or green spot in a desert or wasteland
Objet d’art: object of art, valuable or highly artistic piece or work
Oblivion: condition or quality of being completely forgotten, void, forgetfulness
Obsequious: fawning, sycophantic, servile
Obsidian: volcanic glass of a black shade
Ocelot: undomesticated cat, like a small leopard
Odalisque: female servant, female servant in a harem
Oeillade: an amorous glance, ogle
Oeuvre: the corpus of an author, canon, or a collective symposium
Oleander: type of flower
Opacity: opaqueness, obscurity, impenetrability
Opalescent: milky and iridescent, shimmering with the colors of an opal
Opaque: impenetrable to light, not reflecting light, difficult to explain or understand
Ophidian: snake-like, like, shaped like, or relating to snakes
Opulence: wealth, affluence, great abundance, profusion, pretentiousness
Opusculum: minor work of literature
Orbital: of, pertaining to, or relating to an orbit
Orchestra: large group of musicians with a variety of instruments
Oscillate: to swing in an uninterrupted motion
Ossuary: place, container or receptacle for holding the bones of the dead
Otiose: indolent, lazy, serving no useful purpose, futile, being a leisure
Oubliette: dungeon with only opening at the top
Palatial: pertaining to a palace, grandiose, magnificent
Palaver: conference or discussion, idle chat, chat with flattery of cajolery involved
Palisade: a fence of pales or stakes set firmly in the ground
Palladian: of or relating to wisdom or learning
Palliasse: mattress consisting of a thin pad filled with straw, sawdust, or hay
Palliate: to alleviate, reduce or remove pain
Pallid: pale, wan, deficient in color
Panacea: a cure-all, medicine, herb, or concoction designed or functioning as a cure-all
Panoply: a full collection or array, full set of armor
Panoramic: unbroken view of an entire surrounding area, inclusive presentation, survey
Pantomime: communication through gestures and facial movements
Parabola: mathematical term, looks akin to a “u” or “n”
Paradigm: clearly defined archetype, typical example or pattern of something
Paramour: lover, especially one in an adulterous relationship, lover, illicit lover
Paraph: a flourish at the end of a signature, may be used as a safeguard against forgery
Paroxysm: a sudden attack, pang, or seizure, usually of an emotional or medical nature
Parvenu: noveau-riche, person risen to new status, but lacks the social skills necessary
Pasquinade: public farce, satire, or lampoon
Pastiche: literary patchwork, hodgepodge, collision of genres used to create a new item
Patina: natural tarnish from wear of usage and passage of time, verdigris
Patois: dialect other than the usual or literary dialect, uneducated or provincial language
Paucity: scarcity, lack of presence, fewness, a small number
Peccadillo: insignificant sin or wrongdoing, trifling fault
Peccavi: admission of guilt, confession
Pellucid: translucently clear, limpid, ethereal
Peninsula: piece of land mostly surrounded by water, except on one side
Pensive: brooding, reflecting, involving, or engaged in deep or serious thought
Penumbra: partial shadow, space of partial illumination, limits of a shadow
Percolate: to filter, to cause to filter, to cause to pass through pores or small holes
Perennial: lasting throughout the year
Perforate: to pierce, punch, or bore a hole or holes in, stab through, penetrate
Periphery: line that forms the boundary, limited circumference of sight, perimeter
Permeate: to pervade, to spread or flow throughout, to diffuse through
Perpetuity: the quality or condition of being perpetual, ceaseless, or continual
Phantasm: something apparently seen but having no physical reality, illusion
Philander: to womanize or entertain or elicit casual or wanton sex
Philanthropy: the effort or drive to further the well-being of humankind, generosity
Philosophy: discipline comprising aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology, etc.
Philtrum: subtle curve beneath the nose and on the upper lip, palate
Phoenix: mythical bird of fire which rises from it’s ashes in a cycle of rebirth
Pianissimo: musical direction, very softly
Piquant: aromatic, appetizing, appealingly provocative
Pirouette: ballet spin, ballet technique
Pizzicato: music term, played by plucking rather than bowing
Placid: sedate, calm, peaceful, relaxed, serene
Plumage: entire feathery covering or portion of a bird, feathers collectively
Pluvial: characterized or relating to rainfall
Pococurante: nonchalant, indifferent, lukewarm in opinion, insouciant
Poignant: profoundly moving, touching, physically or emotionally painful
Ponceau: a strong red to reddish orange
Porcelain: strong, vitreous, translucent ceramic with glazed colored material
Portfolio: portable case for carrying documents
Portico: porch or walkway with a roof supported by columns, often leads into an entrance
Portmanteaux: pl. large suitcase, merging of two words to form a new one, often a pun
Prairillon: a small meadow or tract of grassland, heath, plain
Precocious: manifesting or characterized by unusually early development or maturity
Prelude: preceding event or action, music term, preliminary, preambulate
Preterlabent: flowing beside or by, especially of a river or stream
Prismatic: refractive light of a spectrum, brilliantly colored
Pristine: in primordial condition, untouched, belonging to the earliest period or state
Promethean: boldly creative, defiantly original, deviating genius
Propinquity: nearness in place, approximate location, proximity, vicinity
Proscenium: Greek or Roman theater stage, the part of a stage in front of the curtain
Prosody: the rhythm, stress, and intonation of speech
Provocative: tending or serving to provoke, inciting, stimulating, irritating, or vexing
Prurient: having, relating to, or typified by lascivious or lustful thoughts or desires
Psithurisma: whisper, sound of wind through the trees, sound of wind-rustled leaves
Psittacism: automatic speech without thought of the meaning of the words spoken
Psyche: the mind or self as a functional entity, center of thought, feeling, and motivation
Punchinello: short, fat clown or clown puppet
Puree: rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender
Purlicue: space between the thumb and forefinger
Pyrrhic: of a victory, having high levels of casualties or damage on both sides
Quaquaversal: directed outward from a common center to all points, omnidirectional
Querencia: the area of the bull-ring where the bull makes its stand
Quintessence: fifth element, perfect embodiment
Quisquose: something which is difficult to deal with
Quiver: shiver, shake, quaver, tremble
Quotidian: daily, mundane, occurring every day
Radii: pl. any line segment from the center of a circle or sphere to its perimeter
Rapture: ecstasy, felicity, state of sheer happiness, happiness to the point of delirium
Rariora: pl. unusual collector’s items, outstanding items, prize pieces
Ratatouille: French dish, vegetable stew
Realm: region, kingdom, plane, domain, territory
Recherché: elegant, refined or tasteful, sophisticated
Recidivism: act of repeating punished act, chronic tendency to repeat crimes
Reciprocity: the quality or state of requiting, mutual dependence
Redivivus: revived, come back to life, resurrected, resuscitated
Redolent: piquant, aromatic, or memory-invoking
Regalia: the emblems and symbols of royalty, such as the crown and scepter, jewelry
Relinquish: voluntarily cease to keep or claim, surrender
Reliquary: receptacle, such as a coffer or shrine, for keeping or displaying sacred relics
Renaissance: rebirth or revival, renewal of cultural and intellectual thought
Repartee: swift, witty reply, conversation marked by the exchange of witty retorts Palimpsest: erased parchment, which is then reused, manuscript written over earlier ones
Replica: copy or reproduction of a work of art, especially one made by the original artist
Resonance: quality of being resonant, extension of sound via sympathetic vibration
Resplendent: sublime, full of color, dazzling, splendid
Revenant: specter, ghost, one who returns after a long absence
Reverie: an idle daydream, a thought of idle desire, a surrendering to imagination
Rhapsody: impassioned, inspired, or vibrant literature or music
Rimulose: characterized by or having small chinks, fissures, or cracks
Risorgimento: a time of renewal or renaissance, revival
Roseate: rose-colored, rosy, optimistic, cheerful and bright, promising
Roué: a rake, rouge, philanderer, lothario
Rupestrian: of or composed of rock, sculpted with or by rock
Sable: black, type of animal with a deep, black pelt
Salient: prominent or conspicuous, most important
Saline: salty, pertaining to salt
Salubrious: health-giving, healthy, healthful, relating to good health
Salve: remedial lotion or substance to soothe or allays
Sangfroid: composure or coolness as shown in danger, imperturbability
Sanguine: of a healthy reddish color, ruddy, blood-red, of the color of blood
Sapience: rationality, compare sentience, wisdom or sagacity
Sapphire: bright blue, valuable gemstone of a bright yet deep blue
Sardonyx: type of stone(onyx) with sandy bands
Satellite: celestial body that orbits a planet, a moon, object designed to orbit a planet
Scarlet: bright-red color
Scepter: rod or wand, usually adorned in regalia
Schefflera: type of shrubby, tropical plants which are cultivated for their showy foliage
Scialytic: dispersing shadows, typically with light
Scilicet: to wit, that is, namely
Scintilla: an infinitesimal item or mote, tiny thing
Scion: an heir or descendant, a twig or shoot used for grafting
Sclera: the whites of the eyes
Scoliosis: abnormal lateral curvature of the spine, affliction thereof
Scythe: agricultural implement with a long, curving blade fastened to a long handle
Seizure: act, condition, or instance of seizing or being seized, fit, spasm, convulsion
Selcouth: unusual, rare, unique, or strange
Selenian: designating, relating to, pertaining to, or of the moon
Semblance: apparent form of something, especially when the reality is different
Semiotician: one who studies, applies, or explains the theories of semiotics
Sempiternal: eternal, endless, lasting forever, ceaseless
Senescence: state of being old or growing old, cellular decomposition, studies thereof
Sentient: aware, characterized by the ability to feel or perceive, conscious
Sequacious: pertaining to sequence or order, following
Sequence: succession, an arrangement, related or continuous series
Sequester: to relegate to a small space, to cause to withdraw into seclusion
Seraglio: harem, harem house, brothel, living quarters thereof
Seraphim: pl. six-winged angel
Serenade: courtesy performance given to honor or express love for someone, to serenade
Serendipity: occurrence and progress of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way
Serenity: calmness, tranquility, relaxation
Sesquipedalian: having many syllables, long, given to or typified by the use of long words
Sestina: poem of six six-line stanzas and a three-line envoy
Seven: seventh integer in a series
Sforzando: music, suddenly or strongly accented
Sfumato: definition or form without hasty outline by mild gradation from light to shadow
Shadow: shade within clear boundaries
Shallow: lacking physical depth, lacking depth of intellect, emotion, or knowledge
Shimmer: to shine with a subdued, flickering or wavering light
Shiver: a tremble, to tremble, shudder, or shake
Shrivel: wither due to lack of moisture, cause to contract, lose momentum
Sibilant: hissing, making a sound that resembles hissing
Sibyl: prophetess, fortune-teller, female prognosticator
Sidereal: of, related, pertaining to, or determined by the stars or constellations
Sidle: walk in a furtive or timid manner, especially obliquely or roundabout
Sienna: yellowish-brown, type of clay
Sierra: ridge of a mountain or mountains
Sigil: seal, signet, glyph, sign or image considered magical
Silence: state or quality of soundlessness, lack of sound
Silhouette: picture as an outline, often a human profile, filled in by a solid color
Silkscreen: stencil method of printing, in which a design is put on silk or other fine mesh Tristiloquy: speech characterized by sadness or gloominess
Silver: shimmering gray color, type of metal
Simplicity: state or quality of being simple, freedom of complexity or intricacy
Simulacrum: image or representation, false, unreal, or vague simulation or semblance
Sinecure: an easy occupation or one which requires almost no responsibility
Siphon: to suck through, absorb through an appendage
Sirocco: hot, humid south or southeast wind of southern Italy
Sisyphean: pertaining to or involving endless labor, pertaining to Sisyphus
Sittella: small, gregarious songbird
Sleep: state of slumber, position of rest for the physical and mental being of a living being
Slender: long and thin, tall
Slice: a thin section of something, to slash or remove a small section of
Slither: to glide or slide like a reptile
Sluice: artificial channel for conducting water, with a valve or gate to regulate the flow
Smolder: burn without flame, to undergo slow and compressed combustion
Sobriquet: nickname, moniker, adopted name
Soigné: elegant, sophisticated, well-groomed
Sojourn: brief visit, stopover, jaunt
Solace: comfort or consolation in a time of sadness or distress
Solecism: an impropriety, nonstandard grammatical construction, violation of etiquette
Solemn: serious, dignified, formal, stern
Soliloquy: dramatic monologue, intense speech with exposition but not addressed
Solipsism: philosophical idea that only one's own mind is sure to exist
Solstice: one of two times in the year when the sun is furthest from the equator
Sommelier: a waiter expertly trained in alcoholic beverages, wine steward
Sonata: music, series of three solos
Sonnet: fourteen-line poem with specific rhyme scheme
Soothe: to allay, alleviate, relax, pacify
Sorcerer: practitioner of sorcery, wizard, warlock, magician
Sotto voce: soft-voiced, emphasis on quiet speech
Soubrette: saucy, coquettish woman in comedies
Soufflé: light, fluffy baked dish
Sough: a soft, gentle sigh, murmuring, purling, or rustling sound
Souvenir: keepsake, memento, something of sentimental value
Specious: superficially plausible, but actually wrong, misleading in appearance
Spinal: pertaining to, relating to, of, or using the spine
Spiral: helix, string in a successively concentric pattern
Splice: to infuse, join, interweave, unite
Spool: cylinder with ridges that has spirals string around it
Stasis: equilibrium causing a peaceful inactivity via equal opposing forces
Stiletto: high-heel with sharp point, small dagger
Stillicide: water falling from the roof of a house or a gutter
Sublime: noble, exalted, majestic, empyreal
Succinct: briefly stated, laconic, terse
Succor: to aid or assist in a time of need, assistance
Suffuse: gradually spread through or over, with light, color, music, or liquid
Suicide: the act of murdering oneself
Surreptitious: stealthy, kept secret, hidden
Sussurant: whispering, making a continuous, low, and indistinct sound
Sussurous: pertaining to whispering, whispering
Susurrus: a whisper, something which resembles a whisper
Svelte: suave, urbane, savvy, slender, lithe, polished, sophisticated
Swain: a young man, suitor, ephebe
Swath: width of a scythe-stroke, strips or radii made by something
Swerve: to abruptly turn or deviate from an otherwise straight course
Sweven: dream, vision, premonition
Swoon: fainting spell, collapse from ecstasy
Syllable: unit of spoken language consisting of a single uninterrupted sound
Sylph: graceful woman, fairy, air elemental
Sylvan: relating to or characteristic of woods or forest regions, forest sprite
Symbiosis: mutual biological synergy between two dissimilar organisms
Symphony: extended orchestral movements
Symposium: conference for discussion of a particular topic
Synchronicity: theory of, coincidence of two or more curiously similar events
Synecdoche: a reference to a part as opposed to the whole, girl as “skirt” ship as “sail”
Syzygy: alignment or unity of specific objects, notably in space or literature
Tableaux: pl. deliberate picture, arrangement , vivid, graphic description
Tacenda: things to not be mentioned or things to be passed over in silence
Taciturn: reticent, quiet, not talkative, insouciant
Talisman: item marked with magic signs though to confer magical powers or repel evil
Tapestry: heavy cloth woven with rich, varicolored designs or scenes, often hung on walls
Teleology: the study of the philosophical concept of the telos
Tellurian: terrestrial, inhabiting the earth, pertaining to the earth, earthen
Tenuous: long and thin, slender, flimsy, without great substance, diluted
Tercet: group of three lines of verse, often rhyming together or with another triple
Terpsichorean: pertaining, relating to, or referring to dancing or the art thereof
Tessellation: tile pattern sans gaps or extraneous spaces, mathematical pattern
Theophany: religious epiphany or appearance of God to a person
Thionine: artificial red or violet dyestuff, usually for microscopic stains
Threnody: song, hymn, or poem reflecting on mourning or a tribute to the deceased
Thylacine: Extinct Tasmanian Tiger
Tilt: to cause to slope, as by raising one end, incline
Tintinnabulation: ringing or sounding of bells, the sound of bells
Tiramisu: dessert made with cake and espresso
Tolutiloquent: speech characterized by rapidity
Torrential: resembling, flowing in, or forming torrents
Tourmaline: multifarious gemstone of grossly differing colors
Traipse: walk, to wander without destination, gad, aimlessly or blithely walk
Tranquility: peace, serenity, calmness, relaxation
Transience: brevity, briefness, evanescence, shortness, the state of being temporary
Tregetour: juggler, mummer, conjurer
Tremulous: marked by trembling, quivering, or shaking
Trillium: type of flower
Trinity: group consisting of three closely related members, unity of three special objects
Triste: sad, mournful, dismal, depressed
Tryst: an agreement, as between lovers, to meet at a certain time and place, a date
Turquoise: blue-green color
Tête-à-tête: private conversation between two people
Ubiquitous: being or seeming to be everywhere at the same time, omnipresent
Ultramarine: intense bluish-purple
Umbrage: offense, affront, the shade beneath a tree, shade, suspicion, reason for doubt
Umbrella: apparatus used as a personal rain repellant
Vaccinate: to inoculate with a vaccine of prepared medicine
Vacillate: to waver between actions or decisions, to hesitate
Vacivity: vacuity, emptiness, absence, space with a lack of matter
Vacuity: emptiness, vacivity, absence, lack of matter in a space, vacuum
Valance: an ornamental drapery hung across a top edge, as of a bed, table, or canopy
Vale: the world, life, mortal or earthly life
Valiant: possessing valor, brave, marked by or done with valor
Vanilla: ordinary, conventional, flavored with vanilla, flavor extracted from vanilla bean
Vaticinate: prophesy, prognosticate, augur, foretell
Vaudeville: bygone slapstick era
Vavasor: superior vassal with other vassals beneath
Velleity: flimsy wish or desire, perfunctory hope or dream
Vellum: mammal skin prepared for writing or printing on
Velvet: soft type of material used in clothing
Veneer: thin surface layer, superficial layer as an enhancement to inferior material
Venial: pardonable, easily excused or pardoned, trivial
Ventriloquist: puppeteer utilizing vocal techniques and manipulations
Veracity: truth, state of being true, trueness
Veranda: open, roofed porch or portico on the outside of a building
Verisimilitude: the appearance or semblance of truth or reality in a fictional medium
Vernal: pertaining to spring
Verve: energy, brio, élan, vigor, joie de vivre
Vespertine: crepuscular, pertaining to, of, or related to the evening
Vestibule: a small entryway between the outer door and the interior of a building
Vestigial: of, relating to, or constituting a vestige(trace, mark, or sign left by something)
Vesuviate: to erupt, explode, fulminate
Vetanda: taboo or forbidden things or topics
Vexation: the act of annoying, irritating, or vexing, quality or condition of being vexed
Vicennial: happening every twenty years
Viceroy: governor, representative of a sovereign
Vicious: having the nature of vice, evil, immoral, or depraved
Vicissitudes: changes of circumstances of fortune
Victuals: food to be eaten, provisions, food cache, pabulum, comestibles, nutrients
Videlicet: to wit, that is, namely
Vigesimal: based on, pertaining to or related to 20
Vignette: a sketch, brief literary or visual event, description, tableau
Villain: dramatic or fictional character who is typically at odds with the hero
Vincible: able to be harmed, vulnerable, susceptible, vulnerable
Vinyl: type of multi-use plastic resin
Viola: like a violin, but with a lower pitch
Violet: shade of deep purple
Violin: stringed instrument played with a bow
Viridian: blue-green pigment
Virtuoso: ace, someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field, especially music
Vis-à-vis: “face to face” opposite to, in relation to, in regard to, a meeting
Visceral: pertaining to the viscera, relating to deep feelings as opposed to the intellect
Vista: view, prospect, perspective, spectrum of peripheral boundaries
Visurient: hungry for visual stimuli, pertaining to the desire evoked from vision
Vitiate: impair, spoil, to the reduce quality of, to make worse
Vivacity: brio, esprit, alacrity
Vivify: to invigorate, revive, energize, galvanize
Vivisepulture: the act of being buried alive or burying alive
Vociferous: loud, stentorian, vehement, angrily impassioned
Voluminous: having great volume, fullness, size, or number, large
Wan: pallid, of a sickly complexion
Warble: trill, croon, purr, chirrup
Weather: state of the atmosphere at a given time and place
Whilom: formerly, former, erstwhile
Whimsy: quaint or fanciful idea, a whim, capricious humor or playful disposition
Whisper: soft speech produced without full voice, something uttered very softly
Winceyette: cotton cloth, cloth made of cotton that has a raised surface
Winnow: to filter out, to remove unnecessary or undesirable parts
Wisteria: a genus of twisting, woody, and climbing vines
Wyvern: type of dragon, typically without legs
Xenodochial: friendly or especially kind to strangers or foreigners
Xenoglossy: language learned spontaneously and without prior knowledge
Xysti: pl. covered portico of a gymnasium
Yowl: to utter a loud long cry of grief, pain, or distress, wail
Zenith: point on the celestial sphere that is above the observer, highest point, maximum
Zephyr: slight burst of gentle wind, gentle breeze
Zitella: maiden, unmarried woman, bachelorette
Zyzzyva: a type of weevil