The Big Book of Words You Should Know Read online

  THE

  BIG BOOK

  of WORDS You

  SHOULD KNOW

  Over 3,000 Words Every Person

  Should Be Able to Use

  (And a Few That You Probably Shouldn’t)

  David Olsen, Michelle Bevilacqua,

  and Justin Cord Hayes

  Avon, Massachusetts

  Copyright © 2009 by F+W Media, Inc.

  All rights reserved.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

  Published by

  Adams Media, an F+W Media Company

  57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322. U.S.A.

  www.adamsmedia.com

  ISBN 10: 1-60550-139-5

  ISBN 13: 978-1-60550-139-0

  eISBN: 978-1-44052-077-8

  Printed in the United States of America.

  J I H G F E D C B A

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  is available from the publisher.

  This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

  —From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations

  Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their product are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.

  This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.

  For information, please call 1-800-289-0963.

  CONTENTS

  PART I

  Words You Absolutely Should Know

  PART II

  Words Most People Don’t Know

  PART III

  Words You Should Know but Probably Don’t

  PART IV

  Foreign Idioms You Should Know

  PART V

  People and Place Words You Should Know

  PART VI

  Words You Should Know to Sound Overeducated

  PART VII

  Words You Probably Shouldn’t Know

  PART I

  Words You Absolutely

  Should Know

  If you pride yourself as a good communicator, you absolutely must know the words in this section. If items on this list are unfamiliar to you, learn them immediately or risk being at an embarrassing loss for words!

  abacus (AB-uh-kuss), noun

  A device used to figure arithmetic equations by moving beads along rods.

  Mrs. Danvers thought that the ABACUS, with its brightly colored beads, would entertain the first graders while illustrating the basic principles of addition and subtraction.

  abdicate (AB-di-kate), verb

  To formally give up a position or responsibility. To abdicate means to step down from a high government office or other powerful position. Originally, the word referred primarily to royalty.

  The King, as we all know, ABDICATED rather than give up the woman he loved.

  abet (uh-BET), verb

  To encourage or assist a plan or activity. To abet is to entice or help, usually in a misdeed. An accomplice to a robbery abets the crime.

  Though Michael did not participate in the actual kidnapping, he left himself open to charges of ABETTING the perpetrators by hiding them from the police.

  abbreviated (uh-BREE-vee-ate-ud), adjective

  Shortened.

  Because the hour is late, I will limit myself to an ABBREVIATED version of my intended speech.

  abduct (ub-DUCT), verb

  To take a person away secretly and illegally, often by use of force; to kidnap.

  My sister Ellen used to take such long showers that Dad would jokingly ask if she’ d been ABDUCTED by aliens.

  abject (AB-ject), adjective

  Reduced to a low state or condition; also, demonstrating hopelessness.

  I gave up golf when I realized I was an ABJECT failure on the green.

  abominate (uh-BOM-ih-nate), verb

  To loathe or hate; to view with extreme hostility.

  Miss Green ABOMINATED the notion of children working twelve-hour days, and sought legislation forbidding companies from hiring minor workers.

  abrade (uh-BRADE), verb

  To wear away or rub off; to wear down in spirit. To abrade is to erode or break down. Sandpaper abrades the surface of wood.

  The campaign had hoped for a hard-hitting, informative television commercial, but the ad—widely perceived as negative and mean-spirited—served only to ABRADE voter support.

  absolution (ab-suh-LOO-shun), noun

  The condition of having been forgiven or freed of guilt.

  To Myron’s dismay, the judge did not consider his having paid for the damage to the other party’s car sufficient ABSOLUTION for the crime of driving while intoxicated.

  absolve (ah-ZOLV), verb

  To formally pronounce guiltless or blameless. To absolve is to relieve of any responsibility for an actual or alleged misdeed. In the legal sense, absolution carries with it implication that the authorities no longer hold that the individual committed the misdeed.

  The judge ABSOLVED the accused of any wrongdoing.

  abstain (ub-STANE), verb

  To refrain from; to refuse to partake in; to go without voluntarily.

  Maria, who had ABSTAINED from eating meat while in high school, was persuaded to try a cheeseburger on her graduation night.

  abstemious (ab-STEE-me-us), adjective

  Consuming food and drink in moderation. Those who are abstemious restrict themselves to the bare necessities of life. In a larger sense, the word can refer to any austere or unassuming lifestyle.

  Despite the hardships of his ABSTEMIOUS way of life, the monk radiated the confidence that comes with knowing one has chosen the correct path.

  abstruse (ab-STROOCE), adjective

  Complex and difficult to comprehend. Abstruse refers to something complex or specialized that requires special effort to grasp.

  Scientists may understand Einstein’s theory of relativity, but for most laymen it remains an ABSTRUSE collection of surrealistic ideas.

  abyss (uh-BISS), noun

  An endless black void; an emptiness; a huge hole with no bottom.

  After nine days of working on my term paper with no conclusion in sight, I felt more and more as if I were facing an ABYSS.

  accentuate (ak-SEN-choo-ate), verb

  To intensify or accent. To accentuate something is to emphasize or stress it.

  To strengthen or heighten the effect of something is to accentuate it.

  Brian’s new glasses ACCENTUATE his nose unflatteringly.

  accept (ak-SEPT), verb

  To take into possession. (See, for comparison, the listing for except.)

  I’m happy to ACCEPT your invitation to dinner, Claude.

  accolade (AK-uh-lade), noun

  A mark of acknowledgment or expression of praise. Originally, an accolade was the ceremonial bestowal of knighthood upon a person, with a sword tapped on each shoulder. That which confers praise or honor is an accolade.

  The firm’s president had hung on his office wall many plaques, citations, and ACCOLADES.

  accord (ub-CORD), noun

  A formal reaching of agreement. An a
ccord is reached when a settlement or compromise of conflicting views occurs.

  After a prolonged strike, when the issue of healthcare benefits was resolved, the representatives finally reached an ACCORD acceptable to both labor and management.

  accost (uh-KOST), verb

  To greet or approach, usually in a confrontational way; to approach in order to confront.

  I was having a wonderful time at Sara’s wedding until Uncle George ACCOSTED me at the bar and demanded to know when I planned to get a real job.

  acme (AK-me), noun

  The highest point; summit.

  Although his many fans might consider winning the Pulitzer the ACME of Marvin’s writing career, in his mind nothing would ever match the thrill of seeing his first novel in print.

  acquisitive (uh-KWIZZ-uh-tihv), adjective

  Someone marked by a hunger to attain and possess things.

  Fred stopped dating Laura after it became clear that she was disturbingly ACQUISITIVE.

  acrid (AK-rid), adjective

  Biting or harsh in odor or taste; deeply or violently bitter. Acrid refers to anything unpleasantly sharp and pungent to the senses of smell or taste. Acrid can also be used to describe a bitter or harsh verbal exchange between persons.

  Florence’s ACRID remarks did not sit well with the board of directors.

  acronym (AK-ruh-nim), noun

  A word formed by combining the first letters of several other words. (Example:

  NOW is an acronym for the National Organization for Women.)

  Cindy believed that the secret to getting good grades on tests was to use ACRONYMS as memory aids.

  adamant (AD-uh-munt), adjective

  Unwilling to submit; stubborn and unyielding. Historically, adamant refers to a legendary stone of infinite hardness. (The word diamond shares the same root.)

  Despite the objections of their families, Robin and Tim were ADAMANT about moving away from the town in which they had been raised.

  adapt (uh-DAPT), verb

  To adjust; to make something or oneself fit in to particular circumstances; to conform. (See, for comparison, the entry for adopt.)

  Jim and Daisy worried that the cross-country move would upset their teenage daughter, but as it turned out Melanie ADAPTED to their new home more easily than her parents.

  addendum (uh-DEN-duhm), noun

  Something to be added; an addition.

  The treaty included an ADDENDUM setting out the terms of troop withdrawal.

  adept (uh-DEPT), adjective

  Proficient; expert; highly skilled. Adept refers to someone who is very good at performing a given task.

  Hans, an ADEPT formulator of crossword puzzles, sometimes seems to me to have memorized the entire dictionary.

  adhere (ad-HERE), verb

  To hold fast to, usually with a sense of honor or allegiance.

  Even after his career in advertising forced him to move to New York City, Mason continued to ADHERE to the values of his strict Mormon upbringing.

  adjunct (AD-junkt), noun

  An unessential addition; an appendage or complement.

  Fast cars and designer clothes are only ADJUNCTS to a comfortable lifestyle, Lyle argued, while health insurance is something a family simply can’t do without.

  adobe (uh-DOE-bee), noun

  A type of brick made of clay and straw; the clay used to form such bricks.

  Our anthropology professor informed us that ADOBE huts are viable only in climates with very little rainfall.

  adopt (uh-DOPT), verb

  To accept or take as one’s own. (See, for comparison, the entry for adapt.)

  After last year’s car troubles, I’ve ADOPTED the philosophy that a good mechanic is worth every penny you pay him.

  adrenaline (uh-DREN-uh-lin), noun

  A chemical produced in the body that gives one added strength and energy; epinephrine.

  Having run up and down the basketball court for nearly an hour, Bob hoped for a burst of ADRENALINE to carry him through to the end of the game.

  adroit (uh-DROIT), adjective

  Clever, expert, skilled with hands or feet

  Basil Rathbone was an ADROIT swordsman.

  adulation (ad-yoo-LAY-shun), noun

  Extreme praise, admiration, or flattery, especially of a servile nature.

  Adulation is generally taken to describe acclaim and admiration that is out of scope with its object.

  Despite great hardship, upheaval, and death resulting from the violent tactics of the secret police, ADULATION of Stalin continued as though the country was paradise itself.

  adulterate (a-DUL-ter-ate), verb

  To make impure or tainted. To adulterate is to reduce the quality of something— for instance, by substituting inferior ingredients. An unadulterated product is one that retains its original high quality and has not been tampered with in any way.

  At the turn of the century, the sale of ADULTERATED dairy products in the U.S. caused a major scandal.

  adverse (AD-verse), adjective

  Unfavorable; acting in opposition to. Also: tending to discourage. (See, for comparison, the entry for averse).

  Despite ADVERSE circumstances, Jenny and I managed, after a month of looking, to find an apartment we could afford.

  advocate (ADD-voe-kait), verb

  In its noun form, “advocate” is pronounced differently (ADD-vuh-kitt) and means “one who supports or defends the cause of another.” As a verb, “advocate” is the act of pleading in favor of another.

  If you need a recommendation, I’ d be happy to ADVOCATE for you.

  affect (uh-FEKT), verb

  To influence; to stir the emotions of; to produce an effect (in something).

  (See, for comparison, the entry for effect.)

  The memory of my parents’ hideous and protracted breakup AFFECTED my life profoundly, and made me vow to work harder at making my own marriage succeed.

  affinity (uh-FIN-i-tee), noun

  A natural liking or affection for something or someone.

  The king had an AFFINITY for those on his council who always said he was right.

  affirmative (uh-FIR-muh-tive), adjective

  Positive in nature; factually valid. Affirmative is the opposite of negative; its use means the subject has vouched for and affirmed the correctness of a statement or idea.

  When asked whether or not he lived at 1267 Main, the defendant answered in the AFFIRMATIVE.

  affliction (uh-FLICK-shun), noun

  Suffering; a state of pain. An affliction is a state of misery or disabling disease.

  Carl’s arthritis was at times quite painful, but he found the most remarkable ways to work around his AFFLICTION.

  aid (aid), verb

  To help. (See, for comparison, the entry for aide.)

  Please help our organization’s efforts to AID these refugees.

  aide (aid), noun

  An assistant or trusted helper.

  She served as the senator’s most important AIDE during his term in office.

  alacrity (uh-LACK-rih-tee), noun

  Eager, cheerful rapidity or promptness. Someone who is willing to extend themselves politely and quickly for another is said to show alacrity.

  Jane made a special effort to show ALACRITY her first day on the job.

  alibi (AL-uh-bye), noun

  A story or circumstance that proves one is innocent of a crime or misdeed; a credible excuse or explanation of innocence.

  Mike promised Craig he’ d provide him with an ALIBI for the night of the bank robbery, but when the police questioned the men they found that the details of their stories didn’t match.

  allay (uh-LAY), verb

  To calm or help put aside fear or uneasiness.

  My report will help ALLAY suspicions that our profits have been falling.

  allege (uh-LEDGE), verb

  To accuse someone of something—usually wrongdoing—without proof.

  Unless you can prove you didn’t e
at the last cookie, I will have to ALLEGE that you’re the thief!

  allegiance (uh-LEE-junce), noun

  Loyalty, particularly to a government.

  Alex had promised his ALLEGIANCE to the family firm time and time again, but the new offer from their overseas competitor, he decided, was too good to turn down.

  allocate (AL-uh-kait), verb

  To distribute something for a specific purpose or to a specific person or group.

  When mom ALLOCATES tasks, I’m always the one who has to take out the garbage.

  allude (uh-LOOD), verb

  To make passing reference to. A person who gives a few details but does not describe an event openly and completely could be said to allude to that event. Similarly, someone who makes a brief reference to an incident in a certain novel is considered to have made an allusion to the work.

  I am aware of the incident you are ALLUDING to, Mr. Mayor, but I am afraid you have been misinformed about the events of that night.

  alluring (uh-LOOR-ing), adjective

  Tempting; possessing the power to entice.

  Although Kim was following a strict diet, the chocolates were too ALLURING for her to resist.

  ally (AL-lie), noun

  A confederate or fellow associate in a cause. Also, as a verb: to join with another in a common pursuit.

  With Jones as my ALLY, I knew the project was more likely to be approved.

  already (awl-RED-ee), adverb

  Before or at some previously specified time.

  My mother was ALREADY sitting in her place in church when I walked down the aisle.

  altar (ALL-tur), noun

  A platform in a church or synagogue. (See, for comparison, the entry for alter.)

  Father Miller stood and addressed us from the ALTAR.

  alter (ALL-tur), verb

  To cause to change. (See, for comparison, the entry for altar.)

  I could tell that the documents had been ALTERED; they featured two different sets of handwriting in two shades of ink.

  altruism (AL-troo-iz-uhm), noun

  Unselfish devotion to the well being of others.

  Mother Theresa’s life was marked by ALTRUISM toward the poor and suffering of the world.

  ambidextrous (am-bih-DEK-struss), adjective

  Capable of using both hands with equal skill. Ambidextrous is made up of two halves from old Latin words: “ambi,” meaning both, and “dexter,” meaning right. The idea is that an ambidextrous person is able to act as though he has “two right hands.”