More Rarely Used Words

There are countless words in any language.  We daily employ just a small fraction of them when speaking or writing.  It’s always a good exercise to increase our vocabulary. 

Here are a few interesting, and exceptional, words that we rarely use. 

Mellifluous.   This adjective describes sounds that are pleasant to hear.  The sound is not confined to music, but could be used to describe other sounds as well:  The combined chorus of the nearby brook, the quiet breeze, and the distant birdsong made the camping trip a mellifluous experience.

Adumbrate.   This verb, used much earlier in history than today, denotes offering an explanation, or a description, in a terse manner – or to foreshadow in a vague way:  It’s hard to consider seriously the prophecies of Nostradamus, when he merely adumbrates the future.

Plenary.   An adjective that defines absolute, unrelenting power or ability, usually by a committee or governing body: Although he possessed the plenary powers of his office, Abraham Lincoln rarely employed them without seeking the advice of his Cabinet.

Fossik.   An unusual verb that is synonymous with searching or rummaging through something: She decided that she didn’t want to fossick the abandoned house alone.

Proscribe.   A verb that is very similar in spelling to prescribe, but completely different in meaning.  To proscribe is to widely condemn a practice or person.  Anciently, the verb denoted destruction or execution of a person or group, and confiscation of property.  Its noun form is proscription:  The Nazi party proscribed its Jewish citizenry in the most horrific manner.  Its proscription remains one of the worst in history.   

Epigraph.   There is a name for everything, and the epigraph is a great example.  An epigraph is a quote, usually brief, at the beginning of a book – not the dedication, but the words of another – a poet, a philosopher, or the words of another writer that the author of the book wishes to place that has meaning for the book: An epigraph of Robert Frost – “and miles to go before I sleep” prefaces the new bestseller on the symbolism of dreams.

Uxorious.   The adjective describes a person who shows excessive fondness or attention on another: His uxorious manner toward his wife made everyone at the party feel uncomfortable.

Sibilance.   A noun that describes the enunciation of a hissing sound: The choir needed to take care not to emit too much sibilance at the encore, with fifty voices ending on the word “peace”.

Lugubrious.   An adjective that is defined as excessively mournful, or unable to refrain from great sorrow, often for an extended period of time:  Victorian fashion demonstrated the lugubrious manner in which many people in the 19th century handled mourning.

Stupefacient.   An adjective that describes a person who is unable to function, appearing dazed or barely conscious, due to excessive fatigue, grief, or the effect of a drug: Students who study all night for their final exams often find themselves stupefacient afterward.

Aegis.   A noun that denotes a special protection or support, usually implying that the backing is widespread and absolute: The aegis of the United States government provided strong defenses for Europe during World War II.

Concatenation.   A series of unrelated, random events that bring about a situation: The concatenation of the recession, exacerbated by the volcanic eruption, followed by a hurricane, created an unbearable aftermath for the Caribbean islanders.

Onomatopoeia:   A noun that is defined as a word denoting a sound.  The wind rushed through the open window with a whoosh, causing the door to slam with a bang.   Both “ whoosh ” and “ bang ” are examples of the often used but rarely defined onomatopoeia.

Purlieu.   A noun, from the French “ by the place ” denotes the usual haunt of someone.  It also can describe an area that surrounds a land or its border:  The restaurant down the street is my neighbor’s purlieu.

Contumely.   An archaic word that looks like an adverb but is, interestingly, a noun that means insolent and insulting gossip – in order to maliciously malign:  The contumely printed against George Meade after the Battle of Gettysburg still leaves a vestige of negativity toward the general.

Hypophrenia.   Do you ever feel blue, or sad, and don’t know the reason why you feel that way?  Then you are suffering from hypophrenia – the state of feeling mildly depressed or melancholy without understanding the reason for it.  Its adjective is hypophrenic : It’s better that I just stay home today, I’m feeling hypophrenic.   (It’s a quicker way of saying ‘I feel a bit melancholy but don’t know why I feel that way. )

Cognomen.   Do you know anyone with two middle names?  The second middle name is defined as a cognomen.  The secondary monikers are more common in Great Britain, especially among the aristocracy, but they are known here too.  Examples are J.R.R. Tolkien (John Ronald Reuel), the author of The Hobbit series, and our 41st U.S. President George Herbert Walker Bush.  Tolkien’s Reuel , and Bush’s Walker are cognomens.  The noun may also be used as a fancy synonym for nickname although  it is rarely employed as such. 

There are plenty of rarely used words that might deserve a resurgence in usage, and the above are good to know.  We can profit from using them once in a while, as expressing our language succinctly is what better enables us to utilize our intelligence.  It often keeps us from those frustrations that sometimes can be overwhelming, when we can’t adequately express ourselves.  Good language is just that – good.

Pass the word!