January '10 List of Today's Word

Great words for the month of January. AMBAGIOUS, GALIMATIOUS, ASPERATE, MEIOSIS, RECRUDESCENCE, WAMBLE, EMPERY and many more. The monthly lists of Today's Word provide an easy way to find a unique word when you need it. Archives of Today's Word are under "Craft and Industry" on the right. One monthly list links to the next.

Join the Today's Word gang on Facebook every day for some fun in using the word of the day in a sentence. Some sentences are just plain fabulous, some are funny. Some start interesting discussions. Today's Word goes out on Twitter/Facebook at 7 a.m. Pacific time.

And no--I don't use these words in my books. Most are far too esoteric. I just think it's fun to learn new words. I choose words that are unusual but have meanings that could easily fit into an everyday conversation.

While you're here, I challenge you to write a sentence using at least six of the words below.

PLUVIAL(PLU-vee-ul) adj.--relating to rain; characterized by abundant rain.

RECRUDESCENCE (re-kru-DES-unts) noun--return of an undesirable condition/illness/bad idea after a time of quiet.

COMSTOCKERY (com-STOK-uh-ree) noun--prudish concern in hunting down immorality in books/pictures.

PLEIAD (PLEE-ud) noun--a group of illustrious or brilliant people or things, usually seven in number.

ADIAPHORISM (AD-ee-AF-or-iz-um) noun-indifference regarding religious or theological matters.

MICROPSIA (my-CROP-see-uh) noun--a vision defect in which things appear smaller than normal.

STENOTOPIC (sten-uh-TOP-ik) adj.--able to adapt to only a small range of changes in the environment.

PATROCLINOUS (PAT-roh-KLIH-nus) adj.--inherited from the father or paternal line.

PICKWICKIAN (pik-WIK-ee-un) adj.--marked by generosity or naivete; not to be taken literally.
REPRISTINATE (re-PRIS-tuh-NATE) trans. verb--to restore to an original state or condition, to revive.

VILLATIC (vil-LAD-ik) adj.--of or relating to a villa or village.

WAMBLE (WAM-bul) verb--to feel nausea; to move unsteadily or with a weaving/rolling motion.

EMPERY (EM-puh-ree) noun--absolute dominion, sovereignty.

SPOLIATE (SPOL-ee-ate) trans. verb--to thoroughly despoil.

OTIOSE (OH-she-os) adj.--at leisure; without profit; lacking use/effect; re: a deity--remote/aloof.

GRANGERIZE (GRANE-juh-RIZE) trans verb--to cut illustrations from a book, esp. to use in another book.

RUBICUND (ROOB-uh-kund) adj.--inclining to redness, ruddy.

POLYSTICHOUS (puh-LIS-ti-kus) adj.--arranged in two or more series or rows.

AMBAGIOUS (am-BAY-jus) adj.--roundabout, circuitous.

ASPERATE (AS-pur-ut) adj.--somewhat rough or harsh to the touch.

HYPAETHRAL (hi-PEE-thrul) adj.--having a roofless central space (in a temple); open to sky, outdoor.

SAXATILE (SAK-suh-TILE) adj.--living or growing among rocks.

DECREPITATE (dee-KREP-uh-tate) trans. verb--to roast something until it crackles or stops crackling.

RIGOLET (RIG-uh-let) noun--drain, irrigation ditch, canal.

DEXTRALITY (dek-STRAL-uh-tee) noun: right-handedness.

GALIMATIAS (GAL-uh-MAY-she-us) noun--confused, meaningless talk.

MEIOSIS (mih-OH-sus) noun--an understatement.

SYNCOPE (SING-kuh-PEE) noun-temporary stop of breath/circulation, with part or full unconsciousness.

COSTATE (KAH-state) adj.--having ribs; having ridges on the surface.

REBOANT (REB-uh-wunt) adj.--to resound; reverberating.

RETORTION (ruh-TOR-shun) noun--act of retorting; a turning, twisting, bending, or throwing back.

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