syllogism

syl·lo·gism [sil-uh-jiz-uhm]

–noun

1.

Logic. an argument the conclusion of which is supported by two premises, of which one (major premise) contains the term (major term) that is the predicate of the conclusion, and the other (minor premise) contains the term (minor term) that is the subject of the conclusion; common to both premises is a term (middle term) that is excluded from the conclusion. A typical form is “All A is C; all B is A; therefore all B is C.”

2.	deductive reasoning.

3.	an extremely subtle, sophisticated, or deceptive argument.

from dictionary.com

fettle

fet·tle [fet-l]
–noun

1.	state; condition: in fine fettle.

–verb (used with object)

2.	Ceramics. to remove mold marks from (a cast piece).

3.	Metallurgy. a. to remove sand from (a casting). b. to repair the hearth of (an open-hearth furnace).

from dictionary.com

perspicacious

per·spi·ca·cious /ˌpɜrspɪˈkeɪʃəs/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[pur-spi-key-shuhs]
–adjective

1.	having keen mental perception and understanding; discerning: to exhibit perspicacious judgment.

2.	Archaic. having keen vision.

from dictionary.comPublish Post

codicil

cod·i·cil /ˈkɒdəsəl/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kod-uh-suhl]
noun

1.	a supplement to a will, containing an addition, explanation, modification, etc., of something in the will.

2.	any supplement; appendix.

from dictionary.com

atavism

at·a·vism (āt'ə-vĭz'əm)
n.

1. The reappearance of a characteristic in an organism after several generations of absence, usually caused by the chance recombination of genes.
2. An individual or a part that exhibits atavism. Also called throwback.
3. The return of a trait or recurrence of previous behavior after a period of absence.

from dictionary.com

internecine

in·ter·ne·cine /ˌɪntərˈnisin, -saɪn, -ˈnɛsin, -ˈnɛsaɪn/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[in-ter-nee-seen, -sahyn, -nes-een, -nes-ahyn]
–adjective

1.	of or pertaining to conflict or struggle within a group: an internecine feud among proxy holders.

2.	mutually destructive.

3.	characterized by great slaughter; deadly.

from dictionary.com

dystopia

dys·to·pi·a [dis-toh-pee-uh]
–noun a society characterized by human misery, as squalor, oppression, disease, and overcrowding.

from dictionary.com

pulchritude

pul·chri·tude [puhl-kri-tood, -tyood]
–noun physical beauty; comeliness.

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maladroitly

mal·a·droit /ˌmæləˈdrɔɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[mal-uh-droit]
–adjective lacking in adroitness; unskillful; awkward; bungling; tactless: to handle a diplomatic crisis in a very maladroit way.

from dictionary.com

suzerain

su·ze·rain [soo-zuh-rin, -reyn]
–noun

1.	a sovereign or a state exercising political control over a dependent state.

2.	History/Historical. a feudal overlord.

–adjective

3.	characteristic of or being a suzerain.

from dictionary.com

penumbra

pe·num·bra [pi-nuhm-bruh]

1.	Astronomy. a. the partial or imperfect shadow outside the complete shadow of an opaque body, as a planet, where the light from the source of illumination is only partly cut off. Compare umbra (def. 3a). b. the grayish marginal portion of a sunspot. Compare umbra (def. 3b).

2.	a shadowy, indefinite, or marginal area.

from dictionary.com

encomium

en·co·mi·um /ɛnˈkoʊmiəm/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[en-koh-mee-uhm]
a formal expression of high praise; eulogy: An encomium by the President greeted the returning hero.

from dictionary.com

denouement

de·noue·ment [dey-noo-mahn]
–noun

1.	the final resolution of the intricacies of a plot, as of a drama or novel.

2.	the place in the plot at which this occurs.

3.	the outcome or resolution of a doubtful series of occurrences.

from dictionary.com

intromit

in·tro·mit /ˌɪntrəˈmɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[in-truh-mit]
–verb (used with object), -mit·ted, -mit·ting.
to send, put, or let in; introduce; admit.

from dictionary.com

alacrity

a·lac·ri·ty [uh-lak-ri-tee]
–noun

1.	cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness: We accepted the invitation with alacrity.

2.	liveliness; briskness.

from dictionary.comPublish

murrain

mur·rain [mur-in]
–noun

1.	Veterinary Pathology. any of various diseases of cattle, as anthrax, foot-and-mouth disease, and Texas fever.

2.	Obsolete. a plague or pestilence.

from dictionary.com

assiduity

as·si·du·i·ty /ˌæsɪˈduɪti, -ˈdyu-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[as-i-doo-i-tee, -dyoo-]
–noun, plural -ties.

1.	constant or close application or effort; diligence; industry.

2.	assiduities, devoted or solicitous attentions.

from dictionary.com

disintermediation

In economics, disintermediation is the removal of intermediaries in a supply chain: "cutting out the middleman".

from dictionary.com

lassitude

las·si·tude [las-i-tood, -tyood]
–noun

1.	weariness of body or mind from strain, oppressive climate, etc.; lack of energy; listlessness; languor.

2.	a condition of indolent indifference: the pleasant lassitude of the warm summer afternoon.

from dictionary.com

saturnine

sat·ur·nine [sat-er-nahyn]
–adjective

1.	sluggish in temperament; gloomy; taciturn.

2.	suffering from lead poisoning, as a person.

3.	due to absorption of lead, as bodily disorders.

from dictionary.com

lycanthropy

ly·can·thro·py /laɪˈkænθrəpi/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[lahy-kan-thruh-pee]
–noun

1.	a delusion in which one imagines oneself to be a wolf or other wild animal.

2.	the supposed or fabled assumption of the appearance of a wolf by a human being.

from dictionary.com

ebullition

eb·ul·li·tion /ˌɛbəˈlɪʃən/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[eb-uh-lish-uhn]
–noun

1.	a seething or overflowing, as of passion or feeling; outburst.

2.	the state of being ebullient.

3.	the act or process of boiling up.

4.	a rushing forth of water, lava, etc., in a state of agitation.

from dictionary.com

encomium

en·co·mi·um /ɛnˈkoʊmiəm/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[en-koh-mee-uhm]
–noun
a formal expression of high praise; eulogy: An encomium by the President greeted the returning hero.

from dictionary.com

oleaginous

o·le·ag·i·nous /ˌoʊliˈædʒənəs/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[oh-lee-aj-uh-nuhs]
–adjective

1.	having the nature or qualities of oil.

2.	containing oil.

3.	producing oil.

4.	unctuous; fawning; smarmy.

from dictionary.com

comity

com·i·ty [kom-i-tee]
–noun, plural -ties.

1.	mutual courtesy; civility.

2.	Also called comity of nations. courtesy between nations, as in respect shown by one country for the laws, judicial decisions, and institutions of another.

from dictionary.com

mendacious

men·da·cious [men-dey-shuhs]
–adjective

1.	telling lies, esp. habitually; dishonest; lying; untruthful: a mendacious person.

2.	false or untrue: a mendacious report.

from dictionary.com

eschatology

es·cha·tol·o·gy [es-kuh-tol-uh-jee]
–noun Theology.

1.	any system of doctrines concerning last, or final, matters, as death, the Judgment, the future state, etc.

2.	the branch of theology dealing with such matters.

from dictionary.com

avaricious

av·a·ri·cious [av-uh-rish-uhs]
–adjective characterized by avarice; greedy; covetous.

from dictionary.com

surplice

sur·plice [sur-plis]
–noun

1.	a loose-fitting, broad-sleeved white vestment, worn over the cassock by clergy and choristers.

2.	a garment in which the two halves of the front cross diagonally.

from dictionary.com

beadle

bea·dle [beed-l]
–noun

1.	a parish officer having various subordinate duties, as keeping order during services, waiting on the rector, etc.

2.	sexton (def. 2).

from dictionary.com

antimonial

an·ti·mo·ny [an-tuh-moh-nee]
–noun Chemistry. a brittle, lustrous, white metallic element occurring in nature free or combined, used chiefly in alloys and in compounds in medicine. Symbol: Sb; atomic number: 51; atomic weight: 121.75.

from dictionary.com

Duh, I should have known this one.

propitious

pro·pi·tious [pruh-pish-uhs]
–adjective

1.	presenting favorable conditions; favorable: propitious weather.

2.	indicative of favor; auspicious: propitious omens.

3.	favorably inclined; disposed to bestow favors or forgive: propitious gods.

from dictionary.com

viands

vi·and [vahy-uhnd]
–noun

1.	an article of food.

2.	viands, articles or dishes of food, now usually of a choice or delicate kind.

from dictionary.com

salubrious

sa·lu·bri·ous [suh-loo-bree-uhs]
–adjective favorable to or promoting health; healthful: salubrious air.

from dictionary.com

vicissitude

vi·cis·si·tude [vi-sis-i-tood, -tyood]
–noun

1.	a change or variation occurring in the course of something.

2.	interchange or alternation, as of states or things.

3.	vicissitudes, successive, alternating, or changing phases or conditions, as of life or fortune; ups and downs: They remained friends through the vicissitudes of 40 years.

4.	regular change or succession of one state or thing to another.

5.	change; mutation; mutability.

from dictionary.com

moribund

mor·i·bund [mawr-uh-buhnd, mor-]
–adjective

1.	in a dying state; near death.

2.	on the verge of extinction or termination.

3.	not progressing or advancing; stagnant: a moribund political party.

from dictionary.com

propound

pro·pound (prə-pound')
To put forward for consideration; set forth.

from dictionary.com

ablution

ab·lu·tion /əˈbluʃən/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[uh-bloo-shuhn]
–noun

1.	a cleansing with water or other liquid, esp. as a religious ritual.

2.	the liquid thus used.

3.	a washing of the hands, body, etc.

from dictionary.com

sinecure

si·ne·cure /ˈsaɪnɪˌkyʊr, ˈsɪnɪ-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunc[sahy-ni-kyoor, sin-i-]
–noun

1.	an office or position requiring little or no work, esp. one yielding profitable returns.

2.	an ecclesiastical benefice without cure of souls.

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[Origin: 1655–65; beneficium) sine cūrā (benefice) without care; see cure]

from dictionary.com

noisome

noi·some /ˈnɔɪsəm/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[noi-suhm]
–adjective

1.	offensive or disgusting, as an odor.

2.	harmful or injurious to health; noxious.

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[Origin: 1350–1400; ME noy (aph. var. of annoy) + -some¹]

from dictionary.com

profligate

prof·li·gate /ˈprɒflɪgɪt, -ˌgeɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[prof-li-git, -geyt]
–adjective

1.	utterly and shamelessly immoral or dissipated; thoroughly dissolute.

2.	recklessly prodigal or extravagant.

–noun

3.	a profligate person.

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[Origin: 1525–35; <>prōflīgātus broken down in character, degraded, orig. ptp. of prōflīgāre to shatter, debase, equiv. to prō- pro-¹ + -flīgāre, deriv. of flīgere to strike; see inflict, -ate¹]

from dictionary.com

lede

lede
noun: the introductory section of a story; "it was an amusing lead-in to a very serious matter" [syn: lead]

from dictionary.com