The Highly Selective Dictionary for the Extraordinarily Literate (10 page)

2. unite in a series or chain.

Related word:
concatenated
adjective
,
concatenation
(kon-
KAT
-
e
n-AY-sh
e
n)
noun

concinnity
(k
e
n-SIN-i-tee)
noun, plural
concinnities

elegance of literary structure or style.

concupiscent
(kon-KYOO-pi-s
e
nt)
adjective

lustful or sensual; eagerly desirous.

Related words:
concupiscence
noun
,
concupiscently
adverb
.

condign
(k
e
n-D
I
N)
adjective

severe and well-deserved.

Related word:
condignly
adverb
.

confabulate
(k
e
n-FAB-y
e
-
LAYT
)
verb

converse, chat.

Related words:
confabulation
(k
e
n-
FAB
-y
e
-LAY-sh
e
n) and
confabulator
(k
e
n-FAB-y
e
-
LAY
-t
e
r)
both nouns
,
confabulatory
(k
e
n-FAB-y
e
-l
e
-
TOR
-ee)
adjective
.

congelation
(
KON
-j
e
-LAY-sh
e
n)
noun

1. congealing; the state of being congealed.

2. a congealed substance; a coagulation or concretion.

congenital
(k
e
n-JEN-i-t
e
l)
adjective

1. of a disease or physical defect, existing at birth.

2. having by nature a specified characteristic.

See also
innate
.

Related words:
congenitally
adverb
,
congenitalness
noun
.

congeries
(KON-j
e
-reez)
singular
or
plural noun

1. a mass or heap.

2. a disorderly collection.

connote
(k
e
-NOHT)
verb

1. of words, imply meanings or ideas beyond the explicit meaning.

2. of facts, involve as a condition or accompaniment.

See
denote
.

Related words:
connotation
(
KON
-
e
-TAY-sh
e
n)
noun
,
connotative
(KON-
e
-
TAY
-tiv) and
connotive
(k
e
-NOH-tiv)
both adjectives
,
connotatively
and
connotively
both adverbs
.

conspectus
(k
e
n-SPEK-t
e
s)
noun, plural
conspectuses

a summary, digest, or synopsis.

constitute
(KON-sti-
TOOT
)
verb

See
comprise
.

contemporaneous
(k
e
n-
TEM
-p
e
-RAY-nee-
e
s)
adjective

existing or occurring at the same time; contemporary.

Related words:
contemporaneity
(k
e
n-
TEM
-p
e
r-
e
-NEE-i-tee) and
contemporaneousness
both nouns
,
contemporaneously
adverb
.

continual
(k
e
n-TIN-yoo-
e
l)
adjective

1. continuing over a long time without stopping or with only short breaks; intermittent.

2. always happening.

Do not confuse
continual
with
continuous
, which see.

Related word:
continually
adverb
.

continuous
(k
e
n-TIN-yoo-
e
s)
adjective

1. uninterrupted in time or sequence; continuing without a break.

2. of things, connected; unbroken.

Valid distinctions can be drawn between
continuous
and
continual
in characterizing attitudes and actions. Consider the definitions given for
continual
: 1.
continuing over a long time without stopping or with only short breaks; intermittent
. 2.
always happening
. Thus, one might correctly say, “Jack's
continual
drinking finally had taken its toll.” Jack's drinking surely has been
continuing over a long time
, and just as surely as it was
always happening
, it has been
intermittent
. No one drinks anything all the time. Now consider the first definition given for
continuous
:
uninterrupted in time; continuing without a break
. Thus, one might correctly say, “The minister's
continuous
interest in his congregants' welfare is never questioned.” Surely this interest was
uninterrupted in time
and
continuing without a break
. You would do well, therefore, to make
continuous
your adjective of choice for unending attitudes or actions;
continual
your adjective of choice for attitudes or actions that are interrupted from time to time.

Related word:
continuously
adverb
.

contumacious
(
KON
-tuu-MAY-sh
e
s)
adjective

1. insubordinate.

2. disobedient, especially to an order of a court.

Related words:
contumaciously
adverb
;
contumaciousness, contumacity
(
KON
-tuu-MAS-i-tee), and
contumacy
(KON-tuu-m
e
-see)
all nouns
.

contumelious
(
KON
-tuu-MEE-lee-
e
s)
adjective

insolent, reproachful.

Related words:
contumeliously
adverb
,
contumeliousness
and
contumely
(KON-tuu-m
e
-lee)
both nouns
.

coquette
(koh-KET)
noun

a woman who flirts with men lightheartedly.

Related words:
coquettish
adjective
,
coquettishly
adverb
,
coquettishness
noun
.

corrigendum
(
KOR
-i-JEN-d
e
m)
noun, plural
corrigenda
(
KOR
-i-JEN-d
e
)

a mistake to be corrected, especially an error in a printed book.

corrigible
(KOR-i-j
e
-b
e
l)
adjective

1. of faults or weaknesses, capable of being corrected or reformed; rectifiable.

2. of persons, open to correction.

Do not confuse
corrigible
with its antonym
incorrigible
, which means
unrectifiable; not open to correction
.

Related words:
corrigibility
(
KOR
-i-j
e
-BIL-
e
-tee) and
corrigibleness
(KOR-i-j
e
-b
e
l-nis)
both nouns
,
corrigibly
adverb
.

corybantic
(
KOR
-
e
-BAN-tik)
adjective

1. frenzied.

2. agitated.

cosset
(KOS-it)
verb

1. treat as a pet.

2. coddle, pamper.

costive
(KOS-tiv)
adjective

1. constipated.

2. slow to act.

3. uncommunicative.

Related words:
costively
adverb
,
costiveness
noun
.

coup de grâce
(koo d
e
GRAHS)
plural
,
coups de grâce
, same pronunciation

a death blow, especially one administered as an act of mercy to a dying person.

cozen
(KUZ-
e
n)
verb