The Highly Selective Dictionary for the Extraordinarily Literate (18 page)

explicate
(EK-spli-
KAYT
)
verb

1. make clear.

2. explain (a literary work etc.); interpret.

Related words:
explicable
(EK-spli-k
e
-b
e
l),
explicative
(EK-spli-k
e
-tiv), and
explicatory
(EK-spli-k
e
-
TOR
-ee)
all adjectives
;
explication
(
EK
-spli-KAY-sh
e
n) and
explicator
(EK-spli-
KAY
-t
e
r)
both nouns
.

expostulate
(ik-SPOS-ch
e
-
LAYT
)
verb

1. make a friendly protest.

2. reason or argue with a person.

Related words:
expostulatingly
(ik-SPOS-ch
e
-
LAYT
-ing-lee)
adverb
,
expostulation
(ik-
SPOS
-ch
e
-LAY-sh
e
n) and
expostulator
(ik-SPOS-ch
e
-
LAY
-t
e
r)
both nouns
,
expostulatory
(ik-SPOS-ch
e
-l
e
-
TOR
-ee)
adjective
.

expunge
(ik-SPUNJ)
verb

wipe or rub out; erase; delete.

Related word:
expunger
noun
.

expurgate
(EK-sp
e
r-
GAYT
)
verb

1. purify (a book etc.) by removing objectionable matter.

2. remove (such matter).

Related works:
expurgation
(
EK
-sp
e
r-GAY-sh
e
n) and
expurgator
(EK-sp
e
r-
GAY
-t
e
r)
both nouns
.

extenuate
(ik-STEN-yoo-
AYT
)
verb

make (a person's guilt or offense) seem less by providing a partial excuse.

Related words:
extenuating
and
extenuative
(ik-STEN-yoo-
AY
-tiv)
both adjectives
,
extenuatingly
adverb
,
extenuator
noun
.

extirpate
(EK-st
e
r-
PAYT
)
verb

root out and destroy completely.

Related words:
extirpation
(
EK
-st
e
r-PAY-sh
e
n) and
extirpator
(EK-st
e
r-
PAY
-t
e
r)
both nouns
,
extirpative
(EK-st
e
r-
PAY
-tiv)
adjective
.

extrinsic
(ek-STRIN-sik)
adjective

1. originating from outside.

2. not essential or inherent; extraneous.

Related word:
extrinsically
adverb
.

factious
(FAK-sh
e
s)
adjective

1. having factions.

2. creating dissension; turbulent.

Do not confuse
factious
with
factitious
, which see.

Related words:
factiously
adverb
,
factiousness
noun
.

factitious
(fak-TISH-
e
s)
adjective

1. made for a special purpose.

2. not genuine, contrived, artificial.

Do not confuse
factitious
with its look-alike,
factious
.
Factious
has meanings related to
factions
.
Factitious
suggests
manufacture; contrivance
and
artificiality
.

Related words:
factitiously
adverb
,
factitiousness
noun
.

fainéant
(FAY-nay-ah
n
)
noun
, also given as
faineant
(FAY-nee-
e
nt)

1. an idler.

2. (
adjective
) idle, indolent.

Related words:
fainéance
noun
, also given as
faineance
(FAY-nee-
e
ns).

fakir
(f
e
-KEER)
noun
, also given as
fakeer

a Muslim or Hindu religious beggar regarded as a holy man.

Do not confuse
fakir
with
faker
,
someone who tries to deceive people
.

famous
(FAY-m
e
s)
adjective

See
notorious
.

farrago
(f
e
-RAH-goh)
noun, plural
farragos
or
farragoes

a confused mixture; a medley, a hodgepodge.

Related word:
farraginous
(f
e
-RAJ-
e
-n
e
s)
adjective
.

fascicle
(FAS-i-k
e
l)
noun

1. one section of a book that is published in installments.

2. in botany, a small bundle or tight cluster.

Related words:
fascicular
(f
e
-SIK-y
e
-l
e
r) and
fasciculate
(f
e
-SIK-y
e
-lit)
both adjectives
,
fasciculation
(f
e
-
SIK
-y
e
-LAY-sh
e
n)
noun
.

fatidic
(fay-TID-ik)
adjective
, also given as
fatidical
(fay-TID-i-k
e
l)

1. prophetic.

2. possessing prophetic power.

Related word:
fatidically
adverb
.

fatuous
(FACH-oo-
e
s)
adjective

1. foolish, silly; purposeless.

2. unreal.

Related words:
fatuitous
(f
e
-TOO-i-t
e
s)
adjective
;
fatuity
(f
e
-TOO-i-tee),
fatuitousness
, and
fatuousness
(FACH-oo-
e
s-nis)
all nouns
;
fatuously
(FACH-oo-
e
s-lee)
adverb
.

fealty
(FEE-
e
l-tee)
noun, plural
fealties

loyalty; fidelity.

febrifuge
(FEB-r
e
-
FYOOJ
)
noun

a cooling drink or medicine to reduce fever.

Related word:
febrifugal
(
FEB
-r
e
-FYOO-g
e
l)
adjective
.

febrile
(FEB-r
e
l)
adjective

feverish.

Related word:
febrility
(fi-BRIL-i-tee)
noun
.

feckless
(FEK-lis)
adjective

feeble and incompetent; irresponsible.

Related words:
fecklessly
adverb
,
fecklessness
noun
.

feculent
(FEK-y
e
-l
e
nt)
adjective

full of dregs or fecal matter; turbid; foul; stinking.

Related word:
feculence
noun
.

fecund
(FEE-k
e
nd)
adjective

fertile; prolific.

Related word:
fecundity
(fi-KUN-di-tee)
noun
.

feisty
(F
I
-stee)
adjective

1. exuberant; spirited; spunky.

2. pugnacious; aggressive; ill-tempered.

3. troublesome; difficult.

Related words:
feistily
(F
I
ST-i-lee)
adverb
,
feistiness
noun
.

fell
(fel)
adjective

1. ruthless, cruel, savage.

2. destructive.

Related word:
fellness
noun
.

feral
(FER-
e
l)
adjective

1. wild, untamed.

2. in a wild state after escape from captivity.

fervid
(FUR-vid)
adjective

ardent, intense; fervent.

Related words:
fervidity
(fur-VID-i-tee)
noun
,
fervidly
(FUR-vid-lee)
adverb
.

fetid
(FET-id)
adjective

stinking.

Related words:
fetidly
adverb
,
fetidness
and
fetidity
(fe-TID-i-tee)
both nouns
.

fictive
(FIK-tiv)
adjective

1. imaginary; fictitious.

2. related to the creation of fiction.

Related word:
fictively
adverb
.

flagitious
(fl
e
-JISH-
e
s)
adjective

deeply criminal; utterly villainous.

Related words:
flagitiously
adverb
,
flagitiousness
noun
.

flatulent
(FLACH-
e
-l
e
nt)
adjective

1. causing or suffering from the formation of gas in the intestinal tract.

2. pretentious; windy, puffed up.

Related words:
flatulence
and
flatulency
both nouns
,
flatulently
adverb
.

flaunt
(flawnt)
verb

display oneself or one's possessions ostentatiously.

Do not confuse
flaunt
with
flout
, which see.

Related words:
flaunter
noun
,
flauntingly
adverb
.

fledged
(flejd)
adjective

1. of young birds, with fully grown wing feathers; able to fly.

2. mature, trained, and experienced.

fleer
(fleer)
verb

laugh impudently or mockingly; jeer, deride.

Related words:
fleer
noun
,
fleeringly
(FLEER-ing-lee)
adverb
.

flotsam
(FLOT-s
e
m)
noun

1. debris or wreckage found floating on the water.

2.
flotsam and jetsam
, tramps, vagrants, etc.; odds and ends.