The Highly Selective Dictionary for the Extraordinarily Literate (42 page)

Related words:
truistic
(troo-IS-tik) and
truistical
both adjectives
.

tsunami
(tsuu-NAH-mee)
noun

1. a series of huge sea waves caused by disturbance of the ocean floor or by seismic movement.

2. any comparably devastating force.

Related word:
tsunamic
(tsuu-NAH-mik)
adjective
.

turbid
(TUR-bid)
adjective

1. of liquids, muddy; thick; not clear.

2. unclear, obscure; confused; disordered.

Do not confuse
turbid
with
turgid
, which see.

Related words:
turbidity
(tur-BID-i-tee) and
turbidness
(TUR-bid-nis)
both nouns
,
turbidly
adverb
.

turgid
(TUR-jid)
adjective

1. of language or style, pompous; overblown, grandiloquent; not flowing easily.

2. enlarged; swollen and not flexible.

In characterizing someone's literary style, do not confuse
turgid
in sense 1,
overblown, grandiloquent
, with
turbid
in sense 2,
unclear, obscure
. The spellings of these two adjectives invite confusion, and even knowledgable writers and editors fall into error. Again,
turgid
is somewhat more common than
turbid
and thus is likely to be used mistakenly when the sense of
unclear, obscure
is intended. To review the bidding: Remember that while
turgid
writing is properly thought of as
overblown
or
grandiloquent
, such writing may at the same time also be considered
turbid
,
unclear
or
obscure
. Yet, these two adjectives are clearly distinguishable from one another, and in your writing you must take care in using them, showing readers by your context which of the two derogatory meanings you intend. In fact,
turgid
writing is so often
turbid
that your task is not simple. Good luck.

Related words:
turgidity
(tur-JID-i-tee) and
turgidness
(TUR-jid-nis)
both nouns
,
turgidly
(TUR-jid-lee)
adverb
.

turpitude
(TUR-pi-
TOOD
)
noun

1. wickedness.

2. vileness; depravity.

tyrannicide
(ti-RAN-
e
-
S
I
D
)
noun

1. the act of killing a tyrant.

2. a person who commits tyrannicide.

Related word:
tyrannicidal
(ti-
RAN
-
e
-S
I
D-
e
l)
adjective
.

ubiquitous
(yoo-BIK-wi-t
e
s)
adjective

being everywhere at the same time.

Related words:
ubiquity
(yoo-BIK-wi-tee) and
ubiquitousness
both nouns
,
ubiquitously
adverb
.

ukase
(yoo-KAYS)
noun

1. an edict of the czarist Russian government.

2. an arbitrary order.

ultra vires
(
UL
-tr
e
V
I
-reez)

of a court or public official, beyond one's legal power or authority.

ululate
(YOOL-y
e
-
LAYT
)
verb

1. lament loudly and shrilly; wail.

2. howl; hoot.

Related words:
ululant
(YOOL-y
e
-l
e
nt)
adjective
,
ululation
(
YOOL
-y
e
-LAY-sh
e
n)
noun
.

umbrage
(UM-brij)
noun

a feeling of being offended.

Related words:
umbrageous
(um-BRAY-j
e
s)
adjective
,
umbrageously
(um-BRAY-j
e
s-lee)
adverb
.

unbosom
(un-BUUZ-
e
m)
verb

disclose (a secret, a feeling, etc.), especially disclose one's opinions or thoughts in confidence.

Related word:
unbosomer
(un-BUUZ-
e
-m
e
r)
noun
.

unconscionable
(un-KON-sh
e
-n
e
-b
e
l)
adjective

1. unscrupulous.

2. contrary to what one's conscience feels is right.

3. outrageous.

Related words:
unconscionableness
noun
,
unconscionably
adverb
.

unction
(UNGK-sh
e
n)
noun

1. anointing with oil, especially as a religious rite.

2. pretended earnestness.

3. excessive politeness, especially in speaking.

unctuous
(UNGK-choo-
e
s)
adjective

1. having an oily manner.

2. smugly earnest or virtuous.

Related words:
unctuously
adverb
,
unctuosity
(
UNGK
-choo-OS-i-tee) and
unctuousness
both nouns
.

unequivocal
(
UN
-i-KWIV-
e
-k
e
l)
adjective

clear and unmistakable; plain; unambiguous.

Related words:
unequivocally
adverb
,
unequivocalness
noun
.

unfledged
(un-FLEJD)
adjective

1. of a young bird, not yet able to fly; not fledged.

2. of a person, inexperienced.

uninterested
(un-IN-t
e
r-
e
-stid)
adjective

1. not interested.

2. showing or feeling no concern; indifferent.

See
disinterested
for guidance in the uses of
uninterested
and
disinterested
.

Related words:
uninterestedly
adverb
,
uninterestedness
noun
.

unjaundiced
(un-JAWN-dist)
adjective

free of distorted or prejudiced views.

unmitigated
(un-MIT-i-
GAY
-tid)
adjective

1. not modified.

2. unqualified; absolute.

Related word:
unmitigatedly
adverb
.

unstudied
(un-STUD-eed)
adjective

1. natural in manner.

2. not affected; spontaneous.

untoward
(un-TORD)
adjective

1. inconvenient.

2. awkward.

3. refractory.

4. improper.

Related word:
untowardness
noun
.

unwitting
(un-WIT-ing)
adjective

1. unaware.

2. unintentional.

Related words:
unwittingly
adverb
,
unwittingness
noun
.

urbane
(ur-BAYN)
adjective

having manners that are smooth and polite.

Related words:
urbanity
(ur-BAN-i-tee) and
urbaneness
(ur-BAYN-nis)
both nouns
,
urbanely
adverb
.

ursine
(UR-s
I
n)
adjective

1. of or like a bear.

2. bearlike.

uxoricide
(uk-SOR-
e
-
S
I
D
)
noun

1. the act of killing one's wife.

2. a person who commits uxoricide.

Related word:
uxoricidal
(uk-
SOR
-
e
-S
I
D-
e
l)
adjective
.

uxorious
(uk-SOR-ee-
e
s)
adjective

1. foolishly fond of one's wife.

2. of an action, showing such fondness.

Related words:
uxoriously
adverb
,
uxoriousness
noun
.