The Highly Selective Dictionary for the Extraordinarily Literate (5 page)

a beekeeper.

Related words:
apiary
(AY-pee-
ER
-ee)
noun
,
apiarian
(
AY
-pee-AIR-ee-
e
n)
adjective
.

aplomb
(
e
-PLOM)
noun

imperturbable self-possession, assurance; poise.

Apocrypha
(
e
-POK-r
e
-f
e
)
plural noun

books of the Old Testament and New Testament considered not to be of inspired authorship and therefore usually omitted from Protestant editions of the Bible.

apocrypha
(
e
-POK-r
e
-f
e
)
plural noun

any writings or statements of doubtful authenticity.

apocryphal
(
e
-POK-r
e
-f
e
l)
adjective

1. of doubtful authenticity.

2. spurious.

Related words:
apocryphally
adverb
,
apocryphalness
noun
.

apodictic
(
AP
-
e
-DIK-tik)
adjective

incontestable because clearly established or proved to be demonstrable.

Related words:
apodictical
adjective
,
apodictically
adverb
.

apolaustic
(
AP
-
e
-LAWS-tik)
adjective

wholly devoted to enjoyment, seeking enjoyment.

apologia
(
AP
-
e
-LOH-jee-
e
)
noun

a written defense by a writer of his opinions or conduct.

apologue
(AP-
e
-
LAWG
)
noun

1. a moral fable.

2. an allegorical story.

aposiopesis
(
AP
-
e
-
S
I
-
e
-PEE-sis)
noun, plural
aposiopeses
(
AP
-
e
-
S
I
-
e
-PEE-seez)

in rhetoric, a sudden breaking off in speech, as if from inability or unwillingness to proceed.

Related word:
aposiopetic
adjective
(
AP
-
e
-
S
I
-
e
-PET-ik).

apostasy
(
e
-POS-t
e
-see)
noun, plural
apostasies

a total abandonment of one's religion, party, principles or the like.

apostate
(
e
-POS-tayt)
noun

a person who abandons his religion, party, cause or the like.

apothegm
(AP-
e
-
THEM
)
noun
, also given as
apophthegm
, pronounced identically

a short, pithy, instructive statement.

Related words:
apothegmatic
(
AP
-
e
-theg-MAT-ik) and
apothegmatical
both adjectives
,
apothegmatically
adverb
.

apotheosis
(
e
-
POTH
-ee-OH-sis)
noun, plural
apotheoses
(
e
-
POTH
-ee-OH-seez)

1. epitome, quintessence.

2. the highest development.

3. deification, the exaltation of a person to the rank of a god.

Related word:
apotheosize
(
e
-POTH-ee-
e
-
S
I
Z
)
verb
.

apposite
(AP-
e
-zit)
adjective

1. suitable.

2. well expressed.

3. pertinent.

Related words:
appositely
adverb
,
appositeness
noun
.

appraise
(
e
-PRAYZ)
verb

See
apprise
.

apprise
(
e
-PR
I
Z)
verb

inform, notify.

Do not confuse
apprise
with
appraise
, which means
determine the worth of
or
put a price on
or with
appraisal
, which means
evaluation
.
Apprise
is properly used in such sentences as “Be sure to
apprise
your clients immediately when we decide to downgrade our
appraisal
of any stock.”

aquiline
(AK-w
e
-
L
I
N
)
adjective

1. of or like an eagle.

2. of a nose, curved like an eagle's beak; hooked.

Related word:
aquilinity
(
AK
-w
e
-LIN-i-tee)
noun
.

arcane
(ahr-KAYN)
adjective

1. mysterious, secret.

2. obscure, esoteric.

Related words:
arcanely
adverb
,
arcaneness
noun
.

archetype
(AHR-ki-
T
I
P
)
noun

1. a prototype.

2. an original pattern from which copies are made.

Related words:
archetypal
(AHR-ki-
T
I
-p
e
l),
archetypic
(
AHR
-ki-T
I
P-ik),
archetypical
(
AHR
-ki-TIP-i-k
e
l)
all adjectives
;
archetypally
(
AHR
-ki-T
I
P-
e
-lee) and
archetypically
(
AHR
-ki-TIP-ik-lee)
both adverbs
.

argot
(AHR-goh)
noun

1. the jargon of a group or class.

2. slang.

Related word:
argotic
(ahr-GOT-ik)
adjective
.

Armageddon
(
AHR
-m
e
-GED-
e
n)
noun

1. any great and crucial conflict.

2. the final and completely destructive battle expected by some to be fought between nations.

3. in the New Testament, the site of the final battle that will be fought between the forces of good and evil.

armamentarium
(
AHR
-m
e
-m
e
n-TAIR-ee-
e
m)
noun, plural
armamentaria
(
AHR
-m
e
-m
e
n-TAIR-ee-
e
)

the aggregate of equipment, techniques, and other resources available to physicians and others.

arrant
(AR-
e
nt)
adjective

1. complete, unmitigated.

2. notorious.

Related word:
arrantly
adverb
.

asperity
(
e
-SPER-i-tee)
noun, plural
asperities

1. of a disposition or manner, harshness; sharpness.

2. difficulty, hardship.

3. unevenness or roughness of a surface.

asperse
(
e
-SPURS)
verb

attack reputation of (a person) with damaging insinuations or charges.

Related words:
asperser
noun
,
aspersive
adjective
,
aspersively
adverb
.

aspersion
(
e
-SPUR-zh
e
n)
noun

1. derogatory or defamatory criticism.

2. a damaging imputation.

3. the act of defamation or slandering.

asseverate
(
e
-SEV-
e
-
RAYT
)
verb

declare or assert earnestly or solemnly.

Related words:
asseveration
(
e
-
SEV
-
e
-RAY-sh
e
n)
noun
,
asseverative
(
e
-SEV-
e
-
RAY
-tiv) and
asseveratory
(
e
-SEV-
e
-r
e
-
TOR
-ee)
both adjectives
,
asseveratively
(
e
-SEV-
e
-
RAY
-tiv-lee)
adverb
.