The Words You Should Know to Sound Smart (11 page)

mien
(MEEN), noun

A person’s look or manner.

Dan’s country-bumpkin MIEN effectively hides his shrewd business tactics.

milieu
(mill-YOU), noun

Surroundings, especially surroundings of a social or cultural nature.

Poetry readings and coffee shops are not Andrew’s MILIEU of choice.

millenarianism
(mil-uh-NAIR-ee-uhn-ism)), noun

Any apocalyptic religious, philosophical, or social movement that predicts radical disaster, particularly at the end of the current millenium or the beginning of the new one.

As they worried about the impact of computer errors on the family fortune during the change from 1999 to 2000, the Cadburys briefly believed in MILLENARIANISM.

millenium
(mil-EN-ee-um), noun

A period of a thousand years.

Millicent takes a MILLENIUM to get ready for society balls, but the results, typically, are worth the wait.

minimalism
(MIN-ih-mull-iz-um), noun

A school of art in which “less is more”—clean and uncluttered paintings; sculpture with simple lines; fiction written in a lean and spare style; and music with uncomplicated scores and minimal instruments.

John Cage’s MINIMALIST composition
433
consists of four and a half minutes of silence.

minion
(MIN-yuhn), noun

A follower of someone in an important position.

“I caught this morning morning’s MINION, king- / dom of daylight’s dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his riding.” – Gerard Manley Hopkins, English poet and Jesuit priest

minutiae
(mih-NOO-shuh), noun

Small, trifling matters that one encounters on an average day.

The MINUTIAE of golf, tennis, and spa treatments at the club can become utterly tiresome.

misanthrope
(MISS-anne-throwp), noun

A person of anti-social nature who dislikes other people and thinks poorly of them until they give him reason not to.

Harold has become a veritable MISANTHROPE since Anabelle refused to attend the regatta with him.

misconstrue
(miss-kuhn-STROO), verb

To misinterpret or to take in a wrong sense.

The disagreement over the price of the yacht was due merely to the fact that David MISCONSTRUED the terms of the offer.

misogyny
(mih-SAHJ-uh-nee), noun

An intense hatred of women.

A lifetime of rejection had transformed him from a loving person into a rabid MISOGYNIST.

missive
(MISS-iv), noun

An official or formal letter.

He sent out a MISSIVE informing all employees that, henceforth, there would be no smoking in their quarters—but he forgot to remove the ashtrays.

mnemonic
(neh-MON-ik), adjective, noun

A rhyme, sentence, or other word pattern designed to help one memorize facts.

Roy G. Biv is the MNEMONIC for the colors of a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.

modernism
(MOD-er-nih-zum), noun

Describes a modern avant-garde style of painting, sculpture, or architecture.

“Post-modernism is MODERNISM with the optimism taken out.” – Robert Hewison, British historian

modicum
(MOD-ih-kuhm), noun

A modest amount; a small quantity.

moiety
(MOY-ih-tee), noun

A part, portion, or share.

When I go out to dinner with my wife and kids, I don’t order a meal for myself, as my dinner is a MOIETY from each of theirs.

monastic
(moh-NAS-tik), adjective

Relating to the practice of withdrawing from society to live a quiet, contemplative life, often dedicated to religious faith.

Saint Pachomius founded the first organized Christian MONASTIC community.

monistic
(moh-NIS-tik), noun

The idea that everything—including philosophy, religion, and mysticism—can be reduced to a single substance or explained by a single principle.

Of course we believe the world is MONISTIC. Wealth is the source of everything in the universe.

monotheism
(MOH-no-THEE-iz-um), noun

A belief in one omnipotent, omniscient God who is actively involved in the workings of both the physical universe that He created and the society of men who dwell in it.

Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are all MONOTHEISTIC.

moot
(MOOT), adjective

A fact or point that is uncertain or no longer relevant.

Whether to continue injecting growth hormones became a MOOT point as Alex grew from five feet to five-nine in eighteen months.

morass
(muh-RASS), noun

A confusing or troublesome situation from which it is difficult to disentangle oneself.

“One idea is enough to organize a life and project it / Into unusual but viable forms, but many ideas merely / Lead one thither into a MORASS of their own good intentions.” – John Ashbery, American poet

mordantly
(MORE-dant-lee), adverb

To behave in a negative, malicious, or damaging fashion.

“The ocean looked dead too, dead gray waves hissing MORDANTLY along the beach.” – John Fowles, British novelist and essayist

mores
(MORE-ayz), noun

The accepted norms of social behavior for the time and society in which you live.

Grant learned the hard way that MORES vary from country to country when he made the faux pas of trying to shake the hand of the Thai businessman.

moribund
(MOR-ih-bund), adjective

Lacking vigor; soon to be dead or defunct.

Ever since its head chef left for the Food Network, that gourmet restaurant has become MORIBUND and is likely to close soon.

morose
(muh-ROHSS), adjective

Gloomy and ill-humored.

Now that his parents have taken away his private plane, Anthony has become positively MOROSE.

motif
(mow-TEEF), noun

A dominant or frequently repeated theme, design, image, or idea.

The Whittingtons’ china has a diamond-shaped MOTIF that is a testament to how the family made its fortune.

mot juste
(MOW-zshoost), noun

The perfect word or phrase to communicate precisely what you mean to say.

Years of elocution lessons have left Paulina capable of leavening every occasion with a suitable MOT JUSTE.

multifarious
(mull-tea-FAH-ree-us), adjective

Varied, wide-ranging, versatile, covering many different areas or fields.

Yvonne’s MULTIFARIOUS talents include showing horses, lacrosse, and opera singing.

multilateral
(mull-tea-LAH-terr-ul), adjective

An agreement or accord requiring two nations or states to take the same position or action on an issue or problem.

A pacifist, he frequently spoke out for MULTILATERAL nuclear disarmament.

munificent
(myoo-NIFF-uh-suhnt), adjective

Characterized by great generosity.

The Pattersons are so MUNIFICENT that they give to charity year-round rather than merely at times when giving offers tax benefits.

muse
(MEWS), noun

The source of one’s creative or artistic inspiration, named after the mythical Greek
Muses
said to be patrons of the fine arts.

“O for a MUSE of fire, that would ascend / The brightest heaven of invention.” – William Shakespeare

mutable
(MYOO-tuh-bull), adjective

Subject to change at a moment’s notice.

myriad
(MIR-ee-ud), noun

An abundance of possibilities, selections, choices, or options.

The MYRIAD possibilities inherent in selling her ex-husband’s family diamonds for $10 million boggled Elizabeth’s mind.

nacelle
(NAY-sell), noun

The pod-shaped outer hull of an airplane engine.

Bentley always has his family crest imprinted on the NACELLE of each of his private planes.

nadir
(NAY-der), noun

Rock-bottom, the lowest of the low, the worst a thing can get or become.

We always have to attend the Wallingtons’ Christmas party, due to their standing, but, in truth, that dreadfully boring event is always the NADIR of our social calendar.

nanosecond
(NAN-oh-sek-uhnd), noun

A time period equal to one billionth of a second.

Amanda’s new diamond-encrusted watch not only has a second hand but also a NANOSECOND hand.

nascent
(NAY-sent), adjective

Having just been born or invented and still in the early stages of growth and development.

It’s always amusing to watch the nouveau riche during the NASCENT period of their adjustment to luxury.

nationalism
(NAH-shin-ul-iz-um), noun

The idea that citizens should take great pride in their country and support it to the hilt; extreme patriotism.

Albert Einstein called NATIONALISM “the measles of mankind.”

natter
(NAH-ter), verb

To talk ceaselessly; babble.

The way Emily NATTERS endlessly about her family’s new yacht is revolting to those of us who have owned several yachts over the years.

Nebuchadnezzar
(neb-yoo-could-NEZ-er), noun

A king mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible who destroyed Jerusalem and exiled the Israelites to Babylonia.

“And NEBUCHADNEZZAR was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.” – Daniel 4:33

nebulous
(NEB-yoo-luhs), adjective

An idea or plan that is vague and not well thought out; ill-defined; lacking concretes.

Jay’s plans for what he would do when he graduated college were NEBULOUS at best.

necessitate
(nuh-SESS-ih-tate), verb

To make necessary; to obligate.

“Each coming together of man and wife, even if they have been mated for many years, should be a fresh adventure; each winning should NECESSITATE a fresh wooing.” – Marie Carmichael Stopes, British scientist and birth-control pioneer

necromancy
(NEH-kroh-man-see), noun

The ability to gain new knowledge by communicating with the dead; magic and trickery in general.

“The so-called science of poll-taking is not a science at all but mere NECROMANCY.” – E. B. White, American author

nefarious
(nih-FARE-ee-us), adjective

Inherently evil, malicious, and unjust.

“You were preceded by your NEFARIOUS reputation,” the sheriff said to the gunslinger who had just sidled up to the bar.

nemesis
(nem-UH-sis), noun

An opponent one is unable to defeat.

neoconservative
(NEE-oh-kon-SERVE-ah-tive), noun

A liberal who has become a conservative.

We’ve removed Bradley from our list of social contacts because he has become such a NEOCONSERVATIVE.

neologism
(nee-AHL-uh-jizm), noun

A new word, or an “old” word used in a new way.

William Shakespeare coined such NEOLOGISMS as “gossip,” “swagger,” and “domineering.”

neonatal
(NEE-oh-NAY-tul), adjective

Of, or relating to newborn children.

Honestly, the Atkinsons treat their grown children as though they still require NEONATAL care. No wonder they never get invited to any of our galas.

neophyte
(NEE-uh-fight), noun

A beginner or novice.

nepotism
(NEH-poh-tiz-um), noun

The practice of a business owner or manager giving favorable treatment to his family; e.g., hiring his son for a summer job, giving the company’s advertising work to his wife’s ad agency, etc.

Rampant NEPOTISM in the company prevented most of the employees from rising very far up the ranks.

nether
(NETH-uhr), adjective

Located below or under something else.

“I know a lady in Venice would have walked barefoot to Palestine for a touch of his NETHER lip.” – William Shakespeare

nettle
(NET-uhl), verb

To provoke, irritate, or annoy.

“The comic spirit is given to us in order that we may analyze, weigh, and clarify things in us which NETTLE us, or which we are outgrowing, or trying to reshape.” – Thornton Wilder, American playwright and novelist

nexus
(NEK-sus), noun

A linkage or connection between two or more things.

“Every time a message seems to grab us, and we think, ‘I just might try it,’ we are at the NEXUS of choice and persuasion that is advertising.” – Andrew Hacker, American media critic

niggling
(NIG-ling), adjective

Demanding a great deal of care, attention, or time; or, trifling and insignificant.

People just don’t understand how difficult it is on us to attend to all the NIGGLING needs of our servants.

nihilism
(NIE-uh-lizz-uhm), noun

The belief that nothing can be known with absolute certainty, resulting in an intense skepticism of almost everything, especially religion and moral principles.

“NIHILISM is best done by professionals.” – Iggy Pop, American singer and songwriter

nimbus
(NIM-bus), noun

A halo of light surrounding the head of a saint or other holy person.

“Sally is such a goody two-shoes, you’d think she would have a NIMBUS on top of her head,” Nancy said to the girls.

nitid
(NIT-id), adjective

Bright and lustrous.

Brock and Jenny flew through NITID moonbeams in Brock’s new Gulfstream GIV personal jet.

noblesse oblige
(no-BLESS-oh-BLEEZH), noun

An act of generosity, charity, or kindness performed by a rich person for the benefit of someone less fortunate than himself, viewed by the giver as paying the universe back for his good fortune.

Donald gave the young man a job not out of a sense of pity or guilt, but out of a sense of NOBLESSE OBLIGE.

nomenclature
(NO-men-klay-cherr), noun

A labeling or naming system used in a specialized field or industry.

Even an activity as seemingly simple as macramé has a NOMENCLATURE all it’s own, indecipherable to the layperson or newbie.

nominal
(NAHM-ih-nl), adjective

A thing of relatively minor importance; an insignificant amount or volume of something.

For a NOMINAL fee, the store delivers your new widescreen TV to your home and sets it up for you.

nominalism
(NAHM-ih-nl-iz-um), noun

A philosophy that denies the existence of universal truths.

Some scientists suspect that, rather than being universal, the laws of physics may vary in different regions of the universe—a strong supporting argument for NOMINALISM.

nonagenarian
(none-uh-jen-AIR-ee-en), noun

A person in his or her nineties.

When you’re a NONAGENARIAN, it begins to occur to you that you could in fact live to be one hundred.

non compos mentis
(NAHN-KAHM-pohs-MEN-tiss), adjective

Crazy; insane; not in one’s right mind.

When Bryce suggested he was considering the ministry, rather than joining the family bond business, we were certain he was NON COMPOS MENTIS.

nondescript
(non-dih-SKRIPT), adjective

Lacking distinction; ordinary.

nonentity
(non-EN-tih-tee), noun

A person or thing considered completely unimportant.

Ever since Cassandra scorned us at the Brackingtons’ Thanksgiving gala, we have taken to treating her as a NONENTITY.

nonpareil
(non-pah-RAYLE), adjective

Without equal or peer.

We could tell Jeanette was a typical parvenu when she attempted to convince us that Bennington Posh Couture golf bags are NONPAREIL.

nonpartisan
(non-PAHR-tih-zuhn), adjective

Not in support of a particular political party or special interest group.

The Vallinghams pride themselves in being NONPARTISAN, but they have never been known to vote even for a moderate Democrat.

nonplussed
(none-plust), adjective

In modern usage, not being bothered by commotion; undisturbed by what is happening around you; in traditional usage, the opposite of the modern definition.

The construction on the bridge left him NONPLUSSED, because he enjoyed listening to books on tape in his car.

non sequitur
(nahn-SEH-kwit-ur), noun

A conclusion or statement that does not seem to follow from that which preceded it.

Hilary’s belief that she was now welcome in our group was, clearly, a NON SEQUITUR on her part.

nostrum
(NAH-strum), noun

An ineffective solution that is a quick fix or band-aid, covering up a problem or masking its symptoms, but never addressing its root cause for a permanent fix.

“America’s present need is not NOSTRUMS but normalcy.” – Warren G. Harding

nouveau riche
(noo-voh-REESH), adjective, noun

A person who has recently acquired wealth.

The most distinguished families in the club snubbed him because he was NOUVEAU RICHE.

noxious
(NOCK-shuss), adjective

Morally harmful and pernicious.

Even with his wealth, good looks, and charm, Steven has such a NOXIOUS personality that we always feel awful after spending time with him.

nuance
(NOO-ahnts), noun

A subtle difference in meaning, expression, or tone.

“[Venice] in winter is rich with the bittersweet NUANCE and somber beauty of the once-was.” – Terry Weeks, American travel writer

nubile
(NOO-bile), adjective

Of sexually developed and attractive youth.

We have explained time and again to Melinda that she must get a personal trainer like the rest of us to be truly NUBILE.

nugatory
(NOO-guh-tore-ee), adjective

Trifling, worthless, and ineffective.

We spend our time like most, with the NUGATORY pastimes of polo, tennis on grass courts, and weekends in Europe.

nullify
(NUHL-uh-fie), verb

To make something valueless or ineffective.

We keep our collections under lock and key because, sometimes, merely breathing on them NULLIFIES their value.

nymph
(NIMF), noun

A spirit linked to a particular place or element.