【百帖笔记领勋章】My notes of tricky words

Dux

pseudo
Definition of pseudo in English:
pseudo
Line breaks: pseudo
Pronunciation: /ˈsjuːdəʊ    /

ADJECTIVE

1Not genuine; sham:
a pseudo Georgian facade

2 INFORMAL Pretentious or insincere:
his lyrics sound like pseudo intellectual rubbish

NOUN (plural pseudos)

INFORMAL Back to top  
A pretentious or insincere person:
the undiscriminating, arty chat of a campus pseudo

Origin

late Middle English: independent use of pseudo-.

< Excerpt from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/ , a handy online dictionary.>

Tricky points: 4 out of 5, for its pronunciation and spelling.


Foreword:

In the beginning, this post was created as I came across some tricky words and would like to make notes of them somewhere. Freeoz stood out without doubt as it was a best website for me to keep the notes for the sake of its convenience in finding them out afterwards as long as I have internet access, not to mention that it was - and still is - one of my favorite websites.

Immediately after it was posted, I was impressed by the warmth of welcome of @yearshappy , and even more so by her overwhelming passion in fostering the English sub-forum and wholehearted encouragement in keeping the post updated.

To clarify, I am by no means an English guru yet as I only got average 7.5 in IELTS some years ago. The "tricky" words may instead turn out ordinary to you. They were "tricky" to me due to their pronunciations, spellings or usage at the time I posted them. Having said that, I am not planning to make the list anything like the "GRE vocabulary". It is customised, incomplete, and could be misleading. - Despite of these side effects, I do appreciate it should you find anything useful and let me know.

- I was just trying to be verbose in writing these, wasn't I?

yearshappy

Congratulations on Dux. You're the very first one to reach 100-post, a true role model and a tower of strength to many.
I have faith in you that you can surely achieve whatever you're determined to, since the self-discipline and courage that you've demonstrated on this accomplishment is the promise to all.
You'll receive a medal (an image one)from this campaign committee in a few days.

Dux

intractable
/ɪnˈtraktəb(ə)l/
adjective

hard to control or deal with.
"intractable economic problems"
synonyms:        unmanageable, uncontrollable, ungovernable, out of control, out of hand, impossible to cope with;
antonyms:        manageable

(of a person) difficult or stubborn.
synonyms:        stubborn, obstinate, obdurate, inflexible, unadaptable, unmalleable, unbending, unyielding, uncompromising, unaccommodating, uncooperative, difficult, awkward, perverse, contrary, disobedient, indomitable, refractory, recalcitrant, pig-headed, bull-headed, wilful;

The recursion involves multiple integrals on the space F(X), which are computationally intractable.

Dux

shmily

Is this a word? - Perhaps not. It's an acronym for "see how much I love you". One day it will become a word.

Couples usually write them on unsuspecting places so the other person can find them, thus showing them how much they love the other.

Once on person finds "shmily" somewhere, they will write "shmily" somewhere, and wait for the other person to find it.
The pattern goes on and on.

Shmily, my babe.

Dux

incessantly
Line breaks: in|ces|sant|ly
Pronunciation: /ɪnˈsɛsntli/

Definition of incessantly in English:
adverb

Without interruption; constantly:
she talked about him incessantly

The two groups bickered incessantly and publicly, and ultimately, Brown & Root took the unprecedented step of discharging the AMSOC advisors in May 1963.


bicker
Line breaks: bicker
Pronunciation: /ˈbɪkə/

Definition of bicker in English:
verb
[NO OBJECT]
1Argue about petty and trivial matters:
couples who bicker over who gets what from the divorce
2 literary (Of water) flow or fall with a gentle repetitive noise; patter:
against the glass the rain did beat and bicker
2.1(Of a flame or light) flash, gleam, or flicker:
the restless wheels whose flashing spokes bicker and burn

Dux

unassailable
Line breaks: un|assail|able
Pronunciation: /ʌnəˈseɪləb(ə)l/

Definition of unassailable in English:
adjective

Unable to be attacked, questioned, or defeated:
an unassailable lead

The other justification that the National Science Foundation gave for granting the contract to Brown & Root was their expertise in project management, which to that point was unassailable.



assail
Line breaks: as|sail
Pronunciation: /əˈseɪl/

Definition of assail in English:
verb
[WITH OBJECT]
1Make a concerted or violent attack on:
the Scots army assailed Edward’s army from the rear
1.1(Of an unpleasant feeling or physical sensation) come upon (someone) suddenly and strongly:
she was assailed by doubts and regrets
1.2Criticize strongly:
he assailed a group of editors for their alleged excesses

Origin
Middle English: from Old French asaill-, stressed stem of asalir, from medieval Latin assalire, from Latin assilire, from ad- 'to' + salire 'to leap'; compare with assault.

Dux

coffer
Line breaks: cof|fer
Pronunciation: /ˈkɒfə/

Definition of coffer in English:
noun

1A strongbox or small chest for holding valuables:
a battered leather coffer sealed with a waxen crest

1.1 (coffers) The funds or financial reserves of an organization:
there is not enough money in the coffers to finance the reforms

2A decorative sunken panel in a ceiling.


Origin
Middle English: from Old French coffre 'chest', via Latin from Greek kophinos 'basket'.

Herman Brown had been shuffling hundreds of thousands of dollars through Johnson and into the Democratic Party's coffers for the better pat of a year now.

Dux

modus operandi
Line breaks: modus op|er|andi
Pronunciation: /ˌməʊdəs ɒpəˈrandiː/  /-dʌɪ/

Definition of modus operandi in English:
noun (plural modi operandi ˌməʊdi)

[USUALLY IN SINGULAR]
1A particular way or method of doing something
1.1The way in which something operates or works:
THC has a quite precise modus operandi that taps into a specific brain function

Origin
Latin, literally 'way of operating'.

Connally was growing in power by the day, and although he could never be as dedicated to Brown & Root as Lyndon Johnson, he was a man intimately familiar with the company's modus operandi, and would certainly be attentive to the company's needs.

Dux

stertorous
Line breaks: ster|tor|ous
Pronunciation: /ˈstəːt(ə)rəs/

Definition of stertorous in English:
adjective

(Of breathing) noisy and laboured:
the breathing was becoming less stertorous
a stertorous sigh
Stertorous breathing may occur after epileptic convulsions, but does not typically occur after psychogenic non-epileptic convulsions.

Origin
Early 19th century: from modern Latin stertor 'snoring sound' (from Latin stertere 'to snore') + -ous.

Dux

forensic
Line breaks: fo|ren|sic
Pronunciation: /fəˈrɛnsɪk/

Definition of forensic in English:
adjective

1Relating to or denoting the application of scientific methods and techniques to the investigation of crime:
forensic evidence
2Relating to courts of law.

noun
(forensics)  
1Scientific tests or techniques used in connection with the detection of crime.
1.1 (also forensic) [TREATED AS SINGULAR OR PLURAL] informal A laboratory or department responsible for forensic tests.

Origin
Mid 17th century: from Latin forensis 'in open court, public', from forum (see forum).

Dux

culprit
Line breaks: cul|prit
Pronunciation: /ˈkʌlprɪt/

Definition of culprit in English:
noun

1A person who is responsible for a crime or other misdeed:
the car’s front nearside door had been smashed in but the culprits had fled
1.1The cause of a problem or defect:
low-level ozone pollution is the real culprit

Origin
Late 17th century (originally in the formula Culprit, how will you be tried?, said by the Clerk of the Crown to a prisoner pleading not guilty): perhaps from a misinterpretation of the written abbreviation cul. prist for Anglo-Norman French Culpable: prest d'averrer notre bille '(You are) guilty: (We are) ready to prove our indictment'; in later use influenced by Latin culpa 'fault, blame'.

Dux

glum
Line breaks: glum
Pronunciation: /ɡlʌm/

Definition of glum in English:
adjective (glummer, glummest)

Looking or feeling dejected; morose:
the princess looked glum but later cheered up

Origin
Mid 16th century: related to dialect glum 'to frown', variant of gloom.

synonyms:        gloomy, downcast, downhearted, dejected, disconsolate, dispirited, despondent, crestfallen, cast down, depressed, disappointed, disheartened, discouraged, demoralized, desolate, heavy-hearted, in low spirits, low-spirited, sad, unhappy, doleful, melancholy, miserable, woebegone, mournful, forlorn, long-faced, fed up, in the doldrums, wretched, lugubrious, morose, sepulchral, saturnine, dour, mirthless;

Dux

pronto
Line breaks: pronto
Pronunciation: /ˈprɒntəʊ/

Definition of pronto in English:
adverb

informal
Promptly; quickly:
put it in the refrigerator, pronto

Origin
Early 20th century: from Spanish, from Latin promptus (see prompt).

Dux

perverse
Line breaks: per|verse
Pronunciation: /pəˈvəːs/

Definition of perverse in English:
adjective

1Showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable:
Kate’s perverse decision not to cooperate held good
2Contrary to the accepted or expected standard or practice:
in two general elections the outcome was quite perverse
2.1 Law (Of a verdict) against the weight of evidence or the direction of the judge on a point of law.
3Sexually perverted:
an evil life dedicated to perverse pleasure
films depicting behaviour which seemed perverse or deviant were seen as more suitable for private therapy than for public consumption

Origin
Late Middle English (in the sense 'turned away from what is right or good'): from Old French pervers(e), from Latin perversus 'turned about', from the verb pervertere (see pervert).

Dux

convulsion
Line breaks: con|vul|sion
Pronunciation: /kənˈvʌlʃ(ə)n/

Definition of convulsion in English:
noun
(often convulsions)
1A sudden, violent, irregular movement of the body, caused by involuntary contraction of muscles and associated especially with brain disorders such as epilepsy, the presence of certain toxins or other agents in the blood, or fever in children:
toxic side effects like convulsions
febrile convulsions

1.1 (convulsions) Uncontrollable laughter:
the audience collapsed in convulsions

1.2An earthquake or other violent or major movement of the earth’s crust:
the violent convulsions of tectonic plates

2A violent social or political upheaval:
the convulsions of 1939–45

Origin
Mid 16th century (originally in the sense 'cramp, spasm'): from Latin convulsio(n-), from the verb convellere (see convulse).

Dux

tetanus
Line breaks: tet|anus
Pronunciation: /ˈtɛt(ə)nəs/

Definition of tetanus in English:
noun
[MASS NOUN]
1A bacterial disease marked by rigidity and spasms of the voluntary muscles. See also trismus.
This disease is caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani; Gram-positive anaerobic rods
2 Physiology The prolonged contraction of a muscle caused by rapidly repeated stimuli.

Origin
Late Middle English: from Latin, from Greek tetanos 'muscular spasm', from teinein 'to stretch'.

Derivatives

tetanize
Pronunciation: /ˈtɛt(ə)nʌɪz/
(also tetanise)
verb

tetanoid
adjective

Dux

cred
street credibility
Line breaks: street cred|ibil|ity
(also informal street cred)

Definition of street credibility in English:
noun

[MASS NOUN]
Acceptability among fashionable young urban people:
the Liverpudlian is to use his street credibility to try to get the anti-vandalism message across to schoolchildren

She did not care for blood and didn't think that fainting in front of this large vagrant would help her street cred. - Friday Barnes

Dux

parchment
Line breaks: parch|ment
Pronunciation: /ˈpɑːtʃm(ə)nt/

Definition of parchment in English:
noun

[MASS NOUN]
1A stiff, flat, thin material made from the prepared skin of an animal, usually a sheep or goat, and used as a durable writing surface in ancient and medieval times:
he borrowed a quill and a piece of parchment
his skin stretched like old parchment over his cheeks
[AS MODIFIER]: parchment rolls
1.1 [COUNT NOUN] A manuscript written on parchment:
a large collection of ancient parchments
1.2
(also parchment paper)
A type of stiff translucent paper treated to resemble parchment and used for lampshades, as a writing surface, and in baking:
line a 2 lb loaf tin with baking parchment
1.3 [COUNT NOUN] informal A diploma or other formal document:
she taught for two years till she got her parchment


Origin
Middle English: from Old French parchemin, from a blend of late Latin pergamina 'writing material from Pergamum' and Parthica pellis 'Parthian skin' (a kind of scarlet leather).

Dux

smudge
Line breaks: smudge
Pronunciation: /smʌdʒ/

verb

[WITH OBJECT]
1Cause (something) to become messily smeared by rubbing it:
she dabbed her eyes, careful not to smudge her make-up
1.1 [NO OBJECT] Become smeared when rubbed:
mascaras that smudge or flake around the eyes
1.2Make blurred or indistinct:
the photograph had been smudged by the photocopier and was by no means as clear as the original

noun  
1A blurred or smeared mark on the surface of something:
a smudge of blood on the floor
1.1An indistinct or blurred view or image:
the low smudge of hills on the horizon

Origin
Late Middle English (as a verb in the sense 'soil, stain'): of unknown origin. The noun dates from the late 18th century.

The parchment was damp, and enormous teardrops had smudged the ink so badly in places that it was very difficult to read.

Dux

doddery
Line breaks: dod|dery
Pronunciation: /ˈdɒd(ə)ri/

Definition of doddery in English:
adjective

Slow and unsteady in movement because of weakness in old age:
he’s a bit doddery on his legs and doesn’t get about much

They're a bunch of doddery old fools, and they were scared.

Dux

hallucination
Line breaks: hal|lu|cin|ation
Pronunciation: /həˌluːsɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/

Definition of hallucination in English:
noun

An experience involving the apparent perception of something not present:
he continued to suffer from horrific hallucinations

'Malfoy is not having hallucinations,' snarled Snape, and he bent down, a hand on each arm of Harry's chair, so that their faces were a foot apart.

Dux

mortal
Line breaks: mor|tal
Pronunciation: /ˈmɔːt(ə)l/

Definition of mortal in English:
adjective

1(Of a living human being, often in contrast to a divine being) subject to death:
all men are mortal
1.1Relating to humans as subject to death:
the coffin held the mortal remains of her uncle
2Causing or liable to cause death; fatal:
a mortal disease
figurative the scandal appeared to have struck a mortal blow to the government

2.1(Of a battle) fought to the death:
the screams of men in mortal combat
2.2(Of an enemy or a state of hostility) admitting or allowing no reconciliation until death:
a mortal foe
2.3(Of a feeling, especially fear) very intense:
parents live in mortal fear of children’s diseases

3 informal Conceivable or imaginable:
he knew every mortal thing you did
3.1Very great:
he was in a mortal hurry
3.2 dated Long and tedious:
for three mortal days it rained

4 Christian Theology Denoting a grave sin that is regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace: Often contrasted with venial.
she had committed a mortal sin


noun

1A human being subject to death, as opposed to a divine being:
capacities only possible of God rather than mortals
1.1 humorous A person contrasted with others regarded as being of higher status or ability:
an ambassador had to live in a style which was not expected of lesser mortals

Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin mortalis, from mors, mort- 'death'.

Snape went on, pressing his advantage, his thin face full of malice. 'Rules were for lesser mortals, not Quidditch Cup-winners...'

Dux

strut
Line breaks: strut
Pronunciation: /strʌt/

Definition of strut in English:
noun

1A rod or bar forming part of a framework and designed to resist compression:
a supporting strut
a spindly framework of long, slender struts, girders, and bracing wire

2 [IN SINGULAR] A stiff, erect, and apparently arrogant or conceited gait:
that old confident strut and swagger has returned


verb (struts, strutting, strutted)

1 [NO OBJECT, WITH ADVERBIAL] Walk with a stiff, erect, and apparently arrogant or conceited gait:
peacocks strut through the grounds
she strutted down the catwalk

2 [WITH OBJECT] Brace (something) with a strut or struts:
the holes were close-boarded and strutted


Origin

Old English strūtian 'protrude stiffly', of Germanic origin. Current senses date from the late 16th century.

Phrases

strut one's stuff
(informal) Dance or behave in a confident and expressive way:
tonight you’ll be strutting your funky stuff on the dance floor
next season he’ll be strutting his stuff in Europe

Strutting around the place with his friends and admirers... the resemblance between you is uncanny.

Dux

pirouette
Line breaks: pirou|ette
Pronunciation: /ˌpɪrʊˈɛt/

Definition of pirouette in English:
noun
chiefly Ballet
1An act of spinning on one foot, typically with the raised foot touching the knee of the supporting leg.
1.1A movement performed in advanced dressage and classical riding, in which the horse makes a circle by pivoting on a hind leg, while cantering.

verb
[NO OBJECT]
Perform a pirouette:
she pirouetted and made a bow

Origin
Mid 17th century: from French, literally 'spinning top', of unknown ultimate origin.

Harry doubled up with silent laughter as Crabbe did a kind of pirouette in mid-air, trying to see who had thrown it.

Dux

hatchet

Line breaks: hatchet
Pronunciation: /ˈhatʃɪt/

Definition of hatchet in English:
noun

A small axe with a short handle for use in one hand.

'Come on, Hermione, come and have some food,' Harry said, looking over at Ron and wondering whether he was in a good enough mood to bury the hatchet.

phrase: bury the hatchet, heal the breach, patch up a quarrel

Dux

tumultuous
Line breaks: tu|mul|tu|ous
Pronunciation: /tjʊˈmʌltjʊəs/

Definition of tumultuous in English:
adjective

1Making an uproar or loud, confused noise:
tumultuous applause

SYNONYMS
1.1Excited, confused, or disorderly:
a tumultuous crowd
a tumultuous personal life

Origin

Mid 16th century: from Old French tumultuous or Latin tumultuosus, from tumultus (see tumult).

They walked out onto the pitch to tumultuous applause.

Dux

pelt

Line breaks: pelt
Pronunciation: /pɛlt/

verb

1 [WITH OBJECT] Hurl missiles repeatedly at:
two boys pelted him with rotten apples

1.1Hurl (something) at someone or something:
she spotted four boys pelting stones at ducks

1.2 [NO OBJECT] (pelt down) (Of rain, hail, or snow) fall quickly and very heavily:
the rain was pelting down

2 [NO OBJECT, WITH ADVERBIAL OF DIRECTION] informal Run somewhere very quickly:
I pelted across the road


noun

archaic
An act of hurling something at someone.

Origin
Late 15th century: of unknown origin.


Phrases
(at) full pelt
As fast as possible:
I ran downstairs at full pelt.

Dux

eerie
Line breaks: eerie
Pronunciation: /ˈɪəri/

Definition of eerie in English:
adjective (eerier, eeriest)

Strange and frightening:
an eerie green glow in the sky

Origin
Middle English (originally northern English and Scots in the sense 'fearful'): probably from Old English earg 'cowardly', of Germanic origin; related to German arg.

Derivatives
eeriness
Pronunciation: /ˈɪərɪnəs/
noun

eerily
Pronunciation: /ˈɪərɪli/
adj.

Dux

epiphany
Line breaks: epiph|any
Pronunciation: /ɪˈpɪf(ə)ni/  /ɛˈpɪf(ə)ni/

Definition of epiphany in English:
noun (plural epiphanies)

1
(Epiphany)
The manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12).

1.1The festival commemorating the Epiphany on 6 January.

2A moment of sudden and great revelation or realization.

Then, as if we all have an epiphany at the same moment, we simultaneously yell out.
But I have to believe my epiphany was the decisive moment in my adult life.


Origin
Middle English: from Greek epiphainein 'reveal'. The sense relating to the Christian festival is via Old French epiphanie and ecclesiastical Latin epiphania.

Dux

allegorical

Line breaks: al|le|gor|ic|al
Pronunciation: /ˌalɪˈɡɒrɪk(ə)l/

Definition of allegorical in English:

adjective

Constituting or containing allegory:

• Jahangir commissioned some of the most powerful allegorical paintings to emerge from the Mughal School.
  
• In a society dominated by allegorical and historical painting, his scenes of contemporary life were regarded as a novelty.
• The film is rich in allegorical theme and symbolic imagery, transforming the most banal of materials into miraculous epiphanies.
  

synonyms:
symbolic, metaphorical, figurative, representative, emblematic