BOMBASTIC WORDS TO BE USED IN SPM ESSAYSAccoladepraise

Allusionindirect reference

Ambivalenceuncertainty; having 'mixed' feelings

Ambivalentunable to decide

Analogycomparison

Anecdoteshort account of something interesting; story

Anomalousodd; not fitting the pattern

Apparitionghost; something that 'appears'

Aspersionnegative feeling; damaging remark

Belligerenceaggression

Bombastictoo elaborate; exaggerated

Candidtruthful

Capriciouschangeable; fickle

Cherishedcared for; firmly-held

Clicheover-used expression

Conception1. idea; view. 2. beginning of pregnancy

Convolutedcomplicated or long-winded

Credencebelief

Cryptichidden

Currency1. widespread acceptance, 2. money

Decorousgood and correct (used of behavior)

Denunciationact of speaking out against

Derailedthrown off course

Derivativeunoriginal

Despoticacting like a tyrant

Detritusrubbish

Diaphanousvery thin and transparent

Dictumoften-used saying

Dilettanteperson who dabbles in the arts

Disdainedshowed contempt for

Dispassionateunbiased; fair

Dowageran elderly woman of elevate social status

Dubiousdoubtful

Egalitarianequal; believer in equality

Elicitdraw out (used mainly for information or feelings)

Elliptical1. shaped like an ellipse, 2. indirect

Epitomizesacts as a typical example of

Equivocatespeak ambiguously/vaguely

Evasivenesstrying to avoid something

Explicitlyvery clear; nothing hidden

Foragingsearching for food

Hypotheticalbased on guesswork; not proven

Iconoclastperson who goes against accepted authority

Idiosyncraticquirky; unique to an individual

Imponderablecannot be understood

Indecorousnot well-behaved; lacking in dignity

Indigenceextreme poverty

Ineptclumsy

Inherentinbuilt; genetic

Intricatecomplicated

Irrefutablecannot be proved wrong

Jingoismusing words to stir up exaggerated patriotism

Jubilantjoyful

Judiciousfair and equal

Lamentexpress regret over something

Loquacioustalkative; using too many words

Mendicancybegging

Metaphoricalnot literal; figurative

Milieuenvironment; surroundings

Mitigatedmade less severe

Nascentjust begun; in an early stage of development

Nostalgialonging for the past

Obtrusiveeasily seen

Orthographicalconcerned with writing and spelling

Ossifiedbecome fixed and rigid

Ostentatiousshowy

Palpablecan be felt

Pastoral1. concerned with the countryside, 2. concerned with the care a pastor gives to someone

Pedestrian1. boring (adj), 2. person who walks (n)

Perfidytreachery; betrayal

Profligacywasteful and immoral behavior

Prohibitivevery expensive

Prudencewisdom; caution

Pugnaciousaggressive

Purveyorone who sells something or causes something to spread

Resonanceecho

Respitebreak (from work etc.)

Resurgencerevival

Sparsethin; not thick

Stringentstrict

Succumbinggiving in to; falling under the influence of

Superciliousarrogant

Tenacityfirmness of purpose

Transcendgo beyond a limit

Variegatedmulti colored

Venerableworthy of respect

Viableworkable; able to live or grow

Visceralconcerned with the 'guts'; physical rather than mental

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The 100 Most Beautiful Words in English

AilurophileA cat-lover.

AssemblageA gathering.

BecomingAttractive.

BeleaguerTo exhaust with attacks.

BroodTo think alone.

BucolicIn a lovely rural setting.

BungalowA small, cozy cottage.

ChatoyantLike a cat's eye.

ComelyAttractive.

ConflateTo blend together.

CynosureA focal point of admiration.

DallianceA brief love affair.

DemesneDominion, territory.

DemureShy and reserved.

DenouementThe resolution of a mystery.

DesuetudeDisuse.

DesultorySlow, sluggish.

DiaphanousFilmy.

DissembleDeceive.

DulcetSweet, sugary.

EbullienceBubbling enthusiasm.

EffervescentBubbly.

EfflorescenceFlowering, blooming.

ElisionDropping a sound or syllable in a word.

ElixirA good potion.

EloquenceBeauty and persuasion in speech.

EmbrocationRubbing on a lotion.

EmollientA softener.

EphemeralShort-lived.

EpiphanyA sudden revelation.

ErstwhileAt one time, for a time.

EtherealGaseous, invisible but detectable.

EvanescentVanishing quickly, lasting a very short time.

EvocativeSuggestive.

FetchingPretty.

FelicityPleasantness.

ForbearanceWithholding response to provocation.

FugaciousFleeting.

FurtiveShifty, sneaky.

GambolTo skip or leap about joyfully.

GlamourBeauty.

GossamerThe finest piece of thread, a spider's silk

HalcyonHappy, sunny, care-free.

HarbingerMessenger with news of the future.

ImbricationOverlapping and forming a regular pattern.

ImbroglioAn altercation or complicated situation.

ImbueTo infuse, instill.

IncipientBeginning, in an early stage.

IneffableUnutterable, inexpressible.

IngnueA nave young woman.

InglenookA cozy nook by the hearth.

InsoucianceBlithe nonchalance.

InureTo become jaded.

LabyrinthineTwisting and turning.

LagniappeA special kind of gift.

LagoonA small gulf or inlet.

LanguorListlessness, inactivity.

LassitudeWeariness, listlessness.

LeisureFree time.

LiltTo move musically or lively.

LissomeSlender and graceful.

LitheSlender and flexible.

LoveDeep affection.

MellifluousSweet sounding.

MoietyOne of two equal parts.

MondegreenA slip of the ear.

MurmurousMurmuring.

NemesisAn unconquerable archenemy.

OffingThe sea between the horizon and the offshore.

OnomatopoeiaA word that sounds like its meaning.

OpulentLush, luxuriant.

PalimpsestA manuscript written over earlier ones.

PanaceaA solution for all problems

PanoplyA complete set.

PasticheAn art work combining materials from various sources.

PenumbraA half-shadow.

PetrichorThe smell of earth after rain.

PlethoraA large quantity.

PropinquityAn inclination.

PyrrhicSuccessful with heavy losses.

QuintessentialMost essential.

RatatouilleA spicy French stew.

RavelTo knit or unknit.

RedolentFragrant.

RiparianBy the bank of a stream.

RippleA very small wave.

ScintillaA spark or very small thing.

SempiternalEternal.

SeraglioRich, luxurious oriental palace or harem.

SerendipityFinding something nice while looking for something else.

SummeryLight, delicate or warm and sunny.

SumptuousLush, luxurious.

SurreptitiousSecretive, sneaky.

SusquehannaA river in Pennsylvania.

SusurrousWhispering, hissing.

TalismanA good luck charm.

TintinnabulationTinkling.

UmbrellaProtection from sun or rain.

UntowardUnseemly, inappropriate.

VestigialIn trace amounts.

WaftureWaving.

WherewithalThe means.

WoebegoneSorrowful, downcast.