1. Sfax

sfaks
This word is a north African geographical name.
geographical entry
city and port in Tunisia.
Sfax was founded in 849 C.E. on the ruins of a Roman city.
2. inoculate

in-AH-kyuh-layt
This word came to English from Latin.
verb
to introduce microorganisms or vaccines into a living body especially in order to establish immunity to a disease.
Dr. Cooper knows that she will only be able to inoculate Frank if she bribes him with a lollipop.
3. bellwether

BEL-weh-thur
This word was formed in English from English elements.
noun
a leader or initiator.
Brooke's firm has long been considered a bellwether in the construction industry.
4. caisson

KAY-sahn
This word is from a word that went from Latin to Old Provençal to French.
noun
a watertight chamber that enables underwater construction.
When building the Brooklyn Bridge, workers regularly dug within a sunken caisson until they reached the bedrock beneath the East River.
5. severance

SEV-uh-runts
This word is from a word that went from Latin to French to English.
noun
the act of dividing or breaking up into parts.
The unprovoked attack led to the severance of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
6. condign

kun-DAHYN
This word is from a Latin word that became French and then English.
adjective
entirely in accordance with what is deserved or merited.
The attorney argued that expulsion was not a condign punishment for the student’s offense.
7. coqui

koh-KEE
This word is from Spanish.
noun
a small, chiefly nocturnal tree-dwelling frog native to Puerto Rico that has a high-pitched call and has been introduced into Hawaii and southern Florida.
According to a Taino folktale, the coqui's nightly calls are the heartbroken cries of a goddess who lost her lover to the wrath of the god of chaos.
8. asthmatic

az-MA-tik
This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into Latin.
adjective
caused by or affected with labored breathing.
Bryant makes light of his asthmatic attacks, saying that he is just "going over to the dark side" for a while.
9. Hitchcockian

hich-KAH-kee-un
This word is from an English name.
adjective
of, relating to, or suggestive of the cinematic style of an English-born American motion-picture director.
One Hitchcockian mark was to put himself in the background of a scene in the film, usually when the audience would least expect to see the director.
10. maringouin

ma-ran-GWAN
This word came from French, which took it from Tupi, an indigenous language of Amazonian South America.
noun
a small two-winged biting fly : a blackfly.
The itching and swelling from the bite of a maringouin can persist for days or even weeks.
11. Ficus

FAHY-kuss
This word is from Latin.
noun
a large genus of tropical trees or shrubs with a round or pear-shaped edible fruit.
The weeping fig, a houseplant of the genus Ficus, is commonly kept in homes and offices as a decorative element.
12. Zyzomys

ZAHY-zuh-mis
This word is from a Greek-derived Latin word.
noun
a genus of small Australian murid rodents characterized externally by short, rounded ears and long slightly tufted tail which is usually all white and by upper molar teeth in which the outermost of the usual three tubercles constituting the cross crests is practically absent.
Like lizards, members of the Zyzomys genus can partially shed their tail, helping them to escape predators.
13. gravitas

GRAV-uh-tahs
This word is from Latin.
noun
high seriousness (as in a person's bearing or the treatment of a subject).
Although known as a comedic actress, Amberley was confident she could the play the dramatic role with the necessary gravitas.
14. deprivation

deh-prih-VAY-shun
This word is from Latin.
noun
the act of taking something away.
Harrison complained to his parents that losing his cell phone privileges was a form of sensory deprivation forbidden by the Geneva Convention.
15. affeer

uh-FEER
Originally from Latin elements, this word passed from French to English.
verb
to assess or fix the amount of something, such as a penalty — used in law.
The judge decided to affeer the fine at $250, since it was the defendant's first infraction.
16. glacis

gla-SEE
This word came from French, which formed it from a Latin word.
noun
a natural or artificial slope used for defense against attack.
The barrels of several black cannons pointed out over the sloping glacis.
17. cladogram

KLAD-uh-gram
This word consists of originally Greek elements.
noun
a branching diagrammatic tree used in cladistic classification to illustrate phylogenetic relationships.
Biologists use a cladogram to illustrate the evolutionary relationships among various species of birds.
18. tannined

TAN-ind
This word is from a probably originally Celtic word that passed from Latin into French and then English, plus Latin- and English-derived elements.
adjective
treated with any of several soluble acidic substances that are used to convert skin and hides into leather.
The recently tannined leather remained supple and workable.
19. cornucopia

korn-uh-KOH-pee-uh
This word is from Latin.
noun
a design element consisting of a hollow horn overflowing with fruits and vegetables, also known as a horn of plenty.
Robert placed various kinds of rolls in the basket shaped like a cornucopia and set it in the center of the table.
20. pongee

pahn-JEE
This word is from Pekingese, a dialect of Chinese.
noun
a thin soft Chinese fabric that is usually tan color and is woven from raw silk.
Sap’s grandmother, who lives in China, sent her some beautiful curtains made of pongee.
21. henotheism

HEN-uh-thee-ih-zum
This word was formed in German from Greek elements.
noun
the worship of one god without denying the existence of other gods.
Historically, henotheism has been a transitional stage in religion between the worship of many gods and only one god.
22. indict

in-DAHYT
This word is from a word that passed from Latin to French to English.
verb
to charge with a crime by the finding of a jury in due process of law.
After much deliberation, the jury voted to indict the defendant on seven counts of theft.
23. Michigander

mish-uh-GAN-dur
The first part of this word is from an American geographical name, and the second part is from an originally English word.
noun
a native or resident of a state in the northern U.S. in the Great Lakes region.
Dr. Sietsema calls himself a “Michigander” with a note of pride in his voice.
24. unbeknownst

un-bih-NOHNST
This word is originally English.
adjective
happening without one's being cognizant, conscious, or aware.
unbeknownst to Olesya, her friends were planning a surprise party at the ranch.
25. manacle

MA-nih-kul
Originally Latin, this word went through French before becoming English.
noun
a shackle for the hand or wrist : handcuff.
Mrs. Davidson used pretty fabric and Velcro fasteners to fashion a manacle that would help keep her toddler from wandering away from her at the theme park.
26. peat

peet
This word is perhaps Celtic in origin, and then passed from Latin to English.
noun
a piece of turf cut to be used as fuel.
peat, an important source of fuel, covers about two percent of the total global land area.
27. consanguine

kahn-SANG-gwun
This word is from Latin-derived French.
adjective
having a common ancestor.
Though not consanguine, Loretta and her adopted sister were as close as could be.
28. acropachy

AK-roh-pak-ee
This word is made up of Greek elements and an English element.
noun
a condition marked by enlargement of the terminal bones of the hand or foot, thickening of the joint surfaces, and curving of the nails.
Some forms of acropachy are closely associated with Graves' disease, an autoimmune thyroid condition whose underlying cause is still unknown.
29. omnilegent

ahm-NIL-uh-junt
This word is from Latin.
adjective
reading or having read everything.
Charles was omnilegent in his research before he started writing his biography of the queen.
30. eudiometer

yoo-dee-AHM-uh-tur
This word was formed in Italian from Greek elements.
noun
an instrument for the volumetric measurement and analysis of gases.
Rodney managed to set the chemistry lab on fire because he did not understand how to use the eudiometer.
31. sturnine

STUR-nahyn
This word is from Latin.
adjective
relating or being similar to a starling.
Deb was fairly sure that the sturnine bird at her feeder was not, in fact, a starling.
32. conticent

KAHN-tih-sunt
This word is from Latin.
adjective
unaccustomed or indisposed to speak : not conversing or answering.
Lola, usually talkative, was uncharacteristically conticent after accidentally gluing her lips together during an ill-fated DIY project.
33. alms

ahmz
This word is originally English.
noun
secret agreement : secret cooperation for a fraudulent or deceitful purpose.
Helen donated most of her estate to the church and asked that her possessions be distributed as alms for the poor.
34. kennel

KEN-ul
Originally Latin, this word went through French before becoming English.
noun
a shelter for a dog or pack of hounds.
Roscoe plans to help his father build a kennel for their beagles.
35. troop

troop
This originally Germanic word passed through French before entering English.
noun
a group of soldiers.
The troop was directed to relocate to the southern border to help the infantry there.
36. castor

KAS-tur
This word went from a Greek mythological name to Latin to English.
noun
a creamy orange-brown substance with strong penetrating odor and bitter taste that consists of the dried perineal glands of the beaver that is used by perfumers and professional trappers.
Once a common food and tobacco additive, castor is rarely used today.
37. ginglymus

JING-glih-mus
This word is from Greek.
noun
a hinge joint that allows movement in one plane only.
In anatomy class, Jerry learned that there is a ginglymus connecting the humerus and the ulna in the human arm.
38. sewage

SOO-ij
This word is formed from a probably Latin-derived word that passed from French into English plus an English element.
noun
waste matter that is carried away by a drain.
The smell of sewage permeated the dilapidated building.
39. laccolith

LAK-uh-lith
This word is formed from a Greek word plus an originally Greek part.
noun
a mass of igneous rock intruded between sedimentary beds and producing a dome-like bulging of the overlying strata.
The Henry Mountains in Utah contain a well-known laccolith.
40. glint

glint
This word is originally English.
verb
shine usually by reflection : sparkle.
The morning sun caused the dew on the grass to glint like a field of tiny diamonds.
41. parterre

pahr-TUR
This word was formed in French from originally Latin elements.
noun
a garden with an ornamental arrangement of beds or plots separated by paths, especially one in which flowers are grown.
The grounds of the estate included an elegant parterre composed of perennials and boxwoods.
42. Cincinnati

sin-suh-NA-tee
This word is a U.S. geographical name.
geographical entry
city on the Ohio River in southwestern Ohio.
No trip to Cincinnati would be complete without a stop at the American Sign Museum and a trip to Graeter's for ice cream.
43. accolade

AK-uh-layd
This word came from French, which formed it from Latin and Latin-derived elements.
noun
praise or honor for something one did.
Martin received one accolade after another at the awards banquet.
44. croquignole

KROH-kuh-nohl
This word is from a French word.
noun
a method of waving the hair by winding it on curlers from the ends toward the scalp.
Jessica asked her hair stylist to wave her hair using croquignole.
45. Parmentier

par-mahn-tyay
This word is from a French name.
adjective
served or prepared with potatoes.
Nicolette worked all day to prepare her signature duck confit Parmentier for the dinner party.
46. cozen

KUH-zun
This word came from Italian, which formed it from a Latin word.
verb
to persuade dishonestly; to defraud.
Aaliyah’s father told her that he fears that the car dealer will cozen her, but she is well prepared.
47. rouille

ROO-ee
This word is from a Latin-derived French word.
noun
a type of peppery garlic sauce originating in the French Mediterranean that often accompanies fish dishes.
The food critic praised the new restaurant for its perfectly executed rouille.
48. millennial

muh-LEN-ee-ul
This word is formed from a Latin-derived English word plus an English element.
noun
a 1000th anniversary or its celebration.
In 2010, Vietnam celebrated the millennial of the founding of its capital, Hanoi, which was founded in the year 1010 with the name Thang Long.
49. psoriasis

suh-RAHY-uh-sis
This word is from Latin, which took it from Greek.
noun
a long-lasting, frequently recurring skin condition characterized by confined red patches covered with white flakes or scales.
Perry's doctor prescribed a topical steroid to treat his psoriasis.
50. anent

uh-NENT
This word is originally English.
preposition
in reference to : about, concerning.
Mila’s great-grandfather is always ready to share his thoughts anent the outcome of the 1948 presidential election.
51. silique

sih-LEEK
This word is from Latin-derived French.
noun
a two-valved, narrow, elongated, usually many-seeded capsule that opens by sutures at either margin and has the seeds attached to two parts of the carpel that bear ovules and are attached to the main wall.
Each silique on the overwintered kale began to pop open as the plant aged, scattering the seeds on the ground.
52. nervily

NUR-vih-lee
This word is probably from Latin plus an English element.
adverb
in a calmly courageous manner.
Taking a deep breath offstage, Rosanna nervily walked out, waved to the crowd, and began to sing.
53. duxelles

dook-SEL
This word is from a French name.
noun
a sauce made of mushrooms and tomato puree.
The saucier perfected his duxelles during his tenure at the French restaurant.
54. birdie

BUR-dee
This word is originally English.
noun
a golf score of one stroke less than par on a hole.
Eleanor putted well on the 18th hole and got a birdie.
55. Berber

BUR-bur
This word is from Arabic.
noun
a branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family comprising languages spoken by various peoples in North Africa and the Sahara.
Alex speaks enough of several dialects of Berber to ask directions in rural Morocco.
56. wasp

wahsp
This word is originally English.
noun
any of a number of colony-dwelling, stinging social insects that have biting mouthparts.
The well-known yellow jacket is a wasp with a hurtful sting.
57. adulation

a-juh-LAY-shun
This word went from Latin to French to English.
noun
gushy praise.
The pop star claimed not to need the adulation of her fans, but secretly enjoyed the flattery.
58. Gaspesian

ga-SPEE-zhun
This word is from a Canadian geographical name and an English element.
adjective
of or relating to a peninsula in southeastern Quebec, Canada, between the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River and Chaleur Bay.
The Gaspesian caribou is highly endangered due to forest loss and the encroachment of other prey and predator populations.
59. presentient

pree-SEN-chunt
This word is from Latin.
adjective
perceiving or feeling in advance of something.
Kate was presentient of her lost dog’s return.
60. Humboldt

HUM-bohlt
This word is a U.S. geographical name.
geographical entry
river in northern Nevada flowing into Rye Patch reservoir and formerly into a lake of the same name.
According to numerous sources, the Humboldt is the longest continental U.S. river to begin and end in the same state.
61. nomophobia

noh-muh-FOH-bee-uh
The first part of this word comes from an originally English word and an originally Latin word, and the second part is from Greek.
noun
fear of being without access to a working cell phone.
Yvette's nomophobia is so pronounced that she keeps a charger and two power banks in her bag at all times.
62. entrée

AHN-tray
This word came to English from French, which formed it from Latin.
noun
the main dish.
Noelle ordered roast duck with apple slaw and boiled potatoes as her entrée.
63. pear

par
This word came to English from Latin, which probably formed it from a word of non-Indo-European origin.
noun
a sweet fruit that is narrow at one end and bigger and rounded at the other and that grows on trees.
Caden tried not to cover everything with juice as he ate the ripe pear.
64. hennin

HEN-in
This word is from French.
noun
a tall headdress shaped like a cone often with a light veil attached at the top used by women in 15th-century Europe.
At the Renaissance fair, Arabella wore a hennin, its tall, pointed shape adding elegance to her costume.
65. affianced

uh-FAHY-unst
This word is from a Latin word that became French and then English.
verb
engaged oneself or someone else to be married.
The archduke of Austria affianced his daughter to the king of France.
66. chastise

CHA-stahyz
This word is from a Latin word that became French and then English.
verb
to scold.
Nick will enter the house quietly through the back door, for he knows his grandmother will chastise him if she sees his muddy clothes.
67. Déné

day-NAY
This word is from French, which took it from the Déné language.
noun
the language of an Athapaskan people occupying most of the interior of Alaska and northwestern Canada.
There is currently a linguistic hypothesis that Déné may have a relationship with the Yeniseian languages of Central Siberia.
68. diptych

DIP-tik
This word is from a Latin word formed from Greek parts.
noun
a picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets connected by hinges.
The museum exhibit featured a diptych that showed contrasting paintings of a bustling city and a calm countryside.
69. genome

JEE-nohm
This word was formed in German from originally Greek parts.
noun
a set of chromosomes and the genes they contain.
The human genome is made up of 3.2 billion bases of DNA, while the wheat genome has 16 billion.
70. whey

hway
This word is originally English.
noun
the watery part of milk that is separated from the curd in the process of making cheese.
whey is an excellent source of protein and is often fed to farm animals after the processing of cheese.
71. cassock

KA-suk
This word is from a word that went from Persian to French.
noun
a full-length close-fitting robe worn by clergy and those assisting in the service in some churches.
The acolyte's mother gasped when her child tripped on the hem of his overlong cassock.
72. sieve

siv
This word is originally English.
noun
a meshed or perforated tool or utensil that is used to refine dry material and strain liquid.
The operator of the gem mine handed each person a sieve and wished everyone good luck.
73. melamine

MEL-uh-meen
This word was formed in German from a part of unknown origin plus an element that probably went from Egyptian to Greek to Latin, plus an English element that went from Latin to French to English.
noun
a resin made from a white crystalline high-melting organic base and an aldehyde, characterized by resistance to heat and water and good electrical resistance, or a plastic made from such a resin.
Galina placed the hot casserole on a trivet made of melamine.
74. drahthaar

DRAHT-hahr
This word is from German.
noun
a dog of a German breed of wire-haired pointers.
Amanda enjoys taking her drahthaar bird hunting with her.
75. gules

gyoolz
This word is from a Latin-derived French word that then became English.
noun
the heraldic color red.
One should never arbitrarily change a coat of arms, because even the use of gules has a certain meaning.
76. hangar

HANG-ur
This word came from French, which probably formed it from a Latin word.
noun
a covered and usually enclosed area or a large shed for housing and repairing aircraft (as airplanes).
The huge, empty hangar made Ms. Bostock feel very small.
77. cardoon

kahr-DOON
This word is from French, which formed it from a Latin word.
noun
a large thistlelike plant related to the artichoke, the cooked stalks and thick main roots being used as food.
The cardoon, well-known in ancient Rome, has been a culinary treat for centuries.
78. caesious

SEEZ-ee-us
This word is from Latin.
adjective
having a blue color very low in chroma.
Theresa painted a caesious sky to finish up the landscape she'd been working on.
79. kalopanax

kuh-LAH-puh-naks
This word is made up of originally Greek parts.
noun
a showy Japanese tree of the family Araliaceae that has foliage like that of the castor-oil plant.
Seth was stunned to find a kalopanax growing in the wild in Connecticut just off the Appalachian Trail.
80. katana

kuh-TAHN-uh
This word is from Japanese.
noun
a single-edged sword that is the longer of a pair worn by the Japanese samurai.
Hiroko proudly showed the guests her great-grandfather’s katana, which was hanging on the wall.
81. harrier

HAR-ee-ur
This word is originally English.
noun
any of various slender hawks with long angled wings and long legs that hunt by flying low over open ground and usually nest on the ground.
The harrier is an indefatigable hunter of small field animals such as mice.
82. mambo

MAHM-boh
This word is from American Spanish.
noun
a complex, staccato, usually fast dance related to the rumba and of Cuban origin.
mambo was developed in Cuba in the 1940s and quickly spread to the United States.
83. tase

tayz
This word is formed from a word that is a trademark.
verb
to shoot (someone) with a gun that fires electrified darts that stun and immobilize.
The security personnel were sternly instructed not to tase peaceful protesters.
84. genealogical

jee-nee-uh-LAH-jih-kul
This word was formed in French from Greek parts before becoming English plus an English element.
adjective
relating to or concerning an account or history of the descent of a person, family or group.
A family tree is a representation of genealogical relationships.
85. dhurrie

DUR-ee
This word is from Hindi.
noun
a thick fabric or carpet made in India out of cotton.
The dhurrie in Asifa’s foyer is one she purchased during her trip to Delhi.
86. villi

VIH-lahy
This word is from Latin.
plural noun
small slender vascular processes, such as the minute fingerlike processes which cover the surface of the mucous membrane of the small intestine and serve in the absorption of nutriment.
villi are most plentiful toward the beginning of the small intestine.
87. exodus

EK-suh-dus
This word went from Greek to Latin.
noun
emigration : a mass departure from a place of residence or country.
The recent civil war prompted an exodus of civilians to neighboring countries.
88. swale

swayl
This word probably came to English from a word of Scandinavian origin.
noun
a low-lying stretch of land, such as a low area between two ridges of a beach or sandspit.
Reina watched the dog and his owner walk along the beach until they disappeared into a swale beyond the high curve of a sand dune.
89. slalom

SLAH-lum
This word is from Norwegian.
noun
skiing in a curvy course between obstacles.
Tully did the slalom down the mountainside.
90. onychorrhexis

ahn-ih-kuh-REK-sis
This word is formed from Greek elements.
noun
longitudinal ridging and splitting of the finger and toe nails.
Activities that dry out one’s nails, such as frequent hand washing and excessive use of polish removers, are among the causes of onychorrhexis.
91. Ner Tamid

nayr-tah-MEED
This word is from Hebrew.
noun
a light that hangs in front of and above the ark in the synagogue and is symbolic of the light of truth and the presence of God.
At 80 years old, Mr. Dresher considers it an honor to climb a ladder every day to tend to the Ner Tamid at Temple Beth Emet.
92. ageusia

uh-GYOO-zee-uh
This word came from Greek and Latin elements.
noun
the loss of the sense of taste.
The hot pizza burned Bart's tongue, causing him to experience temporary ageusia.
93. ophthalmologist

ahf-thal-MAHL-uh-jist
This word is from Greek.
noun
a physician that specializes in the study and treatment of defects and diseases of the eye.
Monica goes to the ophthalmologist once a year because she has a family history of glaucoma.
94. in medias res

in-MAY-dee-ahs-RAYS
This word entry is from Latin.
adverb
in or into the middle of a narrative or plot without the formality of an introduction or other preliminary.
Many Bond films open in medias res, usually with an elaborate action sequence.
95. merino

muh-REE-noh
This word is from Spanish.
noun
a fine wool and cotton yarn.
Darcy decided to use the leftover skein of merino to knit a pair of mittens.
96. caique

kah-EE-kay
This word is from Spanish or Portuguese.
noun
a small stocky brightly colored parrot native to northeastern South America.
Claude's pet caique has a bright green back, yellow throat, and black beak.
97. sessile

SEH-sahyl
This word is from originally Latin elements.
adjective
permanently attached : unable to move freely.
Sea anemones are sessile, forcing them to wait for their food to come to them.
98. Nabal

NAY-bul
This word is from a Hebrew name.
noun
a churlish person : a person who lives miserably in order to hoard wealth.
The minister urged each member of the flock to think and act with charity and not to become a Nabal.
99. phlox

flahks
This word is from Latin, which took it from Greek.
plural noun
plants of a genus of American herbs that have white, red, purple or variegated flowers, tray-shaped corollas, and three-valved capsular fruit.
Dean planted phlox along the sidewalk to attract butterflies.
100. proletarian

proh-luh-TER-ee-un
This word is from an originally Latin word plus an English element.
adjective
of, relating to or representative of a community’s lowest economic or social class.
Gina’s proletarian background proved to be an asset in her campaign for mayor.
101. combustible

kuhm-BUH-stuh-bul
The first part of this word is from an originally Latin word that passed into French, and the second part is from English.
adjective
able to catch fire and burn.
The long dry spell has made the brush and trees quite combustible.
102. forgeable

FOR-juh-bul
Originally Latin, this word went through French before becoming English.
adjective
capable of being heated and hammered into a particular shape.
The engineers developed new ways of making steel more forgeable.
103. statuesque

stach-uh-WESK
This word is from a word that went from Latin to French to English plus a French-derived English element.
adjective
majestic.
A statuesque sculpture stood in the town square.
104. aerocele

ER-oh-seel
This word was probably borrowed from a French word formed from originally Greek elements.
noun
an abnormal cavity or pouch that is swollen with gas — used in medicine.
The patient had an aerocele that formed as a result of surgery and needed further medical intervention.
105. sterling

STUR-ling
This word is originally English.
adjective
conforming to the highest standard : genuine.
The recipient of the Citizen of the Year award was cited for her sterling character and matchless energy.
106. flauta

FLAU-tuh
This word is from American Spanish.
noun
a usually corn tortilla that is rolled tightly around a filling (such as meat) and deep-fried.
Ellen enjoyed everything on the sampler platter, but her favorite was the spicy beef flauta.
107. austere

ah-STIR
This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into Latin and then French before becoming English.
adjective
simple and without decoration.
Martin’s living room was comfortable but austere, with Danish modern furniture and no pictures on the wall.
108. elicitation

ee-lis-uh-TAY-shun
This word is from Latin.
noun
a drawing forth : an extraction.
The prosecutor was an expert in the elicitation of testimony from witnesses.
109. cantor

KAN-tur
This word is from Latin.
noun
a synagogue official who sings or chants liturgical music and leads the congregation in prayer.
Jacob’s vocal talent led him to consider becoming a cantor.
110. Gondwana

gahn-DWAHN-uh
This word is from a Sanskrit word that was borrowed into English and then into German and back into English.
noun
a former land mass that was an independent continent around 600 million years ago and that included land that currently forms many modern continents.
The supercontinent of Gondwana existed from around the end of the Neoproterozoic Era until the mid-Jurassic period.
111. ape-ape

ah-pee-AH-pee
This word is from Hawaiian.
noun
a rhizomatous herb of Hawaii having a branched arrangement of flowers and bluntly heart-shaped leaves several feet in diameter that rise from a short fleshy crown.
ape-ape is sometimes also called "elephant's ear" because of its enormous leaves.
112. rubaiyat

ROO-bee-yaht
This word is from Arabic.
plural noun
poetic units of four lines.
Perhaps the most famous rubaiyat, attributed to Persian polymath Omar Khayyam, were published as a volume in the 19th century and become wildly popular in the fin–de–siècle English-speaking world.
113. stomach

STUM-uk
Originally Greek, this word passed through Latin and French before becoming English.
noun
a saclike expansion of the digestive tract in a vertebrate that provides different digestive enzymes and grinds and mixes food.
Andrea claims that there is always room in her stomach for ice cream.
114. Neapolitan

nee-uh-PAHL-uh-tun
This word was formed in Latin from a Greek word derived from an Italian geographical name plus a Latin element.
adjective
related to the city or people of Naples, Italy.
Merri enjoys going to an Italian restaurant where the waiters sing Neapolitan folk songs.
115. ciénaga

SYAY-nuh-guh
This word is from Latin-derived Spanish.
noun
a swamp or marsh formed by hillside springs.
Jolene and her friends played frisbee every Tuesday down by the ciénaga.
116. svarabhakti

sfahr-uh-BAHK-tee
This word is from Sanskrit.
noun
the introduction of a vowel sound in Sanskrit especially between r or l and a following consonant.
In modern usage, svarabhakti is used more broadly for vowel sound insertion between any consonants rather than just an insertion between r or l and a following consonant.
117. carcajou

KAHR-kuh-joo
This word is from a word that went from Algonquian Montagnais [mahn-tun-YAY] to French.
noun
a carnivorous mammal of North America, Europe, and Asia that is dark brown with a light band on each side of the body and is noted for its strength : a wolverine.
Though the carcajou mainly eats carrion and smaller animals, it can kill an adult deer many times larger than itself.
118. Dubhe

DOOB-heh
The origin of this word is not given.
noun
a group of stars of the second magnitude that is the second brightest component of the constellation Ursa Major.
Two of the stars of Ursa Major, Dubhe and Merak, are called the pointers because a line drawn between them will direct one to the North Star.
119. gyascutus

gahy-uh-SKOO-tus
This word is of unknown origin.
noun
a large, imaginary creature having four legs, of which one side are longer than the other for walking on hills.
Jenny sketched a gyascutus grazing on a steep hillside for the cover of her report on fictitious animals.
120. gegenschein

GAYG-un-shahyn
This word is from originally German elements.
noun
a faint elliptical nebulous light in the sky opposite the sun — called also counterglow.
The gegenschein is lost in the light of the Milky Way in the summer and winter months.
121. pendentive

pen-DEN-tiv
This word came from French, which formed it from a Latin word.
noun
any supporting member at the corner of a square or polygonal plan for making the transition to a circular or octagonal plan.
The ingenious pendentive attracted the attention of the architectural historian.
122. Nicoise

nee-SWAHZ
This word is from a French word derived from a French geographical name.
adjective
served with the ingredients (such as olives, tomatoes, tuna and green beans) found in a salad of the same name.
Elizabeth loves olives and tomatoes and is notorious for tweaking many recipes into dishes Nicoise.
123. thwartwise

THWORT-wahyz
The first part of this word is from an originally Old Norse word that then passed into English, and the second part is originally English.
adverb
crosswise.
During the ice storm, a huge tree fell thwartwise across the path to the lake.
124. politick

PAH-luh-tik
This word is from Greek.
verb
to engage in discussion or activity relating to matters of government.
The student body president decided that he would politick with the university’s board of regents on the matter of student financial aid.
125. ancien régime

ahns-yahn-ray-ZHEEM
This word is from French.
noun
a system or mode no longer prevailing.
Wilfie became the head of the homeowners' association in March and immediately began reversing the draconian rules of the ancien régime.
126. benison

BEH-nuh-sun
This word is from a Latin word that became French and then English.
noun
blessing.
The rich soil left behind by the floods was a benison to local farmers.
127. kangri

KUNG-gree
This word is from Hindi.
noun
in Kashmir, a wicker basket that is small, portable, lined in pottery and used as a warming stove.
Traditionally, a kangri would be worn tucked into the clothing to keep the cold away.
128. schwegel

SHFAY-gul
This word is from German.
noun
a wind instrument; specifically: a pipe.
The schwegel is an important part of traditional Bavarian folk music, usually played alongside the tabor drum.
129. lovage

LUV-ij
Originally from Latin, this word passed through French before becoming English.
noun
a coarse herb of rocky or marshy coasts with fleshy leaves sometimes used as a potherb.
Juliet planted lovage, basil, and thyme in her herb garden.
130. harbinger

HAHR-bun-jur
This word is from an originally Germanic word that became French before becoming English.
noun
something that foreshadows or predicts what is to come.
The howling wind was the harbinger of a storm.
131. Barylambda

bar-uh-LAM-duh
This word is from Greek-derived Latin.
noun
a genus of large powerful herbivorous mammals from the upper Paleocene of Colorado that have tails like kangaroos and small heads.
Animals of the genus Barylambda, it is thought, could potentially use their powerful tails as supports to help raise themselves onto their hind legs.
132. fauchard

foh-SHAHR
The first part of this word is originally Latin and went through French, and the second part is from French.
noun
a long-handled medieval weapon with a long convex edge.
The fauchard was one of the most formidable weapons used from the 13th to the 16th centuries.
133. poudre B

pau-dur-BEE
This word was formed in French from an originally Latin word and a part derived from a French name.
noun
a smokeless French rifle powder consisting essentially of about two thirds guncotton and one third pyroxylin.
Created in 1884, poudre B was the first practical smokeless gunpowder.
134. quinary

KWAHY-nuh-ree
This word is from Latin.
adjective
consisting of five : arranged by fives.
For fun, the 4th grade class renumbered all the schools' rooms using the quinary system.
135. flaneur

flah-NUR
This word is from Old Norse-derived French and a Latin-derived French element.
noun
one who dabbles in intellectual matters superficially.
Morgan denied he was a flaneur, despite his college transcript recording two years of only survey and introductory courses.
136. parley

PAHR-lee
This word came from French, which formed it from a Latin word.
noun
a conversation.
Mr. Elton and Harriet had a very interesting parley about what could be done and should be done.
137. catarrh

kuh-TAHR
This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into Latin and then French.
noun
irritation of a mucous membrane that results in congestion.
catarrh can be brought on by infection, allergies, dry air or chemical irritants.
138. Philistine

FIH-luh-steen
This word is from a word that went from Hebrew to Greek to Latin to English.
adjective
unaware of aesthetics : insensitive.
Nineteenth-century essayists derided the English middle class as vulgar and Philistine.
139. subsistence

sub-SIS-tuns
This word is from Latin.
noun
a mode of obtaining the necessities of life : livelihood.
Brianne moved to Costa Rica after graduating from college to gain experience in subsistence farming.
140. eucalyptus

yoo-kuh-LIP-tus
This word is from originally Greek parts.
noun
an evergreen tree native to Australia that is a source of oils and resins.
The eucalyptus is the koala's main source of food.
141. oryx

OH-riks
This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into Latin.
noun
any antelope of a genus of large African antelopes having long cylindrical nearly straight horns projecting backward.
The adaptations of the Arabian oryx to the desert include its predominantly white coat to reflect heat and its splayed hooves for walking on sand.
142. Apabhramsa

up-uh-BRUM-shuh
This word is from Sanskrit.
noun
an Indic language that was used as a vehicle for poetry from approximately the 6th to the 12th centuries and that shows linguistic changes not found in Prakrit.
Many of the prominent texts written in Apabhramsa involve mythology and legends related to Jainism.
143. machicolation

muh-chik-uh-LAY-shun
This word is from a French word of imitative origin plus a Latin element.
noun
an opening in a structure used for the purpose of shooting at or attacking assailants.
When the castle was stormed in the movie, the defenders poured boiling oil through a machicolation onto the enemy attacking the gates.
144. piatti

PYAH-tee
This word is from a word that went from Greek to Latin to Italian.
plural noun
cymbals.
The composer should exercise restraint when writing for piatti as the instrument can easily be overused.
145. vitiate

VISH-ee-ayt
This word is from Latin.
verb
to make defective or incomplete : spoil.
Freddie argued that Clark’s poor acting ability would vitiate the school play.
146. Sirius

SIR-ee-us
This word passed from Greek to Latin to English.
noun
in astronomy, a white star visible in the constellation Canis Major that is the brightest star in the night sky.
Sirius, also called the Dog Star, is actually a pair of stars orbiting around a single center of gravity.
147. cauterize

KAHT-uh-rahyz
This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into Latin and then French.
verb
to seal off a wound by burning or searing.
The eye surgeon explained that she would cauterize the abnormal blood vessels in the retina with a laser.
148. teraphim

TER-uh-fim
This word is from Hebrew.
plural noun
images representing household gods among the ancient Jews and other Semitic peoples and later used in divination and as talismanic figures.
Some in Orpah's family believed that their household teraphim might someday speak and answer questions.
149. bhikshuni

BIK-shuh-nee
This word is from Sanskrit.
noun
a woman belonging to a Hindu or Buddhist monastic order : a Hindu or Buddhist nun.
The bhikshuni shaved her head and donned orange robes to mark her entry into the order.
150. guerite

gay-REET
This word is from a French word, which was perhaps from a Germanic-derived Old Provençal word.
noun
a turret or shelter for a soldier standing guard on an old fort.
Most of the crumbling fort was in disrepair, but Max could just make out part of the guerite where the corners of the wall met.
151. farthingale

FAHR-thing-gayl
This word is from a word that went from Latin to Spanish to French.
noun
a support (as of hoops or a padded roll) worn especially in the 16th century beneath a skirt to extend it at the hip line.
No lady-in-waiting at the court of Queen Elizabeth I would have been seen in public without a farthingale.
152. renitency

REN-uh-tun-see
This word is from Latin.
noun
resistance, opposition.
The student’s renitency to accept the consequences of his actions led to his expulsion.
153. canteen

kan-TEEN
This word is from a perhaps Celtic-derived Latin word that became Italian and then French.
noun
a cloth-covered container for water or other liquids.
Before her camping trip, Sylvia checked to make sure her canteen and compass were in her backpack.
154. atresia

uh-TREE-zhuh
This word is from Greek-derived Latin.
noun
absence or closure of a natural passage of the body.
Biliary atresia is a childhood liver disease involving missing bile ducts, which can sometimes be treated through surgery.
155. millegrain

MIL-grayn
This word was formed in French from originally Latin parts.
adjective
of a gem setting: having the edge shaped into a fine beading.
The ring Marissa inherited from her great-grandmother has a large diamond and a band decorated with a millegrain edge.
156. atresia

uh-TREE-zhuh
This word is from Greek-derived Latin.
noun
absence or closure of a natural passage of the body.
Biliary atresia is a childhood liver disease involving missing bile ducts, which can sometimes be treated through surgery.
157. staid

stayd
Originally Latin, this word went through French before becoming English.
adjective
grave.
Scrooge was a stingy, staid curmudgeon.
158. burelage

bur-uh-LAHZH
This word is from French, which probably formed it from an ultimately Latin word, and a Latin and French derived English element.
noun
a fine network or pattern of lines or dots printed on the face or back of stamp paper as a protection against fraudulent changes.
Joe’s stamp collection includes two forgeries that have neither burelage nor watermark.
159. exogenous

ek-SAH-juh-nus
This word consists of two Greek-derived elements that passed into French plus an English element.
adjective
externally caused.
The politician argued that the labor strife in his city was exogenous in nature.
160. impresario

im-pruh-SAHR-ee-oh
This word is from Italian, which probably formed it from Latin parts.
noun
the manager or conductor of an opera or concert company.
The impresario arranged for the opera company to perform in several cities.
161. arraign

uh-RAYN
This word is from a Latin word that became French and then English.
verb
to hold a court session in which a charge is announced and the individual is expected to respond.
Candace lost several nights’ sleep after becoming convinced that the legal system would arraign her on a charge of removing the tags from her pillows.
162. supercilious

soo-pur-SIL-ee-us
This word is from Latin.
adjective
haughty.
The supercilious senior ignored the first-year student.
163. muliebrity

myoo-lee-EB-ruh-tee
This word is from Latin.
noun
the state of being a woman or of possessing full womanly powers.
The new mother was awed that her body had sustained the life of such a beautiful infant, and in that moment, she appreciated the wonders of her own muliebrity.
164. snitch

snich
This word is of unknown origin.
noun
one who gives incriminating evidence against someone, especially an associate.
A snitch tipped the police as to where they could find the robbery suspect.
165. utilitarian

yoo-til-uh-TER-ee-un
This word is formed from a word that passed from Latin to French to English plus an English element.
adjective
marked by or striving for usefulness rather beauty or decoration.
Dean chose a utilitarian briefcase over the fancy leather model.
166. amass

uh-MAS
This word is from a part that went from Latin to French, plus a part that went from Greek to Latin to French.
verb
to accumulate.
Justin hopes to amass a large fortune by selling lemonade in front of his house.
167. manumit

man-yuh-MIT
This word passed from Latin to French to English.
verb
to set free, especially from slavery.
Just before the start of the Civil War, the farmer announced that he would manumit his single slave.
168. Bartókian

bahr-TAH-kyun
This word is from a Hungarian name and an English element.
adjective
of, relating to, or suggestive of a Hungarian composer or his musical compositions.
The artist's Bartókian composition has its roots in folk melodies yet with an avant garde sense of harmony and instrumentation.
169. metaplasia

met-uh-PLAY-zhuh
This word was formed in Latin from originally Greek parts.
noun
transformation of one tissue into another.
One example of metaplasia is when cells in the human esophagus transform into intestinal cells in response to chronic acid reflux.
170. transmissibility

trans-mis-uh-BIL-uh-tee
This word consists of originally Latin parts.
noun
the capability of something to be conveyed to another person or place.
Scientists quickly determined that the rate of transmissibility for the pathogen was low.
171. dyspeptic

dis-PEP-tik
This word is from Greek.
adjective
ill-tempered.
The blogger’s dyspeptic views on the popular TV show irritated many readers.
172. Hessian

HESH-un
This word is from a German place name plus an English element.
noun
a mercenary soldier.
The term Hessian originally referred to mercenary soldiers from Germany who were employed by the British during the American Revolutionary War.
173. acquiesce

a-kwee-ES
This word came from Latin-derived French.
verb
to accept without protest.
Because he hates to argue, Stephen tends to acquiesce in most situations involving conflict.
174. frazil

FRAZ-ul
This word passed from Latin to French to Canadian French.
noun
ice crystals sometimes similar to slush that are formed in turbulent water.
On his early morning walk, James noticed that frazil had formed on the upstream side of the rocks near the edge of the river.
175. conch

kahnk
This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into Latin.
noun
an edible marine mollusk with a large spiral shell.
Herbert was intrigued when he saw conch on the menu of the Caribbean restaurant.
176. telamon

TEL-uh-mahn
This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into Latin.
noun
a supporting column carved as a male figure.
While in Athens, Lupita had her picture taken beside a telamon.
177. tintinnabulary

tin-tuh-NAB-yuh-ler-ee
The word consists of an originally Latin word and an English element.
adjective
relating to or characterized by bells or their sounds.
The bell ringers gave a tintinnabulary rendition of “Winter Wonderland.”
178. portrait

POHR-trut
This word passed from Latin to French to English.
noun
a pictorial representation (such as a drawing or a painting) of a person that typically shows his or her face.
President Theodore Roosevelt hated his first official portrait so much that he hid it in the darkest corner of the White House.
179. Hsia

shee-AH
This word is from Pekingese.
noun
the first dynasty of China, said to have been founded by the legendary emperor Yu.
The Hsia dynasty is said to have begun after the subsidence of the waters of a great flood.
180. neophyte

NEE-uh-fahyt
This word is from Latin, which took it from Greek.
noun
a beginner.
Fatima has been dancing classically for years, but she is a neophyte when it comes to dancing hip-hop.
181. yoo-hoo

YOO-hoo
The origin of this word is unknown.
interjection
— used to get attention or as a call to people.
The boys had hoped to pass by Aunt Millie's house unnoticed, but suddenly they heard a loud "yoo-hoo" from her front window.
182. facile

FA-sul
This word is from Latin.
adjective
easily achieved or accomplished.
Don’s facile backgammon victory over his sister made him suspicious of her intent.
183. embolus

EM-buh-lus
This word went from Greek to Latin.
noun
a foreign particle in the bloodstream.
Troy's grandfather had emergency surgery to remove an embolus from his right lung.
184. subluxated

sub-LUK-say-tid
This word is from Latin plus an English element.
adjective
partially dislocated, as of a joint.
The chiropractor told Tara that her cervical vertebrae were probably subluxated as a result of the car accident she had been in three years earlier.
185. Castilian

ka-STIL-yun
This word is from Latin-derived Spanish.
adjective
related to the standard Spanish language.
Juan incorporates so many English words in his conversation that his speech is far from Castilian.
186. procurement

pruh-KYUR-munt
This word is made up of originally Latin parts.
noun
the act of taking possession of or obtaining.
Each August, Henry looks forward to the procurement of new back-to-school supplies.
187. Godspeed

GAHD-SPEED
This word is from an originally English phrase.
noun
a wish for success given at parting — sometimes used as an interjection.
"Good luck and Godspeed" were the last words that the Apollo 11 astronauts heard before lifting off to the moon.
188. tarpaulin

tar-PAHL-un
This word was formed from an originally English part plus a part that went from Greek to Latin to English.
noun
a sheet of waterproof material used for covering unprotected goods or objects, such as vehicles.
When rain began during the second inning of the baseball game, the ground crew rolled out the tarpaulin to protect the field.
189. persuasible

pur-SWAY-zuh-bul
This word came from French, which formed it from Latin.
adjective
capable of winning over (as someone) by an appeal to one's reason and feelings (such as to do or believe something).
The self-help guru proved to be a persuasible orator.
190. acerbity

uh-SUR-buh-tee
This word went from Latin to French.
noun
a harsh or irritated manner.
Rosemary remarked with acerbity that her son had not done his chores in days.
191. styptic

STIP-tik
This word passed from Greek to Latin to English.
adjective
having the ability to stop bleeding when applied to something bleeding.
Kenneth had to apply a styptic agent to his chin where he cut himself while shaving.
192. sensory

SEN-sur-ee
This word consists of a Latin part plus an English part.
adjective
of or relating to the specialized functions by which an animal receives and responds to stimuli, or to the awareness resulting from this stimuli.
In some insects the sensory organs of taste, touch, smell and hearing are located in the antennae.
193. minutia

mih-NOO-shuh
This word is from Latin.
noun
a small or precise detail.
Although Bradley enjoyed the talk by the invited speaker, he could not remember every little minutia of the argument.
194. Bolognese

boh-luh-NYEEZ
This word is from an Italian word formed from an Italian geographical name plus an Italian element.
adjective
having or served with a tomato sauce mixed with meat.
Spaghetti Bolognese is Giuseppe's favorite meal for cold nights.
195. wobbulator

WAH-byuh-lay-tur
The first part of this word is probably from German, and the second part is a Latin-derived English element.
noun
a testing mechanism for radio sets in which the frequency is altered automatically and at regular intervals over a range that is fixed in advance.
The primary function of a wobbulator is broadcast receiver testing.
196. Aten

AH-tun
This word is from an originally Egyptian word.
noun
any of a class of asteroids having orbits that are mainly within the Earth's orbit but that may extend beyond it at their outermost point — used in astronomy.
Some of the asteroids in the Aten group are considered potential hazards to life on Earth.
197. allochroous

uh-LAHK-ruh-wus
This word came from a Greek word.
adjective
altering color.
Timmy's favorite exhibit at the zoo features allochroous frogs and lizards.
198. canoe

kuh-NOO
This word is originally from Cariban-derived Arawakan, but passed through Spanish and French-influenced Latin before entering English.
noun
a long and narrow boat that is sharp at both ends, has curved sides, and is usually propelled by hand-driven paddles.
Alvaro paddled the canoe slowly across the calm lake.
199. repentant

rih-PENT-unt
This word went from Latin to French before becoming English.
adjective
experiencing contrition for one’s sins together with a dedication to changing one’s life and values for the better.
When Scarlett O’Hara finally understood what Rhett Butler meant to her, she was repentant for the many wrongs she had done him.
200. whippoorwill

WIP-ur-wil
This word is imitative in origin.
noun
a nocturnal bird of eastern Canada and the United States whose call is often heard just before the sun rises or sets but that is infrequently seen.
The whippoorwill was hard to spot because its feathers blended perfectly with the tree bark.
201. millet

MIL-ut
This word went from Latin-derived French to English.
noun
a grass grown widely in Europe and Asia for its grain, which is used as food for people and birds.
Risa placed a few millet seeds in the cage as a snack for her bird.
202. turbinado

tur-buh-NAH-doh
This word was formed in Spanish from a word that went from Latin to French.
noun
partly refined cane sugar.
A shipment of turbinado was mistakenly delivered to the pharmacy.
203. illustrator

IL-uh-stray-tur
This word is from Latin.
noun
an artist that makes a pictures or drawings or diagrams (as for books, magazines, advertising copy) that helps make something clear or more helpful or attractive.
As an illustrator, Natalie had the unique ability to bring stories to life with her vibrant artwork.
204. moped

MOH-ped
This word was formed in Swedish from two originally Latin words.
noun
a lightweight low-powered motorcycle that can be pedaled.
Klara rarely turns on the engine of her moped unless she’s going uphill.
205. kaiser

KAHY-zuhr
This word is from German, which ultimately took it from a Latin name.
noun
the ruler of Germany from 1871 to 1918.
Wilhelm I was king of Prussia and the first German kaiser.
206. terminus

TUR-muh-nus
This word is from Latin.
noun
the end in either direction of a transportation line.
Tacoma was the western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad.
207. flout

flaut
This word is probably from an English word.
verb
to treat with contempt : to mock : to insult.
It is not uncommon for students who flout basic school policies to be suspended.
208. vermicide

VUR-muh-sahyd
This word is formed from two originally Latin elements.
noun
a substance that kills worms, primarily parasitic intestinal worms.
The vet administered a vermicide to deworm the puppy.
209. plenitude

PLEN-uh-tood
This word passed from Latin to French to English.
noun
an abundance or great sufficiency of something.
Carina stared at the plenitude of books surrounding her and vowed never to leave the library, not even for meals.
210. pekoe

PEE-koh
This word is from Amoy, a Chinese dialect.
noun
an Indian tea.
Nina offered Aunt Jane a cup of brewed pekoe.
211. perceptible

pur-SEP-tuh-bul
This word is from Latin.
adjective
capable of being identified or recognized through the senses.
The beating of the hummingbird’s wings was barely perceptible.
212. affront

uh-FRUNT
This word is from a Latin word that became French and then English.
verb
to insult by words or behavior especially to the face.
The team captains shook hands politely before the game but would affront each other mercilessly once the action began.
213. gressorial

greh-SOHR-ee-uhl
This word consists of originally Latin elements.
adjective
adapted for walking.
The ostrich’s gressorial legs make it a speedy runner across the savannah.
214. mademoiselle

ma-dum-wuh-ZEL
This word is from French, which probably formed it from a Latin word.
noun
a French governess or nurse.
Pierre and his family spend every summer in a house in the French countryside accompanied by a cook and a mademoiselle to help take care of his younger siblings.
215. impasto

im-PAS-toh
This word is from Italian.
noun
the thick application of paint.
Because oil paint is thick and dries very slowly, it is the medium most fit for impasto.
216. collar

KAH-lur
This word went from Latin to French to English.
noun
an attached or separate band that varies in shape and size and serves to finish or decorate the neckline of a garment.
Nicole's favorite blouse has a bejeweled collar.
217. nuzzer

NUZ-ur
This word went from Arabic to Hindi.
noun
a ceremonial gift given to someone of higher rank in India.
In his memoir of a trip to India in the 1840s, the author recounts meeting the king and presenting him with a nuzzer.
218. kerril

KER-il
This word is from a native name in India.
noun
an Asiatic sea snake.
The kerril, sometimes known as Jerdon's sea snake, is a common venomous sea snake in Asia.
219. battue

ba-TOO
This word came from French, which formed it from a Latin word.
noun
the driving or drawing out of game from cover especially by beating woods and bushes.
Charlene made sketches of the figures and patterns etched on the sticks that the tribe used for battue.
220. jai alai

HAHY-lahy
This word went from Basque to Spanish.
noun
a ball game played on a large walled court by two or four players who wear long curved wicker baskets strapped to their wrists.
Some people consider jai alai the fastest game in the world because of how quickly the ball travels.
221. vexillologist

vek-suh-LAH-luh-jist
The first part of this word comes from Latin, and the second part is originally Greek.
noun
a specialist in the study of flags.
Unable to determine whether the flag was genuinely from 1795, the museum decided to consult a vexillologist.
222. rinceau

ran-SOH
This word came from French, which formed it from a Latin word.
noun
a decorative motif that consists of a winding and branching scroll ornamented with leaves and other natural elements.
A twining rinceau was carved in stone around the doorway.
223. kakapo

KAH-kuh-poh
This word is from Maori, an Austronesian language of New Zealand.
noun
a New Zealand parrot with soft green and brown plumage that has well-developed wings but little power of flight, lives in burrows in the ground and is active mostly at night.
The kakapo is critically endangered with nearly the entire population of less than 150 birds living in the wild.
224. cymbals

SIM-buhlz
This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into Latin and then French before becoming English.
plural noun
large metal plates that make a clashing sound when struck together or hit with a drumstick.
The villain timed his shot to coincide with the clash of the cymbals.
225. Celsius

SEHL-see-us
This word is from a Swedish name.
adjective
measured by the international temperature scale on which 0 is the freezing point and 100 is the boiling point of water.
Normal human body temperature is 37 degrees Celsius.
226. cantatrice

kahn-tuh-TREE-chay
This word is from a Latin word that became Italian and then French.
noun
a female singer, especially of opera.
The cantatrice sang most poignantly when she bade her lover goodbye in her death scene.
227. delectable

di-LEK-tuh-bul
Originally Latin, this word passed through French before becoming English.
adjective
deliciously flavored.
JoAnne selected Black Forest cake from the delectable dessert offerings.
228. bulgur

BUHL-gur
This word is from Turkish.
noun
wheat that has been parboiled and dried so that it can be cooked quickly into a rice-like dish.
Omar’s favorite dish is a salad made with bulgur, pine nuts and raisins.
229. teneramente

ten-uh-ruh-MEN-tee
This word is from Latin-derived Italian.
adverb
in a tender manner — used as a direction in music.
The force with which the new piano student struck the keys made it nearly impossible for him to play the lullaby teneramente.
230. Euroclydon

yuh-RAK-luh-dahn
This word was formed in Greek from an originally Greek part and an originally Latin part.
noun
a strong cold northeast wind of the central Mediterranean.
It is said that the Euroclydon once swept all the trees off the island of Malta.
231. brockage

BRAHK-ij
This word is originally English.
noun
a coin that has been imperfectly minted.
Alastair found a brockage in his piggy bank.
232. reprieve

rih-PREEV
This word is probably from a word that passed from Latin to French to English.
noun
a temporary escape or a postponement (such as from trouble or death).
The rainstorm brought a brief reprieve from the hot, dry summer weather.
233. farcical

FAHR-sih-kul
This word is from an originally Latin word that passed into French and then English plus an English element.
adjective
receiving laughter or amused scorn because of perceived incompetence or lack of skill.
Shakespeare employed farcical characters in many of his plays to provide comic relief.
234. colloque

kuh-LOHK
This word is from Latin.
verb
to converse.
The inspector invited Colonel Mustard to colloque about the sad demise of his friend Mr. Boddy in the drawing room with the candlestick.
235. macaw

muh-KAH
This word is from Portuguese.
noun
a large long-tailed parrot that has bright, showy feathers and lives in Central and South America.
In the background of the painting, Charlie spotted a macaw on a golden perch.
236. Naugahyde

NAH-guh-hahyd
This word is a trademark.
trademark
— used for fabrics coated with vinyl.
Jesse wishes that the recliner were upholstered with leather instead of Naugahyde.
237. Strelitzia

strih-LIT-see-uh
This word is from a geographical name plus a Latin element.
noun
a small genus of usually large African herbs resembling the banana and having rigid leaves and richly colored flowers with three sepals and three very irregular petals.
One species of Strelitzia has been named the official flower of the City of Los Angeles.
238. Darjeeling

dahr-JEEL-ing
This word is from an Indian geographical name.
noun
a tea regarded as of high quality, grown especially in the mountainous districts of northern India.
Akshay's father will drink nothing but Darjeeling, even when Akshay gives him other fancy teas as gifts.
239. harrowing

HA-roh-ing
This word is originally English.
adjective
agonizing.
Going through airport security with three small children was harrowing for their mother.
240. limpa

LIM-puh
This word is from Swedish.
noun
a type of rye bread that is made with brown sugar or molasses.
For a little added sweetness, Martine adds a hint of orange and anise to the dough when she's making limpa.
241. xiphophyllous

zih-fuh-FIL-us
This word consists of originally Greek parts.
adjective
having sword-shaped leaves.
The gladiolus is a xiphophyllous plant.
242. affront

uh-FRUNT
This word is from a Latin word that became French and then English.
verb
to insult by words or behavior especially to the face.
The team captains shook hands politely before the game but would affront each other mercilessly once the action began.
243. oviparous

oh-VIP-ur-us
This word is from Latin.
adjective
bearing eggs that develop and then hatch outside of the body of the mother.
The platypus is an oviparous mammal.
244. Teutonic

too-TAH-nik
This word was formed in Latin from a Latin name.
adjective
Germanic.
The city was proud of its Teutonic heritage and held many festivals each year.
245. diaphanous

dahy-A-fuh-nus
This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into Latin.
adjective
delicate and transparent.
The jellyfish were so diaphanous that swimmers could be next to them in the water and never know they were there.
246. promontory

PRAH-mun-tohr-ee
This word is from Latin.
noun
a high point of rock or land protruding into a body of water beyond the coastline.
The architect designed a home that blended with the rocky promontory.
247. carnitine

KAHR-nuh-teen
This word was formed in German and passed into International Scientific Vocabulary.
noun
a quaternary ammonium compound that is present especially in vertebrate muscle that in humans is obtained from food (such as meat or milk).
Karina's cardiologist suggested that she might feel more energetic if she took a supplemental capsule of carnitine every morning.
248. force majeure

fors-mah-ZHUR
This word entry is from French.
noun
an event that cannot reasonably be foreseen or controlled.
The landlord was not responsible for damages caused by flooding, storms or any other force majeure.
249. Ahura Mazda

uh-hur-uh-MAZ-duh
This word entry is from Avestan.
noun
the Supreme Being represented as a deity of goodness and light in Zoroastrianism.
In the Avesta, the central text of Zoroastrianism, Ahura Mazda is opposed by Ahriman, the spirit of darkness and death, who is also called Angra Mainyu.
250. shoji

SHOH-jee
This word is from Japanese.
noun
a paper screen used as a divider or sliding door.
Kayoko bought a beautifully painted shoji for her mother.
251. Teutonic

too-TAH-nik
This word was formed in Latin from a Latin name.
adjective
Germanic.
The city was proud of its Teutonic heritage and held many festivals each year.
252. gaffer

GAF-ur
This word is probably from an originally English word.
noun
an electrician in charge of the lighting of motion-picture or television sets.
The gaffer tried various lighting techniques to see which would be most consistent with the mood of the scene.
253. ahimsa

uh-HIM-sah
This word is from Sanskrit.
noun
the concept that humans should not hurt or kill anyone or anything.
Mahatma Gandhi went from village to village trying to restore peace by preaching ahimsa.
254. polygenous

puh-LIJ-un-us
This word is made up of originally Greek parts.
adjective
containing or consisting of many kinds or elements.
The polygenous contents of Sam's stocking on Christmas morning included socks, a yo-yo, and a book of jokes about goats.
255. ultradian

ul-TRAY-dee-un
This word is from originally Latin elements.
adjective
being, characterized by, or occurring in periods or cycles (as of biological activity) of less than 24 hours.
Cycles of sleep and body temperature are two of the many ultradian activities of the human body.
256. prolix

PROH-liks
This word went from Latin to French to English.
adjective
given to wordiness in speaking or writing : long-winded.
Quentin’s prolix style was not well suited to a short-answer exam.
257. fission

FISH-un
This word is from Latin.
noun
the process or an instance of cleaving, splitting or breaking up into parts.
Nuclear fission is currently the main source of nuclear power.
258. eisteddfod

ahy-STETH-vahd
This word is from Welsh.
noun
a Welsh competitive festival of the arts especially in singing.
Bryn went to Wales to adjudicate at a local eisteddfod, where there were three choirs competing in the finals.
259. nouveau

noo-VOH
This word is from a Latin-derived French word.
adjective
newly arrived or developed : immature.
Hardly a nouveau speller, Sangit spelled the German word without difficulty.
260. halala

huh-LAH-luh
This word is from Arabic.
noun
a Saudi Arabian monetary unit equal to 1?100 riyal.
About to fly home from Riyadh, Hector decided to save a halala for his extensive coin collection.
261. Mirach

MAHY-rak
There is no origin for this word in our dictionary.
noun
in astronomy, a red giant star in the constellation Andromeda.
Stargazers often use Mirach to find the Andromeda Galaxy.
262. upsilon

OOP-suh-lahn
This word is from Greek.
noun
the letter that is 20th in the Greek alphabet.
The upsilon corresponds with the Latin letter "Y."
263. gaffe

gaf
This word is from a word that went from Provençal to French.
noun
an action or mistake that causes social or political embarrassment.
After realizing that he had eaten his soup with the dessert spoon, Roscoe concentrated on getting through the formal dinner without committing another gaffe.
264. in silico

in-SIH-lih-koh
This word is from Latin.
adverb
in or on a computer : done or produced by using computer software or simulation.
"It is one thing to run your experiment in silico," said Dr. Karpalus, "but quite another to perform it in an actual lab."
265. glazier

GLAY-zhur
This word is originally English.
noun
a person who cuts and sets glass for a living.
Henrietta called a glazier who agreed to repair the broken windowpanes on Thursday.
266. pareidolia

per-ahy-DOH-lee-uh
This word was formed in German from Greek parts before becoming English.
noun
in psychology, the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful, image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern.
pareidolia explains why people are able to see familiar shapes in the clouds or a man's face in the moon.
267. porwigle

POR-wig-ul
This word is from an English word that consists of Dutch- and German-derived English elements.
noun
a tadpole.
The porwigle has a powerful tail by which it pushes itself through the water.
268. glazier

GLAY-zhur
This word is originally English.
noun
a person who cuts and sets glass for a living.
Henrietta called a glazier who agreed to repair the broken windowpanes on Thursday.
269. saltern

SOL-turn
This word is originally English.
noun
a building or place where a colorless or white crystalline compound of sodium chloride is made by boiling or evaporation.
An early saltern likely existed at Xiechi Lake in China in approximately 6000 B.C.E.
270. ventail

VEN-tayl
This word came to English from Latin-derived French and a French element.
noun
the lower movable front of a medieval helmet designed for the admission of air.
At the museum, Izzy spotted a ventail that would have extended over its wearer's entire nose and mouth.
271. ailette

ay-LET
This word is from Latin-derived French.
noun
an iron or steel plate worn over armor to protect one's shoulder.
A leather cord was used to attach the ailette to the knight's shoulder.
272. yuloh

YOO-loh
This word is probably from Cantonese, a Chinese dialect.
noun
a type of Chinese oar that has a fixed support and is used at the stern of a boat to propel it forward.
The yuloh is typically used from a standing position, but it is also possible to use it while sitting down.
273. lilliputian

lil-uh-PYOO-shun
This word is from an English literary name plus an English element.
adjective
excessively small.
The lilliputian furniture and fixtures in the dollhouse astounded and delighted the museum visitors.
274. zugzwang

TSOOK-tsfahng
This word is from an originally German word.
noun
the need to make a move in chess when it is not to one’s advantage.
Valerie forced the grandmaster into zugzwang.
275. ensued

in-SOOD
This word went from Latin to French to English.
verb
followed as a consequence : resulted.
After the results of the referee's review were announced over the loudspeakers, chaos ensued in the stadium.
276. Alfvén

al-VAYN
This word is from a Swedish name.
adjective
of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a transverse electromagnetic wave that propagates along the lines of force in a magnetized plasma.
Scientists hypothesize that the corona of the sun is much hotter than its surface because energy is propagated in Alfvén waves through the solar plasma.
277. tomahawk

TAH-muh-hahk
This word is from Virginian Algonquian.
noun
a Native North American ax used as a weapon.
tomahawk throwing is a popular sport among American historical reenactment groups.
278. palatial

puh-LAY-shul
This word is formed from a Latin element plus an English element.
adjective
relating to or resembling the official residence of a powerful ruler.
When Ebba saw Clevon's palatial residence, she wondered if he was, in fact, royalty.
279. addle

A-dul
This word is originally English.
verb
to throw into confusion or disorder : muddle, confound.
Rohan threw his pen down and announced that one more second of calculus would addle his brain completely.
280. point d'appui

pwan-da-PWEE
This word entry is from French.
noun
a base from which a military operation can be carried on.
In the novel, the hero quickly ascertained that there was no good location for the troops' point d'appui.
281. wield

weeld
This word is from English.
verb
to use a tool or instrument, especially with full command or power.
Gabe's favorite scene in the movie is the one in which the firefighters wield their tanks and hoses.
282. acclaim

uh-KLAYM
This word is originally from Latin.
noun
praise.
Gordon received great acclaim for his performance in the school play.
283. muesli

MYOOS-lee
This word is from Swiss German.
noun
a breakfast cereal of Swiss origin consisting of rolled oats, nuts and fruit.
Heidi likes to start the day with a bowl of her grandmother’s muesli.
284. placoderm

PLAK-uh-durm
This word is formed from originally Greek elements.
noun
an extinct armored prehistoric fish.
Ksenia couldn't pronounce the name of the 33-foot long fossilized placoderm that she saw at the museum.
285. commissioner

kuh-MIH-shuh-nur
The first part of this word is from an originally Latin word, and the second part is from English.
noun
the officer in charge of a department of the public service.
The police commissioner awarded the officer a medal for his heroic rescue of a child.
286. vinaceous

vahy-NAY-shus
This word is from Latin.
adjective
of the color wine red.
The vinaceous liquid in the three-foot-high bottle at the restaurant is not really wine.
287. Feldenkrais

FEL-dun-krahys
This word is from a trademark.
trademark
— used for a system of body movements that increase awareness and ease tension in the body.
Madison sought relief from the pain of a repetitive stress injury through Feldenkrais.
288. balata

buh-LAH-tuh
This word is from Spanish, which took it from Cariban [KER-uh-bun], an indigenous language of Central and South America.
noun
a hard substance made by drying the milky juice of a type of tropical tree and that is used primarily in making golf balls and belts.
Once extremely popular, balata has been replaced as a covering for golf balls by newer, more durable materials.
289. Anno Hegirae

A-noh-hih-JAHY-ree
This entry is from a Latin element and an Arabic-derived Latin element.
adverb
used to indicate that a time division falls within the Islamic era — abbreviation A.H. often printed in small capitals.
The first year Anno Hegirae is 622 in the Western calendar, and marks Mohammed's migration from Mecca to Medina to escape persecution.
290. trompe l'oeil

trohn-PLUR
This word is from French.
noun
deception of the eye especially by a painting, such as using minute detail to intensify the reality of objects.
"The Goldfinch" by Carel Fabritius is a famous example of trompe l'oeil in which the bird appears to be three-dimensional.
291. merganser

mur-GAN-sur
This word is made up of Latin elements.
noun
a diving duck with a slender bill, crested head and short clumsy wings that usually feeds on fish.
The hooded merganser nests in holes in trees near the ponds where it finds its food.
292. diocese

DAHY-uh-sis
This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into Latin and then French before entering English.
noun
the district in which a bishop has ecclesiastical authority.
The bishop’s diocese spans three counties.
293. fribble

FRIB-ul
This word is of unknown origin.
verb
to act in a trifling or foolish manner.
Mr. Clyde said that students who fribble during study hall will receive detention.
294. cartouches

kahr-TOO-shuz
This word came to English from French, which formed it from an Italian word which was formed based on Greek-derived Latin.
plural noun
ovals with a horizontal line underneath and the names of Egyptian pharaohs inscribed inside.
During the unit on Ancient Egypt, Mr. Greene used an online tool to generate cartouches featuring each of his students' names.
295. sylph

silf
This word is from Latin.
noun
an imaginary being that lives in the air.
Karina chose to be a sylph in her new online game, using air magic to defeat her enemies.
296. tosh

tahsh
This word is of unknown origin.
noun
sheer nonsense : foolish talk or actions.
Albert didn't believe one word of the tosh he read in the online forum.
297. rhyton

RAHY-tahn
This word is from Greek.
noun
a drinking horn made in ancient times that has a base that is shaped into the form of woman, animal or mythological creature.
Heinrich unearthed a rhyton during one of his archaeological expeditions.
298. patois

PA-twah
This word came to English from French, which took it from an imitative Latin word.
noun
a dialect other than the literary or standard dialect.
During the 11th to 14th centuries, Parisians considered the French spoken in the English court to be a patois.
299. latigo

LAH-tih-goh
This word is from Spanish.
noun
a long strap on the frame of a saddle to tighten and fasten the cinch — used chiefly in the West.
Abraham made sure the latigo was secure and the saddle was steady before hopping on his horse.
300. bordereaux

bor-duh-ROH
This word is from Germanic-derived French.
plural noun
detailed notes of accounts.
The insurance clerk worked half the night preparing bordereaux for the audit.
301. Sufi

SOO-fee
This word is from Arabic.
noun
an ascetic Muslim mystic.
The most famous Sufi in America is probably the poet Rumi, whose mystical poetry, originally written in Persian, has become very popular in translation.
302. Plantagenet

plan-TA-juh-nit
This word is from an English name.
noun
a member of an English royal family to which belonged the rulers of England from 1154 to 1485.
The missing remains of Richard III, the last Plantagenet king, were found in 2012 buried under a parking lot.
303. tempeh

TEM-pay
This word is from Javanese.
noun
a food originating in Asia made of fermented soybeans.
Lauren suggested that Celia crumble some tempeh in the enchilada casserole to add protein.
304. consul

KAHN-sul
This word is from Latin.
noun
a government-appointed official that lives in a foreign country and acts to promote and protect the appointing country's interests there.
The business owner and the consul discussed the feasibility of opening a company branch in Milan.
305. neuroticism

nyu-RAH-tuh-siz-um
This word was formed from a Greek-derived English word plus an English element.
noun
a trait or condition involving obvious fear, anxiety or obsession.
The critic observed that narcissism and neuroticism are the trademarks of many television sitcoms.
306. titration

tahy-TRAY-shun
This word is made up of a Latin-derived French word and an English element.
noun
a determination of the reactive capacity usually of a solution.
Mark prepared to do a titration by transferring 40 milliliters of sodium hydroxide into a flask.
307. koh-i-noor

KOH-uh-noor
This word is from Persian.
noun
something felt to be the best of its kind, such as a valuable diamond.
The queen's crown was made of gold with a koh-i-noor of a diamond in the center.
308. Braeburn

BRAY-burn
This word is from a New Zealand geographical name.
noun
a crisp, juicy, sweet red apple of New Zealand origin.
Carol always has a Braeburn as a snack between lunch and dinner.
309. camarilla

ka-muh-RIH-luh
This word is from a word that went from Latin to Spanish.
noun
a cabal of unofficial often secret advisors to someone in power.
The camarilla planned to convince the king that he should invade a neighboring country.
310. cobalamin

koh-BA-luh-mun
The first part of this word is from a German word, and the second part is from an element that consists of a part that went from Egyptian to Greek to Latin plus an originally Latin element.
noun
a member of the vitamin B12 group.
The doctor gave Arjun a list of foods high in cobalamin that might keep him from being anemic.
311. drivel

DRIH-vul
This word is originally English.
verb
to babble thoughtlessly.
Miss Bates would drivel on and on, but she was a kind soul.
312. mackinaw

MAK-uh-nah
This word is from a United States geographical name.
noun
a short usually double-breasted and belted coat.
“No guts, no glory!” exclaimed the skier in a plaid mackinaw as he pushed off down the steep slope.
313. appetitost

AH-puh-tee-tust
This word consists of a part that went from Latin-derived French to German to Danish plus a Danish part.
noun
a soft Danish cheese made from sour buttermilk.
When Jan's Scandinavian relatives visit, they often bring along some appetitost.
314. kyphoplasty

KAHY-foh-plas-tee
The first part of this word is from a Greek-derived German word, and the second part is from a Greek-derived element.
noun
a medical procedure that uses acrylic cement to stabilize and reduce pain associated with a vertebral compression fracture.
Grandma couldn't believe how much less pain she had after healing from her spinal kyphoplasty.
315. Adirondack

ad-uh-RAHN-dak
This word is from a U.S. geographical name.
adjective
made with wide wooden slats — used of furniture.
The rustic Adirondack coffee table Sadie purchased works beautifully with her soft sofa.
316. proviant

PRAH-vee-unt
This word passed from Latin to Italian to German.
noun
food, provisions.
Isaac made sure there was adequate proviant in his backpack before heading out on his hike.
317. yeanling

YEEN-ling
This word is formed from originally English parts.
noun
lamb.
The farmer explained to the children that the yeanling would render several pounds of wool during its lifetime.
318. galley

GAL-ee
This word is from a word that went from Greek probably to Old Provençal or Old Catalan, then French, and then English.
noun
a large low ship propelled by both sails and oars and used throughout medieval times especially in the Mediterranean.
The restored eighteenth-century galley is on display in the harbor.
319. wheedle

WEE-dul
This word is of unknown origin.
verb
to get or get away with something by using flattery.
Ginger was sure she could wheedle 10 dollars out of her father.
320. ruscus

RUSK-us
This word is from Latin.
noun
any plant of a small genus of European evergreen shrubs with small greenish flowers and red berries.
Ty planted a ruscus in his garden so he could enjoy its bright red berries and pretty green leaves well into the winter months.
321. limned

limd
Originally Latin, this word passed to French before becoming English.
verb
outlined in clear sharp detail.
The rising sun limned the valley below with brilliant morning light.
322. serin

suh-RAN
Originally from Latin, this word perhaps passed to French from Old Provençal.
noun
a small European finch related to the canary.
The diet of a serin consists mostly of seeds, but it will also eat other plant material and insects.
323. maize

mayz
Originally from Taino, a native Caribbean language, this word passed into Spanish before becoming English.
noun
corn with hard kernels of various colors (as reddish brown, dark purple, and yellow) that is typically used for ornamental purposes.
Mrs. Shawn decorated her classroom for fall with pumpkins, hay bales and maize with multicolored kernels.
324. ramson

RAM-zun
This word is originally English.
noun
a broad-leaved garlic common in European gardens.
Vishal knows a spot in the woods where he forages for wild ramson.
325. brume

broom
This word went from Latin to Occitan to French.
noun
fog or mist.
The ship's foghorn blared through the drifting brume.
326. escalator

ES-kuh-lay-ter
This word originated as a trademark.
noun
a staircase that moves continuously.
The security guard caught Jason running down the “up” escalator at Liberty Mall.
327. aes rude

AHYS-roo-day
This word entry is from Latin.
noun
ancient money of Rome and Italy consisting of rough masses of bronze with no markings.
The archaeologist stumbled upon a lumpy piece of bronze that she eventually determined was aes rude dating back to the 6th century B.C.E.
328. brouhaha

BROO-hah-hah
This word is from French, which possibly formed it from a Hebrew word.
noun
excitement and clamor over a minor event.
Sean dropped his tray in the cafeteria, causing quite a brouhaha.
329. rocket

RAH-kut
Originally of Germanic origin, this word went through Italian into English.
verb
to move or travel quickly.
Joseph enjoys watching his greyhound, Zoomy McZoom, rocket around the backyard.
330. restive

REST-iv
This word is from a French word.
adjective
marked by fidgety or uneasy behavior.
Doris hoped she would calm the restive crowd with her rendition of the national anthem.
331. orthogonal

or-THAH-guh-nul
This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into French before becoming English.
adjective
lying in or intersecting at right angles.
The streets in the new subdivision are laid out in an orthogonal pattern.
332. dietetic

dahy-uh-TEH-tik
This word is from a Greek word that passed into Latin.
adjective
suitable for a restricted eating plan.
Most grocery stores now offer a wide selection of dietetic foods.
333. temblor

TEM-blur
This word came to English from Latin-derived Spanish.
noun
an earthquake.
Municipal authorities said that the old hotel would not withstand a strong temblor.
334. no-goodnik

noh-GUD-nik
The first two parts of this word are originally English, and the last part is a Yiddish element derived from Polish and Ukranian.
noun
a person without virtue, honor, or morals : lowlife.
Adelaide's father insisted that Nathan was a no-goodnik and would not allow her to go to prom with him.
335. cotoneaster

kuh-toh-nee-AST-ur
This word was formed in Latin from a probably originally ancient Cretan geographical name that passed through Greek to Latin plus a Latin element.
noun
a shrub of a genus of Old World shrubs with small, numerous, and mostly entire leaves and fruit a pome containing two to five nutlets.
Sidonie loved the red berries of her cotoneaster in the late fall, when most of the other color had gone from her yard.
336. summoned

SUH-mund
This word is from a word that went from Latin to French to English.
verb
bade to come or go : commanded or requested the presence or service of : sent for.
Mr. Patel summoned a doctor after his daughter fell and injured her ankle.
337. Oaxaca

wah-HAH-kah
This word is a Mexican geographical name.
geographical entry
a city and capital of a state of southeastern Mexico bordering on the Pacific Ocean.
Every December 23rd, Oaxaca holds its annual radish-carving competition called the "Night of the Radishes."
338. valerian

vuh-LIR-ee-un
Originally a Roman geographical name, this word passed from Latin to French to English.
noun
a drug consisting of dried rhizome and roots of garden heliotrope formerly used as a carminative and sedative.
Along with its use in many herbal sleep-inducing teas, valerian is also highly attractive to cats.
339. circadian

suhr-KAY-dee-un
This word was formed from Latin elements and an English part.
adjective
having a 24-hour cycle.
Jet lag can adversely affect a person's circadian rhythms.
340. dribbles

DRIB-ulz
This word is probably from an originally English word.
verb
moves a ball or puck forward and keeps control of it by tapping or bouncing it repeatedly with hand, foot, or stick.
As a midfielder, Shayne receives the pass from a defender and then dribbles the ball toward a forward.
341. alpargata

al-pur-GAH-tuh
This word is from a word that went from Spanish to Arabic and back to Spanish.
noun
a flat sandal with a sole made of rope, like an espadrille.
Leah couldn't decide whether to wear the navy alpargata or the white wedge sandal with her new sailor dress.
342. malady

MAL-uh-dee
Originally Latin, this word went through French before becoming English.
noun
a disease, distemper, disorder, or indisposition of the animal body proceeding from impaired or defective functions.
In the fourteenth century the malady known as “the Black Death” swept across Europe, killing about 25 million people.
343. Taal

tah-AHL
This word is a Filipino geographical name.
geographical entry
a volcano on an island in the center of a lake south of Manila in the Philippines.
The Taal has been described as a very small but very dangerous volcano.
344. betony

BET-uh-nee
This word is from a Latin name that became a Latin word before going to French and then English.
noun
an herb whose soft leaves can be used to dress wounds.
In the Middle Ages, betony was often planted in churchyards in the belief that it kept evil spirits at bay.
345. pilferer

PIL-fur-ur
This word is from a French word.
noun
a thief who steals items of small value.
The pilferer of pencils and paper from the office supply closet was identified on surveillance tape.
346. row

rau
This word is of unknown origin.
noun
a heated argument: a quarrel.
Tatiana could hear her neighbors having a ferocious row through the thin apartment walls.
347. oeuvre

UV-ruh
This word came from French, which formed it from a Latin word.
noun
the complete body of completed work of a writer, artist or composer.
The poet won the award not for any particular work but for his oeuvre.
348. homoscedasticity

hoh-moh-sih-da-STIS-uh-tee
Both parts of this word are originally Greek.
noun
the quality or state of having equal standard deviations.
homoscedasticity is important in statistical tests because uneven variances will result in skewed test results.
349. capstan

KAP-stun
This word is originally English.
noun
a pulley used to control the movement of magnetic tape through a recorder.
Regular cleaning of the capstan with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol is part of a tape recorder’s maintenance.
350. flehmen

FLAY-mun
This word is from German.
noun
a mammalian behavior (as of horses) in which the animal inhales with the mouth open and upper lip curled to facilitate exposure of a nasal organ to a scent.
A horse may exhibit flehmen when it is given an unfamiliar food or when it is meeting a new horse.
351. senecio

sih-NEE-see-oh
This word is from Latin.
noun
a plant of a genus of very widely distributed herbs, shrubs, and trees that have alternate or basal leaves and yellow-rayed flowers.
Avielle's favorite houseplant is her senecio because it's easy to care for and provides a splash of fun color to her kitchen.
352. buoyancy

BOY-un-see
This word is from a word that is probably from French-derived Spanish plus an English element.
noun
the tendency of an object to float in a liquid.
The boat's previous buoyancy was destroyed by a leak.
353. Icarian

ahy-KER-ee-un
This word is from Latin, which formed it from a Greek name.
adjective
inadequate for or incapable of bringing about an ambitious project.
William’s problem-solving methods are usually Icarian, but this time his approach provided the perfect solution.
354. melee

MAY-lay
This word came to English from French, which probably formed it from a Latin word.
noun
a confused fight or struggle between individuals.
The soccer match turned into a melee after angry fans stormed the field.
355. zurna

ZUR-nuh
There is no origin provided for this word in our dictionary.
noun
a traditional Middle Eastern woodwind instrument.
The high-pitched, piercing sound of the zurna was accompanied by the rhythm of a bass drum.
356. transference

tranz-FUR-uns
This word is from Latin.
noun
an instance of moving something from one area or person to another.
When it's time to restock, Ralph’s dad is in charge of the transference of fish from the fishery to the lake.
357. veneer

vuh-NIR
This word went from Germanic to French to German.
noun
a thin sheet of wood cut or sawed from a log and adapted for adherence to a smooth surface.
The maple veneer really spruced up the old pine table.
358. Acadians

uh-KAY-dee-unz
The first part of this word is from a French geographical name and the second part is originally Latin.
plural noun
people who were from or lived in a French colony of the 17th and 18th century consisting primarily of what is now Nova Scotia.
After the British gained political control of the region, many Acadians immigrated to Louisiana, forming the Cajun culture.
359. Tok Pisin

TAHK-PIH-sin
This word is from Neo-Melanesian.
noun
an English-based creole language that is a national language of Papua New Guinea.
Aashi studied Portuguese and Malay in order to write her dissertation on the historical phonology of Tok Pisin.
360. baccate

BAK-ayt
This word is formed from a Latin word plus an English element.
adjective
bearing berries.
Abigail helped her mom plant a pear tree and two baccate bushes in their backyard.
361. dashiki

duh-SHEE-kee
This word is from Yoruba, a Niger-Congo language of West Africa.
noun
an often brightly colored unfitted tunic originating in Africa.
While traveling in Ghana, Cyril saw a drummer wearing a bright dashiki.
362. boudin

boo-DAN
This word is from a French word.
noun
a spicy meat or fish sausage.
Maurice ate boudin with red beans and rice at the Cajun festival.
363. holmium

HOHL-mee-um
This word was formed in Latin from a Latinized geographical name plus a Latin element.
noun
a trivalent metallic element of the rare-earth group that forms compounds which are among the most highly magnetic known.
holmium is the 56th most abundant element in the earth's crust.
364. eructation

ih-ruk-TAY-shun
This word is from Latin.
noun
the act of belching gas from the stomach.
The first class after lunch is often punctuated with an eructation or two.
365. weald

weeld
This word is originally English.
noun
a forest.
After three days of hiking, the tired and dirty scouts finally emerged from the weald.
366. Pyxis

PIK-sus
There is no origin given for this word.
noun
a dim southern constellation.
James had to adjust his telescope several times before he could finally see Pyxis in the night sky.
367. lantana

lan-TAH-nuh
This word passed from Italian dialect to Latin.
noun
any plant of a genus of tropical shrubs having clustered heads of small bright-colored flowers and juicy drupaceous fruit.
Every summer, Jalyn chooses a new color of lantana to grow in Ma's weathered concrete swan planter.
368. amuse-gueule

ah-mooz-GUL
This word is from French.
noun
a small complimentary appetizer offered at some restaurants.
For an amuse-gueule, the server brought a small ramekin of asparagus soup for each person at the table.
369. impecunious

im-pih-KYOO-nee-us
This word is made up of originally Latin parts that passed into French and then English.
adjective
having very little or no money usually habitually : penniless.
The impecunious graduate student made sure to sign up to attend every noontime talk that included a free lunch.
370. skirmish

SKUR-mish
This word is from a French word that then became English.
noun
combat between small, detached groups of troops.
Both countries hoped that the border skirmish would not trigger a war.
371. penitentiary

peh-nuh-TEN-shuh-ree
This word came to English from Latin.
noun
a public institution where people who break the law are confined for detention or for punishment, discipline and reformation.
The judge sentenced the convicted felon to 10 years in a federal penitentiary in upstate New York.
372. mozo

MOH-soh
This word is from Spanish.
noun
a waiter in a restaurant or other dining room — chiefly used in the Southwest.
Felipe saved up for a new car by working as a mozo in the evenings.
373. eleemosynary

el-uh-MAHS-uhn-er-ee
This word went from Greek to Latin.
adjective
philanthropic.
Participation in eleemosynary activities is a graduation requirement at Janie’s school.
374. perseverance

pur-suh-VIR-uns
This word passed from Latin to French to English.
noun
continued or steadfast pursuit of objectives or carrying out of a plan, project, or course of action.
After much perseverance, Frankie successfully rode her bicycle.
375. cordillera

kohr-duhl-YEH-ruh
This word is from a word that went from Latin to Spanish.
noun
a chain of mountain ranges.
The Andean cordillera extends along the west coast of South America.
376. Merak

MIR-ak
The origin of this word is not given in our dictionary.
noun
a blue star of the second magnitude that is seen in the constellation Ursa Major and forms part of the base of the Big Dipper.
Melissa and her mother enjoyed pointing out Merak every time they saw the Big Dipper.
377. pileus

PAHY-lee-us
This word is from Latin.
noun
an umbrella-shaped upper cap of mushrooms and other fungi.
The forager examined the pileus of the mushroom to determine its type and whether it was edible.
378. chalaza

kuh-LAY-zuh
This word went from Greek to Latin.
noun
either of a pair of spiral bands of thickened albuminous substance in the white of a bird's egg that extend out from opposite sides of the yolk to the ends of the egg.
When a chicken lays an egg, the chalaza helps keep the yolk perfectly suspended in the white albumin.
379. mesial

MEE-zee-ul
This word consists of a part that went from Greek to Latin plus a part that went from Latin to French to English.
adjective
middle or median.
One type of epilepsy, mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, can arise in structures that are located in the inner aspect of the temporal lobe of the brain.
380. aileron

AYL-uh-rahn
This word came from French, which formed it from a Latin word.
noun
a movable portion of an airplane wing or a movable airfoil external to the wing whose function is to impart a rolling motion and thus provide lateral control.
The pilot adjusted the aileron to stabilize the plane during the turbulent flight.
381. toorie

TOOR-ih
This word was formed in Scots English from a word that passed from Greek to Latin to English plus a part from Scots English.
noun
a tassel on a Scotch bonnet.
Alistair has a large collection of tams, caps, and bonnets, each one a traditional plaid and sporting a jaunty toorie.
382. vermeil

VUR-mil
This word is from a Latin-derived French word that became English.
noun
copper, silver or bronze that is covered with gold or a golden color.
The turkey was served on a platter of embossed vermeil.
383. wootz

woots
This word is probably an alteration of a word from Kannada, a South Indian language.
noun
a steel made anciently in India in small crucibles according to the oldest known process for making fused steel.
Swords made from wootz were famous for their sharp, durable blades.
384. pou sto

POO-STOH
This word is from Greek.
noun
a standing place or vantage point.
Raghav calls his blog the pou sto from which he hopes to move the world towards justice and peace.
385. pedantry

PEH-dun-tree
This word is from French or Italian, which perhaps took it from a Greek-derived Latin word.
noun
an ostentatious presentation or application of knowledge or learning especially by a teacher or scholar.
Lydia sometimes worries that her constant, painstaking efforts to help other people improve their grammar might be misconstrued as pedantry.
386. proprietary

pruh-PRAHY-uh-ter-ee
This word is from Latin.
adjective
made and marketed by a person or group of people who have the only right to manufacture and sell the item(s).
The company’s computer system uses both free and proprietary software.
387. Asiago

ah-zhee-AH-goh
This word is from an Italian geographical name.
noun
an Italian cheese that is pungent, hard, yellow, and suitable for grating when aged and mild, semisoft, and whitish when fresh.
Asiago is made from cow’s milk and is sold in the form of small wheels with glossy rinds.
388. weaponry

WEH-pun-ree
The first part of this word is originally English and the second part is originally French.
noun
a mass or body of instruments of offensive or defensive combat.
At the socially distanced birthday party, Harry and Varshaa sat 10 feet apart and discussed the virtual weaponry of their favorite video games.
389. laity

LAY-uh-tee
The first part of this word is from an originally Greek word that passed through Latin and French before becoming English, and the second part is from Latin-derived English.
noun
the body of people belonging to a religious faith or institution who are not ordained ministers or other religious officials.
In most churches, many tasks and duties are given to the laity.
390. calvities

kal-VISH-ee-eez
This word is from Latin.
noun
baldness.
Larry’s calvities is intentional, for he shaves his head every morning.
391. Orinoco

or-ee-NOH-koh
This word is a South American geographical name.
geographical entry
river in Venezuela flowing from the Brazilian border to the Colombia border and from there into the Atlantic Ocean through a wide delta.
The rich aquatic life of the Orinoco includes the piranha, the electric eel, and the famous Orinoco crocodile that can grow to be over 20 feet long.
392. bulwark

BUL-wurk
Originally German, this word went through Dutch before becoming English.
noun
significant protection or defense against danger.
In the video game, Jeff's character was part of the last bulwark against alien invasion.
393. peacenik

PEE-snik
This word is made up of one element that went from Latin to French to English and another that went from Ukrainian and Polish to Yiddish.
noun
someone who opposes war.
Brenna made Grandma promise to look for the scrapbook with pictures of her days as a peacenik in the 1970s.
394. skaamoogs

SKAH-mohgz
This word is from Dutch-derived Afrikaans.
plural noun
cat sharks of a family of galeoid sharks - used in southern Africa.
skaamoogs are bottom-dwellers that feed on smaller fish and invertebrates.
395. Bosc

bahsk
This word is from a French name.
noun
a pear with firm flesh and brown or dark yellow skin.
The Bosc can be eaten when crunchy, or allowed to ripen further until soft and especially sweet.
396. astilbe

uh-STIL-bee
This word was formed in Latin from originally Greek parts.
noun
any plant of a genus of Asiatic perennials with leaves in groups of three and large flower clusters composed of spikes and small white flowers.
Of the many perennials in her garden, the red astilbe is Molly’s favorite.
397. periodontist

per-ee-oh-DAHN-tist
This word consists of originally Greek elements.
noun
a specialist in a branch of dentistry that is concerned with diseases of the supporting structures of the teeth.
Gertie's dentist reminded her that daily brushing and flossing would help her avoid a trip to the periodontist.
398. praise

prayz
Originally Latin, this word went through French before becoming English.
verb
to commend : to applaud.
Teachers who praise students for good work inspire higher achievement.
399. teratism

TER-uh-tih-zum
This word is formed from a Greek element plus an English element.
noun
veneration of monsters.
The fact that three dozen "Godzilla" films have been made speaks to the teratism of the viewing public.
400. remuda

ruh-MOO-duh
This word is from a word that went from Latin to Spanish.
noun
a herd of saddle horses from which are chosen those to be used for the day by the ranch hands.
The foreman told Alonzo to go to the corral and choose another horse from the remuda.
401. nocive

NOH-siv
Originally from Latin, this word came to English from Latin or French.
adjective
harmful.
The laboratory assistant wore a mask to protect himself from nocive fumes.
402. debutante

deb-yuh-TAHNT
This word is from a French word.
noun
a young woman making her formal entrance into society.
Each debutante was required to provide the name of her escort for inclusion in the printed program.
403. MIDI

MID-ee
This word is from an English acronym.
noun
an electronic standard used for the transmission of digitally encoded music.
Many digital music tools, such as samplers, communicate with computers using MIDI.
404. trillado

trih-YAH-doh
This word came from Spanish, which formed it from a Latin word.
noun
market coffee made by sun-drying the beans.
Dried or unwashed coffee known as trillado made up the bulk of Venezuela's coffee output in the early 20th century.
405. lumbar

LUM-bahr
This word is from Latin.
adjective
related to or near the vertebrae that fall between the thoracic vertebrae and the sacrum.
The doctor informed Sasha that his low back pain was due to a herniated lumbar disc.
406. plummet

PLUM-ut
This word is from a Latin-derived French word that then became English.
verb
to drop sharply and abruptly.
The meteorologist predicts that temperatures will plummet on Tuesday.
407. cacao

kuh-KAU
This word is from a word that went from Nahuatl to Spanish.
noun
a tree native to South America and now extensively cultivated that bears fleshy yellow pods six or more inches long and three or four inches in diameter containing numerous seeds used in the preparation of cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa butter.
New disease-resistant varieties of cacao are being developed to increase productivity.
408. sorbet

sor-BAY
This word is from a word that went from Arabic to Persian to Turkish to Italian to French.
noun
a frozen dessert made with a mixture of fruits.
Wylie ate sorbet between courses to cleanse his palate.
409. Mylar

MAHY-lahr
This word is a trademark.
trademark
— used for a polyester film.
Sheldon kept all of his collectible comic books inside protective Mylar bags.
410. implicative

im-PLIK-uh-tiv
This word consists of an originally Latin part plus an English element.
adjective
tending to suggest or hint at.
Devan’s hesitant, stumbling answers were implicative of a lie.
411. tusche

TUSH-uh
This word went from Latin to French to German.
noun
a substance used in lithography for drawing and painting and in etching and silk-screen process as a resist.
During the studio's fine arts class, Miles learned how to properly mix tusche with water in preparation for making a lithographic print.
412. pepita

peh-PEET-ah
This word is from Spanish.
noun
the edible seed of a pumpkin or squash often dried or toasted.
Carina tossed a pepita to the squirrel sitting patiently at her feet.
413. kapparah

kah-pah-RAH
This word is from Hebrew.
noun
a symbolic ceremony practiced by some Orthodox Jews on the eve of Yom Kippur in which typically a rooster, hen, or coin is swung around the head and offered in atonement or as ransom for one’s sins.
Abraham is saving money to fly to Israel next year and take part in a kapparah there.
414. meiosis

mahy-OH-sis
This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into Latin.
noun
a method of cell reproduction in which the cells produced contain half the number of chromosomes present in the original cell.
meiosis is one of two main mechanisms for cell reproduction.
415. ostium

AH-stee-um
This word is from Latin.
noun
one of the slits in the heart of an arthropod by which the blood enters from the pericardium.
The ostium allows blood to reenter the insect’s heart from the insect’s one blood vessel, which runs dorsally the length of its body.
416. saeta

sah-AY-tuh
This word passed from Latin to Spanish.
noun
an unaccompanied Andalusian song of lamentation or penitence sung during the religious procession on Good Friday.
In the candlelit chapel, Estrella stood before the crucifix and spontaneously broke into a haunting saeta.
417. apophyge

uh-PAH-fuh-jee
This word is from Greek.
noun
the small hollow curvature given to the top (as in a Doric column) or bottom (as in an Ionic or Corinthian column) of the shaft of a column where it expands to meet the edge of the fillet.
The apophyge was likely included in the design of ancient columns to avoid cracking of the marble.
418. Eris

ER-is
This word is from a Greek mythological name.
noun
a dwarf planet with a mean distance from the sun of 67 astronomical units and a diameter of 1,500 miles.
Professor Lambert mused aloud that it would be the opposite of irony, were the nations of Earth to fight over the resources of tiny Eris.
419. lebkuchen

LAYP-koo-kun
This word is from an originally German word.
noun
a Christmas cookie usually made with honey, brown sugar, almonds, candied fruit peel, and spices.
Hans slipped a lebkuchen to the schnauzer.
420. extraordinaire

ik-stror-duh-NER
This word came from French, which formed it from a Latin word.
adjective
markedly exceptional.
Laurie considered herself a punster extraordinaire — no matter what her friends and family said.
421. tympanum

TIM-puh-num
This word is from a word that went from Greek to Latin.
noun
the typically triangular face of a pediment that is set back and is located within the frame made by the top and bottom cornices.
The tympanum over the cathedral entrance was highly decorated and carved with human figures.
422. cutis

KYOO-tus
This word is from Latin.
noun
the dermal layer of the skin.
Wearing sunscreen can help protect the cutis from sun damage.
423. opulent

AHP-yuh-lunt
This word is from Latin.
adjective
exhibiting or characterized by wealth or affluence.
The room’s opulent decor included original commissioned works of art and a crystal chandelier.
424. podagra

puh-DAG-ruh
This word passed from Greek to Latin to English.
noun
an abnormality of the big toe that is painful and is caused by gout.
George’s doctor said that if ibuprofen did not relieve his podagra, steroids would be the next resort.
425. circumflex

SUHR-kuhm-fleks
This word is from Latin.
noun
a mark used in various languages to indicate vowel qualities, contractions or tone.
The French phrase “raison d’etre” is usually written with a circumflex over the first “e.”
426. taoiseach

THEE-shukh
This word is from Irish Gaelic.
noun
the prime minister of Ireland.
Unlike the U.S. president, the Irish taoiseach is elected by a vote of the Irish legislative body from among its own ranks.
427. tanager

TAN-ih-jur
This word is from a Portuguese word derived from Tupi, an indigenous language of Amazonian South America.
noun
any of various forest-dwelling American birds that are generally unmusical and have brightly colored males.
The male scarlet tanager has brilliant red plumage with shiny black wings and tail.
428. darnel

DAHR-nul
Originally Germanic, this word passed through French before becoming English.
noun
any of several grasses that have small, many-flowered spikes.
darnel is sometimes called "false wheat" because of its visual similarity to wheat up until the development of the ear of grain.
429. virga

VUR-guh
This word is from Latin.
noun
wisps of precipitation that come from a cloud but evaporate before they can hit the ground.
The winning picture in the weather calendar competition depicted the red light of sunset caught in a virga.
430. ragwort

RAG-wurt
This word is originally English.
noun
any of several herbs with heads composed of flowers.
ragwort can grow in very poor soil.
431. ardoise

ahr-DWAHZ
This word is from French.
noun
a shade of gray that is tinted with purple.
Lindsay decided to paint her room ardoise.
432. jeepney

JEEP-nee
This word is from an English word plus a part from an English word of unknown origin.
noun
a small passenger bus in the Philippines converted from a multipurpose motor vehicle equipped with four-wheel drive.
David found a job driving tourists to and from the airport in a jeepney.
433. bask

bask
This word passed from Old Norse to English.
verb
to expose oneself to a pleasing warmth or atmosphere : to luxuriate.
After months away at college, Malia was happy to bask in the comfort of being at home with her family again.
434. aqueous

AY-kwee-us
This word is from Latin.
adjective
made from, by using, or with water.
Priyanka set up the lab for the next experiment, which dealt with electrolysis of an aqueous solution of sodium chloride.
435. beaumontage

boh-MAHN-tij
This word is of unknown origin.
noun
a substance used to fill holes in wood or metal.
Fatima asked the conservator to replace all the old beaumontage in the bronze statuette.
436. statistician

stat-ih-STISH-un
This word is formed from a part that went from Latin to German plus an English element.
noun
someone whose job is to compile masses of numerical data or who is skilled in that field.
Caleb’s career as a statistician began with following baseball scores.
437. trous-de-loup

troo-duh-LOO
This word is from French.
plural noun
pits in the form of an inverted cone or pyramid having a pointed stake in the middle constructed as obstacles to the movements of an enemy.
King Wulfgar's soldiers advanced cautiously in the dark, fearful of the trous-de-loup that the invaders had dug around their palisade.
438. resuscitate

rih-SUS-uh-tayt
This word is from Latin.
verb
to bring (someone) back to life or from unconsciousness.
Jenna peeked ahead to the last chapter of the book and learned that a young hospital intern would resuscitate the main character.
439. acetaminophen

uh-see-tuh-MIN-uh-fun
The parts of this word came from Latin, but one came to Latin via Egyptian and Greek, and another came via Greek, and they all passed through French or German before the word was formed from them.
noun
a common medicine that reduces pain and fever and can be used in place of aspirin.
Ingo took the recommended dose of acetaminophen to relieve his headache.
440. parallax

PAR-uh-laks
This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into French.
noun
the effect whereby the displacement or apparent direction of an object differs as seen from two different points that aren't on a straight line with the object.
Sujata carefully allowed for the parallax when framing the picture in her viewfinder.
441. Dubuque

duh-BYOOK
This word is an American geographical name.
geographical entry
city on the Mississippi River in eastern Iowa.
Dubuque is named after the first European settler in the Iowa region, a Quebecois who received permission from the local Indian population to mine lead in the area.
442. presidio

prih-SID-ee-oh
This word is from a word that went from Latin to Spanish.
noun
a military post or fortified settlement in areas currently or originally under Spanish control.
The U.S. Department of Defense now uses the presidio in Monterey as a training location for foreign language acquisition.
443. werf

vurf
This word passed from Dutch to Afrikaans.
noun
southern Africa: the space around homestead and outbuildings : a farmyard.
Thandiwe led the goat to the feed trough in the werf.
444. coup de grace

koo-duh-GRAHS
This word entry is made up of Latin-derived French elements.
noun
an occurrence or action that brings an end to something.
The state tax cuts delivered the coup de grace to the proposed new highway.
445. simpatico

sim-PAH-tih-koh
Originally from a Greek-derived Latin word, this word passed into Italian and Spanish.
adjective
likable.
The hero of the novel is a thoroughly simpatico character.
446. sailage

SAYL-ij
This word is made up of two English parts.
noun
the total amount of canvas by means of which the wind is used to move ships through the water.
Ishmael examined the sailage for any defects before setting out on the long ocean voyage.
447. Sbrinz

sprints
This word is from Italian, which formed it from a Swiss geographical name.
noun
a type of hard cheese that can be grated.
Danaye sprinkled some grated Sbrinz on the grilled vegetables.
448. jarl

yahrl
This word is from Old Norse.
noun
a medieval Scandinavian noble ranking immediately below the king.
In medieval Sweden, usually only one nobleman at a time could hold the title of jarl.
449. petechia

puh-TEE-kee-uh
This word went from Latin to Italian.
noun
a minute reddish or purplish spot containing blood that appears in skin or mucous membrane as a result of localized hemorrhage.
After crying at the end of the movie, Sylvie noticed a petechia under her left eye.
450. esclandre

esk-lahahn-druh
This word came from French, which formed it from Greek-derived Latin.
noun
an incident that arouses unpleasant talk or gives rise to scandal.
During the campaign, the candidate was careful to avoid any esclandre that could sully his name.
451. Tegucigalpa

tuh-goo-suh-GAL-puh
This word is a Central American geographical name.
geographical entry
the capital city of Honduras.
Tegucigalpa, which sits on the banks of the Choluteca River, is prone to flooding during the rainy season.
452. apparel

uh-PAR-ul
This word is from a word that probably started out in Latin, but it came into English from French.
noun
a person's clothing : dress : attire.
The teacher’s daily apparel included a bow tie and suspenders.
453. fjeld

fee-ELL
This word is from Danish.
noun
a raised and relatively flat expanse of land in the higher elevations of Scandinavia that is usually devoid of vegetation.
Gunnar told his children a tale of the days when Viking warriors roamed the fjeld.
454. cynicism

SIN-uh-siz-um
Part of this word went from Greek to Latin to French and part is from English.
noun
the quality or state of being given to faultfinding.
Tom’s constant cynicism has become tiresome to all his friends.
455. Odysseus

oh-DIS-ee-us
This word is from Greek.
noun
in Greek mythology, a king of Ithaca who after being a leader in the Trojan War roams for a decade before arriving home.
In Latin, the Greek hero Odysseus was known as Ulysses.
456. polonium

puh-LOH-nee-um
This word was formed in Latin from a Latinate European geographical name plus a Latin element.
noun
a radioactive metallic element that occurs in uranium-containing ores and in radium-lead residues.
polonium is extremely toxic and handling it requires extraordinary caution.
457. Zanni

ZAH-nee
This word is from a name that went from Hebrew to Greek to Latin to Italian.
noun
an impulsive clown in masked comedy from Italy that acts as a comic servant and performs tricks and acrobatics.
The Zanni turned three backflips before leaving the stage.
458. Ardhamagadhi

ahr-duh-MAH-guh-dee
This word is from Sanskrit.
noun
a Prakrit language of north India used in a large part of the Jain canon.
The central text of Jainism is the Agamas, written in Ardhamagadhi.
459. gab

gab
This word is probably short for a word of imitative origin.
noun
idle talk.
Sylvain considers himself a brilliant conversationalist and is irked when his roommate alludes to his "gift for gab."
460. Apistogramma

uh-pist-uh-GRAM-uh
This word was formed in Latin perhaps from Greek elements.
noun
a genus of small cichlid fishes including a species commonly kept in the tropical aquarium.
Fish of the genus Apistogramma are common in tropical aquariums because of their hardiness, colorfulness, and inquisitive temperament.
461. Michaelmas

MIK-uhl-mus
This word is from a biblical name plus a Latin-derived English element.
noun
the feast of the archangel Michael that is a church festival celebrated on September 29.
Fall arrived so early that the tomatoes in Phyllis' garden were gone by Michaelmas.
462. ermine

UHR-min
This word is from an originally Germanic word that became French before becoming English, and was influenced by a Latin-derived French geographical name.
noun
any of several weasels that have white fur in winter.
Despite the outcry of animal activists, the fine fur of the ermine is still used for ornamentation of some designer clothing.
463. bozzetto

but-SET-oh
This word is from Latin-derived Italian.
noun
a rough, small clay study that is for a larger sculpture — used in particular of baroque sculpture.
Ervin was sure he had discovered a hitherto unknown bozzetto by Bernini.
464. frass

fras
This word is from German.
noun
debris or excrement produced by insects.
Some caterpillars fling their frass far from their homes to avoid attracting predators that hunt by smell.
465. sashay

sa-SHAY
This word comes from a Latin-derived French word.
verb
to walk around or move about in such a way as to attract or seek to attract attention often by gaudiness or obviousness.
Tasha began to sashay around the room, showing off her new shoes.
466. callow

KA-loh
This word is originally English.
adjective
young and inexperienced.
Malik was surprised by the callow behavior of the new employees at the orientation session.
467. Zdarsky tent

STAHR-skee-TENT
This word entry consists of an Austrian name plus a word that passed from Latin to French to English.
noun
an especially prepared light sheet of cloth that is used for shelter.
Hannah packed a Zdarsky tent instead of a standard one because she was able to fit it in her pack.
468. taedium vitae

tee-dee-um-VAHY-tee
This word entry is from Latin.
noun
weariness of life : intense discontent.
Lois feared that the taedium vitae she felt would never go away, but with the support of her friends and family she began to feel more cheerful.
469. cacophonous

ka-KAH-fun-us
This word is from Greek.
adjective
marked by harsh or discordant sound.
The song that one critic called a "cacophonous mess resembling the trumpeting of a herd of distressed elephants" ended up rocketing to the top of the charts.
470. sorrel

SOR-ul
This word is probably from a Germanic word that became French and then English.
noun
a chestnut-colored horse with a white mane and tail.
Dominic promised to take good care of the sorrel his dad had bought for him.
471. wamble

WAHM-bul
This word is originally English.
verb
to move unsteadily or with a weaving or rolling motion.
The babies who wamble across the floor in the diaper commercial are Beth’s siblings.
472. alate

AY-layt
This word is from Latin.
adjective
having wings.
Misty was surprised when she spotted an alate ant.
473. giallolino

jah-luh-LEE-noh
This word is from Italian.
noun
any of a variety of yellow pigments.
giallolino has been used by Italian painters for several centuries.
474. Charon

SHAYR-un
This word went from Greek to Latin to English.
noun
in Greek mythology, a son of Erebus who ferries the souls of dead people over the Styx.
In the myth Henry was reading, the line of dead started to become impatient on the banks of the Styx, as Charon was nowhere to be found.
475. eminent

EH-muh-nunt
This word is from a word that went from Latin to French.
adjective
noteworthy.
The National Cathedral is a building of eminent beauty.
476. hei-tiki

HAY-TEE-kee
This word is from Maori.
noun
a greenstone charm in the shape of a human figure worn as a neck pendant by the Maoris.
The hei-tiki is often passed from generation to generation, and its magical powers are said to increase as it is passed down.
477. mendacious

men-DAY-shus
This word is formed from an originally Latin part plus an English element.
adjective
likely to deceive or tell lies.
Dan called the umpire a "mendacious varmint" and stalked off the field.
478. caló

kuh-LOH
This word is from Romany-derived Spanish.
noun
a language spoken by Spanish Romany and widely influencing the argots of the Spanish-speaking underworld and of bullfighting.
Sandra enjoyed supplementing her study of Spanish with a few slang terms from caló.
479. Panchen Lama

PAHN-chen-LAH-muh
This word entry consists of a Chinese and a Tibetan element.
noun
the priest or monk who is the chief spiritual adviser of the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism.
With the help of a council, the Panchen Lama is entrusted with seeking out the next spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.
480. seton

SEET-un
This word is from Latin.
noun
one or more threads introduced under the skin by a knife or needle to create a suture.
The veterinarian repaired the horse's fistula with a seton, taking care to ensure proper drainage.
481. phylum

FAHY-lum
This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into Latin.
noun
a division or category of the animal kingdom that is usually one of the primary ones.
Insects belong to the phylum Arthropoda.
482. millisecond

mil-uh-SEH-kund
This word is from originally Latin parts.
noun
one thousandth of the 60th part of a minute of time.
Computer imaging revealed that the runner won the sprint by about a millisecond.
483. anole

uh-NOHL-ee
This word came to English from French, which borrowed it from a Carib word.
noun
a lizard of a genus of small American lizards that have the power of changing color.
Joe feeds his pet anole crickets as well as other insects he finds in the yard
484. towhee

TOH-hee
This word is imitative in origin.
noun
a common North American finch that is white, reddish, and black or brown.
Duncan watched the towhee through his new binoculars.
485. andouille

ahn-DOO-ee
This word is from a word that went from Latin to French.
noun
a spicy pork sausage.
Clara served her guests a dish of red beans and rice with andouille on the side.
486. salmagundi

sal-muh-GUN-dee
This word is from French.
noun
a salad plate with colorful rows of ingredients, such as meats, hard-cooked eggs, pickled vegetables, and watercress, and dressed with a salad dressing.
The salmagundi took Sarita so long to make that she took a photo of it to post on the food blog she was planning to start someday.
487. louche

loosh
This word came from French, which formed it from a Latin word.
adjective
sinister : devious.
After she caught the boys who had teased her poodle, Miss Vorrell told them she had “never seen such louche behavior.”
488. crokinole

KROH-kuh-nohl
This word is from French.
noun
a game in which disks are driven or snapped from the edge of a table at a mark in the center.
After dinner, Mary-Catherine challenged her sister to a game of crokinole.
489. tomalley

tuh-MAL-ee
This word is from Cariban, an indigenous language of Central and South America.
noun
a lobster's liver.
Although tomalley has historically been considered a delicacy, it can collect and concentrate pollutants and toxins.
490. Esau

EE-sah
This word is from a name that went from Hebrew to Greek to Latin.
noun
one that sacrifices a permanent interest for a more immediate but temporary interest; also : one that may easily be taken advantage of.
Frances knew her sister was an Esau and could easily be convinced to trade her extra blanket for a chocolate bar.
491. feign

fayn
Originally Latin, this word went through French before becoming English.
verb
to give the false appearance of.
In an emergency, Maris will feign composure to save her pride.
492. pliant

PLAHY-unt
This word came to English from Latin-derived French.
adjective
flexible : workable : lithe.
The pliant clay hardened in the oven.
493. sauerkraut

SAU-ur-kraut
This word is from German.
noun
cabbage cut fine and allowed to ferment in a brine made of its own juice with salt.
Every Oktoberfest, Hans's grandmother makes a large platter of pork sausages with sauerkraut.
494. ballyhooed

BAL-ee-hood
This word is of unknown origin.
verb
advertised by means of exaggerated claims and cheap sensationalism.
Every mile or two along the highway there were large signs that ballyhooed the popular amusement park.
495. dissemble

dih-SEM-bul
This word came to English from French, which formed it from a Latin word.
verb
to hide facts or feelings.
When her boss asked how her day was going, Ash tried to dissemble by pasting on a bright smile.
496. graham

gram
This word is from an American name.
adjective
made of or mostly of whole wheat flour.
Regina used graham crackers to make the crust of her famous chocolate pie.
497. ammonite

AM-uh-nahyt
The first part of this word went from Egyptian to Greek to Latin and the second part went from Greek to Latin to French.
noun
a fertilizer made largely from dried meat residues.
Hilda swore that ammonite was the secret to her prize-winning begonias.
498. qualms

kwahmz
This word is of unknown origin.
plural noun
sudden misgivings or faintheartedness.
Colby had absolutely no qualms about skydiving until it was his turn.
499. krewe

kroo
This word is from another English word taken from Latin-derived French.
noun
a private organization staging festivities such as parades and balls during Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
The members of the Basin Street krewe decorated a huge castle-shaped float for the parade.
500. buffoonery

buh-FOO-nuh-ree
This word is from a French word made up of a Latin-derived element and a French element.
noun
foolish or vulgar shenanigans.
Mrs. Decker warned that she would tolerate no buffoonery in her classroom.
501. specificity

speh-suh-FIS-uh-tee
The first part of this word is from an originally Latin word, and the second part contains English elements.
noun
the quality or state of being free from ambiguity.
Mr. Spence values specificity in his students’ essays.
502. mangonel

MANG-guh-nel
Originally Greek, this word passed through Latin and French before becoming English.
noun
a military machine historically used for throwing missiles (such as stones or javelins).
The mangonel hurled a boulder at the castle gate.
503. woebegone

WOH-bee-gahn
This word is originally English.
adjective
displaying misery, distress, suffering or sadness.
The children’s woebegone faces began to brighten as they saw the cake and ice cream.
504. impasse

IM-pas
This word is from a Latin-derived French word.
noun
a road or way that is incapable of being traveled, traveled through, or crossed.
A rockslide created an impasse on the mountain road.
505. legalese

lee-guh-LEEZ
The first part of this word passed from Latin to French to English, and the second is an English element from Italian and Portuguese.
noun
the specialized language of the legal world that is typically wordy and complicated and difficult to understand outside of the profession.
Kenya took a deep breath before continuing to wade through the dense bog of legalese in the contract.
506. seneschal

SEN-ih-shul
This word came to English from Germanic-derived French.
noun
an agent or steward of a powerful medieval lord or king.
The seneschal pounded his staff on the floor three times and announced the king’s visitors.
507. tensile

TEN-sul
This word is from Latin.
adjective
relating to the act of stretching.
tensile structures are often used in architecture for bridges or roofs.
508. cire perdue

SIR-per-DOO
This word entry is from French.
noun
a process used in metal casting that consists of making a wax model, coating it to form a mold, heating until the wax melts, and then pouring metal into the space left vacant.
The sculptor used cire perdue to create an intricate bronze sculpture of Aphrodite.
509. pschent

skent
This word is from an Egyptian-derived Greek word.
noun
the headdress of the later Egyptian pharaohs formed of the two crowns worn by the respective pharaohs of Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt before the union of the country under one rule.
The pharaoh’s statue stood 66 feet high from the feet to top of the pschent covering his head.
510. berceuse

ber-SUZ
This word is from a French word.
noun
a lullaby.
Priya hummed a berceuse to her daughter in the crib to soothe her to sleep.
511. baleen

buh-LEEN
This word is from a Greek-derived Latin word that became French and then English.
noun
a filter of bristles inside the mouths of whales that collects small food from seawater.
baleen continues to grow throughout a whale's life.
512. contrapposto

kohn-truh-PAH-stoh
This word is from Italian, which formed it from Latin.
noun
a body position used in art in which the hips, shoulders and head are turned in different directions.
The Greek sculptor Praxiteles used contrapposto to give his statues a natural-looking equilibrium.
513. Menaia

muh-NAY-uh
This word is from Greek.
plural noun
collections of hymns and prayers for all days of the year in the Eastern Orthodox Church arranged in calendar order and usually divided into 12 volumes each for a different month.
The priest had an impressive collection of Menaia.
514. ab aeterno

a-bee-TUR-noh
This word is from Latin.
adverb
from an infinitely remote point of time in the past.
Damon was only 15, and so despite all appearances, his habit of discarding food wrappers under his gaming station could not have been going on ab aeterno.
515. Waf

waf
This word is an acronym of an English term.
noun
a member of the women's component of the U.S. Air Force formed after World War II.
Theresa's grandmother was a Waf until the program ended in the mid-1970s.
516. prevenient

pree-VEEN-yunt
This word is from Latin.
adjective
happening or existing earlier in time or order, often with adverse effects.
prevenient exposure to difficult concepts before the lesson in which they are to be taught may actually improve students' accomplishments in class.
517. panjandrum

pan-JAN-drum
This word is from an English literary name.
noun
a powerful person of distinction or a pompous official.
The panjandrum declared a holiday in honor of his own birthday.
518. knight

nahyt
This word is originally English.
noun
a mounted man-at-arms of the European feudal period; especially : a man ceremonially inducted by a feudal superior into special military rank usually after completing regular periods of service as page and squire.
The knight was known for both his bravery and his loyalty.
519. impediment

im-PED-uh-munt
This word is from Latin.
noun
a hindrance : a block.
Clementine's lack of a college degree is an impediment to her getting the job that she hopes for.
520. existence

ig-ZIS-tuns
This word came to English from French, which formed it from a Latin word.
noun
the state or fact of having being especially as considered independently of human consciousness and as contrasted with the negation of being.
Some scientists believe that a high-oxygen atmosphere is necessary for the existence of life on planets outside our solar system.
521. ferruginous

fuh-ROO-juh-nus
This word is from Latin.
adjective
containing iron.
Nearby ferruginous rocks affected the direction of the compass needle.
522. Astur

A-stur
This word is from Latin.
noun
a genus consisting of the goshawks and sometimes considered a subgenus.
Gary thought that all birds of prey were cool, but coolest of all were those of the genus Astur.
523. sedentary

SED-un-ter-ee
This word went from Latin to French.
adjective
requiring or characterized by sitting or limited activity.
Heidi accused Adrian of being a couch potato but he preferred to say he had a sedentary lifestyle.
524. annuity

uh-NOO-uh-tee
This word is from a Latin word that became French and then English.
noun
money that is paid in installments on a regular basis.
Carl’s grandparents set up a trust fund that will provide him with an annuity for the next 20 years.
525. infirm

in-FURM
This word is from Latin.
adjective
of poor or deteriorated vitality especially due to age : feeble.
Though he grew increasingly infirm, Richard's mind was still as sharp as a tack.
526. pruritus

pruh-RAHY-tus
This word is from Latin.
noun
itching due to irritation of sensory nerve endings.
Alice rubbed an ointment on her arm to relieve her pruritus.
527. patronymic

pa-truh-NIM-ik
This word went from Greek to Latin.
noun
a name formed or developed from that of the father.
The surname MacDonald, meaning “the son of Donald,” is a common Scottish patronymic.
528. portugais

pohr-chuh-GAY
This word was formed in French from a European geographical name.
noun
a black angelfish.
The portugais, which is the largest of the marine angelfish, feeds mostly on sponges.
529. moline

MOH-lin
This word is from Latin-derived French.
adjective
having the end of each arm forked and recurved — used of a cross.
There are 12 families of millers who bear crosses moline on their family crests.
530. corsage

kor-SAHZH
This word is from Latin-derived French.
noun
an arrangement of flowers to be worn as an accessory.
David brought his prom date a corsage of a single red rosebud surrounded by baby's breath.
531. riffraff

RIF-raf
The first part of this word is originally Germanic and came to English through French, and the second part went from French to English.
noun
a group of people perceived to be disreputable or common.
When Nadine won an all-expenses-paid trip to an exclusive resort, she joked about not having to vacation with the rest of the riffraff.
532. senna

SEN-uh
This word passed from Arabic to Latin.
noun
the dried leaflets of various plants of the genus Cassia used in medicine as a purgative.
senna has been used for thousands of years for its medicinal properties and remains in use to this day.
533. arietta

ah-ree-ET-uh
This word is originally Latin.
noun
a short accompanied and usually elaborate melody sung by a single voice (as in an opera or oratorio).
To close the recital, Janai sang an arietta she wrote herself about the woes of dining alone, entitled "O Solo Meal."
534. logodaedaly

lah-guh-DEE-duh-lee
This word went from Greek to Latin to English.
noun
random creation of words.
The columnist's style was marked by punchy syntax, flagrant logodaedaly, and irreverent humor.
535. bleat

bleet
This word is originally English.
verb
to utter its natural cry — used of a sheep or goat.
The flock of sheep would bleat excitedly when they spotted the bag of alfalfa pellets.
536. caduceus

kuh-DOO-see-us
This word is from a word that went from Greek to Latin.
noun
a conventionalized representation of a staff with two snakes curled around it and with two wings at the top.
The wall of Dr. McArthur’s veterinary office bore a caduceus with the letter “V” superimposed.
537. anionic

a-nahy-AH-nik
This word is made up of ultimately Greek elements.
adjective
relating to or consisting of negatively charged atoms or groups of atoms.
By gaining an electron, a chlorine atom becomes anionic.
538. unilaterally

yoo-nuh-LAT-ur-uh-lee
This word is formed from two originally Latin elements plus English elements.
adverb
one-sidedly.
The dictator unilaterally proclaimed the action a breach of international law and an act of war.
539. steeve

steev
Originally Latin, this word probably passed through Spanish or Portuguese to English.
verb
to stow especially in a ship’s hold.
Most passengers on the transatlantic voyage steeve their large trunks because the typical cabin is small.
540. daguerreotype

duh-GER-oh-tahyp
This word is from a French name plus a part that went from Greek to French.
noun
a photograph produced on a silver-plated sheet of copper.
The daguerreotype was popular from its invention in 1839 until 1860.
541. omission

oh-MISH-un
This word came to English from Latin.
noun
the act of failing to include or name.
Katie refused to believe that Joe’s omission of her name on the guest list was accidental.
542. quirt

kwurt
This word is from a word that went from Latin to Spanish.
noun
a short-handled riding whip used especially in the western U.S.
Eager to get home, Juanita urged her horse on by using the quirt.
543. ossicle

AH-sih-kul
This word is from Latin.
noun
any of certain small bones.
The sports doctor told Nate that an ossicle in his left ear had been damaged by the blow from his opponent.
544. version

VUR-zhun
This word came to English from French, which took it from Latin.
noun
an account from one point of view particularly when contrasted with another.
Ms. Jakes was not surprised when one twin had a different version of the story from the other.
545. incitive

in-SAHY-tiv
This word is from a word which passed from Latin to French to English.
adjective
tending to stir up or urge on.
The court debated whether the speaker's statement could have been considered incitive of violence.
546. particulate

pahr-TIK-yuh-lut
This word consists of a Latin part and a Latin-derived English element.
adjective
existing in the form of minute separate fragments.
particulate matter is a form of pollution that consists of small fragments suspended in the air.
547. Bunyanesque

buhn-yuh-NESK
This word is from an American name plus a French-derived English element.
adjective
enormous, gargantuan.
No amount of food can satisfy Raymond's Bunyanesque appetite.
548. certiorari

sur-shee-uh-RAR-ee
This word passed to English from Latin.
noun
a writ issuing out of a superior court to call up the records of an inferior court or a body acting in a quasi-judicial capacity in order that the party may have more sure and speedy justice or that errors and irregularities may be corrected.
Andy’s attorney asked the state supreme court to issue a certiorari to obtain the proceedings of the insurance commission.
549. lupine

LOO-pahyn
This word is from Latin.
adjective
like a wolf.
Little Red Riding Hood should have known right away that the lupine creature in her grandmother’s bed was not really her grandmother.
550. titian

TISH-un
This word is from an Italian name.
noun
someone who has brownish-orange hair.
Bored with her usual raven locks, Carrie decided that she would spend a month or two as a titian.
551. boulevardier

boo-luh-vahr-DYAY
This word is from a Dutch-derived French word plus a French element.
noun
a stylish man.
The boulevardier subscribed to multiple men's fashion magazines to stay ahead of the trends.
552. dghaisa

DAHY-suh
This word is from Maltese.
noun
a small boat resembling a gondola that is common in Malta.
The operator of a traditional dghaisa rows while standing and facing forward.
553. credence

KREE-dunts
This word went from Latin to French to English.
noun
acceptance (as of a story or statement) as true : belief.
Joelle’s reaction gave credence to the gossip swirling around the school.
554. kernel

KUR-nul
This word is originally English.
noun
a central or necessary part.
A sense of wonder is the kernel around which a good education is built.
555. trochee

TROH-kee
This word is from an originally Greek word that passed through Latin to French.
noun
a metrical foot of a long followed by a short syllable or a stressed followed by an unstressed syllable.
When Katie's English teacher asked her for an example of a word demonstrating trochee, Katie responded with "kitten."
556. whelp

hwelp
This word is originally English.
noun
one of the young of a number of carnivorous mammals.
Wendy spotted the tracks of a fox and what appeared to be a single whelp by the path.
557. rissole

rih-SOHL
This word came from French, which probably formed it from Latin.
noun
finely chopped meat or fish that is covered with pastry and deep fried.
Marianne thought her heartburn might be due to the rissole she ate for lunch.
558. ethylene

ETH-uh-leen
This word was created by modern science out of Greek-derived elements.
noun
a petrochemical gas used as an anesthetic and to ripen fruits.
When ethylene is polymerized, the product is polyethylene, a plastic material used for making containers.
559. toque

tohk
This word is from an originally Spanish word that passed into French.
noun
a close-fitted hat for women that is small, soft and without a brim.
Margo buttoned her jacket and adjusted her blue velvet toque in front of the mirror.
560. hysteron proteron

HIS-tuh-rahn-PROH-tuh-rahn
This word passed to English from Latin, which took it from Greek.
noun
a figure of speech consisting of reversal of a natural or rational order (as in “then came the thunder and the lightning”).
"Your command to put on my shoes and socks," declared Malcolm to his mother, "is both an instance of hysteron proteron and quite literally preposterous!"
561. hutia

hoo-TEE-uh
This word passed from Taino to American Spanish and Spanish.
noun
a type of large edible rodent now extinct over much of its range.
Only two species of hutia remain common in the wild.
562. Muzak

MYOO-zak
This word is a trademark.
trademark
— used for recorded background music (as at an office or restaurant).
Justin often wore headphones at his desk to avoid listening to the Muzak played over the office speaker system.
563. enoki

eh-NOH-kee
This word is from Japanese.
noun
a small edible mushroom.
David was determined to use his chopsticks to remove every last enoki from his ramen.
564. Kannada

KAH-nuh-duh
This word is from Kanarese, a language of southern India.
noun
the major Dravidian language of Mysore, south India.
The numbers one through five have more than one form in Kannada, varying according to the gender of the noun they go with.
565. modem

MOH-dum
This word is made up of Latin-derived English.
noun
a device that converts signals produced by one type of device (as a computer) to a form compatible with another.
When Mariah moved into a new apartment, she bought a new wireless modem to increase her Internet speed.
566. cleave

kleev
This word is originally English.
verb
to adhere in a firm, loyal, or unwavering manner.
The minister said that even though doubt is a natural human failing, it is imperative that believers still cleave to the doctrines of the church.
567. tenement

TEN-uh-munt
This word passed from Latin to French to English.
noun
an apartment.
Polly grew up in a tenement on the north side of the city.
568. Manu

MA-noo
This word is from Sanskrit.
noun
one of a series of progenitors of human beings and authors of human wisdom in Hindu mythology.
The Sanskrit term for "human" means "of Manu" or "children of Manu."
569. sirenian

sahy-REE-nee-un
This word is formed from a Greek-derived Latin word plus an English element.
noun
one of a type of aquatic, plant-eating mammals, such as the manatee.
The future of the sirenian in Florida is in doubt because of the increasing boat traffic.
570. primogeniture

prahy-moh-JEN-uh-chur
This word is from Latin.
noun
the state of being the firstborn of the children of the same parents.
Male primogeniture was used to determine inheritance of real estate and titles in Scotland until an act of Parliament abolished the practice in 1964.
571. valvata

val-VAH-tuh
This word is from Latin.
noun
any snail of a genus of freshwater operculate snails having the gill attached only by the base so that it forms a process like a feather outside the shell when extended.
Rishi scooped up a snail shell from the bank of the river and easily identified it as a valvata.
572. parvo

PAHR-voh
This word is a shortening of a word composed of originally Latin parts.
noun
a highly contagious febrile disease of dogs that is caused by a virus, is spread especially by contact with infected feces, and is marked by loss of appetite, lethargy, often vomiting, and sometimes death.
Mike thinks that Boomer caught parvo from a neighbor dog who dug his way under the fence into the yard.
573. pointelle

poyn-TEL
This word is perhaps from a word that went from Latin to French to English plus a French element.
noun
an design of openwork usually in the shape of chevrons, or a fabric with this design.
Carlette wanted to try knitting pointelle but didn't have much money for yarn, so she started with a hat.
574. zemi

zuh-MEE
This word is from an originally Taino word that passed into Spanish.
noun
an object believed to be the dwelling of a spirit and to possess magic power.
The art museum has a collection of figures from the Caribbean that includes a valuable beaded zemi.
575. qiyas

kee-YAHS
This word is from Arabic.
noun
the principle of analogy applied in the interpretation of points of Islamic law not clearly covered in the Koran or sunna.
qiyas was often used to infer new beliefs and practices on the basis of past practices and beliefs.
576. buffa

BOO-fuh
This word is from Latin-derived Italian.
noun
a female singer of comic operatic roles.
Lorelei admired the beautiful voice of the buffa in the Metropolitan Opera production of Così Fan Tutte.
577. lokelani

loh-kay-LAH-nee
This word is from Hawaiian.
noun
a small fragrant pink or red rose common in Hawaii.
Luana planted a pink lokelani in a sunny location in her new garden.
578. thuluth

THOO-luth
This word is from Arabic.
noun
one of the chief forms of Arabic and Persian script.
The flag of Saudi Arabia features script written in thuluth.
579. oud

ood
This word is from Arabic.
noun
a musical instrument resembling a mandolin.
As he passed the alleyway, Hamid heard a few plaintive notes from an oud.
580. prosody

PRAH-suh-dee
This word passed to English from Latin, which took it from a Greek word.
noun
the systematic study of metrical structure in verse.
The prosody of Horace’s first ten odes was Calvin’s downfall on the exam.
581. jocote

hoh-KOH-tay
This word passed from Nahuatl to American Spanish.
noun
the edible purplish fruit of a common tropical American shrub or small tree with compound leaves and purple paniculate flowers.
Javier will let the jocote ripen before eating it, since he knows that the unripe fruit would be bitter.
582. oopuhue

oh-oh-puh-HOO-ee
This word is from Hawaiian.
noun
a puffer fish.
George wanted an oopuhue for his saltwater fish tank.
583. pruritus

pruh-RAHY-tus
This word is from Latin.
noun
itching due to irritation of sensory nerve endings.
Alice rubbed an ointment on her arm to relieve her pruritus.
584. whimsical

WIM-zih-kul
This word is from an English word of unknown origin plus an English element.
adjective
resulting from or determined by sudden, capricious, unpredictable ideas.
The author has written a volume of whimsical poetry that is delightful reading for kids and parents alike.
585. Hathor

HA-thur
The origin of this word is not given.
noun
the ancient Egyptian goddess of the sky, women, fertility, and love.
More temples were dedicated to Hathor than to any other ancient Egyptian goddess.
586. pestilence

PEH-stuh-luns
This word is from Latin.
noun
a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that has a rapid and severe course and is devastating.
The pestilence known as the Black Death killed 25 million people in Europe between 1347 and 1352.
587. census

SEN-sus
This word is from Latin.
noun
an official count of the population of a country, city or other region that includes vital statistics and other information.
The first United States census was conducted in 1790.
588. cirri

SIR-ahy
This word is from Latin.
plural noun
white filmy varieties of cloud usually formed in the highest cloud region and normally consisting of minute ice crystals.
Yolanda loves the gauzy halo around a full moon created by cirri on a cold winter's night.
589. tachyon

TAK-ee-ahn
This word is formed from two Greek-derived elements.
noun
a hypothetical particle believed to move more rapidly than the speed of light.
The tachyon plays a large role in science fiction stories that involve time travel.
590. skerrick

SKER-ik
This word is perhaps from an Old Norse word that passed into English.
noun
the least bit : trace — chiefly used in Australia.
By the time Hajra's brother was through, there wasn't a skerrick of food left in the fridge.
591. lierre

lee-AYR
This word is from Latin-derived French.
noun
a shade of olive.
Edmund's favorite color is lierre, which he feels brings out the green flecks in his eyes.
592. alleluiatic

al-uh-loo-YAT-ik
This word came from Latin, which formed it from a Hebrew-derived Greek element.
adjective
of or relating to a religious interjection used to express praise, joy, or thanks.
The preacher was particularly drawn to the five final alleluiatic psalms, and meditated upon them often.
593. calamondin

kal-uh-MAHN-dun
This word is from Tagalog.
noun
a small hybrid citrus tree native to the Philippines and cultivated as an ornamental plant.
The fruit of the calamondin looks like a tiny orange.
594. rajpramukh

RAHJ-pruh-muk
This word went from Sanskrit to Hindi.
noun
the elected constitutional head of an Indian state formed from a number of former princely states.
The administrative title of rajpramukh existed from 1947 until 1956, when new states were created along ethnic and linguistic lines.
595. pedigree

PEH-duh-gree
This word came to English from French.
noun
a list showing the line of ancestors for a person or animal.
Jackson examined the racehorse’s pedigree closely before making his purchase offer.
596. Typhoean

tahy-FEE-un
This word consists of an originally Greek mythological name that passed to Latin plus an English element.
adjective
of, relating to, or resembling a specific mythical monstrous giant.
John Milton wrote of the "vast Typhoean rage" of the hosts of hell.
597. emolument

ih-MAHL-yuh-munt
This word is from Latin.
noun
salary.
The waitress who left her tips out of the emolument she reported faces incarceration for tax evasion.
598. epistemology

uh-pist-uh-MAHL-uh-jee
This word is from originally Greek elements.
noun
the study of the method and grounds of knowledge especially with reference to its limits and validity; broadly : the theory of knowledge.
Many scholars hold that the middle books of Plato’s “Republic” are the key to his epistemology.
599. kanji

KAHN-jee
This word is from Japanese.
noun
a Japanese system of writing based on the Chinese one.
As part of a unit on Japan, the students read a short paper on the history of kanji.
600. mauve

mohv
This word is from an originally Latin word that then became French.
noun
a strong purple.
Drea painted her room mauve and added white curtains and accessories.
601. nomancy

NOH-mun-see
This word is an alteration of a word formed in French from originally Greek parts.
noun
divination by letters.
The fortune teller claimed to be able to predict Cooper’s future by nomancy.
602. cyanosis

sahy-uh-NOH-sus
This word is from Greek.
noun
a bluish cast to the skin caused by insufficient oxygen in the blood.
cyanosis may result from pneumonia, asphyxiation, heart failure or heart anomalies.
603. traverse

truh-VURS
This word passed from Latin to French to English.
verb
to journey over or across.
Jacques and his family will traverse the heart of Yosemite National Park on their yearly hike.
604. continuum

kuhn-TIN-yoo-um
This word is from Latin.
noun
cohesion, constancy.
The continuum of care tracks patients over time through an array of health services.
605. coulrophobia

kool-ruh-FOH-bee-uh
There is no origin provided in the dictionary.
noun
abnormal fear of clowns.
When the king banished every harlequin, jester, and mime from the realm, the queen realized that his coulrophobia was nothing to laugh at.
606. cacoëthes

kak-oh-EE-theez
This word is from a Greek word that passed into Latin.
noun
a habitual and uncontrollable desire : a mania.
Arnold spends little time outdoors now that he has developed an undeniable cacoëthes for playing video games.
607. gesellschaft

guh-ZEL-shahft
This word is from German.
noun
a rationally developed social relationship based on impersonal relationships between individuals.
Todd held forth on his pet theory that Facebook was merely a popular gesellschaft.
608. aioli

ahy-OH-lee
This word comes from Provençal, which formed it from Latin-derived elements.
noun
garlic mayonnaise.
In the Mediterranean region, aioli is served with fish and potatoes.
609. realpolitik

ray-AHL-poh-lih-TEEK
This word was formed in German from Latin- and Greek-derived elements.
noun
politics based on practical instead of ethical, moral or theoretical considerations.
Harold pointed out that realpolitik ignores issues of justice and human rights.
610. collude

kuh-LOOD
This word is from Latin.
verb
to connive with another : conspire, plot.
Leah will collude with Desmond to defeat the other candidates in the school elections.
611. acetone

AS-uh-tohn
This word was formed from Latin-derived French and a Greek-derived element.
noun
a flammable, strong-smelling liquid used mainly as a solvent, such as in nail polish remover.
The simplest ketone is acetone, a liquid that is used mainly as a solvent for organic compounds.
612. estovers

ih-STOH-vurz
This word went from a Latin phrase to a French word to English.
plural noun
wood that a tenant is allowed to take from the landlord's premises for necessary fuel.
Because his rented cottage was heated only by wood, Dustin was instructed to take his estovers directly from his landlord's woodpile.
613. variegated

VER-ee-uh-gay-tud
This word is from a Latin-derived word.
adjective
marked with spots or streaks in various shades or colors.
A shady corner of the garden was brightened by a clump of variegated coleus plants.
614. chopine

shah-PEEN
This word is from an originally Spanish word, probably of imitative origin, that passed into French.
noun
a woman’s shoe of the 16th and 17th centuries having a high often stiltlike sole designed to increase stature and protect the feet from mud and dirt.
While the chopine elevated a lady’s height, it could also lead to her downfall.
615. curator

KYUR-ay-tur
This word is from Latin.
noun
the manager of a museum exhibit.
The curator was happy to answer visitor questions about the exhibit.
616. seine

sayn
This word is from a Germanic word that ultimately derives from Greek via Latin.
verb
to fish with a large upright net.
David and Joella seine for perch every time they go to the lake.
617. krypton

KRIP-tahn
This word is from Greek.
noun
a colorless gas that occurs in air and in other natural gases and is used in electric lamps for extremely bright illumination.
A light bulb filled with krypton will last longer and shine more brightly than a regular bulb of the same wattage.
618. Truckee

TRUH-kee
This word is a U.S. geographical name.
geographical entry
a river in eastern California and western Nevada.
Last summer, Jane and her family went white-water rafting on the Truckee.
619. rapparee

rap-uh-REE
This word is from Irish Gaelic.
noun
an Irish soldier of the 17th century not belonging to the regular army organization.
Redmond O'Hanlon, a famous rapparee in the Irish Rebellion of 1641, inspired a legend much like that of Robin Hood.
620. vilipend

VIL-uh-pend
This word passed from Latin to French to English.
verb
to talk about someone or something in a disparaging manner.
Mr. Kelly never votes for candidates who vilipend their opponents instead of discussing the issues.
621. krausen

KROI-zn
This word is from German.
verb
to add an infusion of strong, newly fermenting malt to beer to carbonate the beer.
German brewers traditionally krausen lagers in order to add carbonation to those whose yeast has gone dormant during the fermentation process.
622. fez

fez
This word comes from French, which took it from a Moroccan geographical name.
noun
a brimless cone-shaped hat, usually made of red felt, that has a flat crown usually with a long tassel attached.
In 1925, Kamal Ataturk passed a law that forced all men to wear Western-style hats in public places instead of the traditional fez.
623. sesquipedalian

ses-kwuh-puh-DAYL-yun
This word is from a Latin element plus an English element.
adjective
characterized by or tending to use lengthy words.
Norbert dozed off halfway through the professor’s sesquipedalian lecture.
624. exposé

eks-poh-ZAY
This word is from a Latin-derived French word.
noun
a disclosure or revelation of something discreditable.
Emmett published an exposé in the school newspaper on the decreasing nutritional value of the cafeteria lunch.
625. opprobrious

uh-PROH-bree-us
This word is from Latin.
adjective
expressing contempt or distaste while implying inferiority.
The principal denounced the vandals in opprobrious terms.
626. Shenandoah

shen-un-DOH-uh
This word is a North American geographical name.
geographical entry
a river 55 miles long in northern Virginia flowing northeast between the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains across the northeastern tip of West Virginia and into the Potomac River and forming the valley of the same name.
Dilip pulled over to the scenic overlook on Skyline Drive to see the Shenandoah winding through the valley.
627. zapateado

zah-puh-tee-AH-doh
This word is from Spanish.
noun
a step in Spanish dance that consists of rhythmic tapping or stamping.
Juliana needs practice in zapateado before she can take advanced flamenco classes.
628. syntrophism

SIN-truh-fiz-um
This word is from originally Greek elements.
noun
mutual dependence for the satisfaction of nutritional needs.
The two bacterial strains exhibit syntrophism, with each strain synthesizing the growth factor needed by the other.
629. nisus

NAHY-sus
This word is from Latin.
noun
a striving : an inclination.
Professor Williams explained that there is a nisus towards the new in art.
630. savoir faire

sav-wahr-FAR
This word entry comes from Latin-derived French elements.
noun
an instinctive ability to act appropriately in a particular situation; especially : skill in social relationships.
Clarice believes she lacks savoir faire and always feels awkward in social settings.
631. Phobos

FOH-bohs
There is no origin given for this word in our dictionary.
noun
in astronomy, the larger and innermost of the two moons of Mars with an irregular shape and a diameter of approximately 15.6 miles.
Phobos is named after the Greek god of fear and panic.
632. floruit

FLOR-uh-wit
This word is from Latin.
noun
a time period during which someone or something (such as a school, person or movement) thrived the most.
Professor Snodgrass explained that when we don't know the birth and death dates of an ancient author, we often still know a floruit.
633. burgoo

bur-GOO
This word is of unknown origin.
noun
a well-seasoned stew comprised of meat and vegetables originally served at community gatherings.
Everyone looks forward to eating burgoo at Cait and Scott's Derby Day party.
634. diapason

dahy-uh-PAY-zun
This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into Latin before entering English.
noun
an intense burst of sound.
The trumpeters filled the courtyard with thrilling diapason.
635. luculent

LOO-kyuh-lunt
This word came to English from Latin.
adjective
extremely clear and convincing in thought or expression.
The audience was amazed at the luculent commentary on the state of the economy.
636. clowder

KLAU-dur
This word is probably a variant of an originally English word.
noun
a pack of cats.
Sara loved volunteering at the shelter and helping to care for their clowder of cats.
637. cudgel

KUH-jul
This word is originally English.
noun
a short heavy stick used to inflict punishment or as a weapon.
A nightstick is one kind of cudgel.
638. terai

tuh-RAHY
This word is from an Indian geographical name.
noun
a wide-brimmed double felt sun hat worn mostly in subtropical areas.
Historically, the terai was sometimes worn as part of a military uniform.
639. transience

TRAN-shee-unts
This word is from Latin.
noun
the characteristic or state of lasting only a short time.
The photographer is able to capture transience by being ready to click the shutter at the crucial moment.
640. sannyasi

sun-YAH-see
This word passed from Sanskrit to Hindi.
noun
a wandering Hindu ascetic.
After a sannyasi has passed away, he is typically buried in a seated posture of meditation instead of being cremated.
641. Strigolniki

strih-GAHL-nuh-kee
This word is from Russian.
plural noun
members of a Russian sect that broke away from the Eastern Orthodox Church in the 14th century.
Echoes of the ideas of the Strigolniki can be found in the writings of Leo Tolstoy.
642. oblast

AH-blast
This word is from a word that went from Old Slavic to Russian.
noun
a governmental subdivision of the former USSR corresponding to an autonomous province or state.
The Volga River flows through part of the Ivanovo oblast.
643. fatshedera

fat-SED-ruh
This word is from Latin elements.
noun
a vigorous upright ornamental foliage plant with glossy leaves that is a hybrid between ivy and a type of prickly tree.
Kimmy decided to plant fatshedera in the shady parts of her backyard where nothing else would grow.
644. evzone

EV-zohn
This word is from Greek.
noun
a member of a select infantry corps in the Greek army.
Latrice’s favorite memento of her trip to Athens is a pompon that fell off the shoe of an evzone on guard at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier.
645. Makgadikgadi Pans

mah-kah-dee-KAH-dee-PANZ
This is a geographical entry.
geographical entry
large basin containing salt pans in northeastern Botswana.
The Makgadikgadi Pans are some of the largest salt pans in the world, and during the rainy season become home to thousands of flamingos.
646. escheator

is-CHEE-tur
This word is from a Latin-derived French word that then became English.
noun
a legal officer formerly designated to care for land returned to state or royal ownership.
The escheator lived in a stone cottage on royal land.
647. banquet

BANG-kwut
This word came from a French word, which formed it from an Italian word.
noun
a mealtime gathering to mark a special occasion or triumph.
After the speech tournament, the competitors gathered to celebrate at the awards banquet.
648. chèvre

SHEV-ruh
This word is from French.
noun
a cheese made from goats' milk.
Deciding he wanted to make his own chèvre, Robert closely followed the instructions he'd found online.
649. freegan

FREE-gun
This word consists of a part that is originally English and a part that is from a Latin-derived English word.
noun
an activist who scavenges for unused food (as in waste receptacles) as a means of reducing consumption of resources.
Chaz became a freegan after reading an article about the amount of fresh vegetables restaurants waste each year.
650. obloquy

AH-bluh-kwee
This word is from Latin.
noun
a strongly and often intemperately condemnatory utterance.
Mr. Willett recited the names of the pranksters with uncharacteristic obloquy.
651. Kjeldahl

KEL-dahl
This word is from a Danish name.
adjective
relating to or being a method for determining the amount of nitrogen in a substance by measuring the amount of ammonia expelled when boiled with sulfuric acid.
The Kjeldahl method is widely used for estimating the protein content in foods based on the nitrogen they release in digestion.
652. coccygeal

kahk-SIH-jee-ul
This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into Latin.
adjective
of the tailbone.
When Tonio fell from the ladder, he sustained a coccygeal injury.
653. cloture

KLOH-chur
This word is from a Latin-derived French word.
noun
the concluding or limitation of debate in a legislative body by calling for a vote.
In the U.S. Senate, cloture requires a supermajority of voting members.
654. ciliopathy

sil-ee-AH-puh-thee
This word is from Latin and Greek parts.
noun
any of a group of genetic disorders (such as polycystic kidney disease) that are caused by the abnormal formation or function of cellular hairlike processes, and often share common features (such as brain anomalies and retinal degeneration).
There were many individuals with six fingers on each hand in the remote mountain village, due to the ciliopathy that had been passed down across generations.
655. golem

GOHL-um
This word is from a word that went from Hebrew to Yiddish.
noun
an artificial, humanlike figure in some Jewish traditions that is endowed with life.
Some people believe that Mary Shelley based her story of Frankenstein on the ancient Jewish tradition of the golem.
656. bahr

bahr
This word is from Arabic.
noun
a body of water (as a lake, river, or sea).
For the weekly geography lesson, Mrs. Rogers had the class name each large bahr on a map of North America.
657. Huallaga

wah-YAH-gah
This word is a South American geographical name.
geographical entry
a river 700 miles long in north central Peru.
Beatriz was captivated by the video footage from a drone flying over the Huallaga for a stretch of 10 miles.
658. mastodon

MAS-tuh-dahn
This word is formed from Greek elements.
noun
someone or something of gigantic size or unusually large size.
The mastodon in Mrs. Campbell’s antique automobile collection is a 1950 Dodge Power Wagon Woodie.
659. kichel

KIH-k?ul
This word came from Yiddish, which formed it from German.
noun
a semisweet baked product made of eggs, flour and sugar cut into a diamond shape and baked until puffed.
David became sad when he found only one kichel left in the box of homemade goodies his mother had sent to him.
660. refrigerant

rih-FRIJ-ur-unt
This word is originally from Latin.
noun
a substance (such as ice, ammonia, or carbon dioxide) used to make or keep something cool.
Mr. Horton wants to replace his current air-conditioning system with one that uses an ozone-friendly refrigerant.
661. pahoehoe

puh-HOH-ee-hoh-ee
This word is from Hawaiian.
noun
smooth cooled lava.
The geologist showed the class samples of different types of lava, including pahoehoe.
662. borough

BUR-oh
This word is originally English.
noun
one of the five political divisions of New York City.
Many visitors are surprised to see farmland in the borough of Staten Island.
663. tomography

tuh-MAH-gruh-fee
This word was probably originally formed in German from Greek parts.
noun
a method of medical radiography that produces an image that is clear and sharp for one area of the body but blurry for the surrounding areas.
Magnetic resonance imaging is one form of tomography.
664. wigan

WIG-un
This word is from a British place name.
noun
a plain-weave cotton fabric with a stiff finish used for interlining.
The tailor used wigan to line the hem of the jacket.
665. languorous

LANG-guh-rus
This word was formed in French from Latin-derived elements.
adjective
producing or tending to produce laziness or apathy.
Finding the warm weather and the slow pace of the school bus rather languorous, Janice dozed off during her ride home.
666. Broccolini

brah-kuh-LEE-nee
This word is a trademark.
trademark
— used for a hybrid green vegetable plant that produces long, thin, tender stems and loose clusters of florets.
Jose squeezed a little lemon juice on the plate of roasted Broccolini.
667. flèche

flaysh
This word is from Germanic-derived French.
noun
a move in fencing in which one takes several rapid steps forward in order to reach the opponent.
Nate's coach advised him to take advantage of his speed and try a flèche against his next opponent.
668. angiitis

an-jee-AHY-tis
This word was formed in Latin from two Greek parts.
noun
inflammation of blood vessels.
Certain immune system disorders may trigger angiitis.
669. plover

PLUH-vur
Originally Latin, this word went through French before becoming English.
noun
any of numerous shore-inhabiting birds having a short hard-tipped bill and a stout compact build.
Taylor could see that the plover roosting outside his window had spotted upper plumage.
670. prion

PREE-ahn
This word is formed from a part of an originally Greek word, a part of an originally Latin word, and an English element.
noun
any of various infectious proteins that are abnormal forms of normal cellular proteins and that in mammals include pathogenic forms that can cause brain disease.
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or "mad cow disease," is caused by a prion that disrupts the nervous system.
671. fecund

FEH-kund
This word is from Latin-derived French.
adjective
notable for productivity of thought and invention.
The Renaissance was a fecund era for the arts.
672. vernal

VUR-nul
This word is from Latin.
adjective
relating to the spring.
Cherry trees produce some of the prettiest vernal blossoms.
673. labyrinthine

lab-uh-RIN-thun
This word is from a probably Carian word that passed through Greek and Latin before becoming English, plus an English element.
adjective
like a structure full of intricate passageways that make it difficult to find the way from the interior to the entrance or from the entrance to the center.
Sarah enjoyed exploring the labyrinthine alleyways of the medieval town.
674. avifauna

ay-vuh-FAH-nuh
This word is from Latin.
noun
the birds of a particular area or environment.
Many of the avifauna of the Caribbean are migratory birds from North America.
675. Svengali

sven-GAH-lee
This word is from a British literary name.
noun
a person who tries to convince another person to do their bidding, often with evil intentions.
Many fans thought that the rock star’s husband was a Svengali who engineered the group’s breakup.
676. gambol

GAM-bul
This word went from Greek to Latin to Old Portuguese to French.
verb
to jump or skip around playfully.
Olga watched the puppies gambol about in the sunshine.
677. complementary

kahm-pluh-MEN-tuh-ree
This word is from a word that went from Latin to French.
adjective
mutually supplying each other's lack.
Susan's and Stuart's complementary talents of artistry and business acumen made their boutique a success.
678. comminatory

KAH-mun-uh-tor-ee
This word is from Latin.
adjective
conveying warning or threat of punishment or vengeance.
A comminatory glance from the principal caused the student to stop in the middle of his sentence.
679. griot

GREE-oh
This word is from French.
noun
any of a class of West African musician-entertainers or storytellers whose performances include tribal genealogies and histories.
While researching his book Roots, Alex Haley was stunned to meet a griot who was able to tell the story of how Haley’s ancestors were captured by slave traders and sent to America.
680. indigent

IN-dih-junt
This word went from Latin to French to English.
adjective
impoverished or needy.
The basketball star donated money to build a community center for the indigent residents of his old neighborhood.
681. risposta

rih-SPOH-stuh
This word is from a Latin word that passed to Italian.
noun
in music, a restatement of a fugue's subject by a different voice usually at the interval of a fifth above or a fourth below immediately following the initial statement.
The cello section played the risposta a fourth below the original subject.
682. Erewhonian

er-uh-WAH-nee-un
This word is from a literary geographical name plus an English element.
adjective
of or suggestive of the utopia described in the book Erewhon.
Nick wondered if Erewhonian thoughts ran through Garry Kasparov’s mind when the computer known as “Deep Blue” first beat him at chess in 1996.
683. ascension

uh-SEN-chun
This word passed from Latin to French to English.
noun
the process of rising upward to a higher degree or level.
The magazine article describes Steph Curry’s rapid ascension to the top rank of basketball players.
684. ululate

UL-yuh-layt
This word is from Latin.
verb
to cry out a typically long and rhythmical noise.
In some parts of India, wedding guests ululate and blow conch shells to welcome the groom to the bride’s house.
685. torii

TOH-ree-ee
This word is from Japanese.
noun
a Japanese gateway commonly built at the approach to a Shinto shrine.
A torii is used to mark the transition to a sacred space.
686. jicama

HEE-kuh-muh
This word went from Nahuatl to Spanish.
noun
a climbing Mexican vine with a sweet watery root that is sometimes eaten raw or cooked.
Suleika combined jicama, carrot, peppers and cabbage into a delicious slaw.
687. aggrandizement

uh-GRAN-duz-munt
This word came from French, which formed it from a Latin word.
noun
the act, action, or result of making great or greater (as in power, honor, or wealth) : advancement.
Because she was a commoner, Ruth was accused of marrying the prince for her personal aggrandizement.
688. espadrille

ES-puh-dril
This word is from a word that went from Latin to Provençal to French.
noun
a casual shoe with a fabric upper and a rope sole.
Melinda put on her other espadrille and headed for the boardwalk.
689. genteel

jen-TEEL
This word came from French, which formed it from a Latin word.
adjective
courteous.
Despite his genteel manner, Senator Smith could be a ruthless opponent.
690. avgolemono

ahv-goh-LEM-uh-noh
This word is from Greek.
noun
a chicken soup made with egg yolks and lemon juice.
Nick ate three bowls of his grandmother’s avgolemono after his soccer game.
691. mandorla

MAHN-dohr-lah
This word came from Italian, which formed it from a Latin word.
noun
a pointed oval figure typically composed of two intersecting arcs; specifically : an aureole of this shape surrounding a representation of a sacred personage.
Professor Najim pointed out that in the icon of the Transfiguration, Christ is depicted standing within a mandorla on Mount Tabor, with Elijah and Moses on either side.
692. carrageenan

kar-uh-GEE-nun
This word is from an Irish place name plus an English element.
noun
a gel-forming polysaccharide extracted from various red algae that is often used in the food and beverage industry as a thickener to improve texture, viscosity, and shelf life.
The canned good manufacturer uses carrageenan in their products in order to improve shelf stability.
693. epinicion

ep-uh-NISH-ee-ahn
This word is from Greek.
noun
a song of triumph or a choral ode in honor of a victor in war or games (as in the Olympian or Pythian games).
The typical epinicion in modern Olympic Games is the national anthem of the gold medalist’s country.
694. perspicacious

pur-spuh-KAY-shus
This word is formed from an originally Latin part plus an English element.
adjective
of keen, shrewd mental vision or discernment.
The chief financial officer attributed the company’s record profits to perspicacious management.
695. kriegspiel

KREEGZ-peel
This word is from an originally German word.
noun
chess in which neither player sees the other’s board but is given some information as to the opponent’s moves by a referee who keeps track of all moves on a third board.
Orville attributes his ability to mentally picture a chessboard in play to his fondness for kriegspiel.
696. danseur

dahnh-SUR
This word is from French, which perhaps borrowed it from Latin.
noun
a ballet dancer who is male.
The director chose a tall, graceful danseur for the part of Siegfried in Swan Lake.
697. filar

FAHY-lur
This word came from a Latin word plus an English part.
adjective
having threads across the field of display.
Mrs. Jensen instructed the students to use a filar microscope to take a more accurate measurement of their specimen.
698. Requiem

REK-wee-um
This word came to English from Latin.
noun
a grand song of praise or joy made to honor the dead.
Many orchestras include a classical Requiem in their repertoire.
699. stroganoff

STRAH-guh-nahf
This word is from a Russian name.
adjective
cut finely and cooked in a sauce made of meat stock, sour cream, mustard and onion.
Tyrone prepared beef stroganoff for the mayor’s visit.
700. reimbursable

ree-im-BURS-uh-bul
This word is made up of elements that passed from Latin to French to English.
adjective
able to be repaid.
Agatha’s medical insurance company did not consider a face-lift a reimbursable expense.
701. scagliola

skal-YOH-luh
This word is from Germanic-derived Italian.
noun
an imitation of ornamental marble used for floors, columns, and other ornamental interior work.
After the scagliola is laid on the prepared surface and is hardened, it is then polished to resemble marble.
702. rankles

RANG-kulz
Originally Greek, this word passed from Latin to French before becoming English.
verb
causes irritation or bitter feelings in : makes angry.
Gina's superior tone when explaining things always rankles her sister a little.
703. derring-do

DER-ing-DOO
This word is originally English.
noun
bold, courageous, or fearless action : bravery.
Narita loved to read tales of Robin Hood's derring-do in Sherwood Forest.
704. olecranon

oh-LEH-kruh-nahn
This word is from Latin, which took it from Greek.
noun
the bone that sticks out behind the elbow : the funny bone.
When accused of not having a funny bone in her entire body, Eunice calmly held up her elbow, pointed to her olecranon and explained that it was right there.
705. revenant

REV-uh-nunt
This word is from a Latin-derived French word.
adjective
happening again or coming back.
The more Rachel tries to put the revenant dream out of her mind, the more often it recurs.
706. echidna

eh-KID-nuh
This word is from Greek-derived Latin.
noun
a burrowing mammal that lays eggs, is active at night and has a tapered snout and a lengthy tongue for gathering ants to eat.
To evade its enemies in areas with loose soil, an echidna may dig straight down and roll itself into a ball.
707. attacca

uh-TAHK-uh
This word is from Germanic-derived Italian.
verb
to attack at once — used as a direction in music at the end of a movement to begin the next without pause.
“attacca!” called the conductor, pointing her baton at the violin section.
708. discreetly

dih-SKREET-lee
This word is made up of a word that went from Latin to French to English plus an English element.
adverb
carefully, tactfully.
The news anchor hired a public relations agent to discreetly manage the announcement of her retirement.
709. bailiwick

BAY-lih-wik
This word is originally English.
noun
jurisdiction.
The sheriff’s deputy stopped chasing the speeding car at the county line, not wanting to make an arrest outside his bailiwick.
710. diaulos

dee-AU-lahs
This word is from Greek.
noun
the double course for races on foot in ancient Greece during which runners went down one side of the stadium, turned around a post and returned to the starting point.
In gym class, Mrs. Whalen set up a race course modeled on the ancient Greek diaulos.
711. boarders

BORD-urz
This word consists of two originally English parts.
plural noun
people who are provided with regular meals or regular meals as well as lodging.
Marisa and her husband were interested in filling some of their spare rooms with boarders in order to have an additional source of income.
712. majuscule

MA-juh-skyool
This word came from French, which formed it from a Latin word.
adjective
written in the size or style of large letters (as capitals).
Dr. Mehta could see immediately that the majuscule scripts of the two letters were identical and surmised that the same scribe had written both.
713. seraya

suh-RAHY-uh
This word is from a native name in Borneo.
noun
a type of tree that is rich in resin, has flowers with twisted petals, and yields valuable lumber.
The seraya is a common tree, and its timber is often seen in the international timber trade.
714. hordeolum

hor-DEE-uh-lum
This word is from Latin.
noun
an inflamed swelling of a fatty gland at the margin of an eyelid : a sty.
Lakshmi’s doctor recommended that she use a warm compress on her hordeolum twice daily.
715. contemporary

kun-TEMP-uh-rer-ee
This word is from originally Latin elements.
adjective
marked by characteristics compatible with being of the present period : advanced, modern, up-to-date.
Naveed's favorite gallery is filled with contemporary art and features local artists.
716. splenetic

splih-NET-ik
This word is from Latin, which formed it from Greek elements.
adjective
characterized by spiteful anger.
The splenetic critic gave the musical a scathing review.
717. parr

pahr
This word is of unknown origin.
noun
a young salmon in the stage when it has dark traverse bands on its sides and is actively feeding in fresh water.
A parr feeds on aquatic insects in fresh water for one to three years, until it grows large enough to prepare for its next phase of life in the ocean.
718. mediobrome

MEE-dee-uh-brohm
The first part of this word is from Latin, and the second part is from Greek.
noun
a process for altering tone values, removing distracting parts and shifting emphasis in monochrome photographic prints by the use of oil paints.
The photographer achieved the diffusion of light she sought by using mediobrome.
719. bonanza

buh-NAN-zuh
This word is from a word that went from Greek-derived Latin to Spanish.
noun
something that yields an often unexpectedly large profit.
The movie turned out to be a box-office bonanza.
720. analepsis

an-uh-LEP-sis
This word is originally Greek.
noun
a flashback in literature.
Harriet found the author's use of analepsis difficult to follow.
721. schism

SKIZ-um
Originally Greek, this word went from Latin to French before becoming English.
noun
a split or division of a group into two disagreeing groups.
The Civil War was the result of a deep schism between the North and South.
722. spiracle

SPIR-uh-kul
This word is from Latin.
noun
one of the breathing pores that are usually in 10 pairs on the thorax and abdomen of an insect.
The muscular valve of a spiracle relaxes and opens to allow the uptake of oxygen and the escape of carbon dioxide.
723. advertisement

ad-vur-TAHYZ-munt
This word passed from Latin-derived Anglo-French to English.
noun
a paid notice or announcement published in some public print (as a newspaper, periodical, poster, or handbill) or broadcast over radio or television.
The advertisement featured a sleek, electric vehicle driving through a picturesque landscape.
724. turken

TUR-kun
This word consists of a part from a Middle Eastern geographical name plus a part from an originally English word.
noun
a type of domestic fowl sometimes held to constitute a separate breed and distinguished by a rough red unfeathered neck.
Also known as the Transylvanian Naked Neck, the turken owes its characteristic unfeathered neck to one dominant gene near the middle of Chromosome 3.
725. spirulina

spahyr-uh-LAHY-nuh
This word is from Latin.
noun
a very small thready aquatic bacterium or blue-green alga that is developed for use as a dietary supplement.
Abilene always adds a spoonful of spirulina to her morning smoothie for protein.
726. Panathenaea

pa-nath-uh-NEE-uh
This word is from an originally Greek part and a Greek name.
plural noun
the annual or quadrennial festivities of ancient Athens in honor of a major Greek deity celebrated in their greater form for several days during the third year of each olympiad and including a great procession.
The Panathenaea included animal sacrifices, musical performances, athletic contests, and the reciting of portions of epic poems.
727. Wampanoag

wahm-puh-NOH-ag
This word is from Natick, an indigenous American language.
noun
a Native American people of Rhode Island and neighboring parts of Massachusetts.
The assistance of Massasoit, chief of the Wampanoag, helped the English colonists on the Mayflower survive their first year in the New World.
728. risorgimento

ree-sorj-uh-MEN-toh
This word came from Italian, which formed it from Latin-derived elements.
noun
a period of revival or rebirth.
During the Victorian Age the English novel experienced a risorgimento.
729. fie

fahy
This word is from a French word that then became English.
interjection
— used to express disgust, dislike, or the affectation of being shocked.
“fie!” shouted the pirate as he turned around and faced the captain of the ship.
730. lebensraum

LAY-bunz-raum
This word is from German.
noun
land considered necessary for the self-sufficiency of a nation or state.
The king was convinced that the country needed more land as lebensraum.
731. bittern

BIH-turn
This word is perhaps from a Latin word, but English borrowed it from French.
noun
any of several herons of small or medium size.
Linda photographed a bittern in the marsh.
732. ante

AN-tee
This word is from Latin.
noun
a poker stake usually arbitrarily fixed and usually put up before the deal to build the pot.
Each player in the poker game put a nickel on the table as an ante.
733. tappet

TAP-it
This word consists of an English element partly of Germanic-derived French origin and partly of Scandinavian origin, plus an English element.
noun
a lever or projection moved by some other piece or intended to tap or touch something else to cause a particular motion.
In an internal combustion engine, the tappet converts the rotation of the camshaft into an upward motion that opens and closes a valve.
734. vis-à-vis

vee-zuh-VEE
This word is from French.
preposition
in comparison with.
Hilde was appalled to see that her favorite cookies were less popular vis-à-vis other kinds.
735. promyshlennik

prah-muh-SHLEN-ik
This word is from Russian.
noun
a Russian trapper and fur trader of Siberia and Alaska.
Unlike the French who sought beaver pelts for the European markets, the promyshlennik sought the rich pelts of sea otters for trade with China.
736. eluate

EL-yuh-wut
This word consists of an originally Latin element plus an English element.
noun
the washings obtained by extraction (as from a solution containing a previously adsorbed substance).
After the blood had been drawn and combined with a solvent, the resulting eluate was inspected under a microscope.
737. hoarse

hors
This word is originally English.
adjective
having a voice marked by a relatively low harsh or husky often muffled or laboriously forced quality of sound having little or no resonance.
After a marathon karaoke session with her friends, Amra's voice was so hoarse that her attempts to order coffee sounded like a ghost straight out of a horror movie.
738. shindig

SHIN-dig
This word is probably from a word that is perhaps an alteration of an originally English word.
noun
a large lavish party.
Marcellus hosted the large charity shindig at the fancy hotel.
739. ankh

ahnk
This word is from Egyptian.
noun
the ancient Egyptian symbol for life that looks like a cross with a loop on top.
Roger’s first discovery as an Egyptian archaeologist was a gold ankh.
740. gabbro

GA-broh
Originally Latin, this word came through Italian before becoming English.
noun
a rock of a family of granular igneous rocks composed essentially of three parts.
An outcropping of gabbro showed through the soil.
741. incisiform

in-SAHY-zuh-form
This word consists of two Latin-derived elements.
adjective
having the form of a tooth adapted for cutting.
The biologist studied the eruption of incisiform teeth in caribou.
742. gruel

GROO-ul
This word is from an originally Germanic word that passed to French before becoming English.
noun
a thin porridge.
As part of her report on Oliver Twist, Isabella made and brought in gruel for her entire class to try.
743. larceny

LAHR-suh-nee
This word consists of two parts that each passed from Latin to French to English.
noun
the unlawful taking of personal property without the consent of its legal owner.
When Tina first saw Victor’s art collection, she suspected him of larceny.
744. touted

TOU-tid
This word is from a perhaps originally imitative word.
verb
proclaimed boldly : overly publicized.
The energy drink was touted as giving anyone who drank it the energy of "a thousand rampaging elephants."
745. carcass

KAHR-kus
This word is from an originally Persian word that passed into Arabic and then into Latin and then into French.
noun
a dead body of a human being or an animal : a corpse.
Kasey found the fresh carcass of one of his cows and knew that the wolves were back.
746. spectral

SPEK-trul
This word is from Latin.
adjective
ghostly.
The haunted house at the state fair was rife with spectral figures.
747. jerboa

jur-BOH-uh
This word is from Arabic.
noun
any of several social nocturnal Old World jumping rodents with long hind legs and a long tail.
The well-developed jumping ability of the jerboa enables it to escape from many predators.
748. au bleu

oh-BLEUH
This word is from French.
adjective
cooked by boiling in water immediately after being killed and cleaned but without being washed or scaled — used especially of trout.
Yifan grumbled about lugging so much cooking gear to the remote campsite, right up until his first bite of freshly caught trout au bleu.
749. packet

PAK-ut
This word was formed in French from originally Dutch and Latin elements.
noun
a small bundle or parcel.
Lila packed a sandwich, a pickle, and a packet of chips for lunch.
750. execrable

EK-sik-ruh-bul
This word is from Latin.
adjective
worthy of being declared detestable or evil.
For his execrable cruelty to the victim, the assailant was given the maximum prison sentence.
751. marcescent

mahr-SES-unt
This word is from Latin.
adjective
withering without falling off — used of a plant part.
Last autumn’s first cold snap left many marcescent leaves in its wake.
752. planogram

PLAN-uh-gram
Both parts of this word are originally Greek.
noun
a schematic drawing or plan for displaying merchandise in a store so as to maximize sales.
Five minutes before the board meeting began, Sammy realized his planogram for the new store had no cashier stations.
753. pas seul

pah-SEUL
This word entry is from Latin-derived French words.
noun
a solo performance of a dance or a dance figure.
The flamenco dancer's pas seul was entrancing.
754. onomatopoeia

ah-nuh-mah-tuh-PEE-uh
This word is from Latin, which took it from Greek.
noun
formation of words in imitation of natural sounds.
Humans most often employ onomatopoeia when mimicking animals noises such as "baaa" and "mooo."
755. sword

sohrd
This word is originally English.
noun
a weapon with a long blade for slicing or thrusting.
For his knight costume, Curtis purchased a realistic-looking sword.
756. wentletrap

WEN-tl-trap
This word is from Dutch.
noun
any of numerous graceful, usually white, spirally coiled, and tapering mollusk shells.
Mei Li's favorite shell in her collection is a tiny wentletrap her aunt found on the beach.
757. meringue

muh-RANG
This word is from French.
noun
a mixture of beaten egg whites and powdered sugar baked at low temperature and used as a topping.
Thelma scraped the meringue off her pie and ate it first.
758. haupia

hau-PEE-uh
This word is from Hawaiian.
noun
a pudding of Hawaiian origin made from coconut cream and cornstarch.
The Rosenthals' Hawaiian wedding included a luau and a wedding cake filled with haupia.
759. imponderabilia

im-pahn-dur-uh-BIL-ee-uh
This word is from Latin.
plural noun
things, elements, or agencies incapable of being weighed, measured, or evaluated with exactness.
The painter's work captured the imponderabilia of emotions, expressing feelings that couldn't be easily quantified or explained.
760. ubiquity

yoo-BIK-wuh-tee
The first part of this word is from an originally Latin word, and the second part is an English element.
noun
presence everywhere or in many places especially simultaneously : omnipresence.
The ubiquity of "Skoosh My Boosh" on the Internet and radio made it a huge hit, although even people who liked the song admitted that it made no sense.
761. cribo

KREE-boh
This word is of unknown origin.
noun
a large harmless snake of the West Indies and tropical America.
The cribo is nonvenomous and feeds on smaller animals.
762. settee

seh-TEE
This word is from English.
noun
a couch of medium size.
Shobha decided that a red-upholstered settee would look perfect in the corner in her living room.
763. factitious

fak-TISH-us
This word is from Latin.
adjective
produced artificially or through special effort.
The mayor’s grin looks especially factitious on the new poster.
764. toreutics

tuh-ROO-tiks
This word is from Greek.
plural noun
the art or process of ornamenting metal especially by indenting or embossing.
Archaeological artifacts attest to the ancient Celts’ excellence in toreutics.
765. champignon

sham-pee-NYOHN
This word is from Latin-derived French.
noun
a button mushroom.
The waiter offered Jamie a stuffed champignon from the appetizer tray.
766. duress

duh-RES
Originally Latin, this word went through French before becoming English.
noun
compulsion by threat of retribution.
Emily and Theo only clean their rooms under considerable duress.
767. aikido

ahy-KEE-doh
This word is from Japanese.
noun
a Japanese martial art that uses techniques emphasizing throws and holds to neutralize or redirect an opponent’s attacks.
Developed by Morihei Ueshiba during the late 1920s, aikido is influenced by other, older martial arts styles.
768. Kildare

kil-DER
This word is an Irish geographical name.
geographical entry
county in the eastern Ireland province of Leinster.
St. Brigid, one of the three patron saints of Ireland, founded a monastic community in Kildare in the 5th century.
769. heuristic

hyur-IS-tik
This word is from a word that went from Greek to Latin to German.
adjective
serving to aid learning or problem-solving through trial-and-error practices.
The computer that beat Gary Kasparov in the chess tournament was programmed to use heuristic methods to improve its game play.
770. adnate

AD-nayt
This word is from Latin.
adjective
grown together — used especially of unlike parts in biology.
The plant's stamen was adnate to large, yellow petals.
771. Hamtramck

ham-TRAM-ik
This word is a North American geographical name.
geographical entry
city surrounded by Detroit in southeastern Michigan.
Hamtramck is famous for P?czki [PAHNCH-kee] Day, celebrated on Fat Tuesday, when people eat the distinctive Polish filled doughnuts.
772. tic douloureux

tik-doo-luh-ROO
This word entry is from French.
noun
paroxysmal neuralgia involving one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve, being often extremely severe.
Sometimes considered one of the most painful conditions that can affect people, tic douloureux typically occurs only on one side of the face and lasts seconds or minutes per attack.
773. Florentine

FLOR-un-teen
This word is from a Latin geographical name.
adjective
served or dressed with spinach.
Rena made a chicken Florentine for the potluck supper.
774. collimate

KAH-luh-mayt
This word is from Latin.
verb
to adjust the line of sight of (a transit or level) to proper position relative to the other parts.
Zhang and another amateur astronomer will collimate the telescope before the eclipse begins.
775. furcula

FURK-yuh-luh
This word is from Latin.
noun
wishbone.
In birds, the clavicles are fused together to form the furcula.
776. bergère

behr-ZHER
This word is from a French word that came from Latin.
noun
an armchair with upholstered fabric popular in the 18th century.
In 1817, President James Monroe purchased a bergère constructed by the French master craftsman Bellangé for the White House.
777. hierurgical

hahy-uh-RUR-jih-kul
This word is based on a word originally formed in Greek from Greek parts, plus an English element.
adjective
of or relating to worship or the act of worshipping.
The seminarians were well trained in the hierurgical ceremonies of the church.
778. martinoe

MAHR-tun-oh
This word is from a Latin word that consists of an English name plus a Latin element.
noun
a North American plant with spotted flowers and a capsule with a long curving beak — called also unicorn plant.
Ainslie planted a martinoe because she thinks they're pretty, but she also enjoys telling her friends her garden is full of unicorns.
779. Gippsland

GIPS-land
This word is an Australian geographical name.
geographical entry
a coastal region of eastern Australia extending from near Melbourne to the border with New South Wales.
Gemaine saw a stunning, iridescent abalone shell at a coastal market in Gippsland.
780. amertoy

AM-ur-toy
The first part of this word is from a geographical name, and the second part is an originally English word.
noun
a small terrierlike dog having a short sleek satiny coat and weighing between six and ten pounds.
The energetic amertoy, Bo, dashed across the yard, his sleek coat gleaming in the sunlight.
781. Hawaiian

huh-WAH-yun
This word is from a Pacific geographical name plus an English element.
noun
a native of a group of islands in the central Pacific belonging to the U.S. who is of Polynesian ancestry.
Leah was intrigued to learn that her dormmate would be a Hawaiian.
782. ineluctable

in-il-UK-tuh-bul
This word is from Latin.
adjective
not able to be avoided or resisted : inescapable.
Mrs. Biggers joked that death and taxes are the only two ineluctable aspects of life.
783. whydah

HWAHY-duh
This word is a combination of an African geographical name and an African alteration of an originally English word.
noun
any of various African weaverbirds which are mostly black with white or buffy markings.
Connie was delighted to see a whydah on her birdwatching trip to Africa.
784. Bezier curve

BEH-zee-ay-KURV
The first part of this word entry is a French surname, and the second part is from Latin.
noun
a mathematical bend that is often used in computer graphics to model fluid shapes and in animation.
Gabriella loves the natural elegance that a Bezier curve gives to her animations.
785. planisphere

PLAN-ih-sfir
This word was formed in Latin from an originally Latin part and a part that went from Greek to Latin.
noun
a polar projection of the apparent surface of the heavens and the stars on a flat surface with adjustable circles or other appendages for showing celestial phenomena for any given time.
A simple planisphere allows amateur astronomers to identify constellations and stars that are currently visible.
786. aniseikonia

a-nahy-sahy-KOH-nee-uh
This word is from three parts that went from Greek to Latin plus a Latin element.
noun
a vision problem where the two retinas produce differently sized images.
The optometrist prescribed special lenses to correct Jennifer’s aniseikonia.
787. disjunct

dis-JUNGKT
This word is from Latin.
adjective
marked by separation of or from usually contiguous parts or individuals.
Although belonging to the same species, the crabs survived in disjunct tidal pools and had almost no relationship with each other.
788. excelsior

ik-SEL-see-ur
This word is from Latin.
noun
fine curled shavings of wood used especially for packing fragile items.
Rhoda opened the box hurriedly, scattering excelsior all over the carpet.
789. eschew

us-CHOO
This word is from English, which formed it from a French word of Germanic origin.
verb
to avoid.
Paris tries to eschew stereotypes and not judge people before she meets them.
790. seller

SEL-ur
This word is originally English.
noun
one that offers for sale: a salesperson.
Reina is a seller of propane and propane accessories.
791. tussock

TUH-sik
This word is of unknown origin.
noun
a bit of solid ground in a marsh or bog typically held together by and covered with roots of grasses or other small plants.
After tromping adventurously into the bog, Leah sat down on the first dry tussock she came to.
792. acerola

a-suh-ROH-luh
Originally Arabic, this word was borrowed from American Spanish.
noun
the mildly acid cherrylike red fruit of the Barbados cherry that is very rich in vitamin C.
The acerola has become a popular source of nutritional supplements because of its high vitamin C content.
793. matriculation

muh-trik-yuh-LAY-shun
This word was formed in English from a Latin-derived English word plus an English element.
noun
admission and enrollment in a college, university, or other institution.
Some universities require students to pay a matriculation fee when they accept an offer of admission.
794. Kitksan

kit-kuh-SAN
This word is from Tsimshian, an indigenous language of the northwestern United States and British Columbia, Canada.
noun
a dialect of the Tsimshian language.
Kitksan, spoken along the upper Skeena River in British Columbia, is one of three Tsimshian dialects.
795. nisi

NAHY-sahy
This word is from Latin.
adjective
not final or absolute — used in law.
The queen’s order nisi noted that the enemy might surrender and make an attack unnecessary.
796. Furneaux

FUR-noh
This word is an Australian geographical name.
geographical entry
islands of Australia off northeastern Tasmania.
The Furneaux islands were exploited for their seal population in the 19th century.
797. hangul

HAHNG-gul
This word is from Kashmiri.
noun
a deer of Kashmir in Asia that is closely related to the European red deer.
The number of hangul existing in the wild is dangerously low, with only 160 remaining when last surveyed in 2008.
798. Gruyère

groo-YEHR
This word is from a Swiss geographical name.
noun
a type of light yellow whole-milk cheese with a nutty flavor and tiny holes.
Kelly loves macaroni and cheese made with Gruyère.
799. à la grecque

ah-luh-GREK
This word entry is from French.
adjective
served in a sauce of olive oil, lemon juice, and seasonings.
The highlight of the meal in the fancy restaurant was salmon à la grecque.
800. eucrasia

yoo-KRAY-zhuh
This word went from Greek to Latin.
noun
a normal state of health : physical well-being.
To the ancient Greeks, eucrasia resulted from the appropriate balance of the four humors: blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm.
801. en arrière

ahn-ahr-yehr
This word entry is from Latin-derived French.
adverb
toward the back : backward — used of a movement or of the execution of a step in ballet.
In ballet class, performing a perfect pirouette en arrière was the test of skill every dancer aspired to master.
802. vaporetto

vah-puh-REH-toh
This word is from Italian, which formed it from a Latin word.
noun
a boat used as a bus in the canals of Venice, Italy.
Elise met her future husband on a vaporetto crossing the Grand Canal.
803. xyloglyphy

zahy-LAHG-luh-fee
This word consists of two originally Greek parts plus an English element.
noun
wood sculpting that is artistic in nature.
At the state fair, local artists demonstrated their skills at xyloglyphy.
804. consigliere

kohn-sil-YEHR-eh
This word went from Latin to Italian.
noun
a counselor or adviser.
Tom considers Joseph his best friend as well as his consigliere.
805. rond de jambe

rahn-duh-ZHAHM
This term is from French.
noun
a circular movement of the leg in ballet.
Sadie marveled at the muscle control of her ballet teacher, who was executing a perfectly smooth rond de jambe with her left leg.
806. firkin

FUR-kin
This word is from a Dutch word that then became English.
noun
a small wooden vessel or cask of indeterminate size.
The firkin on the mantel had been used as a flour container many, many years ago.
807. hemorrhage

HEM-rij
This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into Latin and then French.
noun
a rapid, uncontrollable loss or flowing out.
The company had a disastrous first quarter that was described as a hemorrhage of money.
808. miombo

mahy-AHM-boh
This word is from an East African name.
noun
a thinly scattered forest of deciduous trees found in the dry areas of eastern Africa.
The Oyondi family lived near a small grove in the miombo, where there was some shade from the hot sunshine.
809. abstemious

ab-STEE-mee-us
This word is from Latin.
adjective
restrained in how much one eats and drinks.
Evelyn is abstemious by nature and never orders dessert.
810. alluvial

uh-LOO-vee-ul
This word is composed of an originally Latin word plus an English element.
adjective
made up of sand and gravel that is deposited by moving water.
Yannick thought his toy sailboat was long gone after being carried off by the quick current, but thankfully it had gotten stuck on an alluvial deposit only a couple hundred feet downstream.
811. depredation

deh-pruh-DAY-shun
This word is from a Latin word that passed through French before becoming English.
noun
the act of plundering or pillaging.
Faced with certain depredation by the hostile mob, the villagers hurriedly hid their valuables and food.
812. approbatory

A-pruh-buh-tor-ee
This word consists of Latin-derived English parts.
adjective
expressing praise and commendation.
Mayor Watkins gratefully sent an approbatory letter to each of the police officers involved in the rescue.
813. du jour

duh-ZHUR
This phrase is from Latin-derived French.
adjective
as cooked or prepared on a particular day.
The server filled their water glasses and described the specials du jour.
814. caustic

KAH-stik
This word went from Greek to Latin to English.
adjective
characterized by incisive wit.
Politicians dreaded having their statements discussed on the comedian's caustic weekly podcast.
815. pastitsio

pah-STEET-see-oh
This word is from Greek, which formed it from Latin-derived Italian.
noun
a baked dish of Greece that is made of layers of ground meat and pasta and usually topped with cheese and white sauce.
Andreas had pastitsio and a side salad for dinner.
816. cacaxte

kuh-KAHS-tee
This word went from Nahuatl to American Spanish to English.
noun
a square wooden packing frame or crate that has four legs and a net cover and is carried on the back especially by native Guatemalans with the help of a sling.
Marta stared at the cacaxte in the museum and wondered how hard it would be to carry on her back.
817. ivermectin

ahy-vur-MEK-tin
The first part of this word is perhaps derived from an originally Greek part, and the second part is from an English word ultimately derived from parts of Latin, unknown, and Greek origin.
noun
a drug used by veterinarians to kill insects, mites, and worms.
Treatment and prevention of parasitic infections with ivermectin is an effective way to keep your pets healthy.
818. morion

MOH-ree-ahn
This word is from a French word.
noun
a high-crested helmet of Spanish origin worn by foot soldiers in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The morion worn by the Spanish conquistador in the painting had a brim with high peaks at the front and back.
819. pot-au-feu

pah-toh-FUUH
This word is from French.
noun
a French dish consisting of a thick soup of meat and many vegetables.
Jeannine made pot-au-feu on the first snowy day of the year.
820. truffle

TRUH-ful
This word is from a word that went from Latin to Old Provençal to French.
noun
a ball-shaped candy made of chocolate, sugar, and butter and covered with cocoa or other toppings.
Wendy decided that she could eat just one more truffle.
821. Inuk

ih-NOOK
This word is from Inuit.
noun
a member of the Inuit people.
An Inuk spoke to the school about the impact of climate change on indigenous populations.
822. dowdy

DAU-dee
This word is originally English.
adjective
not modern in style : old-fashioned.
Her stepsisters told Cinderella that she couldn't possibly go to the ball in her mother's dowdy old dress.
823. grandeur

GRAN-jur
This word came from French, which formed it from a Latin word.
noun
the quality of being magnificent, impressive or majestic particularly to the view.
When he toured Versailles, Sameer was stunned by the grandeur of the French palace.
824. yttriferous

ih-TRIF-uh-rus
This word is from a word formed from a Swedish geographical name plus a Latin-derived element.
adjective
consisting wholly or in part of a trivalent metallic element considered a rare-earth metal or a related element.
Many of the lunar rocks collected during the Apollo project were yttriferous.
825. registrar

REJ-uh-strar
This word is an alteration of a word that went from Latin to French to English.
noun
an academic official who keeps academic records and registers students.
When she was applying to graduate schools, Petra requested copies of her academic transcript from the registrar.
826. volary

VOHL-uh-ree
This word is formed from a Latin element plus an English element.
noun
the birds in an enclosure for birds.
The zoo has collected an exotic volary from South America.
827. sloop

sloop
This word probably went from French to Dutch before becoming English.
noun
a rigged boat with a single mast that is usually stepped well forward and a single headsail jib.
Diego took his sloop out for a sail around the bay.
828. marcel

mahr-SEL
This word is from a French name.
noun
a soft wave or series waves made in the hair with a heated curling iron.
Hazel added a marcel to her hair for the Roaring Twenties party.
829. Conestoga

kah-nuh-STOH-guh
This word is from a U.S. geographical name.
noun
a large covered wagon drawn by horses and used to transport goods.
The Conestoga was loaded with goods to take from the city to more rural communities.
830. monture

MAHN-chur
This word is from a Latin-derived French word.
noun
a frame or setting especially for a jewel.
The diamond’s monture was platinum, but the band was gold.
831. derby

DUR-bee
This word is from an English name.
noun
a race or contest offering prizes to winners.
Paulo and his father worked for hours on their car for the soap box derby.
832. rollicking

RAH-lik-ing
This word is of unknown origin.
adjective
full of or expressing light-hearted joyfulness.
Shivani had promised they would have a rollicking good time, but Jeb didn't think the cactus exhibition really sounded all that fun.
833. tinnient

TIN-ee-unt
This word is from Latin.
adjective
possessing a ringing or clear quality.
Grandmother’s silver knife made a tinnient sound when Jerrel accidentally dropped it.
834. screeno

SKREE-noh
The first part of this word is from a Dutch word that passed through French to English, and the second part is perhaps from an originally English element.
noun
bingo designed for play by audiences in motion-picture theaters.
Played between feature movies on slow weeknights, screeno saw its height of popularity during the 1930s, when theaters used the game to increase attendance.
835. ajimez

ah-kee-MAYTH
This word is from Spanish, which formed it from Arabic.
noun
a pair of narrow windows set very close together.
The master bedroom in the couple's new home included an ajimez that looked out upon the spacious front lawn.
836. Galahad

GAL-uh-had
This word is from an English name.
noun
a person who demonstrates selfless devotion to a worthy cause.
A true Galahad, Jean has spent her entire life trying to find solutions to the problem of poverty.
837. hebdomadal

heb-DAH-muh-dul
This word is from an originally Greek word that passed into Latin plus an English element.
adjective
weekly.
The hebdomadal occurrence of Monday depresses Garfield to no end.