Uncommon
sycophant
[sik-uh-fuhnt, sik-uh-fant]
a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite
ubiquitous
[yoo-bik-wi-tuhs]
existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time; omnipresent
perspicacious
[pur-spi-key-shuhs]
having a ready insight into and understanding of things
puissant
[pyoo-uh-suhnt; pwis-uhnt]
powerful; mighty; potent
saudade
[soh-dah-duh]
a deep emotional state of melancholic longing for a person or thing that is absent
palfrey
[pawl-free]
a docile horse used for ordinary riding, especially by women
crapulous
[krap-yuh-luhs]
given to or characterized by gross excess in drinking or eating
cavil
[kav-uhl]
to raise irritating and trivial objections; find fault with unnecessarily
petrichor
[pet-ri-kawr, pe-trahy-kawr]
a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather
ken
[ken]
one's range of knowledge or sight
chthonic
[tha-nik]
of or relating to the deities, spirits, and other beings dwelling under the earth
perfidious
[per-fid-ee-uhs]
deliberately faithless; treacherous; deceitful
blandishment
[blan-dish-muhnt]
a flattering or pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone gently to do something
insufflate
[in-suhf-leyt]
to blow or breathe (something) in
provident
[prov-i-duhnt]
having or showing foresight; providing carefully for the future
snickersnee
[snik-er-snee]
a knife, especially one used as a weapon.
ubuntu
[oo-boon-too]
humanity or fellow feeling; kindness
propinquity
[proh-ping-kwi-tee]
the state of being close to someone or something; proximity
hegira
[hi-jahy-ruh]
any flight or journey to a more desirable or congenial place
boondoggle
[boon-dog-uhl]
waste money or time on unnecessary or questionable projects
inchoate
[in-koh-it]
not organized; lacking order
prosaic
[proh-zey-ik]
commonplace or dull; matter-of-fact or unimaginative
taradiddle
[tar-uh-did-l]
a small lie; fib
campanile
[kam-puh-nee-lee]
a bell tower, especially one freestanding from the body of a church