Uncommon

eldritch

[el-drich]

eerie; weird; spooky

persiflage

[pur-suh-flahzh]

light and slightly contemptuous mockery or banter

parsimonious

[pahr-suh-moh-nee-uhs]

unwilling to spend money or use resources

spurious

[spyoor-ee-uhs]

not being what it purports to be; false or fake

melancholia

[mel-uhn-koh-lee-uh]

a mental condition characterized by great depression of spirits and gloomy forebodings

cicerone

[sis-uh-roh-nee]

a guide who gives information about antiquities and places of interest to sightseers

logorrhea

[law-guh-ree-uh]

pathologically incoherent, repetitious speech; incessant or compulsive talkativeness

fulminate

[fuhl-muh-neyt]

to issue denunciations or the like

wanton

[won-tn]

a sexually unrestrained woman

hygge

[hoog-uh]

(especially in reference to the Danish lifestyle) the feeling of coziness and contentment evoked by simple comforts, as being wrapped in a blanket, having good conversations, enjoying food, etc.

eucatastrophe

[yoo-kuh-ta-struh-fee]

a sudden and favorable resolution of events in a story; a happy ending

terpsichorean

[turp-si-kuh-ree-uhn]

pertaining to dancing

irenic

[ahy-ren-ik]

tending to promote peace or reconciliation; peaceful or conciliatory

feckless

[fek-lis]

lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible

hegira

[hi-jahy-ruh]

any flight or journey to a more desirable or congenial place

desuetude

[des-wi-tood]

the state of being no longer used or practiced

ostensible

[o-sten-suh-buhl]

outwardly appearing as such; professed; pretended

diffidence

[dif-i-duhns]

modesty or shyness resulting from a lack of self-confidence

haughty

[haw-tee]

arrogantly superior and disdainful

lugubrious

[loo-goo-bree-uhs]

mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially in an affected, exaggerated, or unrelieved manner

uitwaaien

[out-vahyn]

the Dutch practice of jogging or walking into the wind, especially in the winter, for the purpose of feeling invigorated while relieving stress and boosting one’s general health

antediluvian

[an-tee-di-loo-vee-uhn]

very old, old-fashioned, or out of date; antiquated; primitive

quandary

[kwon-duh-ree]

a state of perplexity or uncertainty, especially as to what to do; dilemma

pusillanimous

[pyoo-suh-lan-uh-muhs]

lacking courage or resolution; cowardly; faint-hearted; timid