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Turn an uppercase A on its side so that its closed top is pointing to the left, and you might be able to see where the letter itself originated. Its earliest ancestor was probably an Egyptian hieroglyph representing an ox’s head, and the ox’s two horns are what gave our letter A what are now its two pointed legs. The Phoenicians then took on this Egyptian ox symbol and simplified it enormously (into their vaguely triangular letter aleph, which resembled a modern letter A that had fallen on its side) before the Greeks got hold of that and turned it into their initial letter, alpha. And it’s from there, via Latin, that A ended up in English.
Today, A is usually said to be the third-most frequently used letter in the English alphabet (behind E and either T or S, depending on which sample you use). You can expect it to account for roughly eight percent of all the language on a typical page of English text, as well as almost the same amount of words in a standard dictionary-including the 40 amazing A words amassed here.
1. ABARCYDerived from a Greek word meaning “bread,” abarcy is insatiableness. And if you’re abarstic, then you have an insatiable appetite.
2. ABECEDARIANAnyone who learns or teaches the alphabet is an abecedarian, a word appropriately derived from the first three letters of the alphabet. In fact, abecedarian was spelled “ABCdarian” in 17th century English. And similarly…
3. ABECEDARY… an abecedary is a special type of acrostic poem, in which each line begins with a different letter of the alphabet from A through Z.
4. ABEQUITATETo ride away on a horse is to abequitate, whereas to adequitate is to ride a horse alongside someone else.
5. ABRAHAMNo one is entirely sure why, but the name Abraham came to have all kinds of negative connotations in English slang, beginning during the Tudor period and lasting right through to the Victorian era. So Abraham suit was another word for what we would call false pretenses, an Abraham-man or Abraham-cove was someone who feigned illness or insanity to illicit sympathy-and doing precisely that was to sham Abraham.
6. ABRIDGMENTSVictorian slang for knee-length trousers.
7. ABRODIETICALIf you’re abrodietical then you’re extremely dainty, picky, or delicate.
8. ACCISMUSRefusing (or pretending to refuse) something that you actually really want is called . It derives from a Greek word meaning “coyness” or “feigned indifference.”
9. ACERSECOMICAn acersecomic person is someone who has never cut their hair.
10. ACKWARDSAn old English dialect word describing a creature that’s lying on its back and can’t get up.
11. ACNESTISThe acnestis is the part of your back between the shoulder blades, which you can’t quite reach to scratch. It derives from the Ancient Greek word for “spine”-which was also the Greek word for a cheese grater.
12. ADVESPERATE 13. AGELASTAn agelast (pronounced ” adge-el-ast,” so the first syllable rhymes with badge) is someone who never laughs. And if you’re agelastic, then you’re miserable or morose.
14. AGERASIAThe quality of not appearing to grow old is called agerasia, derived from a Greek word for “eternal youth.”
15. AGGLEAn old northern English dialect word meaning “to cut unevenly.”
16. ALONG-STRAIGHTIf you’re along-straight, then you’re lying at your full length.
17. ALTILOQUIOUSIf you’re altiloquious or altiloquent, then you’re talking loudly or, more figuratively, talking about lofty, important subjects.
18. ALYSMThe boredom and restlessness that comes from being unwell or from being confined to bed through illness or while recovering from an injury is called alysm.
19. AMAXOPHOBIAAlso called ochophobia, if you have amaxophobiathen you’re terrified of driving or being driven in motor vehicles. Other little-known A phobias include apiphobia (fear of bees), acrophobia (sharpness or sharp objects), algophobia (pain), acarophobia (mites), astraphobia (lightning) and …
20. ANGINOPHOBIA… which is a specific form of claustrophobia involving narrow places.
21. ANANYMOprah Winfrey’s Harpo corporation, the units, and the Canadian town of Adanac are all examples of ananyms-words and names created by reversing the letters of an existing word. The word yob, meaning a hooligan or lout, is also supposed to be an ananym coined in the 19th century when “backslang” (i.e. reversing words to form new ones) was a popular linguistic trend.
22. ANDOOAn old word from the far north of Scotland meaning “to row a boat slowly,” followed by …
23. ANGALUCK… another old Scots word for an accident for misfortune.
24. ANONYMUNCLEThe Latin diminutive-forming suffix – unculus (as in homunculus) is the root of a number of English words referring to small size or puniness, including carbuncle, which literally means “a little piece of coal,” and portiuncle, an old Tudor period word for a small stretch or portion of land. Likewise an anonymuncle, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is “a petty anonymous writer.”
25. ANTIMETABOLEWhen you repeat a clause or phrase but reverse the order of some of its words-like “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail“-then that’s antimetabole. As a figure of speech, it’s an example of a specific type of rhetorical device known as a chiasmus, in which certain elements of a sentence are reversed and repeated to given a rhythmically effective criss-crossed pattern; for that reason, chiasmus derives from the X-shaped letter of the Greek alphabet, chi.
26. ANTIPELARGYAntipelargy is a 17th century word for the reciprocal love felt between children and their parents. It derives from the Greek word for the stork, pelargos, which is traditionally said to be a very affectionate bird.
27. APHERCOTROPISMWhen a plant or tree encounters an obstacle as it grows and has to work its way around it, that’s aphercotropism. It’s the same phenomenon that accounts for potato shoots being able to work their way around obstacle courses in search of light, and for tree roots and trunks growing into often quite astounding shapes.
28. APOPLANESISA good word for the political season: When a speaker promises to address a point, but then goes off on some long digression and never actually addresses it, that’s called apoplanesis. It literally means “leading astray.”
29. APRICATETo apricate is to bask in the sun, while apricity is the warmth of the sun, in particular in the otherwise cold winter months.
30. AQUABIBSomeone who likes to drink water rather than alcohol is an aquabib, while …
31. AQUABOB… is an old English dialect word for an icicle.
32. ARGLEBARGLERTo argle-bargle is to quarrel or dispute-and an arglebargler is someone who does just that.
33. ARMOGANAn old naval slang word for the perfect weather conditions for beginning a journey.
34. ARSE-COCKLEA fairly uncomplimentary Scots dialect word for a zit-or a “hot pimple,” as the Scottish National Dictionary puts it.
35. ARSY-VARSYAnother way of saying ” head over heels.”
36. ASHCATAn old English dialect word for a lazy person who does nothing but lounge in front of the fire.
37. ASPECTABUNDIf you’re aspectabund then you have an extremely expressive face.
38. ASSYPODLiterally meaning “little ash-covered person,” an is an untidy woman.
39. AUTOGOLPEAn autogolpe (pronounced ” gol-pay”) or autocoup is a coup instigated by an elected leader, to ensure absolute contract of a region or country.
40. AUTOHAGIOGRAPHYA hagiography is a description or account of the life of a saint, which makes an autohagiography an autobiography that flatters its subject, or makes them out to be a better person than they really are.
40 Words That Start With X
When the lexicographer Dr. Samuel Johnson put together his Dictionary of the English Language in 1755, there weren’t a lot of words that started with X; he even included a disclaimer at the bottom of page 2308 that read, “X is a letter which though found in Saxon words, begins no word in the English language.” Noah Webster went one better when he published his Compendious Dictionary in 1806 that included a single X-word, xebec, defined as “a small three-masted vessel in the Mediterranean Sea.” Although, by the time he compiled his landmark American Dictionary in 1828, that total had risen to 13.
X has never been a common initial letter in English, and even with today’s enormous vocabulary you can still only expect around 0.02 percent of the words in a dictionary to be listed under it. But why not try boosting your vocabulary with these 40 words that start with X.
1. XOn its own, the letter X is listed in the Oxford English Dictionary as a verb meaning “to cross out a single letter of type.” X. X. in Victorian slang meant “double-excellent,” while X. X. X. described anything that was “treble excellent.”
2. XANTHIPPEXanthippe was the name of Socrates’ wife, who, thanks to a number of Ancient Greek caricatures, had a reputation for henpecking, overbearing behavior. Consequently her name can be used as a byword for any ill-tempered or cantankerous woman or wife-as used in Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew.
3. XANTHOCOMICXanthos was the Ancient Greek word for yellow, and as such is the root of a number of mainly scientific words referring to yellow-colored things. So, if you’re xanthocomic, you have yellow hair; if you’re xanthocroic you have fair hair and pale skin; and if you’re xanthodontous, you have yellow teeth.
4. X-CATCHERIn old naval slang, an X-catcher or X-chaser was someone who was good at math-literally someone good at working out the value of x.
5. X-DIVISIONVictorian slang for criminals or pickpockets, or people who make a living by some underhand means.
6. X-DOUBLE-MINUS1960s slang for something really, really terrible.
7. XENAGOGUEDerived from the same root as xenophobia, a xenagogue is someone whose job it is to conduct strangers or to act as a guide while…
8. XENAGOGY… a xenagogy is a guidebook.
9. XENIALThe adjective xenial is used to describe a friendly relationship between two parties, in particular between a hospitable host and his or her guests, or diplomatically between two countries.
10. XENIATROPHOBIADon’t like going to see doctors you don’t know? Then you’re xeniatrophobic.
11. XENIUMA xenium is a gift or offering given to a stranger, which in its native Ancient Greece would once have been a lavish feast or a refreshing spread of food and fruit. In the 19th century art world, however, xenium came to refer to a still-life painting depicting something like a extravagant display of food or a bowl of fruit.
12. XENIZATIONA 19th century word meaning “the act of traveling as a stranger.”
13. XENOCRACYA government formed by foreigners or outsiders is a xenocracy. A member of one is a xenocrat.
14. XENODOCHEIONOLOGYDefined as “the lore of hotels and inns” by Merriam-Webster.
15. XENODOCHIUMA guesthouse or hostel, or any similar stopping place for travelers or pilgrims.
16. XENODOCHYA 17th century word for hospitality. If you’re xenodochial then you like to entertain strangers.
17. XENOGLOSSYThe ability to speak a language that you’ve apparently never learnt.
18. XENOLOGYThe scientific study of extraterrestrial phenomena is xenology. The study of extraterrestrial life forms is xenobiology.
19. XENOMANIAThe opposite of xenophobia is xenomania or xenophilia, namely an intense enthusiasm or fondness for anything or anyone foreign.
20. XENOMORPHSomething unusually or irregularly shaped is a xenomorph-which is why it’s become another name for the eponymous creature in the Alien film franchise.
21. XENOTRANSPLANTATIONTransplanting organic matter from a non-human into a human (like a pig’s heart valve into a human heart) is called xenotransplantation. Whatever it is that’s transplanted is called the xenograft.
22. XERICAn ecological term used to describe anywhere extremely dry or arid. If it’s xerothermic, then it’s both dry and hot.
23. XERISCAPEIf you live in a xeric area, then you’ll have to xeriscape your garden. It’s the deliberate use of plants that need relatively little moisture or irrigation to landscape an arid location.
24. XEROCHILIAThe medical name for having dry lips. Having a dry mouth is xerostomia.
25. XEROCOPYA xerographic copy of a document-or, to put it another way, a photocopy.
26. XEROPHAGYThe eating of dry food is xerophagy. It mightn’t sound like it, but it was originally a religious term.
27. XESTURGYThe proper name for the process of polishing.
28. XILINOUSSomething described as xilinous resembles or feels like cotton …
29. XIPHOID… while something described as xiphoid resembles a sword.
30. XOANONDerived from the Greek for “carve” or “scrape,” a xoanon is a carved idol of a deity.
31. XTALAn abbreviation of “crystal,” according to the OED.
32. XYLOGRAPHERA 19th century word for a wood engraver.
33. XYLOIDWhy say that something is “woody” when you can say that it’s xyloid?
34. XYLOPOLISTA 17th century formal name for a timber merchant.
35. XYLOTOMOUSDescribes anything or anyone particularly good at wood-cutting or wood-boring.
36. XYRESICMeans “razor-sharp.”
37. XYROPHOBIAThe fear of being close to or touching sharp implements.
38. XYLANTHRAXNowhere near as nasty as it sounds, this is just an old name for what we now call charcoal.
39. XYSTUSA type of covered walkway or portico.
40. X.Y.Z.Late 19th century slang for a journalist who takes on any work going, or else 18th century slang for a dandyish or “exquisite” young man.
List Of Unusual Words Beginning With U
uakari
short-tailed, long-haired monkey
uberous
yielding an abundance of milk; abounding
uberty
fruitfulness; abundant productiveness
ubi
whereabouts; permanent or present location
ubication
condition of being in a certain location
ubiety
location; state of being in a definite place
ubiquarian
one who seems to be everywhere at once
ubiquitarianism
belief that Christ is everywhere
ubity
place or locality
ucalegon
neighbour whose house is on fire
udal
form of land tenure in Orkney and Shetland islands
udometer
instrument for measuring rainfall
ufology
study of alien spacecraft
ughten
morning twilight
uguisu
olive-plumed bush warbler
uintathere
extinct Pleistocene hoofed herbivore
ukase
edict; proclamation by an autocratic government
ukeke
Hawaiian mouth harp with two or three strings
ulatrophy
atrophy of the gums
uletic
of, like or pertaining to the gums
uliginous
slimy; oozy; swampy; growing in swampy places
ullage
quantity by which vessel is under full capacity
ullagone
cry of lamentation; funeral lament
ulmaceous
of or like elms
ulosis
formation of a scar
ulotrichous
having woolly hair
ultimation
process of bringing to a conclusion
ultimogeniture
inheritance by the last son
ultion
revenge; vengeance
ultracrepidate
to criticize beyond sphere of one’s knowledge
ultradian
of physiological cycles longer than an hour and shorter than a day
ultrafidian
going beyond faith
ultrageous
violently extreme
ultraism
holding extreme opinions on a subject
ultramicroscope
instrument for viewing extremely small objects
ultramontane
south of the Alps; supporting the Pope
ultroneous
spontaneous; voluntary
umbel
mass of flowers springing from a single center
umbelliferous
bearing umbels
umbilical
of, like or pertaining to the navel; related on the mother’s side
umbilicanimism
looking at the navel in search of enlightenment; omphaloskepsis
umbiliciform
shaped like a navel
umbo
central knob or boss of a shield
umbraculiform
shaped like an umbrella
umbraculum
umbrella or umbrella-like structure
umbrage
shade; foliage; offence
umbratic
shadowy; providing shade
umbratilous
shadowy; shaded; indoor; secluded
umbriferous
giving or bearing shade
umbril
visor on helmet to protect the eyes from light
umbrose
shade-giving; dusky
umlaut
two dots placed over a vowel to indicate change in vowel sound (Führer)
umstroke
circumference; edge
unalist
priest holding one benefice
unaneled
without extreme unction
unasinous
being equally stupid
unberufen
exclamation to avert ill luck following boasting
unbosom
to pour out; to tell freely
uncial
of, like or pertaining to an inch or an ounce
unciform
shaped like a hook
unconsentaneous
not in agreement
unction
anointing as right of consecration or healing; warmth of address
unctuous
slimy; oily; greasy; offensively suave and smug
undecennial
happening every eleven years
undeify
to deprive of the nature of a god
underbreath
subdued voice; rumour
underbridge
bridge carrying a road or railway
undercroft
crypt or vault under a church
underlap
piece of material that extends under another
undern
light midday meal
underwit
inferior wit; half-wit
undigenous
produced by the action of water
undight
to take off; to doff; to undo
undine
female water spirit
undinism
psychological obsession with urine and urination
undulationism
theory that light consists of waves
uneath
difficult; distressing; hard; scarce
ungual
of a claw, hoof, or talon; clawed
unguentary
of, like or pertaining to unguents; one who makes or sells unguents
unguiferous
bearing nails or claws
unguiform
shaped like a claw
unguligrade
walking on hoofs
unhouseled
not having received the Eucharist shortly before death
unicity
uniqueness; oneness
unicorn
carriage drawn by three horses in triangular formation
unicornic
resembling a unicorn
unifarious
arranged in a single row or series
unifilar
having only one thread or wire
unigeniture
state or fact of being the only begotten
unigenous
of the same origin, kind or sort
unipara
woman having given birth only once
uniparous
producing only one offspring at birth
uniphonous
producing only one variety of musical note
uniplicate
having only one fold
unipotent
powerful in one direction only
unisonous
in unison or agreement
universalism
belief in universal salvation
univocal
unmistakeable; unequivocal
univocalic
having only one vowel; written passage using only one vowel
univoltine
having one brood a year
univorous
living on only one host or source of food
unligable
unable to be bound together
unprevaricate
not perverted
unreeve
to withdraw a rope from an opening
unseel
to unsew the eyes of
unsinew
to take the strength from
unstercorated
not manured
unwithdrawing
liberal; lavish
upaithric
roofless; open to the sky
upas
poisonous or harmful institution or influence
upbuilding
development; edification
upcast
upward throw; material thrown up
upher
rough pole made of fir and used in scaffolding
uplong
extending upward from
uprist
rising; uprising
upspeak
to begin to speak
upsy
in the manner of; thoroughly
uraniferous
bearing uranium
uraniscus
roof of the mouth
uranism
male homosexuality
uranography
descriptive astronomy and mapping
uranology
study of the heavens; astronomy
uranomancy
divination by studying the heavens
uranomania
obsession with the idea of divinity
uranometry
measurement of distances between heavenly bodies
uranophobia
fear of heaven
uranoplasty
plastic surgery on the hard palate
uranoscopy
star-watching
urbacity
excessive pride in one’s city
urbanist
expert in urban planning
urbanology
study of cities
urbarial
founded on a register of landed property
urbicide
destruction of a city
urbicolous
dwelling in cities
urbiculture
cultivation or development of urban life
urceiform
shaped like a pitcher
urceolate
shaped like a pitcher
urceus
single-handled jug or pitcher
urdé
pointed; having points
urdee
of a heraldic device, pointed or broken into parallel pointed projections
uredo
burning feeling in the skin
urenology
study of rust molds
urent
burning; stinging
urethroscope
instrument for viewing the interior of the urethra
uretic
of, like or pertaining to urine
urial
wild central Asian sheep with reddish coat and long curved horns
urimancy
divination by observing urine
uriniferous
bearing urine
urinometer
instrument for measuring specific gravity of urine
urkingdom
taxonomic group of organisms larger than a kingdom
urman
swampy pine forest
urochs
extinct wild ox or bison
urogenous
producing or produced in urine
urolith
small stone in the urinary tract
urology
study of urine; urinary tract
uromastix
spiky-tailed ground-dwelling lizard
uropoietic
secreting or excreting urine
uropygium
rump of a bird
urosthenic
having a tail designed for propulsion
urraca
noisy South American bird
ursicide
killing or killer of a bear
ursiform
having the shape or appearance of a bear
ursine
of, like or pertaining to bears
urtext
earliest version of a text; original unmodified version
urticaceous
of, like or pertaining to nettles
urticant
stinging; irritating
urticate
to sting; to flog with nettles
urubu
black tropical New World vulture
usageaster
self-appointed and conservative language usage expert
ushabti
figurine of deceased person placed in Egyptian tomb
usitative
signifying a usual act
ustion
action of burning or searing
ustulation
burning; roasting
usucaption
acquisition of property by long usage and enjoyment
usufruct
the right to use and enjoy something
utile
profitable; useful
utilitarianism
belief that utility of actions determines moral value
utinam
earnest wish or desire
utraquist
person speaking two or both of two languages
utricide
one who stabs an inflated skin vessel instead of killing someone
utricle
small cavity or sac
utriculiform
shaped like a small cavity or sac
utriform
shaped like a leather bottle or flask
uvala
irregular depression in a karst terrain
uvelloid
resembling a small cluster of grapes
uxorial
of, like or pertaining to a wife
uxoricide
killing of one’s own wife
uxorious
excessively fond of one’s wife
List Of Unusual Words Beginning With A
aardwolf
South African carnivorous fox-like quadruped
aasvogel
South African vulture
aba
garment of camel or goat hair; camel or goat-hair fabric
abacinate
to blind by putting red-hot copper basin near the eyes
abaculus
small tile for mosaic
abaft
toward or at the stern of a ship; further aft
abampere
unit equivalent to 10 amperes
abapical
at the lowest point
abarticular
not connected with the joint
abasement
action of humbling or degrading
abasia
inability to walk due to lack of muscular coordination
abatis
rampart of felled trees and branches
abatjour
skylight or device to direct light into a room
abattoir
public slaughterhouse
abature
trail through wood beaten down by a stag
abba
Syriac or Coptic bishop
abbatial
of, like or pertaining to abbots or an abbey
abbozzo
preliminary sketch
abditive
remote; secret; hidden
abdominous
having a paunch or big belly
abducent
turning away; bearing away from
abeam
in a line at right angles to the length of a vessel, on the beam
abear
to bear; to comport; to behave
abecedarian
of, like or pertaining to the order of the alphabet; rudimentary
abecedism
word created from the initials of words in a phrase
abele
white poplar tree
abeng
Jamaican bugle made from cow horn
aberdevine
alternate name for the siskin
aberuncators
long tool for pruning tall branches
abessive
indicating absence or lack
abiectic
of, like or pertaining to fir trees or fir sap
abigeus
cattle rustler
abiogenesis
spontaneous generation of living matter
abiotrophy
degeneration; loss of physical vitality or ability
abirritate
to alleviate irritation; to reduce sensitivity
abiturient
pupil leaving school for university
abject
humble; miserable; craven
ablactation
weaning of a child from its mother’s milk
ablative
indicating direction from or time when
ablator
thermal protection on outside of spacecraft
ablaut
variation in root vowel of words to change meaning
ablegate
papal envoy or legate
ablow
in a blowing state
abluent
cleanser or cleansing product
ablution
ritual washing
ablutomania
mania for washing oneself
abnegate
to renounce or repudiate
abodement
an omen; a foretelling
abolla
Roman military cloak
abomasum
ruminant’s fourth stomach
aboral
away from the mouth
abord
to accost; to approach
aborning
during birth; while being born
aborticide
killing of a fetus; abortion
abortuary
anti-abortion term for an abortion clinic
aboulia
loss of ability to make decisions
aboulomania
pathological indecisiveness
aboutsledge
largest blacksmith’s hammer
abra
narrow mountain pass
abradant
a substance that abrades
abraid
to awaken or rouse
abraxas
gem engraved with mystical word and bearing human-animal figure
abreuvoir
joint or gap between two stones in masonry
abroach
in a condition to allow liquor to run out
abscind
to pare, reduce, cut off or away
abscissa
horizontal distance from a fixed line to a point
abscission
cutting off; cutting away
absconce
lantern used in monasteries and night offices
abseil
to descend a rock face using a double rope
absentaneous
done in absence; pertaining to absence
absinthial
of, like or pertaining to wormwood; bitter
absinthism
disease resembling alcoholism
absit
leave to pass one night away from college
absolutism
doctrine of government by a single absolute ruler; autocracy
absolutive
indicating subject or object of intransitive verb
absolutory
forgiving or absolving
absonant
discordant; abhorrent
absorbefacient
causing or promoting absorption
absorptiometer
instrument for measuring solubility of gases in liquids
absquatulate
to decamp; to leave quickly; to flee
absterge
wipe clean; expunge; purge; purify
absurdism
doctrine that we live in an irrational universe
abterminal
going from the end inwards
abthane
monastic region of the old Irish church
abulia
lack of ability to make decisions; aboulia
abuna
Ethiopian patriarch
abusion
misuse; outrage; deception
abutment
masonry on a wall that supports an arch
abvolt
unit of electrical potential equal to one hundred millionth of a volt
aby
to make amends; atone; pay a penalty
abyssopelagic
of, like or pertaining to the depths of the ocean
academicism
doctrine that nothing can be known
acanaceous
bearing prickles or thistles; prickly
acanthous
spiny; prickly
acapnia
lack or deficiency of carbon dioxide
acapnotic
non-smoker; non-smoking
acariasis
irritating itching insect infestation
acaricide
killer of mites and ticks
acarine
of, like or pertaining to ticks or mites
acarology
study of mites
acarophobia
fear of itching or of insects causing itching
acarpous
sterile; not bearing fruit
acatalectic
having complete or full number of syllables in a poetic line
acatalepsy
the unknowableness of all things to a certainty
acatamathesia
inability to understand data presented to the senses
acates
provisions that have been purchased
acatour
provisioner; quartermaster
acaulescent
having a very short stem
accelerometer
instrument for measuring acceleration or vibrations
acceptilation
remission of debt or liability through fictitious repayment
accessit
prize for students in second place; honourable mention
acciaccatura
very short note played before a longer one
accidence
grammar book; science of inflections in grammar
accidentalism
theory that events do not have causes
accidie
sloth; physical torpor
accipiter
bandage worn around the nose
accipitral
like a bird of prey; rapacious
accipitrine
of, like or pertaining to falcons and hawks
accismus
in rhetoric, pretending to refuse something
accite
to cite; to summon
acclinate
sloping upwards
acclivity
upward slope
accloy
to hobble with a horseshoe nail
accolade
curved architectural moulding; vertical line joining two musical staves
accolent
neighbouring
accollé
of a heraldic animal, entwined or collared
accosted
in heraldry, two figures placed side by side
accoucheur
male midwife
accoucheuse
female midwife
accourage
to encourage
accoy
to subdue; to pacify; to soothe
accrementition
increase or growth by adding similar material
accretion
accumulation; addition of parts to form a whole
accubation
reclining as on a couch
accubitum
crescent-shaped couch
accusative
indicating direct object of a verb
acedia
listlessness; sloth
aceldama
site or scene of violence or bloodshed
aceology
therapeutics
acequia
irrigation ditch
acerate
of, like or resembling a needle
acerbate
to embitter; to irritate
acerous
lacking horns or antennae
acersecomic
one whose hair has never been cut
acervate
heaped; clustered
acervuline
like or in small mounds or heaps
acescence
becoming sour; souring; turning of milk
acetabulum
small anatomical cup or hollow, such as a sucker
acetarious
acetimeter
instrument for measuring strength of vinegar
achaenocarp
any dry indehiscent fruit
acharné
furious or desperate (of a battle)
achene
small one-seeded fruit or naked seed of plant
achloropsia
colour-blindness with respect to green
achor
eruption or scab on the head
achromatopsia
colour-blindness
acicular
needle-shaped
acidaemia
undue acidity of blood
acidimeter
instrument for measuring concentration of acids
acidulous
sharp or bitter-tasting
acierate
to turn into steel
acinaceous
full of kernels
acinaciform
scimitar-shaped
aciniform
shaped like a berry
acinus
berry which grows in clusters
ackamarackus
pretentious or deceptive nonsense
aclinic
having no inclination or magnetic dip
acoemeti
ancient monastic order who maintained eternal choir service
acology
study of medical remedies
acolouthic
of, like or pertaining to an after-image or other after-sensation
acopic
curing or relieving fatigue
acoria
pathologically great appetite
acosmism
disbelief in existence of eternal universe distinct from God
acouasm
ringing noise in head
acquest
object which is acquired
acracy
government by none; anarchy
acre-breadth
old unit of length of 22 yards
acritochromacy
colour-blindness
acrocephalous
having a pointed or peaked skull
acrography
the art of making wood blocks in relief
acrolith
wooden statue with stone extremities
acrologic
of, like or pertaining to initials
acromegaly
glandular disorder causing gigantism of extremities
acronical
occurring at nightfall or sunset
acronym
word formed from initial letters of another word
acropathy
disease or illness of the extremities
acrophobia
fear of heights
acrophonic
using a symbol for the initial sound of a thing
acropodium
pedestal upon which a statue rests
acroscopic
looking or moving towards the apex
acroteleutic
phrase or words at the end of a psalm
acroterion
pedestal or ornament at the angle of a pediment
acrotism
absence of pulsing
actinism
action of solar radiation causing chemical change
actinograph
instrument used to calculate time of photographic exposure
actinometer
instrument for measuring incident radiation
actinotherapy
use of ultraviolet rays as medical therapy
acton
stuffed jacket worn under armour; haqueton
actuate
communicate motion to; cause
aculeate
prickly; pointed; stinging; a stinging insect
aculeiform
shaped like a thorn
acultomancy
divination using needles
acuminate
tapered; pointed; to sharpen
acutiator
sharpener of weapons
acutorsion
twisting artery with needle to stop bleeding
acyanopsia
colour-blindness with respect to blue
acyesis
female sterility
acyrology
incorrect diction or pronunciation
adactylous
lacking fingers or claws
adamantine
unbreakable; impenetrable
adamitism
nakedness for religious reasons
adaxial
next to or towards the axis
addax
large African antelope
addax
spiral-horned antelope dwelling in the Sahara desert
additament
thing added or appended; heraldic ornament
addititious
of, pertaining to or resulting from addition
addle
putrid; barren; muddled
addorsed
turned back to back in heraldry
adduce
cite as proof or instance
adeciduate
evergreen; coniferous
adeem
to cancel a bequest by destruction of the object
adelaster
provisional name for a plant whose flowers are unknown
adelphogamy
sharing of a wife by two or more brothers
ademption
revocation of donation by donor
adenalgia
painful swelling of a gland
adenia
glandular swelling
adeniform
shaped like a gland
adenography
descriptive work on the glandular system
adenoid
of, like or pertaining to or like a gland
adenology
study of glands
adenotomy
removal or excision of gland
adespota
anonymous works
adessive
indicating place where or proximity to
adevism
denial of gods of mythology and legend
adharma
unrighteousness
adhibit
to attach; to admit; to administer
adhocracy
government in an unstructured fashion; an unstructured organization
adiabatic
without transference of heat
adiaphoresis
absence of perspiration; inability to perspire
adiaphorism
doctrine of theological indifference or latitudinarianism
adiaphoron
tenet or belief on which a theological system is indifferent
adiapneustia
defective perspiration
adiathermancy
impermeability to radiant energy
adipescent
becoming fat or fatty
adipic
of, like or pertaining to fatty substances
adipocere
fatty substance occurring in corpses left in moist areas
adipsia
absence or lack of thirst
adit
opening or passage into a mine
adjudge
to decide; to award
adjutant
enormous Indian stork
adjutor
helper; assistant
adjuvant
substance added to make vaccine more effective
admanuensis
one who takes an oath on a religious book
admaxillary
connected to or near the jaw
admeasurement
the act of measuring or apportioning
adminicle
that which supports or aids, especially evidence
adnascent
growing on some other thing
adnominal
indicating adjective used as a noun
adnoun
adjective serving or used as a noun
adonise
to adorn oneself
adoptionism
belief that Christ was the adopted and not natural son of God
adosculation
impregnation by contact alone or by wind
adown
in a descending direction
adoxography
good writing on a trivial subject
adoxy
beliefs that are neither orthodox nor heterodox
adpress
to press together
adrogation
adoption of a boy or girl before adolescence
added; additional
attached or feudally bound to the soil or earth
to attract and stick to the surface
adumbrate
indicate faintly; foreshadow
aduncate
shaped like a hook or crook
horizontal movement of air
bringing inwards
due to outside causes
accidental; casual
a thing or person coming from outside
miscellaneous notes; commonplace books
word or phrase expressing opposition
refer to in speech or writing
darken; become late
liqueur containing rum and raw eggs
right of presentation to church living
adynamia
helplessness; lack of strength
adynaton
rhetorical use of a nearly impossible situation for emphasis
adytum
sacred part of a temple or church; church chancel
adzebill
prehistoric flightless bird of New Zealand
aedile
magistrate in charge of games, markets or buildings
aedoeology
science of generative organs
aegilops
stye in inner corner of eye
aegis
protection; support
aegrotat
medical certificate of illness excusing student’s sickness
aeneous
shining bronze colour
aeolian
giving forth a tone as if produced by the wind
aeolipyle
hollow ball that turns through steam escaping through valves
aeolotropy
variation in physical properties on basis of position
aeonian
lasting for an immeasurably long period of time
aepyornis
gigantic flightless bird of Madagascar
aerenchyma
respiratory tissue
aeriform
of the form or shape of gas; gaseous
aerious
of the nature of air; airy
aerobe
organism requiring oxygen to survive
aerobiology
study of airborne organisms
aerodonetics
science or study of gliding
aerogenesis
forming or generating gas or air
aerography
descriptive work on the atmosphere
aerolith
stone that falls from the sky; meteorite
aerolithology
study of aerolites; meteorites
aerology
study of the atmosphere
aeromancy
divination by means of the weather
aerometer
instrument for measuring weight or density of gas
aerophane
thin crinkled semi-transparent fabric
aerophilately
collecting of air-mail stamps
aerophobia
fear of flying or draughts
aerophone
musical instrument like a concertina
aerophore
instrument used to inflate stillborn child’s lungs
aeropleustic
of, like or pertaining to aerial navigation
aerostat
any lighter-than air craft; balloon
aerostatics
science of air pressure; art of ballooning
aeruginous
of, like or pertaining to copper-rust or verdigris
aerugo
rust of any metal
aesc
letter used in Old English for ‘ae’
aesopian
conveying meaning only to those in a secret movement
aesthesia
sensibility
aesthesiogenic
producing or causing a sensation
aestheticism
doctrine that beauty is central to other moral principles
aestival
of, like or pertaining to summer
aethrioscope
instrument for measuring temperature variations due to sky conditions
aeviternal
everlasting; endless
aeviternity
eternal existence
afebrile
not suffering from fever
affabulation
moral of a fable
affeer
to assess; to reduce to a fixed sum
afferent
bearing, bringing or carrying towards
affiance
to trust; to betroth
affine
a relation by marriage
afflatus
inspiration; divine impetus
afforce
to strengthen a jury by adding skilled people
afforest
to cover with forest; to convert into hunting grounds
affranchise
to free from slavery or similar obligation
affray
an attack or assault; an alarm or fright
affrayer
disturber of the peace
affreightment
hiring of a vessel
affricate
consonant that begins as a plosive and ends as a fricative
affronté
of two heraldic animals, facing one another
affusion
pouring on; as of baptismal water
afterclap
unexpected damaging or unsettling after-effect
afterdeck
deck behind a ship’s bridge
aftergame
rematch; means employed after first turn of affairs
afterguard
men who work the aft sails on the quarterdeck and poop deck
afterhand
subsequently
afterings
last milk drawn when milking a cow
afterpiece
minor piece after a play
aftershaft
second shaft coming out of the quill of a feather
afterwil
locking of the barn after the cows have been let out
agacerie
allurement; coquetry
agalactia
failure or inability to produce milk
agamist
one who opposes marriage
agamogenesis
reproduction by non-sexual means
agape
selfless Christian love; a feast in celebration of such love
agapeistic
characterized by Christian love
agapetae
churchwomen who live platonically with celibate men
agastopia
admiration of part of another’s body
agatewear
type of ceramic resembling agate stone
agathism
belief in ultimate triumph of good despite evil means
agathodaimon
one’s good genius; the good part of one’s conscience
agelast
one who never laughs
agennesic
sterile; impotent
agenocratia
opposition to birth control
agentive
indicating agent performing an action
ageotropic
moving or turning away from the earth
agersia
quality of not growing old
ageusia
damage to the sense of taste
agger
artificial mound or elevation for military use
aggerose
in heaps; piled up
aggiornamento
modernization of ideas of the Catholic church
aggrade
to raise level of a surface through depositing detritus
aggrandize
increase power or rank of; make greater
aggrate
to gratify or please
aggry
agio
premium paid on foreign currency exchange
agiotage
playing the stock market; speculation
agist
to charge with a public burden; to take in to graze for payment
agistment
land tax assessed for cattle pasturing
aglet
metal point attached to a lace or string
agma
symbol or sound for a velar nasal consonant “ng”
agnail
sore, corn or hangnail on the toe or foot
agname
name over and above the ordinary name and surname
agnize
to acknowledge or confess
agnomen
additional name; surname; nickname
agnomination
rhetorical use of similar-sounding words for effect
agnosic
unable to recognize familiar objects due to brain damage
agnosticism
doctrine that we can know nothing beyond material phenomena
agoge
tempo or sequence in melody in ancient Greek music
agogic
accenting a musical note by slightly dwelling on it
agomphosis
looseness in the teeth
agonism
competition; effort; striving
agonistes
someone in the grip of inner conflict
agonistic
of, like or pertaining to or being aggressive or argumentative
agonistics
art and theory of prize-fighting
agoraphobia
fear of open spaces
agouti
tropical rabbit-sized rodent
agowilt
sudden sickening and unnecessary fear
agraffe
hooked clasp used by masons to hold blocks together
agrapha
sayings of Jesus not found in the canonical gospels
agraphia
inability to write
agravic
having no gravity; pertaining to the condition of zero-gravity
agrestic
of the fields; rural; unpolished
agriology
the comparative study of primitive peoples
agrize
to horrify; to disfigure
agrizoiatry
medicine specializing in wild animals
agrobiology
study of plant nutrition; soil yields
agrology
study of agricultural soils
agromania
intense desire to be in open spaces
agronomics
study of productivity of land
agrostography
writing about grasses
agrostology
science or study of grasses
agrypnotic
anything taken to aid wakefulness
aguardiente
Spanish or Portuguese brandy
agyiophobia
fear of crossing busy streets
agynary
lacking female genitals
ahimsa
the duty of sparing animal life; non-violence
ahull
with sails furled and helm lashed to the lee-side
aichmophobia
fear of sharp or pointed objects
aiger
tidal wave occurring in rivers
aigrette
a spray of jewels; ornamental feather plume; an egret
aiguille
sharp; needle-like peak of rock
aileron
flap on airplane wing for lateral balance
ailette
plate of armour worn on shoulder
ailuromancy
divination by watching cats’ movements
ailurophilia
love of cats
ailurophobia
fear of cats
aioli
garlic-flavoured mayonnaise
airscrew
aircraft propeller
aischrolatry
worship of filth, dirt, or smut
aisling
a vision or dream
ait
small island in lake or river
aitchbone
rump bone of cattle; rump cut of beef
akeratophorous
not horned
akinesia
loss of ability to move
ala
membranous outgrowth on a plant or animal
alabamine
alternate name for the element astatine
alack
expression of sorrow or regret
alalia
loss of ability to speak
alameda
public walkway between rows of poplar trees
alamode
lightweight glossy silk
alamort
half-dead; dejected
alannah
term of endearment used with one’s child
alar
of, like or pertaining to the wing or shoulder
alastrim
mild form of smallpox
alation
state of having wings; position of wings on a creature
alaudine
of, like or pertaining to skylarks
alb
long white robe worn by priests
albarello
cylindrical jar used to hold drugs
albata
variety of German silver
albedo
whiteness, as of a celestial object
albescent
becoming white; whiteness
albicant
whitish; becoming white
albificative
able to whiten or be whitened
albion
medieval astronomical device for finding positions of planets
albocracy
government by white people
albolith
white cement formed from magnesia and silica
albugineous
like the white of an eye or an egg; white-coloured
alcahest
alchemical universal solvent
alcine
of, like or pertaining to elks; of, like or pertaining to auks
alcoholometer
instrument for measuring proportion of alcohol in solutions
alcovinometer
instrument to measure strength of wine
aleatoric
depending on contingencies or chance
aleberry
beverage made from ale, spices, and dried bread
alecost
costmary, an herb used in flavouring ale
alectormancy
divination by sacrificing a rooster
alectryomachy
cock-fighting
alectryomancy
divination by watching a rooster gather corn kernels
alee
on or toward the lee
alegar
vinegar made by turning ale sour
alembicated
over-refined
alepine
mixed wool and silk or mohair and cotton fabric
alethiology
study of truth
aleuromancy
divination using flour or meal
alexia
inability to read
alexipharmic
antidote
alfet
cauldron of boiling water used during trials by ordeal
alforge
wallet or leather bag
algedonics
science of pleasure and pain
algetic
causing or producing pain
algicide
killer of algae
alginuresis
painful urination
algolagnia
sexual pleasure derived from inflicting pain
algology
study of algae
algophobia
fear of pain
algor
coldness; shivering fit
algraphy
art of printing from aluminum plates
alicorn
mythical wavy-horned bull, often used as heraldic device
alidade
revolving index on astrolabe or other instrument for reading gradations
alieniloquy
speech on subjects other than the matter at hand; off-topic speech
aliicide
killing of someone other than oneself; murder
aliped
having wings on the feet
aliphatic
of, like or pertaining to fat or fats in general
aliquant
number dividing into another with a remainder
aliquot
number dividing into another without leaving a remainder
aliter
requiring a different law to be applied; it is otherwise; in other words
aliunde
from elsewhere
alk
sap or resin from turpentine trees
alkalimeter
instrument for measuring strength of alkalines
alkanet
reddish plant-based dye
allantiasis
food poisoning resulting from inadequate preservation
allantoid
shaped like a sausage
allative
indicating movement towards
allemain
enormous pudding out of which acrobats leap
allemande
courtly baroque dance in which the arms are interlaced
alliaceous
allicient
attracting something else
allision
intentional collision of two ships
allocatur
amount allowed for costs
allochthonous
formed or produced elsewhere or externally
allodic
not subject to a superior
allogamy
cross-fertilization
allogeneous
different
allography
writing another individual’s signature
allolalia
speech disorder featuring randomly spoken words
allonge
paper attached to commercial bill requiring signatures
allonym
other person’s name used by an author
alloquy
speaking to another or many others; an address
allotheism
belief in or worship of strange gods
allotriophagy
craving for strange foods
allotropy
of an element, having more than one form
alluvion
effect of water impacting on shoreline
allwhere
elsewhere; everywhere
almacantar
circle of altitude, parallel to the horizon
almagest
textbook or handbook, especially dealing with astronomy
almandine
violet-coloured garnet
almoner
giver of alms; social worker in a hospital
almuce
cloth or fur hood
alnager
inspector of cloth
alogism
illogical statement
alomancy
divination using salt
alopecia
baldness; hair loss
alopecoid
of or resembling a fox
alpaca
fine wool made from alpaca hair
alpenglow
reddish glow appearing at sunrise or sunset in mountains
alpenstocker
mountain climber
alpestrine
of, like or pertaining to alpine regions
alphenic
sugary candy used in medicine
alphitomancy
divination using loaves of barley
alphonsin
instrument used to extract bullets from bodies
altarage
payment to priest for mass; offerings at altar
alterity
state of being different
alternatim
alternately
altiloquence
pompous or high speech
altisonant
high-sounding
altitonant
thundering on high or loudly
altricial
having young requiring care for a lengthy period
aludel
pear-shaped pot used in sublimation
aluminiferous
bearing aluminum
alveary
beehive; area of the ear where wax collects; word-list
alveolate
of or like a honeycomb
alveromancy
divination using sounds
ama
a Japanese pearl-diver
amadelphous
outgoing; gregarious
amain
to a high degree; exceedingly; at full speed
amanuensis
one employed to write from dictation
amaranth
imaginary flower reputed never to fade
amaranthine
immortal; undying; deep purple-red colour
amasesis
inability to chew
amasthenic
focusing light rays to a single point
amathophobia
fear of dust
amaxophobia
fear of riding in a car
ambages
windings; roundabout ways; delays
ambeer
juice from chewing tobacco
amberjack
spiny-finned Atlantic sport fish
ambiloquous
using dubious or ambiguous expressions
ambisinistrous
awkward in the use of both hands
ambit
circuit; scope; compass; confines
ambo
early Christian raised reading desk or pulpit
ambry
recess for church vessels; cupboard or niche
ambsace
bad luck; a low score
ambulatory
aisle down the east end of a church
ambulomancy
divination by taking a walk
ambulophobia
fear of walking
ambustion
burn or scald
amende
fine or reparation paid
ament
a person who fails to develop mentally
amerce
to fine; to deprive; to punish
ametropia
abnormal optical refraction
amice
strip of fine linen worn as cloak or wrap by priest at mass
amicicide
murder of a friend
amidmost
in the very middle
amidships
midway between the bow and stern of a ship
ammeter
instrument for measuring electrical current
ammophilous
sand-loving; preferring to dwell in sand
amnicolist
one who lives near a river
amniomancy
divination by examining afterbirth
amorce
percussion cap for a toy pistol
amoret
love sonnet or song
amoretto
a cherub or spirit of love
ampelidious
of, like or pertaining to vines
ampelography
scientific description of the vine
ampere
unit for measuring amount of electrical current
amphibiolith
fossilized amphibian
amphibolic
able to turn both backwards and forwards; double-jointed
amphibology
ambiguity in language; dual grammatical meaning
amphigean
occurring in both hemispheres of the brain or body
amphigory
a nonsense verse
amphimixis
interbreeding; intermixing of two individuals’ genetic matter
amphipneust
animal with both lungs and gills
amphisbaena
mythical two-headed serpent or lizard
amphiscian
of, like or pertaining to torrid regions
amphiuma
aquatic American salamander with two pairs of small feet
amphoriloquy
cavernous voice of a patient heard over a patient’s lung cavity
amplexus
ampliative
supplemental; additional
amplivagant
stretching far; having a great scope
ampulla
vessel for holy oil or wine for coronations or rituals
amrita
Hindu ambrosia bestowing immortality
amygdaloid
almond-shaped; of, like or pertaining to tonsils
amyloid
containing or pertaining to starch; starchy
ana
in equal quantities
anabasis
journey leading upwards; first phase of an illness
anabiosis
return to life after apparent death
anacampserote
something which can bring back a lost love
anacamptic
reflecting or reflected light; sound or water
anacardic
of, like or pertaining to cashews
anacathartic
causing vomiting or expectoration
anachoric
foreign or geographically absurd relating to a country
anaclastic
refractive; of, like or pertaining to refraction
anaclitic
dependent on other phenomenon or ability
anacoenosis
rhetorical questioning of hearers or opponents for opinions on a matter
anacoluthon
moving to new topic of discussion before finishing current one
anacrisis
interrogation accompanied by torture
anacrusis
syllable prior to the normal rhythm of a verse
anacusic
completely deaf
anadem
wreath, fillet or band
anadiplosis
repeating last word of clause at beginning of next clause
anadromous
fish which ascend rivers to spawn
anaerectic
destructive
anaesthesiology
study of anaesthetics
anagalactic
coming from or existing beyond our own galaxy
anaglyph
ornament in low relief
anaglyptics
art of carving in bas-relief
anaglyptography
art of engraving so as to give the subject an embossed appearance
anagnorisis
recognition leading to denouement of a play
anagogy
mystical interpretation
anagraphy
art of constructing catalogues
analects
crumbs that fall from the table
analepsis
repetition of a word or phrase for emphasis; pleonasm
analgia
inability to feel pain
anamnesis
reminiscence; prayer recalling death and resurrection of Jesus
anamorphic
changing to a more complex form
ananym
name written backward; often used as synonym
anapeiratic
caused by excessive use
anapest
two short metrical syllables followed by one long one
anaphalantiasis
falling out of the eyebrows
anaphia
loss of sense of touch
anaphora
repetition of a word at beginning of successive phrases for emphasis
anapnea
recovery of one’s breath; restoration of breath
anastasic
convalescent
anastrophe
reversing or inverting word order as rhetorical device
anatine
of, like or pertaining to ducks
anatocism
compound interest
anatreptic
overcoming; overturning
anaunter
on the chance; lest
anbury
soft fleshy tumour in horses
anchorite
one withdrawn from the world for religious reasons
ancillary
auxiliary; secondary
ancipitous
two-edged and flattened
ancistroid
hook-shaped
anconoid
of, like or pertaining to the elbow
ancoral
of, shaped like or resembling an anchor
ancress
female religious recluse
andiron
iron bar used to support the end of a log in a fire
andragogy
science of teaching adults
androcracy
government by men
androlepsia
governmental kidnapping for political purposes
andromania
nymphomania
androphagy
cannibalism
aneabil
single; unmarried
anele
to administer extreme unction to
anemocracy
government by the wind or by whim
anemograph
instrument for measuring pressure and velocity of wind
anemography
treatise on the winds
anemology
study of winds
anemometer
instrument for measuring wind velocity
anemophilous
pollinated by wind
anencephalic
lacking a brain
anent
about; concerning
anergia
failure of immune system; loss of energy
anesis
tuning to a lower musical pitch
aneuria
lack of nervous energy
anfractuous
full of windings and intricate turnings
angary
the right of a belligerent to seize neutral property
angelocracy
government by angels
angelolatry
worship of or belief in angels
angelology
study of angels
angelot
musical instrument resembling a lute
angelus
prayer said in morning, at noon and at sunset
angiogenesis
production of blood vessels
angiography
description or examination of the blood vessels
angiology
study of blood flow and lymphatic system
anglice
in plain English
anglomania
craze or obsession with England and the English
anglophilia
love or fondness for England or the English
anglophobia
fear of England or the English
angora
silk-like fabric made from wool of angora goats
angstrom
unit of one ten-billionth of a meter
anguiform
shaped like a snake
anguilliform
shaped like an eel
anguine
of, like or pertaining to snakes
anhedonia
an unresponsiveness to pleasure
anhelation
shortness of breath
anhidrosis
absence of perspiration
anhinga
long-necked fish-eating tropical American bird
aniconic
symbolizing without aiming at resemblance
anicular
like an old woman
anile
imbecilic; senile; like a very old woman
animalism
belief that humans are mere animals
animastic
spiritual; animate
animé
of a heraldic animal, having eyes differently-coloured from the animal itself
animism
attribution of soul to inanimate objects
anion
positively charged ion
anisothenic
being of unequal strength
anker
liquid measure of 8 1/2 gallons
ankus
spiked elephant goad
ankyloglossia
condition where motion of tongue is impeded; state of being tongue-tied
anlace
short two-edged dagger
anneal
to heat and cool metal gradually to temper
annectent
having intermediate features between two taxa
annihilationism
doctrine that the wicked are utterly destroyed after death
annodated
shaped like the letter S
annomination
pun; play on words
annuent
nodding or moving of the head
annulated
furnished with rings, wearing rings
annulet
small ring around a classical column
annulose
ringed; composed of rings
anoa
small wild ox of Indonesia
anocathartic
emetic; causing vomiting or expectoration
anodontia
toothlessness
anodyne
something that relieves pain or suffering
anoesis
sensation not accompanied by understanding of it
anogenic
formed from below or beneath
anole
arboreal American lizard with ability to change colour
anomia
inability to remember names
anomic
in a state lacking social order and norms
anomie
condition of lacking accepted social values or standards
anomphalous
without a navel
anon
at once; immediately
anonym
person whose name is not given; pseudonym
anonymuncule
minor anonymous writer
anopheline
of, like or pertaining to malarial mosquitoes
anopisthographic
bearing writing or inscription only on one side
anorchous
lacking testicles
anosmia
lack or loss of sense of smell
ansate
having a handle or hand-like shape
anserated
of a heraldic cross, having the extremities cleft
anserine
of, like or pertaining to geese
anta
pier produced by thickening wall at one end
antalgic
alleviating or relieving pain
antanaclasis
repetition of key word of phrase as a play on words
antapology
response to an apology
antarchy
opposition to government; anarchy
antechapel
anteroom to a chapel or church
antechinus
carnivorous mouselike Australian marsupial
antejentacular
before breakfast
antelucan
before dawn or daylight
antemundane
before one’s own birth; before the creation of the world
antenniferous
bearing antennae
antependium
covering or cloth over pulpit or altar
antephialtic
preventing nightmares
antepone
to put before; to prefer
anteprandial
before dinner
antevenient
preceding
anthelion
luminous ring seen on a cloud opposite the sun
anthelminthic
destroying or expelling worms
anthography
scientific description of flowers
anthomancy
divination using flowers
anthomania
obsession with flowers
anthophilous
loving or frequenting flowers
anthorism
counter-definition; redefinition of opponent’s term for rhetorical effect
anthracomancy
divination using burning coals
anthrophobia
fear of humans
anthropobiology
study of human biology
anthropocentrism
belief that humans are central to the universe
anthropogenesis
origin of human beings
anthropoglot
animal with human tongue; animal capable of speech
anthropolatry
worship of human beings
anthropolith
fossilized human skeleton
anthropomancy
divination using human entrails
anthropomorphization
attribution of human qualities to animals
anthropopathy
ascription of human feelings to inanimate object
anthropophaginian
cannibal
anthropophagous
eating humans
anthroposophy
knowledge of the nature of humanity; human wisdom
anthropotheism
belief that gods are only deified men
anthypophora
refuting an objection using a contrary inference
antibasilican
opposed to monarchic principle
antiblastic
providing natural immunity against harmful substances
antibromic
eliminating offensive odours
antichresis
enjoyment of mortgaged property in lieu of interest payments
antichthon
hypothetical second Earth on the opposite side of the sun
anticlimax
expression whose last part is decreased in effect from the prior part
anticryptic
camouflaged; having protective resemblance to environment
antidisestablishmentarianism
doctrine opposed to removing Church of England’s official religion status
antigalactic
preventing the secretion of milk
antigropelos
waterproof leggings
antilapsarianism
denial of doctrine of the fall of humanity
antilegomena
books of the New Testament not part of early Christian Bible
antilogarithm
number of which a given number is the logarithm
antilogism
statement of three propositions containing contradiction
antilogy
contradiction
antiloquy
speaking against some idea; contradicting or gainsaying
antimacassar
protective covering for back of sofa or chair
antimetabole
figure in which words or phrases are repeated but in inverse order
antimetathesis
inversion of the parts of an antithesis
antimnemonic
damaging the memory; eliminating memories
antimony
brittle, bluish-white metallic element
antinomianism
doctrine of the rejection of moral law
antinomy
contradiction between two logical conclusions
antipedobaptism
denial of validity of infant baptism
antiperistasis
opposition or resistance
antiphon
anthem sung as a response during church service
antiphrasis
use of words in a sense opposite to literal
antipudic
concealing private parts of the body
antiscian
dweller on the exact opposite side of the world
antistrophe
repetition of words in reverse order
antistrophon
turning of opponent’s own argument against them
antithalian
opposed to mirth or fun
antithesis
contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangement of words or clauses
antitypy
resistance to being penetrated
antonomasia
use of descriptive phrase or epithet instead of proper name
antrorse
turned upward and forward
anuptaphobia
fear of staying single
anuresis
inability to urinate
anzactile
army biscuit
aorist
expressing simple past time with no continuance
apaesthesia
numbness or loss of sensation in a limb
apagoge
proof by showing the falsehood of the opposite
apanage
privilege of office; especially one given to younger offspring
apantomancy
divination using objects at hand
aparithmesis
rhetorical answer to a proposition
apatetic
of an animal’s coloration or markings
apercu
brief outline; glimpse; intuitive insight
aphagia
inability to eat or swallow
aphemia
loss of ability to produce articulate speech
apheresis
taking away a sound or syllable at the beginning of a word
aphesis
loss of initial unaccented vowel from beginning of a word
aphicide
killer of aphids
aphidicide
killer of aphids
aphnology
science of wealth
aphologistic
flameless
aphrasia
inability to speak
aphrodisiomania
abnormal sexual interest
aphthong
silent letter
apian
of, like or pertaining to bees
apiarian
of, like or pertaining to bees or beekeeping
apiculate
ending in a small apex or point
apiculture
beekeeping
apistia
faithlessness in marriage
aplanatic
a lens free of spherical aberration
apocalypticism
doctrine of the imminent end of the world
apocarteresis
suicide by starvation
apocatastasis
final restitution of all things at the appearance of the Messiah
apocatastisis
reversion or restoration to original position
apocope
cutting off the last sound of a word
apocrisiary
papal secretary
apodictic
necessarily true beyond contradiction
apodosis
main concluding clause in a conditional sentence
apodysophilia
feverish desire to undress
apograph
exact copy; facsimile
apolaustic
dedicated to the search for enjoyment
apologetics
defense and proof of Christianity or other doctrine
apopemptic
valedictory
apophasis
saying something by stating that you will not mention it
apophoret
a gift given to celebrate a new year
apophthegm
brief saying; proverb; epigram
aporia
professed but false doubt of what to say or choose, for rhetorical effect
aposiopesis
suddenly stopping in the middle of a speech for emphasis
apositia
dislike of or distaste for food
apostasy
renunciation of former beliefs
apostrophe
addressing of a personified thing rhetorically
apotelesm
casting of a horoscope
apothegm
a short, instructive saying or formula
apotheosis
elevation to divine status; a perfect example
apotropaic
designed to turn away evil
apparitor
officer in court who attends to execute orders; harbinger
appaumé
having the palm displayed
appendant
attached to; hanging from; adjunct
apperception
mind’s perception of itself as a conscious agent
appersonation
irrational belief that one is another person
appetence
strong craving or powerful desire
applanate
flat; flattened; compressed
appointé
in heraldry, having two things touching at the ends
apport
to transport objects without material agency
appose
to place in juxtaposition or proximity
approbation
approval; consent
appropinquity
nearness
appui
to support militarily
appulse
a striking against something
appurtenance
a subordinate or adjunct part of
apricate
to bask in the sun
apricide
killing of a boar
apse
rounded extension of church or other building
apselophesia
loss of sense of touch
apsidal
shaped like an apse
apterygial
wingless; finless
aptotic
uninflected; indeclinable
aptronym
name that suits its owner
apyrexy
period of intermission in a fever
aquamanile
ewer in the form of a human or animal figure for ceremonial handwashing
aquaphobia
fear of water
aquarelle
watercolour painting
aquifer
a rock formation containing water
aquiform
watery; liquid
aquilated
aquiline
of, like or pertaining to eagles; hooked like an eagle’s beak
araba
wheeled Middle Eastern carriage
arachibutyrophobia
fear of peanut butter sticking to roof of mouth
arachnivorous
feeding on spiders
arachnology
study of spiders
arachnophobia
fear of spiders
araneidan
of, like or pertaining to spiders
araneiform
shaped like a spider
araneous
transparent; delicate; like a spider’s web
araphorostic
seamless
arbalest
type of crossbow
arborescent
branched; branching; tree-shaped
arboricide
killing of trees
arboricolous
growing on or living in trees
arboriform
shaped like a tree
arbrolatry
worship of start
arbuscle
dwarf or shrub-like tree
arbustum
orchard; copse of trees
arcanna
red chalk used to mark trees
arceate
to prevent; to ward off
archaeolatry
worship of archaic things or old customs
archelogy
the study of first principles
archididascalian
of, like or pertaining to headmasters
archididascalos
school principal
archiloquy
first part of a speech
archimandrite
head of a monastery or convent
archimime
chief buffoon or mimic
architectonics
of, like or pertaining to the arrangement of knowledge
architecuralization
adaptation of non-architectural entities for architectural purposes
architrave
parts surrounding a door or window, especially the top
archology
science of the origins of government
arciform
shaped like a bow
arctician
one skilled in navigating arctic regions
arctogaeal
of the arctic regions of the earth
arctophile
collector of teddy bears
arctophily
study of teddy bears
arcuate
arched; bow-shaped
ard
plough used to scratch top surface of soil
arefy
to dry up; to wither
arenaceous
like, growing in or consisting of sand
arenoid
sandy; like sand
areometer
instrument used for measuring specific gravity
areopagitic
of, like or pertaining to tribunals or courts
aretaics
the science of virtue
arete
sharp mountain ridge
argali
large-horned Asian wild sheep
argent
the heraldic colour silver or white
argentiferous
bearing silver
argentocracy
government by money
argil
clay used in making pottery
argillaceous
clayey; of or resembling clay
argol
crust formed on wine kept too long or improperly
argol
dried cow dung used as fuel
argosy
a large merchant ship; a rich supply
arguendo
for the sake of argument
arguria
silver poisoning
argute
shrill; keen; shrewd
argyll
silver gravy dish
arietine
of, like or pertaining to rams
arietinous
shaped like a ram’s head
aright
right; correctly
ariolation
divination in general
aristarch
a severe critic
aristarchy
government by the best
aristology
the science or art of dining
arithmancy
divination using numbers
arithmocracy
government by simple majority
arithmogram
number composed of numerical values of letters in a word
arithmography
writing a number using letters; gematria
arithmomania
obsessive preoccupation with numbers
armamentarium
collective equipment available to a doctor
armet
round iron helmet
armigerous
entitled to bear arms
armillary
like or composed of rings
armipotent
having strong weapons; militarily potent
armisonant
resounding with noises of battle or weapons
armlet
piece of armour for the arm
armomancy
divination by examining one’s shoulders
armure
twilled woollen or silk fabric
arpeggione
stringed instrument like the cello
arpent
unit of land area slightly smaller than an acre
arpenteur
land surveyor
arrant
downright; unmitigated
arras
tapestry covering a wall
arrasene
embroidery fabric of wool and silk
arrect
attentive; erect; raised up
arrendator
one who rents or farms at a yearly rent
arreptitious
ecstatic; frantic; hasty or hurried
arrestant
substance causing an insect to stop moving
arrhizal
lacking roots
arris
sharp edge on stone; meeting of two surfaces
arrogate
to claim unduly as one’s own; to ascribe
arrondi
of a heraldic device, having rounded sides
arrosive
gnawing; chewing; corroding
arthrology
study of joints
arthroscope
instrument for examining interior of a joint
arundiferous
bearing or producing reeds
arundinaceous
like or having the properties of a reed
arval
of, like or pertaining to ploughed land
ascesis
the practice of disciplining oneself; asceticism
asceticism
doctrine that self-denial of the body permits spiritual enlightenment
ascham
box for keeping bows and arrows dry
ascian
inhabitant of the equatorial zone
aseity
self-origination
ashlar
squared stone used in building walls
ashplant
walking stick
asinine
of, like or pertaining to asses; stupid
asitia
lack of appetite
askefise
one who blows on ashes to bring them to flame
asomatous
lacking a body; incorporeal
asonia
deafness to specific pitches of sound
aspergilliform
shaped like a brush
aspergillum
vessel for sprinkling holy water
asperity
roughness of surface or sound
asperse
slander; disparage
aspersed
in heraldry, covered with an indefinite number of small figures
aspersory
vessel for holding holy water
aspheterism
denial of the right to private property
aspidate
shield-shaped
aspidomancy
divination by sitting and chanting within a circle
asportation
to carry property away wrongfully
assart
to reclaim for agriculture by clearing away trees
assecuration
marine insurance
assentation
insincere or glib assent
asseveration
positive or earnest affirmation
assibilate
to pronounce with a hiss or sibilant
assiduity
persevering application to a pursuit
assizer
officer or judge in charge of weights and measures
associative
indicating association with or accompaniment by
assoil
to absolve; to acquit
assot
to befool; to besot
assuefaction
habituation
assuetude
accustomedness; habit
assurgent
ascending; rising; curving upward
astacology
the science of crayfish
astatic
in equilibrium
asterism
cluster of three asterisks arranged in triangle to draw attention to passage
astern
at the stern of a ship
astheniology
study of diseases of weakening and aging
asthenopia
muscular weakening of the eyes
astragal
small semicircular moulding; dice
astragalomancy
divination using dice or knucklebones
astraphobia
fear of being struck by lightning
astrapophobia
fear of thunder and lightning
astriction
binding obligation
astringe
to draw together; to tighten
astrionics
electronics as applied to space flight
astrobleme
scar on the earth’s surface from meteorite impact
astrobolism
sun-stroke
astrogeology
study of extraterrestrial geology
astrognosy
knowledge of fixed stars
astrogony
theory of the origin of stars
astrolatry
worship of stars
astrologaster
a foolish or petty astrologer
astromancy
divination using stars
astrometeorology
study of effect of stars on climate
astrophile
person interested in astronomy
astroseismology
study of star oscillations
astrut
protrudingly; distendedly
asynartetic
having two members with different rhythms
asyndeton
rhetorical device of omitting conjunctions
ataraxia
tranquility; freedom from anxiety; stoicism
atavism
reversion to early or ancestral type
ateknia
childlessness
atelier
artist’s studio or workshop
ateliosis
imperfect development; developmental irregularity
athanasy
deathlessness
athanor
alchemist’s self-feeding digesting furnace
atheling
Anglo-Saxon prince or nobleman
athenaeum
literary or scientific association
athetesis
rejection of a passage as spurious
athetosis
nervous twitching of digits and extremities
athwart
across; in opposition to; sideways; transversely
atimy
loss of honour; disgrace
atlantes
male figures used as columns
atlas
rich satin fabric
atmatertera
great-grandfather’s grandmother’s sister
atmology
the science of aqueous vapour
atmometer
instrument for measuring evaporating capacity of air
atocia
female sterility
atokous
lacking offspring
atomism
belief that the universe consists of small indivisible particles
atony
muscular weakness
atpatruus
great-grandfather’s grandfather’s brother
atrabiliary
melancholy; hypochondriac
atrabilious
melancholy; splenetic; acrimonious
atrament
blacking; ink; black dye
atresia
absence or irregular closure of a passage in the body
attainder
the loss of civil rights for high treason
attaint
disgrace; sully; infect; taint
attemper
to adapt or alter quality by adding to something
attenuate
make thin; reduce in value
atticism
expression characterized by conciseness and elegance
attollent
lifting up; raising
attorn
to transfer to another
attrahent
attracting or drawing
attrite
repentant through fear of punishment
attuition
operation between sensation and perception
aubade
musical announcement of dawn; sunrise song
aubin
horse’s gait between an amble and a gallop
auceps
hawker or bird-tender
aucupate
to hunt birds; to pursue prey with vigilance
audile
person more attuned to sound than the other senses
audiology
study of hearing
audiometer
instrument for measuring acuity of hearing
audiophile
one who loves accurately reproduced recorded sound
audism
belief that people who can hear are superior to people who are deaf
augean
filthy; difficult
augend
number to which another number is added
aularian
of, like or pertaining to a hall in a university
aulic
courtly; ceremonious; genteel
auncel
crude balance for weighing
aurantiaceous
of, like or pertaining or pertaining to oranges or orange trees
aureity
property of being golden in colour or substance
aureole
radiant light around head or body of holy personage
auricomous
having golden or blond hair
auricular
of, like or pertaining to the ear; spoken secretly
auriferous
bearing gold
auriform
shaped like an ear
aurigation
charioteering
aurigraphy
writing or engraving in gold
aurilave
instrument for cleaning the ear
auriphrygia
gold embroidery
auriscope
instrument for examining the ear
aurochs
extinct wild ox
aurulent
gold-coloured
auscultation
listening to sounds arising within organs
auslaut
final sound of a word or syllable
austringer
keeper of goshawks
austromancy
divination using wind
autarchy
government by an absolute ruler
autarkic
self-sufficient; independent
autecology
study of ecology of one species
autocephality
ecclesiastical self-government
autocide
killing of oneself; suicide
autocide
killing of oneself or another by means of a motor vehicle
autocoprophagy
eating one’s own feces
autocracy
government by one individual
auto-da-fe
burning of a heretic
autodidact
self-taught person
autogenesis
spontaneous generation
autognosis
knowledge of or about oneself
autography
writing in one’s own hand
autolatry
self-worship
autology
scientific study of oneself
automorphism
ascription to others of one’s own characteristics
automysophobia
fear of being dirty
autonym
a writer’s real name; work published under writer’s own name
autophagy
feeding on body’s own tissues
autophanous
self-luminous
autophobia
fear of solitude
autoschediasm
anything extemporized
autosoterism
belief that one can obtain salvation through oneself
autotelic
being an end in itself
autothaumaturgist
person pretending to be mystical or mysterious
autotheism
belief that one is God incarnate or that one is Christ
autotropic
growing in a straight line
auxanometer
instrument for measuring growth of plants
auxesis
increase in size; hyperbole or augmentation of meaning
auxology
science of growth
auxometer
instrument for measuring magnifying power
aval
of, like or pertaining to a grandparent
avalement
allowing knees to flex while skiing
avaunt
away; hence; to boast
aveniform
shaped like oats
aventail
movable front of a helmet
averruncate
to ward off; to uproot
averruncator
pole for pruning trees
aversant
in heraldry, with a hand turned towards the back
avicide
killing of birds
avicular
of, like or pertaining to birds
avionics
the science of electronic devices for aircraft
avizandum
private consideration of a case by a judge
avocet
long-legged wading bird with upward-curving bill
avolitional
involuntary
avulse
to pluck or tear away by force
avuncular
like an uncle; of, like or pertaining to uncles
awn
beard or similar bristly growth on stalk of grain
axiniform
shaped like an axe-head
axinomancy
divination using an axe or hatchet
axiology
the science of the ultimate nature of values
axolotl
salamander dwelling in mountainous lakes
aye-aye
nocturnal lemur-like animal of Madagascar
azimuth
arc of the horizon
azoth
alchemical name for mercury
azure
light or sky blue; the heraldic colour blue
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