Vertical Vocabulary Thread

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Eleemosynary


Pronunciation: /ˌɛlɪˈmɑːsənɛri/, /ˌɛlɪˈmɑːzənɛri/, /ˌɛliɪˈmɑːsənɛri/

Function: adjective

1. Relating to charity, alms, or almsgiving; intended for the distribution of charity;  

* 1991, Washington Post, October 27,
Amidst all this, the legal business, the acquiring of land, the construction of the Montgomery Block, Billings had generosity and time to support the founding of the University of California and a half dozen churches, schools, orphan asylums and other eleemosynary institutions.

2. Given in charity or alms; having the nature of alms; as, eleemosynary assistance.  

* 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, Book I ch i,
An author ought to consider himself, not as a gentleman who gives a private or eleemosynary treat, but rather as one who keeps a public ordinary, at which all persons are welcome for their money.

3. Supported by charity; as, eleemosynary poor.


Etymology: From Medieval Latin eleemosynarius (“‘alms dispenser’”), from Late Latin eleemosyna (“‘alms’”), from Ancient Greek ἐλεημοσύνη (eleēmosynē), “‘alms’”), from ἐλεέω (eleëō), “‘I have mercy’”), from ἔλεος (eleos), “‘pity’”).

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Diffident


Function: Adjective


1. (archaic): Lacking confidence in others; distrustful.
2. Lacking confidence in one's self; distrustful of one's own powers; not self-reliant; timid; modest; bashful; characterized by modest reserve.


Etymology: Latin present participle of diffidere, "to mistrust"

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Prolix


Pronunciation: /pɹoʊˈlɪks/

Function: Adjective


1. Tediously lengthy.

* 1843, "Bossi—Necrologia G. C. Leonardo Sismondi.", vol. LXXII, issue CXLIV, p. 333,
People who have blamed [Jean Charles Léonard de] Sismondi as unnecessarily prolix cannot have considered the crowd of details presented by the history of Italy.

2. Tending to use large or obscure words, which few understand.


Etymology: From Latin prōlixus (“‘courteous, favorable’”).

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Propinquity


Pronunciation: /prəˈpɪŋkwɪti/

Function: Noun


1. Nearness or proximity.
2. Affiliation or similarity.


Etymology: From Old French propinquité or Latin propinquitas, from propinquus ‘neighbouring’ (from prope ‘near’).

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Bijou


Pronunciation: /biˈʒuː/, /bi"Zu:/

Function: Noun

1. jewel
2. a piece of jewelry, a trinket

Function: Adjective

1. (of a residence) small and elegant


Etymology: From French bijou

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Dulcet


Pronunciation : /ˈdʌl.sɪt/, /ˈdʌl.sət/


Funtion: Adjective

1. Sweet, especially when describing voice or tones; melodious.
2. Generally pleasing; agreeable.
3. (archaic) Sweet to the taste.

Etymology: From Latin dulcis (“‘sweet, pleasant’”).

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Apraxia


Pronunciation: /ә'præksıә/

Function: Noun

1. Total or partial loss of the ability to perform coordinated movements or manipulate objects in the absence of motor or sensory impairment; specifically, a disorder of motor planning.


Etymology: From Ancient Greek ἀπραξία (apraksia, “‘inaction’”).

[AYHJA]

Sacristy

Pronunciation: /ˈsækrɪsti/ [sak-ri-stee]

Function: Noun

1. An apartment in or a building connected with a church or a religious house, in which the sacred vessels, vestments, etc., are kept.

Etymology: 1400–50; late ME < ML sacristia vestry, equiv. to sacrist

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Selenology


Pronunciation: /sɛliːˈnɒləʤɪ/, /sEli:"nQl@dZI/

Function: Noun

1. (astronomy) The scientific study of the Moon.

- (chiefly) The scientific study of the Moon’s movements in the heavens and the kinetic influences it has upon and it receives from other astronomical bodies
- (occasionally) The scientific study of the formation and composition of the Moon’s crust

Etymology: selen- (“‘moon’”) + -o- + -logy (“‘study’”)

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Algedonic


Pronunciation: /ælʤɪ'dɒnɪk/ /ˌal-jə-ˈdän-ik/

Function: Adjective

1. Pertaining to both pleasure and pain.

Etymology: From Ancient Greek ἄλγος (algos, “‘pain’”) + ἡδονή ‘pleasure’.