Dictionary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| AI‑ization | AI permeating daily services |
| Ad hominem fallacy | Attacking the person, not the argument |
| Halcyon | adjective describing a calm, peaceful, prosperous, or golden time. |
| Söze boğmak | To talk unnecessarily too much and cause confusion |
| Söze karışmak | To interrupt someone or to join in a conversation. |
| Söze ne hacet | A common idiom meaning "words are unnecessary" or "the facts speak for themselves". |
| Efficacy | The ability to produce a desired or intended result. It measures whether something achieves its purpose, typically under ideal or strictly controlled conditions |
| Au fond | fundamentally, basically, at heart, or in reality |
| Satisficing | melding together of satisfy and suffice |
| Epiphenomena | |
| Manimal | |
| Scythe | |
| Enchiridion | Handbook or Manual |
| Incorrigible | describes someone or their behavior that is incapable of being reformed, corrected, or improved. It usually applies to deeply ingrained habits, rule-breaking, or a refusal to change, and is frequently used in a playful or humorous way. |
| Corollary | A corollary is a proposition that follows directly and naturally from a previously proven statement or action. It is a direct result, consequence, or outcome—often considered an "upshot" or a natural byproduct of a situation |
| Apoplectic | Extremely and visibly enraged, seeing red or beside themselves with anger Synonyms: Livid, furious, irate, incandescent. |
| Augustus | lofty or serene |
| egoïsme | bezorgdheid over het eigenbelang. |
| Banshee | Woman of the fairy mound or "fairy woman") is a female spirit in Irish folklore who heralds the death of a family member, usually by screaming, wailing, shrieking, or keening |
| Valiant | boldly brave, courageous, or determined, especially in difficult or dangerous situations |
| Sopracomito | captain (famous Pietro) |
| Copia | abundance |
| Portata | the right to bring a chest of cargo to sell en route |
| Precocity | early or premature development of mental, physical, or behavioral traits |
| Abaco | freelance maths tutors from Venice and Florence |
| Alzibran | Algebra originator (Saracen) |
| Phronesis | Practical wisdom or prudence (Greek) |
| Adamantium | Unpenetrable metal |
| Ailurophile | Cat‑lover |
| Akrasia | Acting against one’s better judgment; weakness of will |
| Alea iacta est | “The die is cast” |
| Allegro ma non troppo | Fast, but not too fast |
| Anavastha | Endless, unsettled mental state |
| Aphorism | Concise statement of general truth |
| Apophenia | Perceiving meaningful connections in unrelated things |
| Aragorn | Tolkien hero king |
| Arcadia | Idealized pastoral paradise |
| Arcuate | Bow‑shaped; curved |
| Arete | Being suited for what you do |
| Asmara | “The four that are united” |
| Assemblage | Gathering |
| Ataraxia | Freedom from disturbance |
| Atrax | Horse |
| Axia | Greek: value, worth, merit |
| Balderdash | Nonsense; muddled mixture |
| Balmora | Viking legend |
| Becoming | Attractive |
| Beleaguer | Exhaust with attacks |
| Benandonner | Scottish giant |
| Brabble | Verb – “To quarrel about trifles; to brawl or squabble”… |
| Brood | Think alone |
| Bucolic | Lovely rural setting |
| Bungalow | Small cozy cottage |
| CAS | Current awareness systems |
| CENTAUR | Half man, half horse |
| Cadfael | 13th‑century monk, herbalist, sleuth |
| Calor licitantis | Bidder’s heat |
| Caperucita Roja | Little Red Riding Hood |
| Capricious | Unpredictable; whimsical |
| Cauldron | Situation of instability and strong emotions |
| Centurio Primus pilus | “Ik heb de grootste tampeloeris van allemaal” |
| Ceteris paribus | All other things held constant |
| Chatoyant | Like a cat’s eye |
| Comely | Attractive |
| Conflagration | Destructive fire |
| Conflate | Blend together |
| Conflex | Curved, bent |
| Corrade | Verb trans. – “To scrape together; to gather together from various sources”… |
| Corsair | Privateer or pirate |
| Coup de foudre | Sudden intense infatuation |
| Cui bono | “Who benefits?” |
| Cunt | Certified, unapologetic, narcissistic, twattish |
| Curmudgeon | Ill‑tempered, stubborn person |
| Cynosure | Focal point of admiration |
| Daedalus | Brilliant engineer; creator of the labyrinth |
| Dalliance | Brief love affair |
| Damnatio memoriae | Condemnation of memory |
| Dao | The way; the path |
| Dastardly | Wicked, cruel, cowardly |
| De Viribus Quantitatis | “On the powers of numbers” |
| Deified | Honored or worshiped as a deity |
| Deliciate | Verb intr. – “To take one's pleasure, enjoy oneself, revel, luxuriate”… |
| Demesne | Dominion, territory |
| Demure | Shy, reserved |
| Denouement | Resolution of a mystery |
| Desuetude | Disuse |
| Desultory | Slow, sluggish |
| Deus ex machina | Sudden improbable plot resolution |
| Diaphanous | Filmy |
| Dichotomy | Division between two opposed things |
| Dissemble | Deceive |
| Diworsification | Diversification that worsens results |
| Doublethink | Holding two contradictory beliefs simultaneously |
| Dry‑cleaning / proverka | KGB jargon |
| Dulcet | Sweet, sugary |
| Dès vu | Awareness that this will become a memory |
| Déraison | Domination of unreason |
| Ebullience | Bubbling enthusiasm |
| Effervescent | Bubbly |
| Efflorescence | Flowering |
| Elision | Dropping a sound |
| Elixir | Good potion |
| Eloquence | Beauty in speech |
| Embrocation | Rubbing on lotion |
| Emollient | Softener |
| Engywook | Midget science male |
| Enigmatic | Unknowable |
| Enshittification | Rendering something into a pile of shit |
| Ephemeral | Short‑lived |
| Ephemeral | Short‑lived |
| Epimetheus | Afterthought |
| Epiphany | Sudden revelation |
| Erstwhile | Formerly |
| Esquenazi | Made‑up word |
| Ethereal | Gaseous, invisible |
| Eudaemonic | Bliss from living according to reason |
| Evanescent | Vanishing quickly |
| Evocative | Suggestive |
| Ex aequo | On equal footing; tied |
| Ex nihilo | “Out of nothing” |
| FOMO | Fear of missing out |
| Factotum | Employee or assistant with many duties |
| Falkor | Luck dragon |
| Faux Intellectualism | Credentialed but impractical thinkers |
| Felicity | Pleasantness |
| Fetching | Pretty |
| Fluctuat nec mergitur | “Fluctuates but does not sink” |
| Fog of war | Clausewitz |
| Forbearance | Withholding response |
| Freck | Verb intr. – “To move swiftly or nimbly”… |
| Frugal | Economical; sparing |
| Fugacious | Fleeting |
| Furtive | Sneaky |
| Gambol | Skip joyfully |
| Gestalt | Whole greater than sum of parts |
| Gioconda | Mona Lisa |
| Glamour | Beauty |
| Gleichschaltung | Totalitarian coordination of society |
| Gmork | Creator of darkness |
| Gohei | Sacred paper |
| Gossamer | Spider silk |
| Hagiography | Idealized saintly biography |
| Halcyon | Happy, carefree |
| Halus | Javanese concept of refinement, smoothness, elegance, self‑control |
| Harbinger | Messenger of the future |
| Hyponomy | Linguistic sense relations |
| IBM | Itty Bitty Machine company |
| INSTANTIATIONS | Providing an instance supporting a claim |
| IYI | Intellectuals Yet Idiots |
| Imbrication | Overlapping pattern |
| Imbroglio | Complicated situation |
| Imbue | To instill or permeate with a feeling or quality |
| In dubio abstine | “In doubt, abstain” |
| Incepto | Begin, start |
| Incipient | Beginning to happen or develop |
| Ineffable | Too great or extreme to be expressed in words |
| Inglenook | A cozy nook by a fireplace |
| Ingénue | Innocent young woman |
| Ingénue | The part of an innocent, artless young woman |
| Insouciance | Casual lack of concern; indifference |
| Intransigent | Unwilling to change views |
| Inure | To become accustomed to something unpleasant |
| Invitis omnibus | “Against the wishes of everyone” |
| JFM | Just Fucking Magic |
| Jargogle | Verb trans. – “To confuse, jumble” – John Locke used the word in 1692… |
| Joie de vivre | Joy of living; elegance, passion |
| Jolabokaflod | Icelandic “Christmas book flood” |
| Jollux | Slang term (18th century) for a “fat person”… |
| Joy Division | (Nazi link) |
| Judicious | Having sound judgment |
| Kabun | Soldiers |
| Kakorrhaphiophobia | Fear of failure |
| Kasar | Indonesian: unrefined, uncivilised |
| Kemosabe | “Trusty scout”; “faithful friend” |
| Kench | Verb intr. – “To laugh loudly”… |
| Kintsugi | Japanese art of golden repair |
| Klaatu barada nikto | “There’s no limit to what he can do” |
| Kodachi | Small samurai sword |
| Kuchulun | Persian word meaning “little one” or “cute one”; term of affection |
| LACONIC | Using very few words |
| La madrugada | Time between midnight and 6 a.m. |
| Labyrinthine | Like a labyrinth; twisting and complex |
| Lagniappe | A small gift given to a customer; bonus |
| Lagoon | A shallow body of water separated from a larger one |
| Laissez‑faire | Let it be; world runs itself |
| Languor | Pleasant tiredness or inertia |
| Lassitude | Weariness of body or mind |
| Lateral thinking | Solving via unusual connections |
| Leisure | Free time |
| Lemniscate | Figure‑eight curve |
| Libido Ergo Sum | “I lust, therefore I am” |
| Lilt | A cheerful or lively manner of speaking or moving |
| Lissome | Thin, supple, graceful |
| Lithe | Thin, flexible, graceful |
| Loki | God of mischief |
| Love | Deep affection |
| Ludibrious | Adj. – “Apt to be a subject of jest or mockery”… |
| MAGNET | “Get the needle out of the haystack” |
| MERCURIAL | Rapid, unpredictable mood changes |
| Malagrugrous | Adj. – “Dismal”; Scots origin… |
| Manimal | A man‑animal hybrid; often refers to the 1980s TV show Manimal. |
| Manimal | Made‑up word |
| Mellifluous | Sweet or musical; pleasant to hear |
| Meritocracy | System rewarding talent |
| Miasma | Unpleasant smell |
| Minaalamon | Filipino: bringing chaos and order; wise person |
| Minotaur | Master of the labyrinth |
| Mjølner | Thor’s hammer |
| Moiety | One of two equal parts |
| Moki | Swedish female |
| Mondegreen | A misheard lyric or phrase |
| Monozukuri | Japanese: “to make things” |
| More’s the pity | Unfortunately |
| Murmurous | Full of murmuring sounds |
| Myrmidons | Robot warriors |
| Nemesis | A long‑standing rival; an archenemy |
| Neophyte | Beginner |
| Nomophobia | Fear of being without a phone |
| Non sequitur | “It does not follow” |
| Norns | Norse female beings who rule destiny |
| Obaku | Zen Buddhist branch; simple living |
| Obdurate | Stubborn; refusing to change |
| Offing | The distant part of the sea visible from shore |
| Oneiric | Dreamlike |
| Onomatopoeia | A word that imitates a sound |
| Opulent | Rich and luxurious |
| Oritsuru | Origami bird |
| Ostinati Rigore | Rigorous persistence |
| Oxymoronic | Self‑contradictory |
| Oyabun | Boss |
| Paisan | Italian/Italian‑American friendly address meaning “brother” or “countryman” |
| Palimpsest | A manuscript with traces of earlier writing |
| Panacea | A universal remedy |
| Panoply | A complete or impressive collection |
| Pareidolia | Seeing patterns where none exist |
| Pastiche | Artistic work combining various sources |
| Penumbra | A partially shaded outer region |
| Petrichor | The smell after rain |
| Phantasia kataleptike | Objective representation |
| Phronesis | Practical wisdom; sound judgment |
| Pinakes | First attempt to categorize scrolls in the Library of Alexandria |
| Plethora | A large or excessive amount |
| Polkadodge | Dance when two people sidestep the same way |
| Portend | Sign something is likely to happen |
| Post hoc ergo propter hoc | “After this, therefore because of this” |
| Praxeology | The science of human action |
| Praxeology | Deductive study of human action |
| Precipice | Brink; hazardous situation |
| Precocious | Early development of adult abilities |
| Premeditatio Malorum | Negative visualization |
| Pricking of one's thumbs | Intuitive foreboding |
| Primum non nocere | “First, do no harm” |
| Primus inter pares | First among equals |
| Prometheus | Forethought |
| Propinquity | Nearness in place or relationship |
| Proviso | Condition or qualification in an agreement |
| Pusillanimity | Cowardice |
| Pyrrhic | A victory won at too great a cost |
| Qamutik | Inuit dog sled |
| Quagmire | Precarious or difficult situation |
| Quandary | Perplexing dilemma |
| Qui linguam Latinam | “He who learns Latin” |
| Qui pauca legit, pauca scit | “He who reads little knows little” |
| Quintessential | Representing the most perfect example |
| Quis custodiet ipsos custodes | “Who watches the watchers?” |
| Quod in vita facimus… | “What we do in life echoes in eternity” |
| Quod non | “What is not”; used in proof by contradiction |
| Raison d’être | Reason for existence |
| Ratatouille | A spicy French vegetable stew |
| Ravel | To tangle or untangle |
| Redolent | Strongly reminiscent or suggestive; fragrant |
| Remiss | Negligent; lacking care |
| Res judicata | Case closed |
| Riparian | Relating to riverbanks |
| Ripple | A small wave or undulation |
| Ronin | Masterless samurai; autonomy and mastery |
| Room 101 | Chamber of one’s worst fear |
| Ruckus | Noisy commotion |
| SDI | Selective dissemination of information |
| SIX | Perfect number; factors sum to 6 |
| SNAFU | Situation Normal: All Fucked Up |
| SOLIPSISTIC | View that only the self is knowable |
| SUGRU | Gaelic for “play” |
| SUI GENERIS | Unique; of its own kind |
| Sangfroid | Coolness under pressure |
| Sanguinolency | Noun – “Addiction to bloodshed”… |
| Sapere aude | “Dare to think for yourself” |
| Sapere vivere | “Know how to live” |
| Satisficing | Stopping at a “good enough” solution |
| Scintilla | A tiny trace or spark |
| Sempiternal | Eternal; everlasting |
| Sempre nei miei ricordi | “Always in my memories” |
| Sentens | From Latin sentio: feel, understand |
| Sepulchral | Tomb‑like; gloomy |
| Seraglio | A harem or luxurious palace |
| Serendipity | Finding pleasant things by accident |
| Shkval | Russian super‑cavitating torpedo (360 km/h) |
| Shōen | Private samurai estates |
| Simplicissimus | German satirical magazine |
| Sinanju | “The sun; all others are shadows”; total mastery |
| Sisyphean | Endless and unavailing |
| Skeuomorphism | Design retaining obsolete features |
| Sleipner | Thor’s six‑legged horse |
| Sophistry | Fallacious reasoning meant to deceive |
| Spezzatura | Nonchalance |
| Sprezzatura | Italian: effortless mastery; elegant ease |
| Stance of the warrior | Samurai readiness, composure, preparedness |
| Stupendous | Extremely impressive |
| Sturm und Drang | Proto‑Romantic movement |
| Subutai | Mongolian general and strategist of Genghis Khan |
| Summery | Light, warm, reminiscent of summer |
| Summum Bonum | “The highest good” |
| Sumptuous | Splendid and expensive‑looking |
| Surreptitious | Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved |
| Surtsey | Norse fire‑eating giant |
| Susquehanna | A river in Pennsylvania |
| Susurrous | Whispering, murmuring |
| Sycophantic | Obsequious to gain advantage |
| Sympatheia | Interconnectedness of all things |
| Synesis | Intelligence, knowledge |
| Talisman | An object believed to bring good luck |
| Tartle | Forgetting someone’s name |
| Tautological | Needless repetition |
| Tempestuous | Strong, turbulent, conflicting emotion |
| Testis unus testis nullus | “One witness is no witness” |
| The Index | Central archive of the KGB |
| Tiktaalik | Transitional fish with four limbs |
| Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes | Beware enemies bearing gifts |
| Tintinnabulation | The ringing or tinkling of bells |
| Tongji | Chinese spirit medium |
| Tractatus | Latin for “treatise”; often refers to Wittgenstein’s Tractatus Logico‑Philosophicus. |
| Trouvaille | Lovely thing discovered by chance |
| Umbrella | Protection from rain or sun |
| Una vida con miedo… | “A life lived in fear is a half‑lived life” |
| Untoward | Unexpected and inappropriate |
| Upright infinity | The symbol “8” |
| Urgl | Midget health female |
| Ustad | Learned one |
| VARG | Werewolf (Norsk) |
| Vassal | Person under protection of a feudal lord |
| Vergangenheitsbewältigung | Coming to terms with the past |
| Verisimilitude | Truth‑likeness |
| Vestigial | Remaining as a small remnant of something larger |
| Vicarious | Experienced in place of another |
| Vita terrore acta est… | “A life lived with fear is half‑lived” |
| Vulcan | God of Fire; divine craftsman |
| Wabi‑Sabi | Japanese antidote to perfectionism |
| Wafture | The act of waving or a gesture |
| Whaiwhai | Māori: to search |
| Wherewithal | The means or resources to do something |
| Woebegone | Sorrowful, miserable in appearance |
| Wu wei | Effortless action; non‑forcing |
| XB‑70 Valkyrie | “The Ride to Valhalla” |
| Yokoso | “Welcome” (Japanese) |
| Zbrka | Confusion of too many things |
| Ziel, Zweck und Mittel | Origins of “goal” and “purpose” |
| Zoon logon echon | “The animal that thinks” |
| Zoon logon echon | Rational animal; “the animal with language” |
| acrimony | Bitterness or sharpness in speech, behavior, or disposition. |
| amenable | Willing to cooperate or be persuaded; open to suggestion. |
| apocryphal | Of doubtful authenticity, though widely circulated as true. |
| assay | To test or analyze the composition or quality of something. |
| automatons | Mechanical or robotic beings; figuratively, people who act without thought. |
| bumph | Tedious or unnecessary paperwork or documentation. |
| candor | Honest, open, and sincere expression; frankness. |
| conceit | Excessive pride; also an extended metaphor in literature. |
| contretemps | An unexpected and embarrassing minor dispute or mishap. |
| deadpan | Deliberately expressionless or emotionless in manner or delivery. |
| dross | Worthless material; waste; impurities removed from metal. |
| epistemology [Erkenntnistheorie] | The branch of philosophy concerned with knowledge and its limits. |
| fatuous | Silly, foolish, or pointless. |
| fledgling | A young bird learning to fly; an inexperienced person. |
| fug | A stuffy, stale, or smoky atmosphere in a room. |
| glib | Fluent and confident but insincere or shallow. |
| gopher | A burrowing North American rodent; also a person who runs errands. |
| ifttt | “If this then that” |
| liggers | People who attend events to freeload, especially for free food or drink. |
| magnanimously | In a generous, forgiving, or noble‑spirited manner. |
| moot | Debatable or no longer relevant; in law, a hypothetical case. |
| obtuse | Slow to understand; lacking insight; also an angle > 90°. |
| panache | Flamboyant confidence or stylish flair. |
| perfidy | Betrayal of trust; treachery. |
| phalanx | A close‑packed group; originally a Greek military formation. |
| pillion | A secondary seat on a motorcycle or bicycle, behind the driver. |
| pivotal | Of crucial importance; central to an outcome. |
| precipice | A very steep cliff; a dangerous or critical point. |
| predilection | A strong preference or liking for something. |
| profligate | Recklessly wasteful or extravagant; also a person who behaves that way. |
| reticence | The quality of being reserved or unwilling to speak freely. |
| scythe | A long‑handled tool with a curved blade for cutting grass or grain. |
| septics [i.e. septic tanks – Yanks] | British rhyming slang for Americans (“Yanks”), from septic tank. |
| solipsism | The philosophical idea that only one’s own mind is certain to exist. |
| supercilious | Behaving as though one is superior; arrogantly disdainful. |
| trepidation | A feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen. |
| Denouement | The final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved. |
