The Words You Should Know to Sound Smart Read Online Free PDF Page A

noun
    Unbridled lust in the extreme—horniness.
    “You’re talking to a young vampire, a fountain of CONCUPISCENCE.” – Mario Acevedo, American fantasy author
    confabulate
(kuhn-FAB-yuh-late), verb
    To chat or converse informally.
    Jarod proceeded to CONFABULATE about the wines most recently added to the family cellar.
    consecrate
(KON-seh-krayt), verb
    To declare something sacred, true, sacrosanct, or involuble.
    “It is regarded as normal to CONSECRATE virginity in general and to lust for its destruction in particular.” – Karl Kraus, Austrian writer
    consummate
(KON-suh-mitt), adjective
    Complete or perfect; showing supreme skill.
    “[John F. Kennedy is] a new star with a tremendous national appeal, the skill of a CONSUMMATE showman.” – Russell Baker, American author
    contiguous
(kon-TIG-yew-us), adjective
    Adjacent; sharing a common border; sitting next to one another in a row or sequence.
    The network extends to the forty-eight CONTIGUOUS states.
    contretemps
(KON-truh-tahn), noun
    An inopportune occurrence with embarrassing results.
    “Pan had been amongst them …the little god Pan, who presides over social CONTRETEMPS and unsuccessful picnics.” – E. M. Forster, English novelist
    conundrum
(kuh-NUN-drum), noun
    A difficult problem or situation that is not easily resolved.
    Knowing whether to attend MIT, Yale, or Harvard was quite a CONUNDRUM: MIT had the courses he wanted, but Harvard and Yale offered him full sports scholarships.
    convalescence
(con-vah-LESS-sense), noun
    The time you spend recovering from—and getting back to full health—after an illness, during which the patient usually rests while being taken care of by others.
    “ CONVALESCENCE is the part that makes the illness worthwhile.” – George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright
    convivial
(kuhn-VIV-ee-ull), adjective
    Fond of feasting, drinking, and companionship.
    “One does not leave a CONVIVIAL party before closing time.” – Winston Churchill, British statesman and orator
    coquette
(ko-KET), noun
    A woman who dresses promiscuously or flirts excessively to make men think she is sexually available when in fact she has no intention of sleeping with them.
    Marla doesn’t intend to play the COQUETTE at society balls, but her alluring looks attract other debutantes’ dates constantly.
    countenance
(KOUN-tn-unts), noun
    A facial expression, either deliberate or unconscious, conveying the person’s mood, thoughts, or emotions.
    “We romped until the pans / Slid from the kitchen shelf; / My mother’s COUNTENANCE / Could not unfrown itself.” – Theodore Roethke, American poet
    coup
(koo), noun
    When a person already in a position of power forcibly seizes control.
    Sophia took control of her father’s company while he was in the hospital, an act the investors considered a bit of a COUP.
    couture
(kuh-TOUR), noun
    Clothing in the latest and most popular styles created by in-vogue fashion designers.
    If Alyssia does not have the latest COUTURE prior to its debut on Paris runways, she will not deign to consider wearing it.
    cull
(KULL), verb
    To gather, amass, or collect.
    Consumer behavior data was CULLED from online surveys and focus groups.
    cynosure
(SIN-uh-sure), noun
    A center of attention or attraction.
    “This lighthouse was the CYNOSURE of all eyes.” – Henry David Thoreau, American author and transcendentalist

“Everything we shut our eyes
to, everything we run away
from, everything we deny,
DENIGRATE or despise, serves
to defeat us in the end.”
    Henry Miller, American author
and painter

D
     
    dalliance
(DAL-ee-anss), noun
    A brief, casual flirtation with or interest in someone or something; the act of tarrying rather than proceeding swiftly and deliberately.
    Her DALLIANCE with the pool boy made her husband angry and jealous.
    dauntless
(DAWNT-liss), adjective
    Fearless, intrepid, and bold.
    “For Thought has a pair of DAUNTLESS wings.” – Robert Frost, American poet
    debauchery