Weekly Vocab

Cy·clo·pe·an
   [sahy-kluh-pee-uhn, sahy-klop-ee-uhn]
adjective
1.of or characteristic of the Cyclops.
2.( sometimes lowercase ) gigantic; vast.
3.( usually lowercase ) Architecture, Building Trades . formed with or containing large, undressed stones fitted closely together without the use of mortar: a cyclopean wall.

lam·bent
 [lam-buhnt]
adjective
1.running or moving lightly over a surface: lambent tongues of flame.
2.dealing lightly and gracefully with a subject; brilliantly playful: lambent wit.
3.softly bright or radiant: a lambent light.

ne·o·phyte   
[nee-uh-fahyt]
noun
1. a beginner or novice: He's a neophyte at chess.
2. Roman Catholic Church . a novice.
3. a person newly converted to a belief, as a heathen, heretic,or nonbeliever; proselyte.
4. Primitive Church . a person newly baptized.

pas·sé
[pa-sey; for 4 also Fr.pah-sey]  adjective, noun, plural pas·sés  [pa-seyz; Fr. pah-sey]
adjective
1.no longer fashionable, in wide use, etc.; out-of-date;outmoded: There were many photographs of passé fashions. I thought hand-cranked pencil sharpeners were passé.
2.past: time passé.
3.past the prime of one's life.
noun
4.Ballet . a movement in which one leg passes behind or in front of the other.
Origin:
1765–75; < French, past participle of passer to pass
Synonyms
1. old-fashioned, démodé, quaint.

pre·text
[pree-tekst]
noun
1.something that is put forward to conceal a true purpose orobject; an ostensible reason; excuse: The leaders used the insults as a pretext to declare war.
2.the misleading appearance or behavior assumed with this intention  His many lavish compliments were a pretext for subtle mockery

mal·fea·sance
[mal-fee-zuhns]
noun Law .
the performance by a public official of an act that is legally unjustified, harmful, or contrary to law; wrongdoing (used especially of an act in violation of a public trust). Compare misfeasance ( def. 2 ) , nonfeasance.

keen
 2  [keen]
noun
1. a wailing lament for the dead.
verb (used without object)
2. to wail in lamentation for the dead.
verb (used with object)
3. to bewail or lament by or with keening.

glow·er
[glou-er]
verb (used without object)
1. to look or stare with sullen dislike, discontent, or anger.
noun
2. a look of sullen dislike, discontent, or anger.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English  ( Scots ) glowren  to glower; akin to Middle Low German glūren  to be overcast,Middle Dutch gloeren  to leer

hal·cy·on
[hal-see-uhn]
adjective Also, hal·cy·o·ni·an  [hal-see-oh-nee-uhn]   , hal·cy·on·ic  [hal-see-on-ik]
1. calm; peaceful; tranquil: halcyon weather.
2. rich; wealthy; prosperous: halcyon times of peace.
3. happy; joyful; carefree: halcyon days of youth.
4. of or pertaining to the halcyon or kingfisher.
noun
5. a mythical bird, usually identified with the kingfisher, said to breed about the time of the winter solstice in a nest floating on the sea, and to have the power of charming winds and waves into calmness.
6. any of various kingfishers, especially of the genus Halcyon.
7. ( initial capital letter  ) Classical Mythology , Alcyone (  def 2 ) .

bac·cha·nal
[n. bah-kuh-nahl, bak-uh-nal, bak-uh-nl; adj. bak-uh-nl]
noun
1. a follower of Bacchus.
2. a drunken reveler.
3. an occasion of drunken revelry; orgy; bacchanalia.
adjective
4. pertaining to Bacchus; bacchanalian.
Origin:
1530–40;  < Latin Bacchānāl,  equivalent to Bacch ( us ) + -ānāl,  probably as back formation from Bacchānālia;  see Bacchanalia
Synonyms
3. saturnalia, debauch, spree, carousal.

lagan
   \ LAG-uhn \  , noun;
1. Anything sunk in the sea, but attached to a buoy or the like so that it may be recovered

nu·bile
[noo-bil, -bahyl, nyoo-]
adjective
1. (of a young woman) suitable for marriage, especially in regard toage or physical development; marriageable.
2. (of a young woman) sexually developed and attractive: thenubile girls in their bikinis.
Origin:
1635–45;  < Latin nūbilis,  equivalent to nūb ( ere ) to marry (seenuptial) + -ilis -ile

ra·pa·cious
[ruh-pey-shuhs]
adjective
1.given to seizing for plunder or the satisfaction of greed.
2.inordinately greedy; predatory; extortionate: a rapacious disposition.
3.(of animals) subsisting by the capture of living prey;predacious.
-Taken from Dictionary.com

im·pet·u·ous
[im-pech-oo-uhs]
adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or characterized by sudden or rash action,emotion, etc.; impulsive: an impetuous decision; an impetuous person.
2. having great impetus;  moving with great force; violent: the impetuous winds.

sci·on 
[sahy-uhn]
noun
1.a descendant.
2.Also, cion. a shoot or twig, especially one cut for grafting or planting; a cutting.

Styg·i·an
[stij-ee-uhn]
adjective
1. of or pertaining to the river Styx or to Hades.
2. dark or gloomy.
3. infernal; hellish.

bier
[beer]
noun
1. a frame or stand on which a corpse or the coffin containing it is laid before burial.
2. such a stand together with the corpse or coffin.

sup·ple
[suhp-uhl]
adjective, sup·pler,sup·plest, verb, sup·pled, sup·pling.
adjective
1. bending readily without breaking or becoming deformed;pliant; flexible: a supple bough.
2. characterized by ease in bending; limber; lithe: supple movements.
3. characterized by ease, responsiveness, and adaptability in mental action.
4. compliant or yielding.
5. obsequious; servile.

pre·ter·nat·u·ral
[pree-ter-nach-er-uhl, -nach-ruhl]
adjective
1. out of the ordinary course of nature; exceptional or abnormal: preternatural powers.
2. outside of nature; supernatural.


su·sur·ra·tion 
(ss-rshn) also su·sur·rus (s-sûrs, -sr-)
n. A soft, whispering or rustling sound; a murmur.
[Middle English susurracioun, from Late Latin susurrti, susurrtin-, from Latin susurrtus, past participle of susurrre, to whisper, from susurrus,whisper, ultimately of imitative origin.]
su·surrant (s-sûrnt, -sr-), su·surrous (-sûrs, -sr-) adj.