panegyric
/ˌpanəˈjirik/
noun
- a public speech or published text in praise of someone or something
Catherine assented — and a very warm panegyric from her on that lady’s merits, closed the subject.
– Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
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vicissitude
/vəˈsisəˌt(y)o͞od/
noun
- a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant
- (literary) alternation between opposite or contrasting things
But from fifteen to seventeen she was in training for a heroine; she read all such works as heroines must read to supply their memories with those quotations which are so serviceable and so soothing in the vicissitudes of their eventful lives.
– Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
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profligacy
/ˈpräfləɡəsē/
noun
- reckless extravagance or wastefulness in the use of resources
- licentious or dissolute behavior
What a strange, unaccountable character! — for with all these symptoms of profligacy at ten years old, she had neither a bad heart nor a bad temper; was seldom stubborn, scarcely ever quarrelsome, and very kind to the little ones, with few interruptions of tyranny; she was moreover noisy and wild, hated confinement and cleanliness, and loved nothing so well int he world as rolling down the green slope at the back of the house.
– Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
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unpropitious
/ˌənprəˈpiSHəs/
adjective
- (of a circumstance) not giving or indicating a good chance of success
- unfavorable
She had a thin awkward figure, a sallow skin without colour, dark lank hair, and strong features; — so much for her person; — and not less unpropitious for heroism seemed her mind.
– Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
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lugubrious
/ləˈɡ(y)o͞obrēəs/
adjective
- looking or sounding sad and dismal
Mornings, we walked down to the beach, a distance of a mile, or sometimes we took bicycles, big lugubrious cruiser that didn’t belong to anyone in particular, and went swimming.
– Carolyn Cooke, Amor and Psycho: Stories
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voluble
/ˈvälyəbəl/
adjective
- (of a person) talking fluently, readily, or incessantly
- (of speech) characterized by fluency and readiness of utterance
Sandringham grew expansive over Colum’s Rhenish wine, and talked volubly, expounding equally upon the horrors of travel in the Highlands and the beauties of the countryside.
– Diana Gabaldon, Outlander
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imprecation
/ˌimprəˈkāSH(ə)n/
noun
- a spoken curse
Two or three more raced away on foot, clutching bags of Colum’s grain, pursued by furious MacKenzies shouting Gaelic imprecations.
– Diana Gabaldon, Outlander
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punctilio
/ˌpəNG(k)ˈtilēō/
noun
- a fine or petty point of conduct or procedure
With considerable punctilio, he then called for the garrison doctor, and had him certify officially that Jamie was fit enough to be flogged.
– Diana Gabaldon, Outlander
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moue
/mo͞o/
noun
- a pouting expression used to convey annoyance or distaste
“Depends on whether Arthur’s dyspeptic this morning, I should reckon. If he’s made a good breakfast, the lad might get off with a whipping. But happen he’s costive or flatulent” — she made a moue of distaste — ” the boy’ll lose an ear or a hand most like.”
– Diana Gabaldon, Outlander
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sangfroid
/säNGˈfrwä/
noun
- composure or coolness, sometimes excessive, as shown in danger or under trying circumstances
Looking up from my respectfully folded hands, I caught Colum’s eye, and gave him a smile that acknowledged the sangfroid of his offspring.
– Diana Gabaldon, Outlander
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