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Tag: New Words (Page 1 of 17)

Sycophantic

Sycophantic – a characteristic of or relating to a sycophant (an informer, a talebearer, a parasite, one who seeks favor by flattering people of wealth or influence)

Not until the book was launched did he give an exclusive interview to She on TV4, once again scooping the state-run stations. But the questions were anything but sycophantic.

Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Delphic

Delphic – oracular; obscure in meaning; ambiguous

When she was asked why the previous year’s exposé of Wennerström had been such a fiasco, she was even more delphic. She never lied, but she may not always have told the whole truth.

Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Vitriolic

Vitriolic – extremely biting or caustic; sarcastic; sharp and bitter

“For me, it’s also important that you absolutely understand that I have nothing whatsoever to do with this vitriolic attack.”

Vanger to Blomkvist, in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson

Cogitation

Cogitation – the act of thinking; thought; meditation; contemplation

After six months of fruitless cogitation, the case of Harriet Vanger cracked open.

Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Importunate

Importunate – pressing or urging in request or demand; urgent and persistent in solicitation; refusing to be denied; annoyingly urgent or persistent; causing vexation; troublesome

Cecelia Vanger kept her distance. Blomkvist did not want to be importunate, so he waited a week before he went to her house.

Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Gallimaufry

Gallimaufry – a hodgepodge; a jumbled assortment

Every family had a few skeletons in their cupboards, but the Vanger family had an entire gallimaufry of them.

Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Kitsch

Kitsch – something that appeals to popular or lowbrow taste and is often of poor quality; a  tacky or lowbrow quality or condition (Merriam-Webster online dictionary)

“That’s where Eugene Norman lives. He’s in his late seventies and is a painter of sorts. I think his work is kitsch, but he’s rather well known as a landscape painter.”

Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Banditti

Banditti – plural form of bandit – an outlaw, robber, or highwayman

“Do you think, O blue-eyed banditti,

Because you have scaled the wall,

Such an old mustache as I am

Is not a match for you all!

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “The Children’s Hour

Bivouac

Bivouac – the guard or watch of a whole army, as in cases of great danger of surprise or attack

“In the world’s broad field of battle,

In the bivouac of Life,

Be not like the dumb, driven cattle!

Be a hero in the strife!

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, A Psalm of Life
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