English Words

Pervicacious (adj) pur-vic-ay-shus Extremely willful; obstinate; stubborn. Pervicacious comes from Latin pervicāx, meaning “stubborn, willful” or,…

Lilapsophobia (noun) lil-aps-o-fo-bee-a An irrational or disproportionate fear of tornadoes or hurricanes. In lilapsophobia, lilaps-…

Scagliola (noun) skal-ee-oh-la plasterwork imitating marble, granite, or the like. 1575–85; Italian, equivalent to scagli(a)…

Cartomancy (noun) kah-toe-man-see The telling of fortunes with playing cards C19: from French carte card…

Locus (noun) low-kus a center or source, as of activities or power/ a place, location.…

Oneiromancy (noun) o-nay-ro-man-see divination through dreams. Oneiromancy is based on Ancient Greek óneiros, “dream,” and…

Retrograde (adj) ret-row-grayd moving backward; having a backward motion or direction; retiring or retreating. Retrograde…

Kerf (noun/verb) kurf a cut or incision made by a saw or the like in…

Emendation (noun) em-en-day-shun A correction or change, as of a text. 1530–40; Latin ēmendātiōn- (stem…

Jalousie (noun) zhal-oo-zee a blind, or window made with horizontal slats that can be adjusted…