Language

Dandiacal (adj) dan-dai-ak-al Relating to or characteristic of a dandy. From Dandy, Late 18th century:…

Perspicacity (noun) pur-spik-as-it-ee The quality of having a ready insight into things; shrewdness. Early 17th…

Ossify (verb) os-if-ai Turn into bone or bony tissue. Early 18th century: from French ossifier,…

Scansion (noun) skan-shun The rhythm of a line of verse. Mid 17th century: from Latin…

Clowder (noun) klow-duh A group of cats. Early 19th century: from dialect cludder ‘clutter’, probably…

Sojourn (noun) sodj-urn A temporary stay. Middle English: from Old French sojourner, based on Latin…

Fratricide (noun) frat-ri-side The killing of one's brother or sister. Late 15th century (denoting a…

Nubile (adj) new-bile (of a girl or woman) sexually attractive. Mid 17th century: from Latin…

Mitigate (verb) mit-i-gayt Make (something bad) less severe, serious, or painful. Late Middle English: from…

Rangle (noun) ran-gl Small stones or gravel given to a hawk, usually to improve its…