Rare Words

Douceur (noun) doo-sur A financial inducement; a bribe. French, literally ‘sweetness’.

Tintinnabulate (verb) tint-in-ab-oo-layt Make a light, clear ringing sound; tinkle. Early 20th century: from Latin…

Defenestrate (verb) (rare) dee-fen-u-stray-t To throw someone/something out of a window. First used in the…

Diaphanous (adj) dai-af-on-us (especially of fabric) light, delicate, and translucent. Early 17th century: from medieval…

Crapulent (adj) (literary) crap-yu-lent Relating to the drinking of alcohol or drunkenness. Mid 17th century:…

Hugger-Mugger (adj) hu-ga-mu-ga Secret, clandestine. Alternate definition, confused, disorderly. Early 16th century: probably related to…

Psilanthropism (noun) sil-an-throp-izm The doctrine or belief that Jesus was a mere man. Earliest use…

Famulus (noun) (historic) fam-oo-lus An assistant or servant, especially one working for a magician or…