perquisite \PUR-kwuh-zit\ (noun) - 1 : A profit or benefit in addition to a salary or wages. 2 : Broadly: The benefits of a position or office. 3 : A gratuity or tip for services performed. 4 : Anything to which someone has or claims the sole right.

"Yourself you've fixed the ransom of this couple at twenty thousand pieces, and, as I gather, ...Read more

exigency \EK-suh-jun-see; ig-ZIJ-un-see\ (noun) - 1 : The quality or state of requiring immediate aid or action; urgency. 2 : A case demanding immediate action or remedy; a pressing or urgent situation. 3 : That which is demanded or required in a particular situation -- usually used in the plural.

"You came for another purpose, we were speaking...Read more

tutelage \TOO-tuhl-ij; TYOO-\ (noun) - 1 : The act of guarding or protecting; guardianship; protection. 2 : The state of being under a guardian or tutor. 3 : Instruction, especially individual instruction accompanied by close attention and guidance.

"I think my mother felt a child of wealth deserved undistracted tutelage, but my father finally ...Read more

succinct \suhk-SINGKT\ (adjective) - Characterized by compressed precise expression with no wasted words; brief; concise.

"From the brilliant -- but succinct -- description my friend gave, I imagined a kind of illuminated angel. I imagined something with the brightness of a chandelier." -- Jose Eduardo Agualusa, 'The Book of Chameleons'

...Read more

ineffectual \in-ih-FEK-choo-uhl\ (adjective) - Not producing the proper effect; without effect; weak; useless; futile; unavailing.

"Surely we have enough on our plates with one badly burned, utterly ineffectual member without risking more and possibly worse setbacks." -- Brian Lumley, 'The Touch'

Ineffectual ultimately comes from Latin in-, ...Read more

pugilist \PYOO-juh-list\ (noun) - One who fights with the fists; especially, a professional prize fighter; a boxer.

"For his part, the pugilist merely smiled offensively and contemptuously at the word 'boxing', not deigning to enter into an open discussion, but occasionally displaying, silently and as though by chance, a thoroughly native ...Read more

discursive \dis-KUR-siv\ (adjective) - 1 : Passing from one topic to another; ranging over a wide field; digressive; rambling. 2 : Utilizing, marked by, or based on analytical reasoning -- contrasted with intuitive.

"In our time, I don't see how you could disagree. It is a discursive age. Now, music itself is known both by acquaintance and ...Read more

pukka \PUHK-uh\ (adjective) - 1 : Authentic; genuine. 2 : Good of its kind; first-class.

"Thinks he can cauk the dam in a fortnight. Look at his marginal sketches -- aren't they clear and good? I knew he was pukka, but I didn't know he was as pukka as this." -- Rudyard Kipling, 'The Day's Work'

Pukka comes from Hindi pakka, "cooked, ripe," ...Read more

purblind \PUR-blynd\ (adjective) - 1 : Having greatly reduced vision. 2 : Lacking in insight or discernment.

"Even the older children became groping and purblind, and the young saw but dimly, and the children that were born to them never saw at all." - H.G. Wells, 'The Country of the Blind'

Purblind derives from Middle English pur blind, ...Read more

nefarious \nuh-FAIR-ee-uhs\ (adjective) - Wicked in the extreme; iniquitous.

"Stone served a summons on a nefarious character today, and another nefarious character took a swing at him. And connected." -- Stuart Woods, 'Fresh Disasters'

Nefarious is from Latin nefarius, from nefas, "that which is contrary to divine command; a crime, ...Read more

diffident \DIF-uh-dunt; -dent\ (adjective) - 1 : Lacking self-confidence; distrustful of one's own powers; timid; bashful. 2 : Characterized by modest reserve; unassertive.

"But I am diffident. What's the good of saying I mustn't be diffident when I'm the man who wrote the words and music, when Diffidence is my middle name and my telegraphic ...Read more

perspicacity \pur-spuh-KAS-uh-tee\ (noun) - Clearness of understanding or insight; penetration, discernment.

"I understand he was a great help to Chex Centaur. There is also no problem about feeding him. I commend you for your perspicacity in selecting him." -- Piers Anthony, 'Heaven Cent'

Perspicacity comes from Latin perspicax, perspicac-, "...Read more

coxcomb \KOKS-kohm\ (noun) - 1 : obsolete. A cap worn by court jesters; adorned with a strip of red. (Now cockscomb). 2 : archaic. The top of the head, or the head itself. 3 : Obsolete. A fool. 4 : A vain, showy fellow; a conceited, silly man, fond of display; a superficial pretender to knowledge or accomplishments; a dandy; a fop.

"Not at all ...Read more

chicanery \shih-KAY-nuh-ree\ (noun) - 1 : The use of trickery or sophistry to deceive (as in matters of law). 2 : A trick; a subterfuge.

"Here's how to talk and keep the upper hand:
For no man's half as barefaced as a woman
When it comes to chicanery and gammon." -- Geoffrey Chaucer, 'The Canterbury Tales

Chicanery comes from ...Read more

habitue \huh-BICH-oo-ay; huh-bich-oo-AY\ (noun) - One who habitually frequents a place.

"Fielding had been an habitue of this dingy but commodious establishment for nearly twenty years." -- Simon Raven, 'Morning Star'

Habitue is from the past participle of French habituer.

pellucid \puh-LOO-sid\ (adjective) - 1 : Transparent; clear; not opaque. 2 : Easily understandable.

"It was the first time he had seen her out of mourning, and above the pellucid eyes and the pencilled brows, on the dark hair, there was a small coronal of diamonds; swaying and scintillating as if a breath played about them." -- Frank Danby, '...Read more

factitious \fak-TISH-uhs\ (adjective) - 1 : Produced artificially, in distinction from what is produced by nature. 2 : Artificial; not authentic or genuine; sham.

"However, he had enough strength in him -- factitious no doubt -- to very nearly make an end of us, as you shall hear directly." -- Joseph Conrad, 'Heart of Darkness'

Factitious ...Read more

profligate \PROF-luh-guht; -gayt\ (adjective) - 1 : Openly and shamelessly immoral; dissipated; dissolute. 2 : Recklessly wasteful.

(noun) - 1. A profligate person.

"And if the father was warm in support of his profligate son, the young medical aspirant was warmer in support of his profligate brother." -- Anthony Trollope, 'Dr. Thorne'

...Read more

volte-face \vawlt-FAHS; vawl-tuh-\ (noun) - An about-face; a reversal, as in policy or opinion.

"As this unpleasant realization sank in he did another volte-face, made yet another decision, and this one was final. He would seek financing from another..." -- Barbara Taylor Bradford, 'Hold the Dream'

Volte-face comes from French, from Italian ...Read more

It's NFL playoff time or, as I call it, "Cabin Fever Consolation." You be the referee. The following pigskin profile of an imaginary team is laced with illegal procedures, false starts and personal fouls. Can you throw a yellow penalty flag at each of its 30 usage errors?

How did the Mudville Mudruggles make the playoffs? The principle reason ...Read more