Apocryphal

a·poc·ry·phal (-pkr-fl)
adj.
1. Of questionable authorship or authenticity.
2. Erroneous; fictitious: "Wildly apocryphal rumors about starvation in Petrograd . . . raced through Russia's trenches" (W. Bruce Lincoln).
3. Apocryphal Bible Of or having to do with the Apocrypha.

Animadvert

an·i·mad·vert (n-md-vûrt)
intr.v. an·i·mad·vert·ed, an·i·mad·vert·ing, an·i·mad·verts
To remark or comment critically, usually with strong disapproval or censure: "a man . . . who animadverts on miserly patients, egocentric doctors, psychoanalysis and Lucky Luciano with evenhanded fervor" (Irwin Faust).
[Middle English animadverten, to notice, from Latin animadvertere : animus, mind; see an- in Indo-European roots + advertere, to turn toward; see adverse.]

Brickbat

brick·bat (brkbt)
n.
1. A piece, especially of brick, used as a weapon or missile.
2. An unfavorable remark; a criticism.
[brick + bat, piece of brick.]
Word History: The earliest sense of brickbat, first recorded in 1563, was "a piece of brick." Such pieces of brick have not infrequently been thrown at others in the hope of injuring them; hence, the figurative brickbats (first recorded in 1929) that critics hurl at performances they dislike. The appearance of bat as the second part of this compound is explained by the fact that the word bat, "war club, cudgel," developed in Middle English the sense "chunk, clod, wad," and in the 16th century came to be used specifically for a piece of brick that was unbroken on one end.

tensegrity

Tensegrity (ten·sāˑ·gri·tē), Portmanteau of Tension and Integrity.
n an architectural principle in which compression and tension are used to give a structure its form. Conceived by R. Buckminster Fuller, it is used to create such structures as geodesic domes and boat sails.
Enlarge picture
The cell, held together by tensegrity.
tensegrity system,
n an interconnected network of structures which use tension and pressure in order to move or retain their shape.

torus

to·rus (tôrs, tr-)
n. pl. to·ri (tôr, tr)
1. Architecture A large convex molding, semicircular in cross section, located at the base of a classical column.
2. Anatomy A bulging or rounded projection or swelling.
3. Botany The receptacle of a flower.
4. Mathematics A toroid generated by a circle; a surface having the shape of a doughnut. Also called tore2.

remunerative

re·mu·ner·a·tive (r-mynr--tv, -n-rtv)
adj.
1. Yielding suitable recompense; profitable.
2. Serving to remunerate.
re·muner·a·tive·ly adv.
re·muner·a·tive·ness n.

Somatic

so·mat·ic (s-mtk)
adj.
1. Of, relating to, or affecting the body, especially as distinguished from a body part, the mind, or the environment; corporeal or physical. See Synonyms at bodily.
2. Of or relating to the wall of the body cavity, especially as distinguished from the head, limbs, or viscera.
3. Of or relating to the portion of the vertebrate nervous system that regulates voluntary movement.
4. Of or relating to a somatic cell or the somatoplasm.
[French somatique, from Greek smatikos, from sma, smat-, body; see soma1.]
so·mati·cal·ly adv.

Portent

por·tent (pôrtnt, pr-)
n.
1. An indication of something important or calamitous about to occur; an omen.
2. Prophetic or threatening significance: signs full of portent.
3. Something amazing or marvelous; a prodigy.
[Latin portentum, from neuter past participle of portendere, to portend; see portend.]

Relict

rel·ict (rlkt, r-lkt)
n.
1. Ecology An organism or species of an earlier time surviving in an environment that has undergone considerable change.
2. Something that has survived; a remnant.
3. A widow.
adj. Geology
Of or relating to something that has survived, as structures or minerals after destructive processes.

Furtive

Main Entry: fur·tive
Pronunciation: \ˈfər-tiv\
Function: adjective
Etymology: French or Latin; French furtif, from Latin furtivus, from furtum theft, from fur thief, from or akin to Greek phōr thief; akin to Greek pherein to carry — more at bear
Date: 1612

1 a : done by stealth : surreptitious b : expressive of stealth : sly
2 : obtained underhandedly : stolen
synonyms see secret

— fur·tive·ly adverb

— fur·tive·ness noun

Temblor

Main Entry: tem·blor
Pronunciation: \ˈtem-blər; ˈtem-ˌblȯr, tem-ˈ\
Function: noun
Etymology: Spanish, literally, trembling, from temblar to tremble, from Medieval Latin tremulare — more at tremble
Date: 1876

: earthquake

Aphorism

Main Entry: aph·o·rism
Pronunciation: \ˈa-fə-ˌri-zəm\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French aphorisme, from Late Latin aphorismus, from Greek aphorismos definition, aphorism, from aphorizein to define, from apo- + horizein to bound — more at horizon
Date: 1528

1 : a concise statement of a principle
2 : a terse formulation of a truth or sentiment : adage

— aph·o·rist \-rist\ noun

— aph·o·ris·tic \ˌa-fə-ˈris-tik\ adjective

— aph·o·ris·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Blithe

Main Entry: blithe
Pronunciation: \ˈblīth, ˈblīth\
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): blith·er; blith·est
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English blīthe; akin to Old High German blīdi joyous
Date: before 12th century

1 : of a happy lighthearted character or disposition
2 : lacking due thought or consideration : casual, heedless
synonyms see merry

— blithe·ly adverb

Aver

Main Entry: aver
Pronunciation: \ə-ˈvər\
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): averred; aver·ring
Etymology: Middle English averren, from Anglo-French averer, from Medieval Latin adverare to confirm as authentic, from Latin ad- + verus true — more at very
Date: 15th century

1 a : to verify or prove to be true in pleading a cause b : to allege or assert in pleading
2 : to declare positively

Determinism

Main Entry: de·ter·min·ism
Pronunciation: \di-ˈtər-mə-ˌni-zəm, dē-\
Function: noun
Date: 1846

1 a : a theory or doctrine that acts of the will, occurrences in nature, or social or psychological phenomena are causally determined by preceding events or natural laws b : a belief in predestination
2 : the quality or state of being determined

— de·ter·min·ist \-nəst\ noun or adjective

— de·ter·min·is·tic \-ˌtər-mə-ˈnis-tik\ adjective

— de·ter·min·is·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Paroxysm

paroxysm definition

par·ox·ysm (par′ək siz′əm)

noun

1. a sudden attack, or intensification of the symptoms, of a disease, usually recurring periodically
2. a sudden outburst as of laughter, rage, or sneezing; fit; spasm

Etymology: Fr paroxysme < ML paroxysmus < Gr paroxysmos < paroxynein, to excite, sharpen < para-, beyond (see para-) + oxynein, to sharpen < oxys, sharp: see oxy-

Teleology

teleology

noun

(philosophy) a doctrine explaining phenomena by their ends or purposes

Pat

pat

adj
1: having only superficial plausibility; "glib promises"; "a slick commercial" [syn: glib, slick]
2: exactly suited to the occasion; "a pat reply"

noun

1: the sound made by a gentle blow [syn: rap, tap]
2: a light touch or stroke [syn: tap, dab] adv : completely or perfectly; "he has the lesson pat"; "had the system down pat"

verb

1: pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin [syn: chuck]
2: hit lightly; "pat him on the shoulder" [syn: dab] [also: patting, patted]

Sibilant

adjective

°Characterized by a hissing sound such as the "s" or "sh" in sash or surge.

noun

°A hissing sound such as the 's' or 'sh' in 'sash' or 'surge'.

synonyms: groove fricative

Jaunty

1. Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.
2. Crisp and dapper in appearance; natty.

Diaphanous

Of such fine texture as to be transparent or translucent; delicate.

Sanctimonious

making a hypocritical show of religious devotion, piety, righteousness, etc.

Ecumenical

Worldwide or general in extent, influence or application.