Beautiful English Words - List 01

1. Limpid   /ˈlɪmpɪd/   "LIM"pid"
Meaning: (of a liquid) completely clear and transparent.
Examples
We could easily see the fish in the limpid stream.
The birds flew directly into the limpid window.

2. Perspicacity   /pɜːspɪˈkæsəti:/     "PUR"spi"KAS"uh"tee"
Meaning: the ability to notice and understand things that are not obvious
Examples
The detective’s perspicacity allowed him to easily recognize the criminal in the crowd.
Adam’s poor financial decision showed a lack of perspicacity regarding the stock market.

3. Sesquipedalian    /seskwɪpɪˈdeɪliːən/  "SESK"wi"pi"DAY"lee"uhn"
Meaning: (of a word) polysyllabic; long
Examples
He uses sesquipedalian technical terms.
He's a good teacher, but sometimes he tends to be so sesquipedalian that no one can understand him.

4. Gonzo  /ˈɡɒnzəʊ/
Meaning: bizarre; crazy
Examples
It's pure gonzo stream-of-consciousness.

5. Snollygoster    /'snɒlɪˌɡɒstə/ 
Meaning: a shrewd, unprincipled person, especially a politician.
Examples
“Don’t trust a word he says, he’s a real snollygoster.”
“To become successful in the world of politics one has to be an accomplished snollygoster.”

6. Atavistic  /ætəˈvɪstɪk/   "AT"uh"VIST"ik"
Meaning: relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral. Suggesting the reappearance of traits or characteristics of an ancestor or primitive object.
Examples
While the new laptop has a few atavistic features of its predecessor, it also has new elements such as an improved central processing unit.
The smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies triggered atavistic memories of my youth.

7. Quotidian / kwəʊˈtɪdiːən/   "kwoh"TID"ee"uhn"
Meaning: everyday events that are normal and not that exciting
Examples
Taking the dog on a walk is a quotidian event for the elderly couple.
Her mundane, quotidian routine was beginning to bore her, so she started looking for a new job.

8. Hagiology /hægiːˈɒgrəfi/  "HAG"ee"OG"ruh"fee"
Meaning: literature dealing with the lives and legends of saints.
Examples
The author’s most famous work was a hagiography about Mother Teresa. 
A hagiography was penned about Mary Magdalene and her relationship with Christ.

9. Circumlocution /sɜːkəmləˈkjuːʃən/  "SUR"kuhm"luh"KYOO"shuhn"
Meaning: the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea.
Examples
The con man tried to use circumlocution to avoid explaining his real intentions to the wealthy couple.
As a politician, the senator had no problem using circumlocution to make his responses sound honest.

10. Predilection
Meaning: A preconceived liking; partiality or preference (for)
Examples
He showed a predilection for poetry.
Early in infection, the virus shows a distinct predilection for certain parts of the brain.

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