Friday, January 25, 2013

Fulsome

Fulsome (fool-suhm) adj. - grossly overdone

To be used in place of "excessive," "immoderate," etc. 
 

It is not my intention to be fulsome, but I confess that I covet your skull. - Arthur Conan Doyle 

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Unbecoming

Unbecoming (uhn-bi-kuhm-ing) adj. - ill-fitting

To be used in place of "unseemly," "unsightly," "unsuitable," etc. 
 

It's unbecoming for him to show so much passion.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Casuistry

Casuistry (kazh-wi-stree) n. - deceptive reasoning; sophistry

To be used in place of "equivocation," "specious reasoning," etc. 

Don't give in to their casuistry - they're leading you away from the facts.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Obeisance

Obeisance (oh-bey-suhns) n. - deference

To be used in place of "homage," "respect," etc.


All the knights paid obeisance to the queen.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Nicety

Nicety (nahy-si-tee) n. - subtlety

To be used in place of "nuance," "subtlety," etc. 


Let's not get into the niceties of the policy just yet.

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Adventive

Adventive (ad-ven-tiv) adj. - nonnative

To be used in place of "foreign," "alien," etc.


An adventive garland of flowers was hung on the wall to remind them of their Hawaii honeymoon.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Abstemious

Abstemious (ab-stee-mee-uhs) adj. - temperate

To be used in place of "self -controlled," "disciplined," etc.

 
 
 
  
"A man may choose whether he will have abstemiousness and knowledge, or claret and ignorance." - Samuel Johnson