WINSOME

WINSOME

<Win-sum>

Appealing; captivating; delightful;

Causing joy or pleasure.

The singer had a winsome voice and the music was delightful.

Win - some

Win (Reminds) Win or to gain

Some (Reminds) Some or a bunch
Memory trick: We win some when we are pleased.

WIN SOME


 

There is a canon in your house. You tell me not to leave towels on the floor. 

Why do I follow your orders?

Answer below...

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Answer:  

A canon is a collection of rules. Your rule is to pick up towels after a shower.

TERMINUS

TERMINUS

Term-min-nus

End; limit; boundary;

Limiting boundary or border. 

The caboose was the terminus of the train.


We reached the terminus and we could go no farther.

Termin - us

Termin (Reminds) Terminate or end

Us (Reminds) Us
Memory trick: Terminate us because we reach the end.

TERMINATE US

I am going to inculcate you. You will like it. What will I do to you?

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Answer:  

It means that I am going to teach you persistently and earnestly. Inculcate is pronounced: In-kul-kayt

MEA CULPA

MEA CULPA

<May-ah-kul-pa>

My mistake; my fault; my error;

Admitting a personal error.

The child made a mea culpa and a confession was made.


The boy made a mea culpa and offered a flower as an apology.

Mea - culpa

Mea (Reminds) Me or my

Culpa (Reminds) Culpable


Memory Trick:  My guilt makes me culpable because I did it.

ME CULPABLE

You descry a book on your bookshelf. Why don't you have any tears?

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Answer:  

Descry means to see something. You just found a new book.

ETCETERA

ETCETERA

<Et-set-er-ah>

More; additional; etc;

Meaning the rest and other things.

 
The store had balls, kites, boomerangs and etcetera.


I have a horse, a dog, a cat and etcetera.

Etcetera

Etcetera (Reminds) Extra

Memory trick: We add extra to what we just said.


EXTRA

You brook, a brook. Did you enjoy your swim?

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Answer:  

No. Brook means to tolerate or endure. Brook also means a small stream or river. You endured a small stream. It may be too cold.

PERDITION

PERDITION

<Per-dish-shun>

Ruin; loss; punishment;

Being complete destruction.

The perdition is cleaned up and the city is no longer in ruins.


The perdition was complete. Nary a flower was left standing.

Per - dition

Per (Reminds) Perilous

Detion (Reminds) Condition
Memory trick: It is a perilous condition when everything is gone.

PERILOUS CONDITION

You don't like germane things. Why don't you respond when someone greets you?

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Answer:  

Germane means appropriate. You don't like appropriate things like greeting people.

ACRIMONIOUS

ACRIMONIOUS

<Ack-kre-moan-ee-us>

Acrid; bitter; caustic;

Having a bitter temper.

You are never acrimonious because you are always happy.



The acrimonious cat was always mean.

A - crim - onious

Crim (Reminds) Crime

Monious (Reminds) Harmonious

Memory trick: It is a crime to not be harmonious.

HARMONIOUS


 

You walk in the woods. You enjoy the preternatural scenery. Why do you feel funny?

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Answer: 

Preternatural means being unusual. You feel funny because the scenery is unusual and strange.

ABLUTION

ABLUTION

Ah-blew-shun

Cleansing; washing; sanitizing;

Bathing your body with water.

An ablution is made better by a good bar of soap.

A - blu - tion

Blu (Reminds) Blue or water

Tion (Reminds) Motion

Memory Trick: Blue water and motion makes us clean.

BLUE MOTION

I say your fame is ephemeral. Why do I talk about fifteen minutes?

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Answer:  

I probably mean fifteen minutes of fame. Fifteen minutes of fame is when someone is famous for a short time. Ephemeral means short-lived.

ESOTERIC

ESOTERIC

Es-o-ter-rik

Private; exclusive; cryptic;

Only understood with confidential knowledge.

The trick is esoteric because the secret is hidden and mystical.

E - soteric

Soteric (Reminds) Secret




Memory trick: It is a secret.

SECRET

You write and your compunction is strong. I say, "You have punctuation errors!"  Why did I say that?

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Answer:  

You probably have errors. Compunction means a feeling of regret for your actions. It has nothing to do with punctuation.

SAGACIOUS

SAGACIOUS

Sah-gay-shish

Perceiving; keen; wise;

Being perceptive and understanding quickly.

You are sagacious and wise and you are never stupid.


The sagacious cat was able to do math. It was very impressive.

Saga - a - cious

Saga (Reminds) Saga or a story

Cious (Reminds) Spacious

Memory trick: We see a saga that is spacious because we are keen.

SAGA SPACIOUS

You drive your car on a long trip. Should you have a gascon with you?

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Answer: 

No. A braggart is not good company. A gascon is a boaster or someone who is a know-it-all.

DEVOID

DEVOID

<Dee-voyd>

Vacant; barren; empty;

Being vacant or empty.

The yard is devoid of weeds and the grass is lush.


The hill was devoid of plants except for one lonely flower.

De - void

De (Reminds) The

Void (Reminds) Void or empty

Memory trick: The void is vacant.

DE VOID

You read a histrionic book. What kind of book is it?

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Answer: It is a dramatic book. It means dramatic or spectacular.

REDACT

REDACT

<Re-dakt>

Black out; obscure; ink out;

Editing out words by blacking them out.

Redact the document and censor the secrets.

Red - act
Red (Reminds) Red
Act (Reminds) Fact

Memory trick: We red out the facts that they should not see.
RED ACT




How can a centipede be an antipode to an annelid? Tough question.
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Answer: 
Antipode means opposite of. A centipede has legs. An annelid is a worm and has no legs. They are opposites in that way.

IDIOSYNCRASY

IDIOSYNCRASY

<Id-ee-oh-sink-kras-ee>

Characteristic; quirk; habit;

Exhibiting a physical or mental habit.

Touching your eyeglasses is an idiosyncrasy of a genius.


She constantly played with her earlobe. It was a strange idiosyncrasy.

Idio - sync - rasy
Idio (Reminds) Idiot
Sync (Reminds) Synchronize



Memory trick: An idiot synchronizes silly habits.
IDIOT SYNCHRONIZE




 

Your turtle has a hard shell. It is fully amorous. Why is it not afraid of the bigger turtle?

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Answer: 

Amorous means to be romantic or in love. You don't fight when you're in love.

ZEITGEIST

ZEITGEIST

<Zite-guyst>

Attitude; outlook; characteristic;

Representing the spirit of a time.

The zeitgeist of the decade is hard work and serious pursuits.

ZEIT - GEIST

Zeit	(Rhymes)	Site
Geist	(Reminds)	Ghost or sprit

The site ghost tells us what the spirit was at the time.

SITE GHOST

There is a canon in your house. You tell me not to leave towels on the floor. Why do I follow your orders?

Answer below...

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Answer: 

A canon is a collection of rules. Your rule is to pick up towels after a shower

SURFEIT

SURFEIT

<Sir-fit>

Glut; satiety; excess;

Being an excessive amount.

There is a surfeit of food because we bought a lot.


She had a surfeit of birds. She had more than she knew what to do with.

Surf - eit
Surf (Reminds) Surf or waves coming again
Feit (Reminds) Fit or stuff





Memory Trick: We do it again like the surf and fit it all.
SURF FIT

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EUPHONIOUS

EUPHONIOUS
You-fone-ee-us

Lyrical; harmonious; melodious;

Pleasing sounds or words.

Your words are euphonious because your singing is great.




The band made euphonious music. They were very good.

Eu - phonious
Eu (Reminds) Euphoric
Phonious (Reminds) Phone

Memory Trick: Euphoric sounds come from our phone.
EUPHORIC SOUND

You brook, a brook. Did you enjoy your swim?

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Answer: 

No. Brook means to tolerate or endure. Brook also means a small stream or river. You endured a small stream. It may be too cold.

EQUANIMITY

EQUANIMITY

<Ee-kwa-nim-et-tee>

Patience; calm; composure;

Possessing an evenness of temperament.

Your equanimity is pleasing and your anxiety is gone.


The cat showed great equanimity and did not mind the little dog at all.

Equa - nimity
Equa (Reminds) Equal
Animity (Reminds) Animosity





Memory trick: Our kindness equals our animosity.  They are even.
EQUAL ANIMOSITY



 

Do you feel splenetic because the day is splendid?

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Answer: 

No. You feel less splenetic. Splenetic means gloomy or sullen. A splendid day makes you happy.

 

 

GAINSAY

GAINSAY

Gayne-say

Deny; controvert; refute;

Contradict or challenge with the truth.

Gainsay the dealer because a better price is worth fighting for.



I am afraid I must gainsay your accusation and simply say that I did not take the cookie.

Gain - say
Gain (Reminds) Gain
Say (Reminds) Says




Memory trick:

He will gain when he says something.
GAIN SAY

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EGRESS

EGRESS

<Ee-gres>

Emerge; departure; escape;

Exiting from a place.

The audience will egress at the rear and go out to the street.


Well. Yes. Exit might have been better, but we are a vocabulary club. So... egress is better.

Egress
Egress (Reminds) Progress

Memory Trick:
We progress out the exit
PROGRESS

You fructify a tomato plant. You put it in a glass and stir. Why can't you drink it?

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Answer: 

Fructify means to bear fruit. You fertilized it. You will get baby tomatoes. Not juice.

  

APOSTATE

APOSTATE

<Ah-pa-stayte>

Defector; revolt; heretic;

Abandoning a connection to a party or faith.

He was an apostate and his defection is permanent.


He was an apostate from the bowling team and he never bowled again.

A - post - ate
Post (Reminds) Post or past
Ate (Reminds) Late



Memory Trick:
Our late membership is post.
POST LATE

You find broccoli to be flocculent. You eat it anyway. A scent wafts from you. Why do I not leave the room?

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Answer: 

Flocculent means clumpy like wool. Broccoli is clumpy. The scent is probably perfume.

BELLIGERENT

BELLIGERENT

<Be-lidge-er-rent>

Hostile; combative; contentious;

Being a person or nation who wages war.

The geese were belligerent and they fought over the bread.

Bell - i - gerent
Bell (Reminds) Bell
Gerent (Reminds) Gent

Memory Trick: Ring the bell of a gent.
BELL GENT

You buy geraniums for a Decennium. How do I know you bought a lot of geraniums?

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Answer:  

A decennium is a decade. You bought germaniums for a decade. You have lots by now.

QUAFF

QUAFF

<Kwaf>

Gulp; swig; guzzle;

Drinking a beverage quickly.

Quaff your drink, but don't gulp too fast.


I was surprised how fast the elephant could quaff my drink.

Qua - ff
Qua (Reminds) Aqua or water

 Memory trick: Water is something we drink fast.
AQUA

You go fishing. You put a metacarpus on the shoulder of your friend. Why doesn't he mind?

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Answer: 

A metacarpus is a hand. 

 

MENDICANT

MENDICANT

Mend-dee-kant

Monk; hobo; panhandler;

Being a beggar.

You will never be a mendicant because you work too hard.


The dog is an annoying mendicant. He begs for food when I eat.

Mend - I - cant
Mend (Reminds) Mend
Cant (Reminds) Cannot


Memory trick: A beggar cannot mend his poverty.
MEND CANNOT

You descry a book on your bookshelf. Why don't you have any tears?

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Answer: 

Descry means to see something. You just found a new book.

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PIVOTAL

PIVOTAL

Piv-vit-tul

Critical; important; crucial;

Being a decisive moment

Going to college is a pivotal decision because it affects your life.


It was a pivotal moment. Should he take the left fork or the right fork?

Pivot - al
Pivot (Reminds) Pivot or decide
Votal (Reminds) Vital

Memory trick: We pivot at a vital time.

PIVOT VITAL

California is not caliginous. How can that be?

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Answer: 

California is bright and sunny. "Caliginous" means being dark and gloomy.

QUOTIDIAN

QUOTIDIAN

Kwo-tid-ee-an

Usual; routine; common;

Repeating something daily as a habit.


Bathing is a quotidian habit when it is done everyday.

Quoti - dia - n
Quoti (Reminds) Quota
Dia (Reminds) Day

Memory Trick: Meeting a quota each day.
QUOTA DIA


 

You have vignettes with vinegar. What do you have?

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Answer: 

You have short movies and vinegar. Vignette means a short movie or a short scene. You are enjoying vinegar while watching a movie.

ERRATUM

ERRATUM

Eh-rat-tum

Misprint; typo; error;

Making a mistake in writing.

The erratum is a spelling error and it needs to be corrected.


Bill realized there was an erratum and he would have to redo it.

Err - a - tum
Err (Reminds) Error
Tum (Reminds) Tums

We make an error and need a Tums.
ERROR TUM

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ATTENUATE

ATTENUATE

Ah-ten-you-ayte

Cripple; reduce; weaken;

Making smaller and lessening.

Your fears will attenuate and you will be brave.

The rain will quickly attenuate our fire. No marshmallows would be roasted today.

Atten - uate
Atten (Reminds) Attention
Uate (Reminds) You ate

Memory Trick: Attention you ate becomes smaller.
ATTENTION NUANCE

You want to adopt a dog. You decide to take a furlough. What kind of dog did you adopt?

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Answer: 

You did not adopt a dog. You took a vacation. A furlough is a vacation or time away from work.

DIDACTIC

DIDACTIC
Dye-dak-tik

Instructive; preachy; enlightening;

Teaching a lesson by telling a story.

A didactic story is informative and improves your morale.


The didactic story taught us not to go into the woods alone.

Di - d - Act - Ic
Di (Reminds) Di or two
Act (Reminds) Act
Tic (Reminds) Tick


Memory Trick:
Two acts teach us about what makes us tick.
DI ACT TICK

You read a histrionic book. What kind of book is it?

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Answer: 

It is a dramatic book. It means dramatic or spectacular.

CHARY

CHARY
Chairy

Cautious; cagey; hesitant;

Being wary and guarded.

You're chary when you work with money because you're suspicious of everyone.


I tried to befriend the squirrel, but I never understood why he was so chary.

Chary
Chary (Reminds) Wary




Memory trick: We are wary when we are cautious.
WARY

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INVEIGH

INVEIGH
In-vay

Discredit; shame; dishonor;

Attacking with harsh criticism.

You inveigh him because of the mistake and he deserves it.


Well. Yes. I guess my letter does inveigh you a bit. Don't be so mad.

Inveigh
Inveigh (Reminds) Invade

Memory trick:
We invade when we criticize.
INVADE

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