Learn English :: Awesome Vocabulary #100 :: Vocabulary Podcast

inchoate \in-KOH-it\, adjective:
1. In an initial or early stage; just begun.
2. Imperfectly formed or formulated.
She had a child's inchoate awareness of language.

circumlocution \sir-kuhm-loh-KYOO-shuhn\, noun:
The use of many words to express an idea that might be expressed by few; indirect or roundabout language.
'Economical with the truth' is a circumlocution for 'lying'.
Politicians are experts in circumlocution.

wayworn \WAY-worn\, adjective:
Wearied by traveling.
These beautiful and verdant recesses, running through and softening the rugged mountains, were cheering and refreshing to the wayworn travellers.
-- Washington Irving, Astoria

potable \POH-tuh-buhl\, adjective:
1. Fit to drink; suitable for drinking; drinkable.
noun: 1. A potable liquid; a beverage, especially an alcoholic beverage.
The park had no showers or potable drinking water

crepuscular \kri-PUS-kyuh-lur\, adjective:
1. Of, pertaining to, or resembling twilight; dim.
2. (Zoology) Appearing or active at twilight.
The artist favored the strangely crepuscular effects created by the noxious London smog during the day.

doppelganger \DOP-uhl-gang-uhr\, noun:
1. A ghostly double or counterpart of a living person.
2. Alter ego; double.
Someone said they saw me skateboarding in the parking lot. It must have been my doppelganger since I was at a movie last night. A doppelganger is an interesting idea that everyone has an identical that lives somewhere in the world and is usually an evil version of one’s self that causes all sorts of trouble.



chimerical \ky-MER-ih-kuhl; -MIR-; kih-\, adjective:
1. Merely imaginary; produced by or as if by a wildly fanciful imagination; fantastic; improbable or unrealistic.
2. Given to or indulging in unrealistic fantasies or fantastic schemes.
chimera \ki-meer-uh
a mythological, fire-breathing monster, commonly represented with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail.
Is the ideal of banishing hunger throughout the world just a chimera?

sybarite \SIB-uh-ryt\, noun:
A person devoted to luxury and pleasure.
Sybaris \sib-ur-risan ancient Greek city noted for its wealth and luxury
After I won the lottery I became an utter sybarite. Because I didn’t have to worry about money anymore I devoted my life to luxury.

gourmand \goor-MAHND; GOOR-mahnd; GOOR-mund\, noun:
1. One who eats to excess.
2. A lover of good food.
Felicity was a gourmand; anybody could win her heart by feeding her expensive food.

animadversion \an-uh-mad-VUHR-zhuhn\, noun:
1. Harsh criticism or disapproval.
2. Remarks by way of criticism and usually of censure
This animadversion pales before those of other critics.