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Absolutely bizarre words from European history

Word List with 19 words
By Dictionary.com

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Words in This List

defenestrate

to throw (a person or thing) out of a window.

regicide

the killing of a king.

guillotine

a device for beheading a person by means of a heavy blade that is dropped between two posts serving as guides: widely used during the French Revolution.

sans-culotte

a revolutionary of the poorer class: originally a term of contempt applied by the aristocrats referring to peasants' poor quality pants, but later adopted as a popular name by the revolutionaries.

gothic

noting or pertaining to a style of architecture, originating in France in the middle of the 12th century and existing in the western half of Europe through the middle of the 16th century, characterized by the use of the pointed arch and the ribbed vault, by the use of fine woodwork and stonework, by a progressive lightening of structure, and by the use of such features as flying buttresses, ornamental gables, crockets, and foils.

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Napoleonic

pertaining to, resembling, or suggestive of Napoleon I or, less often, Napoleon III or their dynasty

enlightenment

a philosophical movement of the 18th century, characterized by belief in the power of human reason and by innovations in political, religious, and educational doctrine.

Bohemian

a person, as an artist or writer, who lives and acts free of regard for conventional rules and practices.

Utopia

an imaginary island described by Sir Thomas More (1516) as enjoying perfection in law, politics, etc.

schism

division or disunion, especially into mutually opposed parties.

Byzantine

characterized by elaborate scheming and intrigue, especially for the gaining of political power or favor

indulgence

a partial remission of the temporal punishment, especially purgatorial atonement, that is still due for a sin or sins after absolution.

cabotage

navigation or trade along the coast.

primogeniture

the state or fact of being the firstborn of children of the same parents.

Roundhead

a member or adherent of the Parliamentarians or Puritan party during the civil wars of the 17th century (so called in derision by the Cavaliers because they wore their hair cut short).

blitzkrieg

n,vo

blitz

Spartan

suggestive of the ancient Spartans; sternly disciplined and rigorously simple, frugal, or austere.

rococo

a style of architecture and decoration, originating in France about 1720, evolved from Baroque types and distinguished by its elegant refinement in using different materials for a delicate overall effect and by its ornament of shellwork, foliage, etc.

Balkanize

to divide (a country, territory, etc.) into small, quarrelsome, ineffectual states.