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Cormac McCarthy Vocabulary

Word List with 142 words
By Jon

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Words in This List

abrogate
v.t.,
to abolish by formal or official means; annul by an authoritative act; repeal:
abscission
n.
the act of cutting off; sudden termination.
accipitrine
adj.
of, pertaining to, or belonging to the family Accipitridae, comprising the hawks, Old World vultures, kites, harriers, and eagles.
accouter
v.t.
to equip or outfit, esp. with military clothes, equipment, etc.
accrescence
n.
continued or continuous growth.
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acetylene
n.
a colorless gas, C2H2, having an etherlike odor, produced usually by the action of water on calcium carbide or by pyrolysis of natural gas: used esp. in metal cutting and welding, as an illuminant, and in organic synthesis.
acheron
n.
a river in Hades over which Charon ferried the souls of the dead.
acolyte
n.
an altar attendant in public worship.
acrimony
n.
sharpness, harshness, or bitterness of nature, speech, disposition, etc.:
adagio
adv.
in a leisurely manner; slowly.
adamantine
adj.
utterly unyielding or firm in attitude or opinion.
adenoid
n.
an enlarged mass of lymphoid tissue in the upper pharynx, often obstructing breathing through the nasal passages.
adenoidal
adj.
being characteristically pinched and nasal in tone quality:
alabastrine
n.
a finely granular variety of gypsum, often white and translucent, used for ornamental objects or work, such as lamp bases, figurines, etc.
alembic
n.
a vessel with a beaked cap or head, formerly used in distilling.
alkahest
n.
the universal solvent sought by the alchemists.
alkali
n.
any of various bases, the hydroxides of the alkali metals and of ammonium, that neutralize acids to form salts and turn red litmus paper blue.
alluvial
adj.
of or pertaining to alluvium.
alveolus
n.,
a little cavity, pit, or cell, as a cell of a honeycomb.
amaurotic
n.
partial or total loss of sight, esp. in the absence of a gross lesion or injury.
ambergris
n.
an opaque, ash-colored secretion of the sperm whale intestine, usually found floating on the ocean or cast ashore: used in perfumery.
ambuscade
n.
an ambush.
amnion
n.,
the innermost of the embryonic or fetal membranes of reptiles, birds, and mammals; the sac in which the embryo is suspended.
amorphous
adj.
lacking definite form; having no specific shape; formless:
amphora
n.,
a large two-handled storage jar having an oval body, usually tapering to a point at the base, with a pair of handles extending from immediately below the lip to the shoulder: used chiefly for oil, wine, etc., and, set on a foot, as a commemorative vase aw
amphoric
adj.
resembling the deep, hollow sound made by blowing across the mouth of a large, narrow-necked, empty bottle:
anaximander
n.
Greek astronomer and philosopher.
andalusian
n.
a region in S Spain, bordering on the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. 33,712 sq. mi. (87,314 sq. km).
anele
v.t.,
to administer extreme unction to.
anent
prep.
in regard to; about; concerning.
aneroid
adj.
using no fluid.
anguilliform
adj.
having the shape or form of an eel.
anneal
v.t.
to heat (glass, earthenware, metals, etc.) to remove or prevent internal stress.
annular
adj.
having the form of a ring.
anomic
n.
a state or condition of individuals or society characterized by a breakdown or absence of social norms and values, as in the case of uprooted people.
anterior
adj.
situated before or at the front of; fore (
anteroom
n.
a room that admits to a larger room.
anthracite
n.
a mineral coal containing little of the volatile hydrocarbons and burning almost without flame; hard coal.
anthropoid
adj.
resembling humans.
antic
n.
a playful trick or prank; caper.
anticlinal
adj.
inclining in opposite directions from a central axis.
antipode
n.
a direct or exact opposite.
aperture
n.
an opening, as a hole, slit, crack, gap, etc.
aplomb
n.
imperturbable self-possession, poise, or assurance.
apprise
v.t.,
to give notice to; inform; advise (often fol. by of):
arboreal
adj.
of or pertaining to trees; treelike.
arcadia
n.
a mountainous region of ancient Greece, traditionally known for the contented pastoral innocence of its people.
arcane
adj.
known or understood by very few; mysterious; secret; obscure; esoteric:
arcature
n.
an arcade of small dimensions.
archimandrite
n.
the head of a monastery; an abbot.
arrant
adj.
downright; thorough; unmitigated; notorious:
artemisia
n.
any of several composite plants of the genus Artemisia, having aromatic foliage and small disk flowers, including the sagebrush, wormwood, and mugwort.
arterialise
v.t.,
to convert (venous blood) into arterial blood by the action of oxygen in the lungs.
aspectant
adj.
(of birds, fish, and animals other than beasts of prey) face to face; respectant.
aspergillum
n.,
a brush or instrument for sprinkling holy water; aspersorium.
atavism
n.
the reappearance in an individual of characteristics of some remote ancestor that have been absent in intervening generations.
atavistic
adj.
of, pertaining to, or characterized by atavism; reverting to or suggesting the characteristics of a remote ancestor or primitive type.
athanasia
n.
deathlessness; immortality.
atherine
adj.
belonging or pertaining to the family Atherinidae, comprising the silversides.
athwart
adv.
from side to side; crosswise.
attainder
n.
the legal consequence of judgment of death or outlawry for treason or felony, involving the loss of all civil rights.
attar
n.
a perfume or essential oil obtained from flowers or petals.
attic
n.
the part of a building, esp. of a house, directly under a roof; garret.
auricular
adj.
of or pertaining to the ear or to the sense of hearing; aural.
auscultation
n.
the act of listening, either directly or through a stethoscope or other instrument, to sounds within the body as a method of diagnosis.
avuncular
adj.
of, pertaining to, or characteristic of an uncle:
awl
n.
a pointed instrument for piercing small holes in leather, wood, etc.
baize
n.
a soft, usually green, woolen or cotton fabric resembling felt, used chiefly for the tops of billiard tables.
baldric
n.
a belt, sometimes richly ornamented, worn diagonally from shoulder to hip, supporting a sword, horn, etc.
baluster
n.
any of a number of closely spaced supports for a railing.
balustrade
n.
a railing with supporting balusters.
bandylegged
adj.
having crooked legs; bowlegged.
baneful
adj.
destructive; pernicious:
barbate
adj.
tufted or furnished with hairs; bearded.
barnett
n.
a male given name.
basilica
n.
an early Christian or medieval church of the type built esp. in Italy, characterized by a plan including a nave, two or four side aisles, a semicircular apse, a narthex, and often other features, as a short transept, a number of small semicircular apses t
bauble
n.
a showy, usually cheap, ornament; trinket; gewgaw.
bedlam
n.
a scene or state of wild uproar and confusion.
bedlamite
n.
an insane person; lunatic.
beeves
n.
the flesh of a cow, steer, or bull raised and killed for its meat.
beldam
n.
an old woman, esp. an ugly one; hag.
belfry
n.,
a bell tower, either attached to a church or other building or standing apart.
bellwether
n.
a wether or other male sheep that leads the flock, usually bearing a bell.
benison
n.
benediction.
benthos
n.
the biogeographic region that includes the bottom of a lake, sea, or ocean, and the littoral and supralittoral zones of the shore.
berserk
adj.
violently or destructively frenzied; wild; crazed; deranged:
besotted
v.t.,
to intoxicate or stupefy with drink.
betadine
a brand name for povidone-iodine.
bewray
v.t.
to reveal or expose.
bezel
n.
the diagonal face at the end of the blade of a chisel, or the like, leading to the edge.
bildad
n.
a friend of Job. Job 2:11.
bilge
n.
either of the rounded areas that form the transition between the bottom and the sides on the exterior of a hull.
billet
n.
lodging for a soldier, student, etc., as in a private home or nonmilitary public building.
bindle
n.
a bundle, usually of bedding and other possessions, carried by a hobo.
biretta
n.
a stiff square cap with three or four upright projecting pieces extending from the center of the top to the edge, worn by ecclesiastics.
bismuth
n.
a brittle, grayish-white, red-tinged, metallic element used in the manufacture of fusible alloys and in medicine.
bistre
n.
a brown pigment extracted from the soot of wood, often used in pen and wash drawings.
bittern
n.
any of several tawny brown herons that inhabit reedy marshes, as Botaurus lentiginosus
bleary
adj.,
(of the eyes or sight) blurred or dimmed, as from sleep or weariness.
blivet
n.
something annoying, ridiculous, or useless.
blowzy
adj.,
having a coarse, ruddy complexion.
boatswain
n.
a warrant officer on a warship, or a petty officer on a merchant vessel, in charge of rigging, anchors, cables, etc.
bole
n.
the stem or trunk of a tree.
bolus
n.
any of a variety of soft, unctuous clays of various colors, used as pigments.
bonafide
adj.
made, done, presented, etc., in good faith; without deception or fraud:
boreal
adj.
of or pertaining to the north wind.
boudoir
n.
a woman's bedroom or private sitting room.
bovine
adj.
of or pertaining to the subfamily Bovinae, which includes cattle, buffalo, and kudus.
braze
v.t.,
to make of brass.
breeks
n.
breeches; trousers.
brickbat
n.
a piece of broken brick, esp. one used as a missile.
brocade
n.
fabric woven with an elaborate design, esp. one having a raised overall pattern.
brogan
n.
a heavy, sturdy shoe, esp. an ankle-high work shoe.
bruin
n.
a bear, esp. a European brown bear.
bunghole
n.
a hole in a cask through which it is filled.
bungstarter
n.
a mallet for loosening or removing the bung of a cask.
burdock
n.
a composite plant of the genus Arctium, esp. A. lappa, a coarse, broad-leaved weed bearing prickly heads of burs that stick to the clothing.
burgeon
v.i.
to grow or develop quickly; flourish:
burin
n.
a tempered steel rod, with a lozenge-shaped point and a rounded handle, used for engraving furrows in metal.
buskin
n.
a thick-soled, laced boot or half boot.
butyl
adj.
containing a butyl group.
loll
v.i.
to recline or lean in a relaxed, lazy, or indolent manner; lounge:
reliquary
n.,
a repository or receptacle for relics.
samite
n.
a heavy silk fabric, sometimes interwoven with gold, worn in the Middle Ages.
sot
n.
a drunkard.
bier
n.
a frame or stand on which a corpse or the coffin containing it is laid before burial.
abraded
v.t., v.i.,
to wear off or down by scraping or rubbing.
beleaguered
v.t.
to surround with military forces.
belied
v.t.,
to show to be false; contradict:
burnished
v.t.
to polish (a surface) by friction.
appurtenances
n.
something subordinate to another, more important thing; adjunct; accessory.
baying
n.
a deep, prolonged howl, as of a hound on the scent.
auger
n.
snake
auguries
n.,
the art or practice of an augur; divination.
blanched
v.t.
to whiten by removing color; bleach:
adduced
v.t.,
to bring forward in argument or as evidence; cite as pertinent or conclusive:
alveolar
adj.
of or pertaining to an alveolus or to alveoli.
ambling
v.i.
to go at a slow, easy pace; stroll; saunter:
architraves
n.
the lowermost member of a classical entablature, resting originally upon columns.
babbitts
n.
Babbitt metal.
basilisks
n.
a creature, variously described as a serpent, lizard, or dragon, said to kill by its breath or look.
bollards
n.
a strong post of wood or iron projecting, usually in pairs, above the deck of a ship, used for securing cables, lines for towing, etc.

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