New Vocabulary in A History of New York by Washingtoon Irving

New Vocabulary in A History of New York by Washington Irving

1. codger
Pronunciation: 'kä-j&r
Function: noun
Etymology: probably alteration of cadger
Date: 1756
: an often mildly eccentric and usually elderly fellow <old codger>

2.whiff
Pronunciation: 'hwif, 'wif
Function: noun
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1591
1 a : a quick puff or slight gust especially of air, odor, gas, smoke, or spray b : an inhalation of odor, gas, or smoke c : a slight puffing or whistling sound
2 : a slight trace or indication

3.farce
Pronunciation: 'färs
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): farced; farc·ing
Etymology: Middle English farsen, from Middle French farcir, from Latin farcire
Date: 14th century
1 : STUFF
2 : to improve as if by stuffing

4.pallisado
Main Entry: pal·i·sade
Pronunciation: "pa-l&-'sAd
Function: noun
Etymology: French palissade, ultimately from Latin palus stake -- more at POLE
Date: 1600
1 a : a fence of stakes especially for defense b : a long strong stake pointed at the top and set close with others as a defense
2 : a line of bold cliffs

5.insidious
Pronunciation: in-'si-dE-&s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin insidiosus, from insidiae ambush, from insidEre to sit in, sit on, from in- + sedEre to sit -- more at SIT
Date: 1545
1 a : awaiting a chance to entrap : TREACHEROUS b : harmful but enticing : SEDUCTIVE <insidious drugs>
2 a : having a gradual and cumulative effect : SUBTLE <the insidious pressures of modern life> b of a disease : developing so gradually as to be well established before becoming apparent
- in·sid·i·ous·ly adverb
- in·sid·i·ous·ness noun

6.Main Entry: mu·nif·i·cent
Pronunciation: myu-'ni-f&-s&nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: back-formation from munificence, from Latin munificentia, from munificus generous, from munus service, gift -- more at MEAN
Date: 1583
1 : very liberal in giving or bestowing : LAVISH
2 : characterized by great liberality or generosity
synonym see LIBERAL
- mu·nif·i·cence /-s&n(t)s/ noun
- mu·nif·i·cent·ly adverb

7. Main Entry: leth·ar·gy
Pronunciation: 'le-th&r-jE
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English litargie, from Medieval Latin litargia, from Late Latin lethargia, from Greek lEthargia, from lEthargos forgetful, lethargic, irregular from lEthE
Date: 14th century
1 : abnormal drowsiness
2 : the quality or state of being lazy, sluggish, or indifferent
synonyms LETHARGY, LANGUOR, LASSITUDE, STUPOR, TORPOR mean physical or mental inertness. LETHARGY implies such drowsiness or aversion to activity as is induced by disease, injury, or drugs <months of lethargy followed my accident>. LANGUOR suggests inertia induced by an enervating climate or illness or love <languor induced by a tropical vacation>. LASSITUDE stresses listlessness or indifference resulting from fatigue or poor health <a depression marked by lassitude>. STUPOR implies a deadening of the mind and senses by shock, narcotics, or intoxicants <lapsed into an alcoholic stupor>. TORPOR implies a state of suspended animation as of hibernating animals but may suggest merely extreme sluggishness <a once alert mind now in a torpor>.

8. Main Entry: am·phib·i·ous
Pronunciation: am-'fi-bE-&s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Greek amphibios, literally, living a double life, from amphi- + bios mode of life -- more at QUICK
Date: 1643
1 : combining two characteristics
2 a : relating to or adapted for both land and water <amphibious vehicles> b : executed by coordinated action of land, sea, and air forces organized for invasion; also : trained or organized for such action <amphibious forces>
3 : able to live both on land and in water <amphibious plants>
- am·phib·i·ous·ly adverb
- am·phib·i·ous·ness noun

9. antagonist
Main Entry: an·tag·o·nist
Pronunciation: -nist
Function: noun
Date: 1594
1 : one that contends with or opposes another : ADVERSARY, OPPONENT
2 : an agent of physiological antagonism: as a : a muscle that contracts with and limits the action of an agonist with which it is paired -- called also antagonistic muscle b : a chemical that acts within the body to reduce the physiological activity of another chemical substance (as an opiate); especially : one that opposes the action on the nervous system of a drug or a substance occurring naturally in the body by combining with and blocking its nervous receptor -- compare AGONIST 2b

10. acrimonious
Main Entry: ac·ri·mo·ni·ous
Pronunciation: "a-kr&-'mO-nE-&s
Function: adjective
Date: 1775
: caustic, biting, or rancorous especially in feeling, language, or manner <an acrimonious dispute>
- ac·ri·mo·ni·ous·ly adverb
- ac·ri·mo·ni·ous·ness noun

11.picturesque
Main Entry: pic·tur·esque
Pronunciation: "pik-ch&-'resk
Function: adjective
Etymology: French & Italian; French pittoresque, from Italian pittoresco, from pittore painter, from Latin pictor, from pingere
Date: 1703
1 a : resembling a picture : suggesting a painted scene b : charming or quaint in appearance
2 : evoking mental images : VIVID
synonym see GRAPHIC
- pic·tur·esque·ly adverb
- pic·tur·esque·ness noun

12.Main Entry: al·ter·ca·tion
Pronunciation: "ol-t&r-'kA-sh&n
Function: noun
Date: 14th century
: a noisy heated angry dispute; also : noisy controversy

13.burgher
Main Entry: bur·gher
Pronunciation: 'b&r-g&r
Function: noun
Date: 13th century
1 : an inhabitant of a borough or a town
2 : a member of the middle class : a prosperous solid citizen

14. relique
Main Entry: rel·ic
Pronunciation: 're-lik
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English relik, from Old French relique, from Medieval Latin reliquia, from Late Latin reliquiae, plural, remains of a martyr, from Latin, remains, from relinquere to leave behind -- more at RELINQUISH
Date: 13th century
1 a : an object esteemed and venerated because of association with a saint or martyr b : SOUVENIR, MEMENTO
2 plural : REMAINS, CORPSE
3 : a survivor or remnant left after decay, disintegration, or disappearance
4 : a trace of some past or outmoded practice, custom, or belief

15. filial
Main Entry: fil·ial
Pronunciation: 'fi-lE-&l, 'fil-y&l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin filialis, from Latin filius son -- more at FEMININE
Date: 14th century
1 : of, relating to, or befitting a son or daughter <filial obedience>
2 : having or assuming the relation of a child or offspring
- fil·ial·ly /-lE-&-lE, -y&-lE/ adverb

16. Main Entry: 2buffet
Date: 13th century
transitive senses
1 : to strike sharply especially with the hand : CUFF
2 : to strike repeatedly : BATTER <the waves buffeted the shore>
3 : to drive, force, move, or attack by or as if by repeated blows
intransitive senses : to make one's way especially under difficult conditions