Uncommon

cachinnate

[kak-uh-neyt]

to laugh loudly or immoderately

manavelins

[muh-nav-uh-linz]

miscellaneous pieces of gear and material

zeitgeist

[tsahyt-gahyst]

the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time

tarantism

[tar-uhn-tiz-uhm]

a mania characterized by an uncontrollable impulse to dance, especially as prevalent in southern Italy from the 15th to the 17th century, popularly attributed to the bite of the tarantula

penumbra

[pi-nuhm-bruh]

the partial or imperfect shadow outside the complete shadow of an opaque body, as a planet, where the light from the source of illumination is only partly cut off

propinquity

[proh-ping-kwi-tee]

the state of being close to someone or something; proximity

hegira

[hi-jahy-ruh]

any flight or journey to a more desirable or congenial place

antediluvian

[an-tee-di-loo-vee-uhn]

very old, old-fashioned, or out of date; antiquated; primitive

insufflate

[in-suhf-leyt]

to blow or breathe (something) in

inimical

[ih-nim-i-kuhl]

adverse in tendency or effect; unfavorable; harmful

micawber

[mi-caw-ber]

one who is poor but lives in optimistic expectation of better fortune

matutinal

[muh-toot-n-l]

pertaining to or occurring in the morning; early in the day

ambrosial

[am-broh-zhuhl]

exceptionally pleasing to taste or smell; especially delicious or fragrant

palfrey

[pawl-free]

a docile horse used for ordinary riding, especially by women

cavil

[kav-uhl]

to raise irritating and trivial objections; find fault with unnecessarily

blandishment

[blan-dish-muhnt]

a flattering or pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone gently to do something

capricious

[kuh-prish-uhs]

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior

boondoggle

[boon-dog-uhl]

waste money or time on unnecessary or questionable projects

breviloquent

[bre-vil-uh-kwuhnt]

speaking or expressed in a concise or terse style; using brevity of speech

gasconade

[gas-kuh-neyd]

extravagant boasting

panacea

[pan-uh-see-uh]

a remedy for all disease or ills

persiflage

[pur-suh-flahzh]

light and slightly contemptuous mockery or banter

trenchant

[tren-chuhnt]

incisive or keen, as language or a person; caustic; cutting

detectorist

[dɪˈtɛktərɪst]

a person whose hobby is using a metal detector