Words

Occasionally, having just the right term to describe a thing means the difference between apathy and delight. Some words simply add more personality to conversation. Here are a few expressions I favor.

ACRIMONIOUS

ˌakrəˈmōnēəs  | adjective |  (typically of speech or a debate) angry and bitter.

AMATEUR HOUR

ˈaməCHər ˈou(ə)r  | noun |  A situation or activity in which the participants show a lack of skill, sound judgment, or professionalism.

AUXILIARY

ôɡˈzil(ə)rē  | noun |  A person or thing providing supplementary or additional help and support.

CANONICAL

kəˈnänək(ə)l  | adjective |  Accepted as being accurate and authoritative.

CASCADE

kaˈskād  | noun |  A process whereby something, typically information or knowledge, is successively passed on.

CAVALCADE

ˌkavəlˈkād  | noun |  A formal procession of people walking, on horseback, or riding in vehicles.

CLANDESTINE

klanˈdestən  | adjective |  Kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit.

CONCISE

kənˈsīs  | adjective |  Giving a lot of information clearly and in a few words. Brief but comprehensive.

DISCREPANCY

ˌdisˈkrepənsē  | noun |  A lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts.

ELUSIVE

ēˈlo͞osiv  | adjective |  Difficult to find, catch, or achieve.

ERRANT

ˈerənt  | adjective |  Erring or straying from the proper course or standards.

HERESY

ˈherəsē  | noun |  Opinion profoundly at odds with what is generally accepted.

MANIA

ˈmānēə  | noun |  An excessive enthusiasm or desire; an obsession.

OBLIVIOUS

əˈblivēəs  | adjective |  Not aware of or not concerned about what is happening around one.

PARTICULAR

pə(r)ˈtikyələr  | adjective |  Used to single out an individual member of a specified group or class.

PECULIAR

pəˈkyo͞olyər  | adjective |  1. Strange or odd; Unusual. 2. Slightly and indefinably unwell.

PERPETUAL

pərˈpeCH(o͞o)əl  | adjective |  Never ending or changing.

PRECISION

prəˈsiZHən  | noun |  The quality, condition, or fact of being exact and accurate.

RUCKUS

ˈrəkəs  | noun |  a disturbance or commotion

SUPERFLUOUS

ˈso͞oˈpərflo͞oəs  | adjective |  unnecessary, especially through being more than enough

TRIFLE

ˈtrīfəl  | verb |   To talk in a jesting or mocking manner or with intent to delude or mislead.

PROGENY

ˈpräjənē  | noun |  A descendant or the descendants of a person, animal, or plant; offspring.

RESOURCES

Some sites that celebrate and clarify the usage of specific language:

Style Manual