magical change in form; a striking or sudden change MISANTHROPIC (mis un THRAHP ik)
adj hating mankind MYRIAD (MIR ee ud) n a huge number
NEOLOGISM (nee OL uh jiz um) n a new word or phrase; a new usage of a word NIHILISM
(NYE uh liz um) n the belief that there are no values or morals in the universe
NOMENCLATURE (NOH mun klay chur) n a set or system of names; a designation; a
terminology NOMINAL (NOM uh nul) adj in name only; insignificant; “A-OK” (during rocket
launches) NOSTALGIA (nahs TAL juh) n sentimental longing for the past; homesickness
NOVEL (NAHV ul) adj fresh; original; new
OBJECTIVE (ahb JEK tiv) adj unbiased; unprejudiced OBSCURE (ub SKYOOR) adj
unknown; hard to understand; dark OMINOUS (AHM uh nus) adj threatening; menacing;
portending doom OMNISCIENT (ahm NISH unt) adj all-knowing; having infinite wisdom
OPAQUE (oh PAYK) adj impossible to see through; impossible to understand ORTHODOX
(OR thuh dahks) adj conventional; adhering to established principles or doctrines, especially
in religion; by the book OSCILLATE (AHS uh layt) v to swing back and forth; to pulsate; to
waver or vacillate between beliefs or ideas PALLIATE (PAL ee ayt) v to relieve or alleviate
something without getting rid of the problem; to assuage; to mitigate PARTISAN (PAHR tuh
zun) n one who supports a particular person, cause, or idea PATHOLOGY (puh THAHL uh
jee) n the science of diseases PATHOS (PA thos) n that which makes people feel pity or
sorrow PEDANTIC (puh DAN tik) adj boringly scholarly or academic PENCHANT (PEN
chunt) n a strong taste or liking for something; a predilection PENITENT (PEN uh tunt) adj
sorry; repentant; contrite PERIPATETIC (per uh peh TET ik) adj wandering; traveling
continually; itinerant PERIPHERY (puh RIF uh ree) n the outside edge of something
PERVADE (pur VAYD) v to spread throughout
PHILANTHROPY (fi LAN thruh pee) n love of mankind, especially by doing good deeds
PLACATE (PLAY kayt) v to pacify; to appease; to soothe PLACEBO (pluh SEE boh) n a
fake medication; a fake medication used as a control in tests of the effectiveness of drugs
POSTERITY (pahs TER uh tee) n future generations; descendants; heirs POSTHUMOUS
(PAHS chuh mus) adj occurring after one’s death; published after the death of the author
PRAGMATIC (prag MAT ik) adj practical; down-to-earth; based on experience rather than
theory PREDILECTION (pred uh LEK shun) n a natural preference for something PRESAGE
(PRES ij) v to portend; to foreshadow; to forecast or predict PROLIFERATE (proh LIF uh
rayt) v to spread or grow rapidly PROLIFIC (proh LIF ik) adj abundantly productive; fruitful
or fertile PROVISIONAL (pruh VIZH uh nul) adj conditional; temporary; tentative PROVOKE
(pruh VOHK) v to cause; to incite; to stir up, especially a feeling or action (The adjective form
of this word is provocative.) PRUDENT (PROOD unt) adj careful; having foresight
PSEUDONYM (SOO duh nim) n a false name; an alias RAPTURE (RAP chur) n ecstasy;
bliss; unequaled joy RECIPROCAL (ri SIP ruh kul) adj mutual; shared; interchangeable (The
verb form of this word is reciprocate.) REDUNDANT (ri DUN dunt) adj unnecessarily
repetitive; excessive; excessively wordy REPLETE (ri PLEET) adj completely filled;
abounding REPUGNANT (ri PUG nunt) adj repulsive; offensive; disgusting RESIGNATION
(rez ig NAY shun) n passive submission; acquiescence RETICENT (RET uh sint) adj quiet;
restrained; reluctant to speak, especially about oneself RHETORIC (RET ur ik) n the art of