Ersatz (adjective)
Describes an inferior substitute.z The story of how ersatz entered English is a wonderful example
of our language’s capacity to borrow and absorb words from
other languages. During World War II, British POWs were served
ersatzbrot, or “substitute bread,” made from low-quality potato
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the war, the former POWs began using the term ersatz to describe
anything that was an inferior substitute.z Make a personal connection to this word by recalling a time when
you bought a low-grade, generic substitute for a common product,
such as ketchup, that may have caused a revolt among your family.Skulduggery (noun)
Devious, deceitful behavior; underhanded dealings.z 6NXOGXJJHU\ is a somewhat archaic word of Scottish origin, but it’s
on Wayne State University’s excellent Word Warriors’ list. Each
year, the Word Warriors announce their list of “great, underused
words to bring back.” You can nominate your own word for next
year or look over the lively, underused words they’ve selected from
previous years at http://wordwarriors.wayne.edu/.Machinations (noun)
Intrigues, plots, crafty schemes, or the act of plotting.z One way to remember machinationsLVWROLQNWKH¿UVW¿YHOHWWHUV²
machi—to Machiavelli, the 15th-century Italian statesman and
writer who famously depicted unscrupulous politicians—those
given to machinations and intrigue—in his classic work The Prince.
You might even encounter the phrase Machiavellian machinations.