Well-Spoken Thesaurus : the Most Powerful Ways to Say Everyday Words and Phrases / Tom Heehler

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T h e WELL-SPOKEN T h e s a u r u s

T h e M o s t P o w e r f u l W a y s t o S a y Everyday Words and Phrases

T o m H e e h l e r

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 1 12/10/10 8:35 AM Copyright © 2011 by Tom Heehler Cover and internal design © 2011 by Sourcebooks, Inc. Cover design by Will Riley Cover images © Vgstudio/Dreamstime.com; © Getty Images Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Heehler, Tom. The well-spoken thesaurus : the most powerful ways to say everyday words and phrases / Tom Heehler. p. cm. 1. English language—Synonyms and antonyms. 2. English language—Terms and phrases. I. Title. PE1591.H397 2011 413’.12—dc22 2010047798

Printed and bound in the United States of America. DR 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 2 12/10/10 8:35 AM Dedicated to my mom.

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Acknowledgments...... vii On Becoming Articulate...... 1 Rhetorical Form and Design...... 5 Lesson 1: T. S. Eliot...... 6 Lesson 2: Margaret Atwood...... 9 Lesson 3: Ernest Hemingway...... 11 Lesson 4: Cormac McCarthy...... 14 Lesson 5: John Steinbeck...... 16 Lesson 6: Norman Mailer...... 18 Lesson 7: Edith Wharton...... 20 Lesson 8: E. B. White...... 22 Lesson 9: J.M. Coetzee...... 24 Lesson 10: John Steinbeck...... 26 Lesson 11: Barbara Kingsolver...... 28 Lesson 12: Joshua Ferris...... 30 Lesson 13: Ken Kesey...... 32 Lesson 14: Martin Luther King, Jr...... 34 Lesson 15: Henry James...... 36 Lesson 16: Barack Obama...... 39 Lesson 17: Cintra Wilson...... 41 The Well-Spoken Vocabulary...... 43 The Seven Rhetorical Sins...... 47 How This Book Works...... 51 Preamble...... 53 The Well-Spoken Thesaurus...... 55 200 Well-Spoken Alternatives to Common Words â and Phrases...... 384 About the Author...... 392

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 5 12/10/10 8:35 AM This page is intentionally left blank Acknowledgments

Literary Agent: Jessica Faust

Acquisitions Editor: Peter Lynch

Publisher: Dominique Raccah

Editor: Kelly Bale

Production Editors: Michelle Lecuyer Anne Hartman

Cover Designer: Will Riley

Production Designers: Ashley Haag Holly Bahn Danielle Trejo Tina Silva

English Teachers: Mrs. Tune, Second Grade, Una Elementary; Mrs. Lawrence, Fourth Grade, Una Elementary; Professor Lisa Hinrichsen, Harvard Extension

Important People: Ruth Ellen Keiper, Matt Killikelly, Jeannie Ehrhardt

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Why Should You Care?

Words are like little gods. The pronoun “him” instead of “her,” if used often enough, can dissuade a girl from science or math. The words you use determine the density of gray matter in your brain. They affect your political leanings, influence how you see reality, determine your level of confidence and thus, define what it means to be you. That’s what words do. As important as your words are in shaping your behavior, they are even more important in the way they shape the behavior of others. Your manner of speaking is, if nothing else, the central factor upon which people form assumptions about you. Whatever is your ultimate goal in life, chances are good you’re going to have to communicate your way to it. And if greatness is your goal, well-spoken words are essential. Think about it. From Homer to Hemingway, Lincoln, Churchill, King, Obama—their words are why you know them. The well-spoken few are viewed by others in a different way. They are thought of as more knowledgeable, more informed, and therefore expected to do more things. This law of great expectations is a powerful motivator. We all have an inherent need to meet expectations, whether they be high or low, and when expectations rise, we’re inclined to rise with them. Our improvement then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy: as others expect us to be better, we become so, and as we become so, they expect it further still.

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How to Speak Like an Academic without Sounding Like One

The most accomplished speakers use words in ways that compliment their thoughts and ideas, not overshadow them. They are able to adopt a scholarly air of authority, but without all those pretentious scholarly words. Take Barack Obama for instance, a man for whom the well-spoken word is a major source of power. President Obama understands, obeys, and exploits the most important command- ment of communication: that it’s not so much the words we use, as it is the way we use them. You hear it all the time: “Barack Obama is so articulate, so eloquent, so intelligent.” But has he ever used a word any child couldn’t comprehend? It’s not easy becoming articulate. For most of us, the process is a never-ending exercise in trial and error. We fumble our way along with the occasional foreign word here or big word there, all the while praying we’re pronouncing and using these words correctly. And when we do dare to use these words, we risk casting ourselves as pretentious, awkwardly formal, academic, or nerdy. Have you ever used a lofty word and felt embarrassed at having done so? We’ve all been there. We hear others use these words with ease, but when we try them for size, they don’t always fit. That’s because we confuse formality with what we believe to be articulate speech. We deploy such language in an attempt to present ourselves as professional when, ironically, usually the opposite effect is achieved. The same can be said for those who attempt to impress with big professorial words. While such language may seem “indubitably” clear and appropriate to them, it strikes the rest of us as more than a bit eccentric. The trick here is to achieve the authoritative and persuasive effects of formality and intellectualism without sounding too, well, formal or intellectual. What you are aiming for is an effect: you want to be regarded as the smartest authority in the room but without the least trace of awkwardness or pretension. And to that end, I present to you this book. Whether it be for writing or speaking, I think you will find it quiteÂhelpful.

A Few Words about Me

I began writing what would become this book when I decided, in the spring of 2006, to go back to school and complete my education. It was there in Cambridge that I would come to realize just how inarticulate I really was. And because I

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could find no easy way to lift my speech and prose quickly, I resolved to invent a way. It began simply enough; whenever I would happen upon an eloquent word or phrase, I would write it down and pair it with what I would have said otherwise. (All those common word entries you see in this thesaurus? That’s me talking.) I did this for years, collecting words like butterflies, until it became increasingly apparent that my collection could be of use to others. So you could say that my authority on this subject stems not only from a determination to do something about my own predicament, but to do something about yours. My only hope is that this remarkable collection of words does as much for you in that regard as it has for me.

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1 7 L e s s o n s

It’s not enough to replace ordinary words with the extraordinary words contained within this book. You need to know why these words are extraordinary, and the best way to do this is to examine the language of history’s greatest writers and speakers, verbal alchemists like Margaret Atwood, Ernest Hemingway, T. S. Eliot, and Barack Obama. It is by their example that we come to know how words are powerful not in and of themselves, but in and of each other, in the way they combine to form that which they could never be otherwise. Take for example the word, leave. In most contexts, such as, when she leaves tonight, this particular word is nothing if not ordinary and hardly the sort one would expect to find in a vocabulary builder or style guide. But take a moment to imagine how such a word might be used to improve the following sentence: It makes me want more. Did you come up with, It leaves me wanting more? The difference is rather striking; is it not? This kind of linguistic chemistry happens not by flash of insight, but by rhetorical formula, and as you progress through this chapter, these formulas will become your own. Use them, learn from them, and apply what you learn to your everyday business correspondence, your résumés, your college papers, your novels, your news accounts, and, yes, even your casual conversation.

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The Poetry of Ordinary Things

Most of us don’t consider ourselves poetic, but we are. Filmmakers are keenly aware of our fascination with poetry. Why do you think so many leading men drive poetic cars like Karmann Ghias, and live in poetic places like marinas or in converted abandoned warehouses? Poetry isn’t just words on a page that rhyme, it’s the feeling you get from words, and the feeling you get from the actual things those words represent. Poetry is the smell of a freshly pressed white cotton shirt. Poetry is the color of lightning. Certain everyday words are poetic too. See if you can spot one here in this line from T. S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”:

In the room the women come and go Talking of Michelangelo.

While “Michelangelo” is poetic, it’s hardly an everyday word. “Of” is the poetic word here. Talking about Michelangelo just doesn’t do it for me; talking of him does. Try replacing your “abouts” with “ofs,” as in this example:

Before: There is talk about a takeover, but the would-be CEO knows Ânothing about the publishing business.

After: There is talk of a takeover, but the would-be CEO knows nothing of the publishing business.

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So you see, even a no-nonsense business memo can be improved upon with a bit of poetry. Here are ten other poetic replacements and omissions:

1. Drop “of.” –â She thinks of herself as an expert. –â She thinks herself an expert.

2. Drop “is.” –â Do you think it is impertinent? –â Do you think it impertinent?

3. Drop the second “is.” –“â Every look is a cordial smile, every gesture a familiar caress.”—T. B. McCauley, Machiavelli

4. Replace “very” with “-est of.” –â It is a very rare event. –â It is the rarest of events.

5. Replace “are” with a comma. –â These are the men who stood their ground. –â These, the men who stood their ground.

6. Replace “-able” with “a matter of.” –â It’s disputable. –â It’s a matter of dispute.

7. Drop “that are.” –â I have a taste for all things that are classical. –â I have a taste for all things classical.

8. Replace “that he was” with “him.” –â I thought that he was wise. –â I thought him wise.

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9. Replace “-ful” with “a source of.” –â Her continued absence is regretful for us all. –â Her continued absence is a source of regret for us all.

10. Replace “with” with “of.” –â “They were sitting in the blind that Wanderobo hunters had built with twigs and branches...” –â “They were sitting in the blind that Wanderobo hunters had built of twigs and branches...”—E. Hemingway

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 8 12/10/10 8:35 AM L esson 2: Margaret Atwood

The Conversion of the Figurative

If someone were to empathize with you and say, “I know where you’re coming from,” they would be using a figure of speech, and so their expression would be considered figurative, as opposed to literal. If they knew where you were coming from literally, they would know where you had been an hour earlier, and that would be a little creepy. This is the sort of thing that gives AI programers serious indigestion. Computers have a tough time drawing distinctions between the figurative and the literal. Tell a computer that you’re freezing, and it’s likely to call for an ambulance. Tell me that, and I’ll get you a sweater. That’s because I’m a person, and like all people, I inherently know what you mean. In fact, I’m so accustomed to knowing what should be figurative and what should be literal that if you were to change it up on me, I would consider that to be a breath of fresh air—and I mean that figuratively. Witness this breath of fresh air as Margaret Atwood takes what we normally accept as figurative and interprets it in a literal way a few pages into The Handmaid’s Tale:

We would exchange remedies and try to outdo each other in the recital of our physical miseries; gently we would complain, our voices soft and minor key and mournful as pigeons in the eaves troughs. I know what you mean, we’d say. Or, a quaint expression you sometimes hear, still, from older people: I know where you’re coming from, as if the voice itself were a traveler from a distant place. Which it would be, which it is.

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When people read that, they don’t think to themselves, Margaret Atwood sure is good at converting the figurative to the literal. Instead they think, Wow, what a writer! The trick here is to come up with a figure of speech that relates to your subject, then try to provoke your creative instincts into going literal. For instance, let’s assume that you had written the following expression in rough-draft form:

I remember once how I let myself fall in love; now I’m more careful with my emotions.

Are you yawning yet? I am. So let’s get to work:

Step 1: Find a figure of speech that relates to falling in love. Can you think of one? How about “head over heels in love,” “tough love,” “puppy love,” or even the most obvious of all, “falling in love”?

Step 2: Interpret your figure of speech in a literal way. Can you? “I remember once how I let myself fall in love; ______.”

There are dozens of possibilities. Here’s mine:

I remember once how I let myself fall in love; now I always work with a net.

What makes this sentence interesting is the way the second half implies a literal translation of the first—that the fall was literal. Now see if you can convert the figurative to the literal by filling in this blank with a single word. Your clue: It’s a quote by Albert Einstein. “ââââ is not responsible for people falling in love.”

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 10 12/10/10 2:06 PM L esson 3: Ernest Hemingway

Verb Displacement

Minimalism, the art of simplifying literature to its most basic form, is actually quite complicated. You can’t just dumb down everything you write to a third- grade reading level and be done with it. If that’s all it took, then everybody would be able to write like Hemingway, which is not the case. What makes Hemingway remarkable is his ability to make simplicity sophisticated, to give ordinary language a timeless and poetic feel. Consider this example from the novel For Whom the Bell Tolls. Pay particular attention to the last sentence of this passage, which has been altered so as to be without the Hemingway aesthetic.

“Kashkin,” Robert Jordan said. “That would be Kashkin.”

“Yes,” said Pablo. “It was a very rare name. Something like that. What has become of him?”

“He died in April.”

It’s hard to imagine how one might improve upon the wording here. But in the last sentence, watch as the verb “died” is displaced by “is,” and the remainder of the sentence modified to accommodate the change:

Before verb displacement: He died in April.

After verb displacement: He is dead since April.

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While the meaning of the expression hasn’t changed, the feel is more poetic, yes? Impressively, Hemingway does this with an unaffected manner. That is, we don’t get the feeling that the characters are poets reciting poetry or actors succumbing to melodrama. Instead, because the language is so simple, we accept Hemingway’s poetic enhancements as perfectly natural, perhaps the broken English of everyday Spaniards. In so doing, Hemingway endows his ordinary prose—and the ordinary people who speak it—with a kind of primitive nobility that lesser writers might not think or know how to bestow. Here’s another example from Hemingway’s Green Hills of Africa. Among the verbs in the alternate or “un-displaced” version below, only one is particularly well suited for displacement. Find it and do what Hemingway does: displace that verb with “is” or its past tense, “was.”

Un-displaced version: We were sitting in the blind that Wanderobo hunters had built of twigs and branches at the edge of the salt-lick when we heard the truck coming. At first it was far away and no one could tell what the noise was. Then it stopped and we hoped it had been nothing or perhaps only the wind.

Hemingway’s version: At first it was far away and no one could tell what the noise was. Then it was stopped and we hoped it had been nothing or perhaps only the wind.

If you were able to find the verb and make the change, or even if you could not but you now see why the latter example is a stylistic improvement on the former, then you’re catching on. This is fairly nuanced stuff, so let’s try one more for good measure. Here’s a passage from Hemingway’s Garden of Eden. Find the only verb suitable for displacement and replace it with “is” or “was,” then see if you can modify the sentence to accommodate the change.

Un-displaced version: They were hungry for breakfast which they ate at the café, ordering brioche and café au lait and eggs, and the type of preserve that they chose and the manner in which the eggs were to be cooked excited them.

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Hemingway’s version: They were hungry for breakfast which they ate at the café, ordering brioche and café au lait and eggs, and the type of preserve that they chose and the manner in which the eggs were to be cooked was an excitement.

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Creating Abstractions

Recall this scene from the movie Gladiator: the emperor Commodus stands enthralled before a scale model of the city of Rome. As he lowers his humongous head over tiny intricate buildings for a close-in look, his shadow is fallen over theÂColiseum. Now take a moment to reflect upon that. The emperor’s head and shadow are actual concrete things. But they are meant instead as abstractions (things that exist only in the mind). In this case, the emperor’s looming head and shadow are meant to evoke the abstraction of the fear and imperial force under which all of Rome was subjected. When a writer—or director—does this, when she compels her readers to think of concrete things in abstract ways, she becomes less a writer of one-dimensional stories and more a writer of literature. Let’s see if you can write some literature. Begin by reading this excerpt from Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men. As McCarthy’s character Llewellyn Moss scans “the desert below him with a pair of 12-power German binoculars,” what he does not know is that somewhere out there is a deadly thing. (I would tell you what that deadly thing is if it wouldn’t spoil the story.)

The sun was up less than an hour and the shadow of the ridge and the yucca plants and the rocks fell far out across the floodplain below him. (ââââââ .)

At this point, try to visualize not the shadows of the plants or rocks, but Moss’s shadow. Now say something about that shadow, but do it in a way that turns the

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shadow to abstraction, to a harbinger of impending doom perhaps, but without using any explicit words like “impending doom.” Hopefully you came up with something like this:

The sun was up less than an hour and the shadow of the ridge and the yucca plants and the rocks fell far out across the floodplain below him. Somewhere out there was the shadow of Moss himself.

Foreboding, right? McCarthy doesn’t mean Moss’s actual shadow, but something more akin to his own ghost, his own fate. Shadows are easy to imagine as abstractions because of their ethereal ways. But anything can be turned to abstraction—even a murderer’s eyes:

“They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. I don’t know what them eyes was the windows to and I guess I’d as soon not know. But there is another view of the world out there and other eyes to see it and that’s where this is goin’. It has done brought me to a place in my life I would not of thought I’d of come to.” No Country for Old Men

Can you transform a psychopathic killer’s coin into an abstraction? Here’s your clue: Call it in the air.

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Intuitive Description

If I were to ask you to describe the flowers on your window sill, chances are good that your physical description would be precisely that: physical. Color, shape, and smell. But watch how John Steinbeck describes the flowers in East of Eden:

Then there were harebells, tiny lanterns, cream white and almost sinful looking, and these were so rare and magical that a child, finding one, felt singled out and special all day long.

Brilliant, right? That’s because emotional feelings trump physical feelings every time. You say the sky is blue? That’s nice. Now relate that to something human, as I do here:

The sky was the kind of blue if blue could burn, blue on fire, lit by the sun blazing high above the hills in winter on a morning when there are no clouds. A sky like that makes it easier for a soldier to die. It’s the last thing he sees, and there is comfort in knowing some things will live forever.

In this excerpt from Steinbeck’s In Dubious Battle, how might you relate a simple scar to a human emotion or motivation?

Ordinary description: His thick hair was combed straight down over a white scar half an inch wide that lay horizontally over his right ear.

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Steinbeck’s intuitive description: His thick hair was combed straight down from each side at the top in a vain attempt to cover a white scar half an inch wide that lay horizontally over the right ear.

That may not be a brilliant example of intuitive description, but the expression carries with it more impact than it would otherwise. That’s because human feelings and motivations make us care about what’s being described. While it’s nice to know that leaves are green and flowers are pretty and hair is combed a certain way, unless you can relate those facts to a human emotion or motivation, readers will not so easily connect with your words on a personal, human, intuitive level. Here’s one more from the novel Cannery Row. Note how Steinbeck likes to begin his paragraph with physical description, and conclude with intuitive description:

Mary Talbot, Mrs. Tom Talbot, that is, was lovely. She had red hair with green lights in it. Her skin was golden with a green under cast and her eyes were green with little golden spots. Her face was triangular, with wide cheekbones, wide-set eyes, and her chin was pointed. She had long dancer’s legs and dancer’s feet and she seemed never to touch the ground when she walked. When she was excited, and she was excited a good deal of the time, her face flushed with gold. Her great-great-great-great-great grandmother had been burned as a witch.

A lesser writer might have simply concluded, “Mary looked like a witch.” But Steinbeck finds a way to make that point intuitively, connecting Mary’s physical features to something personal to Mary.

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Poetic Articles

The words “the” and “a” are surely the least regarded words in the English Âlanguage. But sometimes when you omit these words from where they ordinarily belong, or include them where they do not, they become quite interesting. Do what you can to enhance this passage from The Armies of the Night by either Âadding or omitting an “a.”

Alternate version: Still, Mailer had a complex mind of sorts. Like a later generation that was to burn holes in their brain on Speed, he had given his own head the texture of fine Swiss cheese.

Mailer’s version: Still, Mailer had a complex mind of sorts. Like a later generation that was to burn holes in their brain on Speed, he had given his own head the texture of a fine Swiss cheese.

Still not convinced that article can be poetic? Try this one from Mailer’s TheÂCastle in the Forest:

Alternate version: I know that I will sail into a sea of turbulence, for I must uproot many conventional beliefs.

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Mailer’s version: I know that I will sail into a sea of turbulence, for I must uproot many a conventional belief.

Here’s one I’m particularly fond of. See if you can either add or omit an “a” in this passage from The Fight:

Alternate version: In contrast, a five-punch combination in which every shot lands is certain to stampede any opponent into unconsciousness. No matter how light the blows, a jackpot has been struck. The sudden over- loading of the victim’s message center is bound to produce that inrush of confusion known as a coma.

Mailer’s version: In contrast, a five-punch combination in which every shot lands is certain to stampede any opponent into unconsciousness. No matter how light the blows, a jackpot has been struck. The sudden over- loading of the victim’s message center is bound to produce that inrush of confusion known as coma.

And now for your final test. Add or omit an “a” or a “the” to ensure there are no clichés in this passage from Mailer’s The Armies of the Night. For this you’ll want to rely on a pronoun to accommodate the change:

Alternate version: But for the record, it had best be stated that his immediate reaction was one of woe—he did not wish to speak to the man on the other end.

Mailer’s version: But for our record, it had best be stated that his immediate reaction was one of woe—he did not wish to speak to the man on the other end.

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Objectification

Simple and clear expression is generally considered to be the hallmark of proper rhetorical form, but complicated and opaque can be so much more interesting. Take this expression for instance:

He considered her to be out of his league.

That’s about as simple and as clear as one can be. But watch here as Edith Wharton uses objectification (the regarding of people as objects) to imply as much in this excerpt from The House of Mirth:

Everything about her was at once vigorous and exquisite, at once strong and fine. He had a confused sense that she must have cost a great deal to make, that a great many dull and ugly people must, in some mysterious way, have been sacrificed to produce her.

The first expression is direct and unambiguous. The second is nothing of the kind. But the second is vastly more interesting, yes? That’s the power of objectification, a technique used to imply what people think. When one person objectifies another, it implies the level of regard between them, and because all of human interaction is a function of regard, objectification informs just about everything that goes on between two people. In this case, Lily Bart is regarded by Lawrence Selden as an object of excessive beauty and social standing. But Wharton never says that. Instead, she leads readers to infer it from the way Mr. Selden is objec- tifying Miss Bart. You infer his regard in the same way that you are required to

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infer the feelings of everyone in life. Nobody spoon-feeds you through your daily existence, so why should it be any different in fiction? That’s one reason why writers like Wharton can engage us on such a powerful level. They pull us into the story by requiring of us what real life requires of us: thought. Let’s try another. The following is a clear and simple sentiment that prevails throughout the The House of Mirth:

Lily Bart was everything to Lawrence Selden.

So how might you use objectification to imply as much? Here’s how Wharton does it—by depicting Lily Bart as an object, in this case a heavenly body, about which her would-be suitor Mr. Selden revolves:

As a spectator he had always enjoyed Lily Bart, and his course lay so far out of her orbit that it amused him to be drawn for a moment into the sudden intimacy which her proposal implied.

Objectification doesn’t get any better than that.

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Rhetorical Tension

Play in your head the first four notes to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Got that? Now play them again, only this time without the final fourth note—just the firstÂthree. You don’t like the way that sounds, do you? That’s because the first three notes create within your mind a kind of tension that needs to be released. In the same way, if you play that fourth note of would-be release without the preceding three notes of tension, the effect is equally unsatisfying. Only when all four notes are played in series—when released tension is created—do you feel satisfied. But here’s what’s really interesting: just as released tension creates a feeling of satisfaction in song, it also creates a feeling of satisfaction in prose. Here are two versions of the same excerpt from E. B. White’s Charlotte’s Web. The first has been stripped of tension and is therefore without release:

He handed her a newborn pig, a white one. The morning sun shone through its ears, turning them pink.

Reading that is a little like listening to Beethoven’s fourth note of release without the first three notes of tension. It’s unsatisfying because it’s monotone. Now compare that to the passage as White actually wrote it. Listen for the first few notes of tension and the subsequent notes of release:

Fern came slowly down the stairs. Her eyes were red from crying. As she approached her chair, the carton wobbled, and there was a scratching noise. Fern looked at her father. Then she lifted the lid

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of the carton. There, inside, looking up at her, was the newborn pig. It was a white one. The morning sun shone through its ears, turning them pink.

What White is doing here is creating tension with a kind of rhetorical Âforeplay—the wobbling carton, the scratching noise from within. He then releases that tension with “There, inside, looking up at her, was the newborn pig.” It’s instant gratification. You may be tempted to regard rhetorical tension as a type of suspense, but there are important distinctions. While suspense is tension that goes unresolved for long periods of time, rhetorical tension is resolved quickly, usually within the same paragraph or page. It’s less about uncertainty of outcome and more about provoking questions, inviting wonder or speculation, prolonging the inevitable for a few moments longer, or begging resolution. Fern already knows what’s in the box, and so do we, but White manufactures the tension and release nonetheless. Is this opening to White’s The Trumpet of the Swan an example of suspense or of rhetorical tension?

Walking back to camp through the swamp, Sam wondered whether to tell his father what he had seen.

We’re not concerned about Sam making it out of the swamp, so this is not suspense, but White does have us wondering about Sam’s encounter. As the page unfolds, he keeps us uninformed for another two paragraphs before unveiling a pair of nearly extinct birds almost twice Sam’s size. If White had been forthcoming about those exotic creatures from the start, the passage would not have required any wonder on our part, nor would it have provided any satisfaction from the resolution of that wonder. Now you know why kids—and adults—love the prose of E. B. White. It sounds like music.

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 23 12/10/10 8:35 AM L esson 9: J.M. Coetzee

Rhetorical Agency

If you were to perform an action of some kind, let’s say for example that you were to understand the irony of a situation, then it would be you doing the understanding, and therefore you, as the agent of that action, would be said to have agency. Unlike you, however, inanimate objects and abstractions do not have agency, because they don’t do things—at least not of their own accord. But that doesn’t mean we can’t speak of them as though they do, as though they have rhetorical agency. Read this altered excerpt from J.M. Coetzee’s Disgrace. Note that “he” retains the agency in the highlighted clause.

He continues to teach because it provides him with a livelihood; also because it teaches him humility, brings it home to him who he is in the world. He understands the irony; that the one who comes to teach learns the keenest of lessons, while those who come to learn learn nothing.

Now see if you can manipulate the clause to allow “irony” to perform the action instead of “he”:

He continues to teach because it provides him with a livelihood; also because it teaches him humility, brings it home to him who he is in the world. The irony does not escape him; that the one who comes to teach learns the keenest of lessons, while those who come to learn learn nothing.

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In the first example, “he” is performing the action “to understand.” In the second example, “irony” is performing the action “to escape”—or rather not to escape. By transferring the agency from a person (he) to an abstraction (irony) the prose becomes more interesting and engaged. Rhetorical agency can also help to correct awkward wording. In this altered excerpt from Disgrace, see if you can detect a problem:

In the kitchen of the flat in Green Point there are a kettle, plastic cups, a jar of instant coffee, a bowl with sachets of sugar. In the refrigerator there is a supply of bottled water. In the bathroom there is soap and a pile of towels, in the cupboard clean bed linen.

It should be obvious that too many sentences—all of them in fact—begin with the same two words. This problem can be solved by simply extending agency to the refrigerator:

In the kitchen of the flat in Green Point there are a kettle, plastic cups, a jar of instant coffee, a bowl with sachets of sugar. The refrigerator holds a supply of bottled water. In the bathroom there is soap and a pile of towels, in the cupboard clean bed linen.

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 25 12/10/10 8:35 AM L esson 10: John Steinbeck

Creative Number

The lyrics to the song “Human” by The Killers are a curious thing. For instance, what do you make of this:

Are we human, or are we dancer?

Notwithstanding the confusion in meaning, you’d think The Killers would have enough grammatical sense to change the word dancer to its plural form, dancers.Â I mean, really, why would anyone speak like that? Who do The Killers think theyÂare? But when you think about it, if we can be human, and not necessarily humans, then why can’t we be dancer, and not necessarily dancers? The point is, plurality is relative. You can change it to give your prose a special feel. In this passage from John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, see if you can find a plural noun that would sound a little special if it were singular.

Alternate version: I remember where the toads lived and what time the birds awaken in the summer, and what trees and seasons smelled like—how people looked and walked and smelled even.

Steinbeck’s version: I remember where a toad may live and what time the birds awaken in the summer, and what trees and seasons smelled like—how people looked and walked and smelled even.

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“Where a toad may live” is more interesting than “where the toads lived” because it is specific to a single toad. Specifics tend to carry more interest than generalities. For this reason, Steinbeck is quick to default to the singular tense when occasion permits. Here is another instance of that default to the singular in East of Eden. Find the plural nouns and singularize them:

Alternate version: The Salinas was only a part-time river. The summer sun drove it underground. It was not a fine river at all, but it was the only one we had and so we boasted about it—how dangerous it was in wet winters and how dry it was in dry summers.

Steinbeck’s version: The Salinas was only a part-time river. The summer sun drove it underground. It was not a fine river at all, but it was the only one we had and so we boasted about it—how dangerous it was in a wet winter and how dry it was in a dry summer.

Here’s one more from the same novel, but this time render two singular nouns plural:

Alternate version: February in Salinas is likely to be damp and cold and full of misery. The heaviest rain falls then, and if the river is going to rise, it rises then. February of 1915 was a year heavy with water.

Steinbeck’s version: February in Salinas is likely to be damp and cold and full of miseries. The heaviest rains fall then, and if the river is going to rise, it rises then. February of 1915 was a year heavy with water.

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 27 12/10/10 8:35 AM L esson 11: Barbara Kingsolver

The Objective Correlative

Read this excerpt from Barbara Kingsolver’s The Lacuna and see if you can identify the specific words and combinations of words that lend a certain feel to the prose. Try to define what that feel is and why you are feeling it.

In the beginning were the howlers. They always commenced their bellowing in the first hour of dawn, just as the hem of the sky began to whiten. It would start with just one: his forced, rhythmic groaning, like a saw blade. That aroused others near him, nudging them to bawl along with his monstrous tune. Soon the maroon- throated howls would echo back from other trees, farther down the beach, until the whole jungle filled with roaring trees. As it was in the beginning, so it is every morning of the world.

First, the phrases “In the beginning” and “As it was in the beginning, so it is every morning of the world” recall the Bible and give the passage a sacred feel. But in Kingsolver’s beginning there is no light, only bellowing, groaning, bawling, and monstrous maroon-throated howls and roars. The effect is at once sacred and sacrilege, good and evil. It’s an incongruent collage that’s hard to describe but easy to feel. Can you? That feel you get from the words you read is a consequence of the objective correlative. Correlative refers to the correlation between specific words and the feelings they inspire when we read or hear them. The correlation is objective because the feelings created by certain words are felt by everyone in the same way: objec- tively. When you understand this, you can draw upon the objective correlative to

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unlock the human psyche, to provoke whatever feelings you wish, and to provoke them in everyone. It’s how movie directors compel everyone to cry on cue. It’s how comedians provoke everyone to laugh. Certain words and combinations of words will do certain things, and do them to everybody in the same way. It’s as if a single rhetorical key can open a billion psychological locks. The first version of this next selection from The Lacuna has been altered so as to be without regard to the objective correlative. The second is very much informed by it, as a boy and his single mother find themselves in a strange land with creatures who dwell outside, and one creature in particular who dwells within—their would-be stepfather and husband, Enrique.

Alternate version: Enrique was their keeper, observing their fear while eating breakfast. “That howling is the aullaros,” he would say. “They howl at one-another to settle out their territories, before they begin a dayÂofÂhunting.”

Kingsolver’s version: Enrique was their captor, surveying their terror with a cool eye while eating his breakfast. “That howling is the aullaros,” he would say, as he pulled the white napkin out of its silver ring into his silver-ringed fingers, placing it on his lap and slicing into his breakfast with a fork and knife. “They howl at one-another to settle out their territories, before they begin a day of hunting for food.”

Note the careful words and phrases Kingsolver uses to transform an otherwise well-mannered gentleman at breakfast, into something quite dangerous, disturbed, calculated, cold, creepy, and violent even. Note also that Kingsolver doesn’t rely upon any of those obvious adjectives. Instead she allows her readers to feel the meaning of those adjectives by way of the objective correlative. From the nouns she uses to the verbs, to the pronouns, to the way Enrique watches them, moves, even the way he eats, everything about this passage is designed to evoke a certain feel. Anything Kingsolver can do to achieve that feeling she does by virtue of the careful words at her command.

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 29 12/10/10 8:35 AM L esson 12: Joshua Ferris

Falling into Lingo

If you’ve ever used a walkie-talkie, you know how hard it is to resist falling into walkie-talkie lingo. Based solely on the fact that these communication devices require one to press and hold down a knob while talking, things otherwise heard are suddenly and inexplicably copied: “Copy that victor tango three niner out.” At least that’s what I do. This bit of human nature, this urge to affect a special language for every special circumstance, is a little unnecessary, and so it lends itself to satire. That’s why falling into lingo is a particularly effective way of poking fun. See if you can poke some fun by falling into lingo in this passage from Joshua Ferris’s Then We Came to the End. Here’s some help: use clichéd corporate lingo in place of the word “quickly” and cheesy advertising lingo in place of the phrase “order the product.”

Alternate version: Ordinarily jobs came in and we completed them quickly. Sometimes fuck-ups did occur. Printing errors, transposed numbers. Our business was advertising and details were important. If the third number after the second hyphen in a client’s toll-free number was a six instead of an eight, and if it went to print like that, and showed up in Time magazine, no one reading the ad could order the product.

Ferris’s version: Ordinarily jobs came in and we completed them in a timely and professional manner. Sometimes fuck-ups did occur. Printing errors, transposed numbers. Our business was advertising and details were important. If the third number after the second hyphen in a client’s

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toll-free number was a six instead of an eight, and if it went to print like that, and showed up in Time magazine, no one reading the ad could call now and order today.

Can you see how falling into lingo gives the prose a satirical bent? Sometimes it’s necessary to set your lingo in quotation marks, to ensure that your fall into lingo is not lost on anyone, as in the following passage from this book’s introduction:

To some extent, formality creeps into just about every profession. People deploy such language in an attempt to present themselves as professional when, ironically, usually the opposite effect is achieved. The same can be said for those who attempt to impress with big professorial words. While such language may seem “indubitably” clear and appropriate to them, it strikes the rest of us as more than a bit eccentric.

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 31 12/10/10 8:35 AM L esson 13: Ken Kesey

Couching Metaphors

Read this portrayal of a house on a river from Ken Kesey’s Sometimes a Great Notion. Can you name the animal to which the language alludes?

No bridges span its first ten miles. And yet, across, on that southern shore, an ancient two-story wood-frame house rests on a structure of tangled steel, of wood and earth and sacks of sand.

If the allusion to a bird in a nest escaped you, Kesey’s simile makes it all too clear:

No bridges span its first ten miles. And yet, across, on that southern shore, an ancient two-story wood-frame house rests on a structure of tangled steel, of wood and earth and sacks of sand, like a two-story bird with split-shake feathers, sitting fierce in its tangled nest.

The point is, good writers do more than simply conjure up clever comparisons for the things they describe; they couch those comparisons in language that relates to them or is suggestive of them. Let’s try one ourselves. Assume the subject about which we are writing is an asylum, and we are in search of a title.

Step 1: Create a comparison. Animals and the places they live make outstanding comparisons. Let’s go with a cuckoo’s nest.

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Step 2: Couch your comparison in related language. We may create our own related language or we may borrow it. Poems, Bibles, and children’s rhymes all lend themselves well to this exercise. InÂthis case we’ll pick from rhyme: One flew east, one flew west, One flew over the cuckoo’s nest.

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 33 12/10/10 8:35 AM Lesson 14: Martin Luther King, Jr.

Shape-Shifting

Let’s assume that your company has been taken over by new management, and you have been tasked with creating a new slogan to whip whatever employees are left into shape. After some consideration, your new slogan goes like this:

Don’t cause a problem; find a solution.

That may be a little nondescript, but fear not. Watch what happens when a piece of the structure—or shape—of the first clause is shifted to the second:

Before shift: Don’t cause a problem; find a solution.

After shift: Don’t cause a problem; cause a solution. Now that’s much improved.

Shape-shifting gives your words an aphoristic feel, which is to say that it makes what you say seem wise and clever—because it is. So it’s no coincidence that shape-shifting is used by people who want to persuade and inspire. Consider this excerpt from the Reverend Martin Luther King’s “A knock at midnight” speech, as he examines the problem of racism in America.

The problem isn’t so much that we don’t know enough, but it’sÂas if we aren’t good enough. The trouble isn’t so much

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that Âour scientific genius lags behind, but that our moral genius lags behind.

Here, King uses two shape-shifts back to back, which creates an automatic rhythm to his prose. The first shift is good, but the second shift is remarkable because it creates a set of words not ordinarily seen or heard. Just as we are unaccustomed to “causing solutions,” we are equally unaccustomed to having a “moral genius,” let alone allowing it to lag behind. Here’s one from this very book. See if you can shape-shift part of the structure of the first clause to the second, and thereby create a more interesting effect:

Before shift: …words are powerful not in and of themselves, but in the way they combine to form that which they could never be otherwise.

After shift: …words are powerful not in and of themselves, but in and of each other, in the way they combine to form that which they could never be otherwise.

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 35 12/10/10 8:35 AM L esson 15: Henry James

Creative Prepositions

Prepositions—words that convey relationship like “on,” “in,” “above,” and “through”—are rarely given any thought at all. But because they are so few in number, and because they must be used in nearly every sentence, prepositions have a way of seeding clichés. It therefore becomes necessary to replace the prepositions we’re accustomed to with ones we are not. Read this excerpt from The Turn of the Screw as the narrator waits to hear what he presumes to be a true account of unspeakable horror. Mind you, the passage has been altered so as to be without a creative preposition. So begin by locating the ordinary preposition, and its cliché:

This I took for a sign that he had himself something to produce and that we should only have to wait. We waited in fact till two nights later; but that same evening, before we scattered, he brought out what was on his mind.

Hopefully you have identified the cliché “what was on his mind.” So do what James does, and replace the preposition “on,” with one from the list on page 41:

We waited in fact till two nights later; but that same evening, before we scattered, he brought out what was in his mind.

This seemingly minor change in preposition does three things. It destroys the cliché, it adds a haunted feel to the prose, and it serves as an opposing foil to the word “out.”

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Here’s another excerpt from The Turn of the Screw, altered so as to be without creative preposition.

He never took his eyes off me.

Now replace “off” with a less-usual preposition:

He never took his eyes from me.

Again, the cliché is destroyed. Not every preposition is meant to be replaced by another. Sometimes Âprepositions should be replaced by adjectives, as James does here in The Turn of the Screw:

Before preposition replacement: She has been dead for twenty years.

After preposition replacement: She has been dead these twenty years.

And now for your final test. In this next excerpt from A Moveable Feast, Ernest Hemingway—an admirer of James and in some respects an emulator—takes equal care in his choice of preposition.

Before creative preposition: Then there was the bad weather. It would come in one day when the fall was over. We would have to shut the windows at night against the rain and the cold wind would strip the leaves from the trees in the Place Contrescarpe.

After creative preposition: We would have to shut the windows in the night against the rain and the cold wind would strip the leaves from the trees in the Place Contrescarpe.

It would seem that what good writers do “at night,” brilliant writers do “in the night.”

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And you thought Ernest Hemingway and Henry James were diametrically opposed. Shame on you. Here’s a fairly extensive list of prepositions taken from Wikipedia. Use this list to find substitutions that destroy clichés and improve your speech and prose.

• aboard • despite • regarding • about • down • round • above • during • save • across • except • since • after • excluding • than • against • failing • through • along • following • throughout • alongside • for • till • amid • from • times • amidst • given • to • among • in • toward • amongst • including • towards • around • inside • under • as • into • underneath • aside • like • unlike • astride • minus • until • at • near • up • athwart • next • upon • atop • notwithstanding • versus • barring • of • via • before • off • with • behind • on • within • below • onto • without • beneath • opposite • beside • out • besides • outside • between • over • beyond • pace • but • past • by • per • circa • plus • concerning • qua

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 38 12/10/10 8:35 AM L esson 16: Barack Obama

Eloquence and Power

When you write and speak using eloquent language, two curious things happen. One: your audience cannot help but to associate that eloquent language with power. And two: they will then associate that power with you. It’s as if by the mere use of eloquent language, writers and speakers are able to acquire and project power. Think about it: The leader of the free world, arguably the most powerful person on this planet, is also among the most eloquent public speakers of the twenty-first century. Coincidence? While there are good reasons why some words and phrases are more powerful than others—many of which are the subjects of lessons in this book—some words are powerful just because they are. Read this altered excerpt from Barack Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” speech and try to come up with a more powerful replacement for the word in bold. Feel free to look up the word in this very thesaurus.

Altered: Farmers and scholars; statesmen and patriots who had traveled across an ocean to escape tyranny and persecution finally ratified the Declaration of Independence at a Philadelphia convention that lasted through the spring of 1787.

Original: Farmers and scholars; statesmen and patriots who had traveled across an ocean to escape tyranny and persecution finally made real their declaration of independence at a Philadelphia convention that lasted through the spring of 1787.

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I can’t tell you exactly why in this particular context “made real” is more eloquent than “ratified.” It just is. That’s why for every ordinary word you look up in this book there are usually several options from which to choose. Everything depends on context and your ability to choose wisely. So let’s test that ability by replacing the highlighted words in this passage from Dreams from My Father. Again, refer to The Well-Spoken Thesaurus if need be, but try to do this one yourself.

Altered: I enjoyed those moments—but only briefly. If the talk began to wander, or become too familiar, I would quickly find a reason to excuse myself. I had grown too comfortable in my privacy, the safest place I knew.

Original: I enjoyed such moments—but only in brief. If the talk began to wander, or cross the border into familiarity, I would soon find (_) reason to excuse myself. I had grown too comfortable in my solitude, the safest place I knew.

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 40 12/10/10 8:35 AM L esson 17: Cintra Wilson

Wordplay

When you think of words and phrases, it helps to think of them not so much as what they are—little groupings of letters on a page—but more as what they could be: three-dimensional objects, like pieces of a 3-D puzzle. Think of each word or phrase as a unique shape so that, as you rotate it, the face of the object—or the meaning—changes. Turn a word or phrase one way, and it conveys a certain meaning. Turn it upside down or on to its side, and it means something else entirely. When you think like this, it becomes easier to play with words in a creative way. Let’s say you’re writing about a resurgence of ’80s fashions, and so you plan to make some cultural references to movies like Flashdance or Back to the Future. Looking at Back to the Future straight on, it’s a movie and nothing more. But if you were to pick it up and rotate it ever so slightly in your mind, it would appear physically altered, perhaps without any capitalization, and therefore less movie- like and more phrase-like. You could then seamlessly weave “back to the future” into a sentence, as Cintra Wilson does in this excerpt from the 2009 New York Times article “Where the Bad ’80s Has a Niche”:

Fashion is currently obsessed with a redux of the New Wave ’80s, which, for the most part, has also been sanitized for your re-consumption. The sleazy, over-stimulated parts were left on the old side of the fin de siècle, and only the off-shoulder Tiffany tops and “Flashdance” leggings were welcomed back to the future.

If this kind of clever wordplay seems especially familiar, it’s because you

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encountered the very same thing on the preceding page, where Barack Obama describes America’s Founding Fathers, not as ratifying The Declaration of Independence, but as “making real their declaration of independence.” Again, the easiest way to write like this is to think of words and phrases as three-dimensional objects. So let’s think in 3-D, shall we? In this excerpt from a 2008 Salon.com article, Cintra Wilson makes the point that the Oscars have become tired, old, and uncool. But before we go any further, consider that word- pair: the Oscars. It’s just begging to be played with, don’t you think? Pick it up and turn it about in your mind. It shouldn’t take you long to come up with “Oscar,” which is precisely what Wilson does here:

Oscar is elderly, and in dire need of hipness-replacement surgery. In his dotage he is tiresome, dull and earnest, and employs a lot of doddering repetition about how movies “touch the soul” and “inspire others to dream.”

What’s more, Wilson takes the term “hip-replacement surgery,” interprets “hip” to mean cool, then modifies it to read “hipness-replacement surgery.” And that’s how you play with words.

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 42 12/10/10 8:35 AM The Well-Spoken Vocabulary

How Our Words Can Change the Way We Think

Have you ever learned a new word, and then after having done so, a few days later, happened upon that very word again, and then again a couple of weeks later? You realize that in all your past readings, never once did you really notice that word until you had taken the time to learn its meaning. The truth is, you had probably encountered the word a hundred times, but because you never understood it, for all intents and purposes, it wasn’t there. That’s because your mind has a way of papering over what it does not understand with what little it does. In each occurrence, your brain fills in the empty spaces as best it knows how, based on the incomplete aspects of your incomplete vocabulary. Here’s why that’s a very bad thing. When presented with pictures of the following animals—a robin, a bear, and an eagle—and called upon to group two of the animals together, most young children will pair the robin with the eagle.1 Children do this because they recognize the concept of birdness by virtue of the word “bird” in their limited vocabularies. But older kids will more often give a different answer. Take a moment to group two of the animals yourself. Done? Hopefully you’ve paired the eagle with the bear, because, as do older kids, you possess the word

1 Based on experiments conducted by Dr. Stephen J. Ceci at Cornell University.

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“predator” in your vocabulary. Only because you know the word “predator” do you have a rhetorical awareness that allows you to see predation. You and the older kids can see what the younger children can’t, not because the younger children lack intellect, but because they lack a developed vocabulary. They simply have not yet been introduced to that particular concept or word. This experiment suggests that the introduction of a single word into your vocabulary can transform the way you perceive reality. The implications are immediate. If words allow you to see that which you cannot otherwise see, then imagine what you are missing in your life today. It raises the question: how blind are you really? As a case in point, let’s turn our attention to a word you may or may not know—de-familiarization. Using this word as our “predator” example, I’m going to show you how an understanding of something as arcane as an obscure literary term can change the way you see reality. To do this, we must first agree on the word’s meaning.

De-familiarization is anything a writer does that is unusual or out of the ordinary. Writers and speakers de-familiarize what they say because they want your attention, and they want to more effectively make their points. One easy way to de-familiarize a point is to use a strategically placed Âexpletive. Think about it: If someone who never swears were to drop the F-bomb in public, you’d listen, and you’d remember what they said. Why? Because that sort of language would be completely out of the ordinary for such a person, and hardly in keeping with decorum. Such outbursts can be pretty head-turning—and eyebrow-raising—so they must occur as if by mistake.

So now that you have an understanding of the word de-familiarization, suppose you were to overhear the vice president of the United States characterize the recent passage of health care legislation as “a big fucking deal.” Would you be so quick to assume his remark an unintended faux pas? Or, would you suspect that the vice president wanted his remark to be picked up by the mic he knew was there, that he wanted—and succeeded in getting—all major news outlets to spend the next seventy-two hours talking about what a “big fucking deal” is the Obama-led health care bill?

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The point is, maybe it was a gaff, and maybe it wasn’t, but without a rhetorical awareness of the word de-familiarization, you would have assumed only one of those two possibilities. You would have paired the robin with the eagle. Expletives can also be used when their corresponding euphemisms fail to convey the gravity of a specific point, as we can see in this excerpt from Barack Obama’s Dreams from My Father:

When the weather was good, my roommate and I might sit out on the fire escape to smoke cigarettes and study the dusk washing blue over the city, or watch white people from the better neighborhoods nearby walk their dogs down our block to let the animals shit on our curbs—“Scoop the poop, you bastards!” my roommate would shout with impressive rage, and we’d laugh at the faces of both master and beast, grim and unapologetic as they hunkered down to do the deed.

Again, without an understanding of the word de-familiarization, you could easily come away from this passage wondering why a respected public figure like Barack Obama wouldn’t just use a less offensive word like “crap” in place of “shit.” You might therefore conclude unwittingly that President Obama was just being vulgar or trying too hard to be cool, and so you would have missed his attempt to de-familiarize his point, to describe the indignities imposed by one group of people upon another, using harsh language for effect. You would not have seen de-familiarization occurring before your very eyes, because it was not a part of your vocabulary. Unless you happen to be that rare breed given to discovering new phenomena, you need the word to see the thing. That’s how the act of learning new words can transform the way you see reality. That’s how acquiring a proper vocabulary forces your mind to stop seeing only those things that conform to what you think you already know.

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 45 12/10/10 8:35 AM This page is intentionally left blank The Seven Rhetorical Sins

Here are seven of the most common rhetorical offenses. Your efforts in reducing the frequency with which they occur are greatly appreciated.

1. Melodrama: Jacqueline Susann, Valley of the Dolls

The temperature hit ninety degrees the day she arrived. New York was steaming, an angry concrete animal caught unawares in an unseasonable hot spell.

This recalls that famous Seinfeld scene: “The sea was angry that day, my friends—like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli.”

2. Needlessness: Lee Child, The Enemy

I was alone in a borrowed office. There was a clock on the wall.ÂIt had no second hand. Just an hour hand, and a minute hand. It was electric. It didn’t tick. It was completely silent, like the room. I was watching the minute hand intently. ItÂwasn’t moving.

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As Simon and Garfunkel used to say, it’s “The Sound of Silence,” not “The Sound of Complete Silence”—and for good reason.

3. Cliché: Steven King, Insomnia

By then the ticking had grown very loud, and when Ralph lay in bed beside her on those hot summer nights when even a single sheet seemed to weigh ten pounds and he believed every dog in Derry was barking at the moon, he listened to it, to the deathwatch ticking inside Carolyn, and it seemed to him that his heart would break with sorrow and terror.

While there is little harm in using an occasional cliché, they should never inform your prose or your speech. The only good cliché is the one you coin yourself.

4. Pretension: Elias Canetti, Crowds and Power

There is nothing that man fears more than the touch of the unknown. He wants to see what is reaching towards him, and to be able to recognize or at least classify it. Man always tends to avoid physical contact with anything strange.

Why would you want to rhetorically dismiss half the people on the planet every time you communicate some grand universal notion? What’s wrong with “humankind” or even the occasional “she” or “her”? Speak to everyone. It’s the twenty-first century.

5. Craftiness: Glenn Beck, Common Sense

I think I know who you are. After September 11, 2001, you thought our country had changed for the better. But the months that followed proved otherwise. We began to divide ourselves and the partisan bickering that had been absent from blood donor lines and church services started all over again.

From this, the opening paragraph to Common Sense, if you didn’t know any better you would think that Glenn Beck was sorry to see our country divided. But

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don’t be fooled. Propagandists crave division, and come well versed in language designed to sow it. They exploit our fear of terrorists, our suspicion of science, our resentment of the “edumacated,” and our bias against other cultures, religions, races, and nationalities. They manipulate our opinions by hyping obscure fringe groups which then serve as unwitting foils to the propagandists’ more “moderate” views. And with that oft-repeated whisper “those people think they’re better than you,” propagandists exploit our lack of self-esteem, and dismiss as corrupt, arrogant, or misinformed anyone with whom they disagree. Whether you lean right or left, never let “common sense” deprive you of reason.

6. Perkiness: Janet Evanovich, How I Write

Three people are actually responsible for writing this book. Alex, my webmaster daughter, is the third author. When asked if she preferred the money or the glory, there wasn’t a contest, so for design purposes Alex’s name isn’t on the cover. Bad enough we had to fit Evanovich on once, much less twice!

This is insufferable. I’d rather read Glenn Beck.

7. Wordiness: Henry James, The Turn of the Screw

The case, I may mention, was that of an apparition in just such an old house as had gathered us for the occasion—an appearance, of a dreadful kind, to a little boy sleeping in the room with his mother and waking her up in the terror of it; waking her not to dissipate his dread and soothe him to sleep again, but to encounter also, herself, before she had succeeded in doing so, the same sight that had shaken him.

Sometimes even the greatest of writers need to be reminded to take in the slack.

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To get a sense for what this thesaurus can do, consider its preamble as it was originally written in rough draft form:

These words are like spices. Be careful selecting the right ratiosÂand flavors. Too much sugar will make your writing seem flowery and pretentious. Too much garlic, and your writing willÂtaste academic and stiff. Not enough salt, and you’ll be labeled bland.

Suppose you had written the above passage as part of a rough draft, and now the time had come to polish it up a bit with The Well-Spoken Thesaurus. For starters, you might try looking up “be careful,” where you would find the alternative “take care to.” You could then look up “right” and replace it with “proper,” and then look up “too much” to find “an embarrassment of.” Not exactly a synonym of “too much,” but it works, doesn’t it? That’s because it’s rhetorically related to what you are trying to say. You see, because your ultimate objective is not simply to find a synonymous word, but a more powerful word, this book has been designed to provide you with precisely that—what I like to call powernyms.

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And so, with the powernym for “make your” being “leave your,” the final product speaks for itself:

These words are like spices. Take care to select the proper ratios and flavors. An embarrassment of sugar will leave your prose flowery and pretentious. Too much garlic, and your writing will taste academic and stiff. Too little salt, and you’ll be dismissed as pedestrian. And always be mindful of your audience. Try not to serve vichyssoise to a coal miner, and do not give Cheerios to the queen of England. Neither will be amused.

No conventional thesaurus can do that. No vocabulary builder. No style guide. As effective as this book can be as a writer’s reference, my hope is that you take the time to use it as a learning aid for speaking. After all, if you’re going to be well- spoken, you can’t be continually looking up words every time you have something to say. You’re going to need to memorize a few things. Start with the boxes. They contain some of the most impressive examples of eloquence this book has to offer. Then move to the common word entries, under which you will often find not one but several eloquent alternatives. Of these alternatives, only the first—arguably the most eloquent—is meant to be memorized and used regularly in your everyday speech. It must not be thought, however, that my choices are informed by anything other than personal taste. So feel free to take exception, and memorize the one alternative that most appeals to you. In any case, the quickest and most effective way to do this is to write each of your favored alternatives on flash cards paired against their corresponding common word entries and review them daily. Only then will these words begin to inform the way you speak. Also, as a general rule, limit the use of foreign and academic words to those occasions when your subject is foreign or, when your audience is peopled with academics. I include both categories as words that are good to know but not necessarily to use at every occasion. Finally, should you ever happen upon any eloquent words or phrases that I have neglected, email them to me along with your name and address. If I use them in a future edition, I’ll be delighted to mention your contribution in that edition’s acknowledgments.

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 52 12/10/10 8:35 AM Preamble

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aertain c something -je ne sais quoi {French, zhuh nuh Aa say KWAH} ait b aertain c way -rather -a given manner -somewhat -in part aifferent d story -to some degree -another matter entirely -to some extent aone d deal “Perhaps to some extent, but I think her an accomplished fact judicial decisions are based less on politics - a fait accompli {French, fate than on natural justice.” - uh-com-PLEE} aitf b o “I’m sorry, but the court has spoken; it’s a -a remnant of fait accompli.” “To the peasants of old times, the world aewy f ears ago outside their own direct experience was a some years ago region of vagueness and mystery: to their - untravelled thought a state of wander- “Some years ago there was in the city of ing was a conception as dim as the winter York a society of magicians. They met life of the swallows that came back with upon the third Wednesday of every month the spring; and even a settler, if he came and read each other long, dull papers upon from distant parts, hardly ever ceased to be the history of English magic.” Susanna viewed with a remnant of distrust…” Mary Clarke, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell Anne Evans, Silas Marner aind k of â â aertain c amount of -a âââ of sorts a measure of - aittle l bit -somewhat -in part

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 55 12/10/10 8:35 AM 56â a little bit of (i detect a little bit of)

-to some degree aotf l o -to some extent -a wealth of “Perhaps to some extent, but I think her -a host of judicial decisions are based less on politics -extensive than on natural justice.” -a goodly number of [playful] -a fair amount of aittle l bit of (I detect a -fuming not a little little bit of) -hordes of -a degree of -legions of -a remnant of -profuse “To the peasants of old times, the world -a great many outside their own direct experience was a -a litany of region of vagueness and mystery: to their -considerable untravelled thought a state of wander- aan m ing was a conception as dim as the winter -the man life of the swallows that came back with the spring; and even a settler, if he came “For all men live by truth and stand in need from distant parts, hardly ever ceased to of expression. In love, in art, in avarice, in be viewed with a remnant of distrust…” politics, in labor, in games, we study to ut- Mary Anne Evans, Silas Marner ter our painful secret. The man is only half himself, the other half is his expression.” aittle l bit of a Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The Poet” -something of a ailewa m a y “We used to be more productive in verse. -a mile distant Maybe that was a young man’s thing, because every novelist, especially in the “Because the intersection was on this tiny early phases of his work, is something of a rise, you could see our buildings, a mile poet.” Derek Walcott, speaking of West distant, at the southern edge of the farm.” Indian writers Jane Smiley, A Thousand Acres

aot l aelar r gu (He’s a regular at this pub) -a great deal -one of the usual suspects “You’ll come to learn a great deal if you study the Insignificant in depth.” Odysseus “The usual suspects begin to mosey on in Elytis atÂaround five o’ five.” -a client aotappened l h during -a habitué {French, huh-BICH-oo-ay, -much did happen during one who frequents an establishment habitually} aotike l l “Of all the customers, he was the bartend- -it recalls a certain er’s most loyal habitué.” -it’s much like -it is reminiscent of apecific s way -it is akin to -a given manner -it is much the same as -it’s âââ ian -it bears a resemblance to

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aime t when (it was a time “The chief weapon of the sea pirates, how- when) ever, was their capacity to astonish. Nobody -years that saw else could believe, until it was much too late, “These were years that saw the rise of how heartless and greedy they were.” Kurt Mussolini and the Fascist Party.” Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions

ahile w (for a while) ableo( t are you able to) -for some time now -can you manage to -for a considerable space in time about abandon (to abandon) -of -abandon the sanctuary of “I know nothing of the house I was born “This king, to say no more of him, and in. The look of the town is all I remember. this queen, and their infant children (who And yet I can hear the sound of the door as once would have been the pride and hope we closed it behind us for good.” Andrew of a great and generous people) were then O’Hagan, Our Fathers forced to abandon the sanctuary of the most splendid palace in the world, which they left There is talk about a merger. swimming in blood…” Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France There is talk of a merger. -consign -relinquish about( approximately) -forsake -on the order of -forswear -some ten million -cede -there or thereabouts -lay aside -to the tune of “Lay aside your personal feelings, and view -circa {Latin, SIR-cuh, lit. around} this as a professional matter.” “The Mencius was written circa 4th century BCE.” abandoned (is abandoned) -derelict abouto t happen poised to abilities - -in the offing -prowess -impending -facility in -approaching -instincts -looming “His instincts as a lawyer are what got him -imminent where he is today.” absent âââbilit a y -unaccounted for -command of -elsewhere -authority in the handling of -in absentia {Latin, in -a capacity for ab-SENT-shee-ya} “You certainly have a capacity for math- “He was wrongfully tried and convicted in ematics and engineering.” absentia.” -the faculty for -capacity to

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absolute absolutely not -unmitigated -by no means “Christianity has operated with an un- “The issue is by no means resolved.” mitigated arrogance and cruelty—neces- -emphatically not sarily, since a religion ordinarily imposes on those who have discovered the true abundantly faith the spiritual duty of liberating the in- -profusely fidels.” James Baldwin “Maria Concepción walked carefully, keep- -sheer ing to the middle of the white dusty road, -uncompromising where the maguey thorns and the treacher- -stark ous curved spines of organ cactus had not -unqualified gathered so profusely.” Katherine Anne Porter, The Collected Stories of Katherine absolute power Anne Porter. -imperium {Latin, im-PEER-ee-um} “She rules with imperium.” abused -maltreated absolutely “The book was thick and black and cov- -without question ered with dust. Its boards were bowed and -without exception creaking; it had been maltreated in its own -without doubt time.” A. S. Byatt, Possession -by any measure -undoubtedly academic field -unmistakably -academic discipline -in no measured terms -soundly accept embrace -categorically - -decidedly “Science embraces the facts and debates -invariably opinion; religion embraces opinion and de- -indeed bates the facts.” -in every respect accept that (I reluctantly -out and out accept that) -to be sure -I am resigned to -patently -I will allow that -without reservation -I have come to terms with -in no uncertain terms -is nothing other than accept the cost -utterly [often derogatory] -bear the cost

accept the responsibility This is absolutely the best beer -bear the responsibility on the menu. acceptable (good enough This is without question the best but not great) beer on the menu. -palatable -admissible

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accepted and established accompanying -canonical -attendant “It has been three centuries since Dr. -concomitant [academic] (Samuel) Johnson was born, on Sept. 7, according to 1709. He died on Dec. 13, 1784, still -by various accounts struggling for the mixed blessing of more -as viewed by life. His Falstaffian vitalism is always my -in what some say is first thought when I reread, teach again or -it was by all accounts continue brooding upon the canonical critic of Western literature.” Harold Bloom, New York Times, Nov. 5, 2009 According to everyone there, it was an awkward exchange. accepted idea [but ironically a platitude] It was by all accounts an -idée recue [pejorative] Âawkward exchange. {French, ee-day ru-SUE} “When a company tells its workers to think account for (did you outside the box, that is the kind of idée Ârecue account for) that can suck the life out of everyone there.” -render an account of

access to accumulation of -recourse to -an assemblage of -avail yourself of -a repository of -immediacy to -a trove of “Immediacy to everything the new hospital had to offer was his first concern.” accurately -faithfully accessible (are accessible) accurateness -lie within the reach of -the inerrancy of [academic] “Very simple ideas lie within the reach only of complex minds.” Remy De Gourmont accusation -incrimination accessories -indictment -embellishments -denunciation -accoutrements -trappings accuse -point an accusatory finger accident -mishap accused of -come under fire for accompanied by “She has come under fire for her imperious -attended by management style.” -punctuated by “Football combines the two worst features achieve of American life. It is violence punctuated -fulfill by committee meetings.” George Will -realize -make strides toward

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-carry off actf o violent revenge -produce -a blood reckoning

achieve great things action( a specific action) -achieve great ends -measure “Every man of action has a strong dose of -deed egoism, pride, hardness and cunning. But -gesture all those things will be regarded as high -exploit qualities if he can make them the means to -venture achieve great ends.” Giorgos Seferis -undertaking -pursuit achievement action( in a general sense) -a triumph agency -a significant point of arrival - -a tour de force {French, tour du “And like a big teacup at the county fair, FORCE} they would sit and spin in their little round “Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables is consid- boat, and want for rain and want for land, ered a literary tour de force.” until they had only to want for the agency of God.” acknowledging (out of -instrumentality [academic] regard for) -in a nod to actionable intelligence [military jingoism] “In a nod to the gloomy economy, Ford -timely information Motor Company will forgo up to twelve monthly payments for car buyers who lose actions their jobs.” -deeds -doings across from (sat across from) “They are dead, all of them. I am caught -sat opposite and tangled around by their doings. It is as if their lives left a weaving of invisible acts a threads in the air of this house, of this town, -function as of this county. And I stumbled and fell into -serve as them.” Shirley Ann Grau, The Keepers of the House actf o -good offices -in a gesture of “It was only her good offices that saved actf o God his job.” -a force majeure {French, force mu- ZHURE, lit. supreme force} activities -affairs “Because there is a force majeure clause in -proceedings the contract, we are not obliged to pay for -goings on damage caused by the earthquake.” -endeavors -vis major {Latin, vis MAY-jer, lit. -pursuits higher force}

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actual( in practice, but not addeaut b y to officially) -grace with -de facto {Latin, de FAC-toe, lit. in -adorn with fact} -array with “Though he is only a radio commentator, addo t many consider Rush Limbaugh to be the de -inject a dose of facto leader of the Republican Party.” -augment actual( real) -supplement -tangible -infuse -substantive -leaven with endow with “I want you to make substantive - install improvements.” - -instill with actual business addo t problems -a going concern -exacerbate the problems actually (AS A WAY TO BEGIN -only compound the problems A STATEMENT) addo t that the -as it happens couple that with -the fact of the matter is - -truth be told addedonus b (as an added -I would have you know bonus) -it is in point of fact -for good measure

actually (really) addin g filler -in truth -larding in any real sense - “You are larding the narrative with needless “But even though the number of those who adjectives.” really think seriously before they begin to write is small, extremely few of them think addition about the subject itself: the remainder think -addendum only about the books that have been written -supplement on the subject, and what has been said by additional (but others. In order to think at all, such writers subordinate) need the more direct and powerful stimu- -ancillary lus of having other people’s thoughts before -collateral them. These become their immediate theme; and the result is that they are always under adst ju their influence, and so never, in any real -tailor sense of the word, are original.” Arthur -calibrate Schopenhauer, The Art of Literature adstedju himself to adaptable -attuned himself to -compliant -malleable administering (conserving) -pliant -husbanding

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“The Master once observed that to rule well advancement one of the larger States meant strict atten- -progression tion to its affairs and conscientiousness on -furtherance the part of the ruler; careful husbanding of its resources, with at the same time a tender adversely Affected by care for the interests of all classes; and the -suffers from employing of the masses in the public ser- -subject to vice at suitable seasons.” Confucius, The “Civilization exists by geological consent, Analects subject to change without notice.” Will Durant administrative offices -the secretariat [formal] advertised -trumpeted admirable -laudable advice -deserving -counsel -commendable advise -praiseworthy -counsel admire -impress upon -there’s something to be said for -caution -the quality I most esteem advises me to admired by -recommends me to -the darling of advisor -found favor among -consigliere {Italian, “She found favor among the country’s lead- cun-sig-lee-AIR-ay} ing conservatives.” advisors admithat t -brain trust -make no secret of -intellectual blood bank -will allow that -will grant you advocate (an advocate) -recognize -proponent -come to terms with -apostle -by your own account -firebrand advocate (to advocate) I admit that I have a past. -espouse proselytize I make no secret of my past. - -countenance

affair admittedly intrigue -albeit - -it has to be said that “Everything was in confusion in the -truth be told Oblonskys’ house. The wife had discovered that the husband was carrying on an advance gradually intrigue with a French girl, who had been -encroach a governess in their family, and she had

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announced to her husband that she could not go on living in the same house with him.” Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina It comes right after a full moon. -entanglement It comes in the wake of a full -liaison {French, lee-AY-zohn} moon.

affect -inform after a while -color -in time “Sensations, feelings, volitions, ideas— -over the course of a few short weeks such are the changes into which my exis- afterein b g tence is divided and which color it in turns.” -after having been Henri Bergson, Creative Evolution AterI’f m gone, all hell will affected by break loose -subject to -Après moi le deluge {French, ah-pray -suffer from mwah lay day-LOOZSH, lit. after me, affected her with the deluge} -produced upon her “He betrayed not a little arrogance with his “She had never been pretty; her whole reply: ‘Après moi le deluge.’” life, which had been but a succession of pi- afterhe t event ous works, had produced upon her a kind -post hoc of transparent whiteness, and in growing old she had acquired what may be called afterhe t war the beauty of goodness.” Victor Hugo, -postbellum {Latin, post-BEL-um, lit. Les Miserables after the war}

afraid (I’M AFRAID) “When the killing was ended, the postbellum government enacted measures to lessen -I fear that he will the likelihood of another war.” -I go in fear of my life afterhe t year â ââ after in the years following âââ -in the wake of - -after having after thinking about it -afterward -on reflection -after which -in the aftermath ainga -coming on the heels of -once again -thereafter -here again -from âââ onwards -yet again -post âââ -âââ redux {Latin, re-DUX, lit. “Fashions occurring after the reign of King brought back again} Edward are said to be post-Edwardian.” “Upon its release in 2001, Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 film Apocalypse Now was aptly re-titled Apocalypse Now Redux.”

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 63 12/10/10 8:35 AM 64â again and again

ainndga a again aeeogr t disagree -several times over -modus vivendi {Latin, MODE-us vi-VEN-dee} ainstga (ARE AGAINST) “Israel and Palestine have been unable to -have come out against reach a modus vivendi regarding disputed ainstga the rules territories.” -at odds with -at variance with aeeogr t in a condescending way -flies in the face of -deign to -heresy “He didn’t even deign to reply to her ainstga the wishes of inquiry.” -over strong objections -in defiance of aeeablegr -amenable a(hege t same age) “The union is amenable to the latest of similar date - Âcorporate offer.” -complaisant (very agreeable) The age of this pottery is the -obliging (very agreeable) same. aeedgr on This pottery is of similar date. -was agreed upon -was settled between us

agavateg r aeeingr g -inflame -in accord with -in agreement agessiveg r -well disposed to -sharp elbowed -concordant {cun-COR-dunt} going for the jugular - [academic] agessivelg r y hostile aeementgr -truculent -accommodation -vitriolic -consensus -belligerent -concurrence [academic] aningo zi g issues -accord -wrenching issues -covenant [poetic] -the thorniest of issues -perfect coincidence between “Those who discourse…of the nature of aningo zi gly truth…affirm a perfect coincidence be- -murderously tween truth and goodness.” Robert South, “The day was murderously hot and there Sermons Preached Upon Several Occasions was no wind and the dust hung above the army like a yellow veil.” Michael Shaara, aeesgr with (goes with) The Killer Angels -is in keeping with -comports with -is consistent with the views of -echoes

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-reflects allround a the room -accords with -all about the room “It is not because the truth is too difficult to allor f nothing see that we make mistakes…we make mis- -all for naught takes because the easiest and most comfortable course for us is to seek insight where it allell h breaks loose accords with our emotions—especially self- -war of all against all ish ones.” Alexander Solzhenitsyn all ave I h is a ahead of -I have only a -in advance of allinds k of aid - âââ of every sort -facilitate -all manner of “My attorney had taken his shirt off and “He is a man of action, but at the same was pouring beer on his chest, to facilitate time a scholar who finds time for every- the tanning process. ‘What the hell are thing and likes to discuss all manner of you yelling about?’ he muttered, staring subjects under heaven and on earth.” Pär up at the sun with his eyes closed and cov- Lagerkvist, The Dwarf ered with wraparound Spanish sunglasses. ‘Never mind,’ I said. ‘It’s your turn to allnowin k g drive.’” Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and -omniscient Loathing in Las Vegas all ife my l all the days of my life aimless remark (off topic) - -a desultory remark “…I have the feeling that whatever happened would have happened whether I had air been on hand or not, whether I had spo- -atmosphere ken or been still, whether I had known the “Pierre plunged into the subway. A fever- Carmodys all the days of my life or had ish, a brutal crowd. On his feet near the met them for the first time one sunlit after- door, closely pressed in a bank of human noon in the middle of last week.” Edwin bodies and sharing the heavy atmosphere O’Connor, The Edge of Sadness passing in and out of their mouths, he stared without seeing them at the black and rum- alli n ght bling vaults over which flickered the shining -the whole night through eyes of the train.” Romain Rolland, Pierre “A councilor ought not to sleep the whole and Luce night through, a man to whom the populace is entrusted, and who has many responsi- airy bilities.” Homer, The Iliad -ethereal allf o all -the whole of -among those who “The life of a nomad is surprising. You -each with its own cover nine hundred miles in two weeks: -the whole of the whole of Anatolia in a cloud of dust.” Nicolas Bouvier, The Way of the World

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allfts o i -the full measure of its They violate company policy all allfhe o t sudden I saw they want. -all at once I saw They violate company policy allfhem o t with impunity. -altogether -without exception allo t gether -in toto {Latin, in TOE-TOE} -all told ALL OUT ENDORSEMENT -en masse -a full-throated endorsement -in toto {Latin, in TOE-TOE}

allver o alle w can say is -widespread -all that can be said is -pervasive -all that is known is that -systemic allyu o have to do is -prevailing -you have only to allver o the place -we should only have to -indiscriminately allyu o want allver o the world -to your heart’s content -the world over alliance allhat t is asked of him is -anschluss (an unseemly political that he alliance) {German, ON-shlus} -no more is asked of him than to allocate “For readers reared on traveler’s tales, the -apportion words ‘desert isle’ may conjure up a place -appropriate of soft sands and shady trees where brooks -earmark run to quench a castaway’s thirst and ripe fruit falls into his hand, where no more allow is asked of him than to drowse the days -enable away till a ship calls to fetch him home.” -play host to J.Â .ÂCoetzee, Foe -perpetuate

allhe t way allowable -to its full extent -permissible

allhe t y want allowed -with impunity -permissible -admissible -perfectly at liberty to -in order for “Rolland asked if it was in order for him to study these jottings. He gave his credentials; he was part-time research assistant to

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Professor Blackladder, who had been edit- already exist ing Ash’s Complete Works since 1951.” -preexist A. S. Byatt, Possession “Man is explicable by nothing less than all his history. Without hurry, without all upportery (s ) rest, the human spirit goes forth from the -a ready patron beginning to embody every faculty, every “Jack found a ready patron in Lisa, the new thought, every emotion, which belongs to head of Product Development.” it, in appropriate events. But the thought is always prior to the fact; all the facts of his- all ithy w tory Âpreexist in the mind as laws.” Ralph -make common cause with Waldo Emerson, “Essay on History” almost already going on -nearly already afoot -all but the most - -near to also -nearly so -what’s more, -most anything -to say nothing of -almost to the point of -it may be added that -every chance but one -also to be found among other things almost dead - here again -moribund - -in turn almost done -likewise -almost in hand -moreover -not the least of which alon g with -and on top of that -in tandem with -notwithstanding the fact that -alongside those of -otherwise known as -in the midst of -parenthetically so too did already been decided - if not -an accomplished fact - even beyond that -a foregone conclusion - as a further matter -a fait accompli {French, fate - a-com-PLEE} -as did -âââ no less “Do not write to my sister yet. When all is aÂ ‘fait accompli’ then we will tell her, “This work is in excellent condition—and because then it will be useless for her to signed no less.” doÂother than to accept.” D. H. Lawrence, altered Selected Letters -doctored [derogatory]

although It’s already been decided. -albeit It’s a fait accompli. “The trip abroad was enjoyable, albeit brief.” -but then again

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 67 12/10/10 8:35 AM 68â always

-even if ann e joyment -if -a relish “The speech was well written, if uncerÂ “The constant attention of Mr. and Mrs. tainly delivered.” Henry Dashwood to his wishes, which proceeded not merely from interest, but from always goodness of heart, gave him every degree of -invariably solid comfort which his age could receive; -never hesitates to and the cheerfulness of the children added a -on every occasion relish to his existence.” Jane Austen, Sense -eternally [poetic] and Sensibility -evermore [poetic] -ever [poetic] anmple exa of -an instance of always be careful to -be ever mindful of analz y e -parse always right -assay [academic] -unerring -attempt some analysis of

am m (I a ) anarchist philosophy -I remain -Hobbesian {HOB-zee-in}

amateur ancestors -dilettante {French, DIL-uh-tahnt} -forebears [pejorative] -antecedents [academic]

aman zi g ancient -remarkable -archaic -astonishing -paleo -staggering -primordial primeval amount of - antediluvian -measure of - antiquarian -degree of - -a quotient of ancient times -reckoning of -antiquity -a quantity of -application of and “From the freezer she pulled out a bottle -as well as and poured herself a serious application of -this, together with vodka.” Tim Winton, Dirt Music -both in -moreover amusing diversion -and alike -divertissement {French, -and what’s more div-ER-tis-ment} -with “We would tell our children: If you travel amusing in an odd way as far as you can that way, as far as you -droll can that way, you will come to places that lie more distant from our sun than we do.

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 68 12/10/10 8:35 AM annoyâ 69â

You will find thick water, not light and quick anr( ge have anger) moving as it is with us. The water is slow -malevolence with cold, and on its surface it wrinkles as -animosity it moves, or even, sometimes, makes plates -animus or flakes that are solid. This is ice.” Doris -ire Lessing, The Making of the Representative for Planet 8 angry -heated andlso a -acrimonious -and on top of that -indignant -incensed and by that I mean -seething -which is to say “They were gentlemen-magicians, which animal life is to say they had never harmed any one -fauna by magic—nor done any one the slightest animal sculptures good.” Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Strange -totemic sculptures and Mr. Norrell -topiary sculptures (bushes shaped like animals) {TOPE-ee-air-ee} and on I d ’t think -nor do I think You should have seen the bushes andthers o -et al shaped like animals at Disney. You should have seen Disney’s andot s i is topiary sculptures. -and there it rests

ando s on animals and so forth - -creepers andure s enough -beasts -and indeed “In the first days of December the birds, af- “‘Ready to sleep,’ she says; and indeed, ter frequent biting frosts, flew into villages en route, she falls asleep briefly, her and towns, and even wild beasts came out head slumped against the window.” J.M. of dense forests and drew near the houses Coetzee, The Lives of Animals of people.” Henryk Sienkiewicz, On the Field of Glory andherefore t -and as such announcing -and as befits that background -proclaiming -calling attention to anlicge -seraphic {SARE-uh-fic} annoy -cherubic {chuh-RUBE-ic} -irk -ethereal -exasperate -tire anr( ge to anger) -rankle -infuriate -displease -incense

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 69 12/10/10 8:35 AM 70â annoyed

annod ye an ody go -displeased -the slightest good -piqued “They were gentlemen-magicians, which -vexed is to say they had never harmed any one annon yi g by magic—nor done any one the slightest good.” Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Strange -tiresome and Mr. Norrell -vexing -displeasing anowyh -incessant -be that as it may -irksome -nonetheless -nettlesome -nevertheless -infernal -notwithstanding -bothersome -in any case annon yi g person -in any event -gadfly “In any event, no harm was done.”

another anhinyt g they -a further class of -that which they -yet another animeyt they want answer( an answer) -at will -rejoinder -with impunity -retort ana yw y answer evasively -at any rate -parry -in any event -equivocate -nevertheless -in any case answer his question -be that as it may -address his concern -nonetheless -notwithstanding

Which of you can answer her anhereyw question? -arbitrarily Which of you can address her anet xi y concern? -disquiet -angst anousxi to apartrom f each other -keen on -asunder [poetic] -keen to know apathy anousxi to fight -torpor {TOR-pur} -spoiling for action. “One man, however, was in fighting mood, apoloy g awake and on edge, spoiling for action.” -mea culpa {Latin, ME-uh KULP-uh} Anonymous, Beowulf {BAY-uh-wolf }

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 70 12/10/10 8:35 AM approach (a way)â 71â

apparent -patina -much in evidence -semblance -semblant -veneer -putative appearance of (occurrence) apparently -emergence of -ostensibly -presence of -by all accounts -ascendancy of -by all appearances -presumably appeared in -purportedly -graced our seemingly - appearing is said to be the - -without casting oneself as -it would seem -on the face of it appears to be -at first blush -strikes one as -we are told -has every appearance of “…there lies a small market town or rural -has all the earmarks of port, which by some is called Greensburgh, -assumes the guise of but which is more generally and properly appease known by the name of Tarry Town. This -placate name was given, we are told, in former -mollify days, by the good housewives of the adjacent country, from the inveterate Âpropensity of appl ressurey p their husbands to linger about the village -bring to bear tavern on market days.” Washington -exert Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow appl o y t (THEY APPLY TO) appeal to a higher -extend to authority -invoke appreciate “At the beginning of an epic poem, the -savor protagonist often invokes a muse for “Almost every day for five years I had left protection.” for somewhere and arrived somewhere; in the morning I had gone up station steps and appear down again, in the afternoon down sta- -present oneself tion steps and up again, signaled for a taxi, -shows itself in felt in my pockets for money to pay for my -surface ticket, bought evening papers at kiosks, and -make an appearance savored in the corner of my mind the stud- -emerge ied casualness of these mechanical actions.” Heinrich Böll, The Clown appearance (look) -facade appreciating local culture -outward show -collecting local color -visage -a pretense approach (a way) -mien {meen} -treatment

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 71 12/10/10 8:35 AM 72â approach (to approach)

approach (to approach) “She has a vested right to half of the estate.” -draw near -not without sanction -come upon “Her right to the estate is not without approach aggressively sanction.” accost - approved of approaching -well received -oncoming -hailed -winter drawing on -welcomed -applauded appropriate for -rapturously received -in keeping with -was supportive of -most suited for -lends itself to -apropos His presentation was -befitting approvedÂof. -only fitting His presentation was -commensurate well-received. -apt -in accordance with -felicitous appromatelxi y -in order for -some ten million -aptly chosen -on the order of -there or thereabouts -by and large This painting is appropriate for -to the tune of the room’s décor. are This painting is in keeping with -are to be found the room’s décor. -are in fact -are judged appropriateness of -are among the most -the propriety of -happen to be -âââ they are not approval -they remain -assent -adoption areccessible a -approbation [academic] -lie within the reach of imprimatur {Latin, im -pri-MAH-tour} - arell a over the place “We could not proceed without the court’s -abound imprimatur.” -are ubiquitous

approve areecause b -sanction -are rooted mainly in the -condone areaused c by approved -stem from -vested

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 72 12/10/10 8:35 AM are stillâ 73â

areifferent d areot n -make quite a contrast -âââ they are not -it is clearly not the case that aremples exa of -stand as examples of They are not free. areensive exp -command high prices Free they are not.

arearther f from -lie more distant from areot n as important as -take a back seat to “We would tell our children: If you travel as far as you can [this] way, as far as you “Reflections on politics, though, take a can that way, you will come to places that back seat to the practicalities of surviving lie more distant from our sun than we do. on the road and, in the style of Herodotus, You will find thick water, not light and quick collecting dubious bits of lore.” Richard moving as it is with us. The water is slow B. Woodward, New York Times, Nov. with cold, and on its surface it wrinkles as 1, 2009 it moves, or even, sometimes, makes plates areot n successful or flakes that are solid. This is ice.” Doris -never know success Lessing, The Making of the Representative for Planet 8 “For the traveler we see leaning on his neighbor is an honest and well-meaning ARE HIDDEN man and full of melancholy, like those -are indistinguishable from Chekhov characters so laden with virtues that they never know success in life.” aren i Orhan Pamuk, Snow -are to be found in -lie in areot n well known “Although he devotes hours of each day to -are too little known his new discipline, he finds its first prem- arenl o y ise, as enunciated in the Communications -remain, at best, no more than 101 handbook, preposterous: ‘Human society has created language in order that areroof p of we may communicate our thoughts, feel- -attest to ings and intentions to each other.’ His own -stand as proof of opinion, which he does not air, is that the origins of speech lie in song, and the origins areemembered r as of song in the need to fill out with sound the -stand in memory as overlarge and rather empty human soul.” areimilar s J.Â .ÂCoetzee, Disgrace -bear a resemblance to areuck l y -have close affinities to are close in style to -lucky are they who - -might be mistaken for arean m y -abound aretill s -remain

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 73 12/10/10 8:35 AM 74â are supposed to

areupposed s to “Success is the province of those who work -are to hardest.”

arehe t same aren’t many â â -are one -are few âââ to be found

arehe t symptoms of arehatgu t -reflect -hold that -contend that arenable u to -maintain that -are in no position to arin gu g arealid v -at loggerheads bear scrutiny - -wrangling bear inspection - -trading public insults “As political analysis, there’s something to be said for Krugman’s Manichean armentgu view of the world. But Krugman is also -quarrel an economist—a very good one—and the -impasse Âeconomics of what is proposed bear inspec- -great divide tion.” John Cassidy, The New Yorker, -source of antagonism between Nov. 4, 2009 armentativegu areyu o able to -polemical -can you manage to -contentious

Aeyur o afraid for them? aristocrat -Do you fear for them? -a patrician

area aroserom f -sphere -found expression in dominion - around -domain -about -sphere of influence -round about -theater of war -expanse -swath She drags the broom around -locale theÂrooms. -realm She drags the broom about “In the brand-new, state-of-the-art con- theÂrooms. dominium, mother and daughter will each have her own realm, Erika here, Mother there, both realms neatly divided.” Elfriede arrange Jelinek, The Piano Teacher -configure -orchestrate areaf o expertise -array -my bailiwick -the province of

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 74 12/10/10 8:35 AM asânce â o saidâ 75â

arrange into a system artificial behavior (establish) -affectation -codify -pretense “Abner Doubleday was the first to codify -in a highly mannered fashion the rules of what would become modern artificial device baseball.” -contrivance arranged -deus ex machina {Latin, DAY-us ex -deployed MAH-kuh-nuh, lit. God from the machine} arrangement -configuration artist -a certain geometry of purpose -executant [academic] a disposition of - artistic arrival -aesthetic -advent of -symmetric -geometric arronce ga “The outfit was acceptable by any theolog- -hauteur {French, oh-TER, oh as in ical and geometrical standards, however snow} abstruse, and suggested a rich inner life.” arront ga John Kennedy Toole, A Confederacy -haughty of Dunces imperious - artist’s lifework on display artf o controversy -a retrospective polemics - artwork artf o debate -a work -forensics -a piece

article as -a piece on -as âââ as it is âââ -as is artificial “She was fair as is the rose in May.” -ersatz {AIR-zahts} Geoffrey Chaucer -faux “New London, in southeastern Connecticut asânce â o said about midway between New York and -to borrow the words of âââ Boston, seems on paper a lot like Mystic, -it is, in the lexicon of âââ , a very… its neighbor to the east—all sea views, sea- -to approximate âââ ’s remark food, and seafaring history. But unlike that “It was only that, having written down quaint (or perhaps faux quaint) town, New the first few fine paragraphs, I could not London is becoming as recognized for its produce any others—or, to approximate independent art scene as for its handsome Gertrude Stein’s remark about a lesser harbor.” Laura Siciliano-Rosen, New writer of The Lost Generation—I had York Times, Nov. 1, 2009 the syrup but it wouldn’t pour.” William Styron, Sophie’s Choice

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 75 12/10/10 8:35 AM 76â as a favor

asavor a f -insomuch as -do it ex gratia {Latin, ex -to such an extent that GRAY-she-uh} asars f a I’m concerned asormalit a f y -and I, for my part, -pro forma {Latin, pro FOR-muh, lit. -it is, in my estimation for form} asars f a we know asatter a m of fact -as far as we can see -as it happens -on the face of it -the fact of the matter is -so far as it appeared -truth be told -to all appearances -as a matter of course -or so it goes “Nevertheless on most topics the atmosphere asor f was liberal. For instance, Darwinism was -with respect to accepted as a matter of course.” Bertrand -as to Russell, On God and Religion -apropos of asesult a r -with regard to consequently - asgod o -hence -comparable -thus -anything that bears comparison -as a consequence -in consequence “Now I cannot recall, any fight you entered, Unferth, that bears comparison.” Anonymous, Beowulf {BAY-uh-wolf } Her dismissal came as the result of her own poor decisions. asgeat r as -as great as any that can be named Her dismissal came as a conse- -the equal of âââ quence of her own making. aseees h s it -to his mind asa a w y of -by his reckoning -as a means of -in his judgement asndded a a bonus “To a man of his age, 52, divorced, he has, -for good measure to his mind, solved the problem of sex rather well. On Thursday afternoons he drives asn a expression of to Greenpoint. Punctually at 2 p.m., -in token of their mutual affection he presses the buzzer at the entrance to asected exp Windsor Mansions, speaks his name, and enters.” J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace -true to form asf i asars f a as though -to the extent that - -insofar as “Leaning far out the window, the girl called -inasmuch as to the station manager as though he were a -considering that

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 76 12/10/10 8:35 AM Ask for helpâ 77â

great distance away.” Yasunari Kawabata, astated s by Snow Country -if I may paraphrase

asfe i h owned her asime t went by -in a proprietary sort of way -in the course of time assual u He looked her over, as if he -in typical fashion owned her. asyun o g as He looked her over, in a propri- -no older than etary sort of way. asholored c -ashen asft i i were real [pertaining to film] ashamed -cinéma vérité {French, SIN-e-ma -quite cast down vair-e-TAY} asiderom f asssuall i u y the case -otherwise -as is usual -in other respects -apart from that ason l g as it is -among other -insofar as it is -provided it is ask -raise the question asan m y as you want -pose the question -any number of -pursue that line of inquiry inquire asuch m as - -trouble -no less than -invite -as fully as -put to AS MUCH AS I -inquire after -much as I -make inquiries -call upon asuch m as we try -put the question to -try as we might -put it to

aspposed o to askor f help -in contrast to -appeal solicit asromised p - -enlist the help of -true to his word -petition him in favor of aseired r qu -make inquiries -as the occasion may require -occasion -invite asoften s o -call upon you for -as is usual in

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 77 12/10/10 8:35 AM 78â ask her this question

asker h this question assist -put this question to her -accommodate -ask this of her -cater to their needs -minister to askedor f -expressed the need for assistant -adjunct askedo t (was asked to) -underling [derogatory] -called upon to -subordinate askin g for trouble -understudy -courting disaster -attaché {French, a-tash-AYE}

asleep assistant chef -dormant -sous chef {French, SUE shef}

aspect assistants -component -retinue -facet -entourage -dimension -coterie {KOE-ter-ee} -dynamic -cortège {French, cor-TEZH} -feature assisted “The irony does not escape him: that the -tended upon one who comes to teach learns the keen- -ministered to est of lessons, while those who come to learn learn nothing. It is a feature of his associate (an associate) profession on which he does not remark to -collaborator Soraya.” J.Â .ÂCoetzee, Disgrace -confederate

assisser k associate with -lackey -lend one’s name to -obsequious person associated with sycophant - -affiliated with assembled -linked to -marshaled -home to -once synonymous with assessment -centered around -an accounting of -attributed to -incidental to assied gn to do -allied to charged with - -bound up with

assimentgn assume stint - -posit assimilation -postulate -acculturation -take as an indication that assumed power -possessed himself of

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 78 12/10/10 8:35 AM at this moment in timeâ 79â

assumes that there is athat t moment -presupposes a -on that instant

assumption “Either we live by accident and die by accident, or we live by plan and die by plan. -presumption And on that instant Brother Juniper made -premise the resolve to inquire into the secret lives -postulate [academic] of those five persons, that moment falling assure through the air, and to surprise the reason of -dispel any doubts their taking off.” Thornton Wilder, The Bridge of San Luis Rey atll a -by any means athat t point -in the least -with that -remotely -in the slightest degree athe t age of â ââ in her âââ year -whatsoever - -in any sense athe t beginning -not even for a moment -at the outset atround a -from the outset -circa {Latin, SIR-cuh, lit. around} athe t end of the day “The Mencius was written circa 4th -in the final analysis century BCE.” -ultimately

atome h “Ultimately, literature is nothing but car- pentry. With both you are working with -in one’s element reality, a material just as hard as wood.” ateast l Gabriel Garcia Marquez -accept the consolation that -at the very least athe t house of -chez {French, shay} aten l gth “In France, instead of eating at Spencer’s, -in extenso {Latin, in ek-STENT-so} you eat at Chez Spencer.” [academic] athe t point of death atoon n he -in extremis {Latin, in eck-STREAM-is} -noon found him “Noon found him momentarily alone, while athe t same time the family prepared lunch in the kitchen.” -meanwhile Paul Harding, Tinkers -in the meantime -is at once his âââ , and his âââ atisk r -it is at once, ââ , âââ -at hazard -in peril of athisj t uncture [corporate cliché] “And I think a man would have to put his -at this time soul at hazard. And I won’t do that. I think now that maybe I never would.” Cormac athis t moment in time McCarthy, No Country for Old Men -at this moment

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 79 12/10/10 8:35 AM 80â at this pace

athis t pace attach -apace -append

athat w he said attached -at his words -adjoining

attached to He was dismayed at what the -moored to president said. attack( to attack) He was dismayed at the -have at Âpresident’s words. -lay siege to -lay into take a swipe at athich w time - -set upon -whereupon -savage atill w -besiege -with impunity -assail -at one’s will and pleasure “The terror and hurt in my story happened -at one’s discretion because when I was young I thought others -as far as one desires were the authors of my fortune and misfor- -of one’s own accord tune; I did not know that a person could hold up a wall made of imaginary bricks atereakfast b and mortar against the horrors and cruel, took his breakfast - dark tricks of time that assail us, and be the “At 8 a.m., he took his breakfast of toast author therefore of themselves.” Sebastian and eggs.” Victor Hugo, Les Miserables Barry, The Secret Scripture

atheism attack( an attack) -skepticism -incursion -existentialism (secular existentialism) -foray “Existentialism explained in under 140 -onslaught characters: Gd does not exist, so U are -barrage free to make yr own inwardly passionate, -salvo of individual choices; some are wrthy of this -the latest salvo in the battle against responsibility, most are not, wich is why life -sortie is absrd.” attack verbally atmosphere -inveigh against -color -cast aspersions upon -an air of -a note of It’s considered poor form to -with distinct ââ undertones verbally attack the dead. -flavor -aura It’s considered poor form to cast -milieu aspersions upon the dead. -genius loci {JEEN-yus LOW-sigh} [academic]

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 80 12/10/10 8:35 AM available to useâ 81â

attacked by attracted attention -came under fire -had been the object of much -subject to attention -set upon -drew close scrutiny from -beset by attracted to attacker of cherished -drawn to beliefs “Although I was first drawn to math and -an iconoclast science by the certainty they promised, attempt today I find the unanswered questions -a bid to and the unexpected connections at least -endeavor to as attractive.” Professor Lisa Randall, -have a go at Warped Passages -venture attraction to a push for - -fondness for attempts at -allure of -forays into -the appeal lay in -affinity for attentive -gravitation towards -discerning attractive attentive to the views of -engaging -solicitous of the views of “She is quite engaging.” attitude -inviting -manner attribute -predisposition -ascribe -disposition -invest it with qualities of attract -assign -appeal to authority -draw -standing -collect -invite authorize -license attract attention to -vest with -draw their gazes -accentuate available to use -engage -discretionary -invite attention -at one’s disposal “After pointing heavenward for half a century, the steeple appeared to have swerved We have a limited amount suddenly from its purpose, and to invite ofÂmoney available to use. now the attention of the wayfarer to the bar beneath.” E. A. G. Glasgow, The Miller We have a limited amount of Old Church ofÂmoney at our disposal.

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 81 12/10/10 8:35 AM 82â average looking

average looking awa rom y f -nondescript -secluded from -apart from aviatrix “She stood apart from the crowd, letting -pilot it drift by her to the platform or the street, avoid and wearing an air of irresolution which -circumvent might, as he surmised, be the mask of a -avert very definite purpose.” Edith Wharton, -steer clear The House of Mirth -give a wide berth -pointedly avoid awful( immoral) reprehensible -finesse - reproachful -forbear - deplorable -shun - -wretched avoidhe t question -grievous -hedge around the question -depraved -defer -perverse “In his response to our pointed questions, -wayward he deferred to his counterparts within the -worthy of censure agency.” -un-redeeming

avoidance awfulq uality -forbearance -of little merit -leave much to be desired avoided -averted awkward -ill at ease “The crisis was averted when the -discomfited European Union voted on a bailout pack- age for Greece.”

award -accolade Bb

awarding Bovies m -granting -psychotronic films -psychotronica [noun] aware of -acquainted with backnd a forth -conscious of -vacillating -mindful of -oscillating -privy to the secret -passing from ââ to ââ -in tune with -flitting between -attuned to -moving to and fro -heedful of -with some interplay

awa eep y (k it away) -at bay

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 82 12/10/10 8:35 AM bad guyâ 83â

backwa a y from what was -wretched said -un-redeeming -backpedal -depraved -roll that one back badcts a backf o the boat -indiscretions -the stern -transgressions -go aft (towards the back) -misdeeds -improprieties backhem t up -wrongs -lend support -vices

She refused to back up badt a -inept eitherÂparty. -not well suited She refused to lend support to “It’s not a game in which I’m particularly either party. well suited.”

badt a math backhen t -innumerate [academic] -at the time badehavior b backp u (move back) -villainy [often playful] -draw back “Come to spread your villainy, have you?” backp -u plan -contingency badeeds d -corruptions backed up -pollutions -drew back badffects e backfired (the plan -adverse effects backfired) -hoisted with one’s own petard bador f -ill suited for backoundgr (in the -do not lend themselves easily to background) -detrimental to -backdrop -poisonous to “The president gave his speech with “Mother Nature determines what is poison- Mt.ÂRushmore as his backdrop.” ous to the soul and body, and sometimes it is easy to avoid that which is baneful and backlighting unclean: e.g., we naturally have no desire contre-jour {French, kawn-tre - to eat fetid corpses and drink motor oil.” ZHOOR} Cintra Wilson, A Massive Swelling “The contre-jour photographic technique will create a silhouette every time.” badgrl i -femme fatale {French, FEM feh-TAL} bad -perverse badg uy -wayward -the heavy

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 83 12/10/10 8:35 AM 84â bad idea

baddea i -ill-advised -inadvisable Your comments were in -a non-starter (no chance of success) badÂtaste. Your comments were in badma i ge poorÂform. -troubled image

baduck l badempered t -misfortune -ill-humored badouth-m -ill-tempered -speak harshly of -irascible -throw aspersions on -morose -deride -querulous -refer to derisively -snarky -disparage -cantankerous -denigrate badimin t g -express contempt for -untimely -traduce [academic] -belittle badeather w -libel -inclement weather {in-CLEM-ent} “You cannot libel the dead, I think, you can only console them.” Anne Enright, The badl ffectedy a by Gathering -adversely affected -were subjected to badoet p badl ffectedy a the -poetaster [academic] {POH-et-aster} -cast a pall over badqalit u y -put a terror on -of little merit “…but there were dry years too, and they -leaves much to be desired put a terror on the valley.” John Steinbeck, East of Eden badituation s -plight badl onceivedy c -predicament -misbegotten

badmellin s g ba f g o tricks -noisome odor -repertoire {French, REH-per-twahr} -putrid -fetid balance -equilibrium badaste t -in bad form BALANCE (TO BALANCE) -off color -strike a balance -in poor form balcony -indecorous -gallery

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 84 12/10/10 8:35 AM beâ 85â

bandits bartender -outlanders -barkeep [humorous] -marauders -barmaid [humorous]

“Long ago it wasn’t just a road, following basedn o the high ground, away from the woods and -founded on swamps lower down, but a defensive bar- -rests in part on rier, a bulwark against marauders from the -predicated on north, whomever they may have been.” -informed by Henry Shukman, New York Times, Nov. -built on 1, 2009 “Love built on beauty, soon as beauty, banker dies.” John Donne {pronounced Dun} -financier -investment banker basedn i -merchant banker -rooted in

bare basic -spartan -underlying -unembellished -framework upon which -austere -basic to our understanding of

barely basicnstinct i -narrowly -primal urge -scarcely bathroom -by a tiny margin -washroom -it was all they could do to batting average below .200 barel y know her -the Mendoza line -we’re on short acquaintance battle( a battle) barel y perceptible -firestorm -liminal “The measure has ignited a political barininga g firestorm.” -horse-trading -flashpoint -negotiating -standoff -maelstrom {MALE-strum} (turbulent barks i worse than his bite confusion) -he’s just blustering -melee {may-lay} -not as formidable as his words -bitter wrangling

battle( to battle) His bark is worse than his bite. -take the fight to He is not as formidable as -have at hisÂwords. -join the fray

be barricade -remain -cordon {French, KOR-dn}

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 85 12/10/10 8:35 AM 86â be careful

beareful c -tread carefully -take care what you do A good lawyer knows when to -take care to speak, and when to be quiet. “Take care to select the proper ratios and A good lawyer knows when to flavors.” speak, and when to keep her counsel. beiscoura d ged -lose heart beeen s as begod o enough -constitute -should suffice -amount to

beospitable h beoad s b -extend hospitality -fall into error benfluenced i by “How can you fall into such error?” -fall into the hands of beure s beiked l -rest assured -find favor -prove acceptable behere t -be on hand be my guest -by all means bearost m of it -bear the brunt of it beffended o by -take umbrage bearike -l ursine -take exception to - -recoil from beat (1) beptimistic o -overcome best the competition -strike an optimistic tone - -bested beresented p to -come before beat (2) -bludgeon bericed p at -will fetch beatround a the bush flutter round it -should command -

beqiet u beatt i clear off -hold your peace - -keep your counsel “…you get some who blow kisses or try to get hold of your arm, but then they are definitely knocking at the wrong door. I get off my bicycle and refuse to go further in their company, or I pretend to be insulted and tell them in no uncertain terms to clear off.”

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 86 12/10/10 8:35 AM because ofâ 87â

Anne Frank, Anne Frank: The Diary of becameg ood at a Young Girl -mastered the art of

beaten became popular -equaled -found favor with -surpassed became president beaten badly -assumed office -routed because of -schooled -owing to beating -as a consequence of -drubbing “This is a tale of a meeting between two -shellacking lonesome, skinny, fairly old white men on a planet which was dying fast. One of them beautiful was a science fiction writer named Kilgore -breathtaking Trout. He was a nobody at the time, and -exquisite he supposed his life was over. He was mis- -striking taken. As a consequence of the meeting, -stunning he became one of the most beloved and -handsome respected human beings in history.” Kurt “New London, in southeastern Connecticut Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions about midway between New York and in light of Boston, seems on paper a lot like Mystic, - as (so young as I was,) its neighbor to the east—all sea views, sea- - in that food, and seafaring history. But unlike that - for reasons quaint (or perhaps faux quaint) town, New - for the purposes of London is becoming as recognized for its - substantially owing to independent art scene as for its handsome - what with the harbor.” Laura Siciliano-Rosen, New - on her account York Times, Nov. 1, 2009 - -by virtue of beautiful woman -in consequence -belle {French, bell} -for fear of -love runs after her like puppies (said -for the sake of of a beautiful woman) “There was a girl named Flora, who paid Mrs. Sucksby a penny to take me begging at became a play. People used to like to take me begging came to be - then, for the sake of my bright hair; and Flora grew to be more - being also very fair, she would pass me off as gave way to - her sister.” Sarah Waters, Fingersmith -came to be regarded as -came to have significant -by dint of -in view of became famous -for the reason that -first rose to prominence -on account of gained wide recognition - “My parents, Lord and Lady Amberley, won notoriety - were considered shocking in their day on

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 87 12/10/10 8:35 AM 88â because i was so young

account of their advanced opinions in become more accepted politics, theology, and morals.” Bertrand -gain currency with Russell, On God and Religion

because I was so young In recent years, the possibility -so young as I was of extra Âdimensions has become more accepted by physicists. because of a lack of -for want of In recent years, the possibility of extra Âdimensions has gained currency with physicists. It died because of a lack of water and sun. become more prominent It died for want of water and sun. -claim more attention

become public because of that -see the light of day -by that very fact -come to light -ipso facto {Latin, IP-soe FACT-oh, lit. by the fact itself} becomes -is rendered because of your -assumes -that’s what comes of your -manifests because that’s all we have “My fingers are mated into a mirrored -for want of something better Âseries of what manifests, to me, as the letter X.” David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest become -grow to be becomes friends withâââ -lead to -finds a friend in âââ -grow -cross the border into becoming extinct in dramatic decline “I enjoyed such moments—but only in - brief. If the talk began to wander, or cross beehive the border into familiarity, I would soon -swirl of activity find reason to excuse myself. I had grown too comfortable in my solitude, the safest been(i m ght have been) place I knew.” Barack Obama, Dreams -might have proved from My Father “I took up my coat and carpet-bag, and went into the next room to change my become a victim of linen, and dress for dinner. Any distress at fall victim to - the termination of my intrigue with Betty become annoyed with was amply compensated for by my joy at -chafe under the leadership style of the happy ending of a troublesome affair which might have proved fatal for me.” become fully effective Jacques Casanova, Volume 6c—Rome: -come into one’s own The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 88 12/10/10 8:35 AM beginning and end ofâ 89â

before “And all at once, though I had remained -beforehand dry-eyed through all the insults done me on -formerly board ship and through the hours of despair when I was alone on the waves with the before mentioned captain lying dead at my feet, a handspike -aforementioned jutting from his eye-socket, I fell to crying.” before now J.M. Coetzee, Foe heretofore [academic] - BE GAN TO PLAY (MUSIC) before the revolution -the band struck up -ancien regime {French, ahn-syohn -a dozen voices caught up the refrain ray-ZHEEM} beno ga t think about beg -her thoughts turned to plead - ben gi implore - -arise supplicate [academic] - -commence ben ga -establish -we got down to it -inaugurate -established -set about -embarked on -take up -begun its course -embark upon -enter upon “The planet Mars, I scarcely need remind -launch into the reader, revolves about the sun at a -begin the task of mean distance of 140,000,000 miles, and -fire the opening salvo the light and heat it receives from the sun -get to the business of is barely half that received by this world. It -begin its course must be, if the nebular hypothesis has any -there are the beginnings of truth, older than our world; and long before this earth ceased to be molten, life upon its bennergi surface must have begun its course.” H. G. -novice Wells, The War of the Worlds -neophyte

ben ga again benningi g (are beginning) -resumed -incipient -emergent benivinga l g in -nascent -took up residence in benningi g (the beginning) beno ga t -the inception -set about -the onset beno ga t collect -the emergence came to collect - benningi g and end of beno ga t cry -birth and death of -fell to crying “I always found in myself a dread of west and a love of east. Where I ever got such

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 89 12/10/10 8:35 AM 90â beginning stages

an idea I cannot say, unless it could be that behind it is the morning came over the peaks of the -it is informed by Gabilans and the night drifted back from the ridges of the Santa Lucias. It may be that behind closed doors the birth and death of the day had some part -à huis clos {French, uh-wee KLOE} in the feeling about the two ranges of moun- behind the scenes tains.” John Steinbeck, East of Eden -the inner workings of the inner counsels of benningi g stages - -in ovo {Latin, in oh-voe} bein ttackedg a embattled benningi gs of - beset upon -inklings of - -much maligned behegs t question [incorrecÂ usage] bein oliteg p -raises the question -from politeness -leads to the question of belief ben gu hanging out with -notion -taken up with -conviction -sentiment -thoughts on the matter He’s begun hanging out with the -faith wrong crowd. “We need more humanity, more care, He’s taken up with the wrong more love. There are those who expect a crowd. political system to produce that; and others who expect the love to produce the system. My own faith is that the truth of the future behave lies between the two and we shall behave -conduct oneself humanly and a bit humanely, stumbling -comport oneself along, haphazardly generous and gallant, -remain within the bounds of decorum foolishly and meanly wise until the rape -act with regard to of our planet is seen to be the preposterous folly that it is.” William Golding behavior -decorum -tenet -conventions -axiom -composure -doctrine -governance -dogma -âââ in her manner -ideology -demeanor -ethos severity of demeanor - beliefn i only one god -with playfully exaggerated ceremony -the monotheistic creed -tone -poise believability -carriage -credence -plausibility

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 90 12/10/10 8:35 AM best case scenarioâ 91â

believable beneficial -plausible -salutary -well-founded benefit believe -would profit by -accept -enjoy the fruits of -subscribe to -favor -embrace the theory of “The political winds favor their chances.” -partial to the view that -suppose benefits -presume -dividends -profits BELIEVE IN -gifts -hew “There must be acceptance and the knowl- -adhere to edge that sorrow fully accepted brings its -favor own gifts. For there is an alchemy in sor- -hold to row. It can be transmuted into wisdom, “Augustus held to a more leisurely philoso- which, if it does not bring joy, can yet bring phy. He believed in giving creatures a little happiness.” Pearl S. Buck, The Child Who time to think, so he stood in the sun a few Never Grew minutes until the rattler calmed down and crawled out a hole.” Larry McMurtry, besides Lonesome Dove -quite apart from

believe it or not best -unbelievable as it may seem -unparalleled -in a class by itself believe me -unrivaled -rest assured -unsurpassed believed to be -of the first order beyond compare -thought on good grounds to be - incomparable -have it on good authority that - -aââ like no other believers -preeminent -advocates of -nonpareil {French, non-puh-REL} -the noblest of bellin r ging -of the highest quality -bell tolling -sets a standard of -tolling -the foremost belonged to -a hallmark of the crown princess of -were those of - -the dean of beneath one’s dignity -the maestro of -infra dig {Latin, in-fruh DIG} -transcendent [academic] -rarely equaled

“Most professors consider the grading of bestase c scenario Âpapers to be infra dig.” -at best

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 91 12/10/10 8:35 AM 92â best expressed

best expressed between you and I -most notably expressed (incorrecÂ usage) -between you and me bestf o the best -crème de la crème {French, KREM de biased la KREM, lit. cream of the cream} -partisan -predisposed bestart p (showpiece) -tendentious -pièce de résistance {French, pee-ESS duh ruh-zee-STAHNCE} bi eclinesg d -sharp declines besta w y to -how best to bi hotg s -grandee {Spanish, gran-DEE} There is considerable debate “‘Don’t worry,’ Bill said to Sheba, ‘you’ll get used to the gloom.’ He smiled at her over the best way to prevent magnanimously, the grandee allowing her future oil spills. into the little enclosure of his bonhomie.” There is considerable debate Zoe Heller, Notes on a Scandal over how best to prevent future oil spills. BIWORDG -lofty word -pretentious word beste w can do is bioaphicalgr movie or TV -we can do no better than to show Btee m -a biopic -Who will take a bet with me? birdsin s ging (listen to the betrayal birds singing) -duplicity -birdsong

betrad ye birth -broke faith with -genesis -nascence better -better suited for birthing (place of birthing) -a more perfect -accouchement {French, -preferable a-koosh-MAH} -to be preferred “The royal family attended the accouchement of the queen, and did behold their between Âfuture king.” -among “There is little agreement among party birthplace leaders.” -cradle of -spawning ground of between themselves -provenance -inter se {Latin, inter SAY} “No matter what its name or provenance, it is believed that the arrival of the Europeans

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 92 12/10/10 8:35 AM blindly devoted followerâ 93â

on Hispaniola unleashed the fukú on the not love them. They looked at her coldly, world, and we’ve all been in the shit ever as if they were finding fault with her. And since.” Junot Diaz, The Brief Wondrous hurriedly she felt she must cover up some Life of Oscar Wao fault in herself.” D. H. Lawrence, “The Rocking-Horse Winner” biting -acerbic You are blaming others when bitter you are to blame. -acrid You are finding fault when the bitterness fault is your own. -rancor {RANG-ker}

black blaming yourself -raven black -self reproach -sable -much of this is my own doing -obsidian bland blacknd a white view of -insipid the world -vapid -Manichean view of the world -nondescript {man-i-KEE-uhn} -weary, flat, stale, and unprofitable “As political analysis, there’s something [Shakespeare] to be said for Krugman’s Manichean view of the world. But Krugman is also blanklate s an economist—a very good one—and the -tabula rasa {Latin, TAB-you-la Âeconomics of what is proposed bear inspec- RAH-zah} tion.” John Cassidy, The New Yorker, blatant Nov. 4, 2009 -overt patent blackomed c y [antiquated] - -gallows humor bleacher bums groundlings blackheep s [antiquated] - -pariah blendnto i assimilate blacklaver s y in the U.S. - -that peculiar institution blessings mercies blame - -implicate “Let’s be glad for small mercies.” -point an accusatory finger blew -apportion blame -gave forth a blast of wind -the fault lay in part with -hold to account for blindl y devoted follower -find fault with -an apparatchik {Russian, “She had bonny children, yet she felt they op-er-RAH-chick} had been thrust upon her, and she could

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 93 12/10/10 8:35 AM 94â block

block bodily -stymie -corporeal -thwart -frustrate body -check -his whole person rose up -the figure of a man could be seen blocked him -prevented his passing bod f y o work -barred him from -oeuvre {French, OHV-ruh}

bloodath b bos gu -a bath of blood -without merit

bloodeud f bold -vendetta -brazen -nervy bloodone m y -audacious -filthy lucre {LOO-ker} -brassy

bloom boldness -come into its own -bravado -temerity blow a kiss -audacity -waft a phantom kiss bombard blown -barrage -driven “Driven on the wind that sweeps the bond gloomy hills of London.” T. S. Eliot, Four -a rapport Quartets book blue -work -vishnu blue -tome (large and scholarly) {rhymes with home} bluekies s -source -azure skies {AZH-er} [poetic] boomerang bluffing -recoil -posturing “Violence does, in truth, recoil upon the boardf o directors violent.” Arthur Conan Doyle -the directorate boondocks boast -the hinterland -lord it over -in some far corner -trumpet -outlands

boastful boos -vaunting -a chorus of disdain -full-throated boos

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 94 12/10/10 8:35 AM bragâ 95â

boost “Everything about her was at once vigor- -shot in the arm ous and exquisite, at once strong and fine.” Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth boredf o [incorrect usage] -bored with bothnds e -bored by -opposite ends

boredom bothf o them -tedium -both -ennui {French, ahn-WEE} -both these persons -the two boring -them both -tedious -mundane “There are only two extant copies, and we -hackneyed own them both.” warmed over retreads of - bothered by fairly sleepy - -burdened by not a show-stopper - -subjected to not electrifying - -encumbered by “If his performance was not electrifying, at -subject to least it was believable.” -we have no rest from it -it’s a source of much distress to her borin g and oversimplified -we are plagued by writing -pabulum bothers (IT BOTHERS) -it pains me to borin g parts of a book -it weighs on me -longueurs {French, lon-GUERZ} -it grieves me bornith w -troubles -graced with “Nevertheless, when her children were present, she always felt the center of her heart borrows from go hard. This troubled her, and in her man- draws upon - ner she was all the more gentle and anxious is informed by - for her children, as if she loved them very bossy much.” D. H. Lawrence, “The Rocking- -imperious Horse Winner” -magisterial bottomless pit -officious -abyss -high-handed brag both -lord it over them -both of which -vaunt -either -boast -respectively -the two “You can boast about anything if it’s all -it is at once âââ and âââ you have. Maybe the less you have, the more you are required to boast.” John Steinbeck, East of Eden

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 95 12/10/10 8:35 AM 96â brainwash

breathing hard -breath comes fast She came from a prominent “His nostrils are dilated and his breath family, but she wouldn’t brag comes fast—his demons are driving him.” about it. Upton Sinclair, The Jungle She came from a prominent family, but she wouldn’t lord it bribery graft over us. - brief cursory brainwash - momentary -inculcate a sense of - fleeting -instill a sense of - -short-lived branch of -ephemeral -arm of briefly -wing of in passing -organ of - -in a word branched -in brief -took different courses “I enjoyed such moments—but only in -diverged brief. If the talk began to wander, or cross the border into familiarity, I would soon brave find reason to excuse myself. I had grown -unflinching too comfortable in my solitude, the safest -undaunted place I knew.” Barack Obama, Dreams -plucky from My Father breakpart a brit gh light -fracture -brilliant light -disband -splinter britnessgh -rupture -luminosity

breakpen o brimming with -breach -alive to the sultry sounds of

breakp -u brin boutg a -a parting of the ways -engender -part company -raise breakp u “The competing viewpoints have raised de- -fragment bate among both wings of the Democratic party.” breakhrou t gh -conjure up -breach -summon -invite breathed in -effect -drew breath -elicit

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 96 12/10/10 8:35 AM brown-noserâ 97â

-give cause for broken down -arouse -in disrepair -occasion -derelict “The coverage of Fort Hood will, right- brothers fully, be extensive in the next few days. But -brethren it will be a pity if it completely overshad- ows how significant a story the killing of the brout gh about British soldiers has become in their country. -kindled What the incidents may have most in common is that they occasion a reckoning of the âââ brought back costs of war.” Amy Davidson, The New -âââ redux {French, ree-DUCKS} Yorker, Nov. 6, 2009 “Upon its release in 2001, Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 film Apocalypse Now was brin ack g b aptly re-titled Apocalypse Now Redux.” -resurrect brout gh out brin owng d a notch -drew -depose you of your lofty perch -elicited incurred brin e g m a - -produce a brout gh them together assembled them brin o g t life - -animate “Nightfall assembled them, as it did the “He had a way of animating the past like no stars. With nothing in common but their other history teacher could.” destitution, they mustered to sleep together in the Porch of Our Lord, cursing, brin o g t gether insulting and jostling each other, picking -draw together quarrels with old enemies, or throwing -assemble earth and rubbish, even rolling on the ground and spitting and biting with rage.” brin p g u for discussion Miguel Angel Asturias, The President -broach the subject brout gh to mind brings back memories -aroused in his mind the idea of -it’s Proustian {PRUE-stee-un} (after Marcel Proust, which is pro- brown nounced Proost, not Proust) -chestnut -sepia brings out -tawny -accents brown-noser Bitishgr overnment -sycophant {SICK-uh-fnt} -Whitehall -toady lackey broadan r ge of - obsequious person -eclectic - -unctuous person brokehrou t gh -breached

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 97 12/10/10 8:35 AM 98â brown-nosing

brown-nosing “My main ambition as a journalist is to cut -fawning through the PR and find the truth in what politicians are saying.” Chris Matthews, brushside a 2010 Hardball promo -think no more of -discount -dismiss I want it straight, without theÂbull. brutal( depraved) -bestial {BEES-chel} I want it straight, without theÂPR. buffer( a buffer) -hedge against -cordon sanitaire {French, kawr-dawn bullied sahn-ee-TAIR} (as in buffer states -hectored between two countries) bully buildup -tormentor -groundswell -tyrant

built a career bum -having fashioned a career -indigent -layabout builtrom f -wastrel {WAY-struhl} -built of “We were sitting in the blind that bumookin-l g Wanderobo hunters had built of twigs -unkempt and branches at the edge of the salt-lick -bedraggled when we heard the truck coming.” Ernest -harried Hemingway, The Green Hills of Africa bunch of accumulation of builtn -i - assemblage of -inherent - repository of -deep-seated - trove of -innate - -resident burden( a burden) an albatross builtn o - a tax on -rests in part on - an encumbrance -is predicated on - -is informed by “This was still the era—it would end -built on later in that famous decade—when to “Love built on beauty, soon as beauty, be young was a social encumbrance, a dies.” John Donne {pronounced Dun} mark of irrelevance, a faintly embarrassing condition for which marriage was builtith w the beginning of a cure.” Ian McEwan, -built of Chesil Beach

bull burden( to burden) -PR -to saddle with

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 98 12/10/10 8:35 AM by forceâ 99â

-to encumber but again -to weigh heavy on -but here again -to subject to “I proceeded, as I have said, to question Weena about this Under-world, but here bureaucrat again I was disappointed.” H. G. Wells, -a functionary The Time Machine -government official butot n burning at the stake -if not -auto-da-fé {Portuguese, out-oh-da-FAY} butot n you not so you burn yi g your head in the - sand but n T i -a fool’s paradise -horn in

bushes shaped like animals burewareye b -topiary sculptures {TOE-pee-AIR-ee} -caveat emptor {Latin, CAV-ee-ot “The whimsical theme is carried through EMP-tor} from topiary sculptures to ‘reinvent- ed’ takes on classic cocktails, like the by Blackforest mojito, which is made with -by means of Chambord.” Christine Chow, New York -by the hands of Times, Nov. 1, 2009 -by way of -the work of busy -through the agency of -preoccupied -by virtue of -engaged in -on the part of -absorbed in -by nothing less than -not a moment to spare “Man is explicable by nothing less than all his history. Without hurry, without I’m busy thinking. rest, the human spirit goes forth from the beginning to embody every faculty, I’m absorbed in thought. every thought, every emotion, which belongs to it, in appropriate events. But the thought is always prior to the fact; all the bus lacey p facts of history preexist in the mind as -swirl of activity laws.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Essay bus hinkiny t g (she’s busy on History” thinking) -pensive b hancey c -happenstance busod yb y -serendipity -a yenta b oiny d g that, she but -in so doing, she -with the caveat b orcey f -in high-handed fashion

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 99 12/10/10 8:35 AM 100â by itself

-by force of arms

b tselfy i Cc -in and of itself calculate -of its own accord -assess -intrinsically -in its own right call(ame n ) -per se {Latin, per say} -refer to as -of itself -have a name for

b ey m “We have a name for that sort of thing.” -on my part -christen -dub b haty t I mean… -what one could term -by which I mean… “It has been recorded that during his stud- b haty t very fact ies he particularly relished psychology; this -ipso facto {Latin, IP-soe FAK-toe} is amply borne out by his writings. St. John was not what one could term a scholar. He b-hey t -book kind of person was, however, intimately acquainted with -a strict textualist the ‘Summa’ of St. Thomas Aquinas, as -does not live upon instinct almost every page of his works proves...” St. Thomas Aquinas, On Prayer and a b hendy t e of the week Contemplative Life -by week’s end callttention a to b heowery t p of -feature -by dint of calln o b heamey t s token -call forth -in the same way -summon -for the same reason -beckon b hey t way callut o for -incidentally -hail -if I may say -it may be added that callo t gether convene b siny u g - -summon -by the use of -assemble -by means of called( is called) b ury yo own decision -known as -of your own accord -dubbed by such adjectives as -by your own volition -what is commonly called -take it upon yourself to -takes its name from -heralded as

called everyone’s attention -called for the attention of all

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 100 12/10/10 8:35 AM can at least bringâ 101â

callsimself h cameefore b -is a self-described ââ -a forerunner -a precursor calm -serene camerom f -placid -issued from -philosophical (in the face of disappointment) cameear n -drew near “In the first days of December the birds, af- He was surprisingly calm after ter frequent biting frosts, flew into villages the biggest disappointment of his and towns, and even wild beasts came out career. of dense forests and drew near the houses He was philosophical. of people.” Henryk Sienkiewicz, On the Field of Glory

calmehavior b camen o her own -composed -came of her own accord -unflappable -on his own volition -poised sangfroid {French, sah-FWAH} - Have you come here on -self-possessed yourÂown? calmown d Have you come of your -compose oneself ownÂaccord? -put at ease -defuse the situation -grow calmer camehrou t gh for me “He reached out and with the back of his -I expected nothing less hand touched my arm. He is trying my cameo t a flesh, I thought. But by and by my breath- -came in sight of ing slowed and I grew calmer.” J.M. -happened upon Coetzee, Foe -chanced upon

calmyur o fears cameo t realize -dispel your fears -was borne in upon her [poetic]

calmness camep u -composure -arose -equanimity -presence of mind campaign -tranquility -barrage -blitz came -part of the latest effort to -there came “From a distance there came the sound of cant a least bring tanks.” -can yet bring

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 101 12/10/10 8:35 AM 102â can be seen in

“There must be acceptance and the knowl- cannot do anything about edge that sorrow fully accepted brings its -it’s inescapable own gifts. For there is an alchemy in sorrow. It can be transmuted into wisdom, cannot explain which, if it does not bring joy, can yet bring -it’s inexplicable happiness.” Pearl S. Buck, The Child Who -cannot account for Never Grew cannot have deprived of caneeen b s in - -is reflected in cannot make up your mind undetermined in your choice of cangt e - -is to be had cannot see it is indiscernible cannl o y be - -cannot be other than cannot think of escapes me canpeak s German - -fluent in German I can’t think of it. cantill s bring -can yet bring The words escape me.

Cnyua o believe it? -can you even conceive of it? canind ’t f â ââ -there has been no trace of âââ cancel -âââ are nowhere to be found -abrogate the contract -redline canee ’t s her -rescind -have lost sight of her

candy cantand’t s -confections -can’t bear -confectionery cane ’t w cannot -can we not -can no more “Can we not come to some kind of “I can no more disown him than I can agreement?” disown the black community.” Barack Obama, 2009 presidential speech capital -seat of government cannot afford to care(od G ’s care) -can ill afford to -God’s keeping cannot be -providence -is incapable of being care[arcastic s ] cannot be stopped -tender mercies -is inexorable “They were abandoned to the tender mercies of the SS.”

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 102 12/10/10 8:35 AM casualâ 103â

carebout a -tread gingerly -sympathetic to -take great pains to -mindful of -with care -give importance to -I use that word advisedly “The young man, whose name was Robert -guardedly Jordan, was extremely hungry and he was careless worried. He was often hungry but he was -indifferent not usually worried because he did not give -remiss any importance to what happened to himself and he knew from experience how sim- carry ple it was to move behind the enemy lines in -shoulder all this country.” Ernest Hemingway, For -ferry Whom the Bell Tolls -labor under -bear careor f -schlep -nurture -nurture and perpetuate carr ut y o -minister to -perpetrate

carefree carrn yi g out of a plan -capricious -the pursuance of -blithe cartoon carefree attitude -caricature -insouciance {French, in-SUE-see-ance} carve caredor f -inscribe -had the care of -incise “His sister Lizzie, too young to hem sheets carved( sculpted or but old…enough to carry a baby on her inscribed) hip, had the care of the little ones.” Kate -graven Grenville, The Secret River carved design careful -a design in intaglio {Italian, -mindful in-TAL-yoe} -prudential -solicitous castf o characters -circumspect -dramatis personae {Latin, DRAH-ma- -studied tis per-SAWN-eye} -prudent -guarded castrated -assiduous -gelded chary {CHAIR-ee} - casual careful not to -cavalier -on guard against -haphazard -perfunctory carefully -leisurely -tread with caution

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 103 12/10/10 8:35 AM 104â casualties

“Augustus held to a more leisurely philoso- caut gh on phy. He believed in giving creatures a little -took a firm hold throughout the time to think, so he stood in the sun a few country minutes until the rattler calmed down and -it seems to have gained currency crawled out a hole.” Larry McMurtry, Lonesome Dove caut gh up in -enmeshed casualties -entangled -blood and treasure caut gh up to catch -overtook her -ensnare -snare cause( to cause) -give rise to catchhrase p -engender -mantra {MAHN-truh} -foster “In 2008, ‘Drill Baby Drill!’ became the -prompt mantra of the conservative party.” -excite -inspire catch up to -elicit -overtake -induce cateri go ze -rouse -catalog “It was characteristic of her that she always roused speculation, that her simplest cater go y acts seemed the result of some far-reaching -rubric of intentions.” Edith Wharton, The House -species of Mirth. -of its kind bring about -genre - -impel -drive the decision to This vintage falls under the -fuel category of table wine. -move to invite This vintage falls under the - -precipitate rubric of table wine. -provoke -arouse caut gh between -awaken -hemmed in by -evoke -hasten a desire for caut gh in the act -spawn -in flagrante {Latin, in -effect fla-GRAHN-tay} -spark discussion -sow caut gh in the act of compel adultery - -occasion -in flagrante delicto {Latin, in fla- GRAHN-TAY de-LICK-toe} “This measure it was desirable to avoid, because it would occasion much public

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 104 12/10/10 8:35 AM celebrate noisilyâ 105â

inconvenience and a considerable public ex- transparent whiteness, and in growing old pense and add to the calamities of the inhab- she had acquired what may be called the itants of this city…” John Adams, State of beauty of goodness.” Victor Hugo, Les the Union address Miserables

cause( a cause) causing a serious problem -basis for with -precipitant -exacting a serious toll

causeim h to feel causing âââ to -inspire in him thoughts of -so that

causef o “He lit fires in several locations so that the entire house was engulfed in flame.” -the author of “The terror and hurt in my story happened causing trouble because when I was young I thought others -making mischief were the authors of my fortune and misfor- “It was the jackal—Tabaqui the Dish- tune; I did not know that a person could licker—and the wolves of India despise hold up a wall made of imaginary bricks Tabaqui because he runs about mak- and mortar against the horrors and cruel, ing mischief, and telling tales, and eating dark tricks of time that assail us, and be the rags and pieces of leather from the village author therefore of themselves.” Sebastian rubbish-heaps.” Rudyard Kipling, The Barry, The Secret Scripture Jungle Book

causeroblems p for cautious -hamper -circumspect causeuspicion s -prudent assiduous -excite suspicion - -mindful caused by -prudential -was prompted in part by -studied -stems from -solicitous -guarded -chary {CHAIR-ee} Obesity is caused by a disregard for healthy food. cave grotto Obesity stems from a disregard - for healthy food. caveman days -Paleolithic times

caused her to celebrate -moved her to -commemorate -produced in her a -memorialize -produced upon her a -mark “She had never been pretty; her whole life, which had been but a succession of pious celebrate noisily roister works, had produced upon her a kind of -

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 105 12/10/10 8:35 AM 106â celebration (elaborate outdoor party)

celebration (elaborate There will never be a stone at my head, outdoor party) and no matter.” Sebastian Barry, The -fête {French, fate} Secret Scripture “The event was an Empire Day fête: IÂstood with a line of other village children making challenge the truth of take to task a Boy Scout salute while Mrs.ÂAyres and - impugn the Colonel went past us, handing out com- - call into question memorative medals; afterwards we sat to - tea with our parents at long tables on what I suppose was the south lawn.” Sarah Scientists have begun to chal- Waters, The Little Stranger lenge the truth of BP’s estimates. celebrities Scientists have begun to call into -personages question BP’s estimates. -luminaries

censored challenging -pasteurized -interrogating -bowdlerized “Month after month he sets, collects, reads, center of and annotates their assignments, correcting lapses in punctuation, spelling and usages, -the bastion of interrogating weak arguments, appending -the locus of to each paper a brief, considered critique.” -the still point of the turning world [T. S. Eliot] J.Â . Coetzee, Disgrace -the mecca of championed centers around [incorrect -hailed usage] chance centers on - -a sporting chance that certain -contingency -beyond dispute “Nothing was left to contingency.” -doubtless -assured change (to change) -adapt certain areas -modify -select areas -reform -threaten established precedent certain way -make wholesale renovations -given manner -amend certainly -transfigure -doubtless -transition -no doubt -undergo yet another “No one even knows I have a story. Next change (a change) year, next week, tomorrow, I will no doubt -departure from be gone, and it will be a small size coffin -gradation of they will need for me, and a narrow hole. -metamorphosis

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 106 12/10/10 8:35 AM cheerfulâ 107â

-turning point charisma -transmutation [academic] -stage presence

change course charitable -deviate from the prescribed heading -benevolent -turn the compass needle -altruistic -take a new turn charm( appeal) change the subject -open and easy air -turn our attention to -allure charm( captivate) Let’s change the subject to -endear Âsomething that isn’t often -beguile discussed. charm( ornament) Let’s turn out attention to some- -talisman thing that isn’t often discussed. -amulet

charming change your position -beguiling -backpedal -disarming -roll that one back -engaging

chanable ge chase -protean -give chase “Because the senator is more than willing cheap( stingy) to switch parties to survive the primary, -miserly you could safely characterize his political -frugal [euphemism] Âconvictions as protean.” “You’re not a cheap bastard—you’re a chans ge Âfrugal bastard.” -vagaries cheat chans ge of fortune -bilk -vicissitudes checkut o channel (A CHANNEL) -case -a conduit “Oh come take my hand, we’re riding out chantn i monotone tonight to case the promised land.” Bruce -intone Springsteen, “Thunder Road”

characteristic of cheerp u -by nature -hearten -peculiar to -take heart -as his habit was to cheerful -as she was given to -blithe characterized by -sanguine -marked by

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 107 12/10/10 8:35 AM 108â cheerful readiness

cheerful readiness choseoorl p y -alacrity -made a poor choice of

cheerfully self-confident -jaunty She chose the wrong husband.

chemistry She made a poor choice of -alchemy husband. “There must be acceptance and the knowledge that sorrow fully accepted brings its chosen to own gifts. For there is an alchemy in sor- -empowered to row. It can be transmuted into wisdom, -tapped to be which, if it does not bring joy, can yet bring happiness.” Pearl S. Buck, The Child Who Cristianh (in a broad sense) Never Grew -ecumenical

chiefdvocate a Cristianh world -high priest of -Christendom -dean of “I have it here before me on my bed, with his -doyen of name in black ink inside, Joe Clear, and the date 1888, and the town Southampton, for child in his extreme youth he had been a sailor, -a creature so charming sailing into every port of Christendom be- childrodi p gy fore he was seventeen.” Sebastian Barry, -wunderkind {German, VUHN-der-kint} The Secret Scripture

childhood friend church leader -the friend of her childhood -prelate

childish church related -infantile -ecclesiastical -puerile circle pettish - -encircle petulant - -gird choice -envelope -of one’s own choosing circumstances choice between â â and â â -state of affairs -have the choice to âââ or âââ cite choose -invoke -favor citin ze opt for - -denizen of choose whatever you want -inhabitant -choose what you will “And the tall walls of the commercial heart of an American city of perhaps 400,000 inhabitants—such walls as in time may linger

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 108 12/10/10 8:35 AM clichéâ 109â

as a mere fable.” Theodore Dreiser, An clear American Tragedy -incisive -with clarity city -coherent -metropolis -well defined -megalopolis -explicit -the sprawl of âââ -lucid unequivocal cit olksy f - unambiguous -urbanites - -doubly plain claim( to claim) -clear and present -assert -clear, logical, and convincing -contend -abundantly clear -lay claim to clearhinkin t g -profess to favor incisive -purport (often falsely) - -make no pretentions clearly -there can be little doubt I’m not claiming to be the most -without question markedly virtuous person. - -in no uncertain terms I make no pretensions to virtue. -decidedly -manifestly patently claim( a claim) - -without doubt -contention -assuredly -pronouncement -acutely -assertion -incontrovertibly clamor clever remark -alarums and excursions {uh-LAR-ums} -sally clarify -bon mot {French, bon MOE, lit. good -illuminate word} -bring into sharper focus “Common Sense and Education: The more you think you have of one, the less you class think you need of the other.” -standing -station clever but unsound debater -social strata -a sophist {SOHF-ist} -a casuist {KAZH-oo-ist} classified -classed as cleverness -guile cleanlate s -cunning -tabula rasa {Latin, TAB-you-luh RAW-zuh} cliché -truism

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 109 12/10/10 8:35 AM 110â cliff

-platitude close( near in degree) -bromide -closely contested -vulgarism -as the cliché will have it, It’s turning out to be a close race. cliff It’s proving to be a closely -precipice -bluff contested race. -palisade

cliffverlookin o g the sea close(hut s ) -promontory -enclose -headland {HEAD-lund} -hedge in

climate change [Orwellian] close by -global warming -within earshot

climax closeown d -height of -shutter -pinnacle -disband -zenith -dissolve

climb closeo t -ascend -on the brink of -clamber up closeo t becoming climbown d -came very near being -scurry down closeness climbing -proximity -ascendant closer to climbing of -nearer the -ascendancy of -nearer to -ascent of closest clie qu -near most -coterie {French, KOE-ter-ee} -immediate -proximate [academic] close(ffectionate a ) -close in spirit closin g down (breaking up) “We are a family that has always been -disbanding close in spirit. Our father was drowned in -dissolving a sailing accident when we were young, clothackdrop b and our mother has always stressed the -scrim fact that our familial relationships have a “Mr. Wilson underscores the point by divid- kind of permanence that we will never meet ing his characters with scrims and pools of with again.” John Cheever, The Stories light that seem to confine them to inescapably of John Cheever

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 110 12/10/10 8:35 AM colorfulâ 111â

separate orbits.” Ben Brantley, New York coldhearted Times, Nov. 6, 2009 -dispassionate -callous clothed -indifferent -clad -changed to me

clothing collateral damage -attire [military jingoism] -garb -civilian deaths -finery -regalia collect -trappings -marshal -apparel -stockpile -amass cloud -assemble -nebula -islands on a dark blue sea [Shelly] collection -assemblage cloudy -assortment -nebulous -family -amalgam clowning around -congregation -buffoonery -panoply [academic] club (TO CLUB) -distillation -bludgeon -compilation -anthology clueless -body of work -feckless -repertoire -compendium coach (TO COACH) -mentor collection of writings or paintings coatith w gold -corpus gild - -oeuvre {French, OH-vruh} codef o silence color omerta {Italian, ah-MAIR-tah} - -hue coffee and conversation -complexion kaffeeklatsch {German, coffee-clach} - color( colorize) coffee with milk -lay on color -café au lait {French, ka-FAY oh LAY} -imbue with

coincidence colorq uality -happenstance -chroma by the strangest of chances - colorful coldnd a damp -in technicolor -dank -polychrome

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 111 12/10/10 8:35 AM 112â colors

colors Âmediating intellect—as to verge close to be- -color scheme ing beyond description.” William Styron, -tapestry of color Darkness Visible -kaleidoscope comerom f (that come from) colors of fall -draw on -autumnal colors -spring from -lie in combination -mix of “His own opinion, which he does not air, -tapestry of is that the origins of speech lie in song, and -ultimate marriage of the origins of song in the need to fill out with -composite sound the overlarge and rather empty hu- -synthesis man soul.” J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace

combine -coalesce Like all animals, humans come -assimilate from a preexisting species. Like all animals, humans are come descended from a preexisting -come hither [playful] -draw near species.

comebout a comerom f money -emerge -from a moneyed background comecross a as comeut o -cast himself as -emerge -come to light He likes to come across as the -materialize dad in charge. comeo t a boil He likes to cast himself as the -culminate in family patriarch. comeo t an agreement -broker a deal comeack b -resurface comeo t our attention -have come under our attention comeefore b -precede comeo t the aid of -intercede on her behalf comeetween b -intervene comeo t gether -consolidate comelose c to -coalesce -verge close to -bridge the differences that divide “Depression is a disorder of mood, so -close ranks mysteriously painful and elusive in the way it becomes known to the self—to the

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 112 12/10/10 8:35 AM communicateâ 113â

comep u with commendable -muster -deserving of praise -laudable comed y routine -shtick commented -remarked comesefore b -spoke of -is prior to -made mention of -preexists “Man is explicable by nothing less than commit all his history. Without hurry, without -commend rest, the human spirit goes forth from the commit a crime beginning to embody every faculty, every -perpetrate thought, every emotion, which belongs to it, in appropriate events. But the committed thought is always prior to the fact; all the -devout facts of history preexist in the mind as -undaunted laws.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Essay on History” common -customary comeslose c (nothing comes -familiar close) -nothing even touches it common language -lingua franca {Italian, LEEN-gwuh comesrom f FRANK-uh} -born out of -stems from common sense motives -prudential motives comfort (take comfort in) -take solace in commonplace -sustained by the -prosaic -in an all-to-typical fashion comfortable -at ease commotion -at home with -astir over the news of

comforts communicate -creature comforts -correspond -amenities -share your thoughts -betray (unwittingly) comical -convey -farcical “If the eyes could lie, his troubles might be comin g soon over. If the eyes were not such well behav- -oncoming ing creatures, that spent their time trying -impending their best to convey the world and all its gore to him, good portions of life might not comin g together of be so dismal.” Sarah Hall, The Electric -a confluence of Michelangelo

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 113 12/10/10 8:35 AM 114â compared to

compared to complaint -by way of comparison, it stands as a -grievance -by comparison -invited comparisons to complete -likened it to -comprehensive -I prefer the latter, as being the -wholesale more â ââ complete authority -as compared with -supreme authority -in comparison with -vis-à-vis (pretentious) complete nonsense -compared with that of -arrant nonsense -at the expense of completely -wholly Certain aspects were exaggerated -entirely compared to others. -altogether Certain aspects were exaggerated -thoroughly at the expense of others. “I got masses of things from Mummy and Daddy, and was thoroughly spoiled by various friends.” Anne Frank, Anne Frank: compatible The Diary of a Young Girl -simpatico -well and truly compensating -in all respects -compensatory -in full force -to its full extent compete -in its entirety -joust -in every respect -vie for -rival completely absorbed -rapt competency examination for court completely dependable -voir dire {French, vwar dear} -unfailing

complain -grouse about Her love and support is -venture to complain Âsomething I can count on. -lodge a complaint Her love and support is unfailing. -express concern about -kvetch {Yiddish, k-VETCH} completely explain complainer -do justice to -a malcontent complicated complaining -abstruse -bemoaning -convoluted -grumbling -defies comprehension

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 114 12/10/10 8:35 AM conclude (to deduce)â 115â

complicated device for comic book convention, Sam Clay liked to simple things declare, apropos of his and Joe Kavalier’s -a Rube Goldberg device greatest creation, that back when he was a boy, sealed and hog-tied inside the air- complies with tight vessel known as Brooklyn, New in keeping with - York, he had been haunted by dreams composure under pressure of Harry Houdini.” Michael Chabon, -sangfroid {French, sahn-FRAW} The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay comprehend completely -as for -grok -as to “When Chevy Chase said to ‘be the ball,’ -for his part he was groking the game of golf.” -in his case -pointing to comprehensive -on matters concerning -overarching -of this issue compromise on -in discussing -accommodate -hereto as regards “Can we not accommodate both positions?” - -touch on concern -relating to -center on -apply to -speak to -subject being “Our subject being Poetry, I propose to concern for one’s own speak not only of the art in general but also interests only of its species and their respective capacities; -particularism of the structure of plot required for a good concerned about poem…” Aristotle, The Poetics -solicitous of concerns (doubts) “How is it that Americans, so solicitous -having reservations of the animals they keep as pets, are so indifferent to the ones they cook for dinner? concerns (relates to) The answer cannot lie in the beasts them- -speaks to selves. Pigs, after all, are quite compan- -pertains to ionable, and dogs are said to be delicious.” -centers on Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, Nov. 9, 2009 concise -terse concerning -succinct -with respect to -with regard to concise and expressive pithy -in light of - taut -we look to - -apropos of conclude (To deduce) “In later years, holding forth to an inter- -arrive at such a conclusion viewer or to an audience of aging fans at a -fair to conclude that

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 115 12/10/10 8:35 AM 116â conclude (to finish)

-presume confidentially -reckon -entre nous {French, ahn-tre NEW, lit. -suppose between us}

conclude (to finish) confused -come to fruition -bemused -culminate in -nonplussed

conclusions confused with -findings -confounded with “A serious writer is not to be confounded concoction with a solemn writer. A serious writer may -a confection be a hawk or a buzzard or even a popin- “The accusation of wrongdoing was dis- jay, but a solemn writer is always a bloody missed as nothing more than a partisan owl.” Ernest Hemingway confection.” connecting condemn -adjoining -decry -denounce connection -nexus condescend -deign to conference -colloquy [academic] {CALL-uh-kwee} condition -symposium -proviso {pruh-VIE-soh} -forum -summit

He had been hired so long as he confident bring his clients with him. -in no doubt He had been hired with the -self-assured proviso that he bring his clients confirm with him. -attest to -bear witness to condition of -substantiate -the state of -corroborate

conditioned response confirmed by -Pavlovian response -borne out by

conduct oneself well conflict -bear oneself with dignity -dissention -acquit oneself well -factious infighting -amid a vortex of conduct the war -clamor -prosecute the war -ferment -tumult -upheaval -whenever battle is joined over

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 116 12/10/10 8:35 AM considerâ 117â

conflict with connection between -run counter to -correlation -run afoul of -put at odds with connive -at variance with -inveigle one’s way into {in-VAY-gul}

confuse connoisseur -bewilder -epicure -befuddle coner qu -perplex -subdue -discombobulate -quell -confound -level -obfuscate conscience confused -super-ego -convoluted -in a condition of such mental conscious confusion -sentient -muddled -drug-addled conscious mind -your waking mind confused her -left her at a loss conservative and unadventurous confused language -staid -turbid language conservative extremist confused misunderstanding -reactionary -imbroglio {Italian, im-BROE-yoe} -troglodyte

confused mixture conserve -hodgepodge of -husband “The Master once observed that to rule well confusion one of the larger States meant strict atten- -bedlam tion to its affairs and conscientiousness on -disorder the part of the ruler; careful husbanding of -disarray its resources, with at the same time a tender conatulationsgr care for the interests of all classes; and the -kudos {KOO-doze} employing of the masses in the public service at suitable seasons.” Confucius, The conessionalgr bill Analects -a measure consider conessionalgr lobbyists -you would do well to consider -the Gucci gulch -entertain the idea that take into account connection - -take into consideration -liaison -to consult and consider -indulge

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 117 12/10/10 8:35 AM 118â considerate

“Good writers indulge their readers; great -continual writers know better.” -incessant

considerate constant changing -mindful of -mutability -complaisant -accommodating contacted -attentive to -can be reached at contemptuous I am aware of our environmental -pejorative responsibilities. continual I am mindful of our environmen- -unremitting tal responsibilities. continuation of -the progression of considered (is considered) continue -acknowledged to be -perpetuate -looked upon as -persist -is reckoned a -stretch past -is deemed to be -endure -is regarded as -is seen to be continues persists considered one of - -endures -was counted among the “As the sesquicentennial of Fort Sumter considering approaches in 2011, the enduring prob- -given the lem for neo-Confederates endures: anyone who seeks an Edenic Southern past consistent with in which the war was principally about remain faithful to - states’ rights and not slavery is searching in keeping with - in vain, for the Confederacy and slavery in accordance with - are inextricably and forever linked.” Jon accordingly - Meacham, “Southern Discomfort,” consists of New York Times, April 10, 2010 -comprises continuing consolation -unending -compensatory factors -enduring

conspiring continuously -colluding -incessantly -in league with -without pause -in league together -unabated

constant contradict -invariable -belie {bu-LIE} -habitual

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 118 12/10/10 8:35 AM cooperativeâ 119â

political advance of that class. An oppressed class under the sway of the feudal nobility.” His rough outer shell contra- Karl Marx, The Communist Manifesto dicted a soft heart. His rough outer shell belied a controversial contentious soft heart. - -polarizing -provocative contradiction -divisive -paradox -volatile -discrepancy in logic -polemical -inconsistency conventional behavior contrary to -propriety -inconsistent with conversation contrast (to contrast) -discourse -draw a distinction -repartee {French, re-par-TAY} -distinguish convince -juxtapose -prevail upon contrast that with convincing -by contrast -cogent contrasted with cook -formed the most striking contrast to -rustle up contributing cooking -contributory -the culinary arts control (to control) rein in cooking stock (highly - concentrated) -manage -demi-glace {French, DEM-ee-glass} -harness -establish dominion over cool -wield control -unflappable -restrain -subdue your instinct to cooperation -curb -compliance -govern -entente {French, ahn-TAHNT} hold in check - cooperative -hold sway -forthcoming -command -informative controlled by -governed by -under the sway of “Each step in the development of the bour- geoisie was accompanied by a corresponding

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 119 12/10/10 8:35 AM 120â coordinated

corroded -fretted The witness has not been very “The mist took pity on the fretted structures cooperative. of earlier generations: the Post Office with The witness has been less than its shingle-tortured mansard, the red brick forthcoming. minarets of hulking old homes, factories with stingy and sooted windows, wooden tenements colored like mud.” Sinclair coordinated Lewis, Babbitt -concerted corrupt (is corrupt) copiedrom f others -not exactly a paragon of virtue derivative - -venal cop o y (t copy) corrupt (to corrupt) mimic - -undermine the legitimacy of emulate - -lead someone astray parrot - -bastardize cop f y o -adulterate -draft of -vitiate {VISH-ee-ate} facsimile of - cosier gn of a treaty copat yc -cosignatory copyist - couin gh g all the time correct -tubercular remedy - could redress - -should -disabuse “The Utopians wonder how any man “Allow me to disabuse you of that notion.” should be so much taken with the glaring -rectify doubtful lustre of a jewel or stone, that can -correct for the fact that look up to a star, or to the sun himself.” Sir -right the error Thomas More, Utopia -set them right coulde b “Alexander the Grammarian taught me not it’s conceivable to be ruggedly critical about words, nor find - fault with people for improprieties of phrase could not believe or pronunciation, but to set them right by -reacted with dismay speaking the thing properly myself, and that either by way of answer, assent, or inquiry, could not even or by some such other indirect and suitable -could not so much as correction.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations “But we had scarcely begun to climb when I felt a sharp hurt, and drew from my correctly heel a long black-tipped thorn. Though rightly - I chafed it, the heel quickly swelled till I

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 120 12/10/10 8:35 AM crapâ 121â

could not so much as hobble for the pain.” courage in pain J.Â .ÂCoetzee, Foe -fortitude

could not sleep last night courageous -slept little last night -plucky

could not stop court -could not restrain -tribunal

couldtill s be covery our eyes -were still to be -avert your eyes “A city where American faces were still to covered be seen upon all its streets, a cleaner and a -veiled kindlier town, with more courtesy in its life, less of the vulgar scramble.” Ernest Poole, “Light struggled in through small panes of His Family cracked glass and the soot from the smoking fireplace veiled the walls.” Kate Grenville, couldn’t row any further The Secret River -could row no further covered in “At last I could row no further. My hands -enveloped in were blistered, my back was burned, my body ached.” J.M. Coetzee, Foe covered with -festooned with couldn’t stand it any -adorned with longer -could bear it no longer coward “On Friday, June 12, I woke up at six -invertebrate o’clock and no wonder; it was my birthday. -spineless jellyfish But of course I was not allowed to get up at cowardly that hour, so I had to control my curiosity -craven until a quarter to seven. Then I could bear it no longer and went to the dining room, coorker-w where I received a warm welcome from -colleague Moortje (the cat).” Anne Frank, Anne -people with whom I work Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

counter accusations They are my co-workers. -recriminations They are my colleagues. counteract -countervail craftiness country life -guile -pastoral craftsperson courage -artisan -valor crap -pluck -PR -grace under pressure [Hemingway]

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 121 12/10/10 8:35 AM 122â crater

crater crimetor s y -caldera -police procedural

cray z criminal behavior -certifiable -illicit -unsound -nefarious -out of one’s senses -felonious

“It’s enough to drive one out of one’s senses.” cringe create -wince -fashion -blanch -render crippled give rise to - -hamstrung -shape -draft critical -form -pejorative -formulate -captious -inspire -manifest critical humor -manufacture -biting -popularize -mordant -devise criticism (NEGATIVE) carve out - -aspersion evolve - -criticisms leveled at engender - -has provoked criticism conceive - -the critical reception of -construct -forge criticize -fault creator -chastise driving force behind - -rebuke architect - -be highly critical of author - -deliver a harsh critique of credentials -come under intense criticism -bona fides {French, BONE-uh -be not without detractors FIDE-ees} criticize severely credible -flay -well-founded -assail -well-grounded -lambaste -carefully considered -lampoon [comically] -light into crime -vice critics -misdeed -detractors -transgression

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 122 12/10/10 8:35 AM custardâ 123â

“Her itinerary provided for two weeks in Paris, and she had suffered through one She has a few critics. week of it when, like an angel from heav- She is not without her en, an Englishman called Tippy Akenside detractors. showed up at her hotel at the very moment when she was about to dissolve in tears and book passage home.” Katherine Anne crooked Porter, “Maria Concepción” -awry {a-RYE} -bemoan cross -lament -traverse -bray

crossed his mind cultural attitude -entered his mind -ethos -entered his consciousness curell a crowd -panacea -throng -philosopher’s stone -onlookers -elixir -bystanders curious crowded with -inquisitive -chockablock with current crude -prevailing -coarse -topical -bawdy currently (is currently) -gauche is -base - -boorish curse a pox on âââ crudeoem p - malediction -doggerel {DOG-er-ul} - curtains cruel draperies -inhuman - -draconian “The two big windows were open; their limp -depraved and listless draperies showed that there was not the least motion in the stifling humid cruelriticism c air of the July afternoon.” David Graham -vitriol Phillips, Susan Lenox: Her Fall and Rise

cry curved -become emotional -aquiline -give way to tears -fall to weeping custard -move to tears -crème brûlée {French, krem brue-LAY, -dissolve in tears lit. scorched cream}

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 123 12/10/10 8:35 AM 124â custody (in her custody)

custody (in her custody) cicalyn -in her charge -sardonic -hard-boiled custom -convention -wont custom made attire Dd -bespoke attire {beh-SPOKE} dail asis y b [incorrect usage] customs -daily -folklore -mores {MOR-ayz} dail athsy b -daily ablutions [poetic] custom of -practice of daman gi g -delivering a setback to customers -patrons daman gi g effects -clientele -ravages of

cut(s i cut) dampen -cropped -cast a pall over -suppress CUT DOWN (A TREE) -fell a tree damsel in distress -The Perils of Pauline cuto t pieces -eviscerate dancing around -frolicking cutting back -cavorting -retrenchment -waltzing about

cutting edge danrousge -vanguard -not to be trifled with -avant-garde {French, AH-vahnt- -looms as a threat GUARD, lit. vanguard} -fraught with danger “Humboldt was just what everyone had -perilous been waiting for. Out in the Midwest I -treacherous had certainly been waiting eagerly, I can -precarious tell you that. An avant-guard writer, the first of a new generation, he was hand- That chick is dangerous. some, fair, large, serious, witty, he was learned. The guy had it all.” Saul Bellow, That chick is not to be Humboldt’s Gift trifledÂwith.

cutut o -excise danrousge situation -powder keg

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 124 12/10/10 8:35 AM death (2)â 125â

danrousge thing deaderson p -widow maker -departed -decedent [legal] danrouslge y high -precipitous (steep) deadened -benumbed danrs ge “She carried about a dozen living fowls slung -hazards over her right shoulder, their feet fastened -inherent dangers together. Half of them fell upon the flat of dared t0 her back, the balance dangled uneasily over -hazarded to her breast. They wriggled their Âbenumbed “No one had hazarded to discover whether and swollen legs against her neck, they the speech of the known empires, khan- twisted their stupefied eyes and peered into ates, emirates, hordes and kingdoms was her face inquiringly. She did not see them or intelligible to him.” Michael Chabon, think of them.” Katherine Anne Porter, Gentlemen of the Road “Maria Concepción”

darked r deadlock -crimson -impasse -scarlet deadly -vermillion -pestilent darkyllow e (orange -pernicious yellow) -virulent ocher {OAK-er} - dealas w almost done darkness -the deal was almost in hand darkishness [poetic] - dealith w dawn -contend with -at first light -attend to -address dareaminyd g -negotiate -lost in reverie -endure this -take in stride dareamsyd -take stock of waking dreams - -make a virtue of necessity -reveries death (1) dag ys o by -the hereafter as the days unwind - -beyond the veil deadnimals a -the great divide carrion - death (2) -your demise Vultures eat roadkill. -your end Vultures eat carrion.

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 125 12/10/10 8:35 AM 126â deathblow

deathblow -coup de grâce {French, koo de GRAHS} I was about to, but then IÂdecided not to. debate I was about to, but then -vigorous discussion IÂthought better of it. -verbal volley -repartee {French, re-par-TAY} -little agreement among decided to -sword play -resolved to -barbed exchanges -brought myself to debate with “Quite inadvertently, I brought myself -quarrel with to tell him about an idea I had now and then entertained. ‘My husband has to be debatable someone who can afford a two-bedroom -open to dispute apartment, since Eeyore will be living with -a matter for debate us. And I want to live a quiet life there.’” -arguable Kenzaburo Oe, A Quiet Life -still in dispute -reached a conclusion deceit -opted to -subterfuge -settled on -duplicity -determined to -guile -elected to -took it into his head to decency -ventured to -propriety -took it upon yourself to -within the pale of decency -saw fit to -made the resolve to decent person -a mensch {Yiddish, a mensh} “Either we live by accident and die by accident, or we live by plan and die by plan. “A mensch is the very opposite of a And on that instant Brother Juniper made schmuck.” the resolve to inquire into the secret lives deception of those five persons, that moment falling -subterfuge through the air, and to surprise the reason of -sleight of hand their taking off.” Thornton Wilder, The -artifice Bridge of San Luis Rey -ruse decided already -pretext -preordained deceptive deciding whether or not to -illusory -weighing whether or not to decided not to decision has been made -did not think fit to -decision has been taken -thought better of

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 126 12/10/10 8:35 AM defend againstâ 127â

declaration deduction -fiat -a corollary -dictum [academic] deep(ifficult d to declare comprehend) -avow -rarified -profess -abstruse -aver “It was only toward the middle of the twen- -maintain tieth century that the inhabitants of many European countries came, in general un- declare sacred pleasantly, to the realization that their fate -consecrate could be influenced directly by the intricate -sanctify and abstruse books of philosophy.” Czeslaw decline Milosz, The Captive Mind -downturn in deepown d -is at an ebb -at heart decorated with deepn i thought -adorned with -pensive -garnished -embellished with deepooted-r “The wine was from France, though -inherent no particular region was mentioned on -deep-seated the label, which was embellished with a -innate solitary darting swallow.” Ian McEwan, -congenital Chesil Beach defeat decoration -topple -flourish -vanquish -embellishment -dispatch

decorative design (or defeated theme) -finished -motif {moe-TEEF} -done for -met his Waterloo decrease (it will decrease) -subside defecation -abate -evacuation

decrease (to decrease) defector -scale back -apostate -draw down defend against dedicated -turn aside repeated questions -deeply anchored in the tradition of -deflect criticism -devout -mount a defense -dyed-in-the-wool -rally in defense

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 127 12/10/10 8:35 AM 128â defender of

defender of -a flavor of -apologist for “Unpretending mediocrity is good, and genius is glorious; but a weak flavor of genius I’m not here to defend that; in an essentially common person is detest- however… able.” Oliver Holmes, The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table I’m no apologist for that; however… dela y (to delay) -defer -postpone defense -deterrent dela y (a delay) -preventative -a postponement

defensible delan yi g strategy -tenable -dilatory strategy

defensive barrier deliberate -rampart -willful -bulwark deliberated definitely -given careful consideration -profoundly -you may be sure that delicate ethereal -without doubt - -categorically delicious -undoubtedly -delectable -by any measure -succulent -unmistakably -in no measured terms delitfulgh -in every respect -delicious -decidedly -enchanting -invariably -indeed deliver render -in every respect - -without question delivering objectives [incor- “This is without question the best beer on rect usage] the menu.” -achieving our goals

deee gr demand -the full scope of -call for -the extent to which -clamor for -to the extent that we have demanding -the degree to which exacting -a measure of - -scale demonstrated -the scope and reach of -has shown himself to be -the magnitude

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 128 12/10/10 8:35 AM deserved and receivedâ 129â

demonstrates depressed -underscores -despondent -highlights depression demote -malaise {ma-LAYZ} -consign -relegate deprived of -bereft of denied rights -disenfranchised derived from -owes its existence to den n y a accusation -disavow any knowledge of descendants -gainsay -lineage -disclaim -progeny -flatly reject describe -repudiate -characterize -disavow -draw a portrait -forswear -tell of -articulate He denied any knowledge of -depict theÂaffair. -portray He disavowed any knowledge of -convey cast it as the affair. - -lay out -paint den neselfy o description -abstain from characterization -deprive oneself of - -portraiture department description of event -proper channels -account of depending on each other -rendering of -interdependent desert depends on -badlands -leans on deserted -contingent upon desolate -depends to some degree on - deserved depict warranted -portray - -render deserved and received commanded depiction - -a rendering “She was an extremely handsome and well-kept woman of the beauty and social position which had, five years before,

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 129 12/10/10 8:35 AM 130â deserves my

commanded five thousand dollars as the desserts price of endorsing, with photographs, a -entremets {French, AWN-tre-mays} beauty product which she had never used.” Ernest Hemingway, “The Short Happy destination Life of Francis Macomber” -at journey’s end destined by birth deserves my to the manner borne -commands my - -merits a destiny serendipity deserving - -worthy of merit destroy put an end to design - eradicate -motif {moe-TEEF} - -obliterate desirable -lay waste to -much sought after -vanquish -bring low desire( a desire) -an impulse destruction -a craving -demise -an appetite for -vastation “Next fell the stars, tinkling about him like desire( to desire) the ornaments of heaven shaken loose. -covet Finally, the black vastation itself came un- -long for tacked and draped over the entire heap, -pine for covering George’s confused obliteration.” -want for Paul Harding, Tinkers -bay after -have designs on detail -long to -delicacy “You could see it in the delicacy of the I’ve wanted that for quite some drawing.” time now. details I’ve had designs on that for quite -minutiae some time now. -intricacies -niceties -particularities desireor f traveling -nuances wanderlust {German, WOHN-der-lust} - -particulars desires( her desires) detail oriented wants - -meticulous despicable -fastidious -beneath contempt deteriorate -calcify

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 130 12/10/10 8:35 AM did it to yourselfâ 131â

-devolve into device -erode -contrivance -lose ground devil -degenerate -fiend determination “I can forgive Alfred Nobel for having in- -grit vented dynamite, but only a fiend in human -resolve form could have invented the Nobel Prize.” -dogged style George Bernard Shaw

determine (decide) devious -resolve -aberrant wayward determine (find out) - -establish devoted -assess -ardent fervent determined to - -bent on diaosedgn with [incorrect -resolute usage] -resolved to -diagnosed as having -intent upon its business dictate “The man sinks and reappears, flings up ordain his arms and shouts, but no one hears. - The ship, heeling in the wind, is intent did upon its business, and passengers and -did serve to crew have lost sight of him, a pinpoint in -did so the immensity of the sea.” Victor Hugo, -fared well Les Miserables didn a y good detested by -made little impression -is anathema to “Racism is anathema to me.” didn a yone ever -did ever anyone detested thing didgod o -a bête noire {French, betn-WAHR} -expected nothing less develop nurture - You did good. -evolve -cultivate I expected nothing less.

developing -formative didtifferentl i d y this time -made a departure from his ordinary development routine -progression -gestation didto i t yourself -it was self-imposed

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 131 12/10/10 8:35 AM 132â did not

didot n didot n see -failed to -saw not one -neglected to -kept himself free from didot n think anything of it -had not -didn’t think anymore of it -never did she didot n think it was didot n answer -had not thought it -made no answer didot n use didot n even have to speak -made no use of -had not even to speak didot n want to didot n exist -declined -was nonexistent didn’t care about didot n expect -cared nothing for -didn’t bargain for “Robert Cohn was once middle-weight boxing champion of Princeton. Do not think didot n get to see that I am very much impressed by that as a -got no audience with boxing title, but it meant a lot to Cohn. He didot n have cared nothing for boxing, in fact he disliked it, but he learned it painfully and thoroughly -if we had not to counteract the feeling of inferiority and -had not a shyness he had felt on being treated as a Jew “He felt as if he hadn’t a friend in the at Princeton.” Ernest Hemingway, The world.” Sun Also Rises

didot n know how didn’t dare to -knew not how [poetic] -dared not open her eyes

didot n like it didnee ’t s him again for a -did not think a lot of it long time -didn’t particularly warm to that -didn’t see any more of him for a long time didot n matter -mattered not at all didn’t used to be [incorrect -mattered little usage] -was of no consequence -never was before now didot n mean to say that -I misspoke He didn’t used to be.

didot n mention He never was before now. -made no mention of

didot n participate die -took no part in -perish -yield to death didot n reply -expire -made no reply

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 132 12/10/10 8:35 AM diplomacyâ 133â

diet different tastes -regimen -diversities of taste

differ with different than -at odds with -different from -different from that of difference -draw a distinction between -disparity -divergence difficult -distinguished by the fact that -daunting -draw a distinction between -trying -varying degrees of -strained -arduous -onerous I don’t see much of a difference -unenviable between them. -formidable I wouldn’t draw a distinction difficult conditions between the two. -rigors of

difficult problem different -a Gordian knot -far removed from -arduous problem -contrasted with -distinct difficult to understand -different from that of -abstruse -in contrast to that of -convoluted -disparate (markedly different) -opaque -stand in marked contrast to -a far cry from dig -departs from -excavate -dissimilar -unearth -runs counter to -uncover -quite changed -exhume -differing diif gn y -quite a contrast -ennoble {eh-NO-ble} different form of diifiedgn -a variant of -venerable -different order of -stately -diversities of dilint ge different take on a text -assiduous -a variant reading “Religious texts in particular tend to inspire dilute many variant readings.” -adulterate

-varia lectio {Latin, WAHR-ee-ah diplomacy LEK-tee-oh} -discretion -quiet diplomacy

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 133 12/10/10 8:35 AM 134â direct a department

direct a department disaee gr -oversee -take issue with -dispute direct( frank) -are sharply divided -pointed -not everyone shared their admiration -forthright for -forthcoming -at odds with directed by -take exception -under the direction of

direction I disagree with her strict ways. -trajectory I take issue with her draconian -precise course of ways.

directly -squarely disaeeingr g -discordant director of -at variance with overseer of - -run counter to

director of an opera house disaeementgr the intendant - -bone of contention dirt y (TO DIRTY) -fundamental divide -sully -schism -defile -rift -discord dis -dissention -belittle -speak harshly of disappear -disparage -melt away -denigrate -vanish from the scene -express contempt for -wane -throw aspersions at -ebb -deride -melt, thaw and dissolve itself -refer to derisively [Shakespeare] -debase -pass from sight -libel -fade from view “You cannot libel the dead, I think, you “He calls despairingly, gazing in agony after can only console them.” Anne Enright, the receding sail as, ghostlike, it fades from The Gathering view. A short time ago he was on board, a member of the crew busy on deck with the disabled (out of action) rest, a living being with his share of air and -hors de combat {French, or de sunlight. What has become of him now? He come-BAH} slipped and fell, and this is the end.” Victor Hugo, Les Miserables disadvantage -drawback disappoint -underwhelm

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 134 12/10/10 8:35 AM disintegrationâ 135â

disappointed discover -despondent -happen upon -crestfallen -chance upon -turn over disappointing -unearth -disheartening -uncover

disappointment discretions -dashed hopes -diplomatic delicacies -false dawns discuss casually disapproval -bandy about -under the frowning eyes of disease disapproved of -contagion -looked askance at -affliction

disapproving disacefulgr -reproachful -reprehensible disassociate -opprobrious [academic] -distance oneself disuntledgr disaster -disaffected -debacle disisedgu -calamity -in the guise of disastrous -incognito [male] -fateful -incognita [female] -dreadful -assumed a disguise -ruinous disst gu disconnected -revulsion -divorced from reality -antipathy -untethered disstingu g discontinue -abhorrent -dispense with -repugnant -reprehensible discourage -vile -dissuade -odious -deter dishonest discouraged -less than forthcoming -disheartened -disingenuous -downhearted -insincere -mendacious [academic] discouraging -dispiriting disintegration -dissolution of

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 135 12/10/10 8:35 AM 136â dislike

dislike disrespect -have contempt for -belittle -frown on -spurn -hold in low regard -rebuff -discount -marginalize They don’t like her political -dismiss views. -disparage Her politics are held in very -make light of lowÂregard. -heap scorn on -desecrate -deride dismiss -slight -attach no importance to -speak slightingly of -relegate -depreciate -consign to -trample over the rights of -discount

disobedient He disrespects anyone he -badly behaved disagrees with. -wayward -insubordinate He is quick to belittle anyone with whom he disagrees. display -bear -exhibit disrespectful -showcase -impertinent -radiate -impudent -exude -insolent -dismissive displayed -contemptuous -bore the markings of -was embellished with disrupt -play havoc with “The wine was from France, though no particular region was mentioned on the distance between Âlabel, which was embellished with a soli- -gulf between tary darting swallow.” Ian McEwan, Chesil Beach distant -seemed far removed from disrerd ga -indifference distinguish between -wonton disregard -draw a distinction

disrerd ga for the law distinguished -nonfeasance -illustrious -inspires respect disreputable -unsavory distort the truth -sugarcoat

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 136 12/10/10 8:35 AM do not fearâ 137â

distracting dotn i a yway -diversionary -think nothing of doing it

distraction dotor i f -a red herring -do this for

distressing doot n -vexing -be not [poetic] -disquieting doot n agree disturbing -cannot agree with -unsettling -disquieting doot n believe -find hard to accept distrustful -baneful doot n belong -cynical -out of my element

diversion doot n claim to be -a red herring -make no pretensions to

divide doot n cry over spilled milk -dissect -steel yourself

divided into doot n disagree -comprised of -make no objection to

divided up doot n dismiss -apportioned -there’s something to be said for -asunder [poetic] “As political analysis, there’s something toÂ be said for Krugman’s Manichean division view of the world. But Krugman is also -dichotomy an economist—a very good one—and the -discord economics of what is proposed bear inspec- divisive tion.” John Cassidy, The New Yorker, Nov. 4, 2009 -separative -polarizing doot n do any good do -are ineffectual are of no use to us -carry out - -accomplish doot n do that -effect -do not think of such a thing donbout a a -face -you can dispense with the what do you hope to accomplish by -backpedal - -roll that one back doot n even have doeed i n to say more? -have not even -need I say more? doot n fear -fear not [poetic]

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 137 12/10/10 8:35 AM 138â do not forget

“Fear not the tyrant; fear the tyrant’s doot n say anything wake.” -say no more

doot n forget doot n say no -let it not be forgotten -do not refuse me [humorous]

dootg n et along doot n understand -do not get on -the distinction is lost on -the point escapes me DO NOT GIVE UP HOPE -do not despair doot n want that -want nothing of the sort dootg n o together -are incompatible doot n want to -do not care to doot n have -would rather not -have not -if it’s all the same to you -haven’t many -disinclined to averse to doot n keep me from - loath to -do not deprive me of - doot n worry about it doot n know think nothing of it -cannot say - don’t trouble yourself -could not say - it needn’t concern you -know little of these matters myself - don’t give it another thought -know not [poetic] - -it’s no matter doot n like dohat t -take a dim view of do so -take no pleasure in - -don’t care for dohat t to someone -won’t hear it spoken of -subject someone to that -have a particular dislike for -hold in low regard dohe t best you can -do your utmost doot n like to have to -take no pleasure in dohe t same -do likewise I don’t like doing it. dohis t do so I take no pleasure in it. - doeave w h time to? doot n need -have we time to? -have no need of such dohat w they want -have no use for -have their own will doot n need to -have a will all their own -need not -needn’t

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 138 12/10/10 8:35 AM does withoutâ 139â

dohatever w it takes doesot n drink alcohol -are expedient -she is a self-described teetotaler

doithout w doesot n jive -forswear -does not bear close examination -forgo -does not bear inspection -does not bear scrutiny doyu o have a minute -can you spare a moment doesot n lack motivation -does not lack for motivation doyu o like -how does it sit with you doesot n look good on you -is it to your liking -does not become you

doyu o think doesot n matter -do you suppose -it matters not [poetic]

doyur o best “We shall be sentenced to ten years in the Palace of Corrective Detention if it be -make every effort to discovered. But this matters not. It mat- doable ters only that the light is precious and we -feasible should not waste it to write when we need -viable it for that work which is our crime. Nothing matters save the work, our secret, our evil, dodge our precious work.” Ayn Rand, Anthem -circumvent {Ayn rhymes with vine} dodhe ge t question -extraneous -prevaricate -neither here nor there -of little consequence documentary style -a moot point -cinéma vérité {French, SIN-em-uh veer-i-TAY} doesot n offend you -I hope it gives no offense documents (proves) -gives proof doesot n resent -evidences -is ungrudging -does not begrudge her success doeshat t -indulges in doesot n tolerate - is not one to suffer fools gladly doest i always have to be that way -must it always be She does not tolerate nine-to- five types. doesot n -fails to She is not one to suffer fools gladly. doesot n belong -is out of keeping with -is inconsistent with doesithout w -is incongruous -forgoes

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 139 12/10/10 8:35 AM 140â doesn’t care

“His curiosity is boundless but also disci- domineering plined, and he forgoes explanation in favor -autocratic of a visual version of what anthropologists -imperious call thick description.” A. O. Scott, New York Times, Nov. 4, 2009 done -undertaken doesn’t care doneecause b -apathetic was prompted in part by -indifferent to - -nonchalant donepenl o y overt doing - -engaged in doneq uickly just for -indulging in the money -a potboiler doin g a number on -wreaking havoc on donehat t -done such a thing doin ver g e ything she could -done anything of the sort -doing her utmost done ’t b afraid doin is g h thing -you need not be afraid -he’s out and about donelon’t b g doin t g i differently -have no place -departing from his regular routine “The world is what it is; men who are doin his g t to you nothing, who allow themselves to be- -inflicting this upon you come Ânothing, have no place in it.” V.ÂS.ÂNaipaul, A Bend in the River dominancy -primacy dono ’t d that (they don’t do that) dominant male -are not in the business of -alpha male donver ’t e say dominate -never let it be said -impose -hold sway dong ’t ive enough -give insufficient dominate a debate -hold the stage “Man always tends to avoid physical contact with anything strange. In the dark, the dominating (in an unseemly fear of an unexpected touch can mount to way) panic. Even clothes give insufficient se- -ââââ uber alles {German, oo-bur curity; it is easy to tear them and pierce AL-es, lit. above all} through to the naked, smooth, defense- “‘Apple Uber Alles’ would be a good title less flesh of the victim.” Elias Canetti, for an article on how this giant computer Crowds and Power company has trouble playing with others.”

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 140 12/10/10 8:35 AM draftedâ 141â

donave ’t h Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben -are without Goldwasser, “Time to Pretend”

donave ’t h one double meaning -have not one -double entendre {French DOO-blu ahn-TAHN-druh} donave ’t h to put up with -innuendo -I am not bound to put up with doubt donnow’t k anything about -call into question -you know nothing of doubtful -dubious You don’t know anything about -raising doubts this country. -equivocal You know nothing of this country. doubtful stories -apocryphal tales

donet ’t l the bastards get doubting you down -incredulous illegitinati non carborundum - doubts {mock Latin, il-eh-JIT-uh-my non -misgivings car-bor-UN-dum} -reservations donook ’t l like dou ghy (undercooked) bear little resemblance to - -sodden donention’t m it downn i the dumps think nothing of it - -in a malaise DON’T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO downo t earth take no notice of - -has few pretensions

downer I didn’t pay any attention to it. -depressant I took little notice of it. DOWNGRADE -consign dony ’t ou think it would -relegate -do you not think it would downsizing [corporate donorr ’t w y about it euphemism] -don’t give the matter another thought -laying off

doomed drafted -fated -conscripted “We’ll choke on our vomit, and that will “They conscripted me for the Russo- be the end, we were fated to pretend.” Japanese War but it was over before I got

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 141 12/10/10 8:35 AM 142â drain a pond

in. Thank God.” Jonathan Safran Foer, dresserself h in The Fixer -array herself in -adorn herself in drain a pond -draw a pond dressed in -in the dress of dramatic -attired in -melodramatic -fitted out with -affected “…and above it there hung a picture that -mannered he had recently cut out of an illustrated dramatically magazine and housed in a nice, gilded -with a flourish frame. It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising draw a boundary a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of -demarcate her lower arm towards the viewer.” Franz Kafka, Metamorphosis drawut o -elicit dressed up gussied up drawing (a drawing) - -a rendering “Many seaside towns make much of their location. Their shops are gussied up with dream( a fanciful thought) nautical décor—rigging, buoys, mounted -a conceit fish—and their restaurants often have the word ‘captain’ in the name.” Sarah Maslin dream on Nir, New York Times, Oct. 29, 2009 -isn’t it pretty to think so [Hemingway] dressed up as -guised as dreamed of -harbored the ambition driedut o “He possessed an incorrect but fervent un- -parched derstanding of the workings of television, atom power, and antigravity, and harbored drifters transients the ambition—one of a thousand—of end- - ing his days on the warm sunny beaches of drink the Great Polar Ocean of Venus.” Michael -soak up Chabon, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay drinki l quor -commune with the spirits dreamike -l -drink one’s fill -chimerical -surreal drinkable -potable dreamike -l images -phantasmagoria driveff o -dispel dressodes c -sartorial codes driveut o -oust

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 142 12/10/10 8:35 AM dumbed-downâ 143â

-expel dug -exorcise -bore “A spectre is haunting Europe—the spec- dull tre of Communism. All the Powers of old -pedestrian Europe have entered into a holy alliance -trite to exorcise this spectre: Pope and Czar, -insipid Metternich and Guizot, French Radicals -vapid and German police-spies.” Karl Marx, -banal The Communist Manifesto -lackluster pallid drives them crazy - prosaic {pro-ZAY-ick} -gives them fits - dullan l guage drivehrou t gh the curve prosy -negotiate the curve - dulled drivin g force lobotomized -the impetus for - dumb drowned of questionable intellect -was drowned - -benighted “We are a family that has always been -obtuse close in spirit. Our father was drowned in -inane a sailing accident when we were young, -bovine and our mother has always stressed the -none-too-bright fact that our familial relationships have -unenlightened a kind of permanence that we will never meet with again.” John Cheever, The Stories of John Cheever Her reading tastes could be described as pretty dumb. drugs -contraband Her reading tastes could be described as fairly benighted. drunk -heady -intoxicated dumbdea i -ill-advised drunkenness -ill-conceived -insobriety -lacks the intellectual sophistication of

dry dumbove m -arid -faux pas {French, foe PAH} -gaff dr andy l -howler -terra firma dumbed-down dueo t -lobotomized -by dint of -owing to

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 143 12/10/10 8:35 AM 144â during

during early -throughout -formative -over the course of -preliminary -in the span of -nascent -in the midst of -early on -in the space of -premature (too early)

duties of earl evelopmenty d -functions of -gestation

dutiful “I consider the process of gestation just as important as when you’re actually sitting -resolute in the performance of her duty down putting words to the paper.” Wole Soyinka dn oyi g t -spoiling for earl y example of forerunner of -can scarcely contain her - -precedent

earlier people -predecessors Ee earned -garnered eachther o -among themselves earning a spot -one another -cementing its position as each to each - earth ear ge -spaceship earth -keen to -this goodly frame, the earth -avid for [Shakespeare]

earndge a excited easeyur o fears -aflame with -allay -assuage {a-SWAYZH} earo ge t please -complaisant (not to be confused with easier complacent) -might have made easier going of this showing alacrity - easily -servile [derogatory] -with little opposition -obsequious [derogatory] -readily earlge y -with ease -with relish -without difficulty -with facile movements earnessge -sail through -alacrity -it’s nothing for you to earliest examples of -precedents of

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 144 12/10/10 8:35 AM either wayâ 145â

ecstasy -elation You could easily look the otherÂway. eds ge -contours It is nothing for you to look the other way. educated (the educated) -the learned -the intelligencia easil vailabley a -the clerisy {CLAIR-uh-see} -readily available -the literati easil y gotten effective -easily had -effectual -there for the taking -of use easil rritatedy i -profitable fractious - effectiveness easin g of diplomatic tension -potency -détente {French, day-TAWNT} -the efficacy of [academic]

easy effects -a very simple matter to -implications -facile victory -repercussions -reverberations eas ickiny p gs -consequences -ripe for the taking -low hanging fruit efficiency -with rare economy eat -dine effort -feast -campaign -break bread -bid -dispatch -expenditure of energy dispose of - egn g i g on -have one’s fill -a provocation -devour -partake ego -let’s take breakfast -to feed their vanity -take some lunch -the care and feeding of her vanity -polish off Egytianp kings eats -Ptolemies {TALL-u-mees} (323–30 -feeds on BCE) -dines on either or economics -it’s binary -the dismal science either way -in any case

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 145 12/10/10 8:35 AM 146â elated

elated embarrassing situation -could scarcely contain their delight -an imbroglio {im-BROLE-yoh} -a contretemps {French, KAHN-tru-taw} elbowing -jostling embarrassment “Nightfall assembled them, as it did the -chagrin stars. With nothing in common but their embassy destitution, they mustered to sleep together -ministry in the Porch of Our Lord, cursing, insulting -consulate and jostling each other, picking quarrels with old enemies, or throwing earth and rubbish, “A nation may have many consulates in a even rolling on the ground and spitting and foreign country, but only one embassy.” biting with rage.” Miguel Angel Asturias, embodiment The President -personification elent ga -incarnation -soigné {French, swan-YAY} -avatar

elentlga y expressed embracing -well turned -holding her in his embrace

elephant like (lumbering) embroidered with -elephantine {el-la-FAN-teen} -inwrought with

elevated reputation emerge (boastful) -come to the fore vaunted reputation - emern gi g “My two days at the Canadian branch of -emergent the Paris Cooking School, its only outpost in North America, provided an opportu- emotion nity to sample the teaching techniques that -sentiment earned Cordon Bleu its vaunted reputation. -an outpouring of emotion It also taught me the highs and, sadly, the emotional lows that the professional kitchen can pro- -moving voke.” Micheline Maynard, New York -visceral Times, Nov. 1, 2009 -emotive elsewhere emotional appeal -in other quarters -pathos {Greek, PAY-thos} elusive emotional release -elusory -catharsis embarrassed by emotionless -abashed by -impassive embarrassing -stoic compromising - emphasize -accentuate

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 146 12/10/10 8:35 AM end of the worldâ 147â

-drive home enables -underscore -clears the way for “Mr. Wilson underscores the point by encountered (experienced) dividing his characters with scrims and -witnessed pools of light that seem to confine them to Âinescapably separate orbits.” Ben “This period also witnessed the emergence Brantley, New York Times, Nov. 6, of the Nazi Party.” 2009 encourage invite emphasized - welcome -stressed the fact that - -embrace “We are a family that has always been -embolden close in spirit. Our father was drowned in -exhort a sailing accident when we were young, -stoke and our mother has always stressed the -is conducive to [academic] fact that our familial relationships have -perpetuate a kind of permanence that we will never -rouse meet with again.” John Cheever, The -enjoin Stories of John Cheever -oblige

employ end -put to the task of -put an end to -commission -in the pay of endjstifies u the means -where means are matched with ends empty -vacuous endf o -vacant -downfall “But true mercy only arrived at night, a -marked the end of breeze chilled by the vacant desert, moist- endf o the century ened by the humming sea, a reluctant guest -fin de siècle {French, fahn duh silently passing through the empty streets, SYEK-luh} vague about how far it was allowed to roam in this realm of the absolute star.” “Fashion is currently obsessed with a Hisham Matar, In the Country of Men redux of the new wave ’80s, which, for the most part, has also been sanitized for empt omplimentsy c your re-consumption. The sleazy, over- -flummery stimulated parts were left on the old side of the fin de siècle, and only the off-shoul- empt he y t â â out of the â â der Tiffany tops and ‘Flashdance’ leg- -empty the âââ of âââ gings were welcomed back to the future.” Cintra Wilson, New York Times, Nov. Empty the soil out of the pot. 3, 2009 Empty the pot of soil. endf o the world -the apocalypse -end of days

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 147 12/10/10 8:35 AM 148â end result (of a story)

endesult r (OF A STORY) enery g -denouement {French, -vigor day-new-MAHN} -verve “Well, the denouement is, they lived hap- -gusto pily ever after.” -élan {ay-LAHN}

endanger ener gy exploration -imperil the safety of [Orwellian] oil drilling -compromise - enforce ended impose -was exhausted - -brought to a close engage in ending -indulge in -putting a close to enossedgr in endless -glued to preoccupied -interminable - immersed his whole being in -enduring - -perennial enjoy -without end -indulge in -unfailing -gobble up “Because he takes pleasure in her, because -enjoy the fruits of his pleasure is unfailing, an affection has -enjoy the blessings of grown up in him for her.” J.M. Coetzee, -revel in Disgrace -relish -luxuriate enemy -take great delight in -foe -nemesis -detractors The bees enjoyed taking nectar -no friend to from the flowers.

enertic ge The bees took great delight -industrious in depriving the flowers of -kinetic theirÂfruit. “She was already a recognized writer of kinetic, tough-corded prose, both beguil- enn joyi g ing and dangerous. Her manner was to -indulging oneself take the reader by surprise. In the middle of a flattened rambling paragraph, de- enough ceived by warm stretches of reflection, -sufficiency of you came upon hard cartilage.” Carol -sufficient Shields, Unless enough with the energize -let’s dispense with the -help bolster -enough said -enliven

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 148 12/10/10 8:35 AM escaped (has escaped)â 149â

enslave -subjugate I don’t envy her success. “They have no iron, their spears are made of cane…They would make fine servants… I don’t begrudge her success. With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.” ealnqu i class Christopher Columbus -egalitarian entertain ealoqu t hold captive - -on a par with fend off the boredom - -commensurate with [academic] enthusiasm -in parity with -infectious enthusiasm -comparable with contagious enthusiasm - eallqu y as [incorrect usage] verve - -equally -élan {French, ay-LAHN} ealsqu enthusiast -constitutes disciple - -rivals -fancier of -connoisseur eivalentqu to -aficionado -tantamount to

enthusiastic erase -spirited -efface -ardent -fervent erectenis p [art world] -ithyphallic entrance “Ithyphallic dancers adorn the fresco.” -vestibule erode entrenched power in -abrade Washington -the iron triangle errorree f “…the iron triangle, that incestuous rela- -inerrant {in-AIR-unt} tionship which exists between Congress, escape( an escape) government agencies, and lobbyists.” -exodus environment -hegira {hi-JIE-ruh} -hotbed escaperom f -habitat -elude -landscape -steal away -in your element -affect one’s escape -a medium -abscond envy escaped (has escaped) -begrudge -is at large -is a fugitive

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 149 12/10/10 8:35 AM 150â escort

escort established customs -see your guest out -use and wont -conduct [formal] “People naturally tend to follow the use and esoteric wont of the culture in which they live.” -rarified establishment especially -the existing order -most strikingly estimate -particularly -appraise -not the least of which is -judge -and above all “The stranger’s eyes were green, his hair “What is reported of men, whether it be burnt to a straw colour. I judged he was true or false, may play as large a part in sixty years of age.” J.M. Coetzee, Foe their lives, and above all in their destiny, as the things they do.” Victor Hugo, Les etcetera Miserables -and so forth -and what have you espionage -and the like -the great game -and such

essence of euphemism -fabric of -genteelism -alpha and omega -epitome of euphoria -rapture essential -elation -intrinsic -invaluable evaluate -indispensable -appraise -integral -assess -a lynchpin evenâ â er (as in, even essential thing poorer) -it’s a sine qua non {Latin, SIN-ih kwah -âââ er still NON} “There was poverty in every province in the country, and in every face. But Lola’s prov- established (are ince, whether you saw it in her cheekbones established) or around her mouth or smack in the middle -are now well in place of her eyes, was perhaps poorer still. More -ingrained land than landscape.” Herta Müller, The -entrenched Land of Green Plumbs -enshrined -ensconced evenft i i was -installed -however -long standing “The outfit was acceptable by any -deeply rooted theological and geometrical standards, however abstruse, and suggested a rich

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 150 12/10/10 8:35 AM everydayâ 151â

inner life.” John Kennedy Toole, A among men may be alone, ever and at any Confederacy of Dunces time, for this is the great transgression and the root of all evil.” Ayn Rand, Anthem evenore m -still more everâ â -all the more -famously âââ -to a greater extent everresent p eveno s -enduring -be that as it may -prevailing

ever an y m for himself Even so, I cannot support this -it’s war of all against all [Thomas measure. Hobbes]

Be that as it may, I cannot ever ow y n and then Âsupport this measure. -now and again -on occasion by and by evenhou t gh - -intermittently -that being said -at times -suffice to say -from time to time -âââ as she is -upon occasion -however painful -and yet “He taught me also to put my own hand to -nevertheless business upon occasion, to endure hardship -albeit and fatigues, and to throw the necessities of nature into a little compass; that I ought not evening prayers to meddle in other people’s business, nor be -vespers easy in giving credit to informers.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations event -a moment ever ossibility p y -the event unfolded amid -every contingency

eventually ever ime y t -ultimately -at every turn -in due course -by and by everod yb y knows universally acknowledged “He reached out and with the back of - his hand touched my arm. He is trying “It is a truth universally acknowledged, my flesh, I thought. But by and by my that a single man in possession of a good breathing slowed and I grew calmer.” fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Jane J.Â .ÂCoetzee, Foe Austen, Pride and Prejudice

ever evera yd y -ever and at any time -customary quotidian [academic] “We are alone here under the earth. It is a - commonplace fearful word, alone. The laws say that none - -workaday

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 151 12/10/10 8:35 AM 152â everyday language

-prosaic {pro-ZAY-ick} -purportedly -every reason to believe that evera yd y language -so it was held -colloquial -is known to have

evera yd y-life painting evil -a genre painting {ZHAWN-ruh} -unhallowed everne yo -unholy -all without exception -depraved -the whole cry of voices -heinous

everhin yt g that is good evilness -all that is good -depravity -depraved indifference everhin yt g is OK -malevolence -God’s in heaven; all’s right with the -malice world. [Robert Browning] -moral turpitude

everhereyw evolving -common to -was being evolved -pervasive -near and far ectxa -ubiquitous -scrupulous -in all quarters ectppositexa o -the world over -on the contrary -in all creation -the very opposite of -in every corner of -widespread ectxa words -prevalent -ipsissima verba {Latin, ip-SIS- ih-muh VER-buh} everhereyw else -verbatim {Latin, ver-BAY-tim} -elsewhere -word for word

evidence ectlxa y -a clear source of evidence for this is -necessarily -there is little to suggest that -as such -all trace of evidence -a thread of evidence ectlxa y opposite -diametrical evident -diametrically opposed -conspicuous -in evidence egratexag e -embellish evidently -lay it on thick -presumably -aggrandize -it would seem so -seemingly -is said to be -reportedly

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 152 12/10/10 8:35 AM excessively concerned with minor detailsâ 153â

-it exemplifies

Do not exaggerate the story. eeedxc Do not embellish the story. -go far beyond -surpass -outpace egratedxag e -a caricature of eellentxc -over-the-top -brilliant -stellar egratedxag e manner -superb -self-dramatizing eeptxc for egratedxag e praise -apart from -puffery -exclusive of -save for egrationxag e -hyperbole {Greek, high-PER-bu-lee} “The room is about thirty foot square, with whitewashed walls, bare save for a calen- eminationxa dar, a picture of a race-horse, and a family -scrutiny tree in a gilded frame.” Upton Sinclair, -careful screening of The Jungle -consideration of -but for eminexa -excepting -appraise “We are alone, absolutely alone on this -plumb chance planet; and, amid all the forms of -take inventory of life that surround us, not one, excepting -probe the dog, has made an alliance with us.” -scrutinize Maurice Maeterlinck

“I’m talking about the girl that the guards eeptxc to took away in chains…Yes, the one they -save to say casts spells and enchantments…has her own pitchforks…sticks pins into pup- eeptionxc pets…strangles cats and scrutinizes their -aberration intestines to foretell the future…” Dario Fo, Johan Padan and the Discovery of the eessivexc amount America -surfeit {SUR-fit}

eminexa their differences eessivexc politeness -distinguish their subtler differences -an Alphonse and Gaston routine

emplexa of eessivelxc y -in this treatment of -unduly -this exemplar is eessivelxc y concerned with -in this case study in minor details -an instance of -pedantic -an exercise in -a display of

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 153 12/10/10 8:35 AM 154â excite

eitexc ecutexe -titillate -carry out -work them up -undertake

eitedxc eaustedxh -fevered -haggard -afire over -spent

eitementxc eledxi -with great fanfare -in the wilderness -hoopla estxi eitinxc g -occur -intoxicating -are widespread -rousing -are prevalent -stirring -are most in evidence -an excitement -lie in “They were hungry for breakfast which they -abound ate at the café, ordering brioche and café -prevail au lait and eggs, and the type of preserve estencexi of that they chose and the manner in which the -presence of eggs were to be cooked was an excitement.” -undercurrent of Ernest Hemingway, Garden of Eden -prevalence of

eludexc estinxi g ostracize - -in existence

eusablexc estinxi g everywhere pardonable - -ubiquitous -venial {VEEN-ee-ul} estsxi euse( xc don’t excuse that -prevails behavior) -is in evidence in a number of -make allowances for -takes the form of -apologize for -stands as a eusexc for eticxo things -a pretext for -exotica “Her being seemed composed of shadow, with too little substance for it to possess sex. eectxp It was a shred of matter harboring a light, -rely upon with large eyes that were always cast down; eectedxp a pretext for a soul to linger on earth.” not surprising Victor Hugo, Les Miserables - -to be expected eusexc me eectinxp g -pardon me -expectant of [academic] -if I may -beg your pardon

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 154 12/10/10 8:35 AM expose himself as a â 155â

eensesxp human spirit goes forth from the beginning to -expenditures embody every faculty, every thought, every emotion, which belongs to it, in appropriate eensivexp events.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Essay -far beyond her means on History” -do not come cheap elorexp eensivexp clothes -plumb the depths of -finery eosexp eeriencexp -bring out -undergo -are subject to “I want to write, but more than that, I -sustain want to bring out all kinds of things that lie buried deep in my heart.” Anne Frank, eeriencexp (a tough Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl experience) -lay bare -an ordeal “The disclosure that the United States am- eeriencedxp bassador in Kabul has expressed written -a veteranâââ opposition to deploying more American -a long-time âââ troops to Afghanistan lays bare the fierce -a seasonedâââ debate within the Obama administration -schooled in the art ofâââ over the direction of the war, even after -aâââ maven weeks of deliberations and with the presi- -practiced in the art ofâââ dent on the verge of a decision.” Mark Landler and Jeff Zeleny, New York eertxp Times, Nov. 12, 2009 -something of an authority on eosexp a scandal -rake up a scandal I am an expert on imported beers. I am something of an authority eosexp as false on imported beers. -debunk -discredit

elainxp this eosexp himself as a -shed some light on -show himself to be a -expound on “He was dressed in the same sort of sa- -attribute that to fari clothes that Wilson wore except that -give an account of his were new, he was thirty-five years old, -account for kept himself very fit, was good at court -elucidate games, had a number of big game fish- -illuminate ing records, and had just shown himself, very publicly, to be a coward.” Ernest elainablexp Hemingway, “The Short Happy Life of -explicable Francis Macomber.” “Man is explicable by nothing less than all his history. Without hurry, without rest, the

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 155 12/10/10 8:35 AM 156â express

-most -terribly He has exposed himself as -to an extreme someone we can’t trust. He has shown himself to be eremelxt y wasteful unworthy of our trust and support. -profligate eremistxt eressxp -zealot ideologue -give voice to -

eressxp in a certain way eatchinye c g arresting -couch what you say in - “Perhaps the most arresting piece is eressedxp ‘Nomade,’ by the Spanish sculptor Jaume -enunciated in Plensa, a 27-foot-tall hollow human form made of a latticework of white steel letters, eressesxp which looms over Locust Street, the one- -conveys way eastbound thoroughfare through Des -captures Moines’s compact business district.” Betsy -conveys a sense of Rubiner, New York Times, Oct. 30, 2009 -gives the general impression of eoresye s eressionxp of grotesqueries -token of - “The mist took pity on the fretted struc- eendxt tures of earlier generations: the Post Office -prolong with its shingle-tortured mansard, the red -protract brick minarets of hulking old homes, factories with stingy and sooted windows, eendedxt metaphor wooden tenements colored like mud. The -conceit city was full of such grotesqueries, but the eensivext clean towers were thrusting them from the -vast business center, and on the farther hills -wholesale were shining new houses, homes—they -wide range of seemed—for laughter and tranquility.” -whole range of Sinclair Lewis, Babbitt

eraordinarxt y epeninye-o g -transcendent -edifying

eremext -the boggier reaches of -severe -ungodly Ff face eremelxt y come to grips with -fearfully - confront -exceedingly -

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 156 12/10/10 8:35 AM fake (imitation)â 157â

facial expression fail -visage -buckle under the strain of -countenance -have a bad time of it -the smile which played continually about her face failed -he wore a look of -has not enjoyed any great measure of -her face expressed âââ success -with faces that seemed to say -found wanting -her face assumed the expression it -fared poorly had worn -fell short of -the smile was instantly reflected on -come up dry -her face was full of -success has been elusive -a smile on her lips -success remains out of reach -his efforts were not entirely successful factor -determinant [academic] They have failed facts They have enjoyed little success. -considerations -circumstances -gleanings failure -credible information -abject failure -unassailable truths -fiasco -verities -debacle -gospel -holy writ faint -factors -swoon -realities fair faddish -equitable -modish fake(mitation i ) fade -pseudo -wane -so-called -ersatz {German, AIR-sahts} fadewa a y -faux {French, foe, lit. false} evanesce - “A good 96 percent of the Penney’s inven- turn to dust - tory is made of polyester. The few clothing fading items that are made of cotton make a sincere -waning point of being cotton and tell you earnestly -evanescent about their 100-percent cottonness with -failing faux-hand-scribbled labels so obviously on the green bandwagon they practically spit “Mr. Hacket turned the corner and saw, pine cones.” Cintra Wilson, New York in the failing light, at some little distance, Times, Aug. 13, 2009 his seat. It seemed to be occupied.” Samuel Beckett, Watt -contrived -highly mannered

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 157 12/10/10 8:35 AM 158â fake (to fake)

fake(o t fake) -spurious -to feign -proved baseless -run counter to fakettack a -faux {French, foe, lit. false} -feint falseppearance a fakeiamond d -façade {fuh-SAHD} -ersatz diamond {German, AIR-sahts} fame fakin g an illness -celebrity malingering - -renown fall -the statusphere [Tom Wolfe] descent - familiar with fallpart a -acquainted with -fall into ruin -hauntingly familiar -fragment -conversant

fallack b into familiarized herself with -lapse into -made herself familiar with -acquainted herself with fallg uy -left to twist slowly in the wind You need to get to know the fallnto i the hands of facts related to the merger. -fall into their clutches You need to acquaint yourself “When we walked across our little square with the facts surrounding together a few days ago, Daddy began to theÂmerger. talk of us going into hiding. I asked him why on earth was he beginning to talk of that already. ‘Yes, Anne,’ he said, ‘you know families with stepchildren that we have been taking food, clothes, fur- -blended families niture to other people for more than a year now. We don’t want our belongings to be famil y history seized by the Germans, but we certainly -descent don’t want to fall into their clutches our- -lineage selves.’” Anne Frank, Anne Frank: The -parentage Diary of a Young Girl famil y life fallout -domestic life -serious implications famil y member -consequences -relation

false famil y related -dubious -familial -suspect -fallacious famous -groundless -famed for its -patently false -renowned

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 158 12/10/10 8:35 AM fateâ 159â

-fabled fashion business -eminent -Seventh Avenue -noted fashion designer -immortalized in couturier {French, koo-TOUR-ee-er} -infamous - -notorious fashion of the day -celebrated -in the mode of the day

famous person fashionable person -luminary -fashion plate fashionista fan - -disciple of fast -devotee {dev-uh-TEE} -fleet-footed expeditious fancy - at a breakneck pace -more elaborate - -extravagant fastrack t (we are going to -stately fast track this) -pretentious [pejorative] -expedite -pompous [pejorative] -grandiose fat -ornate -stout -plethoric -well nourished These are more fancy. -Ruebenesque These are more extravagant. -corpulent -vente {Italian, VEN-tay} [humorous when said of a guy] farwa a y “Dude, you’re not fat, you’re vente.” -remote -out on the peripheries fatnd a jolly -in the hinterland -Falstaffian out on the farthermost - “It has been three centuries since Dr. on the outskirts of - [Samuel] Johnson was born, on Sept. 7, the outlands - 1709. He died on Dec. 13, 1784, still the outlying - struggling for the mixed blessing of more the outmost - life. His Falstaffian vitalism is always my outermost - first thought when I reread, teach again or afar [poetic] - continue brooding upon the canonical critic farming of Western literature.” Harold Bloom, -cultivation New York Times, Nov. 5, 2009

fascinated fatallaw f -enthralled -tragic flaw enraptured - fate -rapt -divine intervention -providence

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 159 12/10/10 8:35 AM 160â fatherly

fatherly silent prayer. Every morning she came in -paternal like that, and every morning prayed that the daily interview might pass off well.” Leo fatie gu Tolstoy, War and Peace. -fatigues “He taught me also to put my own hand to fearon m ger business upon occasion, to endure hardship -scare baby and fatigues, and to throw the necessities of -alarmist nature into a little compass; that I ought not fearf o to meddle in other people’s business, nor be -dread of easy in giving credit to informers.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations “I always found in myself a dread of west and a love of east.” John Steinbeck, East faults of Eden -human frailties -failings feathers -deficiencies -plumage shortcomings - features favorable -amenities auspicious - fedp u propitious - -disillusioned favorite -disgruntled favored - feel(hink t ) beloved - -entertain darling of - -nurture a feeling “Who can foretell for what high cause / This -harbor a feeling darling of the gods was born?” Andrew -entertain a feeling Marvell -find in myself -intuit favoritism -partiality “…a film that often dazzles during its qui- etest moments, as when Max sets sail, and fear you intuit his pluck and will from the close- -angst ups of him staring into the unknown.” -worry Manohla Dargis, New York Times, Oct. -foreboding 16, 2009 -dread -apprehension -unholy dread I think he’s hiding his feelings -alarm ofÂresentment. -trepidation [poetic] I think he harbors feelings of “On the morning of the day that the young resentment. couple were to arrive, Princess Mary entered the antechamber as usual at the time appointed for the morning greeting, cross- feel(ouch t ) ing herself with trepidation and repeating a -âââ to the touch

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 160 12/10/10 8:35 AM fight (to fight)â 161â

feeletter b female lover -it would be of comfort to me -inamorata {Italian, i-nam-ah-RAW-tah} -to allay feelings of feminine feelt i the worst -kittenish -bear the brunt of feminine handwriting feelorr s y for -addressed in a feminine hand -commiserate -study your pain It was in a woman’s handwriting. “…you can hide ‘neath your covers and study your pain, make crosses from your It was addressed in a feminine lovers, throw roses in the rain…” Bruce hand. Springsteen, “Thunder Road”

feelin g of fertile land -air of -arable land expression of - festive in agonies of - -convivial {cun-VIV-ee-ul} -in a state of -atmosphere of few -smattering of feelings -select few sentiments - -minority of give free play to your feelings - -the âââ s are few feelsg ood fiancé heartwarming - -betrothed -uplifting -touching fictitious name (pen name) -pseudonym fellsleep a -nom de guerre {French, nom -dozed off dih-GARE} felln o deaf ears -nom de plume {French, nom -had no resonance with either of them dih-PLUME}

fellow citizen fidt ge y -compatriot -restive

felt fit( gh a fight) -found in myself -a roe -a ruckus “I always found in myself a dread of west -a melee and a love of east. Where I ever got such an idea I cannot say, unless it could be fit(o gh t fight) that the morning came over the peaks of -rail against the Gabilans and the night drifted back -do battle against from the ridges of the Santa Lucias.” John -contend with Steinbeck, East of Eden -vie with

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 161 12/10/10 8:35 AM 162â fighting

-square off against firedgu it -take the fight to -deemed it -join the fray file(n o a person) -wage a battle for dossier {French, dos-ee-AY} -jockey for - filled with fitingh g awash in -discord - bathed in -bloodletting - marbled with -strife - -instilled with fitingh g each other -dense with -at loggerheads -suffused with -amid bitter wrangling -took and held “It took and held her with fear.” fitingh g off -embattled -rich in -beset by -leavened with -subject to -invested with -imbued with firegu -laden with surmise - “For the traveler we see leaning on his infer - neighbor is an honest and well-meaning ascertain - man and full of melancholy, like those assess - Chekhov characters so laden with vir- appraise - tues that they never know success in life.” calibrate - Orhan Pamuk, Snow -deduce -divine -fraught with -presume -steeped in -reason -freighted with -rife with firegu out -infused with -gather “The fragrant pilaf is a kind of savory -appreciate fish-cake, made out of small hamsi filets -grasp wrapped around a thick bed of rice that “Hence, this diary. In order to enhance in is infused with herbs, currants and pine my mind’s eye the picture of the friend for nuts.” Yigal Schleifer, New York Times, whom I have waited so long, I don’t want Nov. 1, 2009 to set down a series of bald facts in a diary -infested with like most people do, but I want this diary -replete with itself to be my friend, and I shall call my -garnished with friend Kitty. No one will grasp what I’m -permeated with a sense of talking about if I begin my letters to Kitty -brimming with just out of the blue, so, albeit unwillingly, -possessed of I will start by sketching in brief the story of my life.” Anne Frank, Anne Frank: “All day, the colors had been those of dusk, Diary of a Young Girl mist moving like a water creature across

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 162 12/10/10 8:35 AM find your way aroundâ 163â

the great flanks of mountains possessed of finaltraw s ocean shadows and depths.” Kiran Desai, -beginning of the end The Inheritance of Loss -death knell

filled with people finalr t y -peopled with -last ditch effort to finalize Her childhood was filled with a -consummate succession of stepfathers. finally Her childhood was peopled with -at last a succession of stepfathers. “At last I could row no further. My hands were blistered, my back was burned, my filmmaker who exercises body ached.” J.M. Coetzee, Foe creative control financial motives -auteur {French, oh-TUR} -pecuniary motives [academic] filth find -squalor -reveal filthy -come upon -squalid -chance upon -unearth final -irrevocable findoophole a l -the omega âââ -circumvent

finalid b find a way to -the hammer price -a way had to be found to

finallow b findnnocent i -coup de grâce {French, koo de -exonerate GRAHS} -absolve

finalefeat d findt i (you will find it in) -your Waterloo -it is to be found in

finalutcome o findut o -denouement {French, day-new-MAH} -an accounting of ascertain “In Paris, I am able to see now, I was at a - critical stage in the development of the dis- findhe t difference ease, situated at an ominous way station -draw a distinction between its unfocused stirrings earlier that -differentiate between the two summer and the near-violent denouement of December, which sent me into the hos- findyur o way around pital.” William Styron, Darkness Visible -find your way about “Now, thanks to the energy and the imagi- finalemark r nation of one of the greatest of colonial -parting shot

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 163 12/10/10 8:35 AM 164â fine

administrators, the country, at least in the flaantgr French zone, is as safe and open as the op- -egregious posite shore of Spain. All that remains is to tell the traveler how to find his way about flaky it.” Edith Wharton, In Morocco -idiosyncratic -eccentric fine -peculiar -exquisite flashf o insight finished -epiphany -over and done with flashy fired(ired f him) -tawdry -presided over his resignation -meretricious [academic]

fired(as w fired) flattering (shamelessly so) -was dismissed -unctuous -received his walking papers -smarmy

firmacts f flattery -unassailable truths -flummery -puffery firmly -rooted fast in flavored with -steadfastly -leavened with -doggedly -imbued with -laced with [derogatory] first -for openers flavorful -first and foremost -sapid [academic] -to begin with flawed argument fishut o of water -specious argument -amid the alien corn flaws fitor f -failings -suitable for -shortcomings -deficiencies fivef o something in one day -a Full Ginsburg flee -abscond fix -resolve flit gh y -remedy -capricious

fi hex t problem flirt( a flirt) -set it right -coquette {French, kaw-KET} [feminine] flabby -flaccid flirty -coquettish [feminine]

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 164 12/10/10 8:35 AM for m (I a forâââ )â 165â

flood( a flood) -acolytes -a torrent -adherents -a deluge food flood( to flood) -fare -to inundate with -sustenance -cuisine {qua-ZEEN} flooded -awash in foolish -misbegotten flourishing -ill-conceived -burgeoning foolish actions flowery language -fooleries -purple prose -purple patch foolishness -foolhardiness flowing in -folly -an influx of “We need more humanity, more care, fluke more love. There are those who expect -aberration a political system to produce that; and -irregularity others who expect the love to produce the system. My own faith is that the truth of focus( a focus) the future lies between the two and we -a single-mindedness shall behave humanly and a bit humane- -a preoccupation with ly, stumbling along, haphazardly gener- focused on ous and gallant, foolishly and meanly -centered on wise until the rape of our planet is seen -engrossed in to be the preposterous folly that it is.” -aimed at William Golding preoccupied with - footsteps turned her attention to - -footfalls follow “Outside, on peaceful-morning Cleveland -trace Street, I hear the footfalls of a lone jogger, -pursue tramping past and down the hill toward Taft Lane and across to the Choir College, follow the rules there to run in the damp grass.” Richard -abide by Ford, Independence Day -act in accordance with -adhere to for -these followed by -succeeded by “She has been dead these twenty years.” -was in turn Henry James, The Turn of the Screw

followers for m (I a forâââ ) -rank and file -in favor of -disciples

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 165 12/10/10 8:35 AM 166â forâ â hours

forhile a w -for the time being I am for free speech. -for a time I am in favor of free speech. -for some time now -for a space in time

forâ â hours formple exa -for all of âââ hours -for instance “When he, Moses, finally freed himself of -case in point the ancient and brittle harness that con- -such as nected him to the oldest mule his master -exemplified in owned, all that was left of the sun was a -a prime example is five-inch-long memory of red orange laid -to name but a few out in still waves across the horizon between -to illustrate two mountains on the left and one on the -this is particularly true of right. He had been in the fields for all of -to take an example fourteen hours.” Edward P. Jones, The forgod o (permanently) Known World -irrevocably forivin a l g -irretrievably -for his living forer h age “Nearly seventy years before George died, -for her years his father, Howard Aaron Crosby, drove a wagon for his living.” Paul Harding, forim h Tinkers -at his disposal

foron a l g time (has for a forost m of long time) -for the greater part of has long collected names - foro n reason she had been a long while out of the - -without cause public eye -it has long been forow n (temporarily) -friend of long standing -for the time being -have been a long time -pro tem {Latin, pro-TEM} “I have been a long time making up my -for the foreseeable future mind to write this story. It is a true one, and -for the near-term that makes it hard to tell. Pearl S. Buck, forractical p purposes The Child Who Never Grew -for all intents and purposes foroment a m -in effect -for an instant -for our purposes

foreason a r foreasons r -for good reason -on the grounds that

forpecific a s purpose forure s -ad hoc -it’s a certainty

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 166 12/10/10 8:35 AM forget about itâ 167â

forhat t reason forced to -to that end -were made to

“Only to that end has he continued forceful to fight.” -muscular

forhe t benefit of forces in the interest of - -dynamics forhe t most part -tectonic plates of -effectively forehead in large measure - -brow -predominantly -on the whole foreign and dangerous -by and large -outlandish -most is of “Lavrans had four men with him, and they “Some are authentic, but most are of dubi- were all well armed; for at this time there ous origin.” were many kinds of outlandish people lying up among the mountains.” Sigrid Undset, forhe t purpose of Kristin Lavransdatter -for the sake of -in the interest of forever -so as to -lasting -intended to ensure -enduring -used as a means of -perennial -eternal forhe t rest of the day -abiding all the day after - -ad infinitum {Latin, ad forhe t same reason that in-fi-NIGHT-um} -for the same reason as did -immortal -everlasting forbidden -imperishable -verboten {German, ver-BOAT-un} -forevermore -in perpetuity force -timeless compel - -undying -foist on -by force of foreshadowed -bring pressure to bear on -prefigured the rise of -dislodge -impose forewarning -premonition forceneself o to -foreboding -bring oneself to -presentiment

fort ge about it I can’t force myself to tell her. -think no more of it I can’t bring myself to tell her.

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 167 12/10/10 8:35 AM 168â forgive

forve gi forms -absolve -manifestations -indulge -willing to put the incident behind me fortification -citadel forvenessgi -redoubt {ri-DOUT} -clemency -forbearance forward -onward forvingi g -forbearing fout gh over -stoic -contested -indulgent to found fort go about -detected -passed out of her thoughts -came upon -lost all memory of -chanced upon -fell upon fort go to -came on -neglected to

forttengo We found a cabin in the woods -near-forgotten We came upon a cabin in -long forgotten theÂwoods. form -take the form of found a friend formal -found favor with -a soup-and-fish affair -found a friend in

formal name foundn i -an appellation -implicit in -endemic to formal speech -oratory found out about -it became known formality -caught wind of -done pro forma -a nicety found ways to -found means to former -erstwhile foundation -underpinning “His erstwhile friends have become an issue -underlying support in the campaign.” -basis for quondam [academic] - -lay the foundation for formless -amid the ruins of -un-fashioned -cornerstone

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 168 12/10/10 8:35 AM friendly [of animals]â 169â

fouretter-l word freedom -a pejorative -carte blanche -colorful language -not bound by -an expletive -free rein -autonomy for ye -latitude -vestibule -license to -portico -open season on

franknd a open freely -ingenuous {in-JEN-you-us} -with impunity

FankLr loyd Wright [in the Fenchr style of] -Gallic {GAL-ick} -Usonian {you-SONE-ee-un} Fenchr expression, word, or trait The library has a Frank Lloyd -a Gallicism {GAL-ih-sih-sum} Wright feel to it. The library has a Usonian feel to it. frened zi -madding

frankly friend accomplice [playful] -in no uncertain terms - -friend and confidant frantic -cohort -frenetic friendly freakut o -affable -come unglued -genial -having undue concern -kindly -ride off in all directions -amiable -congenial freerom f -approachable -independent of -hospitable freegft i [incorrect usage] -jovial cordial -gift - good-humored -endowment - -personable freef o charge -benevolent -gratis {Latin, GRAT-is} friendly [of animals] freean -r ge chicken -docile -abuse-free chicken -companionable “Five minutes of FDA-mandated ‘roam- “How is it that Americans, so solicitous of ing time’ per day does not a free-range the animals they keep as pets, are so indif- chicken make.” ferent to the ones they cook for dinner? The answer cannot lie in the beasts themselves. Pigs, after all, are quite companionable,

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 169 12/10/10 8:35 AM 170â friendly fire

and dogs are said to be delicious.” Elizabeth fromlace p to place Kolbert, The New Yorker, Nov. 9, 2009 -hither and thither -from somewhere to elsewhere friendly fire “He stopped at a bench where people could -accidental fire catch buses from somewhere to elsewhere.” friends with John Crowley, Little, Big -on friendly terms with fromhe t beginning friendship -early on -intimacy -from the outset

from fromhe t past -from which -âââ of old -wherefrom fromhen t on -derived from -ever after -borne by -of fromithin w “Year by year, slowly but inexorably, -within its ranks his spirit had withered. Dry of heat and Âdry-eyed. During his nineteen years im- front prisonment he had not shed a tear.” Victor -frontal Hugo, Les Miserables -fore -in the foremost from(he s is from Australia) -at the forefront -of Australian origin front( of a building) -Mrs. Jones, a native of Australia façade {fe-SAWD} -born and bred there - frontesk d Her family comes from Germany. -concierge {French, kohn-SEE-AIRZH} Her family is of German origin. frontow r seat -ringside seat

from a distance frown on -from afar [poetic] -look askance at

fromg a ood family frowning -of good family -glancing severely at -well descended -born into a noble family fruitless life -a hardscrabble life from a poor family -of modest family origins frustrate -bedevil fromow n on -exasperate -from this time on -hereafter fullf o rife with -henceforth - -chock-full of

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 170 12/10/10 8:35 AM gatheredâ 171â

-rich in -fraught with Gg -replete with -endowed with gina -teeming with -secure -peppered with -immense in ginontrola c -assert control “Of Life immense in passion, pulse, and -reassert control power, Cheerful, for freest action form’d under the laws divine, The Modern Man I ginna o a ship sing.” Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, -draw on Book I, “Inscriptions” gineda more acceptance full warey a -played better -under no illusion “Conservative ideals have traditionally fulsome apology [incorrect played better in southern states.” usage] ginsa full apology - -spoils fun glla rollicking fun - -effrontery fundamentals of -audacity -rudiments of -temerity

funeral procession gp a -cortege {French, cor-TEZH} -fissure

funny gpina g -antic -yawning -jocular “It also has a wealth of greenery—Âresidents -riotous proudly claim more trees per capita than any city in the world besides Paris. It’s furniture enough to make you forget about the state’s -furnishings yawning budget gap.” Beth Greenfield, -appointments New York Times, Nov. 1, 2009

future grbaa ge what is to come - -refuse -âââ to be -the foreseeable future gthera -succeeding ages -assemble -in future times -congregate -forthcoming events gthereda futureg enerations -mustered -posterity “Nightfall assembled them, as it did the stars. With nothing in common but their

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 171 12/10/10 8:35 AM 172â gathering (a gathering)

destitution, they mustered to sleep together gneralite y (a generality) in the Porch of Our Lord, cursing, insult- -a banality ing and jostling each other, picking quar- -a platitude rels with old enemies, or throwing earth and rubbish, even rolling on the ground gneralle y speaking and spitting and biting with rage.” Miguel -on balance Angel Asturias, The President -all things considered -is, in the main -resorted “There was a black river that flowed through the town, and if it had no grace It was, generally speaking, the for mortal beings, it did for swans, and wrong decision. many swans resorted there, and even rode It was, all things considered, the the river like some kind of plunging ani- wrong choice to make. mals, in floods.” Sebastian Barry, The Secret Scripture gneratede gtherina g (a gathering) -elicited -an assembly -a vigil gnerouse -altruistic gudila y ornate -beneficent -baroque -philanthropic -benevolent gvena i -liberal -gave myself up to it “I have to thank my great-grandfather that gvee a m I did not go to a public school, but had good -committed to me masters at home, and learned to know that one ought to spend liberally on such things.” gvee a m experience in Marcus Aurelius, Meditations -seasoned me in gntlee gveuta o -clement dispensed - -pacific gvehea t impression that gnuinee demeanor conveyed the impression - -unaffected -gave a sense of -suggested German army “The outfit was acceptable by any theolog- -the Wehrmacht {German, VAIR- ical and geometrical standards, however mahkt} [between 1921 and 1945] abstruse, and suggested a rich inner life.” grmse John Kennedy Toole, A Confederacy -pathogens of Dunces gte gvep a u -come by despaired of trying - -glean -acquire

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 172 12/10/10 8:35 AM get rid ofâ 173â

-elicit gtne i -derive -gain admission -procure gtnhee i t way -receive encumber -draw a lot of self-satisfaction from - intervene -find - -attain “But whenever I start to talk about the South -gain Pacific, people intervene. I try to tell some- -garner body what the steaming Hebrides were like -assume control of and first thing you know I’m telling about the -capture old Tonkinese woman who used to sell hu- -secure man heads. As souvenirs. For fifty dollars!” James Michener, Tales of the South Pacific gte a rip -steel yourself gtnvolvede i -take hold of your senses -become embroiled -wade into gtlone a g with -traffic in mix easily - “Like good aunts the world over, she dis- get along famously - penses the info that moms and dads are too get on with - squeamish to traffic in, beginning with a gtrounde a factoid that would delight any red-blooded -circumvent child: the death by boiling of one Margaret Davy in 1542 for poisoning her employer.” David Kirby, New York Times, Nov. 5, 2009 She tried to get around the regulations. gtacke i b -retrieve it She tried to circumvent the regulations. gtade m -stew

gtettere b gtffe o -hone -disembark

gtnoue e gh support to gtne o -garner enough support to -mount

gtine o g gtute o of -swing into action -extricate yourself -mobilize -marshal gtvere o the -overcome the gteree h -appear on the scene gteade r y for -gird for gtolde h of -ready yourself -lay hold of gtide r of -divorce oneself of

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 173 12/10/10 8:35 AM 174â get their (they get their…)

-divest -receive your comeuppance -dispense with -dispose of She will get what she deserves. -eradicate -rid them of She will be held to account for -be rid of her actions. -purge -do away with -cast off gtorsee w -left to fester gtheire t (they get their…) -owe their gtyure o way -impose your will gtirede t of -tire of gtse e m excited -stirs my blood “When Zarathustra was thirty years old he left his home and the lake of his home and gttine g closer to went into the mountains. Here he enjoyed -nearing his spirit and his solitude and for ten years -coming nearer did not tire of it.” Friedrich Nietzsche, “Now we, and the carts, are coming nearer Thus Spoke Zarathustra to the noble city...” Edith Sitwell, Fanfare gtoe t know for Elizabeth -make acquaintances gttine g dark gtoy e t our -growing dark -attend to your gttine g into gtndressede u -warming into -disrobe gttine g ready to doff - -making ready to -shed gosth gtpsete u -apparition distress yourself - -phantasm gtsede u to -manifestation -become accustomed to gant( i a giant) accustom oneself to - -a goliath “Do not accustom yourself to use big words -a behemoth for little matters.” Samuel Johnson -a gargantua become inured - gftvini i g acclimate yourself to - -largess gtelle w -gifting convalesce - gftedi with gthate w you deserve -endowed with -be held to account for -bestowed with

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 174 12/10/10 8:35 AM give in toâ 175â

gnticiga gvendi a take -Brobdingnagian -symbiosis {brahb-dig-NAG-ee-uhn} gvessistancei a gsti -render assistance -the crux -its measure gvewai a y secrets -betray “I read enough to get its measure.” -reveal

gvei gveredibiliti c y render - -lend credible substance to -afford -bestow gvei examples -lavish -cite -extend -point to -imbue -speak specifically of -infuse -contribute gveni i to -convey -cede a little ground -dispense -capitulate -allot -acquiesce -apportion “To fill rooms, hotels are offering special -it lends a sales on their own Web sites, turning to -grant third-party sites like Expedia.com to sell ex- -allow cess inventory and even quietly acquiescing -confer to travelers who call up or walk in and hag- -endow gle.” Michelle Higgins, New York Times, -entrust Nov. 1, 2009 -accord -accede to -assign -bow to -provide -succumb to -deliver “It was dark by the time I reached Bonn, -impart and I forced myself not to succumb to the gveni a apology series of mechanical actions which had tak- -tender an apology en hold of me in five years of traveling back and forth: down the station steps, up the station steps, put down my suitcase, take You should give a formal my ticket out of my coat pocket, pick up apology. my suitcase, hand in my ticket, cross over You should tender a formal to the newsstand, buy the evening papers, apology. go outside, and signal for a taxi.” Heinrich Böll, The Clown -yield to gveni a opinion -waver -weigh in -surrender -opine -sermonize [derogatory]

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 175 12/10/10 8:35 AM 176â give it to me

“The foolish read to escape reality; the wise “She had left the church last of all, and, de- surrender to it.” siring to arrive first at the hall, had issued orders to the coachman to drive faster.” gveti i to me Upton Sinclair, The Jungle -give it here gvenuti o gvee i m no choice -apportioned -leave me no choice -dispensed

gverdersi o gvenoi t me -issue orders -given me gveuti o “It is silence all about. My hand is good and -dispense I have a beautiful biro full of blue ink, given -disclose me by my friend the doctor…” Sebastian Barry, The Secret Scripture gvehei t benefit of the doubt gvesi a ood impression -view it in the light most favorable -conducts himself well -acquits himself well gvehemi t credit -credit them with He gave a very good impression. gvep i u (give in) -capitulate He acquitted himself brilliantly. -resign oneself to -lay down arms gvesredibiliti c y gvep( i u hand over) -lends credence to -forfeit gveshei t impression -cede -conveys the impression -relinquish -gives a sense of gvep( i u stop) -suggests -forswear “The outfit was acceptable by any theological and geometrical standards, however gveni abstruse, and suggested a rich inner life.” -entrusted with John Kennedy Toole, A Confederacy -invested with of Dunces -accorded -delivered gvin ni g i -extended -succumbing to -endowed -apportioned gvin i g us information yielding information -favored with - -blessed with gadl gvenrdersi o -glad of it -issued orders “Longstreet was not asleep. He lay on the cot watching the lightning flare in the door

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 176 12/10/10 8:35 AM go withoutâ 177â

of the tent. It was very quiet in the grove -circumvent and there was the sound of the raindrops continuing to fall from the trees although the gacko b to rain had ended. When Sorrel touched him -date from prehistoric times on the arm he was glad of it; he was think- gendo b yo ing of his dead children.” Michael Shaara, -transcend The Killer Angels gowno d gadll y -recede -with pleasure -descend

geaminl g gas o e y on -resplendent -has shown little desire to go for the gooml y jugular -dour gao h ywire -sullen -go awry -somber -stygian (hellish) {STIH-jee-un} guto o in public -leaden -go about among people [poetic] -dreary “The repugnance to being touched remains gorificationl of with us when we go about among people; the way we move in a busy street, in res- -deification of taurants, trains or buses, is governed by it.” -apotheosis of [academic] Elias Canetti, Crowds and Power gorifl y -lionize gasto p go beyond -deify -

gossverl o ghereo t frequent -varnish over -

go goo t attend -set out - frequent -go about - -venture to githo w gftero a -accompany attend -pursue -

gheado a githouto w forgo -do what you will - -do what you must You will go without any more gllo a the way -carry through to the end luxuries. You will forgo any more luxuries. groundo a -circumnavigate

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 177 12/10/10 8:35 AM 178â goal

galo gin ftero g a -aspiration -chasing -ambition -pursuing “My main ambition as a journalist is to cut -giving chase to through the PR and find the truth in what gin acko g b to politicians are saying.” Chris Matthews, -dating back to 2010 Hardball promo gin omeo g h Godare ’s c -homeward bound God’s keeping - -returning homewards -providence gin no g o for a long time gese o b yond -longstanding -transcends -escapes gin uto g o of style -extends far beyond -falling out of fashion

gesitho w (agrees with) gin oo g t -compliments -in danger of -goes hand in hand with -disposed to -is in keeping with -inclined to -comports with -is consistent with the views of gneo -echoes -exhausted -reflects gnerao c zy accords with - -taken leave of one’s senses “It is not because the truth is too difficult to see that we make mistakes…we make mis- gneoro f good takes because the easiest and most comfort- -irretrievable able course for us is to seek insight where it “The last moments slipped by, one by one, accords with our emotions—especially self- irretrievable. ‘The earth is the Lord’s and ish ones.” Alexander Solzhenitsyn the fullness thereof, the earth and everything that dwells therein.’ The priest, with a gesture of a cross, scattered earth over My views on this agree with the the body of Maria Nikolaevna.” Boris administration’s position. Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago My views are consistent with those of the administration. godo -well “It is well to read everything of something, gesitho w the territory and something of everything.” Joseph -is inevitable Brodsky -is part and parcel godto a gino g -gifted -off to -has an eye for -accomplished

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 178 12/10/10 8:35 AM goodnessâ 179â

godto a sex -is shrewd -lively in bed -is sagacious [academic] “Women desire six things: They want their goducko l husbands to be brave, wise, rich, gener- -wish you every success ous, obedient to wife, and lively in bed.” Geoffrey Chaucer godleo o days -the halcyon days {HAL-see-on} godehavioro b -the bygone era of -exemplary behavior -of bygone days godo -bye (A GOOD-BYE) -my salad days a proper sendoff - godmeno o godhanceo c of success -a good harbinger propitious - godarto p of godnouo e gh -a goodly part of [poetic] -to your liking “The world begins anew with every birth, -sufficient my father used to say. He forgot to say, -should suffice with every death it ends. Or did not think he needed to. Because for a goodly part of his godnouo e gh but not great life he worked in a graveyard.” Sebastian -palatable Barry, The Secret Scripture -admissible -such as it is godeasono r -compelling reason godo excuse -extenuating circumstances godi o s gn -mitigating circumstances -harbinger of good

godoro f godhino t g -lends itself to -godsend -suitable for -well-suited for godisheso w -Godspeed [humorous when godoro f me melodramatic] -did me good to godeartedo -h incompetence godoro f the soul -a regular Bertie Wooster -redemptive godnesso godriendo f -her better nature -intimate friend -arête {Greek, ahr-i-TAY} -virtues godjb o o (doing a good job) -exact in the discharge of his duties “For the traveler we see leaning on his [formal] neighbor is an honest and well-meaning man and full of melancholy, like those godjdo u gment (has good Chekhov characters so laden with vir- judgment) -is discerning

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 179 12/10/10 8:35 AM 180â gossip

tues that they never know success in life.” “Since the world was sure to misunderstand Orhan Pamuk, Snow everything, mere defensive instinct prompted him to give it as little as possible to lay gssipo hold upon.” Booth Tarkington, Penrod -hold court get hold of -tell tales - “…you get some who blow kisses or try to gt o (SEE “GET”) get hold of your arm, but then they are definitely knocking at the wrong door. I get off got back up my bicycle and refuse to go further in their -he righted himself company, or I pretend to be insulted and gtlosero c tell them in no uncertain terms to clear off.” -drew near Anne Frank, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl gtffo o -dismounted gabbedr -took hold of G IETOT QU -clutched -he fell silent -caught hold of

gticko s gabbinr g -was taken ill -clasping -fell ill -clutching

gtoo t know gader -acquainted herself with -evaluate -made herself familiar with -critique appraise gtoo t work - -set to work gantr bestow gtp o u - confer -drew himself up - accord -rose - “The voyage will not teach you any- gurmeto thing if you do not accord it the right to -epicure destroy you—a rule as old as the world itself. A voyage is like a shipwreck, and gurmeto cooking those whose boat has never sunk will never -haute cuisine {French, oat-kwi-ZEEN} know anything about the sea. The rest is gvernmento skating or tourism.” Nicolas Bouvier, Le -affairs of state Vide et le Plein

gvernmento of the wealthy gapearvestr h -plutocracy -the vendange {French, von-DONJ}

gabr gassr -lay hold of -grasses -lay hold upon

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 180 12/10/10 8:35 AM greetâ 181â

“When June came the grasses headed out geatestr (the greatest) and turned brown, and the hills turned a -as great a âââ as any age ever brown which was not brown but a gold and produced saffron and red—an indescribable color.” “As I could never hope to write anything John Steinbeck, East of Eden myself, worthy to be laid before YOUR MAJESTY; I think it a very great happi- gatefulr ness, that it should be my lot to usher into -effusive the world, under Your Sacred Name, the -beholden to last work of as great a Genius as any Age gatefulr for the way you ever produced…” Sir Isaac Newton, treated me The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms -grateful for past kindnesses Amended

gar y geatestr work -gun metal gray -magnum opus {Latin, MAG-num -charcoal OH-pus}

geatr geatlr y -profound -in no small measure -monumental -remarkable geatnessr grandeur -glorious - “Unpretending mediocrity is good, and ge- geedr nius is glorious; but a weak flavor of genius -excesses in an essentially common person is detest- -avarice able.” Oliver Holmes, The Autocrat of -cupidity [academic] the Breakfast-Table geedr y geatarer c -covetous -elaborate care -rapacious -acquisitive geatealr d -avaricious -fair amount of -esurient [academic]

geatj r ob (way to go) Greekculpture s (nude) -kudos -a kouros {Greek, CORE-ahs}

geator t see you Greekhree t handled water -no one I could have been more vessel pleased to see -hydria {Old French, HIGH-dree-uh}

geaterr than the sum of its geenr parts -verdant -a synergism -gestalt {German, gih-STAHLT} geenhouser “The Well-Spoken Thesaurus is gestalt- -conservatory like in the sense that it is more than the geetr words it contains.” -receive

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 181 12/10/10 8:35 AM 182â greet warmly

geetarmlr w y -business of ferrets -glad-hand -clutch of eggs -coven of witches gew(her t y grew vegetables) -collective of artists cultivated - -guild of writers gidr -gaggle of girls -lattice -assembly of churches -consortium of companies gimacedr -complement of soldiers -gave her one pained look goupf r o honored persons giper -a pantheon -grievance goupedr goceriesr -clustered -provisions goupiesr goper -entourage -flounder -retinue -claque gossnr i justice -iniquity goupinr gs -enclaves gouchr -curmudgeon gowr -ferment gouchr y -evolve ill-tempered - -flourish morose - -thrive ill-humored - -prosper irascible - -burgeon querulous - -proliferate snarky - -mushroom cantankerous - -intensify goupr -take root -entourage -gather force -camp -mount -inner circle “Favored by the favorable dream. I shall -coterie listen to the authority of the dream that -cabal mounts within me.” Saint-John Perse -tribe -cluster gowinr g -bevy -in ascendance faction - guesomer arm of - -macabre -detail -cadre of garanteeu -contingent of -assurance -throng

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 182 12/10/10 8:35 AM had a dogâ 183â

gardianshipu gllibilitu y -tutelage -credulity -wardship gt(ou t gut) gardsu his territory -eviscerate -holds his purchase on gtsu -entrails He guards his territory over a -viscera wide swath of the executive branch. He holds his purchase on a wide swath of the executive branch. Hh habit convention gerillau warfare - -bent -Fabian tactics -proclivity gessu -idiosyncrasy -speculate -second nature -venture a guess -peculiarity -extrapolate -inclination -surmise habitf o “She stood apart from the crowd, letting -given to it drift by her to the platform or the street, -has a propensity for and wearing an air of irresolution which might, as he surmised, be the mask of a had very definite purpose.” Edith Wharton, -enjoyed The House of Mirth -had at her disposal a

G UESS (A GUESS) hadcar a s -conjecture -bore a scar

gideu hadhild a c -shepherd -has borne a child -mentor “Of her life outside Windsor Mansions -herd Soraya reveals nothing. Soraya is not her -usher real name, that he is sure of. There are signs she has borne a child, or children.” gidedu by J.Â . Coetzee, Disgrace -governed by hadonfusin a c g effect on giltu y -played havoc with -complicit -culpable hado a d g -blameworthy -kept a dog glfu “Their splendour lasted throughout all the -chasm years that saw their Midland town spread

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 183 12/10/10 8:35 AM 184â had an idea

and darken into a city, but reached its “The planet Mars, I scarcely need re- topmost during the period when every mind the reader, revolves about the sun at prosperous family with children kept a a mean distance of 140,000,000 miles, Newfoundland dog.” Booth Tarkington, and the light and heat it receives from the The Magnificent Ambersons sun is barely half of that received by this world. It must be, if the nebular hypoth- hadn a idea esis has any truth, older than our world; -the idea struck him and long before this earth ceased to be -she hit on a novel solution molten, life upon its surface must have hadone d to me begun its course.” H. G.ÂWells, The War -what she had produced in me of the Worlds

hado n answer hallway -could find no reply -corridor

hado n appeal to handver o to -had no grace for [poetic] -entrust to your care -commend to your care “There was a black river that flowed through the town, and if it had no grace for mortal handed down beings, it did for swans, and many swans -bequeathed resorted there, and even rode the river like -bestowed some kind of plunging animals, in floods.” Sebastian Barry, The Secret Scripture handled herself well -acquitted herself well hadothin n g to do with -played no role in handlers (political handlers) -the Praetorian Guard Drugs had nothing to do with “If you want to interview the president, hisÂdeath. you’ve got to get past the Praetorian Drugs played no role in Guard.” hisÂdeath. hands off approach -laissez-faire {French, lay-zay-FAIR} hadomethin s g to do with -benign neglect had some part in - handsome -played a role in -rakish hadau t ght her to handwriting -had accustomed her to -script hado t happen -in the most beautiful hand -was inevitable -in the hand of

hairut c short han ut g o with that crowd -hair cropped short -the circles in which they move

halff o what is han ver g o -half of that -drape

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 184 12/10/10 8:35 AM hard to understandâ 185â

hann gi g out with happens every day -going about with -an everyday occurrence

hanuts go happiness -usual haunts -cheer -felicity hanver go remedy -elation -prairie oyster happy happen -blithe -ensue -elated -befall -sanguine -come about -scarcely able to contain his joy -is borne out -come to pass happ y-go-lucky -take place -improvident [academic] -devil-may-care happen at the same time -coincide happ ith y w -encouraged by happened again -contented with -the scene replayed itself in harassed happened to -hampered -what became of -bedeviled -why such a thing had fallen on -beleaguered -befallen -beset “There is one mind common to all in- -dragooned dividual men. Every man is an inlet to the same and to all of the same. He that hard is once admitted to the right of reason -difficult is made a freeman of the whole estate. -onerous What Plato has thought, he may think; -like herding cats what a saint has felt, he may feel; what -arduous at any time has befallen any man, he can hardine l (taken a hard understand. Who hath access to this uni- line) versal mind is a party to all that is or can -has not softened her view be done, for this is the only and sovereign agent.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Essay hardo t catch on History” -elusive

hardo t handle Whatever happened to -cumbersome theÂchild? hardo t see What became of the child? -imperceptible

hardo t understand happened to see her one day -abstruse -chanced to see her one day -recondite [academic]

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 185 12/10/10 8:35 AM 186â hard to use

hardo t use hardworking -unwieldy -assiduous -untiring hardo t take -laborious -bitter pill to swallow harm hardork w -grievous harm -heavy lifting -does violence to

hardorker w harmful -workhorse -adverse hardboiled crime drama -injurious -film noir {French, film nwar} -pernicious -deleterious [academic] harden -nocuous -calcify harmless hardly -benign -scarcely -innocuous

“The planet Mars, I scarcely need remind harsh the reader, revolves about the sun at a -discordant mean distance of 140,000,000 miles, and -unforgiving the light and heat it receives from the sun is -acidulous {a-SIJ-eh-lus} [academic] barely half of that received by this world.” -strident H. G. Wells, The War of the Worlds -little harshnd a simple -austere “We little know the things for which we -spartan pray.” Geoffrey Chaucer -ascetic hardl y any -puritanical -scant -utilitarian -next to no experience -institutional next to nothing - harshaws l negligible - -draconian laws hardl y slept harshq ualities slept little - -asperities {as-PARE-ih-tees} hardships harshoundin s g travails - -strident wants - -enough to set the teeth on edge privations - -braying “The French nuns might hardly recognize their former quarters. Austerity and priva- harshtatement s tions have given way to a classy, comfort- -strongly worded statement able small hotel.” Seth Sherwood, New -speaking less diplomatically York Times, Nov. 1, 2009

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 186 12/10/10 8:35 AM hatred of womenâ 187â

harsh words hasothin n g to do with -caustic commentary -bears little relationship to -has no direct bearing on harshness of temper “Although it has no direct bearing on the -asperity tale we have to tell, we must nevertheless harshness of opinion give some account of the rumours and gos- -tyranny of opinion sip concerning him which were in circulation when he came to occupy the Diocese.” has Victor Hugo, Les Miserables -presents -displays hasossibilities p for -is endowed with -presents possibilities for -enjoys -suffers from hasun r out has been exhausted -is blessed with - -boasts hasalue v -commands -is a commodity -occupies -retains hasty -brash haslwa a ys argued -impudent -has long argued hate hasn a ything to do with -hold in contempt -seldom trades in the currency of -abhor haseen b for a long time -loathe have no liking for -has long been -

haseen b watched hateful odious -has come under greater scrutiny - -contemptuous hase b gun -invidious -is in full swing hatred hasontrol c over -enmity -has purchase on -animosity -antipathy hasore m to do with -aversion -has greater relevance to -contempt hasodea n i -deep antagonism ill-will -cannot account for - hatred of people She had no idea what happened -misanthropy to the money. hatred of women She could not account for the -misogyny discrepancy in funds.

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 187 12/10/10 8:35 AM 188â have

have -inform -are endowed with -reverberate -come equipped with haven a y problems “In Texas, in the good ol’ days, I spent -encounter any problems lots of time riding around in trucks with complete maniacs who liked to talk about haveecome b important kicking ass, and especially minority ass, -have gained increasing importance (Alexie’s stories frequently explore this dy- -have gained currency namic) and sometimes they acted on it. In real life these dudes all pretty much lacked haveonfidence c in the ability to reflect on their behavior, no -have every confidence in matter how dire the consequences, but haveor f a long time Alexie’s come equipped with souls.” Macy -have long been Halford, The New Yorker, Nov. 5, 2009 -are in receipt of haveg otten used to -carry with them -have grown accustomed to -possess haveatred h “Her being seemed composed of shadow, -bear malice with too little substance for it to possess sex. -harbor ill-will It was a shred of matter harboring a light, with large eyes that were always cast down; a pretext for a soul to linger on earth.” I don’t hate him. Victor Hugo, Les Miserables I bear him no ill-will. -hold -bear haven i common have a negative effect on -a common thread underlies -impinge on haveittle l to do with have a problem with -have only indirect bearing upon -have a quarrel with have my revenge -bristle at -exact revenge -take umbrage to -take issue with haveo n -am free from own no They will have a problem - withÂthat. “I suppose each of us must be guilty of certain sins. We’d be less than human if we They will take issue with that. weren’t blemished a bit. And I strive earnestly not to envy, not to grow little snips haven a effect on and slips and buds and seeds of jealousy. -take hold of I deplore cruelty, and own no avarice—at -arouse a feeling in least none I’m conscious of.” MacKinlay -impress upon Kantor, Andersonville -strike home

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 188 12/10/10 8:35 AM hear it fromâ 189â

haveot n come true -he has shown himself to be -have proved hollow -he is the product of “The predictions of war have proved -he has a taste for hollow.” -he is learned in -he could easily be classified as haveower p -hold sway hesgod i o at -he is learned in haveq ualities -he was suited for nothing so well as -exhibit qualities for the study of

haveecond s thoughts heiterall l y had to -think better of -he had literally to havee s x “Until he was almost ten the name stuck to -to couple him. He had literally to fight his way free of -to bed it.” Edna Ferber, So Big

havehe t opportunity âââeaid h s -have the occasion to -âââ said he [poetic] “‘And Satin has a tail, Broader than a large havehe t right ship’s sail. Hold up your tail, Satin!’ said -are entitled he.” Geoffrey Chaucer -have just claim to hehou t ght of himself as a Hvena ’t you ever seen it -he thought himself a -have you never seen it headowed b havin g an effect -with downcast head -reverberating headf o hair havin g difficulties -mane hard-pressed - -thatch -burdened -beset with headp u -preside over hay z -nebulous healing -curative he -restorative -for his part -he, on his part healthy -the picture of health Hidne d ’t seem to mind -he was philosophical hear -get wind of hes i -I have found him to be heart i from -he may suffer from spells of -have it from -his ââ manner never abandoned him -he is given to

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 189 12/10/10 8:35 AM 190â heard it through the grapevine

heardt i through the -inferno grapevine -nether world -have it on good authority helloow -h -are-you heardf o (exchanging hello’s) -the only instance she had ever met -exchanging pleasantries was that of help hearing what was said, he -cater to -at these words, he -enable -facilitate heaven -accommodate the heavens - -address the needs of heavenly -ease the workload of -ethereal -be of service to -otherworldly -come to the aid of -render aid heavy -minister to -ponderous -empower -leaden -ease the job of -be of help heav rinkery d -offer some assistance prodigious drinker - -intervene hedge helpful equivocate - -accommodating heit gh -obliging -stature -conducive to -effectual heiro t a prominent family -salutary -scion -helpful to your cause heldack b -checked her first impulse The concierge was very helpful. kept his counsel - The concierge was more than heldn o to it accommodating. -kept hold of it held to it - helpless heldrisoner p (not allowed -impotent to communicate) helpse m -held incommunicado -has served me well heldesponsible r helpso t -held accountable -serves to -being called to account helpso t promote Hlle -makes for a better -perdition

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 190 12/10/10 8:35 AM highly specializedâ 191â

herpinions o are -belie -in her general opinions she is -cloak “In her general opinions she is surprisingly -sequester moralistic. She is offended by tourists who -conceal bare their breasts (‘udders,’ she calls them) hiderom f on public beaches; she thinks vagabonds -lie in wait should be rounded up and put to work sweep- -take refuge in ing the streets.” J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace -escape the notice of here -sequester -at hand -conceal upon us - hideone m y -accounted for -salt it away -in attendance high herend a there -lofty -about and about -from on high “It was bandaged about and about with dirty white tape, tied in a neat bow.” A. S. hilassgh c Byatt, Possession -privately bred “She was a woman privately bred.” hereies l (gravestone) -hic jacet {Latin, heek YAH-kit} hiashiongh f -couture {French, koo-TOUR} hesitate -dither hiressuregh p tactics -waver -coercive tactics

hidden hiocietgh s y -cloaked -haut monde {French, oh MOND} -harbored -ensconced hiergh standard -latent -a new pitch of perfection dormant - hiestgh -smoldering -loftiest -vestigial -veiled hiestgh point -obscured by -zenith -secluded from -apex -indistinguishable from -culmination -masked by -pinnacle

hidden traitors hili gh ghts (it highlights) -the fifth column -it underscores

hide hil gh y specialized -obscure -esoteric -ensconce -enshroud

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 191 12/10/10 8:35 AM 192â high-pitched

hiitchedgh-p clockwork speed; his speech was thin, fluty, -falsetto and dry.” Aldous Huxley, Chrome Yellow

himself histor y of -his whole person -in the annals of -his ungainly person -in the ledgers of -his self -the chronology of “Carbolic soap, that would have cleaned -the evolution of a greasy floor, he agitated it into a suit of hit by suds, that fitted him well, and he scraped -struck by at his self with a piece of greystone, that he stuck into the wall in a particular niche hitome h when he was done—from where it poked -it came home to me when out like a nose.” Sebastian Barry, The Secret Scripture hobby -my ruling passion hindsight’s 20/20 -in retrospect hold -harbor Hindsight’s 20/20. holdack b -check In retrospect, we should have -refrain from exercised more caution. -restrain

holdff o hintt a -keep at bay allude to - -stave off -signal -make intimations of There are ways to hold them off. hintsf o -traces of There are ways to keep them -reminiscences of atÂbay. -remnants of

hired holdn o to -engaged -keep hold of -commissioned -hold to them “His sentiments are, he is aware, compla- hisâ â was cent, even uxorious. Nevertheless he does -his was a âââ that could not cease to hold to them.” J.M. Coetzee, hisâ â were like a â â Disgrace his âââ were the âââ of a âââ - holdp u “The skin of his wrinkled brown face had a -bear scrutiny dry and scaly look; his hands were the hands -bear inspection of a crocodile. His movements were marked “As political analysis, there’s something by the lizard’s disconcertingly abrupt to be said for Krugman’s Manichean view

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 192 12/10/10 8:35 AM hospital-likeâ 193â

of Âthe world. But Krugman is also an econ- honest omist—a very good one—and the econom- -principled ics of what is proposed bear inspection.” -forthright John Cassidy, The New Yorker, Nov. 4, -candid 2009 honesty holdp u to -veracity -bear the weight of -candor -probity [academic] holding back -withholding honor( to honor) -pay homage to {HAW-mij} holding back feelings -reticent honorary -titular {TI-chuh-ler} (in title only) hole -aperture [technical] hooked or curved -aquiline holiness -sanctity hope -hold out the possibility that home -trust that -dwelling -aspire to -habitat -abode hopeo t God that -God grant that you never homeland [This word has a fascist connotation] hopeless -the country -an exercise in futility -incorrigible Hmelando Security -irredeemable -National Security -tilting at windmills -Civil Defense hopeless act homeless -fool’s errand -destitute -dispossessed hopelessly -irredeemably homelessness -destitution horintalzo “Nightfall assembled them, as it did the -prone stars. With nothing in common but their -supine destitution, they mustered to sleep together -recumbent in the Porch of Our Lord, cursing, insulting hospital-like and jostling each other, picking quarrels with -utilitarian old enemies, or throwing earth and rubbish, -institutional even rolling on the ground and spitting and biting with rage.” Miguel Angel Asturias, “Get some plaster, he said, propped up The President in the bed, which looked odd and institutional among the Persian rugs and Colonial

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 193 12/10/10 8:35 AM 194â hostile

furniture and dozens of antique clocks.” howoy d ou explain Paul Harding, Tinkers -how to explain

hostile howoy d ou mean -acrimonious -in what respect

hosting howar f -playing host to -to what extent

hot howe h does it -torrid -how he goes about it -sultry howts i i (THAT’S HOW IT IS) -oppressive -that’s the nature of the beast hotempered-t howts i i done -irascible as is standard practice when -choleric - -it is the custom of hour (IN AN HOUR) howt i will turn out -in an hour’s time -what may come of hover Hwano m y â â do you have -loomââ -how many ââ have you -however did you howuch m -the way in which to what extent -the ââ by which - -the means whereby control of Hwhouldo s I take that how am I to take that howre a you not - -how is it you’re not however nevertheless Hwano c - nonetheless -how is it that - -howbeit “How is it that Americans, so solicitous of -howsoever the animals they keep as pets, are so in- -that said different to the ones they cook for dinner? -then again The answer cannot lie in the beasts them- -notwithstanding selves. Pigs, after all, are quite companionable, and dogs are said to be delicious.” huge Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, -beyond measure Nov. 9, 2009 -immeasurable -monumental howoI d -commanding -how does one go about -elephantine prodigious howoy d ou expect her to - ponderous -how is she to - humountge a of -torrent of

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 194 12/10/10 8:35 AM hypnoticâ 195â

-considerable amount of -habituated -wealth of “Years ago, my clique habituated a lower -host of east-side restaurant called Hat (trans- -extensive amount of lated from El Sombrero for N.Y.C. na- -goodly number of tives). The enchiladas were O.K.; the -fair amount of main attractions were the cheap mar- -fuming not a little garitas, the salsa jukebox and the nervy, -hordes of unreasonable mood of the place, largely -profuse amount of delivered by the indifferent Goth wait- -great many ress who always wore an enormous black -litany of turban.” Cintra Wilson, New York -galaxy of Times, Nov. 3, 2009 -legion of “The number of secretly gay anti-gay activ- hungry ists is legion.” -ravenous -an appetite for huhinge t g -peckish (somewhat hungry) [British] -leviathan -ravening {RAV-en-ing} -voracious HmanR u esources [incorrect usage] hurry -people -hasten -must not linger humble -make haste -unassuming -inglorious hurt(eel f pain) -innocuous -suffer -self-effacing -endure -deferential -pains me to -gives me much pain humiliate -abase hurt(nflict i pain) -aggrieve humiliating -afflict -ignominious {ig-nu-MIN-ee-us} -abject hurtelations r with -sour relations with humiliation -indignity hurting -feeling the sting humor someone -indulge someone henym -maidenhead humorous -jesting hnoticyp -jocular -mesmeric hun ut g o at -frequented

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 195 12/10/10 8:35 AM 196â hypocrite

hocriteyp Imgin a o g to -a whited sepulcher {WHITE-ed -I have a mind to SEP-ul-ker} Imot a n here to defend hothesiyp ze -I’m no apologist for -theorize Imot a n sure if -it’s not clear to me whether

Imroud a p of Ii -they do me honor Iccept a that Imtill a s young -I am resigned to -I am young still -I will allow that -I have come to terms with Imure a s -I have no doubt Iccuse a ! -of this I’m sure -J’accuse! {French, zhu-CUSE} [often playful in a melodramatic way] Imellin a t g you -I tell you Idmit a that -I make no secret of Ien b ga to cry -I will allow that -I fell to crying [poetic] -I will grant you “And all at once, though I had remained -I recognize dry-eyed through all the insults done me on -I must come to terms with board ship and through the hours of despair -by my own account when I was alone on the waves with the captain lying dead at my feet, a handspike Iee agr jutting from his eye-socket, I fell to crying.” -yes, that it is J.M. Coetzee, Foe -my sentiments exactly -I’m inclined to agree Ielieve b they would do that -I consent to -I believe that of them -I subscribe to -I am of like mind Ianhink c t of many â â -I will allow that -many âââ come to mind -I am in support of Ianse c u I have reached an accommodation - -I have use for -I am in complete accord “‘I can use dynamite,’ said the man with Iee agr with â âââ the carbine. He handed back the paper to -I’m with ââââ on this Robert Jordan and looked him over. ‘Yes, I have use for dynamite. How much have Im a you brought me.’” Ernest Hemingway, -I remain For Whom the Bell Tolls

Imfraid a a that it would Iannot c -I fear it would -I regret that I cannot -normally I would be delighted, but

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 196 12/10/10 8:35 AM i have neverâ 197â

-it puts me in something of a dilemma -I remain unconvinced of the value of I don’t like to complain. -I find that I cannot -your idea has merit, but I’m not one to complain.

Ian c ’t talk, because I’m just as guilty Ion d ’t mean to -I’m not exactly in a position to -it is not my intention to criticize Ion d ’t think it will work Iould c be wrong -I’m skeptical that it will work -nothing I have said is immune to scrutiny Ion d ’t think so -there is little to suggest that Iidot d n -I think not -I had not the Ion d ’t want Iidot d n know she did that -I’m not comfortable with -it happened unbeknownst to me Incoura e ge Ioot d n have -it is to be encouraged -I have not the [poetic] -it is to be welcomed

Ioot d n know Ielt f -I cannot say -there came to me a

Ioot d n understand how Ivey gi ou my word -I cannot comprehend how -here is my hand on it

ion d ’t believe it Iavelso h a seen -I find that hard to accept -so have I seen

Ion d ’t care Iaveeen h b -it’s of no consequence to me -I am -it’s a matter of indifference to me “A dark shadow fell upon me, not of a Ion d ’t have time for this cloud, but of a man with a dazzling halo -I’ve no time for this about him. ‘Castaway,’ I said with my thick dry tongue. ‘I am cast away. I am Ion d ’t have your sense of all alone.’ And I held out my sore hands.” -I haven’t your sense of J.M. Coetzee, Foe

Ion d ’t know why Iaveecided h d to -it is not at all clear why -I have resolved to -I have taken it upon myself to Ion d ’t like it -I have thought it well to -it’s not to my liking Iave h never Ion d ’t like to -never have I -I take no pleasure in -I’m not one to

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 197 12/10/10 8:35 AM 198â i have never seen

Iave h never seen Iean m what I say -I have never encountered -so help me God

Iave h no idea how Iit m gh be persuaded -I cannot account for -I could take an interest -I can give no account of how Iustdmit m a Iaveeen h s this -truth be told -this I have seen Iemember r the Iave h wanted for a long -I remember well the time to -I have long wanted to Ieplied r -I returned Ieard h it through the grapevine Ihould s say -I have it on good authority -I hasten to add

Iopehat h t Itand s here -it is my hope that -here I stand [poetic]

Iopehis h t will help itillove s l her -I hope this will be of some help -I love her still -I hope this information will be of use “Granny died in January, 1942; no one to will ever know how much she is present in my thoughts and how much I love her still.” Iopey h ou’ve learned your Anne Frank, Anne Frank: The Diary of lesson a Young Girl -let this be a lesson to you Iwear s Ioped h -upon my word -I was not without hope Ihink t Isti ju m ght -in my judgment -I have a mind to -I am of the opinion that Inow k what it’s like to -to my thinking -I know what it is to -it strikes me as -as I see it -I should think I know what it’s like to be young -I should imagine and foolish. -my own feeling is I know what it is to be young and Ihink t , but I’m not entirely foolish. sure -it is ostensibly

Inowy k ou very well IhinkI’ t ll -I know you only too well -I’ve a mind to

Inl eed o y n to see Ihou t ght -I need only see -I reasoned

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 198 12/10/10 8:35 AM idolizeâ 199â

Ihou t ght to myself idea -I figured to myself -conception -construct Iasorn w b in -sentiment -I was born at -abstraction “I was born at Geneva in 1712, the son of -notion Isaac Rousseau, a citizen of that town, and Susann Bernard, his wife.” Jean-Jacques idea ad I h Rousseau, The Confessions -an idea I had entertained “Quite inadvertently, I brought myself to Iasuck w l y enough to tell him about an idea I had now and then -I had the good luck to entertained. ‘My husband has to be some- “I had the great luck one summer of one who can afford a two-bedroom apart- studying the three-toed sloth in situ in ment, since Eeyore will be living with us. the equatorial jungles of Brazil.” Yann And I want to live a quiet life there.’” Martel, Life of Pi Kenzaburo Oe, A Quiet Life

iasurprised w s to ideaf o -I was struck by -prospect of -brainchild of iill w -notion of -I will do so ideaf o beauty Iilllwa w a ys remember -his aesthetic -I will long remember idealodel m Iille w b the â â -exemplar -I will take on the job of âââ idealistic Ion w ’t -quixotic (impractically idealistic) -who am I to identify Iould w like to -pinpoint I am happy to - -establish I take genuine pleasure in - -distinguish -I should like to “…my bed is a goal attained at last, it is ideological my consolation and might become my faith -doctrinaire {dock-trin-AIR} if the management allowed me to make a idiot few changes: I should like, for instance, to -troglodyte have the bars built up higher, to prevent anyone from coming too close to me.” idolition za of Günter Grass, Tin Drum -deification of -apotheosis of [academic] Iould w never {Greek, uh-POTH-ee-OH-sis} -far be it from me to âââ idolize Iould w not care if -deify -I would care little if

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 199 12/10/10 8:35 AM 200â if

if ifhe t y were also -should -if they too were -whether -if presumably ifyuike o l this one -were it -if you think well of this one “I have taken this subject on a former oc- ifyua o s y so casion; and were it left to my own will, -as you please I should prefer to repeat it almost every year…” Michael Faraday, The Chemical ifyu o want to History of a Candle -if you like

ifnhin a yt g happens to him ifyu o were to -if any harm comes to him -were you to -should any harm come to him iffy if ver I e held -in doubt -if I came to hold -open to question

if hou I t ght it would work iorantgn -if I knew anything would come of it -unenlightened -poorly informed if anted I w to -unacquainted with affairs of the world -if I were so inclined -uninitiated -should I be so inclined -uninstructed in -had I so willed it “By the year 1536, this nation had been iftsrue i i t joined by the helpless, needy wretches, un- -if it has any truth used to dolour, and uninstructed in business, who were turned abroad following “The planet Mars, I scarcely need remind the overthrow of the monasteries.” Edith the reader, revolves about the sun at a Sitwell, Fanfare for Elizabeth mean distance of 140,000,000 miles, and the light and heat it receives from the sun is -benighted barely half of that received by this world. It “Thirty years ago, modern methods of must be, if the nebular hypothesis has any farming, even methods that were mod- truth, older than our world; and long before ern in the benighted eighteen-nineties, this earth ceased to be molten, life upon its had not penetrated to this thinly set- surface must have begun its course.” H. G. tled part of Virginia.” Ellen Glasgow, Wells, The War of the Worlds Barren Ground

ifecessar n y ioregn -if need be -dismiss -give short shrift ifheere s w to -take little notice of -were she to “As soon as a boy asks if he may bicycle ifhere t are home with me and we get into conversa- -if there be [poetic] tion, nine out of ten times I can be sure that he will fall head over heels in love immediately and simply won’t allow me out

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 200 12/10/10 8:35 AM immediatelyâ 201â

of his sight. After a while it cools down image of course, especially as I take little notice -persona of ardent looks and pedal blithely on.” -posture Anne Frank, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl imanargi y -fictitious -discount -fictive -put aside -chimerical {ky-MARE-i-cal} “But neither he nor she can put aside what has happened. The two little boys become imanationgi presences between them, playing quiet as -in my mind’s eye shadows in a corner of the room where imane gi their mother and the strange man couple.” -conjure up J.Â .ÂCoetzee, Disgrace -envisage I’letl b that -call up conceived an image in her mind -I would go so far as saying -

illel ga imitation ersatz -illicit - -pseudo illel ga detention lawsuits -so-called -habeas corpus suits {Latin, HAY-be-us -faux {French, foe, lit. false} COR-pus} “A good 96 percent of the Penney’s inventory is made of polyester. The few clothing illetimategi items that are made of cotton make a sincere -questionable point of being cotton and tell you earnestly -of dubious origins about their 100-percent cottonness with illocal gi conclusion faux-hand-scribbled labels so obviously on -non sequitur {Latin, non the green bandwagon they practically spit SECK-wuh-tor} pine cones.” Cintra Wilson, New York Times, Aug. 13, 2009 illusion -sleight of hand imitative art -derivative art illustrated -exemplified -brought home Her ideas went over well, but -served as an example of they were unoriginal. -embodied Her ideas were well-received, if a I’warem a of bit derivative. -I’m well acquainted with

I’otm n in a position to immediately [corporatÂ cliché] -there and then -I would rather not -at once “He has always been a man of the city, at home amid a flux of bodies where eros

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 201 12/10/10 8:35 AM 202â immoral

stalks and glances flash like arrows. But this -prominent glance between himself and Soraya he re- -pivotal grets at once.” J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace -looms large -crucial to immoral -depraved important achievement -profligate -significant point of arrival

immortal important lesson -deathless -affecting lesson

impatient important moment -does not suffer fools gladly -singular moment -could not endure inaction -chafing at important person -un-forbearing -personage

implied impossible -implicit -out of the question -told in so many words -untenable

imply impossible to deny -purport -irrefutable -intimate impossible to overcome -color the conversation with -insurmountable importance -insuperable [academic] -import impossible to satisfy -with an air of gravity -insatiable

important impossible to separate -pressing -inextricable -of the highest distinction -figure prominently in impossible to stop -worthy of note -inexorable -deserving special mention -central to impossible to understand -notable -inscrutable -far-reaching impress -integral -awe -of considerable importance -command the respect of -of some importance -substantive impressed with -substantial -was taken with -of great consequence -no small factor in impressive -consequential -striking -of huge significance -considerable -imperative -noteworthy

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 202 12/10/10 8:35 AM in agreement withâ 203â

-worthy of note inook a b -lofty -in print -imposing inertain a c way -distinguished -in a given manner improper inivin a l g body (as opposed -untoward to a test-tube) -unseemly in vivo {Latin, in VEE-voe} -in poor form inon a l g time improve -in recent memory -make great strides in -shore up inut a n shell -further burnishes the beauty of -it is, in a word -bolster inest a t -tube (as opposed to improvement a living body) -betterment -in vitro {Latin, in VEE-troe}

in inimel a t y fashion [corp. -within cliché] -among -with deliberate speed -in and among -with all deliberate speed -amid -expedited -embodied in -contained in inrance a t -where it resides -catatonic -at -in a fugue state “He likes giving her presents. At New ina a w y York he gave her an enameled bracelet, at -in some sense Eid a little malachite heron that caught his eye in a curio shop. He enjoys her plea- inccordance a with sure, which is quite unaffected.” J.M. -pursuant to [formal] Coetzee, Disgrace inddition a inig a b g er or stronger way -parenthetically -writ large -at that -furthermore -for good measure Conceptually speaking, an observatory is nothing more than ineement agr of common mind a very big telescope. - -congruent [academic] Conceptually speaking, an observatory is nothing more than ineement agr with a telescope writ large. -in accordance with “The day had gone by just as days go by. I had killed it in accordance with my primitive

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 203 12/10/10 8:35 AM 204â in an act of

and retiring way of life.” Hermann Hesse, inreme ext difficulty Steppenwolf -in extremis {Latin, in ex-TREEM-is}

-in keeping with inact f -in sympathy with -in truth -in obedience to “She glanced with interest along the new inront f of you brick and limestone house-fronts, fantasti- -before you cally varied in obedience to the American inull f craving for novelty, but fresh and invit- -in its entirety ing with their awnings and flower-boxes.” -in extenso {Latin, in ex-TEN-so} Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth [academic]

innct a a of ingneral e -in a gesture of -as a whole inahoots c with -on the whole by and large -in league with - -in the usual course of events inasey c ou -lest you intsatural i n place -in situ {Latin, in SIGH-too} inhar c ge of “I had the great luck one summer of study- -over which she will preside ing the three-toed sloth in situ in the equa- -preside over torial jungles of Brazil.” Yann Martel, -reign Life of Pi -hold court -oversee injnuar a y of 1940 -command over -in the January of 1940 [poetic] inine l with The agency is in cahoots with -accords with the very industry it oversees. inove l with The agency is in league with the -enamored with very industry it oversees. -taken with “The Utopians wonder how any man inonclusion c should be so much taken with the glaring -it remains the recommendation that doubtful luster of a jewel or stone, that can look up to a star, or to the sun himself.” Sir inetail d Thomas More, Utopia -at length inan m y ways inver e y way -in many respects -in all respects -in every respect inournin m g -on all counts -bereaved

instence exi in pinion my o -extant [academic] -to my mind

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 204 12/10/10 8:35 AM in the place ofâ 205â

ineed n of then believe in the incompatibility, but I -in want of was already clear that, if I had to choose, I “It is a truth universally acknowledged, would choose Darwin.” Bertrand Russell, that a single man in possession of a good On God and Religion fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Jane inou r gh draft form Austen, Pride and Prejudice -roughed out inoa n w y are you to inearch s of -on no account are you to -in pursuance of [academic] inn o inecret s -privy to -sub rosa

inome s of the most I was not in on the conversation. -in certain of the most I was not privy to the conversation. inome s ways -in some respects

inrder o for this to occur inpirit s -to this end -in mindset

inrder o to inpite s of -so as to -notwithstanding -nonetheless inther o countries -nevertheless -abroad -irrespective of

inther o words inhat t crowd -that is to say -of that crowd

inur o custody inhat t situation -in our charge -under those circumstances

inain p inheest t b light possible -hobbled by pain -sympathetically -pained “The artist has treated her sympathetically.” inassin p g inhend t e en passant {French, ah pa-SAHn} - -in the final analysis inesponse r to inhe t middle of in consequence of - -amid “I had at one time, when I was thirteen, a -in the midst of very orthodox Swiss tutor, who, in conse- -in the throes of a quence of something I had said, stated with great earnestness: ‘If you are a Darwinian inhelace t p of I pity you, for one cannot be a Darwinian -in the stead of [poetic] and a Christian at the same time.’ I did not

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 205 12/10/10 8:35 AM 206â in the place of a parent

inhelace t p of a parent inhis t book -in loco parentis {Latin, in loco -herein pa-RENT-is} inotal t inheresence t p of -all told -in the face of -en masse -at the center of -in toto {Latin, in TOE-TOE}

inheeal t r world inrouble t -in practice -in some danger -in a compromising position inheame t s way -in kind inyur o best interest to -much as -you have much to gain from -you have little to lose by inhetate t s that it’s in, which is not so good inyur o mind -such as it is -psychosomatic

inhet t s yle back then inability -in the style of the day -incapacity

inhet t s yle of inactive -à la {French, ah-lah, short for a la mode -hibernating de, lit. in the manner of} -standing idly by -sedentary inhe t way it is used -torpid -in its application inadequate inhe t way they dressed -falls short of in their dress - -tinkering around the edges inhe t world -half-measures of all this world - inanimate “The foremost man of all this world.” -insentient Shakespeare on Caesar “Of the few fair complexioned Jewish stu- inhe t womb dents in our preponderantly Jewish pub- -in utero {Latin, in YOU-ter-oh} lic high school, none possessed anything remotely like the steep-jawed, insentient inheir t day Viking mask of this blue-eyed blond born -in their day and place into our tribe as Seymour Irving Levov.” “Magnificence, like the size of a fortune, is Philip Roth, American Pastoral always comparative, as even Magnificent inappropriate Lorenzo may now perceive, if he has hap- -out of keeping with pened to haunt New York in 1916; and -untoward the Ambersons were magnificent in their -unseemly day and place.” Booth Tarkington, The Magnificent Ambersons

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 206 12/10/10 8:35 AM indescribablyâ 207â

inappropriate humor -facetious {fuh-SEE-shus} -flippant The buildings were plain and average looking. incidentally The buildings were nondescript. -parenthetically -as an aside incorrect incite -erroneous -foment -flies in the face of -stir the embers increase inclination (a mere bolster inclination) - -intensify -velleity {veh-LEE-uh-tee} -heighten “As it happens, her wish to become a ma- -expand rine biologist was no more than another -augment passing velleity.” -accrue mount to include - -extend to “Man always tends to avoid physical con- -incorporate tact with anything strange. In the dark, the -embrace fear of an unexpected touch can mount to -comprise panic. Even clothes give insufficient security; it is easy to tear them and pierce including through to the naked, smooth, defense- -comprising less flesh of the victim.” Elias Canetti, -encompassing Crowds and Power -extending from -complete with increase (an increase in) -replete with -accession of -embracing increasing income -mounting -means of support -swelling the ranks of

incompetent incredible -feckless -defied description

inconsequential event independence -dalliance -autonomy

inconspicuous independent -unobtrusive -autonomous -nondescript -sovereign indescribably -ineffably

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 207 12/10/10 8:35 AM 208â indestructible

indestructible ineeriencedxp -impregnable -unfledged -unassailable -impervious inferior -invulnerable -subservient -lesser indicates -is suggestive of influence (to influence) -inform the work of indication of -shape -a clear measure of how -play a part -marks a new phase in -inspire -impose a more âââ stamp on indifference -make his imprint clear -insouciance {in-SUE-see-ence} -make his presence felt indifferent -make itself felt -perfunctory -reverberate -spill over “He gave me a perfunctory hey-how-ya- -leave its mark doin’ as he passed me in the hall.” -govern the appearance of indirect -find many echoes in -roundabout influenced by circuitous - -informed by oblique - -wrought by indisputable -subject to -incontrovertible -absorbed by -uncontroversial [academic] -fell into the hands of inform The facts are the facts. -apprise The facts are incontrovertible. informal expression -colloquialism

individual INFORMED (I AM WELL -singular INFORMED) -I am acquainted with ineffective -I am articulate on the subject of -unavailing -I am schooled in the art of -feckless informed (I HAVE BEEN ineffective line of defense INFORMED) -a Maginot line {French, MAZH-ih-no} -given to understand that kept abreast of inealitqu y - kept apprised of -disparity between -

ineensivexp -on the cheap

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 208 12/10/10 8:35 AM instigateâ 209â

-innermost

We were informed that partici- insides (guts) pation would be optional. -viscera

We were given to understand insiificantgn that participation would be -negligible optional. -of little significance “This story at no point becomes my own. inhabitant I am in it—good heavens, I’m in it to the -denizen of point of almost never being out of it!—but the story belongs, all of it, to the Carmodys, inhaled and my own part, while substantial -drew a deep breath enough, was never really of any great significance at all.” Edwin O’Connor, The inheritor of Edge of Sadness -heir to insincere INITIALS -glib the initialism - -disingenuous “The initialism SPQR attested her alleÂ giance to Rome.” insistn o respect -stand on one’s dignity innerhou t ghts -interior monologue inspect -scrutinize insanity -psychosis inspection -dementia -under close scrutiny under a watchful eye “He is the witness in his death-throws of - the immeasurable dementia of the sea, and, inspire tormented by this madness, he hears sounds -enkindle unknown to man that seem to come from some dreadful place beyond the bounds of inspire her to earth.” Victor Hugo, Les Miserables -inspire in her thoughts of

insensitive instead -callous -in place of -crass -in the place of -indelicate -sooner than -in her stead [poetic] insert between -as opposed to -interpose -in lieu of {French, lue} -rather than inside -otherwise -inhabiting -within instite ga -internal -foment -inner recesses

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 209 12/10/10 8:35 AM 210â instigating

institin ga g “At other times, SWAT police awkwardly -incendiary balanced machine guns outside the restaurant’s doors while military helicopters instinctive buzzed overhead—all rather incongruous -visceral to the atmosphere that Ms. Garnaut aimed -intuitive for at her restaurants, where diplomats, instinctively understand power brokers, and literati mingled over -intuit Champagne and caviar.” Jen Lin-Liu, New York Times, Oct. 31, 2009 instincts -the illuminati imperatives - -the intelligentsia instruction intellectual pursuits tutelage - -cerebral pursuits insult( to insult) intellectual, rational, and -belittle creative -disparage -Apollonian (as opposed to insult( an insult) Dionysian) -slight intellectuals -that was the unkindest cut -intelligentsia [Shakespeare] intense understanding of insulting -intimate knowledge of -insolent -pejorative intensify -heighten the effect insulting language -compound -invective -vitriol intensity -injurious attack -severity

insults thrown at me interdependent -insults done me -symbiotic “And all at once, though I had remained -obliging dry-eyed through all the insults done me on interest board ship and through the hours of despair -concern when I was alone on the waves with the -engage the attention of captain lying dead at my feet, a handspike -vested interest jutting from his eye-socket, I fell to crying.” J.M. Coetzee, Foe interested in -keen on insure -taking a close interest in -indemnify interesting intellectual elite -of interest -literati -compelling -engrossing

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 210 12/10/10 8:35 AM involved illegallyâ 211â

-likely to be of interest introduction -arresting -preamble -prelude interests of -exordium [academic] -preoccupations of intrude interpret -encroach -construe -trespass on your privacy -view the issue through the lens of intruder interpretation of -interloper -rendition of intruding interrupted -intrusive -interjected -invasive -interposed [academic] invasion interrupted by -incursion -punctuated by invention intervene -innovation -intercede investigation intervening resolution -inquest -deus ex machina {Latin, deh-oose ex -inquiry MAHK-in-uh} -review

intimate and private invisible -intime {French, ahn-TEEM} -vaporous ethereal intimidate - veiled -buffalo - invites intimidated by it provides fertile ground for -cowed by it - involve intimidating entail -daunting - embroil -imposing - involved intoiew v played a key role in -to the fore - -is immersed in introduce -is at the center of -unveil -may be a party to -will take part in introduce into -will partake in -infuse -is a participant in -inject a dose of involved illegally introducing -complicit -let me direct your attention to

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 211 12/10/10 8:35 AM 212â involved in an ongoing fight

involved in an ongoing -as is standard practice when fight -qualifies as -embattled -is proving to be -is subject to involvement -survives -what role he may have played -is of course irrational, destructive, -serves as uninhibited -has tendencies towards -Dionysian (as opposed to -is that of Apollonian) -finds itself -is of great importance irrelevant -is the personification of -beside the point -personifies -neither here nor there -is the product of -of no consequence -amounts to no more than -is at once apparent in It doesn’t matter. It’s of no consequence. At least he’s entertaining. He is, if nothing else, irritable entertaining. -peevish

irritate âââs i a -pique -what is âââ but a -vex isot a l like -gall -has the more general character of

irritating isi a s gn of -grating -denotes -galling -indicates

is istor a s y about [consider dropping this word in special -tells the story of circumstances] “Good-bye—if you hear of my being stood isbout a up against a Mexican stone wall and shot -concerns itself with to rags please know that I think that [ ] a issgod a o as pretty good way to depart this life. It beats -can take its place alongside old age, disease, or falling down the cellar stairs. To be a Gringo in Mexico—ah, that ist a is euthanasia!” Ambrose Bierce in a let- -stands at ter to his niece Lora isecause b of remains - -stems from constitutes - -is owing to is by far - -is governed by -is, if nothing else

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 212 12/10/10 8:35 AM is not a battle betweenâ 213â

isein b g used for isound f -is occupied by -is to be found

“The soil is fertile, the rains plentiful, and isrom f â â a considerable proportion of ground is oc- -is a native of âââ cupied by cultivation, and amply supplies the wants of the inhabitants.” Winston isgin o g to Churchill, The Story of the Malakand -intends to Field Force isgne o isoth b -gone is the -is at once âââ and âââ isere h isalled c -is at hand -is known by the name of ismportant i “…there lies a small market town or rural -figures prominently in port, which by some is called Greensburgh, but which is more generally and properly isnhe i t known by the name of Tarry Town.” -lay in the Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy -lies in the Hollow isnterestin i g isomposed c of -is of some interest -comprises ist i isonsidered c -can it be -is seen as Itccepteds i a isestructive d -does it have currency -is a destroyer isuck l y (he is lucky) isueo d t -lucky is he who [poetic] -owes something to isade m up of isal equ to -is comprised of -constitutes isuch m like isor(s f i for two weeks) -it recalls -provides for isoon n l ger “Her itinerary provided for two weeks in -has ceased to be Paris, and she had suffered through one week of it when, like an angel from heav- isoon n l ger a fool en, an Englishman called Tippy Akenside -is a fool no more showed up at her hotel at the very moment when she was about to dissolve in tears and isoon n l ger accepted book passage home.” Jean Stafford, The -fell out of favor Collected Stories of Jean Stafford isot n a battle between isorhe f t reader to decide -is a battle not between -is left to the reader to decide

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 213 12/10/10 8:35 AM 214â is not in the

“Life—the way it really is—is a battle not it between Bad and Good but between Bad -the matter (after looking into the and Worse.” Joseph Brodsky matter) -the thing isotn n i the -lies not in the IT DIDN’T SCARE HIM -it gave him no fear isbvious o -is hardly to be questioned itsg i a ood idea -the idea is appealing isnef o o -is among itsbout i a time -it was so long in coming isnl o y -remains at best no more than itsma i a zing -it is a wonder isroof p of -is testament to itsecause i b -it is that isespected r “Yet one cannot say with equal certainty -carries great weight just why the difficulty was peculiar to isoar s f the best Memphis, unless it is that Memphis, unlike -is yet unequalled other Tennessee cities, remains to this day a ‘land-oriented’ place.” Peter Taylor, A isomewhere s in between Summons to Memphis -lies between the two itsmportant i i istill s the -it bears repeating -remains the itsmpossible i i to know isheasis t b of -there is no saying -underlies itsike i l isnlimited u -it recalls a certain -is unending -it is reminiscent of -knows no bounds -it is akin to -has no bounds -it is much the same as “His arrogance has no bounds by day or -it’s âââ ian night.” Anonymous, Gilgamesh itso i n use issuall u y at the -it is to no avail -can often be found at the itsot i n even part of isolate -it is outside the realm of -insulate itsot i n surprising that -sequester -it may come as no surprise that isolated itshe i t responsibility of -insular -the onus is on

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 214 12/10/10 8:35 AM it would not be good for theâ 215â

itsoo i t bad itasâ w â -more’s the pity -âââ as it was -what a pity itas w a itsrue i t that -it made for a -there is no question that -it’s the truth I’m telling you itasertain w c that -certain it was that itsp i u to you -it’s at your discretion itasF w riday -the day was Friday IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT -as it happens itasike w l her to -it was characteristic of her that itakes m her crazy “It was characteristic of her that she al- -it gives her fits ways roused speculation, that her simplest itoon n l ger acts seemed the result of some far-reaching intentions.” Edith Wharton, The House -it has ceased to of Mirth itnl o y needs to be -it need only be itasove w l at first sight -she loved right from the first sight iteminds r me of [Geoffrey Chaucer] -I am reminded that -it recalls itas w named -the name was given “…there lies a small market town or rural It reminds me of my childhood. port, which by some is called Greensburgh, It recalls my childhood. but which is more generally and properly known by the name of Tarry Town. This name was given, we are told, in former iteems s days, by the good housewives of the adja- -it has an element of cent country, from the inveterate Âpropensity -it has a strain of of their husbands to linger about the village -it strikes me as tavern on market days.” Washington iteems s that Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow -it often appears that itashou w t ght -we are left with the impression that -it was held to be certain that

iteems s that way it WOULD BE GOOD IF YOU -it seems so -you would do well to

itold s for itould w have been good if -it brought -it would have been well if

Iookt t only â ââ minutes itould w not be good for -it took all of âââ minutes the -it would not do for the

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 215 12/10/10 8:35 AM 216â it’s about time

itbout’s a time -pursuit -it’s high time -post -position itll ’s a I know how to do -I know no other way jinedo “I love you without knowing how, or -conjoined when, or from where. I love you straight- jkeo forwardly, without complexities or pride; -farce so I love you because I know no other way.” Pablo Neruda jkino g -in jest itgod’s o for you -it does one good jkin o g around -playful banter ito ’s l gical -it stands to reason jurneo y -sojourn itot’s n easy for me to -I find it difficult to j fivinoy o l g -joie de vivre {French, zhwa duh I’eeverv n understood that VEEV-ruh} -that I’ve never understood “I’m not one of those writers I learned jd(u ge a judge) about who get up in the morning, put a -an arbiter piece of paper in their typewriter machine -an umpire and start writing. That I’ve never under- “Those who are esteemed umpires of taste stood.” Wole Soyinka are often persons who have acquired some knowledge of admired pictures or sculptures, and have an inclination for whatever is elegant; but if you inquire whether they are beautiful souls, and whether Jj their own acts are like fair pictures, you learn that they are selfish and sensual.” jrna go Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The Poet” -dialect -vernacular jdhemu ge t -pass judgment on jalouse -render judgment -with jaundiced eye -form assumptions judge of them jrke - -enfant terrible {French, ahn-fawn jdu ge tair-EEB-la} -deemed

jtete s jds(u ge the judges) -glitterati -the judiciary

jbo jdentu gm -undertaking -reckoning

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 216 12/10/10 8:35 AM justificationâ 217â

jdentu gm day jstesertsu d -day of reckoning -poetic justice -a day you will rue jstoru f this purpose jdicialu branch of -ad hoc government -the judiciary jstnu i case you -lest you jmpu -if by chance you -bound jstnu i time jmpnu i -heaven sent -intervene -a godsend

jnku jstikeu l -debris -likewise -detritus [academic] -true of all such -might be mistaken for jr stillu y i s out on that one -in the style of -it’s a matter of dispute “Reflections on politics, though, take jstu a back seat to the practicalities of sur- -simply viving on the road and, in the style of Herodotus, collecting dubious bits of jstboutu a lore.” Richard B. Woodward, New -nearly York Times, Nov. 1, 2009 jstsu a jstikeu l this just as âââ , if not more so - -rather like this -with the same ferocity it reserves for -is equally well suited for jsthootu s me -no less -finish me off entirely why don’t you “No less destructive are the insidious jstheu t right word ways in which he enables her addiction to -le mot juste {French, lay moe painkillers.” ZHOOST} jstsgu a ood as jstou t be on the safe side yields the same in terms of - -for good measure jstsu a impressive jsticeu no less impressive is - -an accounting not less capable than - -a reckoning jstsu a much jstificationu no less - -rationale âââ no less - -grounds jsteu b gun “You have no grounds for saying so.” -nascent -under the banner of -incipient -done in the name of -inchoate {in-KOE-it}

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 217 12/10/10 8:35 AM 218â justify

-on what basis keept i friendly -pretext for -remain in good graces -warrant for keept i to yourself jstifu y -don’t breathe a word -account for keepqiet u -warrant keep your peace -provide a basis for - -keep your counsel

keepatch w over -ride herd on

Kk kept retained keen - preserved -acute - -incisive keptrom f it -penetrating -deprived of it keep “But when you’re deprived of it for a -retain lengthy period then you value human com- -hold in abeyance [formal] panionship. But you have to survive and so you devise all kinds of mental exercises and keepn a open mind it’s amazing.” Wole Soyinka -leave the door open to keptecret s keeprom f -closely held -refrain from -forbear from keptilent s “As for my mother, she taught me to -he preserved a âââ silence have regard for religion, to be generous key and open-handed, and not only to forbear -fundamental from doing anybody an ill turn, but not so much as to endure the thought of it. By ke o y t her likewise I was bred to a plain, inex- -passport to pensive way of living, very different from -instrumental in the common luxury of the rich.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations kickhe t habit -cure oneself of keepgin o g kid -stop at nothing jest -persist in - -sustain a level of kill dispatch keepn i mind - slay -bear in mind - “Clocks slay time…time is dead as long as keept i away it is being clicked off by little wheels; only -keep it at bay

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 218 12/10/10 8:35 AM know what it’s like toâ 219â

when the clock stops does time come to -benign life.” William Faulkner kindsf o killime t -modes of -while away the hours -varieties of -species of killedhem t -claimed more than a thousand lives king -felled them all -âââ rex -dealt a fatal blow -made an end of them knew -knew full well “Some she pursued over the moors and as- sailed with her sword, and brightly flashed knicknack k the blade as she made an end of them.” -tchotchke {Yiddish, CHAUCH-kuh} Halldór Laxness, Independent People -bric-á-brac {French, BRICK-a-brack} -bauble killed by -died at the hand of know -was slain by -acquainted with -well informed of kind -mindful of the likes of - -surprised to find -of that nature -of the âââ persuasion knowhead a of time -of a certain bent -have foreknowledge of -a form of -specimen know my way around -a species of -know my way about “Grief, sir, is a species of idleness.” Saul knowo n more than before Bellow -be none the wiser kindf o -to some extent She’ll never know. -quasi She’ll be none the wiser. -pseudo -a âââ of sorts -something of a knowhat w it’s like to -know what it is to be kinder -kindlier “I lost my own father at 12 yr. of age and I know what it is to be raised on lies and “A city where American faces were still to silences my dear daughter you are presently be seen upon all its streets, a cleaner and a too young to understand a word I write kindlier town, with more courtesy in its life, but this history is for you and will contain less of the vulgar scramble.” Ernest Poole, no single lie may I burn in Hell if I speak His Family false.” Peter Carey, True History of the kindly Kelly Gang -benevolent

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 219 12/10/10 8:35 AM 220â knowledge

knowledge lacking -mastery -wanting -sound understanding -bereft of -learning -deficient in “There, as it should be, the druggist is a -impoverished councilor, a confessor, an advisor, an able -devoid of and willing missionary and mentor whose “And yet when I take a look at my inner learning is respected, whose occult wis- identity it impresses me as being precisely dom is venerated and whose medicine is the same as it was thirty or forty years ago. often poured, untasted, into the gutter.” My present station, power, the amount of O. Henry, “The Love-Philtre of Ikey worldly happiness at my command, and Schoenstein” the rest of it, seem to be devoid of significance.” Abraham Cahan, The Rise of knowledgeable about David Levinski -learned in {LER-ned} -conversant in lacking respect -erudite {AIR-you-dite} -irreverent -well informed lacking self-control known as -intemperate -celebrated as lacking self-confidence known for -diffident -renowned for -widely described as lackluster wish -noted for their -a velleity {vuh-LEE-uh-tee} lamer a gument -unconvincing argument

Ll That’s a lame argument. labeled That’s an unconvincing -classed as argument. -dismissed as [derogatory]

lack land -require -landscape -are short of -terrain -want lana gu ge lackf o -in the parlance of -dearth of -dialect -shortness of -in the vernacular -paucity of -jargon -scarcity of -idiom -want of -prose

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 220 12/10/10 8:35 AM lawâ 221â

larmountge a of lasting -wealth of -abiding -serious application of -enduring

“From the freezer she pulled out a bottle lastin g a long time and poured herself a serious application of -protracted vodka.” Tim Winton, Dirt Music -prolonged -legion of -preponderance of late -belated larreage a -late in arriving -wide swath -slow to -vast region “It happened at the end of winter, in a year -expanse when the poppies were strangely slow to larg ge roup shed their petals; for mile after mile, from -throng Benares onwards, the Ganga seemed to -horde be flowing between twin glaciers, both its banks being blanketed by thick drifts of “In this diminished form the words rush out of white-petalled flowers.” Amitav Ghosh, the cornucopia of my brain to course over the Sea of Poppies surface of the world, tickling reality like fingers on piano keys. They’re an invisible army on lately a peacekeeping mission, a peaceable horde.” -of late Jonathan Lethem, Motherless Brooklyn -in recent years

lari ge s ze laterâ â -mammoth proportions -âââ s of later date -some size -considerable latest fad -âââ du jour {French, du ZHOOR, lit. larr ge -than-life of the day} -of epic proportions “Drilling for off-shore oil became the -Homeric {home-AIR-ik} Republican cause du jour of 2008.” lastine l of defense -dernier cri {French, den-yay CREE} -thin red line laugh all you want lasterformance p of her -think what you will of it career -her swan song lauter gh -mirth [poetic] lasttand s -cackling -my Thermopylae {Greek, -hilarity thir-MOP-uh-lee} law lasttraw s -jurisprudence -the drop of water that makes the glass -rule of law run over -body of law -all I can bear

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 221 12/10/10 8:35 AM 222â law (a law)

law(aw a l ) and glory, vaulted in great tombs built -an injunction like heavenly safe deposit boxes, or parts -an ordinance of the Acropolis.” William J. Kennedy, -a statute Ironweed

lars( ye in thick layers) leading -impasto {Italian, im- PASS- toe} [art -foremost world] leadin g edge lanesszi -in the vanguard of -indolence lean TO ONE SIDE lay z -list -indolent -in a persistent vegetative state learn -torpid -glean -languid -gather -acquire an understanding of lead -familiarize oneself with -spearhead -unearth -stumble upon leadp u -increase your knowledge beyond prelude - -gain a better understanding of “Theatergoers who use plays as mood- setting preludes to romantic evenings leave had better look elsewhere. ‘Quartett,’ -tear myself away which opened Wednesday night and runs -exit stage left through Nov. 14, may well be the sexu- -depart from ally frankest play in New York this side of -quit a backroom peephole. But with a cast led -go forth from here [poetic] by the formidable French actress Isabelle leavelone a Humpert in a magnificently mannered -leave undeterred performance, it is the very opposite of an -let play out aphrodisiac.” Ben Brantley, New York -let him be Times, Nov. 6, 2009 -let run its course leader -left to her own devices -pacesetter -let him have a moment’s peace standard bearer - lecture (a self-righteous leaders lecture) -the vanguard -a diatribe -captains -a sermon -a treatise {TREAT-is} “But the truck moved on and the limits of mere privilege became visible, for here now leeway came the acres of truly prestigious death; -latitude illustrious men and women, captains of life without their diamonds, furs, car- left riages, and limousines, but buried in pomp -withdrew

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 222 12/10/10 8:35 AM lesson not learnedâ 223â

-parted letimategi argument -parted from -sound argument -departed lenh gt “In early times, say the Icelandic chron- -measure icles, men from the Western Islands -span came to live in this country, and when they departed, left behind them cross- lenh gt of time es, bells, and other objects used in the -in the space of practice of sorcery.” Halldór Laxness, Independent People lenhenedgt (time) -prolonged leftor f -protracted -set out lenh gt y leftover from -interminable -remnant of -without end -trace of -ad infinitum {Latin, add -relic of in-fih-NIGHT-um} -residual -ad nauseam {Latin, add NAUS-ee-um} -residue lenient with lel ga -indulgent towards -forensic less -judicial -fewer in number lelctionga a lessffensive o -adjudication -more palatable lendge lesseckless r -lore -a more measured approach “Reflections on politics, though, take a back seat to the practicalities of surviving on the road and, in the style of Let’s be less reckless in the Herodotus, collecting dubious bits of future. lore.” Richard B. Woodward, New Let’s take a more measured York Times, Nov. 1, 2009 approach. lendge has it that it is said that - lesshan t letimacgi y -fewer in number credence - lesson learned letimategi -cautionary tale well-founded - lesson not learned well-established - -lesson not fully absorbed -sound

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 223 12/10/10 8:35 AM 224â let

let -to be disingenuous -enable -to be economical with the truth -play host to -to fabricate -perpetuate -to be less than candid -to speak false You continue to let him be “I lost my own father at 12 yr. of age and offensive. I know what it is to be raised on lies and silences my dear daughter you are presently You continue to play host to his too young to understand a word I write offensive behavior. but this history is for you and will contain no single lie may I burn in Hell if I speak letg o of false.” Peter Carey, True History of the Kelly Gang -relinquish -cease to hold to them lifend a death issues “His sentiments are, he is aware, compla- -existential issues cent, even uxorious. Nevertheless he does not cease to hold to them.” J.M. Coetzee, lifeseanin i m gless Disgrace -nihilism {NIE-uh-li-zum, nie as in Nile} letg o of my hand -let go my hand litheartedgh -breezy lette i b known -blithe -it should be noted that like(ike i l it) letehink m t for a minute -I welcome it -let me collect my thoughts -is it to your liking -it resonates with me letter( a written message) -I’m leaning towards the view -a missive -it has found favor among letter had been sent to -I find her agreeable -letter had gone off to -I favor -I have an affinity for lewd -it was well received -prurient -they are responding well to the -it appeals to many liberal -I’m partial to -catholic tastes -I have an affection for -Gladstonian -I’m fond of lie(ie a l ) -I took pleasure in -a contrivance -I was taken with her -an artifact -she speaks well of him -a fabrication -there’s something to be said for -a fiction likell a lie(oie t l ) -as with all -to be less than forthcoming

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 224 12/10/10 8:35 AM liked byâ 225â

like(imilar s ) black and glistening as blood.” Ayn -recalls a certain Rand, Anthem much like - -is in the form of reminiscent of - -as expressed in marked by - -such as one might expect from “His movements were marked by the liz- -in a way that suggests ard’s disconcertingly abrupt clockwork -much as speed; his speech was thin, fluty, and dry.” -of the sort Aldous Huxley, Chrome Yellow -with the air of -akin to -wore the stamp of -much the same as *Consider dropping “like” altogether: -it’s âââ ian “The young man reveres men of genius, -has the character of because, to speak truly, they are more -calls to mind [ ] himself than he is.” Ralph Waldo -reflects Emerson, “The Poet” -captures the elegance of -epitomizes likee h did -is suggestive of -as he did “He is in shirt sleeves, with a vest figured like aid I s with faded gold horseshoes, and a pink- -as I said striped shirt, suggestive of peppermint candy.” Upton Sinclair, The Jungle liken i -as in -conveys -evokes likeever n before -is akin to -in memorable fashion -reminds me of nothing so -rather like likehese t -along the lines of -along these lines -bears a resemblance to likehis t -bears the stamp of -of this kind -is not dissimilar to -is in the nature of likeo t -is analogous to -take pleasure in -corresponds with -is in the manner of likeyu o -is characteristic of -as you are -it’s not my nature to “He was fair, as you are, but not as tall -is typical of but with large hands and a broken nose.” -is evocative of Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell -is similar to that of Tolls -is an echo of -as liked by appeals to “The walls are cracked and water runs - upon them in thin threads without sound,

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 225 12/10/10 8:35 AM 226â liked to

likedo t limitations -was in the habit of -constraints -took pleasure in -strictures -was given to -proscriptions [academic] -bounds likelihood “He is the witness in his death-throws of -promise the immeasurable dementia of the sea, and, “I don’t think about the family much, but tormented by this madness, he hears sounds when I remember its members and the coast unknown to man that seem to come from where they lived and the sea salt that I think some dreadful place beyond the bounds of is in our blood, I am happy to recall that I earth.” Victor Hugo, Les Miserables am a Pommeroy—that I have the nose, the coloring, and the promise of longevity—and limited that while we are not a distinguished family, -measured we enjoy the illusion, when we are togeth- -narrow er, that the Pommeroys are unique.” John -only so much Cheever, The Stories of John Cheever -to the extent that it does exist -sparing in the use of likel uccessory s -heir apparent limited in appeal -esoteric likel o y t be -disposed to limited to -prone to -peculiar to -given to -inclined to limiting factor -liable to be -determinant

likeso t limitless -is quick to -unbounded -is given to -knows no bounds -is a practitioner of -is so fond of studying Your ambition is limitless. likeso t come across as Your ambition knows no bounds. -likes to portray himself as -fancies herself a limits limber -bounds -supple -confines -lithe -verges -periphery limit -curtail line -frame it as narrowly as possible -queue -confine ourselves to the study of -procession -qualify “She had seen the fish clearly from above -constrain and his length and the shine of him in the water and her husband with the bamboo

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 226 12/10/10 8:35 AM locationâ 227â

pole bent almost double and the procession livedp u to his reputation of people following.” Ernest Hemingway, -lived up to his billing Garden of Eden lively lineetween b -vibrant -demarcation -buoyant

linedp u livestock -queued -beasts “As always, we continued to grow more lionike -l crops and beasts than we needed, and -leonine {LEE-uh-nine} exchanged these with other near planets liorqu for their surpluses.” Doris Lessing, The -spirits Making of the Representative for Planet 8

list(o t list) livin n g i -enumerate -dwelling in -reel off -abiding in -spell out loaded with -catalog -laden with listen -fraught with -take note loaned to us by -give audience to -on loan from lithe t candle lobbsts yi -lighted the candle -the Gucci gulch litp u local -illuminated -insular -bathed in light -indigenous literal meaning of a word -native-born -denotation -ambient -lexical meaning -parochial -topical littlenown k -provincial -undistinguished localan l guage liveon a l g time -vernacular -long-lived located (is located) liven i -it bears due south -inhabit -dwell in located in -centered in liveyur o life -make your way in life location -whereabouts -locale

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 227 12/10/10 8:35 AM 228â lock up

lockp u lon ime g t -detain -for a long while -a lengthy period locked( it locked) -locked against him lonr ge period of existence “He rushed to the door but to his amaze- -longer measure of existence ment it was locked against him.” Sebastian lon-indedg w Barry, The Secret Scripture -prolix

Lndono press look Fleet Street - -behold long -never lose sight of -prolonged lookround a protracted - -look about -ongoing -longstanding lookt a -lengthy -consider -address -take up a central question We’re trying to avoid a long legal -eye battle. -set my gaze on We’re trying to avoid a pro- -distinguish tracted legal battle. “And so, plainly, we must distinguish plots not by their skeletons but by their full bodies; for they are embodiments, little worlds. lon g ago Here is another: let us try to distinguish it -days of yore as if it were literally a little world, and spin- -in antiquity ning closely now into our vision.” Eudora -long since Welty, On Writing -in early times “In early times, say the Icelandic chroni- lookack b at the career of cles, men from the Western Islands came to -a retrospective live in this country, and when they departed, left behind them crosses, bells, and oth- lookown d on er objects used in the practice of sorcery.” -treat with disdain Halldór Laxness, Independent People lookar f and wide cast a wide net lon innerg d table (like in - Harry Potter) lookor f (ask for) -refectory table -inquire about

lon asting l g lookor f (search for) -enduring -pursue -long standing -abiding lookike l -resemble -recall

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 228 12/10/10 8:35 AM looking for troubleâ 229â

-bear a resemblance to lookedy oung -have every appearance of -she preserved the appearance of youth looking â ââ The Shroud of Turin looks like a -wearing an air of photographic negative. “She stood apart from the crowd, letting The Shroud of Turin bears it drift by her to the platform or the street, a striking resemblance to a and wearing an air of irresolution which photographic negative. might, as he surmised, be the mask of a very definite purpose.” Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth lookf o (a look of) -an air of looking at -all eyes were fixed upon lookn o her face -fixing his eyes intently on her -expression -casting a keen eye over -visage looking back lookver o -in retrospect -scrutinize looking down looked -cast down -bore the look of “Her being seemed composed of shadow, -looked to be with too little substance for it to possess sex. looked at It was a shred of matter harboring a light, with large eyes that were always cast down; -looked upon a pretext for a soul to linger on earth.” -gazed Victor Hugo, Les Miserables -eyes rested upon -fixed my gaze looking elsewhere looked at all of us again -attention shifting to -he looked us round again looking for looked at me -in search of out for -met my eyes - -trolling for looked at me as though -in pursuit of -regarded me as -in want of “‘Agua,’ I said, trying Portuguese, and “It is a truth universally acknowledged, made a sign of drinking. He gave no reply, that a single man in possession of a good but regarded me as he would a seal or a por- fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Jane poise thrown up by the waves, that would Austen, Pride and Prejudice shortly expire and then be cut up for food.” J.M.ÂCoetzee, Foe looking for revenge -determined on revenge looked away -took his eyes from me looking for trouble making mischief -averted her eyes -

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 229 12/10/10 8:35 AM 230â looks

“It was the jackal—Tabaqui the Dish- lostocus f on licker—and the wolves of India despise -lost attention for Tabaqui because he runs about making mischief, and telling tales, and eating lostim h rags and pieces of leather from the village -lost sight of him rubbish-heaps.” Rudyard Kipling, The lotfand o l Jungle Book -parcel

looks loud -gives the eye -clamorous “The rice fields along both banks of the -raucous stream display a broad, winding strip of -vociferous vivid green, which gives the eye its only -resounding Ârelief from the somber colours of the mountains.” Winston Churchill, The Story of loudnd a clear the Malakand Field Force -clarion loudoise n looksike l yammer -looks to be - -din loseomentum m loudoiced-v -falter -full-throated loser love -an also-ran -relish losersg et nothing -treasure -vae victis {Latin, why WICK-tees} loveor f humanity losin g money quickly -agape {Greek, uh-GAH-pay} -hemorrhaging loveer h to death lossf o memory -love her to distraction -defect of memory loveo t “Here is what I have done, and if by chance -delight in I have used some immaterial embellishment it has been only to fill a void due to a defect of memory. I may have taken for fact You love it that I’m tormented. what was no more than probability, but I You delight in my torment. have never put down as true what I knew to be false.” Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Confessions loved -beloved lost -shed lowecked-n (of a garment showing cleavage) lostause c -décolleté {French, day-kol-TAY} -fool’s errand

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 230 12/10/10 8:35 AM lying down [of statues or sculptures]â 231â

lowaid -p charming and instructive sight—an upper -ill-paid middle-class family in full plumage.” John Galsworthy, Forsyte Saga lowoint p -a low ebb luck ind y f -a chance find lowrofile p (keep a low -fortuitous profile) -be inconspicuous lukewarm -be nondescript -tepid

lowlass c lunch -lowbrow -the noon dinner [poetic] ill-bred - “The fire on the kitchen hearth was dying downscale - down. His mother was hanging up pots lowerlasses c and pans after the noon dinner.” Marjorie -lower orders Kinnan Rawlings, The Yearling -hoi polloi lurk lowernd e -lie in wait -nether end -skulk

LOWER LEVELS lustful -lower reaches -salacious -lower echelons -lecherous

lowers himself to luriesxu -condescends to -creature comforts amenities “The spirit of the occasion takes hold of - the stately bartender, who condescends to luriousxu a plate of stewed duck; even the fat police- -opulent man—whose duty it will be, later in the evening, to break up the fights—draws up luriousxu place a chair to the foot of the table.” Upton -a Xanadu {ZAN-uh-doo} Sinclair, The Jungle lur xu y lol ya -indulgence -stalwart -opulence

luck lur- xu y loving -providence -hedonistic -self-indulgent luckily -epicurean -as luck would have it ln ownyi g d [of statues or luck nou y e gh to sculptures] -privileged to -recumbent statues “Those privileged to be present at a family festival of the Forsytes have seen that

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 231 12/10/10 8:35 AM 232â lying face down

ln aceyi g f down madeim h a hero -prostrate -made a hero of him

madeim h look bad -did not reflect well on him Mm madetg i o away -dispelled machine -dispersed -contrivance madet i known made -had it given out -produced -rendered “She carried his bones home to her scaf- -crafted fold, but the flesh and the bowels she left behind for the ravens, and had it given made a fool of himself out in the district that he had perished -has exposed himself to ridicule while searching the mountains for sheep that had strayed.” Halldór Laxness, Independent People You will make a fool out of yourself. madef o You will expose yourself to -composed of ridicule. “Her being seemed composed of shadow, with too little substance for it to possess sex. It was a shred of matter harboring a light, made a point to with large eyes that were always cast down; -was careful to a pretext for a soul to linger on earth.” made a remark Victor Hugo, Les Miserables -put it by -comprised of “He put it by without the slightest hint of -the stuff of anger.” -of brick

madeware a of madeublic p (was made public) -attuned to -was disclosed made by local craftsmen madeespectable r -the work of local craftsmen -lent respectability to madeamous f madeense s -popularized -was intelligible to madeer h even more “No one had hazarded to discover whether -rendered her even more the speech of the known empires, khan- ates, emirates, hordes and kingdoms was madeer h feel good intelligible to him.” Michael Chabon, -cheered her Gentlemen of the Road madeer h sick -afflicted her

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 232 12/10/10 8:35 AM majority beliefs (voice of the people)â 233â

madeo t fit him mainharacter c -made to his measure -protagonist

madep u mainvent e -a contrivance -pièce de resistance {French, pee-ESS -contrived duh ruh-zee-STANCE} -apocryphal -pure invention mainart p -wholesale falsification -brunt of -fictitious mainly -dubious -primarily -spurious -largely -predominantly That’s a made up lie. -in large measure -in the main That’s pure invention. -principally

maintain (declare) madep u for -aver -atoned for “The defendant was said to aver innocence madep u of on all counts.” -comprised of masticje madep u stories -august {au-GUST} -apocryphal tales -fabrications mar jo -concentration in madehite w -academic specialty -whited “He had graduated from Princeton in 1941 madhouse situation with high marks in all subjects except math- -theater of the absurd ematics and sciences. His academic specialty had been comparative literature. But mafiaoss b his real career at Princeton had consisted -padrone of playing the piano and inventing bright little songs for parties and shows.” Herman macalgi Wouk, The Caine Mutiny -phantasmagoric marhanjo c ge main -tectonic shift -dominant -marked changes -leading -principal maritjo y -foremost -lion’s share of -preponderance of mainr a gument -core argument maritjo y beliefs (voice of the people) -vox populi {Latin, vox POP-you-lie}

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 233 12/10/10 8:35 AM 234â make

make makeinner d -render -rustle something up -leave makever e ybody mad make(orce f ) -set off a furor -compel to makeriends f make a big deal about -forge a close bond -make much of -befriend “Many seaside towns make much of their -ingratiate location. Their shops are gussied up with -curry favor nautical décor—rigging, buoys, mounted -find favor among fish—and their restaurants often have -make acquaintances the word ‘captain’ in the name.” Sarah makeun f of Maslin Nir, New York Times, Oct. -poke fun at 29, 2009 -make light of make a deal -caricature -broker a deal -ridicule

makeg a ood living makeg o away -get a good living -ward off “They did get a good living regularly, even makeer h cry in times when stock-raisers elsewhere were -reduce her to tears wearing patched clothes, shooting home- reloaded cartridges, and making biscuits out makeer h feel sorry of hand-pounded wheat.” Harold Lenoir -reduce her to repentance Davis, Honey in the Horn “Already he was polishing a few carefully worded accusations designed to remake a name for herself duce his mother to repentance or, at least, -make her mark confusion. He often had to keep her in make a scene her place.” John Kennedy Toole, A -make an exhibition of oneself Confederacy of Dunces -throw off all appearance of decorum makeer h mad makemends a for -incur her displeasure -atone for makeim h maken a impression -compel him -impress upon MAKE ILLEGAL maken a gry -proscribe [academic] -infuriate -disallow -rouse the ire of -forbid

makelear c makempossible i -leave little doubt -preclude

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 234 12/10/10 8:35 AM make the pointâ 235â

makeess l severe -mitigate Your employment at this company makes it impossible for you make myself useful to take part in the sweepstakes. -make myself of some use Your employment at this com- makeecessar n y pany precludes you from taking -necessitate part in the sweepstakes. makeo n mistake -to be sure makenferior i -adulterate makeossible p -render possible maket i -render it makeeservations r -book passage maket i clear -provide clear indications makeoom r for -accommodate maket i more like -bring it more into line with makeacred s -consecrate maket i seem -characterize it as makeure s -see that maket i worse -take pains to see that -exacerbate -make it my business to

makety i our business makeuspicious s -insinuate yourself into -cast a veil of suspicion over -excite the suspicions of makenown k -disclose makehe t most of -convey -leverage -divulge -impart makehe t point stress that -bring to light - advance the point -air - “His own opinion, which he does not air, “I don’t say any of this because I’m in- is that the origins of speech lie in song, and terested in family history or because this the origins of song in the need to fill out with sense of uniqueness is deep or important sound the overlarge and rather empty hu- to meÂbut in order to advance the point man soul.” J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace that we are loyal to one another in spite of our Âdifferences, and that any rupture makeaws l in this loyalty is a source of confusion -enact legislation and pain.” John Cheever, The Stories of -sponsor a bill John Cheever

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 235 12/10/10 8:35 AM 236â make things worse

makehin t gs worse makesy ou feel good inside -further compound -it’s very heartening -exacerbate makin g friends makes u think of -befriending -call to mind -glad handing -evoke -summon up images of makin g fun of -recall -jesting banter at -mocking makeyu o feel guilty -accuse the conscience makin g no difference -tilting at windmills “If the more sensitive among those she served or addressed failed to look at makin g the rounds Rose, it was because her manner seemed -circulating to accuse the conscience, or it could have been, more simply, that they were manehind b the curtain (or embarrassed by her hair lip.” Patrick throne) White, Voss -éminence grise {French, ay-mee-nahs GREEZ} makeyu o realize -dispel the notion that manf o few words laconic -disabuse you of the notion that - “He’s so laconic it’s a little creepy.” makeyu o seem -cast you as manage without -dispense with makeyu o understand -impress upon you manad ge by -syndicated to makeyur o way through -navigate manament ge of -negotiate -stewardship of

makes a point to maneuver -is careful to -gambit -pointedly avoids manipulate makese m -orchestrate -compels me mankind [archaic] makese m feel -humankind -leaves me manner “It leaves me wanting more.” -air of makesense s -bearing demeanor -is a coherent argument - presence -stands to reason -

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 236 12/10/10 8:35 AM maybe evenâ 237â

manners match -decorum -correspond -deportment -social niceties matcht i to -pair it to many -any number of matchless -innumerable -inimitable -untold numbers of -incomparable -wealth of materialistic -host of -acquisitive -considerable -goodly number of maturing -fair amount of -coming of age -hordes of -legions of mamumxi amount -profuse -its capacity -abundant may -multitudes of -may be compelled to -many a -appears to have “Many a true word is spoken in jest.” Geoffrey Chaucer ma e( y b it may be) -it may well be man ifferenty d kinds of -all manner of ma ndy e up being -may prove to be man easonsy r -competing reasons It may end up being your man imesy t undoing. on numerous occasions - It may prove to be your undoing. march( a march) a procession - mae yb march on -perhaps -forge ahead -weather permitting [humorous]

markff o mae yb a little -circumscribe -somewhat -demarcate -in part -to some degree married -to some extent -wed “Perhaps to some extent, but I think her master judicial decisions are based less on politics -impresario than on natural justice.”

masterpiece maevenyb e -tour de force {French, tour de FORCE} -if not

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 237 12/10/10 8:35 AM 238â me?

Me? -was consciously chosen -Moi? {French, mwah, lit. me} (often as an ironic reply to an accusation) It’s supposed to be that way. “Chauvinistic? Moi?” It’s that way by design. mes a I really am -me in the rough meatater -e meeither n -carnivore -neither do I meatatin -e g meaningful -carnivorous -appreciable -substantive media -the fourth estate meaningless -academic mediate -moot -conciliate -merely decorative -intercede mere embellishment - mediator meaningless messages -intermediary white noise - medicine meansothin n g to me -elixir is of no consequence to me - meditating is a matter of complete indifference - -absorbed in thought to me meet meanshat t -fulfill raises concerns that - -satisfy -carries with it the possibility that meetor f the first time means well -make the acquaintance of -is well intentioned -is well intended meeter h -receive her [formal] meanpirited-s -caustic meeting -ignoble {ig-KNOW-bul} -encounter -blood-drawing meeting between two oppos- meantor f ing sides -caters to -a parley -intended for meeting-place (secret) meant to -a place of assignation -was by design -was aimed at meltown d -intended to be so -render

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 238 12/10/10 8:35 AM meticulousâ 239â

melting of glacial ice mern gi g -ablation -confluent

melting pot mesmerized -ethnic stew -enthralled -spellbound member -transfixed -member in good standing -charter members of mess -this disorder memorize “Everybody had washed before going to -register in your mind bed, apparently, and the bowls were ringed -commit to memory with a dark sediment which the hard, alka- memory line water had not dissolved. Shutting the -remembrance door on this disorder, he turned back to the -recollection kitchen, took Mahailey’s tin basin, doused his face and head in cold water, and be- menashion’s f gan to plaster down his wet hair.” Willa -sartorial conventions Cather, One of Ours

mental concept messenger -precept -intermediary mental disorder -emissary consul -dementia - attaché -neurosis - internuncio -psychosis -

mental perception met made the acquaintance of [formal] -ken -

mentally disturbed metaphor trope -pathological - -conceit mention -allude to method mechanism -make mention of - -vehicle menu -mode -bill of fare -modus operandi {Latin, MODE-us op-er-AND-ee} mercy -modality [academic] -clemency -means meree b ginnings of -approach -rudiments of meticulous merge -exacting fastidious -coalesce -

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 239 12/10/10 8:35 AM 240â mid nineteenth century

midineteenth n century militaristic language -the middle years of the nineteenth -martial language century “Like many talk-show hosts, he [Limbaugh] middle ages uses martial language to rouse the faithful: ‘The enemy camp is the White House -antiquity right now,’ he says.” Evan Thomas and middle class Eve Conant, “Hate.” Newsweek, April -bourgeois {French, boor-ZHWAH} 19th, 2010

middle of summer mindeader r -height of summer -clairvoyant

middle of the night mindless -into the small hours of the night -vacuous

middleman minimal -intermediary -nominal

midnight minimum amount needed -in the midnight hour [poetic] -critical mass

mitavegh h minor -is thought to have -of minor status

mitavegh h been minorisa d greement -might have proved -differ only on the margins “I took up my coat and carpet-bag, and went into the next room to change my We don’t disagree that much on linen, and dress for dinner. Any distress at this issue. the termination of my intrigue with Betty was amply compensated for by my joy at We differ only on the margins. the happy ending of a troublesome affair which might have proved fatal for me.” minorvents e Jacques Casanova, Volume 6c—Rome: -small happenings The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova misbehavior mild -impropriety -temperate miscellaneous collection milesnd a miles -an olio {OH-lee-oh} [academic] -league upon league “He could not make out even the black mischievous ground in front of him, and he was aware of -impish the vast, flat horizon only from the March -cheeky wind blowing in broad, sweeping gusts as -puckish though across a sea, bitterly cold after its mischievousness passage over league upon league of marsh -devilry and bare earth.” Emile Zola, Germinal -diablerie {French, dee-AH-blu-ree} -villainy

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 240 12/10/10 8:35 AM modestâ 241â

misinterpret mocking of society -misconstrue -Swiftian

missing “In a Swiftian mood, Foer even throws in a Filipino recipe for ‘Stewed Dog, Wedding -conspicuous by its absence Style.’ ‘Can’t we get over our sentimental- -bereft of ity?’ he asks. ‘Dogs are plentiful, good for -gone missing you, easy to cook and tasty, and eating mistakes them is vastly more reasonable than going -lapses in through all the trouble of processing them “Month after month he sets, collects, reads, into protein bits to become the food for and annotates their assignments, correcting the other species that become our food.’” lapses in punctuation, spelling and usages, Jennifer Schuessler, New York Times, interrogating weak arguments, appending Nov. 13, 2009 to each paper a brief, considered critique. modef o transportation J.Â . Coetzee, Disgrace -conveyance -miscues -miscalculations model -improprieties of -paradigm -held her up as template for “Alexander the Grammarian taught me not -an exemplar to be ruggedly critical about words, nor find fault with people for improprieties of phrase modelf o perfection or pronunciation, but to set them right by -paragon of speaking the thing properly myself, and that either by way of answer, assent, or inquiry, moderate (to moderate) or by some such other indirect and suitable -mitigate correction.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations -temper

mideelinxe f gs moderate in eating and -ambivalent drinking -of two minds -temperate in diet -abstemious [academic] midithxe w -laced with moderates -centrists miurext -miscellany moderation -collage of -temperance -potpourri of modern -hodgepodge of -nouveau {French, new-VOH} -mélange {French, may-LONZH} modest mocking -unassuming -derisive -without ceremony -dismissive -self-effacing {uh-FAY-sing} mocking of Christianity -demure -how many divisions has the Pope

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 241 12/10/10 8:35 AM 242â moment of insight

moment of insight moral weakness -epiphany -human frailty

momentary moralistic -fleeting -didactic

mone y (wealth) moralizing -wherewithal -edifying -means -sanctimonious -sententious [academic] mone pent y s -expenditures morally lax -outlays -dissolute -licentious monk -an ascetic more -all the more monopoly -further -cartel moreâ â than normal monotone (to speak in a -more âââ than was his custom monotone voice) -intone moreccurate a -nearer the truth months and months -months on end moreppropriate a for -better suited for mood(ollective c mood) -atmosphere of morearefull c y -ambiance -with greater care -color -with an air of moremportant i -with a note of -takes precedence with distinct ââ undertones - moreike l â â than â â flavor - -more worthy of âââ than âââ aura - -nearer to -prevailing winds moreerious s mood(ndividual i mood) -carries more weight than -frame of mind -temper morepecific s -narrower notion of moody -capricious morehan t -mercurial -better than moral defect “There are better than twenty in every -blemish batch.” -failing -more so than

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 242 12/10/10 8:35 AM motivateâ 243â

morehan t anything else mostf o the revenue -above all -bulk of the revenue

morning mostelevant r word -at first light -the operative word being -in the small hours of the morning -daybreak “Possibly” is the relevant word. mortal life (as opposed to The operative word being the afterlife) “possibly.” -this veil of tears [Shakespeare] -more worldly matters mostly most(DE GREE) -in large part -are among the most -to a great extent -utmost -primarily MOST (NUMBER) -largely -most of which -principally -the bulk of -chiefly -the lion’s share “He was aware that the qualities distin- -the better part of guishing her from the herd of her sex were chiefly external, as though a fine glaze of mostmportant i beauty and fastidiousness had been applied -foremost of these to vulgar clay.” Edith Wharton, The -above all House of Mirth -seminal -more so than anything else -for the most part -central to -in large measure -overriding -preponderantly -salient “Of the few fair complexioned Jewish stu- -chief dents in our preponderantly Jewish pub- -most noted lic high school, none possessed anything -pre-eminent remotely like the steep-jawed, insentient -âââ of the first rank Viking mask of this blue-eyed blond born -of the greatest consequence into our tribe as Seymour Irving Levov.” Philip Roth, American Pastoral mostmportant i feature -pièce de resistance {French, pee-ES duh -in great measure ruh-zee-STANCE} -predominantly -above all mostmportant i point “Self-discovery is above all the realiza- -the crux tion that we are alone: it is the opening mostikel l y possibility of an impalpable, transparent wall— that of our consciousness—between the -most plausible world and ourselves.” Octavio Paz, The mostikel l y to Labyrinth of Solitude -odds on favorite to motivate -provoke

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 243 12/10/10 8:35 AM 244â motivated by

-whet the appetite for movedrom f -rally behind -migrated from -actuate movement -determine -animation “What determined me was the look she -stirring gave me.” -locomotion

motivated by movin g (emotion) -driven by -affecting “This was by far her most affecting He is motivated by greed. performance.” He is driven by greed. -striking to the heart

movin g (motion) motivation -kinetic -inclination “The atmosphere at the New York Stock -impetus Exchange is kinetic.” -incentive -inducement muchon l ger than -far longer than motivator -catalyst for muchore m -vastly more mournful -plaintive muchf o -good portions of mournful song “If the eyes could lie, his troubles might dirge - be over. If the eyes were not such well movewa a y behaving creatures, that spent their time -draw away trying their best to convey the world and all its gore to him, good portions of life moveack b might not be so dismal.” Sarah Hall, The -stand aside Electric Michelangelo -draw off mudd y water movento i position -turbid water -deploy -assemble multiolored-c -martial -varicolored

moved multiimensional-d -darted -operates on several levels -ambled up trooped in multiin -l gual - neighborhoods sauntered in - -polyglot neighborhoods -gamboled up to -legged it

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 244 12/10/10 8:35 AM native toâ 245â

multiply -proliferate Nn multialented-t nag versatile - -plague muscles -chivvy -musculature “Her political strategy was to chivvy Governor Palin with lawsuit after petty musical conductor lawsuit.” -intendant {in-TEN-dent} namef o must -the name given to cannot help but - -taking its name from -have no choice but to nameomethin s g muste b -christen must count as - -dub -must rank as one of the most namehem t all musty -give account of them all -fusty namedncorrectl i y mutual -is something of a misnomer -concerted narrow-minded mutually destructive -parochial internecine {in-ter-NEH-scene} - -provincial m wny o fault -dogmatic of my own making - narrow, petty teacher m a y w y or the highway style -pedagogue a high-handed approach - nasty mteriesys -nasty, brutish, and short [Thomas -arcana {ar-KANE-uh} Hobbes]

mteriousys nationalism -enigmatic -jingoism inscrutable - nationalistic arcane - -has insular characteristics mterys y nationally known enigma - -as he steps on to the national stage -paradox nations at war mticismys -belligerents -quietism native to -indigenous

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 245 12/10/10 8:35 AM 246â natural

-endemic necessary -aboriginal -indispensable -requisite natural -integral to -innate -of necessity -instinctual -the nature of the beast necessary for the -at home in it -necessary to the

natural inclination for need -a tropism toward -require -in need of naturally “For all men live by truth and stand in need -by nature of expression. In love, in art, in avarice, in naturally curly hair politics, in labor, in games, we study to ut- -curl natural to it ter our painful secret. The man is only half “General Beal removed this object and himself, the other half is his expression.” hung it on the microphone. He began to rub Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The Poet” his brown hair, cropped in order to conceal -in want of the unmilitary curl natural to it.” James -have a need for Gould Cozzens, Guard of Honor needed naturally existing -requisite -innate -sine qua non {Latin, SIN-uh qua non} -indispensable near -at hand needless repetition -looming -a tautology -forthcoming soon “Django was a ponytailed visionary—if -an intimate distance that’s not a tautology—who, following an epiphany in Vietnam, founded the New Earth Army in order to establish whether The funds never got here. love and peace can win wars.” Anthony The funds were not forthcoming. Lane, The New Yorker, Nov. 9, 2009

needs( the needs of) nearuture f -wishes -foreseeable future -wants nearby “The soil is fertile, the rains plentiful, and -near a considerable proportion of ground is occupied by cultivation, and amply supplies “As always, we continued to grow more the wants of the inhabitants.” Winston crops and beasts than we needed, and Churchill, The Story of the Malakand exchanged these with other near planets Field Force for their surpluses.” Doris Lessing, The Making of the Representative for Planet 8 need eopley p -the necessitous

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 246 12/10/10 8:35 AM never see him againâ 247â

netivelga y effect -apprehension -impinge on never neectedgl (was neglected) -on no occasion -languished -having never -never anything of the sort -hardly The bill has been neglected in -seldom the senate for months. The bill has languished in the never again senate for months. -nevermore neversk a neectfulgl -never send to know [poetic] -derelict “Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; and therefore neintgl ge never send to know for whom the bell -remiss tolls; it tolls for thee.” John Donne {pro- -derelict nounced Dun}

netiatingo g with neverhan c ging -negotiating opposite -abiding neither did -invariant invariable -nor did - -not either neverndin e g nerdy -interminable inexhaustible -bookish - -incessant nerve -unremitting -audacity -abiding -effrontery -imperishable -moxie -metal neverind f never meet with -pluck - -temerity “We are a family that has always been -impertinence close in spirit. Our father was drowned in -impudence a sailing accident when we were young, -chutzpah {Yiddish, HUT-spuh} and our mother has always stressed the fact that our familial relationships have a kind of nervous permanence that we will never meet with -pensive again.” John Cheever, The Stories of John -flurried Cheever -on edge -ill at ease nevern i his entire life -never in the whole course of his life nervousness -consternation neveree s him again -angst -will see no more of him

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 247 12/10/10 8:35 AM 248â never seen so

nevereen s so “They lived in a pleasant house, with a -seldom seen such garden, and they had discrete servants, and felt themselves superior to anyone in the new neighborhood.” D. H. Lawrence, “The -novel Rocking-Horse Winner” -fledgling -newly minted nicea w y of saying -newfangled something -recent -euphemism “At that time Macondo was a village of -being politically correct twenty adobe houses, built on the bank of a -putting it charitably river of clear water that ran along a bed of nickname polished stones, which were white and enor- -pet name mous, like prehistoric eggs. The world was -sobriquet {French, SO-bri-kay} so recent that many things lacked names, and in order to indicate them it was neces- nit gh sary to point.” Gabriel Garcia Marquez, -nightfall One Hundred Years of Solitude nitmaregh newpportunities o -trial by ordeal -new pastures nitpick newa w ys of -to cavil at {KAV-uhl} -new approaches to -to chivvy

newslash f nid xe -communiqué -derailed -dispatch no next -far from it -then followed -I think not [confrontational] -from here, we move to the question of -no such -not by any means neewxt f days -not in the least in the coming days - -in principle, yes [diplomatic] next o over -no âââ to speak of -adjacent -not the slightest -I won’t allow it neo xt t -you’ll do nothing of the sort -flanked by -to the contrary -bounded by -quite the contrary -none among neo xt t the last -penultimate “We are alone here under the earth. It is a fearful word, alone. The laws say that nice none among men may be alone, ever and -appealing at any time, for this is the great transgres- -pleasant sion and the root of all evil.” Ayn Rand, Anthem

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 248 12/10/10 8:35 AM noisyâ 249â

nogod o noroblem p [in poor form as -leave much to be desired a response to thank you] -you’re welcome nodea i that -say nothing of it -no notion why -no inkling noun p intended -pardon the pun noon l ger -as it were -have ceased to “Taking a page, as it were, from the de- noon l ger a rookie tective novels he loves, he decides to be- -a rookie no more come a detective himself, and puts an ad on Craigslist offering his services.” Nancy noon l ger means â â Franklin, The New Yorker, Sept 28, 2009 -that meaning is gone out of it nose u noatter m how â ââ -to no avail -however much -however many âââ noa w y “However many holy words you read, -by no means however many you speak, what good will -nothing doing they do you if you do not act upon them?” -out of the question Guatama Buddha {GAW-tuh-muh} -far from it -however âââ noillpower w “However hard he threw himself onto his -intemperate right, he always rolled back to where he noonder w was.” Franz Kafka, Metamorphosis -small wonder

noatter m what happens noble -come what may -high-minded noore m than -lofty -at most nobleg esture noeed n to worry -beau geste {French, boh ZHEST, lit. -no cause for concern beautiful gesture} -no cause for alarm nobod y cares too much about none o nobody much cares -not a blessed soul - noise none o has been here for four days -din -no one has been here these four days -uproar -hue and cry none o knew which -no one could have said which noisy -resounding -deafening

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 249 12/10/10 8:35 AM 250â nondiscriminatory

-in full cry not -atonal -by no means -not by any means nondiscriminatory -not gone so far as to -making not the slightest distinction -not for a moment between -not so much as nary a nonef o this matters - a far cry from -none of this need concern - not in the least -this is inconsequential - on no account -it’s of no consequence - -in no respect nonentity (a nobody) -God forbid -a cipher -nothing doing “He considers the interns mere ciphers, and -anything but treats them accordingly.” notheapskate a c free with her money nonnterference-i - -laissez-faire {French, lez-ay-FARE} notg a ood thing “The government’s laissez-faire attitude -not exactly cause for celebration contributed to the BP disaster.” -does not bode well for

nonreligious notble a to communicate -secular -incommunicado -profane [pejorative] -nonsectarian notffected a by -impervious to nonsense -blather notn a yone’s business -an internal matter nonviolent protest doctrine notppropriate a -ahimsa {Sanskrit, uh-HIM-suh} -inopportune -unbecoming “Martin Luther King’s political strategies owe much of their success to the concept notsâ a â as you think of ahimsa.” -not so âââ as might be imagined

norm(he t norm) notsg a ood as -prescribed form -not so good as -less admirable normality -normalcy nots a much of a -far less of a northern forest -the boreal forest {BORE-ee-ul} nots a simple as that -not so simple as that nosy -inquisitive notshamed a -inquisitorial -unabashed

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 250 12/10/10 8:35 AM not includingâ 251â

nott a all notgod o (of a person) -by no means -perverse -not even in the remotest degree -wayward -not-in-the-least -wretched -deplorable noturious c -unredeeming -incurious notgod o at notecided d -inept -remains to be seen -not well suited for notoable d “It’s not a game in which I’m particularly -infeasible well-suited.”

notasil e y notgod o for -not very well -do not lend themselves easily to “The news had not come to us directly -ill suited for from our neighbors, but authoritatively -is unconducive to [academic] from a friend of theirs, who was also a notgod o quality friend of ours, and we could not very well -of little merit hold back.” William Dean Howells, The -leaves much to be desired Whole Family notappenin h g notas e y -nothing doing -no mean feat -a difficult matter notere h -no easy task -unaccounted for -that’s a tall order -elsewhere -hard-won battles -in absentia {Latin, in ab-SENT-shee-ya}

notas e y to say “He was wrongfully tried and convicted in absentia.” -a great effort for him to say

notdible e notesitate h think nothing of -inedible - -unpalatable notmportant i notnou e gh -of little use expendable -too little -

not equipped to notmpressive i has a modest history in that area -ill-equipped to -

notair f notnine i l out of step -inequitable -

notgvin i g in notncluded i excepted -unbowed - notncludin i g -apart from

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 251 12/10/10 8:36 AM 252â not interested in

-notwithstanding notractical p -excepting -academic -exclusive of -idealistic

notnterested i in notresent p -indifferent to -in absentia -listless noteal r notike l -illusory -not at all like noteall r y meaning it -atypical of other tongue-in-cheek -bears no resemblance to -

notiterall l y She didn’t really mean it -figuratively seriously. -metaphorically speaking -in a manner of speaking She said it with tongue firmly in cheek. notan m y -scant notelevant r notuch m -inapplicable -nothing to speak of -little to be had noti r ght -if at all -something is awry

noteeded n nota s ying -unwarranted -cagey -redundant -superfluous nothowin s g emotion -stoic notormal n behavior -impassive -atypical behavior noth s y nototiceable n -unretiring -unobtrusive -nondescript notpecific s -inconspicuous -generic

notften o notpiritual s -seldom -temporal -secular notri o ginal -derivative notaken t into account -unreckoned nota p ying attention -inattentive nothou t ght out -arbitrary noterfect p -fallible noto t mention -to say nothing of

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 252 12/10/10 8:36 AM novel (coming of age)â 253â

notnderstandable u -witness -inexplicable -take note of

notsed u to nothing could -unaccustomed to -hardly anything had the power to -not in the habit of nothing I can remember noter v y good -nothing to be remembered -ill-suited for -of little merit nothing that I know about -leave much to be desired -nothing to speak of

notantin w g to nothing there -not seeing fit to -there’s no meat on the bone -there’s no there there [Gertrude notell w Stein] -indisposed nothing to do with notell w known -divorced from -too little known nothingness nothat w happened -vacancy -that’s not an accurate reflection of notice -consider That’s not the way it happened -witness and you know it. -take note of

That’s not an accurate reflection noticeable of what happened. -pronounced -conspicuous notillin w g -marked -disinclined to -salient

notorkin w g noticeably -idle -conspicuously -ineffectual “There was something disturbingly like hy- pocrisy about it all, though it was meant notyt e decided only to compensate for Jack, who was so -an open question conspicuously not good as to cast a shad- -a matter of opinion ow over their household.” Marilynne -that remains to be seen Robinson, Home

novel( about real persons We’re not sure yet. under fictitious names) That remains to be seen. -roman à clef {French, raw-MAHN ah KLAY}

noteow h novel( coming of age) -consider -bildungsroman {German, BILL-dunks-roe-MAHN}

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 253 12/10/10 8:36 AM 254â now

now obnoous xi -at this point -repellent -here and now -invidious -at once -forthwith obscenities -at present -colorful language -at this moment -expletives

nownd a then Try not to use too many bad -periodically -now and again words. -off and on Try to keep the colorful language to a minimum.

obscure Oo -cryptic arcane obedience - Derrida would be proud -compliance - {dear-ee-DAH} -deference observant obedient acute -compliant - -subservient observer -obsequious (excessively so) -onlooker beholder obey - -adhere to obsessed -are in accordance with -preoccupied -are in obedience to -fixated -heed -consumed by -abide by obsessed with detail (in an obctje annoying way) -take issue with -anal retentive -demur {di-MUR} -take exception to (often in an obsession offended way) -fixation -preoccupation obctsje -figures obsessive -pathological oblited ga to -an obsessional search for -feel it incumbent upon me to -liable to obstacle -obliged to -hazard -bound to obstruct -hinder

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 254 12/10/10 8:36 AM of all typesâ 255â

-hamper occupation -impede -your calling -encumber occupied territory -fetter irredenta {Italian, ear-ri-DEN-ta} -derail - -blunt “Irredentas are literal breeding grounds -foil for extremism.” -bedevil occupy -forestall -inhabit -impair -reside -inhibit -abide -daunt “Stained glass will daunt intruding light.” occur -appear obstruction -arise -impediment -come to pass befall you obtain - are borne out -secure - -ensue obvious -come about -evident occurred before -conspicuous predated -goes without saying - -axiomatic occurrence -explicit -occasion -manifest -first installment of -a forgone conclusion -patent occurring -well-pronounced -prevalent -plain -unfolding “It’s plain the woman cares deeply.” -arising -in the making -only too evident -palpable oceaniner l -all too clear -leviathan -unmistakable -patently obvious odd -peculiar obvious remark -truism oddhin t gs or habits peculiarities -trite remark -

obviously odds however slight may be the hope -needless to say - -likelihood occasionally -on occasion ofll a types -in every variety

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 255 12/10/10 8:36 AM 256â of course

-of every sort offensive -of any sort -boorish

ofourse c offer -by all means -hold out to -to be sure -extend -it goes without saying -make available to -proffer ofhe( t seven of the books exist) “His father proffered a Life Saver, courte- ously, man to man; he took it with a special -such sense of courtesy. It sealed their contract.” “Seven such books exist.” James Agee, A Death in the Family

ofhe t day offern a opinion -du jour {French, doo-ZHER} -air an opinion “It seems like every day there’s another “His own opinion, which he does not air, cause du jour.” is that the origins of speech lie in song, and ofheast t p the origins of song in the need to fill out with -of things past sound the overlarge and rather empty human soul.” J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace ofheame t s time period -of similar date offerings -fare ofpper u class birth -creature comforts -to the manner born -amenities

off office -askew -bureau -desk offimits l -the third rail—touch it and you die offices -executive suites offf[ncorrect o i usage] -off officeeeker -s -aspirant offeason s play -hot stove league official -functionary offhe t cuff -impromptu official order -in passing -mandate -perfunctory -directive -extemporaneous offsetting offended by -countervailing -take exception to “A political party without a strong counter- -take issue with vailing opposition is a sick thing.” -take umbrage to

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 256 12/10/10 8:36 AM on displayâ 257â

often constant companion and housekeeper in his -customary sister.” Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility -at frequent intervals -as often as not oldashioned-f and outdated -fusty OKine (f ) -antediluvian -no worse for wear -outmoded -everything in order -old school

okay oldad l y -very well then -matriarch -very good olderson p oka o y t -elder -there is no harm in oldest -eldest Would it be okay if we continued? omen -portent Is there any harm in continuing? -premonition

on old(n a old thing) -upon -archaic “A dark shadow fell upon me, not of a -dated cloud but of a man with a dazzling halo -timeworn about him.” J.M. Coetzee, Foe -a dusty remembrance of -aged onail a d y basis [incorrect -elderly usage] “She had her check all ready and the man- -daily ager said the keys were in the car, so in no time she was free to go. The car was parked oni a n ght like this on such a night as this toward the rear of the shop, an elderly - grey-blue Dodge.” Anne Tyler, Breathing one a r gular basis [incor- Lessons rect usage] -regularly old(s i very old) -habitually -dates from âââ BCE -dates from âââ times onccount a of -of the âââ century -in consideration of

old age onnd a on -at a late age -ad infinitum {Latin, add -advanced age in-fih-NIGHT-um} “The late owner of this estate was a single -ad nauseam {Latin, add NAUS-ee-um} man, who lived to a very advanced age, -without end and who for many years of his life, had a onispla d y -in full plumage

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 257 12/10/10 8:36 AM 258â on fire

“Those privileged to be present at a fam- -far from haphazard ily festival of the Forsytes have seen that charming and instructive sight—an upper onhe t average middle-class family in full plumage.” John -all things considered Galsworthy, Forsyte Saga onhe t day he onire f -the day on which he -alight onhe t fence -ablaze -noncommittal

onirst f appearance onhe t other hand (obvious) -conversely on prima facie evidence {Latin, prime- - -but then again uh FAY-shya} -by comparison, “Initially it looked to be a prima facie case, -per contra [academic] but it was later determined that no crime occurred.” onhe t same page -working from the same script oner h mind -simpatico -what was in her mind “One sign that they are simpatico is that oner h orders Madeleine wears chic noise-making clothes -at her behest whose crackle is similar to sounds made by Adrian’s group.” Stephen Holden, New York Times, Oct. 23, 2009 The new policy was imple- mented on her orders. onhe t sidelines -on the periphery The new policy was imple- mented at her behest. onhe t surface -on the face of -at first sight on wn my o (myself) “Mansfield Park is a fairy tale, but then -of my own accord all novels are, in a sense, fairy tales. At “‘Your father is preparing to set off on a first sight Jane Austen’s manner and matter long journey. Have you prayed for him?’ may seem to be old fashioned, stilted, un- There was a hint of severity in his gaze, and real. But this is a delusion to which the bad it may have been this that awakened in me a reader succumbs. The good reader is aware keen sense of negligence toward my father, that the quest for real life, real people, and because, to be sure, I would never have so forth is a meaningless process when thought of that of my own accord.” Imre speaking of books.” Vladimir Nabokov, Kértesz, Fateless Lectures on Literature

onne o condition onhe t tip of my tongue -under the proviso that {pruh-VIZE-oh} -the word escapes me

onurpose p onhe t way -by design -en route -the calculated use of

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 258 12/10/10 8:36 AM onlyâ 259â

onhis t day onef o a kind -on this, one of the great days in -rare find

onop t of onef o the greatest â â -atop -one of the greatest of âââ -upon “Now, thanks to the energy and the imagi- onacation v nation of one of the greatest of colonial administrators, the country, at least in the -on holiday [humorous] French zone, is as safe and open as the op- onyur o own posite shore of Spain. All that remains is to -of your own accord tell the traveler how to find his way about -left to your own devices it.” Edith Wharton, In Morocco -by your own discretion onef o them once again -there is one among the -yet again onei -e ghty oncen i a while -a significant turnabout -every now and again -on occasion oneelf ’s s -the self oncehe s had established “Depression is a disorder of mood, so mys- her teriously painful and elusive in the way it -having established her becomes known to the self—to the medi- one ating intellect—as to verge close to being -one such beyond description.” William Styron, -sole Darkness Visible -the singular notion that only onefter a another -is but -in rapid fire succession -is merely -in turn -is scarcely -seriatim {Latin, sear-ee-AY-tum} -is all of “It took all of five minutes.” onet a a time they is a mere -one behind the other they - -it alone is one by one -it is little more than -they came in continual succession -it is nothing but -a procession of “Ultimately, literature is nothing but car- -one behind the other they pentry. With both you are working with reality, a material just as hard as wood.” onenront i f of the other Gabriel Garcia Marquez -in tandem

onef o the There is only one. -among the There is but one.

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 259 12/10/10 8:36 AM 260â only have

onl avey h “Soon after seven I went to Mummy and -I have only Daddy and then to the sitting room to undo my presents.” Anne Frank, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl” I only have three. I have only three. openir a (of a café) -alfresco “Tonight we dine alfresco!” onl y a few -a meager number of openl y disregard a -just a smattering of convention -to flout onl y go so far -go only so far openinded-m -amenable onl umany h -catholic all-too-mortal - -liberal

onl eed y n to opinion need only to - -commentary onl ne y o -sentiment -there was but one -your take on

onl ptiony o opinion of (my opinion of -only recourse her) -I found her to be onl hin y t g I’m good at is -I’m no good for anything except opinionated -outspoken onl hinksy t about himself -he thinks of nothing but himself opinions -sentiments onl anty w (they only want -surmises to) -assumptions -they want nothing but to opponent onl ith y w -rival -peculiar to -counterpart “Yet one cannot say with equal certainty -detractor just why the difficulty was peculiar to -gainsayer Memphis, unless it is that Memphis, unlike -adversary other Tennessee cities, remains to this day -antagonist a ‘land-oriented’ place.” Peter Taylor, A -naysayer Summons to Memphis opportunities open -prospects lay open - opportunity undo - -occasion

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 260 12/10/10 8:36 AM original and highly influentialâ 261â

oppose ordered -contravene -he gave orders for the

“You dare to contravene police protocol?” ordered to opposed to -adjured to -averse to “You have been adjured to tell the whole -not one to truth and nothing but the truth.”

opposite of ordinary -the very opposite of -mundane “Theatergoers who use plays as mood- -pedestrian setting preludes to romantic evenings ordinary people had better look elsewhere. ‘Quartett,’ -ordinary beings which opened Wednesday night and runs -the nothing in particular through Nov. 14, may well be the sexually frankest play in New York this side of “Nowadays, as long as they are still able a backroom peephole. But with a cast led to travel, they flock back home, even from by the formidable French actress Isabelle the other side of the Pacific, arriving in cars Humpert in a magnificently mannered or big air-conditioned coaches. The rich, performance, it is the very opposite of an the famous and the nothing in particular aphrodisiac.” Ben Brantley, New York all hurry back because they are getting old. Times, Nov. 6, 2009 After all, who doesn’t love the home of their ancestors?” Gao Xingjian, Soul Mountain -far from it -in stark contrast to orni ga zation -the antithesis of -a concern -an apparatus oppressed (the oppressed) -an enterprise the downtrodden - -a collective

optimistic orni ga zed to strike an optimistic tone - -ordered to be guardedly optimistic - -ordered within a hierarchy of sanguine - -in good order -irrepressible -Panglossian (excessively optimistic) orin gi -provenance optimistic in speech -genesis of -ebullient orinalgi order(n i order) -archetypal {ark-ih-TYPE-ul} -in proper sequence “Achilles is the archetypal hero from which order so many come.” -edict -decree orinalgi and highly influential -precept seminal -dictate -

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 261 12/10/10 8:36 AM 262â original model

orinalgi model otherlaces p -archetype -elsewhere

orinallgi y written otheride s -conceived -the reverse

orinategi from otherimilar s things -stem from -and what have you -origins lie in others of that time “His own opinion, which he does not air, -contemporaries is that the origins of speech lie in song, and the origins of song in the need to fill out with our sound the overlarge and rather empty hu- -ours is a man soul.” J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace outnd a out orinatedgi (words) -unmitigated -the term was coined back in outnublic i p orinatingi g from -about among people -indebted to -derived from outn i the middle of no -owing to where in some lost corner of -come by way of - -owes something to outoud l orinatorgi of -aloud -progenitor of {pruh-JEN-uh-ter} outf o action [academic] -incapacitated ostentatious display -hors de combat {French, or de cohm-BAH} -éclat {French, ay-KLAH} “As soon as the bacon was well under way, outf o control and Millie, her lymphatic aid, had been -overzealous brisked up a bit by a few deftly chosen ex- -a little pressions of contempt, she carried the cloth, plates, and glasses into the parlour and be- outfts o i proper historical gan to lay them with the utmost éclat.” H. time G. Wells, The Invisible Man -an anachronism -anachronistic ostentatious gift giving outf o line -largess {lar-JESS} -outside the bounds of acceptable ostentatious in one’s behavior learning -pedantic outf o necessity -turgid -where, of necessity, we -of necessity other -peripheral outf o place -among the alien corn

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 262 12/10/10 8:36 AM overconfidenceâ 263â

-incongruous outstanding -a banner âââ outf o reach -beyond reach outward appearance -guise outf o regard for -in a nod to outward signs of -trappings of outf o the blue -quite by chance outwardly virtuous, but inwardly corrupt outf o the running (of a -a whited sepulcher {WHITE-ed competition) SEP-uhl-ker} -hors concours {French, or kawn-COOR} outwit -outflank outf o tune -outfox -discordant -dissonant OVER -ended outcast “When the killing was ended, the postbellum -pariah government enacted measures to lessen the outdo likelihood of another war.” -best overll a outdoor -all things considered -alfresco settings -on the whole -by and large outerimits l -periphery overime t -in time outline it -with the lapse of time -contour -over the expanse of -delineate oversed u outrage -hackneyed -indignation -trite

outrageous overith w -beyond the pale -at an end -outside the bounds of acceptable -no more behavior -outlandish overall -on balance outside (1) -out-of-doors overbearing -overweening outside (2) -outside the boundaries of overconfidence -outside the confines of -hubris -complacency

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 263 12/10/10 8:36 AM 264â overconfident but poorly informed

-an act of presumption overefined-r and dainty -precious overconfident but poorly informed overefinement-r in word -sophomoric choice -preciosity {presh-ee-AU-sih-tee} overo -d [academic] -egg the pudding “If you find yourself using words like “Don’t egg the pudding with needless adjec- Âpreciosity, then you are likely engaged in tives and adverbs.” precisely that.”

overdoing a good thing oversaw -cloying -ushered in “It wasn’t long before my 3-D glasses became a cloying annoyance.” oversed -u -hackneyed overflowing (a stream from -trite thawing snow) -full-freshet overwhelmed -inundated “In the winter of wet years the streams -harried ran full-freshet, and they swelled the river until sometimes it raged and boiled, bank overwhelming favorite to full, and then it was a destroyer.” John win Steinbeck, East of Eden -the prohibitive favorite

overlooked owed -commanded a view -had been indebted to

overl y critical owner -ruggedly critical -proprietor “Alexander the Grammarian taught me -keeper of [poetic] not to be ruggedly critical about words, nor find fault with people for improprieties of phrase or pronunciation, but to set them right by speaking the thing properly myself, and that either by way of answer, Pp assent, or inquiry, or by some such other pacin g back and forth indirect and suitable correction.” Marcus -toing and froing Aurelius, Meditations paidttention a to overl y sentimental -concerned themselves with -mawkish -maudlin paidff o -cloying -bore fruit

overprotect pain( a pain) -coddle -a hurt

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 264 12/10/10 8:36 AM paradoxical question or statementâ 265â

“But we had scarcely begun to climb when “When the Pope asserts that matters re- I felt a sharp hurt, and drew from my lating to pedophilia should fall outside the heel a long black-tipped thorn. Though Âpurview of any state government, he is as- I chafed it, the heel quickly swelled till I serting an ultramontane legal position.” could not so much as hobble for the pain.” J.M. Coetzee, Foe papalubservience s to national authority pain(n i pain) -gallican {GAL-ih-ken} adj. -in distress “A gallican legal argument would support the rights of nation states to assert their au- painn i the neck thority over the Vatican.” -annoyance paper painted (or photographed) -thesis -captured -tract painting of Madonna and -treatise {TREET-is} Child in an enclosed garden -manuscript -hortus conclusus {Latin, hor-tus cun-CLUE-sus} paror f the course -standard fare palerom f poor health -prescribed form -pallid -the norm and standard -having a pallor about her -a deathly hue These are par for the course. -sallow These are pretty standard fare. paleith w fear -ashen paradise-like paleness -Edenic {ee-DEN-ik} -pallor “As the sesquicentennial of Fort Sumter pamper approaches in 2011, the enduring prob- -cosset lem for neo-Confederates endures: any- -coddle one who seeks an Edenic Southern past in which the war was principally about panf gs o guilt states’ rights and not slavery is searching -scruples in vain, for the Confederacy and slavery “Her scruples kept her from accepting the are inextricably and forever linked.” Jon bribe.” Meacham, “Southern Discomfort,” New York Times, April 10, 2010 panic -hysteria paradoxical question or statement papaluthorit a y over -a koan {KOE-on} national authority “If freedom had no defenders, it might actu- -ultramontane {ul-truh-MON-tane} adj. ally begin to catch on.”

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 265 12/10/10 8:36 AM 266â pardoned him of his sins

pardoned him of his sins “To some extent yes, that’s true.” -absolved him of his sins -in part Prisiana boulevard (most “It is in part psychological, but also famous) physiological.” -Champs Élysées {French, shawnz partner in crime ay-lee-ZAY} -accomplice parody -abettor -a send-up -accessory -fellow traveler part -component of partnered with -arm of -found a marriage of convenience with -element of partners -constituent of [academic] -associates -involved in -brethren “Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; and therefore partnership never send to know for whom the bell -alliance tolls; it tolls for thee.” John Donne {pro- part y (to party) nounced Dun} -revel part(la p ys a part in) partn yi g -her role in -revelry partâ â and part â ââ pass -equal parts âââ and âââ -overtake partf o a plan to -draw ahead -part of an effort to passionate participating in -fervent -taking part in -impassioned -engaging in -passional -being complicit in [derogatory] -vehement -weighing in -emphatic -as part of a -torrid [sexual] “The CEO was in New York, as part of a passionate about a cause three day conference on mergers.” -a firebrand

partly passive -to the extent that -diffident -in part -to a certain extent passivity -in some measure -quietism -appreciably past(ocation l ) -in a manner -beyond -to some extent

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 266 12/10/10 8:36 AM peopleâ 267â

past (THE PAST) rest to any of these wearied souls.” Dante’s -those bygone days Inferno, Canto VII -storied past -those departed days peaceful -pacific [poetic] patterned in -serene -adorned with -peaceable -figured with “In this diminished form the words rush “He is in shirt sleeves, with a vest figured out of the cornucopia of my brain to course with faded gold horseshoes, and a pink- over the surface of the world, tickling real- striped shirt, suggestive of peppermint can- ity like fingers on piano keys. They’re an dy.” Upton Sinclair, The Jungle invisible army on a peacekeeping mission, a peaceable horde.” Jonathan Lethem, patience Motherless Brooklyn -forbearance peaceful place patient -far from the madding crowd -forbearing -indulgent peanutg allery -Greek chorus pa ttentiony a to -take note of peers -attend to -counterparts -address -cousins -take notice of -pay heed to pename n -heed -pseudonym -devote considerable attention to -nom de guerre {French, nom dih -concern ourselves with GARE} -nom de plume {French, nom dih pa o y n attention to PLUME} -take no notice of penalty -sanction I didn’t pay any attention to it. -censure I took little notice of it. -punitive action penis pa uty o -phallus -disburse penisike l paentym -phallic -remittance [formal] people peace -beings -a moment’s rest -inhabitants distant figures “All the gold that lies beneath the moon, - personages or ever did, could never give a moment’s - -persons

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 267 12/10/10 8:36 AM 268â people like to

“Either we live by accident and die by ac- people walking by cident, or we live by plan and die by plan. -passers-by And on that instant Brother Juniper made the resolve to inquire into the secret lives people who are likely to of those five persons, that moment falling -people given to through the air, and to surprise the reason of people who live there their taking off.” Thornton Wilder, The -inhabitants Bridge of San Luis Rey pererson p -the populace per capita -interested parties - -mortals peryar e -mortal beings -per annum “There was a black river that flowed through the town, and if it had no grace for mortal percentage of beings, it did for swans, and many swans -proportion of resorted there, and even rode the river like perfect some kind of plunging animals, in floods.” -idyllic Sebastian Barry, The Secret Scripture -ideal -we -infallible -to some -made to order -peoples -irreproachable -voices -consummate -things -impeccable “‘Those white things have taken all I had or -quintessential dreamed,’ she said, ‘and broke my heart- perfect example strings too. There is no bad luck in the world -a paragon but white folks.’” Toni Morrison, Beloved -an exemplar peopleike l to -the consummate ââââ -it is the way with people to [poetic] -the archetype of

people of a nation perfect for -the body politic -it lends itself to -the commonwealth -it’s particularly well suited for -inhabitants -it suits you “It was only toward the middle of the twentieth century that the inhabitants of It’s perfect for you. many European countries came, in gen- It suits you well. eral unpleasantly, to the realization that their fate could be influenced directly by the intricate and abstruse books of philoso- perfect timing phy.” Czeslaw Milosz, The Captive Mind -the stars are finally aligned in his favor peoplea s y that i -opportune -it may be said of me that -providential

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 268 12/10/10 8:36 AM personal attacks (in a debate)â 269â

perfectly perpetual -to brilliant effect -perennial -ideally persecuted perform -put upon -fare -beset with “How did I fare?” -beleaguered

perform well persecution -perform to strong reviews -a pogrom -rise to the occasion persecutor performance -grand inquisitor -rendering persistence rendition - -tenacity portrayal - -doggedness

period after persistent aftermath - -unrelenting period experienced a -relentless -this period saw a growth in -assiduous -this period witnessed -unremitting

period of time person -interval -a soul -chapter -personage -interlude -creature -span of years -being -a living being permanent “He calls despairingly, gazing in agony after -indissoluble [academic] the receding sail as, ghostlike, it fades from -lasting view. A short time ago he was on board, a -irrevocable member of the crew busy on deck with the permanent damage rest, a living being with his share of air and -irreparable harm sunlight. What has become of him now? He slipped and fell, and this is the end.” Victor permanently Hugo, Les Miserables -indelibly persony ou’re talking to permeable -interlocutor -pervious personal permission -first-hand -consent -license to personal attacks (in a debate) -carte blanche -ad hominem attacks {Latin, add HAW-mih-num}

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 269 12/10/10 8:36 AM 270â personality

movements of thought.” Bertrand Russell, On God and Religion Personal attacks do nothing to further your point. phony Ad hominem arguments do -affected contrived nothing to further your point. - -highly mannered

personality Stop sounding so phony. -persona -nature Stop sounding so affected.

personification of -âââ incarnate photographs of known -it is the embodiment of criminals -the rogues gallery perspective -frame of reference phrases -in the eyes of -expressions -from a âââ standpoint -verbiage through the prism of their own - phicalys culture -corporeal [academic] persuade pick prevail upon - -appoint strike a sympathetic chord - -assemble -cajole pickhrou t gh persuade not to -rifle through -dissuade pickp u persuade to speak -retrieve -draw him out picked up persuaded me to -took up -moved me to “I took up my coat and carpet-bag, and petty went into the next room to change my -penny ante linen, and dress for dinner.” Jacques Casanova, Volume 6c—Rome: The pett b y o jections Memoirs of Jacques Casanova -cavils picky pett hin y t g -discriminating trifling matter - -finical philosophy picture movements of thought - -tableau {TA-blow} “Until I went to Cambridge I was al- -depiction most wholly unaware of contemporary -portrait

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 270 12/10/10 8:36 AM plannedâ 271â

pictures pivotal event -tableaux {TA-blows} -watershed moment -portraiture place picturesque -forum -idyllic -arena -venue piece -fragment placef o corruption -remnant -Augean stables {au-JEE-un}

piecef o art “ACORN is regarded by many to be the Augean stables of the Democratic Party.” -a work -this piece placef o storage piecef o cloth -repository -swatch from placeo t sleep pieces -accommodations -elements placed in -remnants -housed in -components “A collection of textile samples lay spread -traces out on the table—Samsa was a travelling -fragments salesman—and above it there hung a pic- -smithereens ture that he had recently cut out of an illus- “Nothing much was left of her but charred trated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded smithereens.” Margaret Atwood, The frame.” Franz Kafka, Metamorphosis Blind Assassin places pi-ikeg l -quarters -porcine plain pilimagr ge -nondescript -hajj {HADJ} -unprepossessing

pioneer plan -forerunner -agenda pisser h off -intent stratagem -embitter her - scheme -rouse her ire -

pith a y s ying plann o foresee -aphorism - intend on -adage - -have every intention “The educated don’t get that way by mem- orizing facts; they get that way by respecting planned them.” -drew their plans against us

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 271 12/10/10 8:36 AM 272â plant life

plantife l plent y of -flora -ample

pla ithy w plot -toy with -scheme -contrivance plaul yf talk -banter poetic -poetical plan yi g dumb “The Greek Antiquities are full of Poetical -laying on the Socratic irony Fictions, because the Greeks wrote nothing in Prose, before the Conquest of Asia by She’s playing dumb to make you Cyrus the Persian.” Sir Isaac Newton, look ridiculous. The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms

She’s using Socratic irony to pointe m to the appropriate make you look ridiculous. -direct me to the appropriate

pointf o no return pleasant -crossing the Rubicon -not disagreeable pointo t please -draw attention to -would you be good enough to -cite -won’t you come over to our table -if you please poisonous -I will thank you to [hostile] -virulent -would you be so good as to policy -if you think it might be possible -course -it would be most helpful -I would be grateful if “As a matter of course, we no longer accept unsolicited submissions.” please don’t -protocol I will thank you not to [hostile] - “Contrary to popular belief, there is no pleasure derived from legal requirement, nor is there even police another’s misfortune protocol which requires officers to use stilt- -schadenfreude {German, ed, overly formal language in their reports.” SHAHD-n-froid} polish pleasure seeker -burnish -hedonist -smooth over -voluptuary “It took a few weeks to smooth over the -bon vivant {French, bone vee-VAHN} cracks in his English.” -epicure politically incorrect pledge of support -off-color -avowal of support

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 272 12/10/10 8:36 AM pour intoâ 273â

position (administrative) -post His joke was politically incorrect. -in her capacity as His joke was off-color. position (physical) -pose politician -stance -politico -posture -demagogue (uses fear as a tactic) positive politics -complimentary -the body politic “Can’t you say anything complimentary -polity about her?” “The aftermath of the First World War re- sulted in a new kind of German polity.” possibility -contingency pollute -befoul possibility for prospects for -defile - -prospect of pompous talk or writing -specter of -bombast -turgid prose possible plausible -grandiloquence {gran-DILL-uh-quence} - -conceivable pompously learned -pedantic possible outcomes contingencies -turgid -

poor We’ve prepared for all possible -impoverished -of small means outcomes. -of reduced circumstances We’ve prepared for all -indigent contingencies.

popular -widely accepted possibly -the darling of -perhaps -an object of much attention -presumably -much in demand -is said to be -highly valued -is arguably

porch possessed him -veranda -took possession of him

pornographic possesses (has) -salacious -harbors

portrait pournto i -likeness -decant

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 273 12/10/10 8:36 AM 274â poverty

poverty “It wasn’t long before the newly elect- -want ed ideologue learned her first lesson in “Even if perfect social justice and complete realpolitik.” freedom from want were to prevail in a practically world at peace, rebels would still be needed -he all but made a wherever the world is out of joint, which now means everywhere.” René Dubose, practicing So Human an Animal: How We Are -polishing Shaped by Surroundings and Events “Already he was polishing a few care- power fully worded accusations designed to re- -influence duce his mother to repentance or, at least, -agency confusion. He often had to keep her in -means her place.” John Kennedy Toole, A -auspices Confederacy of Dunces instrumentality - praise within the orbit of Roman power - -extol praise on powerful -sing her praises -formidable -kudos -high octane -hail -speak well of powerful entities -vaunt -vested interests -applaud -the powers that be -give praise to

powerful force praises of the critics -juggernaut -plaudits of the critics

powerful person precedes -a âââ magnate -heralds -mogul preceding powerless -foregoing -inert -precursory [academic] -impotent -antecedent [academic]

practical predatory -more firmly tethered to reality -predacious -applicative [academic] predict practical aspects -foresee -practicalities -foretell -bode practical politics -portend realpolitik {German, - -had the forethought to ray-AL-pol-uh-TEEK} -venture to predict -presage something evil -prognosticate

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 274 12/10/10 8:36 AM present to youâ 275â

-extrapolate premature ejaculation -preordain -arriving too soon -prefigure “His specific worry, based on one unfor- -betoken [poetic] tunate experience, was of overexcitement, of what he had heard someone describe as predictable ‘arriving too soon.’ The matter was rarely -formulaic out of his thoughts, but though his fear of -foreseeable failure was great, his eagerness—for rap- -so paint-by-numbers ture, for resolution—was far greater.” Ian predicting disaster McEwan, Chesil Beach -apocalyptic premeditated murder “He would scare his way to higher ratings -malice aforethought [legal] with apocalyptic conspiracy theories.” prepare predictions of -ready yourself -prophecies -have the forethought to “The prophecies of impending doom have -lay the groundwork for proved hollow.” -are being readied for -prognostications -rev up for -pave the way for predictor -set the stage for -bellwether -ready for gird for PREDITORIAL BEHAIVOR - provision for -predation -

prefer Get ready. -favor Ready yourself. preference -predilection -proclivity present (are present) -penchant -are assembled -are in the flesh preantgn -are prevalent -in a delicate condition -are well represented

prediceju present it -preconceived view -put it provincialism - “…he put the whole thing to her as a kind xenophobia (against foreigners) - of favor, an obligation he should grate- intolerance - fully incur.” Henry James, The Turn of preliminary the Screw -prelude to present to you premature celebration -bestow -dancing on volcanoes -confer -serve up

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 275 12/10/10 8:36 AM 276â presentation

-bring forth the nuthouse for when you got pushed into -tender a marriage by parties larger than yourself. -offer up Mack-trucked. It was obvious to Nicole -bring before you that her parents wanted her off their hands.” -make available Norman Mailer, The Executioner’s Song -render prestige presentation -cachet {French, ka-SHAY} -rendition -version pretend -feign presented -affect -staged -laid before pretend to be sick -put forth -malinger

presented in poor taste pretending to -perpetrated on -affecting -under the pretense of presenting a cautious -feigning demeanor -under the guise of -sounding a note of caution -with a façade of

presents a problem pretends to -poses a problem -feigns preserve “There are still the flowers to buy. Clarissa -enshrine feigns exasperation (though she loves doing errands like this), leaves Sally cÂleaning press(he t news press) the bathroom, and runs out, promis- -the fourth estate ing to be back in half an hour.” Michael Cunningham, The Hours pressure -bring pressure to bear pretentious -bring to bear -affected -press -stagy -fustian {FUS-chen}

We should put pressure on every pretentious writer or member of the committee. speaker popinjay Pressure should be brought to - bear on every member of the pretty committee. -fairly -somewhat

pressured into prett y good at -mack-trucked -I am something of a “Nicole always felt mack-trucked into that prett y much one. There was a saying they used up in -effectively

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 276 12/10/10 8:36 AM private meeting placeâ 277â

-for all intents and purposes primitive form of -more or less -rudiments of -to a certain extent priorondition c -by and large -prerequisite prevent priorvent e -foil forgoing event -forestall - -preclude prioro t -avert -beforehand -hinder -prelude to a -thwart -ward off prioritize [corporate cliché] -obviate -set priorities “He may be a good guy and all, but that prisoner does not obviate the fact that he’s of little -captive use to me.” privacy prevent me from -solitude -compromise my ability to “I enjoyed such moments—but only in brief. If the talk began to wander, or cross I will not allow you to prevent the border into familiarity, I would soon me from operating effectively. find reason to excuse myself. I had grown too comfortable in my solitude, the safest I will not allow you to com- place I knew.” Barack Obama, Dreams promise my ability to operate from My Father effectively. private -interior prevent the deterioration of “In her enigmatic remoteness Jenny was a -save from decay little disquieting. Even now some interior joke seemed to be amusing her, for she was prevents me from smiling to herself, and her brown eyes were -precludes me from like very bright round marbles.” Aldous -forbids me from Huxley, Chrome Yellow

prey -unpeopled -quarry “It was imperative, he knew, that he go back to sleep. He could not lie awake dur- pride ing these hours. He wanted to sleep, enter a -hubris [pejorative] lovely blackness, a dark, but not too dark, priestly resting place, unhaunted, unpeopled, with -hieratic {high-uh-RAT-ik} no flickering presences.” Colm Tóibín, The Master primnd a proper -staid private meeting place -reserved -conclave

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 277 12/10/10 8:36 AM 278â private parts

private parts produce -nether regions -render -offer up private time -yield -stolen hours productive privately -prolific -sub-rosa -prodigious proactive [incorrect usage] -gainful -active products probable successor -wares -heir apparent proam gr probably -regimen -inclined to -initiative -predisposed to proess gr -presumably -forward movement -arguably -progression -increasingly likely that -furtherance -believed to be -safe to say that Poessr gr (make progress) -most likely -make headway -make inroads

We might just do that. prohibit It’s increasingly likely that we -proscribe [academic] will. proct je -enterprise probably should have -undertaking endeavor -I might have been better advised to -

probento i promise assurance -plumb - -covenant problem -condition promise (I promise) I assure you -difficulty - -complexity promising -sticking point -auspicious -quandary promote problematic -cultivate -a problem -foster procedures -advocate champion -formalities - underwrite -protocols -

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 278 12/10/10 8:36 AM proves nothingâ 279â

-fuel and ate its way into the flesh. Even -sponsor Friday’s hard skin was not proof against -propagate it: there were bleeding cracks in his feet, though he paid them no heed.” J.M. promoter of an opera Coetzee, Foe company -impresario {Italian, im-pre-SAR-ee-oe} protector -protectant promotion -elevation of protest -raise a hue and cry pronounce -clamor enunciate - -register their protest prooff o prototype testament to - -archetype -evidence of -testimony of prove -attest to -demonstrate -stand as proof of -suggest that -telling examples of -attest -bear witness to propaganda -establish -guerilla theater -agitprop {AJ-it-prop} “Django was a ponytailed visionary—if that’s not a tautology—who, following an propagandizing pamphlet epiphany in Vietnam, founded the New -a tract on Earth Army in order to establish whether love and peace can win wars.” Anthony proper Lane, The New Yorker, Nov. 9, 2009 -de rigueur {French, der ree-GUHR} provennocent i proportional -absolve pro rata [academic] - -exonerate proposal -exculpate -a measure -an initiative I was proven completely protect innocent. -run interference I was absolved of any -safeguard wrongdoing. -harbor

protection from it provey ourself -proof against it -show yourself worthy “There were ants scurrying everywhere, of the same kind we had in Bahia, and proves nothing produces no conclusive evidence another pest too, living in the dunes: a - tiny insect that hid between your toes

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 279 12/10/10 8:36 AM 280â proven

proven pulledn i -evidenced by -drawn in -attested by -born out by pulledt i downwards -drew it downwards proverb -as the ââ proverb has it punish -sanction provide with equipment -take to the woodshed -outfit -administer a drubbing -mete out the ultimate punishment provide you with -reward -provide for the “If they begged without a written permis- -afford sion, they were rewarded by the pillory, the -offer up whip, branding, slavery, or the gallows.” -give Edith Sitwell, Fanfare for Elizabeth “…And the dead tree gives no shelter, the cricket no relief…” T. S. Eliot, The punishing actions Waste Land -punitive actions

provoke puppeteer [metaphorically -wave the bloody shirt speaking] -a Svengali public -in the public eye pure -in a public forum -unadulterated -intacta {Latin, in-TACK-tuh} public outcry -hue and cry pureness -fidelity publiclaces p -places essentially public purifications -ablutions publichame s -ignominy {IG-nuh-min-ee} purpose is to -serves as a publicize -functions as a -bring to much greater public notice pursuit of this goal publicly -pursuit of this end -on the surface -outwardly push -propel pucker -purse pushed back by the crowd -was borne back by the crowd pull -draw pushed down on -wrest -bore down upon her

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 280 12/10/10 8:36 AM put up withâ 281â

pushed into a leading role -institute -pressed into a leading role -station -impose pushing the envelope -implement operating at the margins - -apply

putn o You’re pushing the envelope. -don You are operating at the margins. putn o a back burner -hold in abeyance [formal] pushy -sharp elbowed putn o a pedestal -bumptious -sacralize -enshrine puturse a c on -laid a curse on putn o a play -stage a production putn a emphasis on -laid a special emphasis on putn o hold -hold in abeyance [formal] putside a -lay aside putut o (disseminate) circulate “Lay aside your personal feelings and view - trot out this as a professional matter.” - -bandy about putt a ease putut o the fire -disarm -tamp it down (of a controversy) putt a risk -douse -imperil -extinguish -compromise “The sultan signaled for the sole lamp to be extinguished. Darkness took over and putown d the specters of the trees giving out a fra- quell - grant aroma were cast into semi-obscuri- quash - ty.” Naguib Mahfouz, Arabian Nights putorth f and Days -assert puto t use -present the case -are brought to bear -suggest -adduce puto t gether -advance -compiled -propound -cobbled together -venture -confected -proffer putp u with putnlace i p -withstand -install -tolerate -instate -countenance

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 281 12/10/10 8:36 AM 282â put your two cents in

-endure qestionu -abide -take to task -a bitter pill to swallow -impugn -bear with -call into question “He had to accept the fate of every new- qestionu asked of him comer to a small town where there are -question put to him plenty of tongues that gossip and few minds that think. He had to bear with this in spite qestionu came up of being a bishop and because he was a bish- -the question arose op.” Victor Hugo, Les Miserables qestionu is putyur o two cents in -the question before us all -weigh in with -the question then becomes -it’s a question of

I’d like you to put your two cents qestionableu in on this. -dubious suspect I’d like you to weigh in on this. - qestioninu g one’s motives or character PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE arguing ad hominem {Latin, add HORSE - HAW-mih-num} -hysteron proteron {Late Latin, HIS- ter-on PRAH-ter-on} qestioninu g stare interrogative stare putting up with - -accommodating qestionsu inquiries puzin z l g - -enigmatic “Dr. Spears is known for his sensitivity -perplexing to women’s complaints; he has a way of -inexplicable squeezing his eyes shut when he phrases his -ambiguous delicate inquiries, of speaking almost poeti- cally of nature’s cycles and balances, of the tide of fertility or the consolation of fruit salts.” Carol Shields, The Stone Diaries

Qq qickooku l qalifiedu -give it a once-over -well credentialed -a cursory reading

qalitu y qicklu y -attribute -with deliberate speed -with all deliberate speed qenchu -in relatively short order -slake your thirst -hurriedly -drink your thirst away -in an instant -without delay -post haste

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 282 12/10/10 8:36 AM raised (born and raised)â 283â

-soon racist “I enjoyed such moments—but only in -xenophobe {ZEE-nuh-fobe} brief. If the talk began to wander, or cross racket( disturbance) the border into familiarity, I would soon -commotion find reason to excuse myself. I had grown -stir too comfortable in my solitude, the safest -kerfuffle place I knew.” Barack Obama, Dreams from My Father radical -incendiary qickl u y assured her that -provocative -was quick to assure her that -rabid

qickl u y becoming radical leftist -fast becoming -Jacobin {JACK-uh-bin} communist qickl u y saw - -were quick to see radical rightist reactionary qietu - intransigent -restrained - fascist -stoic - -taciturn rain -reserved -the rains -hushed raiseoubts d or objections qietlu y -demur -with little fanfare raiseett p y objections qirku -cavil about -foible -eccentricity raiseq uestions about -cast doubt upon qitu “Several of the outfits, Ignatius noticed, -forswear were new enough and expensive enough to qoteu be properly considered offenses against taste -cite and dignity. Possession of anything new or expensive only reflected a person’s lack of theology and geometry; it could even cast doubts upon one’s soul.” John Kennedy Toole, A Confederacy of Dunces

Rr raisehe t subject rabble-rouser -broach the subject -iconoclast raised( born and raised) “Christopher Hitchens is an iconoclast of -bred the first order.” “As for my mother, she taught me to have regard for religion, to be generous and open- handed, and not only to forbear from doing

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 283 12/10/10 8:36 AM 284â raised on

anybody an ill turn, but not so much as to -precedence endure the thought of it. By her likewise I was bred to a plain, inexpensive way of liv- ranked up there with ing, very different from the common luxury -ranked alongside of the rich.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations ranks raised on -the serried ranks -reared on rare rambling -rarefied -discursive -of a rare sort -desultory rarevent e -digressing -the rarest of events

rannto i rare exception -encountered -an outlier -chanced upon -came upon rarehin t g -happened on -rara avis {Latin, RARE-uh AVE-is} “Beyond the Indian hamlet, upon a forlorn -rarity strand, I happened on a trail of recent foot- -endangered species prints.” David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas rarely ranhe t organization -seldom, if ever -oversaw rash ranp u to -imprudent -rushed headlong up to rashly random -precipitately -arbitrary -impetuously -indiscriminate ratut o haphazard - -implicate

range ratified scope - -made real -gamut -purview “Farmers and scholars; statesmen and pa- -extent triots who had traveled across an ocean to -spectrum escape tyranny and persecution finally made real their declaration of independence at a rank Philadelphia convention that lasted through -standing the spring of 1787.” Barack Obama, “A -station More Perfect Union” -hierarchy -echelon rational argument -stature -dialectic [academic] -distinctions of rank ravever o -pecking order -rhapsodize

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 284 12/10/10 8:36 AM really (very)â 285â

raweef b dish -manifest -steak tartare {French, tar-TAR} -palpable

rawish f dish reali l Fe -ceviche {seh-VEE-chay} -true and living react “Somewhere out there is a true and living -respond in kind prophet of destruction and I don’t want to confront him.” Cormac McCarthy, No reacted to with Country for Old Men -was met with -was received with realism -vérité {French, vair-ih-TAY} reaction to excesses of a revolution reality -a thermidorean reaction -events on the ground

read realize -consult -perceive -peruse “Magnificence, like the size of a fortune, is always comparative, as even Magnificent readut o loud Lorenzo may now perceive, if he has hap- read aloud - pened to haunt New York in 1916; and readoraciousl v y the Ambersons were magnificent in their -consume vast helpings of day and place.” Booth Tarkington, The -devour Magnificent Ambersons

readiness realid ze -preparedness -was borne in on her -found himself reading my book -came to that realization -the reading of my book “It was only toward the middle of the twen- “Whether Nature did well or ill in break- tieth century that the inhabitants of many ing the mould in which she formed me, is European countries came, in general un- a question which can only be resolved af- pleasantly, to the realization that their fate ter the reading of my book.” Jean-Jacques could be influenced directly by the intricate Rousseau, The Confessions and abstruse books of philosophy.” Czeslaw Milosz, The Captive Mind reads -proclaims reall y (very) -to a large extent read o y t -above all -poised to -clearly real -genuinely -bona fide -decidedly -genuine -in no uncertain manner -substantive -indeed -tangible -assuredly -appreciable -so much

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 285 12/10/10 8:36 AM 286â really (actually)

“My Dear Michèle, I would so much like reason being is [incorrect this house to stay empty. I would hope the usage] owners don’t come back for a long time.” -the reason is J.M.G. Le Clézio, The Interrogation -the reason being that

reall y (actually) reason for -in actual fact -cause for -in truth “Apprehension seems to exist among the -it is in point of fact people of the Southern States that by the ac- -in any real sense cession of a Republican administration their “But even though the number of those who property and their peace and personal secu- really think seriously before they begin to rity are to be endangered. There has never write is small, extremely few of them think been any reasonable cause for such appre- about the subject itself: the remainder think hension.” Abraham Lincoln, Inaugural only about the books that have been writ- Address, March 4, 1861 ten on the subject, and what has been said -this is partly accounted for by by others. In order to think at all, such -for the purpose of writers need the more direct and powerful -is the impetus for stimulus of having other people’s thoughts -is being fed by before them. These become their immediate -is an outgrowth of theme; and the result is that they are always -is attributed to under their influence, and so never, in any -is behind real sense of the word, are original. But the -catalyst for former are roused to thought by the subject -rooted in a desire to itself, to which their thinking is thus imme- -for the sake of diately directed. This is the only class that -in the interest of produces writers of abiding fame.” Arthur -in consequence of Schopenhauer, The Art of Literature -the reason stemmed from -what is the occasion for reall y liked -cause of -was taken with “Although I cannot yet congratulate you on the reestablishment of peace in Europe She really liked his sense of style. and the restoration of security to the persons She was taken with his sense of and properties of our citizens from injustice style. and violence at sea, we have, nevertheless, abundant cause of gratitude to the source of benevolence and influence for interior reappear tranquility and personal security…” John -resurface Adams, State of the Union Address, 1797

reason reason for being -motive -raison d’être {French, ray-zohn -grounds for DET-ruh} -rationale reason is because [incorrect usage] -the reason is that

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 286 12/10/10 8:36 AM reduce in importanceâ 287â

reasonable -impetuous -the voice of reason -heedless -actions founded in reason -hasty -harum-scarum reasonable conclusion -haphazard the product of reason - -fitful rebel -profligate rogue - recoi gn ze young Turk - -acknowledge -recusant {REK-you-zent} -inserrecto {Spanish, in-sur-RECK-toe} reconciliation -an olive branch rebellion -a gesture insurrection - -rapprochement {French, rebellious rah-prawsh-mahn} recalcitrant - reconstruct fractious - -reconstitute -wayward record recapture the old magic -chronicle -return to form recover -convalesce You have finally recaptured the old magic. redace f You have returned to form. -florid face redla f g receive soon -call into question -will be forthcoming

received This throws up a red flag. -I’m in receipt of This calls into question your credibility. recent convert -proselyte redesign recently -reconfigure -of late -in recent times reduce -curtail receptive to -draw down well disposed to the idea of - -pare recharged reduce in importance replenished - -downplay reckless -dismiss -cavalier -marginalize

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 287 12/10/10 8:36 AM 288â redundancy

-consign rein ga the favor of -relegate -propitiate

redundancy rerdinga g -tautology [academic] -as to -apropos of {French, a-pra-POE} refer -as regards the -allude to -invoke rerdlessga of -cite -irrespective of -point to rerdlessga of what happens referee -come what may -mediator reongi -arbiter -sphere reference to -domain -allusion to -realm -dominion refill -expanse -replenish reet gr (I REGRET) refuse to allow -have misgivings -disallow -rue the day lament the loss of refused - bemoan -refused to hear of it - “The woman who had suggested a case of reetfulgr (IS REGRETFUL) nerves was of the opinion that an ambu- -source of regret lance should be summoned to transport the poor man to the hospital, but the blind reetsgr man refused to hear of it, quite unneces- -misgivings sarily, all he wanted was that someone -compunctions might accompany him to the entrance reoupgr of the building where he lived.” José -reestablish Saramago, Blindness “They need to reestablish themselves -declined offensively.” -have been reluctant to -balked at relargu -failed to -typical of normal events “If the more sensitive among those she relarlgu y served or addressed failed to look at Rose, it -oftentimes was because her manner seemed to accuse -customarily the conscience, or it could have been, more -not infrequently simply, that they were embarrassed by her hair lip.” Patrick White, Voss rehearsal -dry run

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 288 12/10/10 8:36 AM reliableâ 289â

reinforce happened to haunt New York in 1916; and -bolster the Ambersons were magnificent in their -shore up day and place.” Booth Tarkington, The Magnificent Ambersons reiterated -reaffirmed relatively short period -comparatively short period rectje -repudiate relax -shrug off the idea -set your mind at rest -rebuff -dismiss release -spurn -unbridle -disavow -unfetter -forswear -unleash

rectedje (was rejected) relete ga -was poorly received -consign

related (IT IS RELATED) relentless -it is its cousin -implacable -will stop at nothing “Affection may not be love, but it is at least -inexorable its cousin.” J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace relentlessly related to the -inexorably -surrounding the “Year by year, slowly but inexorably, his “You need to acquaint yourself with all the spirit had withered. Dry of heat and dry- facts surrounding the merger.” eyed. During his nineteen years impris- is in close relationship with - onment he had not shed a tear.” Victor “My sister Margot was born in 1926 in Hugo, Les Miserables Frankfort-on-Main, I followed on June 12th, 1929, and, as we are Jewish, we relevant emigrated to Holland in 1933, where my -material father was appointed Managing Director -germane to of Travies N.V. This firm is in close rela- -pertinent tionship with the firm of Kolen and Co. in -applicable the same building, of which my father is a partner.” Anne Frank, Anne Frank: The That doesn’t have anything to Diary of a Young Girl do with the conversation. relationship between That’s not material to the -correlation conversation. relative -comparative reliable “Magnificence, like the size of a fortune, is -bankable always comparative, as even Magnificent Lorenzo may now perceive, if he has

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 289 12/10/10 8:36 AM 290â reliable source

reliable source remaining pieces -good authority -remnants of “I have it on good authority.” -vestiges of

relief remake -a salve -reconstitute

relieff o tension (a good remed y (a remedy) cry) -a panacea a catharsis - remember now relieve -mind you -allay -let us not forget -alleviate -it bears repeating -give you peace -it is worth remembering -it must be remembered that relious gi -bear in mind -ecclesiastical -exegetical [academic] REMEMBER (CAN REMEMBER) -recollect relious gi intuition -recall -gnosis {NO-sis} -register in his mind the -draw upon memory reluctant -no memory can reach -disinclined to -loath to “And these words are the truth, for they are -averse to written on the Palace of the World Council, -reticent and the World Council is the body of all -hard pressed to truth. Thus has it been ever since the Great -far be it from me to Rebirth, and farther back than that no -have reservations memory can reach.” Ayn Rand, Anthem remember me I’m not sure about that. -bring me back to mind I have my reservations. remember that you are mortal -memento mori {Latin, meh-MEN-toe rel n y o MOR-ee} -place your expectations on remembered as (is remainder Âremembere as) -remnant -it stands in memory as -residual remembering remaining (in existence) -remembrance of -extant [academic] “There is no remembrance of former “There are only two extant copies, and we things; neither shall there be any remem- own them both.” brance of things that are to come with

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 290 12/10/10 8:36 AM representâ 291â

those that shall come after.” King James -recursive Bible (Ecclesiastes) -successive

reminds repeatedly -calls to mind -time and again -provides a vivid reminder of -pulls us back to a time when repeating the same words -is reminiscent of -redundance of phrase -is suggestive of repeats itself -is redolent of -recurs often -it recalls repetition -iteration It reminds me of the saying, “Be -recurrence careful what you wish for, you just might get it.” replace displace It calls to mind the adage, “Be - -supersede careful what you wish for, lest -restore your wish be granted.” -replenish -supplant remorseful replaced by contrite - -gave way to remove replacement dispatch - -surrogate -excise -obviate reply -expunge -respond in like manner -dispose of -reciprocate -retort renewed interest in -rebirth of interest in repl leverly c y to an insult -he reposted renounce -repudiate report( a report) -apostatize -a dispatch -abjure -a position paper

repair represent -restore -personify -carry out repairs on -reflect -are the personification of repeat -are found reiterate - -exemplify repeated -are the embodiment of -echoed -embody -recurring

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 291 12/10/10 8:36 AM 292â representation

“Man is explicable by nothing less than all -petition his history. Without hurry, without rest, the -at the behest of human spirit goes forth from the beginning to embody every faculty, every thought, reiredqu (ARE REQUIRED) every emotion, which belongs to it, in ap- -compulsory propriate events. But the thought is always -vital prior to the fact; all the facts of history pre- -essential exist in the mind as laws.” Ralph Waldo -the lifeblood of Emerson, “Essay on History” -obligatory -obliged to representation -requisite -rendering -indispensable -portrayal reiredqu thing representative -sine qua non {Latin, sinn-uh kwah -voice for NON} -proxy -envoy reirementqu -emissary -requisite -spokesperson -prerequisite -exigency {egg-ZIJ-en-see} [academic] representative of -emblematic of resemble -illustrative of -bear a resemblance to -indicative of -favor -suggestive of “She favors her mother’s side of the family.”

reprimand resign the crown -chastise -abdicate -chide -rebuke resist restrain oneself -upbraid - overcome the impulse -admonish - -reproach resources -censure -ways and means reputation -wherewithal -standing respect -renown -a mark of respect -repute -in deference to -known far and wide as -reverence reputed to be -high regard have regard for -putative - “As for my mother, she taught me to reestqu (TO REQUEST) have regard for religion, to be generous -plea and open-handed, and not only to forbear -implore from doing anybody an ill turn, but not so -summon much as to endure the thought of it. By

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 292 12/10/10 8:36 AM result (this is the result of)â 293â

her likewise I was bred to a plain, inex- of themselves.” Sebastian Barry, The pensive way of living, very different from Secret Scripture the common luxury of the rich.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations rest -decompress

He is respected. restf o -remainder of He is held in high regard. restlessness -inquietude [academic] respected -storied restrain from -revered -forbear from -exalted -abstain from -illustrious -venerable restrained -hold a high place in the public esteem -forbearing -in very good standing restraint respectful -forbearance -deferential restrict responded -encumber -I made response to him with a -circumscribe [poetic] -constrain -place tight restrictions on responding -in reply to restricted -bound responsibility -constrained -that task will fall largely to -the burden should rest with restriction -he is to be held accountable for -encumbrance -the onus is on -constraint -in her charge -trammel “Our chairs, being his patents [inven- responsible for tions], embraced and caressed us rather -played a part in than submitted to be sat upon, and there -lay behind was that luxurious after-dinner atmo- -were the authors of sphere when thought runs gracefully free of “The terror and hurt in my story hap- the trammels of precision.” H. G. Wells, pened because when I was young I The Time Machine thought others were the authors of my fortune and misfortune; I did not know result( this is the result of) that a person could hold up a wall made -this is substantially owing to of imaginary bricks and mortar against -what’s come of the horrors and cruel, dark tricks of time -the fallout from that assail us, and be the author therefore -a consequence of -an outgrowth of

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 293 12/10/10 8:36 AM 294â result in

-borne of “Standing among the 10,000 rare books -the product of in the stacks of the Linda Hall Library in Kansas City, Bruce Bradley, the director resultn i of the history of science special collections, -make for a pulls out a copy of ‘The Starry Messenger,’ -provoke a the revelatory book in which Galileo de- -translate into tailed his astronomical observations made result of with his own ‘spyglass’—the instrument -outgrowth of that would later be known as the telescope.” -product of Geraldine Fabrikant, New York Times, Nov. 1, 2009 resulting -illuminating -consequential -instructive -subsequent “Those privileged to be present at a fam- -resultant ily festival of the Forsytes have seen that results charming and instructive sight—an upper -test findings middle-class family in full plumage.” John Galsworthy, Forsyte Saga retaliations -reprisals revenge -get even, with interest retired -reprisals -emeritus [academic]

retirement You know there will be revenge. -the soft obscurities of retirement [SamuelÂJohnson] You know there will be reprisals.

returned the honor paid like honor to reversing environmental - damage reveal -remediation disclose - reviews -unfold -literary comment -bring to light -lay bare revival -betray -renaissance “Princess Teodora is very dependent -resurrection on me. I carry her secret in my heart. I reviving have never breathed a word of it, and if resurgent they stretched me on the rack in the tor- - ture chamber with all its horrors, even rewards then I should never betray anything.” Pär -requisitions Lagerkvist, The Dwarf -dividends revealing “Now, from his base on Haiti, Columbus -telltale sent expedition after expedition into the in- -revelatory terior. They found no gold fields, but had

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 294 12/10/10 8:36 AM rileâ 295â

to fill up the ships returning to Spain with to die on one’s feet than to live on one’s some kind of dividend. In the year 1495, knees.” Albert Camus, The Rebel they went on a great slave raid, rounded up fifteen hundred Arawak men, women rit gh (THE RIGHT TO) and children, put them in pens guarded by -prerogative {pri-RAW-guh-tive} Spaniards and dogs, then picked the five -license hundred best specimens to load onto ships.” “You do not have that license.” Howard Zinn, A People’s History of the -just claim United States -spoils That’s my doughnut. -consideration -laurels I have just claim on that -trophies Âdoughnut, I hope you know.

rewards were given to -rewards were bestowed on ritomentgh m -suitable moment reword -paraphrase ritowgh n -post haste [playful] rhhmyt -cadence ritffgh o the bat -straightaway rich -well heeled RI GHT ONE -affluent -the proper one -luxuriant -opulent rittuffgh s -from a moneyed background -does he have the makings of a

ridiculous rito gh t take -absurd -eminent domain -laughable rito gh t trial ridiculous representation -habeas corpus {Latin, HAY-be-us -a travesty COR-pus}

rift rithengh w I was -a falling out -and at the very moment I was -a bit of a row ritfulgh -a slight estrangement -inherent -a touch of coldness ritingh -w g conservative rit gh (A RIGHT) (far right) -sacrament -paleoconservative “As a last resort, he is willing to accept the final defeat, which is death, rather than be rile deprived of the personal sacrament that he -roil would call, for example, freedom. Better -pique -vex

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 295 12/10/10 8:36 AM 296â rip them from

riphem t from rookie -wrest them from -newcomer -neophyte rippling water sound -purling room (A SPECIAL ROOM) “A river, amber-tinted in the shadow of -repository its banks, purled at the army’s feet; and at -chamber night, when the stream had become of a sor- -sanctum rowful blackness, one could see across it the roul gh y red, eyelike gleam of hostile camp-fires set -some ten million in the low brows of distant hills.” Stephen -on the order of Crane, The Red Badge of Courage -there or thereabouts rising -by and large -ascending roundabout “Beyond opens a door into the kitchen, -circuitous where there is a glimpse to be had of a range with much steam ascending from it, routine and many women, old and young, rush- -it was his habit to ing hither and thither.” Upton Sinclair, -according to his custom The Jungle “It was Sunday, and, according to his custom on that day, McTeague took his risin g again dinner at two in the afternoon at the car -resurgent conductor’s coffee-joint on Polk Street.” risin tar g s Frank Norris, McTeague -considered to be on the short list for routinely risk(t a risk) -as a matter of course -in peril RSVP at hazard - -respondez s’il vous plait {French, risk(ake t a risk) re-spahn-day sill-voo-play, lit. respond, -gambit if you please}

roadlon a g a cliff rude -a cornice -impertinent -insolent roadill k -brash -carrion -ill-mannered -unceremonious roaming -undiplomatic marauding - -brusque roll -abrupt in manner -trundle -curt -disorderly rolling -short -undulating -crisp

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 296 12/10/10 8:36 AM run up againstâ 297â

“The legal notice could best be described -lords of creation as crisp.” -power elite

rudel y bold rumor -impudent -canard

ruin rumor has it -it will be the death of him -I have it on good authority that -come to a very bad end -hasten the demise of rumored to be -purported to be ruined -marred run -tainted -conduct -tarnished -operate -preside rule -oversee -precept -warrant runwa a y -convention -flee -precedent runor f mayor -dictate -pursue a mayoral bid -formality -directive runnto i -mandate -encounter -chance upon ruleut o -come upon -foreclose -fall upon ruled by -fall among -governed by -alight upon [poetic]

ruler We ran into each other. -potentate We had a chance encounter. rules -tenents -constraints runnto i problems -accepted conventions -encounter difficulties -safeguards -formalities I have run into problems. -proprieties -rules of engagement I have encountered difficulties. -legal niceties -sanctions runff o -dictates steal away -prescriptions - runp u against rulin g class face -powers that be -

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 297 12/10/10 8:36 AM 298â run-down

runown-d sadden -woebegone -cast a pall over -derelict -weigh heavy upon

running out of power sadist -starved for power -a Torquemada -a Marquis de Sade rustic -bucolic sadness -provincial -anguish -calvary [poetic] rustle -melancholy -a little noiseless noise among the leaves [Keats] “For the traveler we see leaning on his neighbor is an honest and well-meaning ruthless man and full of melancholy, like those -she’s a carnivore Chekhov characters so laden with virtues that they never know success in life.” rhhmyt Orhan Pamuk, Snow -cadence safe -out of harm’s way -secure Ss -inviolate [academic] sacred safelace p -hallowed -sanctuary -sacrosanct -place of refuge -arc of the âââ covenant -haven -out of harm’s way sacred place -refuge -sanctum -held for safekeeping retreat sacrificing - -forfeiting -foregoing She’s in a safe place. She’s out of harm’s way. sad -poignant -despondent safelaces p to put your feet -plaintive -safe lodgments for your feet doleful - said heartrending - -expressed sadoem p -indicated -elegy {EL-i-gee} -remarked -made clear that sadoundin s g -said with a touch of -plaintive -issued a statement -said with a quiver of -implored

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 298 12/10/10 8:36 AM satisfyâ 299â

-broke into the conversation sameind k (all of the same -gave full expression to kind) -an irreverent voice put in -homogenous -put it to her “Videos of tea party events show the pro- -articulated testers to be a rather homogenous crowd.” -dropped her voice mournfully -she went on sameld o people -she went off into a -usual suspects as murmurs seeped through the pews - sameime t -declared -meanwhile -drawled out the word -in the meantime -couched in terms of -at that same instant -put it to him squarely -addressed some remark to him sample of -sampling saidothin n g -gave no reply sane “‘Agua,’ I said, trying Portuguese, and -firmly tethered made a sign of drinking. He gave no re- sanitize art ply, but regarded me as he would a seal or bowdlerize a porpoise thrown up by the waves, that - would shortly expire and then be cut up for sarcastic food.” J.M. Coetzee, Foe -caustic -mordant sailing -wry -seafaring -acrid -plying the northern waters -sardonic salty -ironical -brackish sat -saline -presided at the head of the table salvage it satcross a from -right it -sat opposite same satown d -something of the same -seated herself -much the same -settled himself in the chair -commensurate with -placed themselves about the room -corresponding in degree -dropped on to a chair -of the sameâââ satisfied same age -happily sated -of similar date -then my heart will be set at rest sames a [poetic] -tantamount to satisfy -synonymous with -accommodate -akin to

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 299 12/10/10 8:36 AM 300â satisfy a distasteful need

-suffice sa ts y i i (That’s what they -sate say it is) -satiate -have it -quench content yourself with - That’s what they say it is. -slake That’s how they have it. satisf y a distasteful need -pander to sa thisy i t way saturate -put it to him as -imbue -pervade sa o y n -forbid it save(escue r ) -salvage sa haty t again -resuscitate -come again

save(et s aside) sa haty t we should -reserve -argue that -husband your resources “Some analysts argue that a go-slow ap- -salt away proach would be best.”

saving sa u y yo ’re sorry -redemption -express remorse “He’s beyond redemption.” -express regret

saw san yi g -came upon -maxim -caught sight of -adage -our eyes had noted -aphorism -the man who met my eyes -saw -came within sight of -proverb -dictum say -refrain -convey -say your piece san yi gs -articulate -dicta [academic] speak of it - says give voice to - -presents a case for -give it utterance saerys h name sa ody go -bye -speaks her name -part company scandal sa i y h -grist for the gossip pages -exchange pleasantries scandalous report -exposé {ex-poe-SAY}

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 300 12/10/10 8:36 AM scientific languageâ 301â

scarce scattered -is at a premium -strewn about -elusive -strewn with -a rarity scene(o t cause a scene) scarcity -spectacle -dearth of schedule “I can assure you that there is no dearth -itinerary of intellectual firepower among the experts assembled.” scheduled -few and far between -mapped out -paucity of -appointed “On the morning of the day that the young scare couple were to arrive, Princess Mary en- -send chills through tered the antechamber as usual at the time -arouse the concerns of appointed for the morning greeting, cross- -set off concern ing herself with trepidation and repeating a -unnerve silent prayer. Every morning she came in -put the fear of God into like that, and every morning prayed that the scared daily interview might pass off well.” Leo -it had shaken me Tolstoy, War and Peace -petrified scheme gave me a bit of a fright - -contrive to gave me a severe start - -maneuver to scary -machinate -objects of fear schemes a scare - -machinations -contrivances It was so scary. -maneuvers It was a real scare. scheming -designing -Machiavellian scathing -trenchant school -vitriolic -discipline -acerbic -school of thought -caustic -field of -salty -mordant school of fish -shoal scatter -intersperse science -disseminate -scientific inquiry promulgate [academic] - scientific language -interlingua

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 301 12/10/10 8:36 AM 302â scold

scold -prospect -chide -scour -berate -scent out the truth -chastise -troll for -rebuke -objurgate [academic] searching for -censure -in search of -excoriate -in search for -reprimand “It was 1979, and the sun was every- -reprehend where. Tripoli lay brilliant and still beneath -reprove [academic] it. Every person, animal and ant went in -take someone to task desperate search for shade, those occasional -upbraid gray patches of mercy carved into the white -chasten of everything.” Hisham Matar, In the -he was tearing off some ripe stuff Country of Men

scolding (a scolding) secluded -a reproach -cloistered -a blistering -far from the madding crowd -a matter of reproach -a tongue lashing secluded garden -a pleasance scraping -abrading second rate -bush league scraps of food -provincial -orts -beneath discussion -déclassé {French, day-clah-SAY} scratches -damages second thoughts -misgivings screaming -disenchantment -in full cry -trumpeting secondary -ancillary screechy -tangential strident - -peripheral -shrill secret screwt i up -sensitive make a mess of it - -discreet scum -covert -beneath contempt -behind a web of -posing as sealed -behind a thin cover of -hermetic -underground -veiled search -under the guise of forage - -clandestine

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 302 12/10/10 8:36 AM seemsâ 303â

-in the strictest confidence “There are really four dimensions, three -for your eyes only of which we call the three planes of Space, -surreptitious and the fourth, Time. There is, however, -privileged information a tendency to draw an unreal distinction between the former three dimensions and the latter, because it happens that our con- This is to stay secret. sciousness moves intermittently in one di- This is to be kept in the strictest rection along the latter from the beginning confidence. to the end of our lives.” H. G. Wells, The Time Machine

secret arrangement to meet seeim h -assignation -give him an audience “It was the president’s decision to give him secret code an audience.” -cipher seeyu o later secretg roup au revoir {French, or e-VWAR} -cabal - seem secret place strike one as -lair - show oneself to be -inner sanctum - -cast oneself as secret rituals -appear to be -arcane rituals -tend toward the

secretive seemo t be saying -furtive -seem to imply

secretly seemed to have -surreptitiously -appeared to have -in pectore {Latin, in peck-TOR-ay} “After pointing heavenward for half a century, the steeple appeared to have swerved seductress suddenly from its purpose, and to invite -femme fatale {French, fem fe-TAL} now the attention of the wayfarer to the -siren bar beneath.” E. A. G. Glasgow, The see Miller of Old Church -behold seeming -discern ostensible -take a gander at - semblant -trace - -make out seems -come upon -often appears -catch sight of -strikes me as -foresee -has every appearance of has all the earmarks of seeifference a d - assumes the guise of -draw a distinction -

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 303 12/10/10 8:36 AM 304â seen

-impresses me as being selfvident-e truth “And yet when I take a look at my inner -an axiom identity it impresses me as being precisely selfnvolved-i the same as it was thirty or forty years ago. -solipsistic [academic] My present station, power, the amount of worldly happiness at my command, and selfroclaimed-p expert the rest of it, seem to be devoid of signifi- -maven cance.” Abraham Cahan, The Rise of David Levinski selfunishment-p -penance seen selfi -r ghteous -discerned unctuous -encountered - smug -faced - -sanctimonious “This is one of the worst disasters this country has ever faced.” selfatisfied-s -smug seens a -no modest violet -viewed as selfish selecting the first book he -not overlooking himself came upon -self-absorbed -taking up the first book he came upon selflessness selfonfidence-c -altruism -aplomb sell selfontrol-c -retail forbearance - -tout -restraint -temperance sellin g your soul -abstinence -engaged in a Faustian bargain

selfen -d ying semir -d y (wine) -ascetic -demi-sec {French, dem-ee-SEK} -temperate -austere send -abstemious -unleash -dispatch selfeprecatin-d g -forward -diffident -send along

selfoubtin-d g sendwa a y -channeling Hamlet -dismiss

selfvident-e send my -axiomatic [academic] -convey my

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 304 12/10/10 8:36 AM seriousâ 305â

sensational to vulgar clay.” Edith Wharton, The -lurid House of Mirth

sensational reporting separating (physical -yellow journalism separation) -disengaging âââ fromâââ sense -sensibility separation -a divorce between sensitive to -more attuned to series( a series of) -a spate of sent -a rash of -sent off -a battery of sentimental -a cavalcade of -maudlin -a litany of -mawkish -a parade of -saccharine -a skein of [pejorative] “The public disclosure of his views has sentimental art heightened existing tensions between senior -schmaltz military officers and General Eikenberry, separate between who left the military in April to become -differentiate Mr. Obama’s emissary. Several military -draw a distinction between officials complained bitterly that his latest cables were part of a skein of pessimistic and defeatist memos the ambassador has You shouldn’t separate the two. sent since taking over in Kabul.” Mark You shouldn’t draw a distinction Landler and Jeff Zeleny, New York Times, Nov. 12, 2009 between the two. -a procession of -a sequence of separate entities -a flurry of -discrete entities -a drumbeat of a barrage of separate groups - cascade of -disparate groups - a progression of -separate entities - -a line of separated itself with -a succession of -parted company with “Poetry is a succession of questions which the poet constantly poses.” Vicente separating Aleixandre -distinguishing “He was aware that the qualities distin- serious guishing her from the herd of her sex were -sobering chiefly external, as though a fine glaze of -grievous beauty and fastidiousness had been applied -grave

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 305 12/10/10 8:36 AM 306â serious and comical

s erious and comical of the damage that has occurred or that will -seriocomic occur in the future as a result of the oil spill. Therefore, in the event that our understand- s erious enough to ing is inaccurate, we request Âimmediate -sufficient to warrant public clarification of BP’s true intentions.” s eriously Ken Salazar and Janet Napolitano, May -all joking aside 14, 2010 Letter to British Petroleum I tell you it’s true - s et up in earnest - -establish s eriousness s etting gravity - -theater enormity - -within the confines of gravitas - -backdrop -earnestness -sobriety s ettled in -ensconced -entrenched I understand the seriousness of the situation. s everal I understand the gravity of the -a number of situation. -any number of -no less than -a wide array of s ermon -a spate of -homily -a rash of -a host of s erved with ice cream -a goodly number of -à la mode {French, ah lah MODE, lit. -a fair amount of in the style}

s et a ide That comes with several new -assign sets of problems. -apportion -earmark That carries with it a host of -appropriate corresponding problems.

s et fire to -set ablaze s evere -harsh s et in -acute -ensconced in -austere -with severity s et right -remedy -redress “The public has a right to a clear understanding of BP’s commitment to redress all

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 306 12/10/10 2:06 PM sheetsâ 307â

“As she moved beside him, in her long, light step, Seldon was conscious of taking That kind of severe punishment a luxurious pleasure in her nearness: in the will only make things worse. modeling of her little ear, the crisp upward That kind of severity will only wave of her hair—was it ever so lightly make things worse. brightened by art?” Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth

sex shaped -gender -contoured

se rivex d shaped by -libido -wrought by

se anualx m sharp -Kama Sutra {Sanskrit, kah-mah -acute SUE-tra} sharpen sealxu -hone -carnal sharpness sealxu desire -acuity -eros {AIR-aws} libido Seidnh d ’t mind the - disappointment seallxu y excessive -she was philosophical lascivious - shead h three sons -lecherous -she bore three sons -licentious -prurient shes i -I have found her to be shadowy -I find her quite -dusky -hers is a âââ nature shady -the âââ of her person is -unprincipled -she may suffer from spells of -roguish -her ââ manner never abandoned her -she is given to shallow -she has shown herself to be -superficial -she is the product of -she has a taste for shameful -she is learned in -inglorious -she could easily be classified as -ignominious {ig-no-MIN-ee-us} -she is of the sort who’s shape shedding -contour -deciduous [academic] -geometry -modeling sheets -bed linen -linens

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 307 12/10/10 8:36 AM 308â sheltered

sheltered short -cloistered -of small stature -short in stature shine -luster short( brief) “The Utopians wonder how any man -fleeting should be so much taken with the glaring -momentary doubtful luster of a jewel or stone, that can shortnd a clever look up to a star, or to the sun himself.” Sir -aphoristic Thomas More, Utopia -gnomic {NO-mick} shiny “And once again he lets loose in this care- -lustrous fully cluttered dreamscape an assortment of human creatures who both ponder their shin lacky b existences in gnomic declarations and run -obsidian black around crashing into walls like Keystone shiphape s Kops.” Ben Brantley, New York Times, -in Bristol fashion [humorous] Nov. 5, 2009

shiprecka w ge shortived -l -flotsam and jetsam {FLAWT-sum} -ephemeral -transient shipment of -evanescent -consignment of shortta s y shiver of excitement -cameo appearance -a frisson {French, fri-SONE} shorttor s y shocked -anecdote -blindsided -vignette {vin-YET} -badly shaken -chestnut -mortified shortage of shocking -deficit of -arresting -want of -sobering -dearth of

shockingly bad shorten -egregious -abridge -truncate -abbreviate Anything this bad has got to be -contract dealt with. Anything this egregious has got shortly after thereupon to be dealt with. - shortness brevity shoddy - -slipshod

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 308 12/10/10 8:36 AM show confusionâ 309â

should should not be -might well consider -is not to be -it would behoove you to “A serious writer is not to be confounded -be well advised with a solemn writer. A serious writer may -are advised to be a hawk or a buzzard or even a popin- -would be wise to jay, but a solemn writer is always a bloody -ought to owl.” Ernest Hemingway “I have to thank my great-grandfather that I did not go to a public school, but had good should not forget masters at home, and learned to know that -it is worth remembering one ought to spend liberally on such things.” should not have Marcus Aurelius, Meditations -ought not to have -shall -what news am I to take to shout -it would be as well to -yammer -would do well to show should be -depict -is to be -portray -demonstrate “Public approval is to be avoided above -tell us all. It is absolutely necessary to forbid the -represent public entry if one wants to avoid confu- -present sion. I further emphasize that it is vital to -reflect keep the public exasperated at the door by -indicate a system of defiance and provocation.” -display Andre Breton -suggest should be good enough -bear the words -should suffice -reveal -brandish should do what they say -parade -should defer to the -illustrate -exhibit should have -project ought to have - -evidence should he -showcase -is he to -offer the sight of “The feet did indeed look swollen. He was should not prepared to offer the sight of those bulg- -ought not to ing boots to his mother as evidence of her “He taught me also to put my own hand to thoughtlessness.” John Kennedy Toole, business upon occasion, to endure hardship A Confederacy of Dunces and fatigues, and to throw the necessities of nature into a little compass; that I ought not showonfusion c to meddle in other people’s business, nor be -flounder easy in giving credit to informers.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 309 12/10/10 8:36 AM 310â show how

showow h shower of -school her -hail of -salvo of showo n emotion -barrage of -betray no emotion showiness showf o -éclat {French, ay-KLAH} -veneer of “Pine floorboards creak above my head as shown my mother steps before my father’s bed, -featured checking his breathing mask. The old floor -depicted is thin and while I can’t make out her words showy I recognize the tone, it’s veneer of cheerful- -ostentatious ness layed on anxiety.” Geraldine Brooks, -pretentious Foreign Correspondence -meretricious posturing showff -o (a show-off) -affected -showboat -contrived -one with a penchant for self-aggrandizement That’s too showy. showff o (likes to show off) That’s too ostentatious. -flaunt it -lord it over us shrewd lawyer showespect r -a Philadelphia lawyer -pay court to the king shunning showi s gns of -balking at -exhibit signs of -eschewing [academic]

showp u shy -put in an appearance -unassuming -give the pleasure of one’s company -retiring -appear on the scene -demure -present oneself -diffident -bob up [British] -emerge sick -surface -in ill health -indisposed showdown -taken ill -high noon -his health was in a precarious state

showed no emotion sick(he t sick) -betrayed no emotion -the ailing

showed no surprise sickookin l g -showed not the slightest surprise -cadaverous

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 310 12/10/10 8:36 AM similar to with one exceptionâ 311â

sickening excess siergn of a contract -cloying -signatory

sickness siificantgn -malady -appreciable -affliction -substantive -disorder -a factor of no little importance

“Depression is a disorder of mood, so mys- silence teriously painful and elusive in the way it -lucid stillness [T. S. Elliot] becomes known to the self—to the medi- -quietude ating intellect—as to verge close to Âbeing beyond description.” William Styron, silent Darkness Visible -mute -taciturn side by side -is heard no more [Shakespeare] cheek by jowl - -grows quiet -placed in juxtaposition [academic] silently sideiew v -without sound -seen in profile “The walls are cracked and water runs si( gn a notice) upon them in thin threads without sound, -placard black and glistening as blood.” Ayn Rand, Anthem si( gn a signal) -harbinger silliness -foreshadowing -this folly -in what may be a telling sign of -precursor similar -reminiscent of sif gn o -like-minded -mark of -of like mind “This was still the era—it would end later -analogous in that famous decade—when to be young -akin to was a social encumbrance, a mark of ir- -bear the hallmarks of relevance, a faintly embarrassing condition -close in style to for which marriage was the beginning of a -have close affinities to cure.” Ian McEwan, Chesil Beach -have much in common with -show great similarity sif gn o a critical decision -closely allied to made -of similar form -in a puff of white smoke -bear a resemblance to -might be mistaken for sif gn o the cross (make the) -she crossed herself as she knelt similar to with one exception sif gn o things to come -not unlike âââ , only with âââ -a portent -an auger

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 311 12/10/10 8:36 AM 312â similarities

similarities -artless -parallels -unaffected -resemblances of things -unpretending similarly “Unpretending mediocrity is good, and ge- -likewise nius is glorious; but a weak flavor of genius -in kind in an essentially common person is detest- -in specie [academic] able.” Oliver Holmes, The Autocrat of -in a similar vein the Breakfast-Table

simple sine gl -provincial -singular -modest -solitary -spartan “The wine was from France, though -straightforward and unadorned no particular region was mentioned on -elemental the label, which was embellished with a “The landscape is elemental, austere, with solitary darting swallow.” Ian McEwan, a kind of monumental elegance. The for- Chesil Beach mal lines of the fields and hills not only site speak of the severity of life in the prehistor- -venue ic past, but would also match some well- tended parkland belonging to an earl.” sittin g on Henry Shukman, New York Times, -it was upon Nov. 1, 2009 situated simplicity -resided -economy -irreducible simplicity situation -circumstance simplified form -condition of affairs -reductive -state of affairs -schematic size sin(in a s ) -scale -a transgression -order of magnitude -a moral failing skeptics since (IT’S ONLY BEEN â â WEEKS -naysayers SINCE YOU) -removed from a SKETCHY anecdotal at best “We are only two weeks removed from - the midterm elections, and you are already skill campaigning for 2012.” -prowess -expertise sincehen t -from that day forth skilled -practiced sincere -accomplished -heartfelt

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 312 12/10/10 8:36 AM smallâ 313â

-adroit sleepith w -formidable -bed down with -adept slit gh -faint She is good a skilled deceiver -remote

She is practiced in the art of slit gh chance deception. [The Rolling Stones] -outside chance

slitl gh y skillful -somewhat -deft -faintly adroit - “This was still the era—it would end later artful - in that famous decade—when to be young skillfully put together was a social encumbrance, a mark of ir- -well wrought relevance, a faintly embarrassing condition for which marriage was the beginning of a skimver o cure.” Ian McEwan, Chesil Beach -hardly touch on slitl gh y open skin(offee c skin) -ajar -sarcoma “She swiveled in her seat, snatched up the slipf o the tongue Freudian slip mug and recoiled as her lips met the cold - sarcoma that had formed on the coffee’s slob surface.” Tim Winton, Dirt Music -unkempt

skinny slope -emaciated -gradient -skeletal -of slight figure slow -halting skirthaser c -hesitant -casual in his affections -faltering

SLAM DUNK slownd a steady -a foregone conclusion -three yards and a cloud of dust

slave slur -captive -a generalized term of abuse -helot -colorful language -serf small slavery -small scale -servitude -diminutive Lilliputian sleep - -slumber [poetic]

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 313 12/10/10 8:36 AM 314â small amount of money

smallmount a of money $16 price tag.” Matt Gross, New York -modest sum Times, Oct. 28, 2009

smallumber n of people smelled good assigned -gave a good smell thin force of - “Under the live oaks, shady and dusty, smallffense o the maidenhair flourished and gave a good -a peccadillo smell, and under the musty banks of the water courses whole clumps of five-fingered smallalk t ferns and goldy-backs hung down.” John -preliminaries Steinbeck, East of Eden -an exchange of pleasantries smelled like smallweaks t -there was a strong smell of -marginal tweaks -he smelt strongly of -tweaking around the edges -from âââ came the aroma of -she smelled of smart -she carried with her the odors of -well advised “She used no cosmetics. She had learned only a few English words. It even seemed to It would be smart to keep your Herman that she carried with her the odors distance. of Lipsk; in bed she smelled of camomile. You would be well advised to From the kitchen now came the aroma of keep your distance. beets cooking, of new potatoes, of dill, and something else summery and earthy that he couldn’t name but that evoked a memory of smart-mouthed Lipsk.” Isaac Bashevis Singer, Enemies, -impudent A Love Story -impertinent smoke smarts -columns of smoke -quick wit -sharp wit smooth -cerebral -fluid -noetic {no-ET-ik} smoothly -gifted -seamlessly -of sound intellect snail smell -escargot {French, es-kar-GO} -aroma -bouquet sneakwa a y -nose -steal away

“The shop was doing a tasting of the sneakttack a Domaine des 2 Ânes, a biodynamic red -a fragging from the south of France, and its funky nose and earthy, quirky flavors justified the sneaky -under false pretenses

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 314 12/10/10 8:36 AM soaking upâ 315â

-surreptitious soard h -clandestine -with such force -furtive “It rained with such force.” -sub rosa sos i -as is That’s not why she’s here. She is here under false pretenses. soon l g as -provided

souch m that so to such a degree that -consequently - to such an extent that -as such - -hence soo -s -thus -generating little enthusiasm -hereby -hereupon sohat t -it follows, therefore -so as to -so as not to soât â i ’s â â -in order that I may -âââ to the point of âââ -that I might -so âââ as to be âââ “For if I summoned you abruptly and -so âââ as to verge onââ made you travel to the out-of-the-way sore a his other place where I live, it was solely that I might -so are other of his see you, that you might hear me.” André “He has never been much of a teacher; in Gide, The Immoralist this transformed and, to his mind, emascu- soopeak t s lated institution of learning he is more out of -if you will place than ever. But then, so are other of his -in a manner of speaking colleagues from the old days, burdened with -in some sense upbringings inappropriate to the tasks they -as it were are set to perform; clerks in a post-religious -metaphorically speaking age.” J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace sohat w soalled-c -what of it -supposed -professed soyun o g -at so tender an age sooes d -as does soaking up -absorption soar f -assimilation -heretofore “‘Scientific people,’ proceeded the Time -as yet Traveler, after the pause required for the -thus far proper assimilation of this, ‘know very well -to date that time is only a kind of space.’” H. G. Wells, The Time Machine

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 315 12/10/10 8:36 AM 316â sociable

sociable “The voters in his district are more loyal, -gregarious and a little less transactional.”

social conventions something going on -decorum -something astir

socialg race something he had never -savoir faire {French, sav-war fare} done before -a thing he had never done before social harmony -sweetness and light something I really hate -this is anathema to me social mistake -faux pas {French, foe PAH} something sticking out -impropriety -protuberance

so ggy something to be afraid of -sodden -an object of fear -a bugaboo soldor f â â -it brought âââ sometimes -on occasion solidg round -at times -terra firma “‘That’s St. Jude,’ Thomas says. ‘You sometimes they know what he’s the saint of?’ Cedric, un- -they sometimes aware of Catholic dogma, shrugs, though somewhat he’s happy to feel the conversation land on -to some extent the terra firma of religion. ‘Causes beyond -to some degree hope,’ Thomas says. ‘Hope for the hope- -in a measure less.’” Ron Suskind, A Hope in the Unseen -rather solve -in some sense -remedy somewhere else overcome - -elsewhere somehink t that son lassicalg (c ) it has been suggested that - -a piece of music somehow -by some means Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” is a someone beautiful song. -a figure of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” is a beautiful piece of music. someone like me -the likes of me soon something for something -at hand -quid pro quo {Latin, quid proh kwoh} -in due course -transactional

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 316 12/10/10 8:36 AM spanish field or plainâ 317â

-in the days to come soul -by and by -being “He reached out and with the back of his -psyche hand touched my arm. He is trying my soulate m flesh, I thought. But by and by my breath- -kindred spirit ing slowed and I grew calmer. He smelled of fish, and of sheepswool on a hot day.” sound J.Â . Coetzee, Foe -rumble forth reverberate -in the weeks to come - -in short order sound more English -destined soon to -anglicize -in time -momentarily -in a short time He made his name sound more “The divorce was arranged and Robert English. Cohn went out to the coast. In California He anglicized his name from he fell among literary people and, as he Mikhail to Michael. still had a little of the fifty thousand left, in a short time he was backing a review of the Arts.” Ernest Hemingway, The Sun SOUND OF (MUSIC) Also Rises -to the strains of âââ -to the passages of a sonata soonnou e gh -in due time sounds( it sounds) -in due course -to the ear

sooner or later, the truth sour will come out -acerbic -the truth will out [Shakespeare] source of sophisticated -mother lode of -well traveled -wellspring of

sorrowful southern life -elegiac {el-uh-JIE-uk} -Faulknerian -Tara-like grandeur sorry -contrite space -remorseful -cosmos -penitent -the outermost reaches of -repentant -the expanse of

sortf o spacious -of sorts -airy -shall we say -capacious [academic] -rather Sanishp field or plain -in a manner of speaking -vega {Spanish, VAY-ga} -quasi

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 317 12/10/10 8:36 AM 318â spare time

spareime t speaking to him -vacant hours -directing his remarks to him “The Author has himself acquainted the -addressing him Publick, that the following Treatise was special the fruit of his vacant hours, and the re- -select lief he sometimes had recourse to, when tired with his other studies.” Sir Isaac special day Newton, The Chronology of Ancient -a red-letter day Kingdoms Amended special place off hours - -an enclave of spark specialized vocabulary -rouse our thought (lingo) -rouse our interest -argot {AR-go}

speak specialty -say a word to -my bailiwick speakbout a -my forte {FOR-tay} -speak of the need for specific speakuthoritativel a y -well defined -discourse on a subject [academic] -peculiar

speakor f the â â specific way -present the âââ ’s view -given manner -give voice to the concerns of the specifically speakn i a boring manner -on closer inspection -drone -namely that -most notably speako t -pointedly -have a few words with -that is to say

speaking ability spectators -oracy [academic] -onlookers

speaking in public speculate -holding forth -surmise

“In later years, holding forth to an inter- speculation viewer or to an audience of aging fans at a -conjecture comic book convention, Sam Clay liked to -largely a matter for speculation declare, apropos of his and Joe Kavalier’s -open speculation greatest creation, that back when he was a boy, sealed and hog-tied inside the air- speechless tight vessel known as Brooklyn, New -words fail me York, he had been haunted by dreams of -I’m at a loss for words Harry Houdini.” Michael Chabon, The -the words escape me Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay -allow me to collect my thoughts

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 318 12/10/10 8:36 AM spiritualâ 319â

-invest some time

I’m having a brain freeze. spendime t doing Allow me to collect my -busy oneself in thoughts. -give themselves to the study of spendime t in the summer at speed -we summer in -with deliberate speed spendime t in the winter at -haste -we winter in -celerity [academic] -hibernate -breakneck speed spendy our way out of it -employing Keynesian tactics We need to get the hell out of here. spends his time We need to move with all -devotes deliberate speed. spenthe t whole afternoon in -passed a whole afternoon in speeding up -quickening his march spentime t doing -she gave her time to spell -incantation spirit -verve spelled out -enunciated spirited “Although he devotes hours of each day to -exuberant his new discipline, he finds its first prem- spiritf o the law ise, as enunciated in the Communications intendment [academic] 101 handbook, preposterous: ‘Human - society has created language in order that spiritr o mood of a culture we may communicate our thoughts, feel- or time ings and intentions to each other.’ His own -zeitgeist opinion, which he does not air, is that the -geist origins of speech lie in song, and the origins -genius loci [academic] of song in the need to fill out with sound the -local god overlarge and rather empty human soul.” -ethos J.Â .ÂCoetzee, Disgrace -spirit that pervades it

spend spirits exist in animals (the -expend belief that) -animism spend a night on vacation -resort for the night spiritual -transcendent spendome s time -larger than life -devote some time

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 319 12/10/10 8:36 AM 320â spiritual power of a place

-ethereal spread -otherworldly -widened -numinous -was exported to -diffused spiritual power of a place -proliferated -numen “This archeological site possesses an inde- spread out scribable numen.” -fan out spreading spit(o t spit) rampant -to expectorate [academic] - -in circulation spite(n i spite of) spreading gossip -despite -retailing the latest gossip splash spreading out over -douse -straying over split( a split) “And the cottages of these coal-miners, in -a schism blocks and pairs here and there, together with odd farms and homes of the stock- split(o t split) ingers, straying over the parish, formed the -diverge village of Bestwood.” D. H. Lawrence, spoil Sons and Lovers -blight sprinkle -defile just a hint of -vitiate - spunky spoiled rich kids plucky -the jeunesse dorée {French, zhen-us - daw-RAY} spn yi g the great game spokebout a - espionage -spoke of the need to - sanderinqu g of resources sponsor dissipation [academic] -benefactor - -patron stability continuity sponsorship - -under the auspices of stable -under the aegis of -well adjusted

spontaneous staffed -impromptu -peopled sprained herself “He funded charitable enterprises, used -she received a sprain interest-free loans to put influential citizens in his debt, provided the less affluent with sustenance, and peopled his payroll

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 320 12/10/10 8:36 AM starts outâ 321â

with the best political operatives money -take up could buy.” Hendrik Hetzberg, The -embark upon New Yorker -enter upon -launch into sta( ge a stage in a process) -begin the task of -a gradation -fire the opening salvo staantgn -if we could get to -moribund -begin its course

STAND (CAN’T STAND) startalkin t g -bear -get into conversation -endure “As soon as a boy asks if he may bicycle home with me and we get into conversa- standg uard tion, nine out of ten times I can be sure that -mount guard he will fall head over heels in love immedi- standn i front of ately and simply won’t allow me out of his sight. After a while it cools down of course, -stand before especially as I take little notice of ardent stando t gether looks and pedal blithely on.” Anne Frank, -close ranks Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl -stay on message startsin u g standard -adopt -caliber -criterion started took to -touchstone - -ideal “In his last year at Princeton he read too much and took to wearing spectacles.” standing Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises -your station in life started associating with standing close together in -fell among rows -serried ranks of soldiers “The divorce was arranged and Robert Cohn went out to the coast. In California standing out he fell among literary people and, as he -conspicuous still had a little of the fifty thousand left, in a short time he was backing a review of stare the Arts.” Ernest Hemingway, The Sun -scowl Also Rises -glower started up again start -resumed -initiate -establish starts out -arise -goes forth -commence “Man is explicable by nothing less than all -inaugurate his history. Without hurry, without rest, the -set about

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 321 12/10/10 8:36 AM 322â stash

human spirit goes forth from the beginning sta ith y w me to embody every faculty, every thought, -be with me every emotion, which belongs to it, in appropriate events. But the thought is always steadfast beliefs prior to the fact; all the facts of history pre- -beliefs held, come what may exist in the mind as laws.” Ralph Waldo steady Emerson, “Essay on History” -unswerving

stash stead y your -cache -still your

state steal -assert -make off with -affirm -pilfer -intone -siphon -proclaim -misappropriate -annunciate -purloin -mention -spirit away filch SateDt epartment - (Washington DC) steep -Foggy Bottom -precipitous statement “For the greater part of its course the river -communiqué Drina flows through narrow gorges between -assertion steep mountains or through deep ravines with precipitous banks.” Ivo Andric, The statues Bridge on the Drina -statuary step by step -chronologically Look at all the statues. -incrementally Look at the statuary. stepping stone -way station status -precursor -position on the food chain -pecking order stepso t take -hierarchy -measures

stay stereotypical -remain -proverbial -hold true stereotypical opera (like -linger when the fat lady sings) Wagnerian {vahg-NEAR-ee-un} sta almy c - -keep your composure “It’s funny how a Viking helmet can give anything a Wagnerian feel.” sta oo y t long -tarry

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 322 12/10/10 8:36 AM stopâ 323â

stickut o stiny g -protrude -parsimonious

stiffness stipulation -formality -with the caveat that -reticence -with the proviso that

still stiro t action -be that as it may -galvanize support -nonetheless -nevertheless stirp u trouble -that’s all well and good, but -foment -that being said stoleng oods -just the same -spoils -yet -loot “There must be acceptance and the knowledge that sorrow fully accepted brings its stoneutter c (precious own gifts. For there is an alchemy in sor- stones) row. It can be transmuted into wisdom, -a lapidary which, if it does not bring joy, can yet bring stood (IT STOOD) happiness.” Pearl S. Buck, The Child Who -there stood a Never Grew stoop( willing to stoop) stillre a -she is not above it -they remain stop stillontinue c to [incorrect -put a stop to usage] -draw to a close they continue to - -contain stilln i existence -put an end to -extant [academic] -check -refrain from further stillhere t -desist [academic] -still in place -forbear from -declare an end to stilted and cautious -bring an end to lawyerly - -choke off the flow of stimulate -negate the effects of -whet -restrain -halt stinn gi g question -relent -pointed question -thwart -barbed question -dispense with -quiet stina gr y (cooked) -cease from -skate “We shall not cease from exploration/ And the end of all our exploring/ Will be to arrive

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 323 12/10/10 8:36 AM 324â stop it

where we started/ And know the place for storage place the first time.” T. S. Eliot, Four Quartets -depository

-arrest storef o “In those days cheap apartments were -wealth of almost impossible to find in Manhattan, -repository of so I had to move to Brooklyn. This was in 1947, and one of the pleasant features stormy of that summer which I so vividly remem- -tempestuous ber was the weather, which was sunny stories and mild, flower-fragrant, almost as if -histories the days had been arrested in a seemingly -incidents perpetual springtime.” William Styron, Sophie’s Choice story -narrative -account It’s too early to say that the -saga recession is over. -parable It’s too early to declare an end to -reminiscence the recession. -history stor bouty a (there is a Soptt i story about) -come now -the story is told of a -the plot centers on stopalkin t g -break off their conversation stor-ellery t -a griot {GREE-oh} stopastin w g time on -close the book on stor-elliny t g -the telling of stories stopyur o “Three years he had spent between fear and -quiet your hope, between death and expectation; three stopped years spent in the telling of stories; and, -quitted thanks to those stories, Shahrzad’s lifespan had been extended.” Naguib Mahfouz, stopped being Arabian Nights and Days -ceased to be strait gh talker “The planet Mars, I scarcely need remind -forthright the reader, revolves about the sun at a -forthcoming mean distance of 140,000,000 miles, and the light and heat it receives from the sun is straitforwardgh barely half of that received by this world. It -without nuance must be, if the nebular hypothesis has any truth, older than our world; and long before this earth ceased to be molten, life upon Be straightforward with me. its surface must have begun its course.” Give it to me without nuance. H. G. Wells, The War of the Worlds

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 324 12/10/10 8:36 AM stubbornâ 325â

strange stripped of its -peculiar -divested of its -idiosyncratic -curious strong -eccentric -unwavering -he has his peculiarities -robust -strange in his manner -penetrating -enigmatic -muscular -alien stron g flavor strange things -sapid -curiosities stron g smell -little curios -penetrating

strangeness of strongest -the surreality of -predominant

strangers struck down -alien visitors -felled strategies “Felled, dazed, silent, he has fallen; -initiatives knocked full length on the cobbles of the -schemes yard. His head turns sideways; his eyes are -stratagems [academic] turned toward the gate, as if someone might arrive to help him out. One blow, prop- stran yi g erly placed, could kill him now.” Hilary -errant Mantel, Wolf Hall

strengthen structure -bolster -fabric -temper -framework -shore up strug g ling stretched their necks -grappling with -craned their necks -beleaguered strict -floundering beset -stringent - -austere stubborn strict moral behavior -steadfast intransigent -puritanical - -immovable strifeilled f -obdurate [academic] -contentious -intractable -combative -adamant -obstinate strike -uncompromising -smite

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 325 12/10/10 8:36 AM 326â stuck

stuck -bovine -mired -none-too-bright -entrenched -benighted -daft student -of questionable intellect protégé - -obtuse student of stupid thing (to do) devotee of - -ill-advised studied them -ill-conceived -applied himself to them -lacks the intellectual sophistication of “He had covered the plotting table immediately with piles of papers from his briefcase; That would be stupid. and he applied himself to them except when That would be ill-advised. General Beal, turning his head, addressed some remark to him.” James Gould Cozzens, Guard of Honor stupidity -absence of thought stud y (to study) -read ste yl “Simon would have regarded with impotent -tradition fury the disturbance between the North and -approach the South, as it left his descendants stripped -convention of everything but their land, yet the tradi- -influence tion of living on the land remained unbro- -treatment ken until well into the twentieth century, -genre when my father, Atticus Finch, went to -sensibility Montgomery to read law, and his younger -character brother went to Boston to study medicine.” -color Nelle Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird -mold -the idiom of studn yi g -a vocabulary of gesture -making a study of -the character of their art “All the time he had lived there, the nephew stef yl o speech had secretly been making a study of him. locution [academic] The nephew, who had taken him in under - the name of Charity, had at the same time subdue been creeping into his soul by the back door, -quell asking him questions that meant more than -temper one thing, planting traps around the house -chasten your urge to and watching him fall into them, and finally coming up with a written study of him subdued (in tone) for a schoolteacher magazine.” Flannery -sober O’Connor, The Violent Bear It Away “In the vestibule and on the stairway, directing them or watching them pass, were stupid men who looked like functionaries or -inane

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 326 12/10/10 8:36 AM sufferingâ 327â

bailiffs, dressed in sober grey suits, mostly succeeded young, efficient-looking, discreet, the type -have met with success a number of that one meets everywhere in such places; times ministries, the residences of heads of state, or headquarters of important organiza- success tions.” Claude Simon, The Invitation -good fortune successful subct je enjoying some commercial success -focus - -subject matter successful businessperson -topic -a rainmaker -line of inquiry “Our subject being Poetry, I propose to successfully speak not only of the art in general but also -to great effect of its species and their respective capacities; suck of the structure of plot required for a good -draw poem; of the number and nature of the constituent parts of a poem; and likewise suckp u to of any other matters in the same line of in- -kowtow {Chinese, cow-tou} quiry. Let us follow the natural order and begin with the primary facts.” Aristotle, suddenly The Poetics -all at once “We were strolling one night down a long submissive dirty street, in the vicinity of the Palais -obliging Royal. Being both, apparently, occupied -complaisant by thought, neither of us had spoken a syl- -compliant lable for fifteen minutes at least. All at once -amenable Dupin broke forth with these words…” -deferential Edgar Allan Poe, “The Murders in the -retiring Rue Morgue”

submit sueapp h y -tender -litigious subordinate issues -ancillary issues Be careful, she’s sue happy. substitute Be careful, she has a litigious -surrogate history.

subtle -nuanced suffer -endure suburbs -withstand -environs -tolerate bear succeed in - -manage to suffering -affliction

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 327 12/10/10 8:36 AM 328â suffice to say [incorrect usage]

-plight SUPPLIERS OF -scourge -purveyors of

suffice to say [incorrect supplies usage] -provisions -suffice it to say support surcoatga it -bear the weight of -to put it kindly -to be generous supporter -to put it charitably -adherent of -constituent sugst g e -advocate -give the opinion that -proponent -posit -champion of -postulate -defender of the faith -proffer -partisan -submit -expositor [academic]

sugstsg e supposed -carries certain connotations -putative -the implication being -reputed -is suggestive of supposed to suityurself o -are in theory -as you like supposed to be summary -are said to be -an abstract “How is it that Americans, so solicitous of -a distillation of the animals they keep as pets, are so indif- summer house ferent to the ones they cook for dinner? The answer cannot lie in the beasts themselves. -retreat Pigs, after all, are quite companionable, -arbor and dogs are said to be delicious.” Elizabeth sun Kolbert, The New Yorker, Nov. 9, 2009 -daystar [poetic] supremacy superiority -primacy -preeminence supreme superiors -transcendent -higher-ups -sovereign

supervise surenou e gh -preside over -indeed -oversee “‘Ready to sleep,’ she says; and indeed, en route, she falls asleep briefly, her head supervision slumped against the window.” J.M. Coetzee, -oversight The Lives of Animals

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 328 12/10/10 8:36 AM surviveâ 329â

suref o surpassed -resolved -eclipsed

“He was glad for one thing: the rope was surprise off his neck. That had given them an un- -defy expectations fair advantage; but now that it was off, he would show them. They would never get another rope around his neck. Upon that You continue to surprise me. he was resolved.” Jack London, The Call You continue to defy of the Wild expectations. -have no doubt -we may be sure that -assured surprise attack -preemptive strike “The existence of which we are most assured and which we know best is unquestionably surprised our own, for of every other object we have -blindsided notions which may be considered external -bemused and superficial, whereas, of ourselves, -taken aback our perception is internal and profound.” -astounded Henri Bergson, Creative Evolution -thrown for a loss -caught unawares surely -he will be sure to surprisingly -by all means -to my surprise -no doubt surrender power “No one even knows I have a story. Next abnegate year, next week, tomorrow, I will no doubt - be gone, and it will be a small size coffin surround they will need for me, and a narrow hole. -enfold There will never be a stone at my head, -encircle and no matter.” Sebastian Barry, The Secret Scripture surrounded -hemmed in surrender to it -cede to it survey take soundings “Nothing is more certain than the indis- - canvass pensable necessity of government, and it - is equally undeniable, that whenever and survival however it is instituted, the people must -subsistence cede to it some of their natural rights in order to vest it with requisite powers.” John survive Jay, “The Federalist Papers, No. 2” -emerge unscathed -escape the ravages of sureness -persevere -certitude -eke out surn gi g -onrushing

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 329 12/10/10 8:36 AM 330â survive on

survive on swell -subsist on -swimmingly [humorous or sarcastic]

survived for a long time Sissankersw b -have long survived the -the gnomes of Zurich

surviving influences swollen -vestiges of -distended -tumid survivor -holdover from sbolym -icon susceptible -totem -predisposed to -token suspicion -hallmark -initial suspicion fell on -standard -a cloud of suspicion sbolicym of suspicious of -emblematic of -wary of spathiym ze with swallow up -commiserate with -engulf spathiym zer swamped -fellow traveler -engulfed spathym y swampland -consolation -glade sptomym -swale -manifestation of

swear words stematiys ze -expletives -codify -colorful language -language in full technicolor -profane expressions “His conversation was garnished at con- venient intervals with various profane Tt expressions, which not even the desire to be graphic in our account shall induce us tacky to transcribe.” Harriet Beecher Stowe, -garish Uncle Tom’s Cabin -lurid -meretricious swearing -using colorful language tactful -shouting course abuse -discreet

sweets ta long a g -confections -caddy for

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 330 12/10/10 8:36 AM take onâ 331â

take takeack b -appropriate -withdraw -procure -retract -commandeer -recant -wrest from -countermand -help oneself to -preempt takeack b what was said -backpedal takeew a f minutes -you may want to roll that one back -it will only be a matter of minutes takeare c of take a look at -attend to -let me direct your attention to -address -look after take a position -see after -stake out a divisive position -bring to the floor

takection a takeomfort c in -go on the offensive -take solace in -act upon takeontrol c of takedvanta a ge of -reign in your -avail herself of -exploit takeown d -seize upon -unseat -leverage takerom f -glean Feel free to take advantage of -extract everything I have to offer. -draw on

Feel free to avail yourself of taket i everything I have to offer. -seize upon it

takee l gal action takenother a look at -consider other options -revisit -adjudicate the matter -reappraise takeff o takepart a -take wing -dismantle -disassemble takeff o your -remove your takewa a y property -off with your -expropriate taken o takewa a y the worth of -adopt the cause of -detract from -assume takewa a y your “He will assume all fund-raising duties.” -rid you of your

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 331 12/10/10 8:36 AM 332â take on a problem

taken o a problem takesisks r -address -she runs what risks she chooses

takever o takesetbacks s in stride -supervene -is philosophical -commandeer -arrogate to themselves takesp u all of her time -consumes her life takeossession p of -expropriate takin g a second look -paying renewed attention to takeqestions u -revisiting -field questions takin g everything into account I need you to take questions. -all things considered

I need you to field questions. takin g from me -depriving me of

takehe t lead takin g her good time -come to the fore -dallying takehe t place of -dawdling lollygagging -supersede -

takep u takin g into account in view of the fact that -adopt - -given the takeyu o to -in light of -he will conduct you to [formal] takin g on a new job takenrom f -translating his abilities to -derived from -culled from takin g out wresting -excerpted from - -gleaned from talent takenff o -a real faculty for -taken wing talented takenhe t position -gifted -adopted the stance talk takeoff on -converse confer -parody - -send-up talkbout a -pastiche {pas-TEESH} (of a play or -speak of book) -point to takesrom f -cite note -draws on - -feature

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 332 12/10/10 8:36 AM tasted (it tasted)â 333â

-highlight talking about -address -speaking of âââ -mention -the âââ in question -allude to “The author in question is believed to have -remark upon lived a life of obscurity.” -talk of -engage the issue of talking heads -hit upon the -the commentariate -make excellent comment upon give some account of talking points (empty - words) “Although it has no direct bearing on the -shibboleths {Hebrew, SHI-bu-leths} tale we have to tell, we must nevertheless give some account of the rumours and gos- tame(s i tame) sip concerning him which were in circula- -docile tion when he came to occupy the Diocese.” tame(o t tame) Victor Hugo, Les Miserables -domesticate

She did talk about it. taned gl up -enmeshed in She made mention of it. taperff o -wane talkbout a it -ebb -speak of it tart ge talkoolishl f y -take aim at -prate on about -cater to -prattle -court the rich

talkut o of task -dissuade -ordeal

talkith w tasteor f -converse with -penchant for predilection for talked about - -partiality to -has spoken of -spoke of it tasted( it tasted) -made mention of it -it tasted of I drank the taste of talked me out of - -convinced me otherwise “I poured myself a glass of water and drank the mealy taste of my tongue.” Herta talkative Müller, The Appointment -communicative -garrulous It tasted just like licorice. talking It tasted of licorice. -passing remarks back and forth -conversing

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 333 12/10/10 8:36 AM 334â tasteless junk

tasteless junk tearpart a -kitsch {German, kich} -rive -rend [poetic] tastes bad “It was said that to descend into the world -is unfit for human consumption beneath the world was to learn the secrets -is unpalatable of heaven and hell, to go mad, to speak in -is displeasing tongues, to rend the veil, to become immor- taut gh (was taught) tal, to witness the destruction of the universe -brought up in the ââ tradition and the birth of a new order of being…” Steven Millhauser, Martin Dressler: The ta n x o imports Tale of an American Dreamer -tariff -excise tearown d -raze teach -instill tease -develop in her those qualities which -tantalize -school -awaken you to all the technical -arcane teacher -cryptic -guru -Talmudic -mentor techniques (using all teaching techniques) -instilling -using all manner of means -helping others to tell -imparting -relate teaching props -convey in the most forceful terms -realia {ree-AL-ee-uh} -impart a secret -share it with you teachings -recount -doctrine tell ould (I c tell) teamorale m -I could judge -esprit de corps {French, es-PREE de KOR} tellomeone s a secret -take someone into one’s confidence tear( a tear) -confide in -rent “Diseases were forever flitting in and out tellhe t police of the provinces and old age carried away -the police should be informed some of the more admirable citizens. tellhe t truth That is why it was so surprising that the -lay bare your soul [poetic] Peruvians should have been especially touched by the rent in the bridge of San tellhem t about Luis Rey.” Thornton Wilder, The Bridge -tell them of of San Luis Rey

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 334 12/10/10 8:36 AM territoryâ 335â

tell us something about as his own; that as men busied themselves -throw some light on about their various concerns they were “When on board H.M.S. Beagle, as natu- scrutinized and studied, perhaps almost as ralist, I was much struck with certain facts narrowly as a man with a microscope might in the distribution of the inhabitants of scrutinize the transient creatures that swarm South America, and in the geological rela- and multiply in a drop of water.” H.Â G. tions of the present to the past inhabitants of Wells, The War of the Worlds that continent. These facts seemed to me to temperatures between throw some light on the origin of species— [incorrect usage] that mystery of mysteries, as it has been -temperatures from -20 to + 80 Celsius called by one of our greatest philosophers.” Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species tempt -entice tell you that it was -did he put it to you as temptations -enticements telling stories -seductions -yarning about his supposed encounter -regaling tempted (to be tempted) -recounting -surrender to impulse -fall to temptation tellu s s that -points to tend to -demonstrates -are inclined to -indicates -are predisposed to -suggests -are prone to -seems to suggest -are given to -if ââ is any indication, then… -speaks of tend to (help) -address “The marks on his rib cage speak of the vio- -treat lence he endured before death.” -minister to temporary tendency ephemeral - -inclination fleeting - -penchant transitory - -propensity for a time - -predisposition in the interim - -proclivity makeshift - -bent impermanent - -adherence to -momentary -provisional terrie bl -transient -dire “No one would have believed in the last years territory of the nineteenth century that this world was -dominion being watched keenly and closely by intelli- -sphere of influence gences greater than man’s and yet as mortal -domain

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 335 12/10/10 2:06 PM 336â test (a trial by fire)

-realm Tatash h nothing to do -province with what we’re talking -principality about -that is a non sequitur {Latin, non test( a trial by fire) SEK-wih-tor} -a crucible that I noticed testab l -that caught my eye -proving ground Tats h i a given testif y to -that is a foregone conclusion -bear witness to thats i both â â and â â “I would like to write down what happened -that is at once âââ and âââ in my grandmother’s house the summer I was eight or nine, but I am not sure if it “In ‘La Danse’ you watch closely as dancers really did happen. I need to bear witness to and choreographers break complex move- an uncertain event. I feel it roaring inside ments down into their constituent gestures, me—this thing that may not have taken a process that is at once tedious and en- place.” Anne Enright, The Gathering tirely engrossing.” A. O. Scott, New York Times, Nov. 4, 2009 tebookxt (basic) -primer thats i enough -that will do thank -to laud and congratulate thats i fine with me -so much the better thankg oodness that -it was a comfort that thats i not what will happen thanky ou -anyone expecting ââ is likely to be -much obliged disappointed -many thanks thats i offensive thankful -I take exception to -much obliged thats i ridiculous that -come now -with which -what do you hope to accomplish -as is -on which thats i something else -to which -that’s another matter -such is the thats i what is so scary -according to which about it that’s the horror of it thatre a found on - -that populate thats i what they called him Tatoesnh d ’t mean -that is how they called him -it does not follow that

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 336 12/10/10 8:36 AM the one responsible forâ 337â

thats i why she theest b so far -simply for that she -as yet unequalled -it is for this reason that she âââhe t embattled thatind k of â ââ is -âââ Agonistes -âââ of that kind is thect exa opposite thatost m things have -the very opposite -peculiar to most things -on the contrary

thata w y Teacth f that a -thus -that a

“Then, since we could not stay thus for- theollowin f g: ever, I sat up and again began to make mo- -as follows: tions of drinking. I had rowed all morning. I had not drunk since the night before, I no THE HIGHEST QUALITY â â longer cared if he killed me afterwards so -a âââ of the highest quality long as I had water.” J.M. Coetzee, Foe theind k of thata w y she could -what manner of -in this way she could theind k OF â â you see thate w can see -a âââ of the kind you see -that are discernible “With slow strokes, my long hair floated âââhat t we’re talking about me, like a flower of the sea, like an about were anemone, like a jellyfish of the kind you see -the âââ s in question were in the waters of Brazil. I swam towards the strange island, for a while swimming as I had Tatouldnh w ’t do any good rowed, against the current, then all at once -no purpose would be served free of its grip, carried by the waves into the bay and on to the beach.” J.M. Coetzee, Foe that’s all I ask -I ask no more theast l one to leave -last of all that’s enough -that will do “She had left the church last of all, and, de- siring to arrive first at the hall, had issued thator ’s f sure orders to the coachman to drive faster.” -I can tell you that Upton Sinclair, The Jungle “Humboldt was just what everyone had thene o responsible for been waiting for. Out in the Midwest I had -the owner certainly been waiting eagerly, I can tell you that. An avant-guard writer, the first of a “The owner of the voice was nowhere to new generation, he was handsome, fair, be found.” large, serious, witty, he was learned. The guy -the maker had it all.” Saul Bellow, Humboldt’s Gift “Through rotting kelp, sea cocoa-nuts that’s what happens when you and bamboo, the tracks led me to their -such is the result of maker…” David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 337 12/10/10 8:36 AM 338â the ones who

thenes o who thee typ of -those who -what manner of

thepposite o is true thea w y it is -quite the contrary -as it stands

thepposite o of thea w y that -the very opposite of -the manner in which “Theatergoers who use plays as mood- “They were hungry for breakfast which setting preludes to romantic evenings had they ate at the café, ordering brioche and better look elsewhere. ‘Quartett,’ which café au lait and eggs, and the type of pre- opened Wednesday night and runs through serve that they chose and the manner in Nov. 14, may well be the sexually frankest which the eggs were to be cooked was play in New York this side of a backroom an excitement.” Ernest Hemingway, peephole. But with a cast led by the formi- Garden of Eden dable French actress Isabelle Humpert in a magnificently mannered performance, it is thea w y they are used the very opposite of an aphrodisiac.” Ben -in their application Brantley, New York Times, Nov. 6, 2009 thea w y things are theower p of -the way of things -the agency of “It seems ridiculous to suppose the dead “And like a big teacup at the county fair, miss anything. If you’re a grown man they would sit and spin in their little round when you read this—it is my intention for boat, and want for rain and want for land, this letter that you read it then—I’ll have until they had only to want for the agency been gone a long time. I’ll know most of of God.” what there is to know about being dead, but I’ll probably keep it to myself. That theest r of the seems to be the way of things.” Marilynne -the remainder of the Robinson, Gilead

theame s as theatrics -tantamount to -histrionics -melodrama

That is the same thing as theme treason. -motif {moe-TEEF} That is tantamount to treason. -leitmotiv {German, LITE-moe-teef} themselves theame s kind of -in and of themselves unto themselves -something of the - -of their own accord “I gave her something of the shock that I had received.” Henry James, The Turn of then the Screw -at this -after which theame s person -whereupon -they are one and the same -thereafter

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 338 12/10/10 8:36 AM thereforeâ 339â

-subsequently marriage, and war.” John Cheever, The -at that instant Stories of John Cheever -whereafter we -at the time therere a only -in turn -there are but -at this I thereor f everyone to see -and with that she -there on fairly generous display -it was then he noticed “We were sitting in the blind that theres i Wanderobo hunters had built of twigs and -we find branches at the edge of the salt-lick when we -there lies heard the truck coming. At first it was far theres i a difference away and no one could tell what the noise between was. Then it was stopped and we hoped -one must distinguish between it had been nothing or perhaps only the wind.” Ernest Hemingway, The Green theres i no â â Hills of Africa -the âââ is nonexistent

theoretical theres i no reason to think -conjectural that -academic -there is no reason to suppose that -notional theres i nothing as -ideological -there is nothing so theory theres i still -school of thought -there remains -theory now being pursued by -theorem therea m y be there are believed to be there (ARE THERE) - -are on hand thereas w a time when time was, therere a â â of them - -they number ââ thereill w still be -there will remain

There are seventeen of them. therey ou have it They number seventeen in all. -Q.E.D. (playfully appended to the conclusion of a statement of logic) “If you can’t explain it in five seconds, then Terereh a four of us children you haven’t thought about it long enough. Q.E.D.” -we are four children “We are four children; there is my sis- therefore ter Diana and the three men—Chaddy, -thus Lawrence, and myself. Like most families -accordingly in which the children are out of their twen- -consequently ties, we have been separated by business, -hence

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 339 12/10/10 8:36 AM 340â these

-ergo [academic] the sed y u to say that he -as such would -it was said of him that he would these -such THE Y WILL NEVER KNOW they’ll be none the wiser “That such artifacts escaped the ravages of - time is remarkable.” thickkinned-s -impervious thesere a â â -howâââ are these thinut o -diffuse thesere a excellent disperse questions - -excellent questions all thin g (a thing) an entity theseo n longer have - a construct -these have no longer - -a factor “These have no longer any hope of death.” -a consideration Dante, Inferno, Canto III -an aspect the re y a never -a matter an element -never are they - -an animal the re y a used to -an affair -to which they have become “The houses of this street were poor grey accustomed affairs, two-story houses of grey brick, with grey shutters, all dusted over with grey dust the on y d ’t all agree on which had been thrown up from bomb cra- -there is little agreement on ters and shell holes.” John Hersey, A Bell for Adano They can’t agree on anything. thin o g t do There is little agreement. -course of action

thin g you hate or fear the avey h a bad reputation -a bête noire {French, betn-WAHR} for being -they have acquired a bad reputation things happen the way they for being do because -things happen as they do because the ikedy l it “The customers of cafes are people who be- -it was well received lieve that things happen as they do because the at y s on the mantle they happen and that it is never worthwhile -their place was upon the mantle to put anything right. At Doña Rosa’s they all smoke and most of them meditate, each the a y s y alone with himself, on those small, kindly, -it is said that intimate things which make their lives full or -it was said of him empty.” Camilo Jose Cela, The Hive

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 340 12/10/10 8:36 AM thinks of himself as______â 341â

things like think I am -from the likes of -most people look on me as rather

things to enjoy thinkt i is our duty -there was a pleasure to be had from -we think it our duty

things to think about thinkf o -considerations -regard -consider -deem These are the things to think -look upon as about. -reckon as These are the considerations. -envisage -conceive of

thiny gs ou just know with- thinkut o loud out having to learn -muse -a priori assumptions {Latin, ay pree-OR-ee} thinkhe t same way -think in similar terms think (I think) -of like mind -I suspect -I imagine thinko t oneself -I hold the opinion -ruminate -I am of the belief thinkhat w you want I think that in actual fact - -think what you will I have a mind to - -think what you please -I consider -I reckon thinking about -contemplating thinkbout a it -being occupied with thought -take into consideration -consult and consider “We were strolling one night down a long -entertain the idea dirty street, in the vicinity of the Palais -deliberate Royal. Being both, apparently, occupied -ruminate by thought, neither of us had spoken a syl- -ponder over lable for fifteen minutes at least. All at once -take stock of Dupin broke forth with these words…” -meditate upon Edgar Allan Poe, “The Murders in the -take account of circumstances Rue Morgue” -give the matter your best thinking in new ways consideration -thinking along new lines -reflect upon -play with the idea of thinking she was -thinking herself thinkeepl d y -ruminate on thinks of himself aS______-gives himself airs of a âââ -thinks himself a âââ

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 341 12/10/10 8:36 AM 342â third class (a third class)

thirdlass c (a third class) thorough, yet concise -a tertiary -compendious [academic]

thirsty thoroughness -parched -a breadth of treatment

this those -such -such

thislone a must have made “I enjoyed such moments—but only in brief. If the talk began to wander, or cross -this in itself must have made the border into familiarity, I would soon THIS AND THAT find reason to excuse myself. I had grown -this thing and the other too comfortable in my solitude, the safest “She racked her brains, and tried this thing place I knew.” Barack Obama, Dreams and the other, but could not find anything from My Father successful. The failure made deep lines thoseesponsible r for come into her face.” D. H. Lawrence, -those who orchestrated “The Rocking-Horse Winner” -the architects of

thiss i a thoseho w -ours is a -they who -mine is a thout gh (he thought) thiss i a man whose -felt thoughts -contemplated we see a man whose thoughts - -the idea occurred to him thiss i how -thought it only proper that -in this way we -had thought fit to -supposed thiss i what happens when “This is a tale of a meeting between two -this is what comes of lonesome, skinny, fairly old white men thiss i where on a planet which was dying fast. One of -once home to them was a science fiction writer named Kilgore Trout. He was a nobody at the thiss i why time, and he supposed his life was over. -it is for this reason that He was mistaken.” Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions thisind k of â ââ -âââ s of this sort were thout gh (a thought) -sentiment thisa w y -conception in this way - -the whole tenor of his thoughts thorough -it figured in his mind as -exhaustive -her train of thought -intensive thout gh about it painstaking - -deliberated rigorous - -entertained the idea that -exacting

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 342 12/10/10 8:36 AM thrivingâ 343â

-turned it over “Month after month he sets, collects, reads, -after a few moments reflection and annotates their assignments, correcting lapses in punctuation, spelling and usages, thout gh at all about interrogating weak arguments, appending -gave a thought to to each paper a brief, considered critique.” “No one gave a thought to the older worlds J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace of space as sources of human danger, or thought of them only to dismiss the idea of thout gh so life upon them as impossible or improba- -I’ve felt so myself ble.” H. G. Wells, The War of the Worlds thout gh that he was thout gh by many -looked upon him as -widely presumed thoutlessgh -improvident She is thought by many to be the threaten heir apparent. -hold out the possibility that She is widely presumed to be the -bluster heir apparent. threatening -forbidding thout gh he was threeerson-p rule -believed him to be triumvirate -found him to be - -thought himself threesome -troika I thought that he was honest. -trio I believed him to be honest. three-way masterful maneuver -Tinker to Evers to Chance thout gh it appropriate to -thought fit to threw at -he thrust upon him the thout gh of as a -thought a thrifty -frugal thout gh of herself as a -she thought herself a thrill -she fancied herself a -frisson {free-SOHn}

thout gh of you thrived -my thoughts returned to you -abounded

thout gh out thriving -a good deal of thought has been given -burgeoning to -flourishing -a considered âââ

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 343 12/10/10 8:36 AM 344â through

through timeo t myself -throughout -stolen hours -by way of timehen w through thick and thin -years that saw -come what may timeill w tell throughout -in time we’ll know -in the course of times(ultiplied m ) throughout the day -âââ -fold -as the day wore into tiny throw around -miniscule -bandy them about -Lilliputian

throw away tin it y b -dispose of -hint -jettison -scintilla -cast away -trace -discard tipf o my tongue throw under the bus -the words escape me -throw to the wolves tipfhe o t iceberg throw up -only begin to tell the story -purge tiptoed throwy our weight around -walked on tiptoe -ride roughshod over tiptoeing around thrown out of office -treading wearily around -ousted tired time(t a this time) -spent -at this moment -anemic -listless time(minous o ) -at the witching hour tiredookin-l g -haggard timeff o -zombish -a hiatus {high-AY-tus} tiredf o (GET TIRED OF) timeasses p -weary of -as time rolls away -you never tire of it timeelated r -temporal You never get tired of it. timeog t o to sleep You never tire of it. -it’s time you were asleep

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 344 12/10/10 8:36 AM todayâ 345â

tiredness tompress i -languor -for effect -lassitude -lethargy toake m it worse -ennui {on-WEE} -to make matters worse

title(he t name you go by) toore m easily -appellation -for greater convenience

to toever n -to that of -never to be “Its tailbone is similar in shape to that of toqote u other dinosaurs.” -to borrow from -in which to -to approximate ââââ ’s remark “We have only five days in which to file “It was only that, having written down a claim.” the first few fine paragraphs, I could not produce any others—or, to approximate -to one of Gertrude Stein’s remark about a lesser -to those of writer of The Lost Generation—I had toe b the syrup but it wouldn’t pour.” William -to serve as Styron, Sophie’s Choice

toeble b a to tohe t end -the means by which -to the last

toeg b otten tohe t letter -to be had -religiously “Beyond opens a door into the kitchen, tohe t point where there is a glimpse to be had of a -terse range with much steam ascending from it, -succinct and many women, old and young, rushing hither and thither.” Upton Sinclair, âââo t the rescue The Jungle -âââ ex machina {Latin, ex MAHK-ih-nuh} toeonest b h -to speak truly tohem t in their eyes “The young man reveres men of genius, - because, to speak truly, they are more him- today self than he is.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, -in the present day “The Poet” -of our day -this day toohat d t -to do so “Play the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in tover e England, as I trust shall never be put out.” -ever to Hugh Latimer, Bishop of Worchester, speaking to Nicholas Ridley, as they were being burned alive

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 345 12/10/10 8:36 AM 346â together

together -in concert -coupled with The cost is way too high. -in conjunction with The cost is prohibitive.

token of remembrance -a requiem too important to be Âinterfered with told her -sacrosanct -acquainted her with -informed her too late -mentioned to her -useless “Do not write to my sister yet. When all is tolerate a ‘fait accompli’ then we will tell her, be- -suffer cause then it will be useless for her to do tone down other than to accept.” D.Â H. Lawrence, -temper Selected Letters

tons of too many -legions of -untold numbers of -ample too much -loads of in excess -oodles of [playful] - excessive -masses of - an embarrassment of -a predominance of - too much to take There were tons of prospective -insufferable intolerable buyers at the convention. - -just so much I can take There were legions of prospective buyers at the convention. too often (to the point of disgust) -ad nauseam {Latin, add NAUS-ee-um} too bad -a matter of regret too sweet -a pity -saccharine -more’s the pity -an embarrassment of sugar

too complicated took a long time to -overwrought with -was long in “Every moving thing lifted the dust into the too disgusted air; a walking man lifted a thin layer as high -too much disgusted as his waist, and a wagon lifted the dust as too early high as the fence tops, and an automobile -premature boiled a cloud behind it. The dust was long in settling back again.” John Steinbeck, too high in price The Grapes of Wrath -prohibitive

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 346 12/10/10 3:28 PM traditionâ 347â

tookt i as totalumber n -received it as -all told “He used to tell a curious story about -to the tune of Southampton, and as a child I received it as the gospel truth. It may have been I’d say the total number is about true for all that.” Sebastian Barry, The 200,000. Secret Scripture All told, I’d say about 200,000. tookff o and hid -absconded touched a nerve tookff o for -touched a tender spot -set off touched our hearts tookn o increasing -softened our hearts importance -assumed increasing importance touching -heart-rending tookhe t road that led -poignant -she went by the road that led touchy tookheir t time in -petulant -were slow to “It happened at the end of winter, in a year touch y situation ticklish situation when the poppies were strangely slow to - shed their petals; for mile after mile, from tough Benares onwards, the Ganga seemed to -hard-boiled be flowing between twin glaciers, both its banks being blanketed by thick drifts of towards the rear of the white-petalled flowers.” Amitav Ghosh, ship Sea of Poppies -go aft

tool trace -vehicle -chronicle implement - tracef o a new vocabulary of expression - -hint of topped -slight indication of -crowned -vestige of

tore traces -rent -vestiges -remnants “But the idiot’s cry was the saddest of all. It rent the sky. It was a long-drawn-out trademark inhuman wail.” Miguel Angel Asturias, -hallmark The President tradition totaldiot i -folklore -perfect idiot

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 347 12/10/10 8:36 AM 348â traditionalist

traditionalist translate -classicist -render -purist -paraphrase -textualist translation trained -rendering -trained in the tradition of -rendition -groomed -well schooled in transmitter of disease -practiced in -vector of disease -seasoned transparent trained for two years -translucent under â ââ -limpid was for two years under âââ - trapped training -ensnared grounding - trash traitor -schlock apostate - travel traitorous group -traverse a fifth column - traveled traits -found its way to graces - traveler transform -wayfarer -metamorphose “After pointing heavenward for half a cen- -transfigure tury, the steeple appeared to have swerved -transmute suddenly from its purpose, and to invite “There must be acceptance and the knowl- now the attention of the wayfarer to the bar edge that sorrow fully accepted brings its beneath.” E. A. G. Glasgow, The Miller own gifts. For there is an alchemy in sor- of Old Church row. It can be transmuted into wisdom, traveling which, if it does not bring joy, can yet bring -itinerant happiness.” Pearl S. Buck, The Child Who -nomadic Never Grew -globetrotting transform grotesquely traveling behind them transmogrify - -in the wake of -mutate travels transformative -migrations destruction -a terrible beauty travels a lot -is well traveled transition from -segue {SEG-way}

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 348 12/10/10 8:36 AM troublemakerâ 349â

treachery triedo s hard -duplicity -took such pains -perfidy [academic]

treasure We’ve tried really hard to -spoils remove all offensive material. -booty We’ve taken great pains to bounty - remove all offensive material. -a trove of

treasured belongings triedo t -lares and penates -sought to {Latin, LAY-reez and pi-NAY-teez} -went to unusual lengths to treatadl b y -took pains to maltreat - triedo t help trend -went to great lengths to help convention - triedo t say -mode -endeavored to convey -vogue trip trespassing -excursion -errant -jaunt tribute to -outing pay homage to {HOM-ij} - trivia trick( a trick) -niceties a ruse - troops in close formation -a canard {ken-ARD} -a phalanx -a mare’s nest -a ploy trouble -imposition difficulty I’m on to your little trick. - -adversity I’m on to your ruse. troubled -disconcerted trick(o t trick) -distressed -dupe -flustered -hoodwink -it caused some heartburn among -beleaguered triedut o on -beset with difficulties -hawked “His witty sayings were hawked about by troublemaker other writers for years.” -provocateur

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 349 12/10/10 8:36 AM 350â troubling

troubling truthfulness -disconcerting -veracity -disquieting -probity [academic] -a source of concern -rectitude [academic]

truce try -détente {French, day-TAHNT} -try as we might

true tr ardy h enough -it is so -sufficient pains taken in finding -that is the case -true enough tr t y i -try your hand at true(eal r ) -a natural born âââ tr omethiny s g new -endorse a new approach truefter a all -true for all that We’ve decided to try something “He used to tell a curious story about new. Southampton, and as a child I received it as the gospel truth. It may have been We’ve decided to endorse a new true for all that.” Sebastian Barry, The approach. Secret Scripture

truly tr o y t -verily -labor to -seek to trust -endeavor to -in someone’s confidence -make every effort to -I enjoy her full confidence -struggle to -try your luck as trustworthy -attempt to do so -credible -go about truths -dare to -imperishable truths -I do what I can to -verities -in a bid to have a go at “From the Christian standpoint, we are - venture to charged with denying the reality and seri- - in a push for ousness of human undertakings, since, if - strive to we reject God’s commandments and the - contrive to eternal verities, there no longer remains - anything but pure caprice, with every- “He knew that if she did not wish to be seen one permitted to do as he pleases, and that she would contrive to elude him; and Âincapable, from his own point of view, of it amused him to think of putting her skill condemning the points of view and acts of to the test.” Edith Wharton, The House others.” Jean-Paul Sartre, Existentialism of Mirth and Human Emotion

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 350 12/10/10 8:36 AM unable toâ 351â

tr o y t decide turning point -wrestle with the question of -watershed event

trn yi g to recover from twist -reeling from -writhe

turf twisted -orbit -entwined -circles -intertwined

turnwa a y twitter user-name -avert your eyes -nom de tweet

turnnto i te yp -transform -variant of -resolve itself into a -species of -evaporate into -of what order -orientation turnemons l into lemonade -genre {ZHAWN-ruh} -make a virtue of -of the sort which turnut o to be -the likes of which -prove to be ticalyp of turnpside u down -representative of -turn turtle ticallyp y turned around -commonly -faced around

turned on the lights -put the lights on “We stood up and made our way out of the Uu blind and out through the trees, walking on ugly the sandy loam, feeling our way between -unflattering trees and under branches, back to the road. -homely A mile along the road was the car. As we came along side, Kamau, the driver, put ultimate achievement the lights on.” Ernest Hemingway, Green -ne plus ultra {Latin, nee plus UL-truh} Hills of Africa “The Reagan Revolution is widely considered to be the ne plus ultra of the conserva- turned out to be tive movement.” -proved to be unââââ (uninteresting) It may turn out to be harmless -of no âââ (of no interest) after all. unable to It may prove to be harmless after -incapable of all. -at a loss how to

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 351 12/10/10 8:36 AM 352â unable to communicate

unable to communicate -apathetic -incommunicado {Spanish, -blithe in-cah-MUNE-ih-CAH-toe} -with indifference

unaffected by uncaring attitude -impervious to -insouciance {in-SOO-see-unce} -nonchalance unapologetic -make no apologies for uncertain -precarious unashamedly -ambivalent unabashedly - -at a loss unattainable dream -infirm of purpose -châteaux en Espagne {French, shah-TOE -casting doubt on the future course of ah-nes-PAHN-ye, lit. castles in Spain} -dubious -tilting at windmills -dicey -far from clear unauthentic -apocryphal uncertainty -ambiguity unavoidable -irresolution -inexorable “She stood apart from the crowd, letting unaware it drift by her to the platform or the street, -incognizant and wearing an air of irresolution which might, as he surmised, be the mask of a unbearable very definite purpose.” Edith Wharton, -insufferable The House of Mirth

unbelievable unchangeable -I find that hard to accept -inalterable -implausible -frankly it stretches credulity unchanged -incredulous -changeless in its âââ scarcely to be imagined - unchanging it flies in the face of credulity - -immutable beyond belief - -perpetual unbiased uncivilized disinterested - -barbarous -impartial unclear unbreakable -not immediately clear inviolable - -incoherent uncared for -incomprehensible -in disrepair -ambiguous -obscure uncaring “I am amazed at how little has changed in -indifferent the more than fifty years that have gone by

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 352 12/10/10 8:36 AM understand (i understand that)â 353â

since I was last here. Amazed, and disap- under pointed, I would go so far as to say ap- -beneath palled, for reasons that are obscure to me, since why should I desire change, I who under attack have come back to live amidst the rubble of -put upon the past?” John Banville, The Sea -beleaguered -embattled uncomfortable -besieged -ill at ease -set upon

uncomplaining under discussion -stoic -at issue -philosophical under no circumstances unconcerned -on no account -cavalier underhe t umbrella of -unengaged under the rubric of -nonchalant - undercover agent unconfident provocateur -diffident - understand (I understand unconquerable that) -impregnable -I take it that uncontrollable -I recognize -irrepressible -I can gather -I can’t fathom uncontrolled -I comprehend -unbridled -I can’t make out why -the âââ does not escape him unconventional -willing to zig while others zag “The irony does not escape him: that the -bohemian one who comes to teach learns the keen- -unorthodox est of lessons, while those who come to learn learn nothing. It is a feature of his uncooperative profession on which he does not remark to -disobliging Soraya.” J.Â .ÂCoetzee, Disgrace less than forthcoming - -I grasp the situation uncritical -I am given to understand -undiscerning -I have come to understand -it is not lost on me uncritical followers -I arrive at understanding -the amen corner -I have it that undecorated “It is simply this. That Space, as our math- -spartan ematicians have it, is spoken of as hav- -unembellished ing three dimensions, which one may call -austere length, breadth, and thickness, and is al- -modest ways definable by reference to three planes,

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 353 12/10/10 8:36 AM 354â understand your problem

each at right angles to the others.” H. G. -qualm Wells, The Time Machine -misgiving

unemotional As far as I know, the flow of oil -stoic has stopped. -stolid I am given to understand that -philosophical the flow of oil has stopped. uneal qu size -disparate size

understand your problem uneloredxp territory -I am sympathetic to your problem -terra incognita {Latin, TEAR-uh in-COG-ni-tuh} understood by only a few -arcane unfair -esoteric -unwarranted invidious undertaking - -discriminatory -an initiative unfavorable underway -adverse -under full sail unfeeling underway for five minutes -callous -five minutes underway -indifferent “Before the feast has been five minutes -changed to me underway, Tamoszius Kuszleika has risen in his excitement; a minute or two more unfinished and you see that he is beginning to edge -a work in progress over toward the tables.” Upton Sinclair, The Jungle unfold( as developments unfold) undesirable group -unfurl -bad company unforgettable undeveloped -indelible -latent unfortunately undoubtedly -sadly -decidedly unfriendly undress -less accommodating -disrobe -remote -aloof uneasiness -ill-disposed -disquiet -offish -distant uneas y feeling -very cool toward -pang

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 354 12/10/10 8:36 AM unlimitedâ 355â

unatefulgr person uninvited guests -ingrate -unbidden guests {un-BID-nn}

unatefulnessgr unie qu -ingratitude -stands apart from -inimitable unhappy -sui generis {Latin, SOO-eye -disgruntled JEN-er- us} -disconsolate -singular -discontented -displeased unity -cohesion unharmed -unscathed universe -cosmos unhealthy -world without end -baneful -noxious unkind -uncharitable unhurt -unscathed She had some unkind things to unimportant say. -inconsequential -immaterial She was uncharitable in her -negligible critique. -trifling -of no consequence unknown unimportant details -obscure -minutiae -indeterminate -alien to unimportant person -nonentity unless -barring any unimpressed -underwhelmed unlike -jaded -in contrast to -apart from unimpressive -alien to -unimposing -tame unlimited -unbounded uninspiring -knows few equals and few bounds -sterile -boundless unintentional “His curiosity is boundless but also disci- -inadvertent plined, and he forgoes explanation in favor of a visual version of what anthropologists uninteresting call thick description.” A. O. Scott, New -of no interest York Times, Nov. 4, 2009

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 355 12/10/10 8:36 AM 356â unlimited authority

unlimited authority unrealistic -carte blanche {French, kart blahnsh} -fanciful

unloved unreasonable behavior -forsaken -perverse behavior

unlucky persons unreserved -poor souls -demonstrative

unnecessary “They have never been a demonstrative family. A hug, a few murmured words, -nonessential and the business of greeting is done.” J.M. -superfluous Coetzee, The Lives of Animals unnoticed -effusive -inconspicuous “In bed Soraya is not effusive. Her tem- -unobtrusive perament is in fact rather quiet, quiet and unofficial docile.” J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace -de facto unrestrained unorni ga zed -abandoned -in disarray -wayward -unstinted UNORINAL GI -unsparing -derivative -unbridled irrepressible unplanned - -impromptu unrestraint abandon unpopular - -generating little enthusiasm unsatisfactory dissatisfactory unpredictable - -vagrant unsatisfied -wayward -insatiable -quicksilver unseen assets unpredictable change -intangibles -caprice unsolvable unprepared -insoluble -ill-prepared unsophisticated unproven -homespun -groundless -provincial -untraveled

These accusations are unproven unophistication-s lies. -naiveté These accusations are groundless. unsound -fallacious

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 356 12/10/10 8:36 AM up and down the coastâ 357â

unspoken unused -tacit -to lie fallow -implicit -unsounded unusual -an aberration unstoppable force -an anomaly -a juggernaut -out of keeping with -peculiar unstopping -unaccustomed -inexorable -unwonted -relentless -unorthodox unsuitable as -preternatural -miscast as unusual group of people or animals unsure a menagerie -hesitant - -reluctant unwelcome person -curious -she’s persona non grata {Latin, per- SOHN-u non GRAHT-uh} unalkative-t an interloper -taciturn - unwise unthinking ill-advised -in the heat of the moment - imprudent -knee-jerk - ill-conceived -impetuous - -ill-considered untilow n -ill-fated -heretofore [academic] -impolitic {im-PAUL-ih-tic}

untilhe t y let their up guard down -upwards -till vigilance is laid asleep -skywards [Machiavelli] -heavenward

untouched “After pointing heavenward for half a century, the steeple appeared to have swerved -pristine suddenly from its purpose, and to invite untrue story now the attention of the wayfarer to the bar -of dubious authenticity beneath.” E. A. G. Glasgow, The Miller -apocryphal of Old Church -unfounded -a canard upinst aga faced with -spurious - -fallacious upnd a down the coast untruthful -up the coast and down -less than forthcoming “They gathered mountains and valleys, -mendacious [academic] rivers and whole horizons, the way a man might now gain title to building lots. These

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 357 12/10/10 8:36 AM 358â up and running

tough, dried-up men moved restlessly up uplifted the coast and down.” John Steinbeck, -buoyed with East of Eden upsnd a downs upnd a running -vagaries -in full swing -vicissitudes

uplose c upset -on close examination -troubled -unnerved uporg f rabs -dismayed -in the balance -distressed rankled upi h gh - -on high upsetting disconcerting upnhe i t air - -inconclusive upstart -a parvenu {French, PAR-ve-new}

The results are still up in the air. uptit gh The results are inconclusive. -prudish -puritanical

upny o our â ââ ur(n ge a urge) -conversant with -an impulse -versed in -properly schooled in mythology ur(o ge t urge) -enjoin upoate t d -press -abreast -apprised urntge -dire upoy t ou -imperative -incumbent upon you -pressing -at your discretion urn gi g upntil u (til) now -exhortation -as yet -thus far use(o t use) avail oneself of -heretofore - -draw on existing upfront -apply -forthcoming -exploit -candid -incorporate -forthright -adopt -frank -deploy -veracious -employ -put to good use

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 358 12/10/10 8:36 AM usualâ 359â

-draw upon usedo t something -make use of unpleasant inured “The sergeant with him was Leonard Borth, - an M.P., who was to be in charge of matters “I’ve become inured to your hostile attitude.” of security in Adano: he was to help weed usedp u out the bad Italians and make use of the exhausted good ones.” John Hersey, A Bell for Adano - useful usef( o to have use of) -of use to him -have recourse to -worthwhile usep u useless -expend -of no use -deplete -fruitless -draw down -of no avail used -futile -employed -weary, stale, flat and unprofitable -adopted by [Shakespeare] -served to continued in use - It’s useless to me. -made full use of -put to good use It’s of no use to me. -used to great effect

used by useless act -reserved for -a fool’s errand

used by everyone useless possession -it gained currency in -a white elephant it’s ubiquitous - uses usedo t -makes use of -accustomed to -involves the use of familiar with - usesroper p sources conversant with - -she does not write from hearsay -in the practice of using -making use of it They are not used to being treated that way. usin ver g e y They are unaccustomed to being -she was bringing out every treated that way. usual -customary usedo t be -obligatory wonted -had been formerly - -conventional -stock

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 359 12/10/10 8:36 AM 360â usually

-standing topics valued -accustomed way -prized -highly sought after usually -widely accepted -tended to -a darling of -more often than not -an object of much attention -customarily -much in demand -in practice -as is the custom variables -nearly always -imponderables

utilitarian variation of -institutional -a variant of “Get some plaster, he said, propped up in varied the bed, which looked odd and institutional -sundry among the Persian rugs and Colonial fur- -diverse niture and dozens of antique clocks.” Paul -manifold [academic] Harding, Tinkers various -assorted

vehicle Vv -conveyance vae gu verbal attack -ill-defined -diatribe -nebulous -tongue lashing -amorphous -verbal drive-by -imprecise -polemic -indistinct verify -allow a wide latitude of interpretation attest to -murky - -ambiguous versatile -equivocal (vague by intent) -protean [academic]

version Why are you being so vague? -adaptation Why are you being so equivocal? -rendition -reimagining

value very -place a high emphasis on -you are nothing if not -he reserves his highest esteem for -terribly -hold dear -desperately -treasure -all too -prize -most -markedly -highly

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 360 12/10/10 8:36 AM viewâ 361â

-particularly ver od y go at -exceptionally -highly accomplished -well ver od y go friends -fiercely immense friends -intensely - -exceedingly ver y exact -profoundly -scrupulous -startlingly -punctilious -immensely -exacting -only too -far and away ver y excited -much -were much excited -painfully ver i y h gh -fearfully rarified -more than a bit - -acutely ver ar y l ge -heartily -imposing -decisively -in the worst way ver ittley l -to a great extent -scant -ever so ver uchy m -considerably in no small measure -by far - -âââ to an extreme ver mally s -clearly -minuscule -indeed -assuredly ver ni y u que [incorrect -so much usage] unique “My Dear Michèle, I would so much like - this house to stay empty. I would hope the ver ell y w owners don’t come back for a long time.” -if you like J.M.G. Le Clézio, The Interrogation -well enough

ver y agreeable via -complaisant -by means of -obliging -by way of

ver ad y b vibrato -abject -tremolo {TREM-uh-low} -egregious -execrable [academic] victim -casualty ver ifferenty d from -far removed from view -vista ver nthusiasticy e -rhapsodic view -I look upon

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 361 12/10/10 8:36 AM 362â viewer

-I looked on the thing as virn gi -my take on -innocent of sex -virgo intacta {Latin, VEER-go viewer in-TAHK-tah} -onlooker -beholder virtually -spectator -it is in effect -for all intents and purposes viewst i as the same -does not distinguish between virtually destroyed -tattered vir go -decimated -brio visible villain -discernible -a heavy -manifest

viner ga y visibly -acetic {uh-SEE-tic} -markedly manifestly violation - -a breach visit -a transgression -make our visit call on violence between groups - -sectarian violence visited -convulsions -went among -strife -paid a visit to had occasion to visit violent behavior - -militancy “Among the diplomats whom he had occasion to visit was none other than the violent language Secretary of State.” -martial language “Like many talk-show hosts, he [Limbaugh] visiting uses martial language to rouse the faith- -paying her visits ful: ‘The enemy camp is the White House visual right now,’ he says. Former Alaska gov- -pictorial ernor turned media star Sarah Palin post- ed on her Facebook page a list of House vocal Democrats who voted for health-care re- -outspoken form with crosshairs aimed at their home -no shrinking violet districts, while tweeting to her followers, ‘Don’t Retreat, Instead—RELOAD!’” voiceut o of nowhere disembodied voice Evan Thomas and Eve Conant, “Hate.” - Newsweek, April 19th, 2010 volatile situation tinderbox VIP - -above-the-line talent -A-listers

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 362 12/10/10 8:36 AM walk â 363â

voluntarily wait -of one’s own accord -lie in wait -presumptuously [pejorative] Wita a minute! volunteer -Now look here! -I took it upon myself to waitatientl p y voted against -bide one’s time -voted in dissent waited for vouchor f (or confirm) -wanted -attest to “They awakened when the rushing wind -bear witness to was gone. They lay quietly and listened deep into the stillness. Then the roosters I am here to confirm the horrors crowed, and their voices were muffled, and of that war. the people stirred restlessly in their beds and wanted the morning.” John Steinbeck, I am here to bear witness to the The Grapes of Wrath horrors of that war. -lay in wait “Even he saw that she was gone, and over vulr ga the years he had become an expert in the -indelicate appearance and disappearance of things. -crass But he knew that she would come again, and he lay in wait for her, his cold hand spread over the sheet.” Bernice Rubens, The Elected Member

Ww waited for him -awaited him waffle -equivocate waiting for “Stop equivocating and answer the -awaiting question.” waiver -prevaricate -a dispensation a derogation [academic] wad ge war - -made war upon wakep u “In the year before Christ 1125 Mephres -rouse Reigned over the upper Egypt from -awaken Syene to Heliopolis, and his Successor Misphragmuthosis made a lasting war upon walk the Shepherds soon after, and caused many -stride of them to fly into Palestine, Idumæa, -file into Syria, and Libya…” Sir Isaac Newton, -amble The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms -mosey -saunter -hoof it

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 363 12/10/10 8:36 AM 364â walk around

-escort pictures extravagant in color, lurid with -accompany breathless deeds.” Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage walkround a desired to -walk about - -longed to be -cared to He would walk around the room -did so want to with microphone in tow. -yearned to He would walk about the room “It was not that I no longer wanted to with microphone in tow. write, I still yearned passionately to produce the novel which had been for so long captive in my brain.” William Styron, walklumsil c y Sophie’s Choice -lumber over wants me to wander -wishes me to -meander warmeather w wandering -balmy weather -itinerant “Many of this nation’s agricultural concerns war disturbance rely on low-wage itinerant farmhands.” - “Simon would have regarded with impotent want fury the disturbance between the North and -favor the South, as it left his descendants stripped -require of everything but their land, yet the tradi- -intend for tion of living on the land remained unbro- -covet ken until well into the twentieth century, -desire when my father, Atticus Finch, went to -care to Montgomery to read law, and his younger -wish to brother went to Boston to study medicine.” -long for Nelle Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird -have designs on -long to warn -caution wanted to -foretell -had hoped to -presage -felt very much inclined to -foreshadow -it had been the ambition of ââ to be -forewarn -burned to -admonish “He had burned several times to enlist. -raise the specter of Tales of great movements shook the land. -add a cautionary note They might not be distinctly Homeric, -serve notice but there seemed to be much glory in -portend them. He had read of marches, sieges, warning conflicts, and he had longed to see it all. caveat {CAV-ee-ot} His busy mind had drawn for him large -

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 364 12/10/10 8:36 AM was lucky enough toâ 365â

-cautionary tale “Her itinerary provided for two weeks in -portent Paris, and she had suffered through one -omen of grave portent week of it when, like an angel from heaven, an Englishman called Tippy Akenside showed up at her hotel at the very moment And to this discussion let me add when she was about to dissolve in tears and an important warning. book passage home.” Jean Stafford, The And to this discussion let me add Collected Stories of Jean Stafford an important caveat. wasgne o -gone was was wasnffect i e -it proved -was the order of the day -became subject to -showed signs of wasthat i t -struck her as -did it happen that constituted [academic] - “Amid the distractions and frivolities that was a [poetic] - occupied his life, did it happen that he was “The sea was a very blue.” suddenly overtaken by one of those mysterious and awful revulsions which, striking to wasbout a the heart, change the nature of a man who -touched on cannot be broken by outward disasters af- “The conversation touched on many things.” fecting his life and fortune? No one can say. All that is known is that when he returned wasecause b of from Italy he was a priest.” Victor Hugo, -it came of Les Miserables -was due in large part to wasilled k It was because of her greatness in -came to a violent end spirit. wasike l It came of her greatness in spirit. -was like that of “And that was the long Salinas Valley. Its history was like that of the rest of the state.” wasorn b John Steinbeck, East of Eden -had come into the world wasuck l y enough to wasoth b -had the good luck to -was at once âââ and âââ “About thirty years ago, Miss Maria Ward, “Everything about her was at once vigor- of Huntingdon, had the good luck to captious and exquisite, at once strong and fine.” vate Sir Thomas Bertram, of Mansfield Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth Park, in the county of Northampton, and wasritici c zed to be thereby raised to the rank of baronet’s -was the object of his criticism lady, with all the comforts and consequences of a handsome house and large income.” wasor f (was for two weeks) Jane Austen, Mansfield Park -provided for

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 365 12/10/10 8:36 AM 366â was made of

wasade m of James Joyce, Portrait of an Artist as a -was of Young Man

wasot n wasroof p of -was not to be âââ -attested -was nothing of the kind “The initialism SPQR attested her alle- “In Jenny’s opinion, her breasts were too giance to Rome.” large; she thought the ostentation of her bust made her look ‘cheap and easy.’ She washat t was nothing of the kind. In fact, she had -being that dropped out of college when she suspected washere t that the chief purpose of her parents’ send- -was on hand ing her to Wellesley had been to have her dated by and eventually mated to some wasaitin w g well-bred man.” John Irving, The World -awaited them According to Garp “One behind the other they passed through wasot n a good thing the door, crossed a vestibule, climbed two -this was not so good a thing flights of stairs, walked along a corridor, and emerged in the chamber where the wasot n afraid secretary-general awaited them.” Claude -was in no fear Simon, The Invitation -felt little trepidation -feared not [poetic] washed ashore -borne ashore wasot n one of “Off the island grew beds of brown sea- -could not be counted among weed which, borne ashore by the waves, wasur o gave off a noisome stench and sup- -formed our ported swarms of large pale fleas.” J.M. Coetzee, Foe “Within the fence, protected from the apes, grew a patch of wild bitter lettuce. This let- waste tuce, with fish and birds’ eggs, formed our -squander sole diet on the island, as you shall hear.” -fritter away J.Â . Coetzee, Foe wastewa a y wasver o -atrophy -was ended wastef o time “…and the warm heavy smell of turkey -a boondoggle and ham and celery rose from the plates and dishes and the great fire was banked wasteime t high and red in the grate and the green -lollygag ivy and red holly made you feel so happy -trespass on your time and when dinner was ended the big plum pudding would be carried in, studded wasteful people with peeled almonds and sprigs of holly, -profligates with bluish fire running around it and a little green flag flying from the top.”

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 366 12/10/10 8:36 AM way to goâ 367â

wastefully extravagant wa emeanory (d ) -profligate -his manner -prodigal -a way about her -a presence watch -an air -survey -study wa f y o dealing with “When the weather was good, my room- -an approach mate and I might sit out on the fire escape to wa f y o doing something smoke cigarettes and study the dusk wash- -it was her practice to ing blue over the city…” Barack Obama, -it was his convention to Dreams from My Father -modus operandi {Latin, MOE-dus watch over o-per-AND-ee} -superintend -keep vigil over The killer’s way of doing it never watched changes. -looked on The killer’s modus operandi -beheld them from afar never changes. -kept his eyes compulsively fixed on her

watching wa f y o life -keeping a watch on -modus vivendi {Latin, MOE-dus vi-VEN-dee} watchword -mantra wa f y o seeing things -perspective wave -mindset -a swell -predilection -an undulation -slant wave a knife -proclivity -brandish a knife wa f y o thinking way -turn of mind -means by which “Get the jury to empathize with the defen- -a manner dant’s particular turn of mind, and we will -a mechanism for win this trial.” process by which - -currents of thought means whereby - -particular school of interpretation mode of operation - -orthodoxy course - -doctrine “It is not because the truth is too difficult to see that we make mistakes…we make mis- wa og y t o takes because the easiest and most comfort- -weren’t you good to think of it able course for us is to seek insight where it “Weren’t you good to think of going!” accords with our emotions—especially self- Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast ish ones.” Alexander Solzhenitsyn

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 367 12/10/10 8:36 AM 368â way too

wa oo y t weere w â â -much too -âââ as we were

ways weak -traditions -tenuous -ideals -precarious -respects -feckless -inert were a here at -sagging -we’re coming to you from -lagging werej a udges -lackluster -judges that we are -a bit groggy at the knees -given the sorry nature of âââe w can do -qualities in which you are deficient -âââ is in our power weakened “Kindness is in our power, even when -compromised fondness is not.” Samuel Johnson -undermined weannot c -enervated [academic] -school policy prohibits us from -enfeebled -current conditions do not warrant -abated -debilitated Wone d ’t know that yet -attenuated -that remains to be seen -waned -dwindled wead h agreed to -it had been agreed between us weakness -shortcoming Wade h not been in the -failing neighborhood for long -defect -we had not been a great while in the -foible neighborhood -drawback weave h begun to question -infirmity -we have come to question -deficiency “We have come to question the tenets on wealth which that philosophy is based.” -means

wenow k so little wealthy -so little is known -of considerable means -moneyed wehink t -well heeled -it is believed that “No matter what its name or provenance, it wearing is believed that the arrival of the Europeans -sporting on Hispaniola unleashed the fukú on the -clad in world, and we’ve all been in the shit ever since.” Junot Diaz, The Brief Wondrous weave plait {plate} Life of Oscar Wao -

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 368 12/10/10 8:36 AM wentâ 369â

weit gh of “The art exhibit attracted everyone from -heavy freight of the cognoscenti to the just plain curious.” “Every facial twitch had its own score. wellntentioned i Every smile ate up two and a half pages -well disposed of sheet music. Every little thing walked around with this heavy freight of meaning.” “He was fortunate to work for a company Colson Whitehead, Apex Hides the Hurt so well disposed to the needs and ambitions of its employees.” welcome! -it’s an honor and a pleasure wellept k -delighted to make your acquaintance -in good repair I am pleased to welcome you - wellnown k welcomed (was welcomed) -widely circulated -was initially greeted with -of wide repute -was received warmly

welfare That rumor has been going -your livelihood around for months. -your lot That rumor has been widely well circulated for months. -suitably “He was suitably attired for the occasion.” welliked l -well thought of wellhosen c for the -held in high regard occasion -felicitous wellqalified u “The awkward moment threatened to de- -well credentialed rail the talks, when out of nowhere came a felicitous remark to save the day.” He’s comes very qualified. Wllonee d He comes well credentialed. -kudos {Greek, KOO-doze, lit. praise}

“Kudos to you for ruining Christmas.” wellimed t [sarcastic] -opportune

wellducated e went well read - -made her way to erudite - -pushed as far as learned - -went forth [poetic] wellurnished f -extended far beyond -well appointed -repaired “We repaired to a crappy bar for a round wellnformed-i people of kamikazes and a good cry. For several (culturally) hours we swam in a pool of sad stories -the cognoscenti {Italian, con-ya-SHEN-tee}

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 369 12/10/10 8:36 AM 370â went about their business

from our childhoods.” Nancy Balbirer, -what of “Friendly Fire” “But what of those who travel alone? Why wentbout a their business should Vinnie Miner, whose comfort has been disregarded by others by most of her -busied themselves adult life, disregard her own comfort?” “No one would have believed in the last Alison Lurie, Foreign Affairs years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and Watm h a I supposed to do? closely by intelligences greater than man’s -what would you have me do? and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied themselves about their various con- WHAT DID HE DIE OF? cerns they were scrutinized and studied, -of what did he die? perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with Wato h d I have to do with a microscope might scrutinize the tran- that sient creatures that swarm and multiply in -what have I to do with that a drop of water.” H. G. Wells, The War of the Worlds Wato h d you care? -what is that to you? wentround a it -circumvented Wato h d you have to -what have you to wentwa a y “‘What have you to justify your identity?’ -dispersed asked the man with the carbine.” Ernest wentp u to Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls -drew near whato d you expect with wentith w -what can you expect with -attended whato d you think about -accompanied -what have you to say for wentron w g -what do you make of -have gone seriously awry -to your thinking

were Watoesh d it have to -showed themselves to be do with -what has it to do with weealkin’r t g about -of what consequence is it -the one in question Watoesh d it matter whatâ â are made of -of what matter is it -of what âââ are made Watoesh d that have to do “And now, my boys and girls, I must with anything first tell you of what candles are made.” -that is apropos of nothing Michael Faraday, The Chemical History of a Candle whatrustrates f me most is -the thing that gives me most frustra- whatbout a tion is -what is there to say about

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 370 12/10/10 8:36 AM what they were doingâ 371â

“We tend to disagree on other matters what I said too, but the thing that gives me most frus- -my mention of tration is trying to make her understand why I like country music.” James Alan whats i MacPherson, Elbow Room -that which is whats i going on (this is whatappened h to what is going on) -what became of -this is how the matter stands “I had two elder brothers, one of whom was lieutenant-colonel to an English regiment Wats h i his name of foot in Flanders, formerly commanded -what is he called [poetic] by the famous Colonel Lockhart, and was killed at the battle near Dunkirk against whatt i was like how it was to the Spaniards. What became of my sec- - ond brother I never knew, any more than “We asked him how it was to live under my father or mother knew what became of Communism, and he said that it was ter- me.” Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe rible at first, because everybody had to work so hard, and because there wasn’t whate h does as a rule much shelter or food or clothing.” Kurt -he is quick to Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five -that’s his calling card -he is given to Watt h i ’s like to I know what it is to “He is given to ostentatious words and long - winded speeches.” whatind k of -what manner of whate h does for a living -by occupation he is whatittle l there is -by profession he is -such as it is “By profession he is, or has been, a scholar, “Only her compassion and mercy—such as and scholarship still engages, intermittently, it is—can save you now.” the core of him.” J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace whathould s I do whate h likes -what’s to be done -he is taken to -what am I to do “He is taken to old things like rare books and vintage hunting rifles.” Wathouldh s our -what is to be our whate h said whatomeone s does -his words -her âââ manner never abandons her “He was dismayed at the president’s words.” -he’s given to her penchant for whate h will think - she’s a practitioner of -how he will view the matter - whathe t y were doing what I mean is the goings on of -what I mean to say is - -the doings of

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 371 12/10/10 8:36 AM 372â what we are about to see

“She took little interest in the doings of Waty h ’s our name? the glitterati.” -How are you called? [poetic] “‘How are you called? I have forgotten.’ It whate w are about to see was a bad sign to him that he had forgot- -what we are about to receive ten. ‘Anselmo,’ the old man said. ‘I am “The disembodied voice, sounding like called Anselmo and I come from Barco God with a hangover, lets us know in de- de Avila…’” Ernest Hemingway, For tail what we are about to receive. ‘Ladies Whom the Bell Tolls and gentlemen,’ the voice rumbles by way of a preshow announcement for Richard whenll a is said and done Forman’s ‘Idiot Savant,’ a play that is -in the final analysis some kind of wonderful. ‘In the course of this evening the following objects will ap- Wene h h had no examples, he would pear onstage.’” Ben Brantley, New York in default of examples he would Times, Nov. 5, 2009 - “In default of examples he would invent whate w ’re in for parables.” Victor Hugo, Les Miserables -what lay before us whene h sees Watereh w you thinking -when his eyes fall on -what possessed you to “Then one Saturday morning everything whatill w happen to changes. He is in the city on business; he is -what will become of walking down St. George’s Street when his eyes fall on a slim figure ahead of him in the Watillh w â â do for you crowd.” J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace -where will âââ lead you when I came down for the Watouldh w you like me to winter -what would you have me -on my coming down for the winter

whaty ou should do when I heard that -what is expected of you -on hearing that

whateveR when I heard the cry -very well -when the cry went up -so be it “As chaplain, I had no orders, and so whatever the placed myself where I believed I could do most good. I was in the rear, praying -whatever were the with the wounded, when the cry went up: Wateverh you want Great God, they are upon us!” Geraldine -do what you will Brooks, March

when I was Whatever you want to call them -some years ago, as a is fine. whent i ’s time to leave Call them what you will. -when the time has come to leave

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 372 12/10/10 8:36 AM which some call_____â 373â

wheneavin l g whether he meant to or not -on going away -deliberately or otherwise

whenhe s awoke -on waking in the morning I don’t care if you meant to or not.

whenhe s did this I don’t care if it was deliberate or -at this otherwise.

whenhe t visit was over -when the visit was ended whether it’s true or false -be it true or false whensed u -whether it be true or false when applied - “What is reported of men, whether it be wheny ou get a chance true or false, may play as large a part in -at your earliest convenience their lives, and above all in their destiny, as the things they do.” Victor Hugo, wheny ou get back from Les Miserables -on your return from whether they are whenever he wanted to -be they -with impunity -at will which -as the mood struck him -from which -to which he had been where -in which which are -wherein -as may be -by which “Whatever may be the result of this mission, I trust that nothing will have been Wereh are you going? omitted on my part to conduct the nego- Where are you off to? - tiation to a successful conclusion, on such wherehe s was equitable terms as may be compatible with -her whereabouts the safety, honor and interest of the United States.” John Adams, State of the Union wherehere t are signs of Address, 1797 -where âââ are in evidence which are not wherehere t wasn’t one -none of which are before -where there was none before whichs i what we did -all of which we did wherey ou don’t belong -out of your element whichome s call_____ -which by some is calledâââ wherever I looked “…there lies a small market town or rural -wherever I turned my view port, which by some is called Greensburgh, but which is more generally and properly

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 373 12/10/10 8:36 AM 374â which would mean

known by the name of Tarry Town.” constant companion and housekeeper in his Washington Irving, The Legend of sister.” Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility Sleepy Hollow whoever which would mean -whosoever -in which case whole nine yards while -the alpha and omega of -for some time -for a spell W? hy -Where’s the sense of it? whilever e yone in the house -Why so? was sleeping -Why then? -while the house slept -To what purpose?

whilen o the contrary W rehy a you different -whereas with me? -Why are you so changed to me? whim -a velleity {vuh-LEE-uh-tee} W st hy i i that -how is it that whine “How is it that Americans, so solicitous of -lament the animals they keep as pets, are so indif- whining speech ferent to the ones they cook for dinner? The -diatribe answer cannot lie in the beasts themselves. -jeremiad Pigs, after all, are quite companionable, and dogs are said to be delicious.” Elizabeth whisper Kolbert, The New Yorker, Nov. 9, 2009 -a murmur -in an undertone W shishy i t -a veiled voice -why should this be -in an aside -a muttering wh houldy s I care if -what do I care if white wine -a white widean -r ging -eclectic who -who among us widespread pervasive -for whom - -systemic whos i a -far-reaching -who serves as width whoas w his -breadth -in his will (I will) “The late owner of this estate was a single -intend man, who lived to a very advanced age, -shall and who for many years of his life, had a -will be compelled to

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 374 12/10/10 8:36 AM witchcraftâ 375â

-mean to win -will not hesitate to -carry the day -am to -gain a decisive victory -will think fit to -prevail -will resolve to winwards a -I have a mind to -garner praise will( my will) winver o -volition co-opt -strength of will - -discretion winding -inclination -sinuous {SIN-you-us} serpentine {SUR-pen-teen} wille b - -is likely to be wine -is to be -vintage

wille b enough wineteward s -will suffice -sommelier {French, sum-all-YAY}

wille b there winner -are to be there -victor wille b three in June “In my soul rages a battle without victor. -will turn three in June Between faith without proof and reason without charm.” Sully Prudhomme willontinue c -will persist wipet i out -eradicate willave h -shall have wise -prudent willork w (it will work) -judicious -it will do -astute

willyu o wisend a pithy -will you not -gnomic {NO-mik}

willed by God wiseerson p -willed on high -a sage

willing witchoctor d -inclined to -conjure doctor disposed to - “Their preachers and conjure doctors have willingness always known many things besides how to -alacrity save men’s lives and souls.” Julia Peterkin, Scarlet Sister Mary willpower -resolve witchcraft -with singular force of will -diablerie {French, dee-AH-blu-ree}

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 375 12/10/10 8:36 AM 376â with

with witheelin f g -among -poignant -attended -in possession of withgav r y -au jus {French, oh-ZHOOS, lit. with “It is a truth universally acknowledged, juice} that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Jane with my eyes closed Austen, Pride and Prejudice -in my dark -accompanied by “I let the mop push me back to the wall -in league with and smile and try to foul her equipment -of up as much as possible by not letting her “We were sitting in the blind that see my eyes—they can’t tell so much Wanderobo hunters had built of twigs about you if you got your eyes closed. In and branches at the edge of the salt-lick my dark I hear her rubber heels hit the tile when we heard the truck coming.” Ernest and the stuff in her wicker bag clash with Hemingway, The Green Hills of Africa the jar of her walking as she passes me in the hall.” Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the -with that of Cuckoo’s Nest -in the company of -in tow withhat t goal in mind -in concert with -to that end -by withhe t help of “They were gentlemen-magicians, which -by means of is to say they had never harmed any one -under the auspices of by magic—nor done any one the slightest good.” Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Strange withhe t words and Mr. Norrell -emblazoned with the words

with a little â â withhem t -tinged with âââ -in their company withll a the pomp and “…you get some who blow kisses or try to Âcircumstanc of get hold of your arm, but then they are defi- -with all the parade of nitely knocking at the wrong door. I get off -with all the ceremony of my bicycle and refuse to go further in their company, or I pretend to be insulted and withaited b breath tell them in no uncertain terms to clear off.” -everyone waited expectant Anne Frank, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Everyone waited with baited withhis t in mind breath. -against this background Everyone waited expectant. -in this light withhis t letter withonte c xt -herewith -with thick description

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 376 12/10/10 8:36 AM without the least bit ofâ 377â

withyur o permission without being there -by your leave [humorous] -in absentia {Latin, in ab-SENT-shee-uh} withdraw -disengage without effort or thought -perfunctory within -in the midst of without even thinking -inherent about it -out of hand within reach -arbitrarily -near at hand -indiscriminately with indifference to within the country - in a perfunctory manner -on its soil - without getting into without Âquestions which -empty of -without entering into questions “Baba never found out about Mama’s ill- which ness; she only fell ill when he was away on business. It was as if, when the world without hurting himself was empty of him, she and I remained as -without disaster to himself and others stupid reminders, empty pages that had to be filled with the memory of how they had without making them suspicious come to be married.” Hisham Matar, In -without arousing suspicion the Country of Men -in default of -sans âââ Don’t make them suspicious. -devoid of Do not arouse suspicion. -independent of -without the least trace of -destitute of without penalty -with impunity “Destitute of beauty but not without use, the scaly ant-eater is frequently seen; without resentment but the most common of all the beasts is -ungrudging an odious species of large lizard, nearly three feet long, which resembles a flabby- without sin skinned crocodile and feeds on carrion.” -in a state of grace Winston Churchill, The Story of The without sounding Malakand Field Force -without casting yourself as without a problem without the -without issue -unadorned by the without any help from without the least bit of -without the patronage of -without the least trace of

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 377 12/10/10 8:36 AM 378â wits

wits wordost m appropriate (the -in matters of the mind [Homer] perfect word) -mot juste {French, moe ZHOOST} witt emarky r -retort worded as -sally -couched in the rhetoric of -jeu d’esprit {French, zhu de SPREE} wordy -repartee {French, reh-par-TAY} -garrulous {GAIR-uh-lus} witt a y s ying -windy -witticism -loquacious -aphorism -turgid “If you are your own worst enemy; don’t -prolix [academic] do yourself any favors.” workor f wi id z k -am accountable to work under the patronage of -wunderkind {German, voon-der-kind, - kind as in wind} -in the service of “He does not impress me as he does the oth- wokep u to ers, but I like to be in the service of a master -awoke to who is so impressive. I will not deny that he is a great man; but nobody is great to woman-hating his dwarf. I follow him constantly, like a -misogynistic shadow.” Pär Lagerkvist, The Dwarf women’s fashions workard h -couture {French, koo-TOUR} -work tirelessly wonwards a -he will make his name by his industry -garnered praise workf o art wonhe t -a confection -netted the “It was a confection of light and shadow like no other.” wondered -mused workut o hammer out wondering - -I was curious worko t undertake wonake ’t t no for an - answer -endeavor to labor to -she’s pretty emphatic - -toil wordor f word -ipsissima verba {Latin, ip-SIS-imuh worko t gether VER-buh} [academic] -collaborate worked for -took employment under

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 378 12/10/10 8:36 AM would have myâ 379â

worked for me wormy our way in -was in my employ -insinuate yourself into -ingratiate yourself workers -the rank and file wornut o -haggard working -laboring worried -raised concern among working on it -expressed concern -working to address it -was especially concerned that working with -had a foreboding that -in concert with worry workmanlike -angst -yeoman -apprehension -disquiet “The book is a yeoman work of historical fiction, with fact grinding against histori- worsehan t cal fact. It is also a monotonous piece of -are more to be feared than storytelling, one that has little pliancy or narrative push. Its 681 pages of text are at worship times as grueling as a forced march across -deify the Mongolian steppe.” Dwight Garner, -idealize New York Times, Nov. 3, 2009 -lionize

works worst -lends itself to -scaliest

works against worsthin t g for -undermines the credibility of -the bane of

works at worth -earns his living at -merits -well worth “About his own job he says little, not wanting to bore her. He earns his living at the worthy Cape Technical University, formerly Cape -there is nothing beneath you in it Town University College.” J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace would be good for you -would do you good world -you could stand to benefit -realm -landscape of would have been -was to be worldly -secular would have my -temporal -took my -terrestrial “My name, in those days, was Susan Trinder. People called me Sue. I know the

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 379 12/10/10 8:36 AM 380â would not

year I was born in, but for many years I did never be.” Pearl S. Buck, The Child Who not know the date, and took my birthday Never Grew at Christmas.” Sarah Waters, Fingersmith writet a the top of the page would not -superscribe -he declined to writeetters l -dash off letters He would not answer any more questions. writing -the author’s hand He declined to answer any “But Douglas, without heeding me, had be- further questions. gun to read with a fine clearness that was like a rendering to the ear of the beauty would rather not of his author’s hand.” Henry James, The -I had rather not Turn of the Screw

wouldy ou like some writings -shall I bring -inscriptions -narrative wounding -prose -bloodying written wrapped in -put to paper -swathed in -commited to paper -emblazoned on write -composed -commit something to paper -produce written in “It was only that, having written down -enshrined in the first few fine paragraphs, I could not produce any others—or, to approximate wron g (immoral) unconscionable Gertrude Stein’s remark about a lesser - writer of The Lost Generation—I had wron g (incorrect) the syrup but it wouldn’t pour.” William -that’s faulty reasoning Styron, Sophie’s Choice -it flies in the face of reality -take it down -it is founded on a misconception -draft “You must follow me carefully. I shall have -set down to controvert one or two ideas that are al- “The final reason for setting down this most universally accepted. The geometry, story is that I want my child’s life to be for instance, they taught you in school of use in her generation. She is one who is founded on a misconception.” H. G. has never grown mentally beyond her early Wells, The Time Machine childhood, therefore she is forever a child, although in years she is old enough now wron g (misguided) to have been married and to have children -under the illusion that of her own—my grandchildren who will -he’s got a wrong notion about -is aberrant

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wron g (something’s wrong) yarse -is askew -generations -is awry yarse ago wron g name for something -in former days -misnomer “…there lies a small market town or rural wron g opinion port, which by some is called Greensburgh, but which is more generally and properly -misconception known by the name of Tarry Town. This wron g word (a word used name was given, we are told, in former mistakenly) days, by the good housewives of the adja- -malapropism {MAL-ih-proh-pih-sum} cent country, from the inveterate propensity of their husbands to linger about the vil- wrongdoing lage tavern on market days.” Washington -malfeasance Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow wrond ge (the wronged) yarslde o the aggrieved - -a man of seventy five they that you’ve acted wrongly by - -âââ years of age wrongheaded “The stranger’s eyes were green, his hair -ill-advised burnt to a straw colour. I judged he was -ill-conceived sixty years of age.” J.M. Coetzee, Foe

wrote yarsincee s -took it down -many years removed from -since many years I have wroteg ood things about -made favorable mention of yllte a -wrote highly of -chastise -scathe -voice disdain I said good things about her in my report. yllede out I made favorable mention of her -bellowed in my report. yllowe -primrose -saffron -flaxen

yllowishe complexion X x Yy Zz -sallow yarne i and year out -jaundice -unfailingly ys e yarf e o traveling -precisely -my wanderjahr {German, -so it seems VOHN-der-yar} -to be sure -no doubt

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 381 12/10/10 8:36 AM 382â yes it is

-it would seem so yuono d ’t know anything -most assuredly about -without reservations -you know nothing of -such is the case yuono d ’t seem to get yste i i -the point, which seems to elude you -so it is yuaveo h planned nothing -it is so -nothing have you planned ysterdae y yuaveo h to admit -it’s only a day since -you must admit yte yuaveo h the ability to -yet to be -you have the capacity for -at last -as yet yunsulto i me “Sayward awoke this day with the feeling -you pay me a great insult [humorous] that something had happened to her. What it was, she didn’t know as yet, or if it was yuhouldo s I would advise you to for better or for worse, but inside of her a - change had taken place.” Conrad Richter, yuhouldo s know The Town -mind you -it is only fair to say that yureo a all stupid for -I must tell you -how stupid you all are for -it’s worth noting, if only to yureo a hanging out with demonstrate -you’ve taken up with yuhouldo s not be surprised yuano c get it if -it can be had -it should come as no surprise that

yuano c ’t have any yuhouldo s not think, -you are not to have any however, that -it must not be thought, however, that yuano c ’t win them all -even Homer nods Youere w wrong -you acted wrongly yuouldo c say that -it would be true to say Youon w ’t have to worry about anything -it may be imagined -it will be no trouble to you Youid d this Youould w love this if you -this is your doing were still alive yuono d ’t care -â â , shouldst thou be living at -it’s of no consequence to you this hour yuouldo w think -one would think

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 382 12/10/10 8:36 AM zero in onâ 383â

yuleo ’l b sorry if you don’t -it’ll be the worse for you if you don’t

yunro ge -âââ years his junior

yuro -one’s -a woman’s -a man’s “It was a rasping nervous wind, and the dust particles cut into a man’s skin and burned his eyes.” John Steinbeck, East of Eden

yuraulto f -a predicament of your own making

yurwno o little world -in a world of your invention -a world of your own making

yuresponsibilito r y to -it’s incumbent upon you to

yueo ’r talking about -the one in question

yueo ’r welcome -think nothing of it

yutho -my salad days -at a tender age

zrone i on -train your sights on

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. 1 it seems 10. advice -it strikes me as -counsel

2. talking about 11. on -talking of -upon

3. walking around 12. anyhow -walking about -be that as it may

4. absolutely 13. fake -without question -faux

5. a lot 14. it reminds me of -a great deal -it recalls

6. a little 15. an amount of -to some extent -a measure of

7. blame 16. She lied. -find fault -She was less than forthcoming.

8. I like 17. I don’t see a difference -I favor between -I draw no distinction between 9. admittedly -albeit 18. uncertain -precarious

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19. we are affected by 33. just as good as -we are subjected to -comparable to

20. I’m afraid that 34. asked to do -I fear that -called upon to do

21. right after 35. asking for trouble -in the wake of -courting disaster

22. they have an effect on 36. at risk -they inform -at hazard

23. now that I think about it 37. I don’t claim to -in retrospect -I make no pretenses

24. it goes with 38. They don’t like her. -it’s in keeping with -They hold her in very low regard. 25. they are still -they remain 39. makes him mad -displeases him 26. all kinds of -all manner of 40. filled with -laden with 27. in nobody’s debt -beholden to no one 41. soon to arrive forthcoming 28. are good for - -lend themselves to 42. I’m aware of I’m mindful of 29. it comes from - -it stems from 43. bad perverse 30. it doesn’t matter - -it’s of little consequence 44. It ended dramatically. It ended in dramatic fashion. 31. are proof of - -they attest to the 45. bare spartan 32. look like - -bear a resemblance to

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46. I’m offended by 60. believable -I take exception to -plausible

47. get a grip on yourself 61. believe -steel yourself -embrace

48. because of 62. keep from us -in light of -deprive us of

49. I’m not likely to 63. It’s on the tip of my tongue. -I’m less inclined to -The word escapes me.

50. become a victim 64. I can’t find them. -fall victim to -They are nowhere to be found.

51. the previously mentioned 65. I can’t see her. -the aforementioned -I’ve lost sight of her.

52. heard it through the grapevine 66. can’t stand it -have it on good authority -can’t bear it

53. without my knowledge 67. we really care about -unbeknownst to me -we give great importance to

54. kind of mean way to put it 68. I’ll let her know you called. -rather uncharitable -I’ll leave word.

55. a black sheep 69. what’s more, -a pariah -moreover,

56. bossy 70. on purpose -imperious -by design

57. run into 71. not used to -chance upon -unaccustomed to

58. you came here willingly 72. on the condition that -you came of your own accord -with the proviso that

59. keep it away 73. She came across very well. -keep it at bay -She acquitted herself well.

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74. are confirmed by 87. I’ve wanted that for a while. -are borne out by -I’ve had designs on that for a while. 75. not required to -not obliged to 88. He never told us that. -He made no mention of that. 76. the current -the prevailing 89. I don’t know I cannot say 77. the opposite view - -the countervailing view 90. I don’t like doing this -I take no pleasure in it 78. don’t look at it -avert your eyes 91. I do not understand -the point escapes me 79. wrong-headed -ill-conceived 92. do without -forego 80. started crying -fell to tears 93. broken down -in disrepair 81. swear words -colorful language 94. is down to earth -has few pretentions 82. an excuse -a pretext 95. has ill-feelings for -harbors ill-feelings for 83. I decided not to do that -I thought better of it 96. the ignorant -the benighted 84. put your two cents in -weigh in 97. Who knows? -It remains to be seen. 85. how much -the extent to which 98. involve yourself in -indulge in 86. I’m not here to defend -I’m no apologist for 99. envy -begrudge

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100. even so 114. freak out -be that as it may -come unglued

101. exaggerate 115. free from -embellish -independent of

102. except for 116. get ready -apart from -ready yourself

103. a huge amount of time 117. give it up for good -an inordinate amount of time -foreswear it

104. expose 118. go there -lay bare -frequent

105. get to know 119. goes beyond -acquaint yourself with -transcends

106. fancy 120. get back up -extravagant -right yourself

107. feel it the worst 121. got closer -bear the brunt of -drew near

108. force myself to 122. tons of -bring myself to -legions of

109. for no reason 123. it hurts to -without cause -it pains me to

110. for practical purposes 124. has a habit of -for all intents and purposes -is given to

111. former friend 125. has gained acceptance -erstwhile friend -has gained currency

112. forget about it 126. hardly any -think no more of it -none to speak of

113. we found 127. we said hello -we came upon -we exchanged pleasantries

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128. How do you mean? 142. in on the conversation -In what respect? -privy to the conversation

129. I might even 143. plain and average looking -I have a mind to -nondescript

130. I admit that 144. we were told that -I make no secret of my -we were given to understand that 131. I don’t like it. -It is not to my liking. 145. is both â â and â â -is at once ââ and ââ 132. I don’t like to complain -I’m not one to complain 146. is no longer -has ceased to be 133. I know what it’s like to -I know what it is to 147. It is no use. It is to no avail. 134. The truth is - -truth be told 148. The jury’s still out on that one. 135. I would never -It remains a matter of dispute. -far be it from me to 149. keep in mind 136. if I wanted to -bear in mind -if I were so inclined 150. a lame argument 137. if you say so -an unconvincing argument -as you please 151. lately 138. That’s iffy. -of late -That’s open to question. 152. a lead-up to 139. in case you -a prelude to -lest you 153. make a fool of yourself 140. in a timely fashion -expose yourself to ridicule -with deliberate speed 154. prevent 141. in many ways -preclude -in many respects

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155. It makes me want more. 169. there is only one -It leaves me wanting more. -there is but one

156. maybe a little 170. outrageous -to some extent, yes -beyond the pale

157. me neither 171. out of the blue -neither do I -quite by chance

158. mournful 172. get around the regulations -plaintive -circumvent the regulations

159. the nerve 173. par for the course -the temerity -pretty standard fare

160. a trick 174. sound phony -a ruse -sound affected

161. take advantage of 175. say something positive about -avail yourself of her -say something complimentary 162. Just because you â â about her -That you ââ 176. pressure was put on 163. nosy -pressure was brought to bear -inquisitive 177. He never gets tired of it. 164. unnecessary -He never tires of it. -unwarranted 178. problems 165. not to mention -difficulties -to say nothing of 179. put at risk 166. will turn out to be -imperil -will prove to be 180. put on 167. off the cuff -don -impromptu 181. tends to 168. on his orders -is predisposed to -at his behest

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182. ask questions 196. bragged about it -make inquiries -lorded it over us

183. raise the subject 197. showy -broach the subject -ostentatious

184. rat out 198. good at -implicate -practiced in the art of

185. regardless of 199. get busy -irrespective of -busy yourself

186. a slam dunk 200. sneak away -a foregone conclusion -steal away

187. sometimes -on occasion

188. reword -paraphrase

189. the right to -license to

190. run into problems -encounter difficulties

191. in a safe place -out of harm’s way

192. she said nothing -she gave no reply

193. it was scary -it was a real scare

194. screwed it up -made a mess of things

195. shy -retiring

WellSpokenThesaurus_FinalINT.indd 391 12/10/10 8:36 AM About the Author

Tom Heehler is a degree student at the Harvard University Extension School and creator of Fluent in Five Languages, the free online language course where students learn to speak four languages simultaneously—French, Italian, Spanish, and Romanian. You can find this novel approach to language acquisition at FreeLanguageCourses.blogspot.com.

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