SOR-taah-bluh -- (French adj.) A friend you can take anywhere with the comfort of knowing they won't embarrass you. A true friend is...

SUN-doe-koo -- (n.) The act of buying a book and leaving it unread amongst a collection of other unread books. A compulsory habit -- some...

(n) A person who cannot make up their mind on a controversial issue -- especially in politics. Mugwumps are those people who, when faced...

REN-ah-sent -- (adj) Rising again into being or vigor. Although used more to describe something that has become popular again, the...

YAWN-der-lee -- (adj.) Mentally or emotionally far away; absent-minded, vacant. "I must be getting absent-minded," remarked the one and...

GLAW-z -- (v) To explain away; to make excuses. "It is almost always the cover-up rather than the event that causes trouble." ~Howard...

inn-DELL-i-bull -- (adj.) That which cannot be forgotten. "I see her face now, better than I did then, I dare say, with its indelible...

vess-purr-TEEN (n.) Occurring or flourishing in the evening. It is said that good things come to those who wait -- to a vespertine, that...

HART-sum -- (adj.) Giving cheer, spirit; uplifting. A heartsome home, a heartsome soul, a heartsome life -- in a world where there is an...

NOO-mi-nus -- (adj.) A soul stirring, supernatural experience of awe and terror, fear and fascination, inspiration and overwhelming...

(PAL-ah-din) -- (n.) A heroic figure; a champion, defender, and advocate of a noble cause. An exceptional word referring to exceptional...

(SIGH-o-list) -- (n.) A person who pretends to be well-informed but has only superficial knowledge; a self-proclaimed expert who actually...

sau-DAH-j -- (n.) A profound melancholy for something or someone that is lost. Behold a word of many layers. The Portuguese word...

tru-va-EE -- (n.) A lovely or lucky find; to discover something good by chance. The French have a way with words -- this one is no...

eh-so-TER-i-kuh -- (n.) Things understood by a select few; a secret knowledge rare to the rest of the world. Esoterica is one of those...

RAY-ruh AY-vuss -- (n.) A rare or exceptional person or thing. You have probably heard the phrase "rare bird" used to describe oddballs,...

GUH-binz -- (n.) Odds and ends OR a silly person Leave it to the Brits to come up with such an all-purpose (innocent) double-entendre....

(n.) A place where one can be one’s most authentic self -- a place where one feels most at home, safe, comforted, and strong. Rarely do...

saw-KO (adj.) -- Stunningly effective, successful. This word is a Gatsby-era, roaring twenties inspired slang for "outstanding." When a...

kur-FLOO-wee (n.) To break suddenly or fail. Things will go kerflooey. That is a fact of life. The important thing is how we react to...