The Highly Selective Dictionary for the Extraordinarily Literate (27 page)

The confusion of
mucus
and
mucous
can be understood readily. Not only are the two words spelled almost identically, but they are pronounced identically. Yet, no editors or writers worth their salt would fail to agree that
mucus
is a noun, and
mucous
is an adjective. So when they miss a confusion of the two words in a text they are working on, they are guilty of carelessness, not ignorance. Stay alert and avoid this boner.

mulct
(mulkt)
verb

take money away from (a person), as by a fine or taxation, or by dubious means.

muliebrity
(
MYOO
-lee-EB-ri-tee)
noun

1. womanhood.

2. normal characteristics of a woman.

Related word:
muliebral
(
MYOO
-lee-EB-r
e
l)
adjective
.

mutable
(MYOO-t
e
-b
e
l)
adjective

1. liable to change.

2. fickle, inconstant.

Related words:
mutability
(
MYOO
-t
e
-BIL-i-tee) and
mutableness
(MYOO-t
e
-b
e
l-nis)
both nouns
,
mutably
adverb
.

myrmidon
(MUR-mi-
DON
)
noun

an unscrupulously faithful follower; a henchman.

nadir
(NAY-d
e
r)
noun

1. the lowest point.

2. the time of greatest adversity.

Related word:
nadiral
(NAY-d
e
r-
e
l)
adjective
.

narcissism
(NAHR-s
e
-
SIZ
-
e
m)
noun

1. a tendency to self-worship.

2. excessive or erotic interest in one's own personal features; vanity.

Related words:
narcissist
(NAHR-s
e
-sist)
noun
,
narcissistic
(
NAHR
-s
e
-SIS-tik)
adjective
.

nascent
(NAY-s
e
nt)
adjective

1. in the act of being born.

2. just beginning to exist; immature.

Related word:
nascency
(NAY-s
e
n-see)
noun
.

natter
(NAT-
e
r)
verb

1. chatter idly.

2. grumble.

Related word:
natter
noun
.

nausea
(NAW-zee-
e
)
noun

a feeling of sickness or extreme disgust.

See
nauseous
.

nauseate
(NAW-zee-
AYT
)
verb

cause to feel nausea.

See
nauseous
.

Related words:
nauseating
(NAW-zee-
AY
-ting)
adjective
,
nauseatingly
adverb
.

nauseous
(NAW-sh
e
s)
adjective

1. causing nausea.

2. experiencing nausea.

Some writers and editors insist stubbornly that
nauseous
should not be used in the second sense,
experiencing nausea
. Instead of “I feel nauseous,” they prefer to write “I feel nauseated.” Unfortunately for writers and editors so inclined,
nauseous
has been used in senses 1 and 2 for at least four centuries. Moreover, most people today use
nauseous
exclusively in sense 2, never thinking for a moment of speaking about
nauseous
medicines or
nauseous
anything else. So, whenever you feel sick to your stomach, ignore the advice of
nauseating
, self-proclaimed experts and express your feeling of
nausea
any way you wish. But first take something to restore you to good health.

Related words:
nauseously
adverb
,
nauseousness
noun
.

nebulous
(NEB-y
e
-l
e
s)
adjective

1. having no definite form.

2. indistinct.

Related words:
nebulously
adverb
,
nebulousness
noun
.

necrology
(n
e
-KROL-
e
-jee)
noun, plural
necrologies

1. a list of persons recently dead.

2. an obituary.

Related words:
necrological
(
NEK
-r
e
-LOJ-i-k
e
l) and
necrologic
(
NEK
-r
e
-LOJ-ik)
both adjectives
,
necrologically
(
NEK
-r
e
-LOJ-
e
-klee)
adverb
,
necrologist
(n
e
-KROL-
e
-jist)
noun
.

necropolis
(n
e
-KROP-
e
-lis)
noun, plural
necropolises

a cemetery, especially a cemetery of an ancient city.

Related word:
necropolitan
(
NEK
-r
e
-POL-i-t
e
n)
adjective
.

nefarious
(ni-FAIR-ee-
e
s)
adjective

wicked.

Related words:
nefariously
adverb
,
nefariousness
noun
.

nemesis
(NEM-
e
-sis)
noun, plural
nemeses
(NEM-
e
-
SEEZ
)

1. retributive justice.

2. a downfall.

3. the agent of downfall.

4. a rival who is seen as inevitably victorious.

neologism
(nee-OL-
e
-
JIZ
-
e
m)
noun
, also given as
neology
(nee-OL-
e
-jee)

1. a newly coined word or phrase.

2. the coining or using of new words.

Related words:
neologist
(nee-OL-
e
-jist)
noun
,
neologistic
(nee-
OL
-
e
-JIS-tik) and
neologistical
(nee-
OL
-
e
-JIS-ti-k
e
l)
both adjectives
,
neologize
(nee-OL-
e
-
J
I
Z
)
verb
.

neonatal
(
NEE
-oh-NAYT-
e
l)
adjective

of or relating to a newborn child.

Related word:
neonatally
adverb
.

neonate
(NEE-
e
-
NAYT
)
noun

1. a newborn child.

2. a child in its first 28 days.

neoteric
(
NEE
-
e
-TER-ik)
adjective

1. modern, recent.

2. newfangled.

Related word:
neoterically
adverb
.

nepotism
(NEP-
e
-
TIZ
-
e
m)
noun

favoritism shown to relatives in appointing them to jobs.

Related words:
nepotist
(NEP-
e
-tist)
noun
,
nepotistic
(
NEP
-
e
-TIS-tik) and
nepotistical
both adjectives
.

nescience
(NESH-
e
ns)
noun

1. absence of knowledge.

2. ignorance.

Related word:
nescient
adjective
.

nevus
(NEE-v
e
s)
noun, plural
nevi
(NEE-v
I
)

a birthmark consisting of a mole or a red patch on the skin.

Related word:
nevoid
(NEE-void)
adjective
.

nexus
(NEK-s
e
s)
noun, plural
nexuses
or
nexus

a bond, link, or connection.

nirvana
(nir-VAH-n
e
)
noun

in Buddhist and Hindu teaching, the state of perfect bliss attained when the soul is freed from all suffering and absorbed into the supreme spirit.

Related word:
nirvanic
adjective
.

noctambulist
(nok-TAM-by
e
-list)
noun
, also given as
noctambule
(nok-TAM-byool)

a sleepwalker; a somnambulist.

Related words:
noctambulant
(nok-TAM-by
e
-l
e
nt),
noctambulistic
(nok-
TAM
-by
e
-LIS-tik), and
noctambulous
(nok-TAM-by
e
-l
e
s)
all adjectives
;
noctambulism
(nok-TAM-by
e
-
LIZ
-
e
m) and
noctambulation
(nok-
TAM
-by
e
-LAY-sh
e
n)
both nouns
.

nocuous
(NOK-yoo-
e
s)
adjective

1. harmful, likely to cause damage.

2. noxious.

Related words:
nocuously
adverb
,
nocuousness
noun
.