David Olsen - The Big Book of Words You Should Know: Over 3,000 Words Every Person Should be Able to Use (and a few that you probably shouldnt)

THE
BIG BOOK
of WORDS You
SHOULD KNOW Over 3,000 Words Every Person
Should Be Able to Use
(And a Few That You Probably Shouldnt) David Olsen, Michelle Bevilacqua,
and Justin Cord Hayes
Avon, Massachusetts Copyright 2009 by F+W Media, Inc.
All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews. Published by
Adams Media, an F+W Media Company
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322. U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com ISBN 10: 1-60550-139-5
ISBN 13: 978-1-60550-139-0
eISBN: 978-1-44052-077-8 Printed in the United States of America. J I H G F E D C B A
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
is available from the publisher.
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their product are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters. This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.
For information, please call 1-800-289-0963.CONTENTS PART I
Words You Absolutely Should Know PART II
Words Most People Dont Know PART III
Words You Should Know but Probably Dont PART IV
Foreign Idioms You Should Know PART V
People and Place Words You Should Know PART VI
Words You Should Know to Sound Overeducated PART VII
Words You Probably Shouldnt KnowPART I
Words You Absolutely
Should Know If you pride yourself as a good communicator, you absolutely must know the words in this section. If items on this list are unfamiliar to you, learn them immediately or risk being at an embarrassing loss for words! abacus(AB-uh-kuss), noun A device used to figure arithmetic equations by moving beads along rods. Mrs. Danvers thought that the ABACUS, with its brightly colored beads, would entertain the first graders while illustrating the basic principles of addition and subtraction.abdicate(AB-di-kate), verb To formally give up a position or responsibility.

To abdicate means to step down from a high government office or other powerful position. Originally, the word referred primarily to royalty. The King, as we all know, ABDICATED rather than give up the woman he loved.abet(uh-BET), verb To encourage or assist a plan or activity. To abet is to entice or help, usually in a misdeed. An accomplice to a robbery abets the crime. Because the hour is late, I will limit myself to an ABBREVIATED version of my intended speech.abduct(ub-DUCT), verb To take a person away secretly and illegally, often by use of force; to kidnap. My sister Ellen used to take such long showers that Dad would jokingly ask if she d been ABDUCTED by aliens.abject(AB-ject), adjective Reduced to a low state or condition; also, demonstrating hopelessness. I gave up golf when I realized I was an ABJECT failure on the green.abominate(uh-BOM-ih-nate), verb To loathe or hate; to view with extreme hostility. Miss Green ABOMINATED the notion of children working twelve-hour days, and sought legislation forbidding companies from hiring minor workers.abrade(uh-BRADE), verb To wear away or rub off; to wear down in spirit. Miss Green ABOMINATED the notion of children working twelve-hour days, and sought legislation forbidding companies from hiring minor workers.abrade(uh-BRADE), verb To wear away or rub off; to wear down in spirit.

To abrade is to erode or break down. Sandpaper abrades the surface of wood. The campaign had hoped for a hard-hitting, informative television commercial, but the adwidely perceived as negative and mean-spiritedserved only to ABRADE voter support.absolution(ab-suh-LOO-shun), noun The condition of having been forgiven or freed of guilt. To Myrons dismay, the judge did not consider his having paid for the damage to the other partys car sufficient ABSOLUTION for the crime of driving while intoxicated.absolve(ah-ZOLV), verb To formally pronounce guiltless or blameless. To absolve is to relieve of any responsibility for an actual or alleged misdeed. The judge ABSOLVED the accused of any wrongdoing.abstain(ub-STANE), verb To refrain from; to refuse to partake in; to go without voluntarily. Maria, who had ABSTAINED from eating meat while in high school, was persuaded to try a cheeseburger on her graduation night.abstemious(ab-STEE-me-us), adjective Consuming food and drink in moderation. Maria, who had ABSTAINED from eating meat while in high school, was persuaded to try a cheeseburger on her graduation night.abstemious(ab-STEE-me-us), adjective Consuming food and drink in moderation.

Those who are abstemious restrict themselves to the bare necessities of life. In a larger sense, the word can refer to any austere or unassuming lifestyle. Despite the hardships of his ABSTEMIOUS way of life, the monk radiated the confidence that comes with knowing one has chosen the correct path.abstruse(ab-STROOCE), adjective Complex and difficult to comprehend. Abstruse refers to something complex or specialized that requires special effort to grasp. Scientists may understand Einsteins theory of relativity, but for most laymen it remains an ABSTRUSE collection of surrealistic ideas.abyss(uh-BISS), noun An endless black void; an emptiness; a huge hole with no bottom. After nine days of working on my term paper with no conclusion in sight, I felt more and more as if I were facing an ABYSS.accentuate(ak-SEN-choo-ate), verb To intensify or accent.

To accentuate something is to emphasize or stress it. To strengthen or heighten the effect of something is to accentuate it. Brians new glasses ACCENTUATE his nose unflatteringly.accept(ak-SEPT), verb To take into possession. (See, for comparison, the listing for except.) Im happy to ACCEPT your invitation to dinner, Claude.