Uncommon

zeitgeist

[tsahyt-gahyst]

the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time

petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr, pe-trahy-kawr]

a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather

convivial

[kuhn-viv-ee-uhl]

friendly; agreeable

penumbra

[pi-nuhm-bruh]

the partial or imperfect shadow outside the complete shadow of an opaque body, as a planet, where the light from the source of illumination is only partly cut off

noisome

[noi-suhm]

of or related to an offensive, unpleasant, or disgusting as an odor

contrived

[kuhn-trahyvd]

obviously planned or forced; artificial; strained

ambrosial

[am-broh-zhuhl]

exceptionally pleasing to taste or smell; especially delicious or fragrant

propinquity

[proh-ping-kwi-tee]

the state of being close to someone or something; proximity

brusque

[bruhsk]

abrupt in manner; blunt; rough

ubuntu

[oo-boon-too]

humanity or fellow feeling; kindness

rife

[rahyf]

of common or frequent occurrence; prevalent; in widespread existence, activity, or use

insufflate

[in-suhf-leyt]

to blow or breathe (something) in

boondoggle

[boon-dog-uhl]

waste money or time on unnecessary or questionable projects

wanton

[won-tn]

a sexually unrestrained woman

ubiquitous

[yoo-bik-wi-tuhs]

existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time; omnipresent

pedagogy

[ped-uh-goh-jee]

the function or work of a teacher; teaching

taradiddle

[tar-uh-did-l]

a small lie; fib

hegira

[hi-jahy-ruh]

any flight or journey to a more desirable or congenial place

obstreperous

[uhb-strep-er-uhs]

noisy and difficult to control

succedaneum

[suhk-si-dey-nee-uhm]

a substitute

feckless

[fek-lis]

lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible

prosaic

[proh-zey-ik]

commonplace or dull; matter-of-fact or unimaginative

oeillade

[œ-yad]

an amorous glance; ogle

monotonous

[muh-not-n-uhs]

having very little inflection; limited to a narrow pitch range