A-Lex (noun): /ˈāˌleks/
A personally curated lexicon of words by Alexandra Diana
A
Abstemious – ab·stee·mee·uhs
Characterized by moderation, especially in food or drink.
Admonish – ad·mon·ish
To warn or reprimand someone firmly.
Admonitory – ad·mon·ih·tohr·ee
Giving a warning or conveying a reprimand.
Adroitly – uh·droit·lee
Skillfully or expertly, often in physical or mental tasks.
Adulation – a·juh·lay·shn
Excessive praise or flattery.
Aquiline – ak·wuh·line
Curved or hooked like an eagle's beak, often used to describe noses.
Atavistic – at·uh·viss·tik
Reverting to something ancient or ancestral.
Auld Lang Syne – awld lang zine
A phrase from an old Scottish song, meaning "times long past."
Avuncular – uh·vuhn·kyoo·lar
Kind and friendly, like an uncle.
B
Bonhomie – bon·uh·mee
Cheerful friendliness or geniality.
C
Cabal – kuh·bal
A secretive group engaged in plotting or conspiracies.
Catkins – kat·kinz
Flower clusters resembling furry tails, typically from trees like willows or birches.
Crocuses – kroh·kuh·suhz
Early spring flowers that grow from bulbs, often purple, yellow, or white.
Cynosure – sy·nuh·shoor
Something that serves as a focal point of attention and admiration.
D
Denizens – deh·nuh·zuhnz
Inhabitants or frequent visitors of a particular place.
Derision – dih·rih·zhuhn
Contemptuous ridicule or mockery.
Desultory – deh·suhl·tuh·ree
Lacking a definite plan or enthusiasm.
Detritus – dih·try·tuhs
Waste or debris of any kind.
Dias – dy·uhs
A raised platform for speakers or honored guests.
Diaphanous – dy·af·uh·nuhs
Light, delicate, and translucent, typically describing fabric.
Diffidently – dif·uh·dent·lee
In a shy or reserved manner, due to a lack of self-confidence.
Din – din
A loud, continuous noise, typically unpleasant or chaotic.
Doggerel – daw·gruhl
Verse or poetry that is irregular and often humorous.
E
Effete – eh·feet
Overrefined, decadent, or lacking in vitality.
Elan – ay·laan
Energy, style, and enthusiastic confidence.
Ennui – ahn·wee
A feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction due to a lack of excitement.
Ephemeral – ih·fem·uh·ruhl
Lasting for a very short time, fleeting and transient.
F
Fetid – feh·tuhd
Having a foul, unpleasant smell.
Fug – fuhg
A warm, stuffy, and unpleasant atmosphere.
G
Gorse – gawrs
A spiny shrub with bright yellow flowers commonly found in Europe.
Gurning – gur·ning
Contorting one's face into grotesque or exaggerated expressions.
H
Halcyon – hal·see·uhn
A period of time in the past that was idyllically peaceful and happy.
Hegemony – heh·jeh·muh·nee
Dominance or leadership, especially of one group over others.
Highfalutin – hi·fuh·loo·tn
Pompous or pretentious in manner or speech.
I
Ignominiously – ig·nuh·min·ee·uhs·lee
In a shameful or disgraceful manner.
Ineffable – in·ef·uh·buhl
Too great or extreme to be expressed in words; indescribable.
Iniquitous – ih·nik·wuh·tuhs
Grossly unfair or morally wrong.
Insouciant – in·soo·see·uhnt
Casual lack of concern or indifference.
Intoned – in·tohnd
Spoke with a slow, measured, and often solemn tone.
J
K
Kairos – kye·ross
The perfect, opportune moment for action or decision.
Knell – nel
The sound of a bell, particularly as a signal of death or mourning.
L
Languorous – lang·gr·uhs
Characterized by a dreamy, relaxed state or lack of energy.
Legerdemain – leh·jr·deh·mayn
Skillful trickery or sleight of hand.
Limerence – lih·mer·uhns
The state of being infatuated or obsessed with another person, usually involuntarily.
M
Meraki – meh·rah·kee
Doing something with soul, creativity, or love; leaving a piece of yourself in your work.
Monachopsis – mon·uh·koh·sihs
The subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place.
Mullioned – muhl·yuhnd
Having vertical bars between panes of glass, often in windows.
N
Numinous – noo·mih·nuhs
Relating to a deep, spiritual, or mystical quality, often suggesting the presence of divinity.
Née – nay
Originally called, used to refer to a woman's maiden name.
O
Obelisks – aw·buh·lisks
Tall, four-sided, narrow monuments that taper to a point at the top.
P
Paean – pee·uhn
A song or expression of praise or triumph.
Perfidious – pur·fid·ee·uhs
Treacherous or deceitful.
Pernicious – per·nish·uhs
Harmful in a gradual or subtle way.
Petrichor – peh·truh·kor
The pleasant, earthy scent after rain falls on dry soil.
Prognosticator – prog·nah·sti·kay·tor
Someone who predicts future events.
Psithurism – sith·uh·riz·uhm
The sound of wind whispering through trees.
Q
Quiescent – kwy·es·uhnt
In a state of quiet or inactivity, especially referring to a state of calm before action.
R
Rabble – ra·buhl
A disorderly or chaotic crowd.
Reticent – reh·tih·snt
Reserved or reluctant to speak.
S
Saccharine – sak·uh·rin
Overly sweet or sentimental in nature.
Sagacity – suh·ga·sih·tee
The quality of having keen judgment or wisdom.
Schadenfreude – shah·den·froy·duh
Pleasure derived from someone else's misfortune.
Selcouth – sel·kooth
Strange, unfamiliar, yet marvelous