catafalque

catafalque |ˈkatəˌfô(l)k; -ˌfalk|nouna decorated wooden framework supporting the coffin of a distinguished person during a funeral or while lying in state.

sacerdotal

sacerdotal |ˌsasərˈdōtl; ˌsakər-|adjectiverelating to priests or the priesthood; priestly.• Theology relating to or denoting a doctrine thatascribes sacrificial functions and spiritual or supernatural powers to ordained priests.DERIVATIVESsacerdotalism |-ˌizəm| noun

viscera

viscera |ˈvisərə|plural noun ( sing. viscus |ˈviskəs|)the internal organs in the main cavities of the body, esp. those in the abdomen, e.g., the intestines.

immolate

immolate |ˈiməˌlāt|verb [ trans. ]kill or offer as a sacrifice, esp. by burning.DERIVATIVESimmolation |ˌiməˈlā sh ən| nounimmolator |-ˌlātər| noun

billet-doux

billet-doux |ˈbilā ˈdoō; ˈbēyā-|noun ( pl. billets-doux pronunc. same or |-ˈdoōz|)dated or humorousa love letter.

aigrette

aigrette |āˈgret|nouna headdress consisting of a white egret's feather or other decoration such as a spray of gems.

moue

moue |moō|nouna pouting expression used to convey annoyance or distaste.

supercilious

supercilious |ˌsoōpərˈsilēəs|adjectivebehaving or looking as though one thinks one issuperior to others : a supercilious lady's maid.DERIVATIVESsuperciliously adverbsuperciliousness noun

parure

parure |pəˈroŏr|nouna set of jewels intended to be worn together.

trousseau

trousseau |ˈtroōˌsō; ˌtroōˈsō|noun ( pl. -seaux pronunc. same, or -seaus )the clothes, household linen, and other belongingscollected by a bride for her marriage.

chatelaine

chatelaine |ˈ sh atlˌān|noun dateda woman in charge of a large house.• historical a set of short chains attached to a woman's belt, used for carrying keys or other items.

serge

serge |sərj|nouna durable twilled woolen or worsted fabric.verb [ trans. ]overcast (the edge of a piece of material) to prevent fraying.

vicuña

vicuña |vīˈk(y)oōnə və-; ˈkoōnyə|nouna wild relative of the llama, inhabiting mountainousregions of South America and valued for its fine silky wool. • Vicugna vicugna, family Camelidae.• cloth made from this wool or an imitation of it.

carillon

carillon |ˈkarəˌlän; -lən|nouna set of bells in a tower, played using a keyboard or by an automatic mechanism similar to a piano roll.• a tune played on such bells.

pellucid

pellucid |pəˈloōsid|adjectivetranslucently clear : mountains reflected in the pellucid waters.• lucid in style or meaning; easily understood : he writes, as always, in pellucid prose.• (of music or other sound) clear and pure in tone : asmooth legato and pellucid singing tone are his calling cards.

spumante

spumante |spəˈmäntē; spyə-|nounan Italian sparkling white wine.ORIGIN Italian, literally ‘sparkling.’

muscat

muscat |ˈməsˌkat; -kət|noun [often as adj. ]a variety of white, red, or black grape with a musky scent, grown in warm climates for wine or raisins or as table grapes.• a wine made from a muscat grape, esp. a sweet or fortified white wine.

recitative

recitative |ˌres(ə)təˈtēv|nounmusical declamation of the kind usual in the narrative and dialogue parts of opera and oratorio, sung in the rhythm of ordinary speech with many words on the same note : singing in recitative.

somnolent

somnolent |ˈsämnələnt|adjectivesleepy; drowsy.• causing or suggestive of drowsiness : a somnolent summer day.• Medicine abnormally drowsy.DERIVATIVESsomnolence nounsomnolency nounsomnolently adverb

cloisonne

cloisonné |ˌkloizəˈnā; ˌklwäz-| (also cloisonné enamel) noun enamel work in which the different colors are separated by strips of flattened wire placed edgeways on a metal backing.

stertorous

stertorous |ˈstərtərəs|adjective(of breathing) noisy and labored.DERIVATIVESstertorously adverb

octavo

octavo |äkˈtävō| (abbr.: 8vo)noun ( pl. -vos)a size of book page that results from the folding of each printed sheet into eight leaves (sixteen pages).• a book of this size.

gourmand

gourmand |goŏrˈmänd|nouna person who enjoys eating and often eats too much.• a connoisseur of good food. See usage below.DERIVATIVESgourmandism |ˈgoŏrmənˌdizəm| nounORIGIN late Middle English : from Old French, of unknown origin.

castellated

castellated |ˈkastəˌlātid|adjective1 having battlements : a castellated tower.• (of a nut or other mechanical part) having grooves or slots on its upper face.2 having a castle or several castles : the castellated hills along the east bank.

stipple

stipple |ˈstipəl|verb [ trans. ](in drawing, painting, and engraving) mark (a surface) with numerous small dots or specks : [as n. ] (stippling) the miniaturist's use of stippling.• produce a decorative effect on (paint or other material) by roughening its surface when it is wet.nounthe process or technique of stippling a surface, or theeffect so created.

deliquescent

deliquescent |deliˈkwesənt|adjectivebecoming liquid or having a tendency to become liquid.• Chemistry (of a solid) tending to absorb moisture from the air and dissolve in it.DERIVATIVESdeliquescence noun