PERUSE

Peruse: Some words lose their original meaning while others become so twisted that they end up meaning the opposite what they actually mean.

This victim of definition reversal, peruse, means "to use thoroughly," and its first sense is that of careful steady or attentive reading. However, since so many writers have employed it as a synonym for scan, its second sense is now "to look over or through in a casual or cursory manner."

Disinterested

Disinterested: This word is most commonly used to mean that someone is not interested or has no energy for something, but it actually means “neutral and unbiased.” 

So, for example, having a jury that is disinterested in the trial is not a bad thing.

Fulsome

Fulsome: This term originally meant “abundant, generous, full” and it is still used in that form. However, the meaning of this word has changed to mean “excessive, effusive.”  A fulsome society was considered a good thing, but now it could suggest an excessive and corrupt one. However, some have argued that the word is enjoying a renaissance and should be used again in its positive sense. Decide what you will but be aware of the possibility for misinterpretation.

Affricate

Affricate (verb): This word has nothing to do with the continent of Africa or anything associated with it. To affricate means to rub against something (the root Latin word fricare is where we get the word friction).

Parvenu

Parvenu (noun): This is one of those words that barely even suggests its meaning. A parvenu is a person from a lower social class who suddenly becomes wealthy or successful but is still not accepted by other wealthy, successful people.

Today, you would refer to the parvenu as nouveau riche.

Cerebrate

Cerebrate: It sounds so much like celebrate that it’s often misheard and also rarely used. In fact, cerebrate means to use the mind or to think – because when you’re thinking, you’re using that part of your brain called the cerebrum.

Traduce

Traduce: Because it sounds so close to introduce – especially in pronunciation – it’s easy to think that this is a harmless word. In fact, to traduce someone is to speak ill of them or tell lies about them to damage their reputation – a far worse thing than just introducing them.