Impecunious

Impecunious (adjective): Having no cash or money.

"Those with a fondness for remaining impecunious at all times should consider a career in publishing."

Estivate

Estivate (verb): To pass the summer in a state of torpor, inaction, or inactivity.

Most people know the word hibernate -- which is the passing of winter in inactivity or sleep, but there are a number of animals (mainly reptiles and a few mammals) that do the same thing during the summer.

"Next summer I am going to do nothing but go to the lakeside and estivate."

Aspectabund

Aspectabund (adjective): Having a very expressive face.

The word is rarely used any more and is thought to originate from the cojoining of two separate words: aspect: facial expression; and abundance: a plentiful amount.

"Those who are especially aspectabund would not do well in a game of Poker."

Dactylion

Dactylion (noun): The tip of the middle finger

"I wasn't sure if he was simply examining his dactylion or if he was making an insulting gesture at me."

Eccedentesiast

Eccedentesiast (noun): A person who fakes a smile.


"Don't mistake his eccedentesiastical mannerisms with any depth or honesty, he doesn't like any one."

Leggiadrous

Leggiadrous (adj.): Elegant and graceful.

This word is particularly interesting because it's a rather clunky and inelegant word that describes just the opposite. If you were referred to as leggiadrous and didn't know what it meant, you may think it an insult.

"I told her that she was a most leggiadrous woman and she slapped me!"

Battologist

Battologist (noun): One who needlessly and for no good reason repeats him or herself in writing or speech.

Yes, it sounds like some sort of an expert in the biology of winged mammals or someone with a deep understanding of military strategy, but it's not quite so flattering now that you know what it means.


"In writing, it is best to be succinct and not resort to lengthy and constant repetition in the style of some battologist."