One of the things I often do as I'm reading a novel or short story is keep track of words whose definitions I do not know or that I find interesting. Either way, these interesting words are ones I feel might be of use in my own writing. That, and it's good to expand one's vocabulary every once in a while.
Read my review of The Alchemist's Code.
I was able to make note of quite a few while reading Dave Duncan's The Alchemist's Code simply because Duncan was pushing my vocabulary knowledge at almost every page. Kindle's annotation feature made this process very easy; no more pen and paper notes. I especially like that I can sync all of my annotations to the Kindle for PC app I have running on my laptop. That way I've got the information right there on my screen as I'm, say, writing this post.
Here are the words with definitions that I found interesting.
alembic: an obsolete kind of container used for distillation; two retorts connected by a tube
appurtenances: equipment consisting of miscellaneous articles needed for a particular operation
atelier: a studio especially for an artist or designer
bombast: pompous or pretentious talk or writing
brocade (gown): thick heavy expensive material with a raised pattern
calcining: heat a substance so that it oxidizes or reduces
casements: a window sash opening on hinges that are generally attached to the upright side of its frame; windows at either side of a larger window that open via a lever
dilettantes: an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge
equerry: an official charged with the care of the horses of princes or nobles
ermine (cape): the expensive white fur of the ermine
escutcheon: a shield; especially one displaying a coat of arms; a flat protective covering (on a door or wall etc) to prevent soiling by dirty fingers
fusty: stale and unclean smelling
infrangible: difficult or impossible to break or separate into parts
iniquitous: characterized by iniquity; wicked because it is believed to be a sin
kahve: coffee
lighter: a flatbottom boat for carrying heavy loads (especially on canals)
loggia: a roofed arcade or gallery with open sides stretching along the front or side of a building; often at an upper level
mendacity: the tendency to be untruthful
mezzanine: intermediate floor just above the ground floor; floor above the ground floor but below subsequent ones
moue: a disdainful pouting grimace
mountebank: a flamboyant deceiver; one who attracts customers with tricks or jokes
nostrum: hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; once sought by the alchemists
octogenarian: someone whose age is in the eighties
phlogiston: a hypothetical substance once believed to be present in all combustible materials and to be released during burning
portmanteau: a large travelling bag made of stiff leather
preceptor: teacher at a university of college
puce: a color varying from dark purplish brown to dark red
retort: a vessel where substances are distilled or decomposed by heat
rostrum: a platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it
rubicund: inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life
sanctimonious: excessively or hypocritically pious
scrivener: someone employed to make written copies of documents and manuscripts
scuttle:
noun: an entrance equipped with a hatch; especially a passageway between decks of a ship
verb: to move about or proceed hurriedly
strappado: torture in which a person's hands and tied behind their back and they are lifted off the ground by a rope tied to their wrists and that allowed to drop until their fall is checked by the rope
taffeta: a crisp smooth lustrous fabric
terrazzo: flooring material consisting of chips of marble or granite set in concrete and polished smooth
tippet: a woman's fur shoulder cape with hanging ends; often consisting of the whole fur of a fox or marten
triptych: art consisting of a painting or carving (especially an altarpiece) on three panels (usually hinged together)
vellum: fine parchment prepared from the skin of a young animal e.g. a calf or lamb
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