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The Highly Selective Dictionary for the Extraordinarily Literate

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Overview

Between TV talk shows, radio call-in programs, email and the Internet, spontaneous-talk media has skyrocketed in the '90s. People are interacting more frequently and more fervently than ever before, turning the English language into an indecipherable mess. Now, this unique and concise compendium presents the most confused and misused words in the language today -- words misused by careless speakers and writers everywhere.

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Author Information

Bio of Eugene Ehrlich

Eugene Ehrlich is co-editor of the "Oxford American Dictionary" & author of numerous books on language, including "You've Got Ketchup on Your Muumuu: An A-to-Z Guide to English Words from Around the World". A former professor of English at Columbia University, he lives in Mamaroneck, NY. 010

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Additional Info

Imprint

HarperCollins

Filesize

1.47 MB

Number of Pages

224

eBook ISBN

9780061149450

Excerpt from: The Highly Selective Dictionary for the Extraordinarily Literate by Eugene Ehrlich

A
abacus n. soroban

abandoned adj. cade, derelict, profligate

abate v. mitigate, palliate, quash

abdicate v. abjure, abnegate, demit

abject adj. craven, fawning, ignominious

able adj. habile

abnormal adj. heteroclite, preternatural

abnormality n. deuteropathy

abolish v. disestablish, extirpate

abominable adj. flagitious, odious

Abominable Snowman yeti

aborigine n. autochthon, indigenous inhabitant

abound v. exuberate

abridge v. attenuate, epitomize

abscond v. decamp

absent-minded adj.
distrait, distraite

absinth n. wormwood

absolute adj. 1. rank, unmitigated; 2. assoluta, inviolable,
peremptory

absolution, grant shrive

absorbent adj. bibulous

absorption n. immersion, prepossession

abstain v. eschew, forbear

abstention n. abstemiousness

abstract adj. noetic

abstract n. compendium, epitome

abstract v. prescind

abstruse adj. involuted, recondite

absurdity n. btise

abundance n. cornucopia, plenitude, profligacy

abuse v. calumniate, castigate, rail, revile, traduce

abuse n. aspersion, billingsgate, calumniation, castigation, obloquy, opprobrium, traducement

academic adj. moot

accept v. stomach

accessible adj. pervious

accessory n. ancillary, appurtenance, parergon

accident n. allision, fortuity

accidental adj. adventitious, aleatory, fortuitous, serendipitous

acclaim n. clat, kudos

accomplish v. compass, effectuate

accomplished adj. compleat, consummate

accomplishments n. res gestae

account n. hexaemeron

accrue v. redound

accumulation n. alimentation, hypertrophy

accusation n. gravamen, impeachment

accuse v. impeach, implead, inculpate, recriminate

accusing adj. accusatory, criminative

accustom v. acculturate, inure, wont

achievement n. capstone, tour de force

acknowledge v. avouch, homologate

acme n. apogee, ne plus ultra

acquiescence n. complaisance

acquit v. exculpate