1. trow — to believe, to trust
“The parson would never indulge in such reprehensible behavior, as I trow.”
2. theodolite — portable surveying instrument with telescopic sight for measuring horizontal, and sometimes vertical, angles
The aging theodolite rarely was put into service, having been replaced in most mensural functions by wireless computer assisted lasers, and even its lenses had begun to fog, rendering the telescopic views hazy at best.
3. tintinnabulation — ringing or sound of bells
The audience in their pews basked in the luxurious tintinnabulation echoing through the church as the bell-ringers continued their Christmas concert with a stirring rendition of “I Saw Three Ships”.
4. nonesuch — unequaled thing or person
Though Chaucer’s poetry is often portrayed as a nonesuch of English literature, it is by no means inaccessible.
5. crapulous — given to intemperate eating or drinking
The dozens of fast food wrappers strewn about the back seat of the late model coupe gave proof to the driver’s crapulous nature.
6. crapulent — sick from gross excess in eating or drinking
The vile sights and smells of the confined space behind the kitchen presented evidence of the crapulent results of the previous evening’s debauchery.
7. solecism — grammatical error; breach of good manners; any inconsistency or error
At times a solecism may merely be the proverbial ‘distinction without difference’, especially when they are noted merely to prove one’s own superiority.
8. liripipe — hood with a long tail, worn in medieval Europe, especially in academe
George was certain he had discovered the hidden location of Waldo, having failed to note that his suspect was wearing a striped liripipe instead of a bobble hat.
9. supererogate — to do more than required; to make up for lack in one by excess merit in another
Johnny attended church three, sometimes five, times a week in an uncomfortable and ultimately futile effort to supererogate for the failings of his drunk ass brother.
10. oblate — flattened at the poles
The earth’s shape is not perfectly spherical, but instead is oblate, as the rotation about the axis causes its surface to be further from the world’s center than the poles.