NOTE: Due to recently (11 July 2019) discovered repetition of a previously used vocabulary word, the offending entry has been replaced with a new word, definition, and example sentence. The original entry is preserved with strikethrough formatting.
1. ha-ha — sunken fence or wall bounding garden or park, set into ditch so as to not interrupt the view from within
The modern infinity pool uses a more decadent variant of the ha-ha of British gardens, for the view of the former is meant for a select few as opposed to the (perhaps) more public horizon prepared by the 19th-century landscapers.
2. curule chair — seat modeled after ancient camp chair with open back and curved legs and often decorated with ivory in which only the highest magistrates of ancient Rome were privileged to sit
The contemporary power seat behind the desk owes nothing to the ancient curule chair, for the connotations of power inherent in the Roman seat must give way to our modern insistence that a chair give strong back support.
3. retiarius — gladiator who fought with net and trident
The net-wielding retiarius was an exception to the usual rule whereby gladiatorial types were derived from military roots, as this lowest of gladiators was modeled after fishermen.
4. subreption — deceptive representation; an inference from such misrepresentation
Jack knew full well when he told me, “My daughter was sick”, that I would assume that that was why he missed work yesterday, and the fact that he now admits that her two-day illness happened over a week ago reveals the subreption on his part.
5. scud — to be driven by the wind
all times I have enjoyed
Greatly, have suffered greatly, both with those
That loved me, and alone; on shore, and when
Through scudding drifts the rainy Hyades
Vexed the dim sea
[Tennyson]
6. salubrious — promoting health
After spending nine months next to the construction site where pilings were being pounded into the earth for eight hours each day, the peace and quiet of the small cabin were at least as salubrious as the clean, fresh air rolling down from the pine-covered mountains.
7. forgather — gather together, assemble
While they waited for their clients’ planes to land, the chauffeurs would forgather at the cell phone parking lot, smoking and joking while studiously avoiding any mention of whom they were to pick up.
8. chatelaine — ornamental chains attached to a woman’s belt, used for carrying keys, scissors, or other tools
The medieval chatelaine seems to prove that the abhorrence of women’s fashion for pockets goes far back into history.
9. emollient — softening or relaxing; a salve or lotion with such a softening effect
Her purse was filled with powerful potions, perfumes, powders, emollients, medicaments, makeup, and only slightly less powerful placebos.
10. dibs — small amounts of money
What is this scandal you spoke of, have the dibs you lose at the club’s tables finally mounted to noteworthy sums?
pilcrow — the paragraph mark, “¶”
Having turned on hidden character display on his computer, he was quite disappointed when his document was printed out without the pilcrows at the end of each paragraph.