1. irenic — non-polemic, pacifying, tending to promote reconciliation
Strangely enough for one of his vociferous views, at the dinner table his presence seemed to have an irenic effect upon the recriminations and attacks of our usual Thanksgiving meals.
2. gyp — servant for students at Cambridge and Durham colleges
So here was the great Lord Weddington, M.A. (Cantab.), regaling us with stories of the egregious pranks he and his fellow students had played upon their old gyp, including one rather repulsive tale involving a muddy pair of boots and a pregnant rodent.
3. hierophant — expounder of sacred mysteries or esoteric principles
While in ancient Greece only a venerated person of great knowledge could attain the rank, the current ‘see for yourself’ principle of much muddled conspiracy thinking makes of every weirdo with a WiFi the sagest hierophant for the latest revelations of the secret forces behind every seemingly (and actually) prosaic event.
4. boustrophedon — moving alternately from right to left and from left to right, as in certain ancient texts and inscriptions
He shuffled boustrophedon through the aisles of the theater, picking up discarded candy wrappers and popcorn boxes left behind by the patrons who so recently had watched the latest retconning of the Star Wars saga.
5. eschar — dark crusty dead tissue, as a scab or resulting from a burn
Debridement of eschar may provide relief if the burns result in external pressure.
6. dysphemism — derogatory or socially taboo expression
Apparently, calling white trash a bunch of ignorant crackers is now supposed to be some sort of dysphemism.
7. supermalagorgeous — [slang] terrific
“Oh, mother! Why can’t you see how supermalagorgeous Johnny is and why do you have to ask where he gets his money from?!?”.
8. blain — blister, pustule, inflammatory swelling
The boils and blains which tormented him were nothing compared with the buboes his brother had just barely survived.
9. cloche — glass cover placed over plants; bell-shaped cover for plates of food; close-fitting brimmed woman’s hat
The intricately carved Christmas ornament shaped like a dinosaur was displayed beneath a heavy glass cloche, and thus escaped the dust which lay upon every other item in the room.
10. rive — to tear apart; to cleave
The sad news rived my heart and left me shaken.
Bonus Vocabulary
(fashion)
Hessian boot — knee-high tasseled riding boot
Marley looked beautifully military from his Hessian boots to his glorious ermine-trimmed pelisse, the gold cord on his shoulder mirroring the tassels below his knees.