1. otic — of the ear
Despite the advocates’ claims, ear candles are ineffective and dangerous, and could result in hot wax falling into the otic canal.
2. refrangible — capable of being refracted
Though red light was known even in the time of Newton to be the least refrangible of the visible spectrum, not until the Twentieth Century was it understood why this light affected photographic plates least.
3. normal — at right angle, perpendicular
Large billboards will be weakest to forces, such as high winds, normal to their surface.
4. hematopoietic — of the formation of blood
One of the sicker ideas of fifty years ago was to study hematopoietic diseases through the use of neomorts.
5. sarky — [British] sarcastic
He was a sarky character who always had something negative to say about everyone, but was so thin-skinned that the slightest comment about his appearance or attitude could send him home in a pout.
6. wideawake — black or brown felt hat with wide brim and lowish crown, Quaker hat
Distracted by Jim’s shabby old wideawake, I only now noticed the fervent almost fanatic eyes of hypnotic blue which stared out at me from beneath the crushed brown felt.
7. nichrome — alloy of nickel and chromium
Because of its high electrical resistance, nichrome wire is still commonly used in toasters and hair dryers.
8. eremite — anchoret, religious hermit or recluse
Pity the poor modern born to be an eremite but continually bombarded by advertisements and noise and distraction, who—unless wealthy enough to pay for retreats at Sedona or whichever hip ‘spiritual’ vacation spot—may best find peace and quiet in a double-wide parked off the side of a lonely road in southern New Mexico, though even that is getting crowded.
9. cenotaph — tomb or sepulchral monument for person whose body lies elsewhere
So beloved was the hero that four cemeteries across the tiny mountain nation boasted a cenotaph to his memory, though of course his body was never recovered after the explosion.
10. overmorrow — [archaic] on the day after tomorrow
I am a true procrastinator and will never even plan for tomorrow what might be better done overmorrow.
Bonus Vocabulary
(American slang)
spondulics (also spondulix or spondulicks)— spending money
Sure, I looked fine in my new clothes and slick hair, but without spondulics I would not have even a ghost of a chance to woo the lovely Muriel.