1. confute — prove someone or something to be wrong
But why should we waste so much time confuting this obviously fallacious argument, when the refutation is all around us in the natural world?
2. fiduciary — of a relationship in which one person holds property on behalf of another
Naturally he agreed to assume the fiduciary duties on a pro bono basis, for he saw an opportunity to enrich himself much more than any salary might have done, by manipulating the various stocks and other investments in his care.
3. fray — fight, brawl
Into the fray strode McGillicuddy, looking the very devil in his kepi and enormous mustaches.
4. puggree (also puggaree) — Indian turban, pagri; muslin cloth wrapped around sun hat with trailing edge behind
In her jodhpurs and pith helmet wrapped in a white puggree she looked ready to explore darkest Africa, but Lizzy turned out to be unprepared for the dangers awaiting us at the local farmer’s market.
5. spadix — [botany] spike of tiny flowers
Before the flowers appear, the spadix is tapped to produce the fine coconut oil so admired for cooking.
6. disannul — to abolish, to cancel utterly
“So,” said the old gentleman, as he calmly tamped the tobacco into his pipe, “you would simply disannul the sacred vows you have made, and walk away from the obligations you have undertaken as if these problems concerned you not at all?”
7. delusively — in the manner of one who is misled or deceived
As we searched delusively for the Heffalump, I came to learn more about my companion, and thus, more about myself.
8. schadenfreude — joy in the misfortune or suffering of others
With an satisfying sense of schadenfreude I saw my accuser hauled off to face the charges of mis-, mal-, and nonfeasance.
9. parietal — of or related to the top and side of the skull; of or pertaining to authority over residential relations in college, esp. between the sexes
While some saw in the relaxation of the parietal rules on campus a triumph for enlightened and modern thought, others saw a harbinger of the doom to come.
10. shock — group of grain sheaves placed upright in support of each other so as to allow drying and maturing
After our swim his dyed hair stood out from his head like shocks of wheat.
Bonus Vocabulary
(British children’s game)
conkers — game in which horse chestnuts are threaded onto a string and one player attempts to break the others seed with his own; (sing.) the horse chestnut seed so used
“So this is how you cheat at conkers, is it?” said Dennis as he saw Harold’s mum pulling a pan of horse chestnuts out of the oven.