1. usufruct — right to benefit and profit from a property without actual ownership nor the right to destroy, diminish, or alienate said property
Though initially the usufruct of the lands granted to the vassal reverted to the lord upon the former’s death, within a short span of years the fief became hereditary.
2. banal — unoriginal or common in a boring fashion
Though each freshman philosophy student brings forth his or her ‘insights’ as if these thoughts were the most original in the world, to the poor professor (or more likely an adjunct), each fall brings the same banal and foggy notions that she will grind her teeth to hear once more.
3. secular — worldly, as opposed to spiritual; of or related to laypeople or civil law, as opposed to clerical or religious; of clergy not belonging to a monastic order
It is all very well and good to claim that one shall leave the secular world, that one shall devote life and energy only to the higher things, to the spiritual plane upon which God’s truth must be found, but human flesh must have sustenance, and human emotions can only be throttled or channeled but not completely denied.
4. pourboire — tip
After the war, though most waiters were satisfied by whatever small change was left after you paid the bill, I never met a taxi driver who would not become indignant if you forgot his pourboire on top of the fare.
5. agnomen — fourth name given to some Roman citizens in addition to the praenomen, nomen, cognomen; nickname
The terrifying agnomen by which Caligula is known to history was of course originally only a laughing reference to the little boots he wore as a pretend soldier when he came as a small child with his father Germanicus to the front.
6. timeserver — person putting in minimal effort at work, due to burnout or closeness to retirement age; one who conforms to the opinions of those in power
Like most timeservers, Jacoby complained mightily when he was passed over for promotion, though he had of course never done more than the bare minimum in his job before.
7. gomeril (also gomeral, gomerel) — [Scots] fool
This sort of thing might dupe that whole tent full of gomerils down on the green, but I’m not taken in one bit.
8. catadromous — of animals which migrate from freshwater to the sea in order to spawn
For years it was believed that eels were the only catadromous fish, but a very few catadromous herring and anchovy species have been discovered.
9. mollify — to appease, to pacify; to reduce a burden; to soften
But promises and pledges could not mollify the angry crowd, and the government official began scanning the room for the most likely exit.
10. livid — furious; dark gray-blue
Mr. Portzweebie had become quite upset as the new conditions of his lease were explained to him, finally becoming so livid that he could no longer even speak, at which point the landlord decided the best option was to hurriedly take his leave.