§ Words Cheat Sheet

Contains words that I write, and ones that I enjoy.

§ Recondite

little known; abstruse

§ Mendicant

Given to begging

§ gesamtkunstwerk

A Gesamtkunstwerk (German: [gəˈzamtˌkʊnstvɛʁk ], literally "total artwork", frequently translated as "total work of art", "ideal work of art", "universal artwork", "synthesis of the arts", "comprehensive artwork", or "all-embracing art form") is a work of art that makes use of all or many art forms or strives to do so. The term is a German loanword which has come to be accepted in English as a core term in aesthetics.

§ anodyne

not likely to cause offence or disagreement and somewhat dull.

"anodyne music"

§ syncretism

I ran into the word in the description of the electronic artist 'Jaenga'.

human technological syncretism ...

Meaning: the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought.

§ absurd

The word “absurd” has a number of standard connotations: outlandish, crazy, amazing, freakish. It comes from the Latin absurdum, meaning “out of tune,” extraordinary. This, however, is not the way that Albert Camus meant the term when he coined l’absurd as a philosophical concept in 1942. To Camus, the absurd was strangely normal, a state of affairs that describes the human condition—in a nutshell, the utter dissonance between the human quest for meaning in life and the silent indifference of the universe

§ opprobrium

public disgrace arising from shameful conduct.
"the opprobrium of being closely associated with gangsters"

§ Pyretology

study of fevers

§ Soubrette

an actress or other female performer playing a lively, flirtatious role in a play or opera.

§ fiat

fiat lux.

Let there be light

§ eudaimonia

happiness as a result of fulfilling one's purpose (eudaimonia)

§ ubac/adret

ubac "shady side of a mountain" and adret "sunny side of a mountain" (which
are of French origin). Used to translate yin/yang.

§ Metier

a profession or occupation.
"the boy must begin to learn his métier as heir to the throne"

§ Livery

a special uniform worn by a servant, an official, or a member of a City Company.
"yeomen of the guard wearing a royal red and gold livery"

§ intransigence

refusal to change one's views or to agree about something.
Example: The underlying reason for the prolongation of the war is intransigence on all sides.
Example from Downton Abbey: the aristocracy did not progress by their intransigence.

§ pip

Pips are small but easily countable items, such as the dots on dominoes and
dice, or the symbols on a playing card that denote its suit and value.
Pip cards are the cards from 2..10 in a deck.

§ pusillanimity

lack of courage or determination; timidity.
"the pusillanimity of his answer surprised me"

§ Askefise

one who blows on ashes to bring them to flame