Nerd Words
Collection by April Davila
A collection of wonderful words for writers and other nerds.
Nerd Word of the Week: Nugatory ~ of no value or importance. As in: I had a friend once who threw pennies in the trash, claiming that the nugatory coins only served to make his pockets heavy.
Nerd Word of the Week: Tonsure ~ as a verb: to shave the hair on the crown of. (It can also be used as a noun to describe the bare part of the head that is left by the tonsuring). As in: He felt closer to God after the tonsuring, but had to admit that his head was often cold.
Nerd Word of the Week: Alpenglow ~ the rosy light of the setting or rising sun seen on high mountains. As in: The alpenglow of the Mohave reminded her that she was home.
Nerd Word of the Week: Persiflage ~ light and slightly contemptuous mockery or banter. As in: It was harmless persiflage, but it only served to confirm that the newlyweds were a couple of ass hats.
Nerd Word of the Week: Fugacious ~ transient or fleeting. As in: The light danced along the leaves in a dazzling, fugacious display.
Nerd Word of the Week: Heterochiral ~ reversed (as a mirror image), but otherwise identical. As in: Her heterochiral self always inspired thoughts of parallel realities. #nerdword #amwriting #alwayslearning
Nerd Word of the Week: Tessellate ~ to decorate (usually a floor) with mosaics. As in: The tessellated floors of the Vatican rival its much lauded ceilings.
Nerd Word of the Week: Basorexia ~ an overwhelming urge to kiss. As in: For months they lived in a constant state of basorexia. (Many thanks to Ashley Lovell for sending this word my way!)
Nerd Word of the Week: Agora ~ a public open space used for assemblies and markets (plural = agorae). As in: Our right to free speech has, for centuries, depended upon agorae such as the Lincoln Memorial Plaza.
Nerd Word of the Week: Prognathic ~ having protrusive jaws. As in: The prognathic skull structure indicated that the beast had, in life, been a ferocious hunter.
Nerd Word of the Week: Farrago ~ a confused mixture. As in: The paint, pushed around into a vibrant farrago, was a piece of art all its own.
Nerd Word of the Week: Calumny ~ the making of false and defamatory statements; slander. As in: Despite the insistent calumny of the older boys, little George knew Santa would be visiting.
Nerd Word of the Week: Panoply ~ an impressive collection of things. As in: Almost overnight, a panoply of presents appeared beneath the tree.
Nerd Word of the Week: Impecunious ~ having little or no money. As in: It was a difficult time of year for the impecunious members of the family.
Nerd Word of the Week: Nacre ~ mother-of-pearl. As in: She turned the shell over and the nacre glinted gold in the sunlight.
Nerd Word of the Week: Espial ~ the action of watching or catching sight of something. As in: Masters of espial, the ostriches stood ever-alert.