13 Words You Should Know... According to Robert W. Bly

A few posts ago I talked about the "1,200 Words You Should Know to Sound Smart" By Robert W. Bly. I stated that the book makes not only for a beautiful coffee table or side table book, but also for a good read. I went through Bly's book and picked 13 words I particularly liked.

Jawbone; page 96
(JAW-bon) , Verb
To attempt to get someone to do something through the persuasion rather than by force.


felecity; page 60
(fih-LISS-ih-tee) , Adjective
A state of Blissful happiness.


raison d'être; page 170
(RAY-zohn-deh-truh), Noun
The core reason why something exists; its central purpose and mission in this world.


vangaurd; page 216
(VAN-gard) , Noun
That which is at the forefront or the leading edge; the most advanced group.


dalliance; page 34
(DAL-ee-anss) , Noun
A brief, casual flirtation with or interest in someone or something; the act of tarrying rather than proceeding swiftly and deliberately. 


immure; page 86
(ih-MYOOR) , Verb
To confine, imprison, or enclose behind walls.


maunder; page118
(MAWN-dehr) , Verb
To move, speak, or act in a random, meaningless manner.


yawnful; page 232
(YAWN-full) , Adjective
Arousing tedium or boredom.

contiguous; page 29
(kon-TIG-yew-us) , adjective
Adjacent; sharing a common border; sitting next to one another in a row or sequence.


comport; page 28
(kum-PORT) , Verb
To conduct oneself; to behave in a particular way.


hoary; page 79
(HOAR-ee), adjective
Impressivly old; ancient.


hegemony; page 78
(hih-JEH-muhn-ee) , Noun
Domination of a region or the entire world by a single nation, or the authority of one individual over an entire group.


​precarious; page 157
(prih-KAYR-ee-us) , Adjective
Tenuous; positioned so as to be in danger of falling; unsecured.




Bly, Robert W. The words you should know to sound smart: 1,200 essential words every sophisticated person should be able to use. Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2009. Print.
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