The WSJ weekend edition’s veritable trove of words, plus two of my own: “surfeit,” to describe this week’s list; and “nonsequitur,” to describe the oxymoronic “humblebrag.”
opprobrium, n., harsh criticism or censure; public disgrace arising from shameful conduct.
antithetical, adj., directly opposed, mutually incompatible.
imprimatur, n., license from the Catholic Church to print a religious book; a personal guarantee.
humblebrag, n., a modest or self-deprecating statement actually meant to draw attention to something of which one is proud.
mucilage, n., a viscous secretion or bodily fluid; adhesive or glue.
bottomry, n., system of merchant insurance in which a ship is used as collateral for a loan to finance a voyage.
abjure, v., solemnly renounce.
encomium, n., a speech in which someone or something is highly praised.
elegiac, adj., relating to the characteristic of an elegy, wistfully mournful.
fug, n., overly warm, smoky or stuffy atmosphere in a room.
pejorative, n., a word expressing contempt, disdain or disapproval.
surfeit, n., excessive amount.
nonsequitur, n., a conclusion that doesn’t logically follow from a previous statement or conclusion; oxymoron.