Inquisition

( The Science of Freedom and Evil )

"It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself. Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors?"
-- Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia, Query 17, 1781

Copyright © MCMLXXIX (1979) through MMXXV (2025) by William B. Steele

Lexicon
( Definitions used by the Author )

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A a -

abject - ()adj
allowing no hope of improvement or relief

abnegate - ()vt
to give up or renounce something

abrogate - ()vt
to repeal or abolish something

abscond - ()vi
to leave quickly and secretly, often to avoid arrest or prosecution

absquatulate - ()vi
to leave, especially in a hurry or under suspicious circumstances (abscond) -or- die -or- argue

abstemious - ()adj
Eating and drinking in moderation -or- sparingly used or consumed

abstruse - ()adj
obscure and not easily understood (ambiguous/recondite)

accede - ()vi
to give consent or agreement to something

accelerate - ()vti
(vi) to move or occur increasingly quickly
(vt) cause something to move or occur faster

accolade - ()n
a sign or expression of high praise and esteem

acquiesce - ()vi
to agree to or comply with something passively rather than expressing approval or support

ad hoc - ()adv Latin
done or set up solely in response to a particular situation or problem and without considering wider issues

ad hominem - ()adj Latin
appealing to feelings and prejudices especially through an attack on a person's character rather than on the person's arguments

admonish - ()vt
to warn

aggrandize - ()vt
to increase the size or scope of something

albeit - ()conj
although it be

allegiance - ()n
fidelity to a person, group, or government

altruism - ()n
the belief that sacrificing or acting for the benefit of others is right and good

amateur - ()adj
somebody who does or takes part in something for pleasure rather than for pay

ambition - ()n
an eager or strong desire to achieve something, such as fame or power

ameliorate - ()adj
to improve something or make it better (formal)

amenable - ()adj
responsive to suggestion and likely to cooperate

amend - ()vti
to make changes to something, especially a piece of text, in order to improve or correct it

amenity - ()n
a useful or attractive feature or service

amerce - ()vt
to punish somebody in an arbitrary way

amicable - ()adj
characterized by or done in friendliness, without anger or bad feelings

amity - ()n
friendliness and peaceful relations (formal)

amok - ()adv
frenzied and out of control

angst - ()n
a feeling of anxiety or apprehension often accompanied by depression

animadversion - ()n
a critical comment or comments, especially those reproaching somebody

antipode - ()n
an exact or diametrical opposite

approbation - ()n
approval, consent, or appreciation

appurtenance - ()n
accessory, or an accompanying part or feature of something -or- a legal right or privilege attached to a property and inherited with it

aphorism - ()n
a succinct statement expressing an opinion or a general truth

apophasis - ()n
the rhetorical device of alluding to something by denying that it will be mentioned, for example, in "I will not bring up the question of age now that you are forty

apoplectic - ()adj
overcome with anger -or- symptoms of a stroke

a posteriori - ()adj
applied to knowledge and conceptions which are based upon or derived from facts through induction or experiment; inductive or empirical

apothegm - ()n
a terse saying that embodies an important truth, for example, "Haste makes waste"

a priori - ()adj Latin
applied to knowledge and conceptions assumed, or presupposed, as prior to experience, in order to make experience rational or possible; axiomatic; based on hypothesis or theory rather than experiment

arbiter - ()n
someone or something that has the power and authority to settle a dispute or decide an issue

arbitrary - ()adj
based solely on personal wishes, feelings, or perceptions, rather than on objective facts, reasons, or principles -or- chosen or determined at random

arrogate - ()vt
to claim or seize without right

artifice - ()n
the deceiving of people in a clever or subtle way

assiduous - ()vt
persistent application

assuage - - ()vt
to provide relief from something distressing or painful

atavism - ()n
the recurrence of a genetically controlled feature in an organism after it has been absent for several generations, usually because of an accidental recombination of genes

Atheist - ()n
a person that rejects the notion of supernatural events and beings

attainder - ()n
the removal of rights or the confiscation of the property from someone

auspicious - ()adj
marked by lucky signs or good omens, and therefore by the promise of success or happiness

autarchy - ()n
absolute power, especially such power wielded by a despotic ruler; an independent country with its own government, as distinct from a colony or dependency

autism - ()n
a disturbance in psychological development in which use of language, reaction to stimuli, interpretation of the world, and the formation of relationships are not fully established and follow unusual patterns

autocracy - ()n
a country governed by a single ruler who has unlimited power

autocrat - ()n
a ruler who holds unlimited power and is answerable to no other person

autonomy - ()n
independence and the capacity to make moral decisions and act on them

aver - ()vt
to state or allege that something is true

avoirdupois - ()n
a system for measuring weights based on the pound

axiom - ()n
a statement or concept accepted as self-evidently true

B b -

barbette - ()n
a metal cylinder giving armored protection to a gun turret on a warship -or- a mound of earth inside a fortress used as a platform for cannons

beguile - ()vt
to mislead or deceive somebody

benighted - ()adj
surrounded by darkness -or- ignorant

bellicose - ()adj
inclined to battle, pugnacious

benefice - ()n-or-vt
a church office that provides a living for its holder -or- to provide a member of the clergy with a church office that will yield a living

bequeath - ()vt
to hand down to future generations

bereft - ()adj
deprived of, or lacking in something desirable or necessary

bloviate - ()vi
to discourse at length in a pompous or boastful manner

bromide - ()n
a saying that lacks originality or significance

bourgeoisie - ()n (bourgeois = member of the bourgeoisie)
social class between the very wealthy and the working class; middle class

C c -

caprice - ()n
a tendency to sudden impulsive decisions or changes of mind; whimsy

captious - ()adj
intended to confuse or entrap an opponent in an argument -or- tending to find fault and make trivial and excessive criticisms

cardinal - ()adj
fundamentally important

carnivore - ()n
an animal that eats other animals.

casuistry - ()n
the use of sophisticated and subtle but false reasoning intended to rationalize or mislead, especially on moral issues - sophistry

catalogue - ()(also catalog) n -or- vti
(n) a complete list
(vti) to classify and list into a catalog

catechism - ()n
a body of basic beliefs and principles followed unthinkingly -or- a close and intense session of questioning on a particular subject, especially forming part of an examination or an interrogation

catechize - ()vt
to question somebody closely, for example, in an examination or interrogation

causality - ()n
the principle of, or relationship between, cause and effect

causasine qua non - ()Latin
an indispensable cause or condition

caveat - ()n
something said as a warning, caution, or qualification

cavil - ()n -or- vi
(n) a trivial and unreasonable objection
(vi) to make objections about something on small and unimportant points

certain - ()adj
definitely known to exist or be true

charity - ()n
benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity

chimera - ()n
a figment of the imagination, for example, a wildly unrealistic idea or hope or a completely impractical plan - (genetics: an organism, or part of one, with at least two genetically different tissues resulting from mutation, the grafting of plants, or the insertion of foreign cells into an embryo)

chimerical - ()adj
nonexistent, existing only in somebody's imagination, or wildly improbable or unrealistic

clique - ()n
a close group of friends or colleagues having similar interests and goals, and whom outsiders regard as excluding them

codex - ()n
a collection of ancient manuscript texts in book form

code -()n -or- vt
(n) a systematic collection of rules of procedure or conduct
(vt) to systematize and arrange rules into a code

coerce - ()vt
to make someone do something that he does not choose, through physical force,threat, or deceit

cognition - ()n
the faculty of acquiring knowledge through the process of reason

cognitive - ()adj
relating to the process of acquiring knowledge by the use of reasoning

commensurable - ()adj
related by virtue of sharing the same system of measurement or by being measurable using the same units

concept - ()n
a broad abstract idea or a guiding general principle, such as one that determines how a person or culture behaves, or how nature, reality, or events are perceived

concise - ()adj
using as few words as possible to give the necessary information, or compressed in order to be brief

concision - ()n
the state or quality of being concise; elegance of language; terseness and economy in writing and speaking achieved by expressing a great deal in just a few words

concomitant - ()adj
happening or existing along with or at the same time as something else

consanguinity - ()n
relationship by blood or by a common ancestor -or- a close affinity or connection

conscience - ()n
the uniquely human instinct of the mind; it is the source of all misery and joy. Containing the internal sense of what is right and wrong (good and evil), the conscience is an instinct of natural morality. An ethical standard contrary to the natural morality of the conscience will lead an individual to nothing but misery.

conscious - - ()adj
concerned with or relating to a part of the mind that is capable of thinking, choosing, or perceiving

contentious - ()adj
causing or likely to cause disagreement and disputes between people with differing views

context - ()n
that which surrounds, and gives meaning to, something else

contumacious - ()adj
flagrantly insubordinate or rebellious

copious - ()adj
produced or existing in large quantities -or- using many words in writing or speech

corollary - ()n -or- adj
(adj/n) something that is a natural consequence of or accompaniment to something else -or- (n) something that is very obviously or easily deduced from something already proven

corpus - - ()n
the main part of something

corpus callosum - ()Latin
the thick band of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain in higher mammals and allows the hemispheres to communicate

corpus delicti - ()Latin
the body of facts that show that a crime has been committed, including physical evidence such as a corpse

corpus luteum - ()Latin
a scab on the ovary, formed after ovulation in mammals, which secretes the hormone progesterone

corruption - ()n
dishonest exploitation of power for personal gain -or- extreme immorality or depravity

coterie - ()n
a small exclusive group of people who share the same interests

countenance - ()vt -or- n
(vt) to tolerate, accept, or give approval to something -or- (n) composure or self-control

courteous - ()adj
marked by respect for and consideration of others

criterion - ()n (pl - criteria)
an accepted standard used in making decisions or judgments about something

culpable - ()adj
deserving blame or punishment for a wrong

culture - ()n
the prevalent metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics of a particular nation or people

cypher - ()vt -or- n (also spelled cipher)
(n) a written code in which the letters of a text are substituted according to a system -or- (vt) to write a text or message in code (decipher = to read a cypher or coded message)

D d -

deceit - ()n
the communication of a falsehood; deception; a lie; the opposite of verity

declaim - ()vti
(vi) to say something in a formal and dramatic way
(vt) to make a formal forceful speech about something

declamation - ()n
a speech or presentation spoken in a formal and theatrical style

deduction - ()n
a conclusion reached by applying the rules of logic to a premise -or- the subtracting of an amount for some particular purpose

de facto - ()adj
acting or existing in fact, with or without legal sanction

defalcate - ()vt
to misuse something, especially money or property, that belongs to somebody else and is held in trust

deference - ()n
submission to the judgment, opinion, or wishes of another person

delusion - ()n
a persistent false belief held in the face of strong contradictory evidence

demagogue - ()n
a political leader who gains power by appealing to people's emotions and prejudices rather than their rationality and reason

denigrate - ()vt
to criticize something harshly, while attempting to make others think it has no importance -or- to defame somebody's character or reputation

denouement - ()n
a final part in which everything is made clear and no questions or surprises remain

deprecate - ()vt
to express condemnation of something or somebody

depredation - ()n
an attack involving plunder and pillage

dereliction - ()n
deliberate neglect of duty or obligations

deride - ()vt
show contempt for somebody or something

derision - ()n
contempt and mockery

desideratum - ()n
something that is desired or felt to be essential

despot - ()n
a tyrant or ruler with absolute powers

dialectic - ()n
the investigation of the truth through discussion -or- the tension that exists between two conflicting or interacting forces, elements, or ideas

diaphanous - ()adj
fragile or insubstantial because extremely faint or slight

dichotomy - ()n
a separation into two divisions that differ widely or contradict each other

dictum - ()n
an authoritative saying, statement, or pronouncement

didactic - ()adj
tending to give instruction or advice, even when it is not welcome or not needed

diffuse - ()vti
(vi) to become spread throughout something else
(vt) to spread something throughout something else

dilatory - ()adj
tending to waste time, move slowly, or delay

dilettante - ()n
somebody who is interested in an art or a specialized field of knowledge but who has only a superficial understanding of it

diligence - ()n
persistent and hard-working effort in doing something

dire - ()adj
characterized by severe, serious, or desperate circumstances

dirge - ()n
a song of mourning or lament, especially one about death or intended for a funeral

disabuse - ()vt
to tell somebody or make somebody realize that an idea is not true

disaffected - ()vt
to make somebody dissatisfied with somebody or something, especially somebody to whom respect or loyalty is owed

disarray - ()n
a disorganized and confused state

discipline - ()vt -or- n
(vt) to train or develop by instruction and exercise especially in self-control
(n) training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character

discomfit - ()vt
to make somebody feel confused, uneasy, or embarrassed

discreet - ()adj
discernment or good judgment in conduct; especially in speech when preserving prudent silence

discrete - ()adj
completely separate and unconnected

discretion - ()n
the quality of being discreet

discursive - ()adj
using logic rather than intuition to reach a conclusion

disdain - ()n
extreme contempt or disgust for something or somebody

disjunction - ()n
area that serves or tends to disjoin; separate; divide; distinguish -or- a proposition of the form "p or q" that is false if both p and q are false, but true if at least one of them is true

disjunctive - ()adj
serving or tending to disjoin; separating; dividing; distinguishing -or- pertaining or resembling a proposition of the form "p or q" that is false if both p and q are false, but true if at least one of them is true

disjuncture - ()n
a disconnection of joined parts or things

disparage - ()adj
to refer disapprovingly to somebody or something

disparate - ()adj
used to describe things or people so completely unlike each other that they cannot be compared

disquisition - ()n
a long formal essay or discussion on a subject

dissemble - ()v
to put on a false appearance in order to conceal facts, feelings, or intentions

dissever - ()vti
(vi) to come apart or become disunited
(vt) to separate or sever something

dissimulate - ()vti
to disguise or hide your true feelings, thoughts, or intentions (formal)

dissolute - ()adj
overindulging in physical pleasures in a way or to an extent that is considered immoral or harmful

dissonant - ()adj
incompatible or inconsistent

dissuade - ()vt
to persuade somebody not to do something or not to believe, think, or feel something

distinct - ()adj
clearly different and separate -or- strong enough, large enough, or definite enough to be noticed

divagate - ()vi
to wander off the subject under discussion

diverse - ()n
essentially different

doctrine - ()n
a rule or principle that forms the basis of a belief, theory, or policy

dogma - ()n
a belief or set of beliefs that a political, philosophical, or moral group holds to be true

dogmatic - ()adj
prone to expressing strongly held beliefs and opinions

domesticate - ()vt
to adapt to life in association with and to the use of humans

dregs - ()n
the least valuable or most unpleasant part of something, especially a group of people

dystopia - ()n
an imaginary place where everything is as bad as it possibly can be, or a vision or description of such a place

dystrophy - ()n
progressive degeneration of a body tissue

E e -

effete - ()adj
lacking or having lost the strength or ability to get things done -or- characterized by decadence, overrefinement, or overindulgence

efficacious - ()adj
having the power to produce the desired result

effrontery - ()n
behavior or an attitude that is so bold or arrogant as to be insulting

egalitarian - ()adj
based on a belief that all people should be socially, politically, and economically equal (equal outcome and access to resources, regardless of an individual's ability to produce or create)

elegance - ()adj
scientific precision, neatness, and simplicity

elegant - ()adj
ingeniously neat, simple, or concise -or- executed or made with a combination of skill, ease, and grace

elide - ()vt
to omit, delete, or ignore something

elision - ()n
the suppression, omission, or deletion of something, or what has been suppressed, omitted, or deleted

eloquent - ()adj
expressing a thought in a forceful, expressive, and persuasive way

Elysium - ()n
also known as the Elysian Fields, in Greek mythology, a pre-Hellenic paradise, a land of perfect peace and happiness. Regarded as the abode of the blessed dead, where the souls of the courageous dead lived in perfect happiness, surrounded by grass, trees, and gentle winds and enveloped in rose-tinted, perpetual light.

emancipate - ()vt
to set free from restrictions, conventions, slavery, bondage or serfdom

emend - ()vt
to make corrections or alterations to improve a text

empirical - ()adj
verifiable or provable by means of observation or experiment; derived from experiment and observation rather than theory

endeavor - ()vt
to volitionally attempt the achievement of a goal

enmity - ()n
the extreme ill will or hatred that exists between enemies

ennui - ()n
weariness and dissatisfaction with life that results from a loss of interest

entreat - ()vti
to beg for something, often repeatedly

envisage - ()vt
to conceive of something and/or contemplate a future possibility

ephemeral - ()adj
lasting for only a short period of time

epicene - ()adj
lacking vigor and strength -or- having both male and female characteristics

epigram - ()n
a concise, witty, and often paradoxical remark or saying

epigraph - ()n
quotation on or at the beginning of something, usually related to its theme

epistemic - ()adj
relating to knowledge

epistemology - ()n
the study of the qualities, basic constitution, and limits of knowledge

equanimity - ()n
evenness of temper especially under stress

equivocal - ()adj
deliberately expressed in an ambiguous way in an attempt to mislead somebody -or- arousing doubts and suspicions, especially about somebody's honesty or sincerity (abstruse/recondite)

erudition - ()n
knowledge acquired through study and reading

escapism - ()n
the act of indulging in fantasies to escape from volition and reality

escapist - ()n
someone that practices escapism

eschatology - ()n
the study of religious doctrines concerning the human soul in its relation to death, judgment, heaven, and hell

eschew - ()vt
to avoid doing or using something on principle or as a matter of course

esoteric - ()adj
difficult to understand or understood by only an initiated few

ethic - ()n
system of moral standards or principles used in defining values or virtue

ethical - ()adj
based on adherence to one's ethic; virtuous

ethics - ()n
the study of moral standards or principles used in defining values or virtue

ethnic - ()n
any of the basic divisions of mankind

ethnology - - ()n
study of any of the basic divisions of mankind

etiology - ()n
investigation of causes and origins

etymology - ()n
the study of the origins of words or parts of words and how they have arrived at their current form and meaning

eugenicist - ()n
same as eugenist

eugenics - ()n pl
the science of improving the human species through breeding or genetic engineering

eugenist - ()n
scientist that studies, practices, or advocates the principles of eugenics

euthenics - ()n (singular)
the study of ways of improving people's environment and living standards in order to improve their health and well-being

exaction - ()n
the act of forcing somebody to give something, especially payment -or- a sum of money or a payment that has been forcibly demanded and obtained

excogitate - ()vt
to consider or think about something carefully and thoroughly

excoriate - ()vt
to criticize somebody or something very strongly

excrescent - - ()adj
added or growing out unnecessarily

exegesis - ()n
the critical explanation or interpretation of texts

exigency - ()n (same as exigence)
a difficult situation requiring urgent action -or- something that a situation demands or makes urgently necessary and that puts pressure on the people involved

exiguous - ()adj
scanty or meager

exoteric - ()adj
capable of being understood by most people

expatiate - ()vi
to speak or write about something at length

explicit - ()adj
expressing all details in a clear and obvious way

exposition - ()n
a setting forth of meaning or intent

extant - ()adj
still in existence

extenuate - ()vt
to make (an offense) appear less serious

F f -

facetious - ()
joking, especially at an inappropriate time

faction - ()n
a group that is a minority within a larger group and has specific interests or beliefs that it works toward in opposition to the majority

factionalize - ()vti
to split, or cause something to split, into factions

factious - ()adj
produced by or tending to produce faction

factitious - ()adj
contrived and insincere rather than genuine; artificial

faculty - ()n
a mental power or ability

fallacious - ()adj
deceptive or liable to mislead people -or- containing or involving a mistaken belief or idea

fealty - ()n
intense fidelity

faith - ()n
fidelity to one's promises; sincerity of intentions -or- firm belief in something for which there is no proof

fidelity - ()n
the quality or state of being faithful -or- accuracy and exactness in producing the truth

Fifth Column - ()n
any clandestine group of people which works inside a nation to undermine its strength (psychological warfare), while at the same time the nation suffers a direct attack from a foreign power (coined by Gen. Emilio Mola Vidal, during the Spanish Civil War, attacking Madrid with four columns of soldiers, he referred to his hidden supporters inside the capital as his fifth column)

fortitude - ()n
strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage

fountainhead - ()n
the primary source of something abstract

freebooter - ()n
somebody who lives by plundering others, especially a pirate

G g -

goal - ()n
a value which serves as a target for achievement

grapple - ()vi
to struggle with something that is difficult to deal with, for example, a concept or theory that is difficult to grasp

grift - ()n
a swindle or confidence game

guile - ()n
a cunning, deceitful, and treacherous quality or type of behavior

H h -

hedonism - ()n
doctrine that physical pleasure is the principle good or the source of moral values

hegemony - ()n
control or dominating influence by one person or group over others, especially by one political group over society or one nation over others

herbivore - ()n
an animal that feeds only or mainly on grass and other plants

hominid - ()n [from a Latin word for "man"]
a primate belonging to a family of which the modern human being is the only species still in existence (Family Hominidae)

honor - ()n
strength in adherence to ethical conduct; integrity

hope - ()n
expectation of fulfillment or success

I i -

i.e. - abbrev. id est (Latin)

ibid. - abbrev. ibidem

ibidem - ()adv
in the same place; the same book, publication, chapter, or page previously cited

id est - (Latin)
that is (its abbreviation "i.e." is most often used to preface an example)

ideology - ()n
the philosophy of social and political doctrine, governing the association of men

ignoble - ()adj
low in character; base; dishonorable

ignominious - ()adj
causing or deserving disgrace, humiliation, or public contempt

ignorance - ()n
cognitive failure due to the act of evading or ignoring the truth

ignore - ()vt
to evade the truth -or- to refuse to notice or pay attention to somebody or something

illusion - ()n
something that deceives the senses or mind -or- a mistaken perception or belief

immolate - ()vt
to kill as a sacrifice

implicit - ()adj
not stated, but understood as a necessary part of something

importune - ()vt
to urge or entreat persistently or repeatedly

impunity - ()n
exemption from punishment, harm, or recrimination

impute - ()vt
to attribute to another, especially fault or misconduct

inculcate - ()vt
to impress upon the mind through frequent and forceful repetition

indenture - ()n
a written contract, especially one binding one person to work for another

induce - ()vt
to persuade -or- to draw a conclusion from pertinent facts

induction - ()n
reasoning from facts to a conclusion

infamous - - ()adj
having an extremely bad reputation; famous for evil behavior

inimical - ()adj
unfavorable or hostile

inimitable - ()adj
impossible to imitate

iniquity - ()n
great injustice or extreme immorality; wicked

inquisition - ()n
a thorough inquiry or investigation -or- a tribunal suppressing heresy and heretics by harsh and relentless questioning (first used by the Roman Catholic Church)

insipid - ()adj
without excitement; tasteless; dull

instauration - ()n
the institution or establishment of something -or- renovation; restoration

integrate - ()n
to make into a whole by bringing all parts together; unify

integrity - ()n
firm adherence to a code of ethics -or- being complete, undivided, sound, or undamaged; unified

intellect - ()n
the ability to reason

intellectual - ()adj
relating to or involving the mental processes of abstract thinking and reasoning rather than the emotions; pertaining to intellect

interdict - ()vt
to prohibit, forbid, or place under an ecclesiastical or legal sanction

interdiction - ()n
prohibition or an ecclesiastical or legal sanction

invective - ()n
a violent verbal attack -or- denunciatory or abusive language (vituperation)

investiture - ()
Definition

inveigle - ()vt
to charm, entice, or trick into doing something

invidious - ()adj
producing resentment, ill will, or jealousy; offensive

inviolable - ()adj
secure from violence, attack, infringement, or breaking

inviolate - ()adj
not subject to change, damage, or destruction

irrational - ()adj
not rational; marked by a lack of accord with reason or sound judgment; affected by loss of usual or normal mental clarity

J j -

jabberwocky - ()n
speech or writing that is meaningless and often deliberately whimsical or humorous

jingo - ()n
a zealous and bellicose patriot

jingoism - ()n
zealous and bellicose patriotism

just - ()adj
conforming to the truth, fact, or reason

justice - ()n
conformity to truth, fact, or reason

K k -

know - ()vti
(vi) to have information firmly in the mind or committed to memory
(vt) to believe firmly in the truth or certainty of something

L l -

lacuna - ()n
a gap or place where something is missing, especially in a manuscript or a line of argument

laissez-faire - ()n
noninterference; absence of governmental control over business or industry

lascivious - ()adj
characterized by or expressing lust

laudable - ()adj
admirable and worthy of praise

legerdemain - ()n
a display of skill or cleverness, especially for deceitful purposes

leitmotif - ()n
a recurring theme, for example, in literature or history

lexicon - ()n
a dictionary, especially one of specialized terminology or language

licentious - ()adj
lacking moral discipline, especially in sexual conduct; amoral pursuing of desires

limpid - ()adj
clear or transparent - or- expressing something in a way that is clear and easy to understand -or- emotionally calm and composed

loyal - ()adj
inviolate or steadfast in allegiance

loyalty - ()n
the quality or state of being loyal

lugubrious - ()adj
very sad or mournful, especially in an exaggerated way

M m -

malediction - ()n
slander or evil speech; curse

malefic - ()adj
having a harmful or evil effect or influence

maleficent - ()adj
causing or capable of intentionally doing harm or evil

malicious - ()adj
motivated by or resulting from a desire to cause harm or pain to others

martinet - ()
somebody who imposes strict discipline on others

mawkish - ()adj
sentimental in a weak, insipid way

maxim - ()n
a general rule, principle, or truth

meliorate - - ()vti
to become or make something better

meritorious - ()adj
deserving accolade and recognition

meretricious - ()
attractive in a superficial or vulgar manner but without real value -or- seemingly plausible or significant, but actually insincere or false; specious

metaphysics - ()n
the branch of philosophy studying the nature of existence and causality

mountebanks - ()n
a flamboyant charlatan -or- a hawker of quack medicines who attracts customers with stories, jokes, or tricks

minutiae - ()n (plural)
small or trivial details

miscegenation - ()
sexual relations between people of different races, especially when it produces hybrid offspring

miscellaneous - ()adj
consisting of various kinds or qualities

moral - ()adj
based on adherence to one's values; virtuous

Multiculturalism : (noun)
The concept that one society may exist with many different and diverse cultures. This concept is implausible by the definition of culture, and is used as a tool to hide sweeping cultural changes that occur when one culture is being supplanted by another. Normally indicative of social decay through mystic sophism and altruism, leading to demagogic hegemony and a totalitarian state.

multifarious - ()adj
having many types of parts or elements; diverse

multilateral - ()adj
involving more than two parties or countries

myrmidon - ()[myrm- (pertaining to ants)] n
a faithful follower who carries out orders without question

mystagogue - ()n
somebody who believes in and disseminates mystical doctrines

mystic - ()n
somebody who practices or believes in mysticism

mystical - ()adj
achieved through intuition, faith, ecstasy, or sudden insight rather than through rational thought

mysticism - ()
the belief that personal knowledge is achieved through intuition, faith, ecstasy, or sudden insight rather than through rational thought

N n -

nation - ()n
a race of people having a common descent, language, and culture

nihilism - ()n
the belief that there is no objective basis for truth

non sequitur - - ()n
a conclusion that does not follow from its premises

nonce - ()n
the present time

normative - ()adj
of or establishing a norm

noumenon - ()n (pl - noumena)
something beyond the tangible world that can only be known or identified by the intellect, not by the senses (in Kantian philosophy - something that exists independently of intellectual or sensory perception of it. "the noumenal world")

nugatory - ()adj
of no importance whatsoever; worthless; inoperative; invalid

O o -

obduracy - ()n
stubborn and total refusal to change an opinion or stance

obdurate - ()
not easily persuaded or influenced -or- not influenced by emotions, especially not inclined to feel sympathy or pity

obfuscate - ()vti
to obscure or confuse, especially by unnecessary complications

obiter dictum - ()n Latin
an incidental or passing remark, opinion, etc.

Objective Ethic
see "Objective Theory of Values"

Objective Theory of Values
The intrinsic theory holds that the "good" resides in some sort of reality and is independent of man's consciousness, whereas the subjectivist theory holds that the "good" resides in man's consciousness, independent of reality. The Objective Theory holds that the "good" is neither an attribute of "things in themselves" nor of man's emotional states, but an evaluation of the facts of reality by man's consciousness according to a rational standard of value(Rational, in this context, means: derived from the facts of reality and validated by a process of reason.). Good is an aspect of reality in relation to man - it must be discovered and not invented by man. Fundamental to an Objective Theory of Values is the question: Of value to whom and for what? It does not permit the separation of "value" from "purpose", of the "good" from the "beneficiaries", or of man's "actions" from "reason". ["The Ayn Rand Lexicon"]

Objectivism : ()n
the name chosen by Ayn Rand for her philosophy, which is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.

objurgate - ()vt
to scold somebody angrily

oblique - ()adj
not straightforward or direct

obliquity - ()n
a departure from morality or reason -or- a lack of directness or straightforwardness in speech or conduct

oblivion - ()adj
the condition of being forgotten and/or forgetting everything

oblivious - ()adj
unaware; unfocused; forgetful

obsequious - ()adj
much too willing to serve or obey; fawning; servile; deferential

obscure - ()adj
difficult to understand -or- unknown to most people

obverse - ()n
a counterpart, complement, or opposite -or- a proposition derived from another proposition by denying it and then negating the predicate, for example, "Everything is possible" becomes "Nothing is impossible

obviate - ()vt
to render something unnecessary; avoid a foreseen problem

ochlocracy - ()n
government by the masses; mob rule

odious - ()adj
inspiring hatred, contempt, or disgust

omnipotent - ()adj
having complete and unlimited power and authority

omniscience - ()n
knowledge of all things

omniscient - ()adj
knowing all things

omnivore - ()
an animal that will feed on any kind or many different kinds of food, including both plants and animals.

ontogeny - - ()n
the development of an individual from a fertilized ovum to maturity

ontology - ()n
the branch of metaphysics concerned with the nature of existence (Metaphysics is customarily divided into ontology, which deals with the question of how many fundamentally distinct sorts of entities compose the universe, and metaphysics proper, which is concerned with describing the most general traits of reality.)

opprobrium - ()n
disgrace stemming from dishonorable behavior

ostensible - ()adj
presented as being true or appearing to be true, but usually hiding a different motive or meaning (see ostensive)

ostensive - ()adj
presented as being true or appearing to be true, but usually hiding a different motive or meaning (see ostensible)

ostentation - ()n
pretentious display meant to impress others; boastful showiness

ostentatious - ()adj
given to ostentation; pretentious

P p -

pagan - ()n
somebody who does not follow one of the world's main religions, especially somebody who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, and whose religion is regarded as questionable or relating to an ancient polytheistic religion; Polytheist

pabulum - ()(pablum) n
material whose intellectual content is thin, trite, bland, or generally unsatisfying -or- a source of nourishment in an easily absorbable liquid

paladin - ()n
a champion or hero; somebody known for championing a cause

palliate - ()vt
to lessen the severity of without curing -or- to make (an offense) appear less serious; extenuate

palpable - ()adj
that can be touched; tangible -or- easily perceived; obvious

paradigm - ()n
an example or model -or- a set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them, especially in an intellectual discipline -or- an example of conjugation, giving all the inflections of a word

parenthetical - ()adj
added as an extra comment or parenthesis

pariah - ()n
an outcast -or- a member of the lowest social cast; an untouchable

paternalism - ()n
the governing of subjects in a fatherly manner

pedagogy - ()n
the science of teaching

pedagogue - ()n
a teacher, especially a pedantic one

pedant - ()
one who emphasizes trivial points of learning

peevish - ()adj
given to complaining; querulous; irritable

pejorative - ()adj
making or becoming worse -or- disparaging; belittling

pelf - ()n
money or wealth regarded with contempt, especially when dishonestly acquired

pellucid - ()adj

penchant - ()n
a strong liking or inclination

pendulous - ()adj
wavering or undecided -or- hanging freely; drooping

penultimate - ()adj
next to last

percept - ()n
a mental impression of something perceived by the senses, viewed as the basic component in the formation of concepts; a sense datum

perfidious - ()adj
relating to perfidy; treacherous

perfidy - ()n
deliberate betrayal; breach of faith; calculated violation of trust; treachery

perforce - ()adv
by force of circumstance or by necessity

pernicious - ()adj
wicked -or- tending to cause death or serious injury; deadly -or- causing great harm; destructive

perspicacious - ()adj
acute mental discernment; clear-sighted; keen

perspicacity - ()n
acuteness of perception, discernment, or understanding

perspicuous - ()
clearly expressed; easily understood

pestilential - ()
deadly contagion -or- morally harmful; pernicious

phenetic - ()adj
of, relating to, or designating a system of classification of organisms based on overall or observable similarities rather than on phylogenetic or evolutionary relationships

philosophy - - ()n
the science of reality, existence, causality, and truth

phylogeny - ()n
the evolutionary development and history of an organism (also called phylogenisis)

piety - ()n
fidelity to natural obligations

polemic - ()n
an aggressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another -or- a person inclined to controversy, argument, or refutation

polity - ()n
the form of government of a nation, state, church, or organization

polymath - ()n
a person of great or varied learning

pompous - - ()
Full of high-sounding phrases; bombastic; pretentious

pongid - ()n [from a Congolese word for "ape"]
any ape of the family that includes the great apes (Family Pongidae)

possible - ()adj
capable of existence, occurring, or being true; not arbitrary

postulate - ()vt
to assume or suggest that something is true or exists

powermonger - n
Sociopath — Those individuals that consider all value in life to stem from power over other individuals. Their self image and their respect for others is tied to ones ability to exercise power over other individuals.

pragmatic - ()adj
dealing or concerned with facts or actual occurrences; practical -or- testing the validity of all concepts by their practical results

precept - ()n
command or principle intended especially as a general rule of action

preceptor - ()n
an expert or specialist who gives practical experience and training to a student

prerogative - ()n
an exclusive or special right, power, or privilege -or- one possessed by a nation as an attribute of sovereignty

presage - ()n
an indication or warning of a future occurrence

premonitory - ()adj
foreseeing a future event without rational basis

presume - ()vt
to suppose to be true without proof

presuppose - ()vt
to suppose beforehand -or- to require as an antecedent condition

pretense - ()n
something done or a way of behaving that is not genuine but is meant to deceive other people

pretentious - ()
marked by an extravagant outward show; ostentatious -or- claiming or demanding a position of distinction or merit, when unjustified

preter - ()prefix
signifying past, by, beyond, more than

pretext - ()n
a misleading or untrue reason given for doing something in an attempt to conceal the real reason

prevaricate - ()vi
to avoid giving a direct and honest answer or opinion; lie; be evasive; purposefully mislead; deceive

primacy - ()n
the state of being first or foremost

prima facie - ()adj -or- adv
evident without proof or reasoning; obvious

principle - ()n
a standard of moral value which governs behavior

probable - ()adj
most likely to exist, occur, or be true

probity - ()n
adherence to the highest principles and ideals

pro bono - ()Latin
for the (public) good

procrustean - ()adj
producing or designed to produce strict conformity by ruthless or arbitrary means

profligate - ()adj
lacking moral restraint; dissolute -or- recklessly wasteful; wildly extravagant

proletariat - ()n
the class of wage-earning workers in a society

promulgate - ()vt
to make known by open declaration; proclaim

propaganda - ()n
deliberately false or misleading information that supports a political cause or the interests of those in power; even if the message conveys true information, it may be partisan and fail to paint a complete and balanced picture (see: deceit)

propitiate - ()vt
to appease or conciliate

propinquity - ()n
nearness -or- nearness in blood; kinship -or- similarity in nature

propitious - - ()adj
favorably disposed; benevolent;auspicious

pro rata - ()adv
proportionately according to an exactly calculable factor

prudence - ()n
the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason

prudent - ()adj
of, characterized by, relating to, proceeding from, or showing prudence

prudential - ()adj
prudent

psychological warfare - ()n
use of propaganda, having the primary purpose of influencing the opinions, emotions, attitudes, and behavior of groups

psychopath - ()n
personality disorder marked by a lack of conscience creating antisocial thought and behavior; sociopath

purlieus - ()n (pl)
outskirts, especially of a city or town

purloin - ()vt
to steal something, especially when the theft breaks another's trust

purposive - ()adj
having a use or purpose

Q q -

qua - ()prep
in the capacity or character of

querulous - ()adj
given to complaining; peevish

quid pro quo - ()Latin
something in return

quintessence - ()n
the essence of a thing in its purest or most typical form

quisling - ()n
a traitor who serves as the puppet of the enemy occupying his country

quixotic - ()adj
marked by rash lofty romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action

R r -

rapacious - ()adj
taking by force or deceit; plundering; extorting

rational - ()adj
of sound mind; sane; influenced by reasoning rather than by emotion; relating to, based on, or guided by reason, principle, fairness, logic, or a consideration of fact

rationale - ()n
an exposition of principles or fundamental reasons

reason - ()n
logical, rational, and analytic thought; good judgment -or- basis or motive for an action, decision, or conviction

rebuke - ()vt
to criticize or sharply convey disapproval of

rebut - ()vti
vt - overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
vi - present evidence or proof

rebuttal - ()n
the act of rebutting

recalcitrant - ()adj
marked by stubborn resistance to, and defiance of, authority or guidance

recant - ()vti
to make a formal retraction or disavowal of a previously held statement or belief

recapitulate - ()vti
vt - to repeat in concise form
vi - to make a summary

recompense - ()n
amends made, as for damage or loss; payment for goods or service

recondite - ()adj
hidden from the mental view; not easily understood (vague)

rectitude - ()n
strong moral integrity in character or actions -or- the quality of being correct in judgment

redux - ()adj
brought back, especially in being restored to former importance or prominence

reiterate - ()vt
to say or do something again, once or several times

repository - ()
a place or container in which something is stored

reprehensible - ()adj
deserving of reproof, rebuke, or censure; blameworthy

reprobate - ()
Definition

reproof - ()
Definition

reprove - ()vt
to voice or convey disapproval of ; to find fault with; rebuke

republic - ()
Definition

reticence - ()
Definition

reticent - ()
Definition

S s -

sagacious - ()adj
having or showing keen discernment, sound judgment, and farsightedness (shrewd)

sagacity - ()n
the quality of being discerning, sound in judgment, and farsighted (wisdom)

salient - ()
Definition

salutary - ()
Definition

san serif - ()
Definition

science - ()n
the a set of rules and methods for the pursuit of knowledge; objective epistemology

servile - ()adj
humbly submissive; like a slave

secular - ()
Definition

segregate - ()adj -or- vti
           (adj) separated or isolated
           (vi) to become separated or isolated from others
           (vt)to separate or isolate from others

semper fidelis - ()Latin
fidelity forever

semper paratus - ()Latin
forever ready

sentient - ()
Definition

serfdom - - ()n
the condition of enslaved labor

seriatim - ()
Definition

serif - ()
Definition

shyster - ()
Definition

simp - ()n
an offensive term for somebody who seems to lack intelligence or common sense

sincerity - ()n
verity of mind

sine qua non - ()Latin
an indispensable cause or condition

sociopath - ()n
personality disorder marked by lack of conscience creating antisocial thought and behavior; psychopath

solecism - ()n
something incorrect, inappropriate, or inconsistent

solipsism - ()n
the view that consciousness is primary; that the "self" is the only reality and the only thing knowable

sophism - ()n
an argument or explanation that seems very clever or subtle on the surface but is actually flawed, misleading, or intended to deceive

sophist - ()n
someone who deceives people with clever-sounding but flawed arguments or explanations

sophistry - ()n
a method of argumentation that seems clever but is actually flawed or dishonest

specious - ()adj
having a false look of truth or genuineness; sophistic

statism - ()n
concept that government can and should control the economy (and implicitly the population)

stoic - ()n
somebody who appears unaffected by emotions

stoicism - ()n
emotional indifference, especially admirable patience and endurance shown in the face of adversity

stramash - ()n
an uproar; disturbance; a turmoil; a broil; a fray; a fight

Strength of Diversity -
a ploy to keep a nation from creating a wealthy and technologically advanced civilization. There is only weakness in diversity. People that think alike and act alike are incredibly united and capable of completing any task they chose with great alacrity and precision. People that are diverse in nature are unable to chose a task much less complete it in an organized manner. Diversity undermines education and does not increase its effectiveness. Our children face bewilderment in school when they are told that there is no difference in the races, but at the same time are told that a racially diverse group is stronger. If they are equal, why is there strength? Until we understand the "Weakness of Diversity", our nation will not overcome its current cultural mayhem. Diversity is sophistically used to elicit altruism and fraudulently remove freedoms from a society.

stultify - - ()vt
to render something useless or ineffectual -or- to make seem foolish or stupid

subjacent - ()
Definition

subjugate - ()vt
to bring somebody, especially a people or nation, under the control of another, for example, by military conquest

subsist - ()
Definition

subsume - ()
Definition

succor - ()
Definition

supplant - ()vt
to take the place of something; replace

sycophant - ()n
someone that uses servile or obsequious flattery for personal gain; a "boot-licker"

syllogism - ()n
a subtle piece of reasoning, or one that seems true but is actually false or deceptive

syncretistic - ()
Definition

systemic - ()adj
affecting or relating to a system as a whole

T t -

tangible - ()adj
possible to touch; palpable -or- possible to be treated as fact, real, concrete -or- possible to understand

taphonomy - ()n
the study of the conditions and processes by which organisms become fossilized

tautology - ()n
redundant -or- (Logic) An empty or vacuous statement composed of simpler statements in a fashion that makes it logically true whether the simpler statements are factually true or false (i.e. the statement Either it will rain tomorrow or it will not rain tomorrow.

teleological - ()n
the study of natural purpose or design

temperance - ()n
moderation in the indulgence of the appetites, passions, and feelings

temporal - ()adj
relating to or limited by time -or- secular; lay; civil

temporize - ()vi
to act evasively in order to gain time, avoid argument, or postpone a decision -or- draw out a discussion or process in order to gain time

teratology - ()n
the biological study of birth defects

terse - ()adj
concise and economically phrased; brief and unfriendly, often conveying annoyance; concise

thesis - ()n
a hypothetical proposition, especially one put forth without proof

tome - ()n
a book, especially a large one

totalitarian - ()n
relating to, or advocating a political regime based on the subordination of the individual to the government and strict control of all aspects of life, especially by coercive measures

traduce - ()vt
to cause humiliation or disgrace to by making malicious and false statements

transcendental - ()adj
Definition

U u -

umbrage - ()vt
resentment or annoyance arising from some offense

upbraid - ()vt
to correct or criticize somebody in a harsh manner

utopia - ()n
impractical scheme for society, where the peace, tranquility, and success of the group is shared equally by each individual without effort or responsibility

V v -

vacillate - ()
Definition

vain - ()adj
excessively proud of one's appearance -or- not yielding the desired outcome;fruitless

vainglory - ()n
vain, ostentatious display -or- boastful, unwarranted pride in one's accomplishments or qualities

vainglorious - ()adj
exhibiting excessive vanity; boastful

valor

- ()n
strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness

value - ()n
the worth, importance, or usefulness of something to an individual

vanity - ()n
the quality or condition of being vain

venal - ()adj
capable of betraying honor, duty, or scruples for a price; corruptible

venality - ()n
the condition of being susceptible to bribery or corruption; the use of a position of trust for dishonest gain

venial - ()
easily excused or forgiven; pardonable

veracious - ()
honest; truthful -or- accurate; precise

veracity - ()n
the truth, accuracy, or precision of something

verbigerate - ()vi
to repeat a word or sentence, in speaking or writing

verbose - - ()adj
using or containing a great and usually an excessive number of words; wordy

verisimilar - ()adj
having the appearance of truth; probable or likely

verity - ()n
the quality or condition of being true, factual, or real

vex - ()vt
to cause somebody anxiety or distress

vexillology - ()vt
the study of flags

vicissitude - ()
Definition

virtue - ()n
fidelity to an ethical standard or code of ethics

virtuous - ()adj
having or exhibiting virtue

virulent - ()
Definition

vitiate - - ()
Definition

vitriolic - ()
Definition

vituperate - ()vt
to rebuke or criticize harshly or abusively

volitant - ()adj
flying or capable of flight

volitation - ()n
the act of flying or the ability to fly

volition - ()n
the ability to make conscious choices or decisions; will

voluble - ()
Definition

votary - ()n
somebody who has devoted himself or herself to something such as a religion or cause

vox populi - ()
Definition

W w -

will - ()n
the mental faculty by which one deliberately chooses or decides upon a course of action; volition

wisdom - ()n
the ability to discern or judge what is true

wry - ()adj
abnormally twisted or bent to one side

X x -

xenophobia - ()n
an intense fear or dislike of foreign people, their customs and culture, or foreign things

Y y -

yahoo - ()n
a crude or brutish person

Z z -

zealot - ()
a fanatically committed person

Zeitgeist - ()n
the spirit of the time; the taste and outlook characteristic of a period or generation

This page last revised: 04NOV2014