Abattoir  (ˈæb.ə.twɑːr)
Type: noun
Definition: A slaughterhouse.
Etymological origin: 1820, from French abattre in its literal sense “to beat down, knock down, slaughter” (see abate) + suffix -oir, corresponding to Latin -orium, indicating “place where” (see -ory).

Abeyance  (əˈbeɪ.əns)
Type: noun
Definition: A state of temporary inactivity.
Etymological origin: 1520s, “state of expectation,” from Anglo-French abeiance “suspension,” also “expectation (especially in a lawsuit),” from Old French abeance “aspiration, powerful desire,” noun of condition from abeer “aspire after, gape, open wide,” from à “at” (see ad-) + ba(y)er “be open,” from Latin *batare “to yawn, gape” (see abash). Originally in French a legal term, “condition of a person in expectation or hope of receiving property;” it turned around in English law to mean “condition of property temporarily without an owner” (1650s). Hence “state of suspended action or existence.”

Aconite  (ˈæk.ə.naɪt)
Type: noun
Definition: A genus of poisonous flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae. Also known as Monkshood or Wolfsbane.
Etymological origin: 1570s, from French aconit (16c.), from Latin aconitum, from Greek akoniton, which is of unknown origin. The highly poisonous alkaloid in it, once isolated, was named aconitine (1826). Derived by the ancients from Greek akoniti “without dust,” hence “without struggle or fight,” hence “invincible” in its deadly effect. But Beekes finds this “hardly possible” and proposes a substrate origin.

Agonal  (ˈæɡ.ən.əl)
Type: adjective
Definition: Bodily spasms, commonly of the heart or lungs, that occur before death.
Etymological origin: 1650s, in reference to ancient Greece, “contest for a prize,” from Greek agōn “struggle, trial,” especially in the public games (see agony) but also of contests for prizes in poetry, theater, music. Meaning “verbal dispute between characters in a Greek play” is from 1887.

Agglomeration  (əˌɡlɒm.əˈreɪ.ʃən)
Type: noun
Definition: A collection of things.
Etymological origin: 1774, “action of collecting in a mass,” from Latin agglomerationem (nominative agglomeratio), noun of action from past-participle stem of agglomerare “to wind or add onto a ball,” from ad “to” (see ad-) + glomerare “wind up in a ball,” from glomus (genitive glomeris) “ball, ball of yarn, ball-shaped mass,” which is of uncertain origin. In reference to a mass so formed, it is recorded from 1833.

Ague  (ˈeɪ.ɡjuː)
Type: noun
Definition: An archaic term for Malaria or a similarly feverish state.
Etymological origin: c. 1300, “acute fever,” also (late 14c.) “malarial fever (involving episodes of chills and shivering)” from Old French ague “acute fever,” from Medieval Latin (febris) acuta “sharp (fever),” from fem. of acutus “sharp” (from PIE root *ak- “be sharp, rise (out) to a point, pierce”).

Alienist  (ˈeɪ.li.ə.nɪst)
Type: noun
Definition: An archaic term for a psychiatrist.
Etymological origin: “one who scientifically treats or studies mental illness,” 1864, from French aliéniste, from alienation in the sense of “insanity, loss of mental faculty,” from Latin alienare “deprive of reason, drive mad,” literally “to make another’s, estrange” (see alienate). The mental sense of alienate has since mostly died out in English, but Middle English had aliened from mind “deranged, not rational” (late 14c.), and alienation was used from 15c. in a sense of “loss or derangement of mental faculties, insanity.”

Ambulatory  (ˈæm.bjə.lə.tɔːr.i)
Type: adjective / noun
Definition: Relating to walking or a walkway.
Etymological origin: 1620s, “pertaining to walking;” also “movable; shifting, not permanent,” from Latin ambulatorius “pertaining to a walker; movable,” from ambulator, agent noun from past-participle stem of ambulare “to walk, go about” (see amble (v.)). Middle English had ambulary “movable” (mid-15c.).

Ancestress  (ˈæn.ses.trəs)
Type: noun
Definition: A female ancestor.
Etymological origin: “one from whom a person is descended,” c. 1300, ancestre, antecessour, from Old French ancestre, ancessor “ancestor, forebear, forefather” (12c., Modern French ancêtre), from Late Latin antecessor “predecessor,” literally “fore-goer,” agent noun from past-participle stem of Latin antecedere “to precede,” from ante “before” + cedere “to go.” The current form is from early 15c. Feminine form ancestress is recorded from 1570s.

Anodyne  (ˈæn.ə.daɪn)
Type: noun
Definition: A substance that relieves pain.
Etymological origin: “having power to relieve pain,” 1540s, from Medieval Latin anodynus “pain-removing, allaying pain,” from Latin anodynus “painless,” from Greek anodynos “free from pain,” from an- “without” + odynē “pain, torment,” a word of uncertain origin. As a noun, “substance which alleviates pain,” 1540s; in old slang, frequently a euphemism for “death” as in anodyne necklace “hangman’s noose.”

Antecedents  (ˌæn.tɪˈsiː.dənts)
Type: noun (plural)
Definition: A thing’s history, origins or ancestors.
Etymological origin: Late 14c. in grammar (“noun to which a pronoun refers”) and in logic, from Old French antecedent (14c.) or directly from Latin antecedentem (nominative antecedens), noun use of present participle of antecedere “go before, precede,” from ante “before” + cedere “to yield.” Hence “an event upon which another follows” (1610s).

Apparition  (ˌæp.əˈrɪʃ.ən)
Type: noun
Definition: A ghost or ghostlike figure.
Etymological origin: Early 15c., “supernatural appearance or manifestation,” from Anglo-French aparicion, Old French aparicion (15c.), used in reference to the Epiphany, from Late Latin apparitionem (nominative apparitio) “an appearance,” noun of action from past-participle stem of apparere “appear.” The meaning “ghost” is recorded from c. 1600; the sense differentiation between appearance and apparition is that the latter tends to be unexpected or startling.

Apotropaic  (ˌæp.ə.trəˈpeɪ.ɪk)
Type: adjective
Definition: The capacity to ward off evil.
Etymological origin: “having the power of averting evil influence,” 1883, with -ic + Greek apotropaios “averting evil,” from apotrepein “to turn away, avert,” from apo “off, away” + trepein “to turn” (from PIE root *trep- “to turn”).

Apoplexy  (ˈæp.ə.plek.si)
Type: noun
Definition: The rupture of an internal organ, typically used to describe Hemorrhagic Strokes.
Etymological origin: “sudden fit of paralysis and dizziness,” late 14c., from Old French apoplexie or directly from Late Latin apoplexia, from Greek apoplexia, from apoplektos “disabled by a stroke,” from apoplēssein “to strike down and incapacitate,” from apo “off” + plēssein “to hit” (from PIE root *plak- (2) “to strike”). The Latin translation, sideratio, means “disease caused by a constellation.”

Arbours  (ˈɑːr.bərz)
Type: noun (plural)
Definition: Shady garden alcoves with climbing plants.
Etymological origin: c. 1300, herber, “herb garden, pleasure garden,” from Old French erbier “field, meadow; kitchen garden,” from Latin herba “grass, herb.” Later “a grassy plot” (mid-14c.), “shaded nook, bower formed by intertwining of trees, shrubs, or vines” (mid-14c.). The spelling was probably accommodated to the notion of being sheltered by trees or shrubs (arbor), though the change from er- to ar- also reflects a Middle English pronunciation shift.

Ars longa, vita brevis  (ɑːrz ˈlɒŋ.ɡə ˈviː.tə ˈbre.vɪs)
Type: phrase (Latin)
Definition: Latin for “Art is long, life is short.”
Etymological origin: A Latin rendering of the opening aphorism from the Hippocratic Corpus, originally written in Greek by Hippocrates. The phrase reflects on the brevity of human life relative to the vast body of knowledge one must acquire.

Ashen  (ˈæʃ.ən)
Type: adjective
Definition: A dull and pale appearance.
Etymological origin: “ash-colored, whitish-gray, deadly pale,” 1807, from ash (n.1) + -en. Also “made of ash wood,” c. 1300, from ash (n.2) + -en. The meaning “pertaining to the ash tree” is from 1560s.

Assiduity  (ˌæs.ɪˈdjuː.ɪ.ti)
Type: noun
Definition: Constant or close attention.
Etymological origin: “diligence,” early 15c., from Latin assiduitatem (nominative assiduitas) “continual presence,” noun of quality from assiduus “continually present” (see assiduous).

Assistive Tools  (əˈsɪs.tɪv tuːlz)
Type: noun (plural)
Definition: Hardware or software that helps people with disabilities. The most well-known examples are screen readers, used by low-vision individuals. Websites can include specialised code to support these tools and improve accessibility.
Etymological origin: “a collection of tools, utensils, etc. adapted as a means to some end,” 1620s, from Latin apparatus “tools, implements, equipment; preparation,” noun of state from past-participle stem of apparare “prepare,” from ad “to” + parare “make ready” (from PIE root *pere- (1) “to produce, procure”).

– B –

Back number  (bæk ˈnʌm.bər)
Type: noun
Definition: An outdated thing.
Etymological origin: From the practice of referring to old issues of a periodical as “back numbers,” i.e. issues from a previous date no longer current.

Backend  (ˈbæk.ɛnd)
Type: noun
Definition: The hidden side of a website that handles its data and logic. Its opposite is the frontend, which is the part users directly interact with.
Etymological origin: Compound of back and end, used in computing contexts from the mid-20th century to describe the server-side or processing layer of a system, as opposed to the frontend or user-facing layer.

Barrel-eye  (ˈbær.əl ˌaɪ)
Type: noun
Definition: A family of deep-sea fish, typically found in the mesopelagic zone, known for their transparent heads and upward-facing tubular eyes.
Etymological origin: Named for the distinctive barrel-shaped tubular eyes of the fish in the family Opisthoproctidae, which are oriented upward to detect silhouettes of prey against faint surface light.

Basalt  (bəˈsɔːlt)
Type: noun
Definition: A dark volcanic rock.
Etymological origin: Type of volcanic rock, c. 1600, from Late Latin basaltes, a misspelling of Latin basanites “very hard stone,” from Greek basanitēs “a species of slate used to test gold,” from basanos “touchstone,” from Egyptian baban “slate.” In Pliny, basaniten by mistake became basalten, which is the origin of basalt. The word is not connected with salt.

Beck  (bek)
Type: noun
Definition: A small stream or a beckoning gesture.
Etymological origin: Late 14c., “nod or other mute signal intended to express desire or command,” a noun use from Middle English bekken (v.), variant of becnan “to beckon” (see beckon). The transferred sense of “slightest indication of will” is from late 15c.

Benediction  (ˌben.ɪˈdɪk.ʃən)
Type: noun
Definition: A blessing, especially at the end of a religious service.
Etymological origin: “act of speaking well of or blessing; invocation of divine blessing,” c. 1400, from Late Latin benedictionem (nominative benedictio) “a blessing,” noun of action from benedicere “to speak well of, bless,” from bene “well” + dicere “to say, speak” (from PIE root *deik- “to show”). The oldest sense in English is of grace before meat.

Benumbed  (bɪˈnʌmd)
Type: adjective
Definition: To become numb, physically or psychologically (also known as Reduced Affect).
Etymological origin: “deprive of sensation,” late 15c., from be- + numb. Originally of mental states; of the physical body from 1520s.

Bier  (bɪər)
Type: noun
Definition: A platform on which a coffin or body rests before a funeral.
Etymological origin: Middle English bere, from Old English bær “handbarrow, litter, bed,” from West Germanic *bero, from PIE root *bher- (1) “to carry.” The original sense is “wooden frame on which to carry a load.” The specific sense of “framework on which a coffin or corpse is laid before burial” was in late Old English and predominated from c. 1600.

Bilious  (ˈbɪl.i.əs)
Type: adjective
Definition: To be nauseous or ill-tempered.
Etymological origin: 1540s, “pertaining to bile, biliary,” from French bilieux, from Latin biliosus “pertaining to bile,” from bilis “bile; peevishness.” The meaning “testy, peevish, ill-tempered” (as people afflicted with an excess of bile were believed to be) is attested from 1560s.

Black Dog  (blæk dɔːɡ)
Type: noun
Definition: An English ghost dog that behaves as a death omen.
Etymological origin: A figure from English folklore, the black dog is a spectral canine associated with death, the devil, and ill fortune. Sightings are recorded across Britain under various regional names, including Black Shuck in East Anglia and Barghest in Yorkshire.

Blue hour  (bluː ˈaʊər)
Type: noun
Definition: The brief period after sunset or before sunrise when the sky adopts deep blue tones.
Etymological origin: A translation of the French l’heure bleue, a term used in photography and painting to describe the twilight period when the sun is below the horizon but its indirect light gives the sky a rich, cool blue quality distinct from the warmer tones of the golden hour.

Boudoir  (ˈbuː.dwɑːr)
Type: noun
Definition: A woman’s private bedroom or sitting room.
Etymological origin: “room where a lady may retire to be alone or to receive her intimate friends,” 1777, from French boudoir (18c.), literally “pouting room,” from bouder “to pout, sulk,” which, like pout and bouffant, probably ultimately is imitative of puffing.

Boulevardier  (ˌbuː.lə.vɑːrˈdɪər)
Type: noun
Definition: A fashionable man-about-town; a frequenter of boulevards.
Etymological origin: 1856, a French word in English, “one who frequents the boulevard;” i.e. “man-about-town, one fond of urban living and society.”

Burial Tree  (ˈber.i.əl triː)
Type: noun
Definition: A tree used for holding coffins.
Etymological origin: A practice found across various cultures, particularly among Indigenous peoples of North America and Australia, whereby the deceased are placed in the boughs of trees rather than interred in the ground. The elevation is often associated with spiritual beliefs about the soul’s passage.

– C –

Cadaver monument  (kəˈdæv.ər ˈmɒn.jə.mənt)
Type: noun
Definition: A tomb effigy depicting the corpse of its occupant, often in graphic detail.
Etymological origin: From Latin cadaver “dead body,” probably from a perfective participle of cadere “to fall, perish,” and Latin monumentum “a monument, memorial structure,” literally “something that reminds,” from monere “to remind, bring to recollection,” from PIE *moneie- “to make think of, remind.”

Café chantant  (kæ.feɪ ʃɑ̃ːˈtɑ̃ː)
Type: noun (French)
Definition: A café with musical entertainment.
Etymological origin: French, literally “singing café,” from café + chantant, present participle of chanter “to sing,” from Latin cantare “to sing.” A popular institution in 19th-century Paris, where patrons could drink and dine while watching live musical performances.

Cairn  (keɪrn)
Type: noun
Definition: A pile of stones used to mark the landscape or denote a burial site.
Etymological origin: “large, conical heap of stone,” especially of the type common in Scotland and Wales, 1530s, from Scottish carne, akin to Gaelic carn “heap of stones, rocky hill” and Gaulish karnon “horn,” perhaps from PIE *ker-n- “highest part of the body, horn,” thus “tip, peak.”

Calèche  (kæˈleʃ)
Type: noun (French)
Definition: A light horse-drawn carriage with a folding top.
Etymological origin: “light carriage with low wheels either open or covered with a folding top,” 1660s, from French calèche, from German kalesche, from Czech koleska, diminutive of kolesa “wheel-carriage,” from kolo “wheel” (from PIE root *kwel- (1) “revolve, move round”).

Calisthenics  (ˌkæl.ɪsˈθen.ɪks)
Type: noun (plural)
Definition: Gymnastic exercises to achieve fitness.
Etymological origin: Also callisthenics, kind of light gymnastics, 1842, formed on model of French callisthenie, from Latinized combining form of Greek kallos “beauty” + sthenos “strength, power, ability, might” + -ics.

Cameo  (ˈkæm.i.oʊ)
Type: noun
Definition: A small engraved piece of jewellery, most commonly depicting a portrait.
Etymological origin: Early 15c., “engraving in relief upon a precious stone with two layers of colors,” from Old French camaieu and directly from Medieval Latin cammaeus, which is of unknown origin, perhaps ultimately from Arabic qamaa’il “flower buds,” or Persian chumahan “agate.” The transferred sense of “small character or part that stands out from other minor parts” in a play is from 1928.

Carbine  (ˈkɑːr.baɪn)
Type: noun
Definition: A light automatic rifle.
Etymological origin: 1580s, from French carabine (Middle French carabin), used of light horsemen and also of the weapon they carried; of uncertain origin, perhaps from Medieval Latin Calabrinus “Calabrian.” A less-likely theory connects it to Old French escarrabin “corpse-bearer during the plague,” literally “carrion beetle,” said to have been an epithet for archers from Flanders.

Carbuncle  (ˈkɑːr.bʌŋ.kəl)
Type: noun
Definition: A severe abscess or a bright red gem.
Etymological origin: Early 13c., “fiery jewel, gem of a deep red color, ruby,” from Old North French carbuncle, from Latin carbunculus “red gem,” literally “a little coal,” from carbo “coal.” In English the word was used of red, eruptive subcutaneous inflammations and tumors from late 14c.

Cassock  (ˈkæs.ək)
Type: noun
Definition: A close-fitting, ankle-length garment worn by clergy. It is commonly black, but can also appear in different colours.
Etymological origin: 1540s, “long loose gown or outer cloak,” from French casaque “long coat,” corresponding to Spanish casaca, Italian casacca, probably ultimately from Turkish quzzak “nomad, adventurer,” the source of Cossack, from their typical riding coat. Chiefly a soldier’s cloak 16c.-17c.; ecclesiastical use is from 1660s.

Castellan  (ˈkæs.tə.lən)
Type: noun
Definition: The governor of a castle.
Etymological origin: Late 14c., from Old North French castelain, Old French chastelain “owner and lord of a castle, nobleman; keeper of a castle,” from chastel “castle,” from Latin castellum “castle.”

Castellated  (ˈkæs.tə.leɪ.tɪd)
Type: adjective
Definition: Built to resemble a castle.
Etymological origin: 1670s, from Medieval Latin castellatus “built like a castle,” past participle of castellare “to fortify as a castle, furnish with turrets and battlements,” from Latin castellum “castle, fort, citadel, stronghold.”

Cataleptic  (ˌkæt.əˈlep.tɪk)
Type: adjective
Definition: Relating to catalepsy, a condition of muscular rigidity.
Etymological origin: 1680s, from Late Latin catalepticus, from Greek kataleptikos, from kataleptos (see catalepsy). The noun meaning “one affected by catalepsy” is from 1851.

Cerements  (ˈsɪər.mənts)
Type: noun (plural)
Definition: A waxed cloth for wrapping a corpse.
Etymological origin: From French cirement (“waxing, wax dressing”), from cirer (“to wax, wrap”).

Cessation  (seˈseɪ.ʃən)
Type: noun
Definition: The stopping or ending of a thing.
Etymological origin: Mid-15c., cessacyoun “interruption, a ceasing; abdication,” from Latin cessationem (nominative cessatio) “a delaying, ceasing, tarrying,” noun of action from past-participle stem of cessare “to delay” (from PIE root *ked- “to go, yield”).

Charnel House  (ˈtʃɑːr.nəl haʊs)
Type: noun
Definition: A building for the storage of human bones.
Etymological origin: “common repository for dead bodies,” late 14c., from Old French charnel (12c.) “fleshly,” from Late Latin carnale “graveyard,” properly neuter of adjective carnalis, from Latin carnis “of the flesh.” The Late Latin word was glossed in Old English as flæschus “flesh-house.” Charnel house is attested from 1550s.

Chiaroscuro  (ˌkiː.ɑː.roʊˈskʊr.oʊ)
Type: noun
Definition: An artistic technique that uses strong contrasts to create depth and atmosphere.
Etymological origin: 1680s, “disposition of light and dark in a picture,” literally “bright-dark,” from Italian chiaro “clear, bright” (from Latin clarus) + oscuro (from Latin obscurus “dark, obscure”).

Choleric  (ˈkɒl.ər.ɪk)
Type: adjective
Definition: Ill-tempered, not to be confused with Cholera, a bacterial disease.
Etymological origin: Mid-14c., colrik, “bilious of temperament or complexion,” from Old French colerique, from Late Latin cholericus, from Greek kholerikos, from kholera “a type of disease characterized by diarrhea, supposedly caused by bile,” from khole “gall, bile.” Meaning “easily angered, hot-tempered” is from 1580s.

Chrism  (ˈkrɪz.əm)
Type: noun
Definition: Consecrated oil used in religious ceremonies.
Etymological origin: “oil mingled with balm, a sacred ointment consecrated and used in Church rites,” late Old English chrisma, from Church Latin chrisma, from Greek khrisma “an unguent, anointing, unction,” from khriein “to anoint” (from PIE root *ghrei- “to rub”).

Cicatrized  (ˈsɪk.ə.traɪzd)
Type: adjective
Definition: A healed, albeit scarred wound.
Etymological origin: From Latin cicatrix “scar,” referring to the mark left on skin after a wound has healed. The verb cicatrize means to heal by forming a scar.

Circuitous  (sərˈkjuː.ɪ.təs)
Type: adjective
Definition: Longer than the most direct route or otherwise indirect.
Etymological origin: “going round in a circuit, indirect,” 1660s, from Medieval Latin circuitus “full of roundabout ways,” from Latin circuitus “a going round” (see circuit (n.)).

Circumspection  (ˌsɜːr.kəmˈspek.ʃən)
Type: noun
Definition: An unwillingness to take risks.
Etymological origin: Late 14c., “careful observation of one’s surroundings, attention to details and probable consequences,” from Old French circumspection, from Latin circumspectionem “a looking around; foresight, caution,” noun of action from circumspicere “to look around,” from circum “around” + specere “to look” (from PIE root *spek- “to observe”).

Clavicle  (ˈklæv.ɪ.kəl)
Type: noun
Definition: The anatomical term for an animal’s collarbone.
Etymological origin: “collarbone,” 1610s, from French clavicule “collarbone,” also “small key,” from Medieval Latin clavicula, literally “small key, bolt,” diminutive of clavis “key” (from PIE root *klau- “hook”); in the anatomical sense a loan-translation of Greek kleis “key, collarbone.” So called supposedly from its function as the “fastener” of the shoulder.

Codicil  (ˈkɒd.ɪ.sɪl)
Type: noun
Definition: An addition to a will.
Etymological origin: “a writing added to a will to explain, alter, add to, or revoke original terms,” early 15c., from Latin codicillus “a short writing, a small writing tablet,” diminutive of codex (genitive codicis) “book” (see code (n.)).

Coffin Stone  (ˈkɔː.fɪn stoʊn)
Type: noun
Definition: A stone laid to denote a burial site.
Etymological origin: From Old French cofin “sarcophagus,” earlier “basket, coffer” (12c.), from Latin cophinus “basket, hamper,” from Greek kophinos “a basket.” Combined with Old English stan “stone,” from Proto-Germanic *stainaz.

Coins for the Dead  (kɔɪnz fɔːr ðə dɛd)
Type: noun (plural)
Definition: Coins left as offerings to the recently deceased, in reference to the toll required for Charon, the ferryman of the underworld.
Etymological origin: Rooted in ancient Greek and Roman funerary practice, wherein a coin (the obol) was placed in or near the mouth of the deceased to pay Charon for passage across the river Styx into the underworld. The custom persisted in various forms across European cultures into the modern era.

Collated  (kəˈleɪ.tɪd)
Type: verb (past tense)
Definition: Compiled and/or compared in detail.
Etymological origin: 1610s, “to bring together and compare, examine critically as to agreement,” from Latin collatus, irregular past participle of conferre “to bring together,” from com “with, together” + lātus “borne, carried,” serving as past participle of ferre “to bear” (from PIE root *bher- (1) “to carry”).

Comb Grave  (koʊm ɡreɪv)
Type: noun
Definition: A type of grave covered by two arched slabs.
Etymological origin: Named for the resemblance of its paired arched stone slabs to the tines of a comb. A form of grave covering found in medieval European burial practice.

Consumption  (kənˈsʌmp.ʃən)
Type: noun
Definition: An archaic term for Tuberculosis, a contagious disease of the lungs.
Etymological origin: Late 14c., “wasting of the body by disease; wasting disease, progressive emaciation,” from Old French consumpcion, from Latin consumptionem “a using up, wasting,” from consumere “to use up, eat, waste.” Meaning “act of consuming, the using up of material” is 1530s.

Convalescence  (ˌkɒn.vəˈles.əns)
Type: noun
Definition: The gradual recovery of health after an illness.
Etymological origin: “a gradual recovery of strength and health after a sickness,” late 15c., from French convalescence (15c.), from Late Latin convalescentia “a regaining of health,” from convalescere “thrive, regain health, begin to grow strong or well,” from com- + valescere “to begin to grow strong,” from valere “to be strong” (from PIE root *wal- “to be strong”).

Conveyance  (kənˈveɪ.əns)
Type: noun
Definition: The legal transfer of property; a vehicle for transport.
Etymological origin: Mid-15c., “act of conveying, act of carrying or transporting,” from convey + -ance. Meaning “document by which something is legally conveyed” is from 1570s; sense “means of transportation” is attested from 1590s.

Cornice  (ˈkɔːr.nɪs)
Type: noun
Definition: A decorative horizontal molding used in architecture.
Etymological origin: 1560s, “a molded projection which crowns the part to which it is affixed,” from French corniche (16c.) or directly from Italian cornice “ornamental molding along a wall,” perhaps from Latin coronis “curved line, flourish in writing,” from Greek koronis “curved object.” Sense of “ornamental molding running round the walls of a room just below the ceiling” is from 1660s.

Corpse Candles  (kɔːrps ˈkæn.dlz)
Type: noun (plural)
Definition: A group of atmospheric ghost lights that behave as a death omen.
Etymological origin: A Welsh and broader British folkloric tradition, also called will-o’-the-wisps or ignes fatui, wherein lights seen near graveyards or on roads were believed to foretell a death. In Welsh tradition they were called canwyll corff, “corpse candle,” and thought to mark the route a funeral would take.

Corpse Road  (kɔːrps roʊd)
Type: noun
Definition: Routes used to transport the recently deceased.
Etymological origin: A historical feature of English and Scandinavian landscapes, also called lych ways or bier roads, being ancient paths along which bodies were carried from remote settlements to the nearest church with burial rights. Their routes are often still traceable in the landscape.

Cortège  (kɔːrˈteʒ)
Type: noun (French)
Definition: A solemn procession, most used to describe a funeral.
Etymological origin: 1640s, “train of attendants,” from French cortège (16c.), from Italian corteggio “retinue,” from corte “court,” from Latin cohortem “enclosure,” from com- “with” + root akin to hortus “garden,” from PIE *ghr-ti-.

Counteractant  (ˌkaʊn.tərˈæk.tənt)
Type: noun
Definition: Something that opposes or neutralises a thing.
Etymological origin: 1670s, from counter- + act (v.).

Cudgeling  (ˈkʌdʒ.əl.ɪŋ)
Type: verb (present participle)
Definition: The metaphorical beating of a thought, used to convey deep thinking.
Etymological origin: “to strike or beat with a cudgel,” 1590s, from cudgel. The metaphorical usage, as in “cudgeling one’s brains,” derives from the image of forcefully working through a problem.

Curacy  (ˈkjʊər.ə.si)
Type: noun
Definition: The position or work of a curate, an assistant to a parish priest.
Etymological origin: “the office of a curate,” mid-15c.; see curate + -cy.

– D –

Dead bell  (dɛd bɛl)
Type: noun
Definition: A bell rung to herald a funeral procession.
Etymological origin: Also called a passing bell or death knell, the dead bell was tolled to announce a death in the parish and to call the community to prayer. The ringing pattern often indicated the sex and age of the deceased.

Death mask  (dɛθ mæsk)
Type: noun
Definition: A cast made of a deceased person’s face.
Etymological origin: A plaster or wax cast taken from the face of a recently deceased person, used to preserve their likeness. The practice was common in Europe from the medieval period onward, and many historical figures are known through their death masks.

Demonism  (ˈdiː.mə.nɪ.zəm)
Type: noun
Definition: The belief in, worship of, or possession by demons.
Etymological origin: From demon + -ism, with demon from Latin daemon, from Greek daimōn “spirit, divine power,” later “evil spirit” in Christian usage. The suffix -ism denotes a system of belief or practice.

Desiccation  (ˌdes.ɪˈkeɪ.ʃən)
Type: noun
Definition: The process of drying out.
Etymological origin: From Latin desiccationem, from desiccare “to dry up completely,” from de- “thoroughly” + siccare “to dry,” from siccus “dry,” from PIE root *seikw- “to flow out.”

Detritus  (dɪˈtraɪ.təs)
Type: noun
Definition: Fragments from destroyed material, especially resulting from decomposition.
Etymological origin: From Latin detritus “a wearing away,” from deterere “to wear away,” from de- “away” + terere “to rub, wear” (from PIE root *tere- (1) “to rub, turn”).

Dichotomy  (daɪˈkɒt.ə.mi)
Type: noun
Definition: A division into two contrasting parts.
Etymological origin: From Greek dichotomia “a cutting in half,” from dicha “in two” + temnein “to cut” (from PIE root *tem- “to cut”).

Digital Garden  (ˈdɪdʒ.ɪ.təl ˈɡɑːr.dən)
Type: noun
Definition: A website characterised by the continuous, indefinite upkeep of its pages, comparable to the pruning of plants in a garden.
Etymological origin: A term coined in online communities of the early 2000s and revived in the 2010s-2020s to describe a personal website maintained as a living, evolving collection of notes and ideas, in contrast to a blog’s reverse-chronological format.

Digue  (diːɡ)
Type: noun (French)
Definition: A French term for a dike or embankment.
Etymological origin: From Old French digue, from Middle Dutch dijc “dam, dike,” from Proto-Germanic *dikaz. Related to English dike and dyke.

Dog-cart  (ˈdɒɡ.kɑːrt)
Type: noun
Definition: A light two-wheeled horse-drawn cart.
Etymological origin: So called because it originally contained a box under the seat for carrying hunting dogs. A popular vehicle in 19th-century Britain.

Doldrums  (ˈdɒl.drəmz)
Type: noun (plural)
Definition: A state of stagnation or a calm equatorial ocean region.
Etymological origin: Early 19c., of uncertain origin, perhaps from dull + -drums by analogy with tantrum. The nautical sense refers to the equatorial belt of calms and light variable winds that could leave sailing ships becalmed for weeks.

Doleful  (ˈdəʊl.fəl)
Type: adjective
Definition: Mournful.
Etymological origin: From dole “grief, sorrow,” from Old French doel, from Latin dolere “to grieve, suffer,” + -ful.

Dolmen  (ˈdɒl.mən)
Type: noun
Definition: A type of ancient stone tomb.
Etymological origin: 1840s, from French dolmen, from Breton taol maen “table stone,” from taol “table” + maen “stone.” A megalithic structure consisting of two or more upright stones supporting a flat horizontal capstone, typically a Neolithic burial chamber.

Doric  (ˈdɒr.ɪk)
Type: adjective
Definition: A classical Greek architectural order with simple columns.
Etymological origin: 1560s, from Latin Doricus, from Greek Dōrikos “of or pertaining to the Dorians,” from Dōrieis, the Dorian Greeks. The Doric order is the oldest and simplest of the three principal classical orders, characterised by sturdy fluted columns with plain capitals.

Dot-Com crash  (dɒt ˈkɒm kræʃ)
Type: noun
Definition: A term for the bursting of the Dot-Com speculative bubble, which happened in 2000.
Etymological origin: Named for the .com top-level domain that became synonymous with internet businesses during the late 1990s technology boom. The crash of 2000-2001 saw the NASDAQ composite index lose nearly 80% of its value as overvalued internet companies collapsed.

Dracula Dark Theme  (ˈdræk.jʊ.lə dɑːrk θiːm)
Type: noun
Definition: A dark theme created by Zeno Rocha in 2013, originally designed for code editors and terminals. Despite its high-contrast palette of deep purples and pastel highlights, it is widely praised for its readability. Since its creation, Dracula has expanded to many other applications, including browsers, chat clients, and more.
Etymological origin: Named after Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula, invoking the dark, gothic aesthetic associated with the character. Created by Brazilian developer Zeno Rocha and released as an open-source project.

Druggist  (ˈdrʌɡ.ɪst)
Type: noun
Definition: A pharmacist.
Etymological origin: 1610s, from French droguiste, from drogue “drug,” of uncertain origin, perhaps from Dutch droog “dry,” as many medieval medicines were dried plant matter. The -ist suffix denotes a practitioner.

Dungeon-crawler  (ˈdʌn.dʒən ˈkrɔː.lər)
Type: noun
Definition: A video-game genre that revolves around first-person dungeon exploration.
Etymological origin: A compound of dungeon, from Old French donjon “great tower of a castle,” and crawler, from crawl. The genre emerged in the 1970s-80s from tabletop roleplaying games and early computer games such as Dungeon (1975) and Wizardry (1981).

– E –

Ecclesiastic  (ɪˌkliː.zi.ˈæs.tɪk)
Type: noun
Definition: A Christian priest or clergyman.
Etymological origin: From Late Latin ecclesiasticus, from Greek ekklesiastikos “of the assembly,” from ekklesia “assembly, church,” from ekkalein “to call out,” from ek “out” + kalein “to call.”

Effulgence  (ɪˈfʌl.dʒəns)
Type: noun
Definition: An intense radiance.
Etymological origin: From Latin effulgentia, from effulgere “to shine out,” from ex- “out” + fulgere “to shine” (from PIE root *bhel- (1) “to shine, flash, burn”).

Eminence  (ˈem.ɪ.nəns)
Type: noun
Definition: A high point of land or a position of prominence. Can often imply superiority.
Etymological origin: From Latin eminentia “a standing out,” from eminere “to stand out, project,” from ex- “out” + minere “to project,” related to mons “mountain” (from PIE root *men- (2) “to project”).

Epigraph  (ˈep.ɪ.ɡrɑːf)
Type: noun
Definition: An inscription on a building or statue or a quotation at the start of a text.
Etymological origin: From Greek epigraphe “inscription,” from epigraphein “to write on,” from epi “on, upon” + graphein “to write” (from PIE root *gerbh- “to scratch”).

Ephemeral  (ɪˈfem.ər.əl)
Type: adjective
Definition: To last for a very short time.
Etymological origin: From Greek ephemeros “lasting only a day,” from epi “on” + hemera “day.” Originally a medical term for a fever lasting only one day; later generalised to mean anything short-lived.

Epiphytic  (ˌep.ɪˈfɪt.ɪk)
Type: adjective
Definition: A plant that grows on another plant in a non-parasitic manner.
Etymological origin: From Greek epi “upon” + phyton “plant,” from phyein “to grow” (from PIE root *bheue- “to be, exist, grow”). Epiphytes such as orchids and mosses use their host for physical support without drawing nutrients from it.

Epistle  (ɪˈpɪs.əl)
Type: noun
Definition: A letter, especially a formal or didactic one.
Etymological origin: From Old French epistle, from Latin epistola “letter,” from Greek epistole “message, letter,” from epistellein “to send to,” from epi “upon, to” + stellein “to send.”

Epistolary  (ɪˈpɪs.tə.ler.i)
Type: adjective
Definition: Relating to letters; written in letter form.
Etymological origin: From Latin epistolaris, from epistola “letter.” An epistolary novel is one told through an exchange of letters, a popular form in 18th-century literature.

Equipage  (ˈek.wɪ.pɪdʒ)
Type: noun
Definition: An archaic term for specifically-chosen equipment. Can also refer to a horse-drawn carriage with attendants.
Etymological origin: From French équipage “crew, equipment,” from équiper “to equip,” from Old Norse skipa “to fit out a ship,” from skip “ship.”

Erdstall  (ˈɛrd.stɑːl)
Type: noun
Definition: A small underground passage most associated with the medieval period.
Etymological origin: From German Erdstall, from Erde “earth” + Stall “stall, stable.” These narrow, winding tunnels found mainly in Bavaria and Austria remain of uncertain purpose, with theories ranging from hiding places to ritual use.

Evinced  (ɪˈvɪnst)
Type: verb (past tense)
Definition: To reveal the presence of or demonstrate clearly.
Etymological origin: From Latin evincere “to conquer, prevail, prove,” from ex- “out” + vincere “to conquer” (from PIE root *weik- (3) “to fight, conquer”).

Evil eye  (ˈiː.vəl aɪ)
Type: noun
Definition: A curse believed to be cast by a malevolent glare. Alternatively, the protective talisman purported to guard against them.
Etymological origin: One of the oldest and most widespread folkloric beliefs, attested in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, and still present in many cultures today. Protective amulets such as the nazar (the blue glass eye common in Turkey and Greece) are designed to reflect the evil eye back to its source.

Exhumation  (ˌɛɡzjuːˈmeɪ.ʃən)
Type: noun
Definition: To extract a buried thing, especially a corpse.
Etymological origin: From Medieval Latin exhumationem, from exhumare “to dig up,” from ex- “out of” + humus “ground, earth” (from PIE root *dhghem- “earth”).

Expostulate  (ɪkˈspɒs.tʃə.leɪt)
Type: verb
Definition: To strongly disagree.
Etymological origin: From Latin expostulare “to demand urgently, remonstrate,” from ex- “thoroughly” + postulare “to demand” (see postulate). Originally meant to make an urgent demand; later shifted to mean to reason earnestly with someone in protest.

Exsanguination  (ˌɛk.sæŋ.ɡwɪˈneɪ.ʃən)
Type: noun
Definition: The fatal loss of blood suffered by a vertebrate.
Etymological origin: From Latin ex- “out of” + sanguis (genitive sanguinis) “blood” + -ation. The verb exsanguinate means to drain of blood.

Extremities  (ɪkˈstriː.mɪ.tiz)
Type: noun (plural)
Definition: The furthest points of a thing; in this context, it refers to fingers.
Etymological origin: From Latin extremitas “the end, extremity,” from extremus “outermost, farthest,” superlative of exterus “on the outside,” from ex “out of.” In anatomy, the extremities refer to the hands and feet, or more broadly the limbs.