Site Glossary: A to E

Etymology definitions originate from Etymonline, but I will replace them with my own in due time.

F to J

K to O

P to T

U to Z

A

Abattoir: / noun; 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).; A slaughterhouse.
Abeyance: / noun; 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." The French verb baer is also the source of English bay (n.2) "recessed space," as in bay window.; A state of temporary inactivity.
Aconite: / noun; 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). The ancient folk-etymology of the name is 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.; A genus of poisonous flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae. Also known as Monkshood or Wolfsbane.
Agonal: / adjective; 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.; Bodily spasms, commonly of the heart or lungs, that occur before death.
Agglomeration: / noun; 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 (see glebe). In reference to a mass so formed, it is recorded from 1833.; A collection of things.
Ague: / noun; 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").; An archaic term for Malaria or a similarly feverish state.
Alienist: / noun; "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."; An archaic term for a psychiatrist.
Ambulatory: / adjective / noun; 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.). Related: Ambulatorial.; Relating to walking or a walkway.
Ancestress: / noun; "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" (from PIE root *ant- "front, forehead," with derivatives meaning "in front of, before") + cedere "to go" (from PIE root *ked- "to go, yield"). The current form is from early 15c. Feminine form ancestress is recorded from 1570s.; A female ancestor.
Anodyne: / noun; 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" (see an- (1)) + odynē "pain, torment" (of the body or mind), a word of uncertain origin, evidently Indo-European, but none of the proposed etymologies satisfies Beekes. Some suggest it is a suffixed form of PIE root *ed- "to eat" (compare Lithuanian ėdžioti "to devour, bite," ėdžiotis "to suffer pain"). As a noun, "substance which alleviates pain," 1540s; in old slang, frequently a euphemism for "death" (as the final relief from the mental pain or distress of life) as in anodyne necklace "hangman's noose." Related: Anodynous.; A substance that relieves pain.
Antecedents: / noun (plural); late 14c. in grammar ("noun to which a pronoun refers") and in logic ("if A is, then B is;" A is the antecedent, B the consequent), 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" (from PIE root *ant- "front, forehead," with derivatives meaning "in front of, before") + cedere "to yield" (from PIE root *ked- "to go, yield"). Hence "an event upon which another follows" (1610s). As an adjective in English from c. 1400. Related: Antecedently.; A thing's history, origins or ancestors.
Apparition: / noun; arly 15c., "supernatural appearance or manifestation," from Anglo-French aparicion, Old French aparicion, aparoison (15c.), used in reference to the Epiphany (the revealing of the Christ child to the Wise Men), from Late Latin apparitionem (nominative apparitio) "an appearance," also "attendants," in classical Latin "service; servants," noun of action from past-participle stem of apparere "appear" (see 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. Related: Apparitional.; A ghost or ghostlike figure.
Apotropaic: / adjective; "having the power of averting evil influence," 1883, with -ic + Greek apotropaios "averting evil," from apotrepein "to turn away, avert," from apo "off, away" (see apo-) + trepein "to turn" (from PIE root *trep- "to turn"). Related: Apotropaion "amulet, etc., reputed to avert evil;" apotropaism.; The capacity to ward off evil.
Apoplexy: / noun; "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, struck dumb," verbal adjective from apoplēssein "to strike down and incapacitate," from apo "off" (see apo-), in this case perhaps an intensive prefix, + plēssein "to hit" (from PIE root *plak- (2) "to strike;" source also of plague, which also has a root sense of "stricken"). The Latin translation, sideratio, means "disease caused by a constellation."; The rupture of an internal organ, typically used to describe Hemorrhagic Strokes.
Arbours: / noun (plural); c. 1300, herber, "herb garden, pleasure garden," from Old French erbier "field, meadow; kitchen garden," from Latin herba "grass, herb" (see herb). Later "a grassy plot" (mid-14c., a sense also in Old French), "shaded nook, bower formed by intertwining of trees, shrubs, or vines" (mid-14c.). It is probably not from Latin arbor "tree" (see arbor (n.2)), though perhaps that word has influenced its spelling: [O]riginally signifying a place for the cultivation of herbs, a pleasure-ground, garden, subsequently applied to the bower or rustic shelter which commonly occupied the most conspicuous situation in the garden ; and thus the etymological reference to herbs being no longer apparent, the spelling was probably accommodated to the notion of being sheltered by trees or shrubs ( arbor). [Hensleigh Wedgwood, "A Dictionary of English Etymology," 1859] But the change from er- to ar- before consonants in Middle English also reflects a pronunciation shift: compare farm from ferme, harbor from Old English herebeorg.; Shady garden alcoves with climbing plants.
Ars longa, vita brevis: / phrase (Latin); Latin for "Art is long, life is short".
Ashen: / adjective; "ash-colored, whitish-gray, deadly pale," 1807, from ash (n.1) + -en (2). "made of ash wood," c. 1300; see ash (n.2) + -en (2). The meaning "pertaining to the ash tree" is from 1560s.; A dull and pale appearance.
Assiduity: / noun; "diligence," early 15c., from Latin assiduitatem (nominative assiduitas) "continual presence," noun of quality from assiduus "continually present" (see assiduous).; Constant or close attention.
Assistive Tools: / noun (plural); "a collection of tools, utensils, etc. adapted as a means to some end," 1620s, from Latin apparatus "tools, implements, equipment; preparation, a preparing," noun of state from past-participle stem of apparare "prepare," from ad "to" (see ad-) + parare "make ready" (from PIE root *pere- (1) "to produce, procure").; 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.

B

Back number: / noun; An outdated thing.
Backend: / noun; 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.
Barrel-eye: / noun; A family of deep-sea fish, typically found in the mesopelagic zone, known for their transparent heads and upward-facing tubular eyes.
Basalt: / noun; 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," also "a trial, examination, test whether anything be true," from Egyptian baban "slate," a stone which was used by the Egyptians as a touchstone of gold. According to Beekes, "It came to Greece via Lydia." In Pliny, basaniten by mistake became basalten, which is the origin of basalt. Any hard, very dark rock would do as a touchstone; the assayer compared the streak left by the alleged gold with that of real gold or baser metals. From the noun in Greek came Greek basanizein "to be put to the test, be examined closely, be cross-examined, be put to torture." The word is not connected with salt. Related: Basaltic.; A dark volcanic rock.
Beck: / noun; 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.; A small stream or a beckoning gesture.
Benediction: / noun; "act of speaking well of or blessing; invocation of divine blessing," c. 1400, benediccioun, from Late Latin benedictionem (nominative benedictio), "a blessing," noun of action from benedicere (in classical Latin two words, bene dicere) "to speak well of, bless," from bene "well" (from PIE root *deu- (2) "to do, perform; show favor, revere") + dicere "to say, speak" (from PIE root *deik- "to show," also "pronounce solemnly"). The oldest sense in English is of grace before meat. French re-Latinized its form of the word in 16c.; the older French form, beneiçon passed into Middle English as benison.; A blessing, especially at the end of a religious service.
Benumbed: / adjective; "deprive of sensation," late 15c., from be- + numb. Originally of mental states; of the physical body from 1520s. Related: Benumbed; benumbing.; To become numb, physically or psychologically (also known as Reduced Affect).
Bier: / noun; Middle English bere, from Old English bær (West Saxon), ber (Anglian) "handbarrow, litter, bed," from West Germanic *bero (source also of Old Saxon, Old High German bara, Old Frisian bere, Middle Dutch bare, Dutch baar, German Bahre "bier"), from PIE root *bher- (1) "to carry." The original sense is "wooden frame on which to carry a load," and it is related to bear (v.). 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. The spelling altered from c. 1600 under influence of French bière, from Old French biere, which is from Frankish *bera, from the same Germanic source.; A platform on which a coffin or body rests before a funeral.
Bilious: / adjective; 1540s, "pertaining to bile, biliary," from French bilieux, from Latin biliosus "pertaining to bile," from bilis "bile; peevishness" (see bile). The meaning "testy, peevish, ill-tempered" (as people afflicted with an excess of bile were believed to be) is attested from 1560s. This is the main modern sense in English and French; the more literal meaning being taken up by biliary. Related: Biliousness.; To be nauseous or ill-tempered.
Black Dog: / noun; An English ghost dog that behaves as a death omen.
Blue hour: / noun; The brief period after sunset or before sunrise when the sky adopts deep blue tones.
Boudoir: / noun; "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. Also compare dialectal sumph "be sulky," and sulky (adj.); boudoir was Englished at least once as sulkery (1906).; A woman's private bedroom or sitting room.
Boulevardier: / noun; 1856, a French word in English, "one who frequents the boulevard;" i.e. "man-about-town, one fond of urban living and society."; A fashionable man-about-town; a frequenter of boulevards.
Burial Tree: / noun; A tree used for holding coffins.

C

Cadaver monument: / noun; "a dead body, a corpse," late 14c., from Latin cadaver "dead body (of men or animals)," probably from a perfective participle of cadere "to fall, sink, settle down, decline, perish," from PIE root *kad- "to fall." Compare Greek ptoma "dead body," literally "a fall" (see ptomaine); poetic English the fallen "those who have died in battle." late 13c., "a sepulchre," from Old French monument "grave, tomb, monument," and directly from Latin monumentum "a monument, memorial structure, statue; votive offering; tomb; memorial record," literally "something that reminds," a derivative of monere "to remind, bring to (one's) recollection, tell (of)," from PIE *moneie- "to make think of, remind," suffixed (causative) form of root *men- (1) "to think." Meaning "any enduring evidence or example" is from 1520s; sense of "structure or edifice to commemorate a notable person, action, period, or event" is attested from c. 1600.; A tomb effigy depicting the corpse of its occupant, often in graphic detail.
Café chantant: / noun (French); A café with musical entertainment.
Cairn: / noun; "large, conical heap of stone," especially of the type common in Scotland and Wales and also found elsewhere in Britain, 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" (see horn (n.)).; A pile of stones used to mark the landscape or denote a burial site.
Calèche: / noun (French); "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"). Also the name of the folding hood or top fitted to it (1856).; A light horse-drawn carriage with a folding top.
Calisthenics: / noun (plural); also callisthenics, kind of light gymnastics, 1842, (the adjective calisthenic/callisthenic, of exercises, was in use by 1837), formed on model of French callisthenie, from Latinized combining form of Greek kallos "beauty" (see Callisto) + sthenos "strength, power, ability, might" (perhaps from PIE root *segh- "to have, hold," on the notion of "steadfastness, toughness") + -ics.; Gymnastic exercises to achieve fitness.
Cameo: / noun; early 15c., kaadmaheu, camew, chamehieux and many other spellings (from early 13c. in Anglo-Latin), "engraving in relief upon a precious stone with two layers of colors" (such as onyx, agate, or shell) and done so as to utilize the effect of the 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." In 19c. it also was used of other raised, carved work on a miniature scale. The transferred sense of "small character or part that stands out from other minor parts" in a play, etc., is from 1928, from an earlier meaning "short literary sketch or portrait" (1851), a transferred sense from cameo silhouettes. A cameotype (1864) was a small, vignette daguerreotype mounted in a jeweled setting.; A small engraved piece of jewellery, most commonly depicting a portrait.
Carbine: / noun; 1580s, from French carabine (Middle French carabin), used of light horsemen and also of the weapon they carried; it is of uncertain origin, perhaps from Medieval Latin Calabrinus "Calabrian" (i.e., "rifle made in Calabria"). A less-likely theory (Gamillscheg, etc.) connects it to Old French escarrabin "corpse-bearer during the plague," literally (probably) "carrion beetle," said to have been an epithet for archers from Flanders.; A light automatic rifle.
Carbuncle: / noun; early 13c., "fiery jewel, gem of a deep red color, ruby," also the name of a semi-mythical gem from the East Indies formerly believed to be capable of shining in the dark, from Old North French carbuncle (Old French charbocle, charboncle) "carbuncle-stone," also "carbuncle, boil," from Latin carbunculus "red gem," also "red, inflamed spot," literally "a little coal," from carbo (genitive carbonis) "coal" (see carbon). Originally of rubies, garnets, and other red jewels. In English the word was used of red, eruptive subcutaneous inflammations and tumors from late 14c. Also "red spot on the nose or face caused by intemperance" (1680s).; A severe abscess or a bright red gem.
Cassock: / noun; 1540s, "long loose gown or outer cloak," from French casaque "long coat" (16c.), corresponding to Spanish casaca, Italian casacca, probably ultimately from Turkish quzzak "nomad, adventurer," (the source of Cossack), from their typical riding coat. Or perhaps from Arabic kazagand, from Persian kazhagand "padded coat," from kazh "raw silk" + agand "stuffed." Chiefly a soldier's cloak 16c.-17c.; ecclesiastical use is from 1660s.; A close-fitting, ankle-length garment worn by clergy. It is commonly black, but can also appear in different colours.
Castellan: / noun; late 14c., from Old North French castelain, Old French chastelain "owner and lord of a castle, nobleman; keeper of a castle" (Modern French châtelaine), from chastel "castle," from Latin castellum "castle" (see castle (n.)). Related: Castellany "jurisdiction of a castellan."; The governor of a castle.
Castellated: / adjective; 1670s, from Medieval Latin castellatus "built like a castle," past participle of castellare "to fortify as a castle, build as a castle, furnish with turrets and battlements," from Latin castellum "castle, fort, citadel, stronghold" (see castle (n.)). Related: Castellation.; Built to resemble a castle.
Cataleptic: / adjective; 1680s, from Late Latin catalepticus, from Greek kataleptikos, from kataleptos (see catalepsy). The noun meaning "one affected by catalepsy" is from 1851.; Relating to catalepsy, a condition of muscular rigidity.
Cerements: / noun (plural); From French cirement (“waxing, wax dressing”), from cirer (“to wax, wrap”).; A waxed cloth for wrapping a corpse.
Cessation: / noun; 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").; The stopping or ending of a thing.
Charnel House: / noun; "common repository for deads 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," genitive of caro "flesh, meat," "flesh," originally "a piece of flesh" (from PIE root *sker- (1) "to cut"). As an adjective from 1813. The Late Latin word was glossed in Old English as flæschus "flesh-house." Charnel house is attested from 1550s.; A building for the storage of human bones.
Chiaroscuro: / noun; 1680s, "disposition of light and dark in a picture," literally "bright-dark," from Italian chiaro "clear, bright" (from Latin clarus; see clear (adj.)) + oscuro (from Latin obscurus; see obscure (adj.)). Related: Chiaroscurist.; An artistic technique that uses strong contrasts to create depth and atmosphere.
Choleric: / adjective; mid-14c., colrik, "bilious of temperament or complexion," from Old French colerique, from Late Latin cholericus, from Greek kholerikos, from Greek kholera "a type of disease characterized by diarrhea, supposedly caused by bile," from khole "gall, bile," so called for its color, related to khloazein "to be green," khlōros "pale green, greenish-yellow," from PIE root *ghel- (2) "to shine," with derivatives denoting "green, yellow," and thus "bile, gall." Meaning "easily angered, hot-tempered" is from 1580s (from the supposed effect of excess choler); that of "pertaining to cholera" is from 1834.; Ill-tempered, not to be confused with Cholera, a bacterial disease.
Chrism: / noun; "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"). Chrisom "baptismal robe," is a c. 1200 variant of this. Related: Chrismal; chrismatory.; Consecrated oil used in religious ceremonies.
Cicatrized: / adjective; From Latin cicatrix.; A healed, albeit scarred wound.
Circuitous: / adjective; "going round in a circuit, indirect," 1660s, from Medieval Latin circuitus "full of roundabout ways," from Latin circuitus "a going round" (see circuit (n.)). Related: Circuitously; circuitousness.; Longer than the most direct route or otherwise indirect.
Circumspection: / noun; late 14c., "careful observation of one's surroundings, attention to details and probable consequences" (with a view to choosing the safest course), from Old French circumspection (Modern French circonspection), from Latin circumspectionem (nominative circumspectio) "a looking around; foresight, caution," noun of action from past participle stem of circumspicere "to look around," from circum "around, round about" (see circum-) + specere "to look" (from PIE root *spek- "to observe").; An unwillingness to take risks.
Clavicle: / noun; "collarbone," 1610s, from French clavicule "collarbone" (16c.), also "small key," from Medieval Latin clavicula "collarbone" (used c. 980 in a translation of Avicenna), special use of classical 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," which is from the same PIE source. So called supposedly from its function as the "fastener" of the shoulder. Related: Clavicular.; The anatomical term for an animal's collarbone.
Codicil: / noun; "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.)). Related: Codicillary.; An addition to a will.
Coffin Stone: / noun; early 14c., "chest or box for valuables," from Old French cofin "sarcophagus," earlier "basket, coffer" (12c., Modern French coffin), from Latin cophinus "basket, hamper" (source of Italian cofano, Spanish cuebano "basket"), from Greek kophinos "a basket," which is of uncertain origin. Old English stan, which was used of common rocks, precious gems, concretions in the body, memorial stones, from Proto-Germanic *stainaz (source also of Old Norse steinn, Danish steen, Old Saxon sten, Old Frisian sten, Dutch steen, Old High German stein, German Stein, Gothic stains).; A stone laid to denote a burial site.
Coins for the Dead: / noun (plural); Coins left as offerings to the recently deceased, in reference to the toll required for Charon, the ferryman of the underworld.
Collated: / verb (past tense); 1610s, "to bring together and compare, examine critically as to agreement," from Latin collatus, irregular past participle of conferre "to bring together," from assimilated form of com "with, together" (see com-) + lātus "borne, carried" (see oblate (n.)), serving as past participle of ferre "to bear" (from PIE root *bher- (1) "to carry"). Specifically, in bookbinding, "to verify the correct arrangement" (of the pages), 1770. Related: Collated; collating.; Compiled and/or compared in detail.
Comb Grave: / noun; A type of grave covered by two arched slabs.
Consumption: / noun; late 14c., "wasting of the body by disease; wasting disease, progressive emaciation" (replacing Old English yfeladl "the evil disease"), from Old French consumpcion, from Latin consumptionem (nominative consumptio) "a using up, wasting," noun of state from past-participle stem of consumere "to use up, eat, waste," from assimilated form of com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-), + sumere "to take," from sub- "under" (see sub-) + emere "to buy, take" (from PIE root *em- "to take, distribute"). Meaning "act of consuming, the using up of material, destruction by use" is 1530s.; An archaic term for Tuberculosis, a contagious disease of the lungs.
Convalescence: / noun; "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 convalescentem (nominative convalescens), present participle of Latin convalescere "thrive, regain health, begin to grow strong or well," from assimilated form of com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-), + valescere "to begin to grow strong," inchoative of valere "to be strong" (from PIE root *wal- "to be strong"). Related: Convalescency.; The gradual recovery of health after an illness.
Conveyance: / noun; mid-15c., conveiaunce, "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. Related: Conveyancer; conveyancing (n.). The Old French abstract noun was convoiement.; The legal transfer of property; a vehicle for transport.
Cornice: / noun; 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" (see crown). Perhaps influenced by (or even from) Latin cornicem, accusative of cornix "crow" (compare corbel). Sense of "ornamental molding running round the walls of a room just below the ceiling" is from 1660s.; A decorative horizontal molding used in architecture.
Corpse Candles: / noun (plural); A group of atmospheric ghost lights that behave as a death omen.
Corpse Road: / noun; Routes used to transport the recently deceased.
Cortège: / noun (French); 1640s, "train of attendants," from French cortège (16c.), from Italian corteggio "retinue," from corte "court," from Latin cohortem "enclosure," from com- "with" (see co-) + root akin to hortus "garden," from PIE *ghr-ti-, from PIE root *gher- (1) "to grasp, enclose."; A solemn procession, most used to describe a funeral.
Counteractant: / noun; 1670s, from counter- + act (v.). Related: Counteracted; counteracting; counteractive; counteraction.; Something that opposes or neutralises a thing.
Cudgeling: / verb (present participle); "to strike or beat with a cudgel," 1590s, from cudgel.; The metaphorical beating of a thought, used to convey deep thinking.
Curacy: / noun; "the office of a curate," mid-15c.; see curate + -cy.; The position or work of a curate, an assistant to a parish priest.

D

Dead bell: / noun; A bell rung to herald a funeral procession.
Death mask: / noun; A cast made of a deceased person's face.
Demonism: / noun; The belief in, worship of, or possession by demons.
Desiccation: / noun; The process of drying out.
Detritus: / noun; Fragments from destroyed material, especially resulting from decomposition.
Dichotomy: / noun; A division into two contrasting parts.
Digital Garden: / noun; A website characterised by the continuous, indefinite upkeep of its pages, comparable to the pruning of plants in a garden.
Digue: / noun (French); A French term for a dike or embankment.
Dog-cart: / noun; A light two-wheeled horse-drawn cart.
Doldrums: / noun (plural); A state of stagnation or a calm equatorial ocean region.
Doleful: / adjective; Mournful.
Dolmen: / noun; A type of ancient stone tomb.
Doric: / adjective; A classical Greek architectural order with simple columns.
Dot-Com crash: / noun; A term for the bursting of the Dot-Com speculative bubble, which happened in 2000.
Dracula Dark Theme: / noun; 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.
Druggist: / noun; A pharmacist.
Dungeon-crawler: / noun; A video-game genre that revolves around first-person dungeon exploration.

E

Ecclesiastic: / noun; A Christian priest or clergyman.
Effulgence: / noun; An intense radiance.
Eminence: / noun; A high point of land or a position or prominence. Can often imply superiority.
Epigraph: / noun; An inscription on a building or statue or a quotation at the start of a text.
Ephemeral: / adjective; To last for a very short time.
Epiphytic: / adjective; A plant that grows on another plant in a non-parasitic manner.
Epistle: / noun; A letter, especially a formal or didactic one.
Epistolary: / adjective; Relating to letters; written in letter form.
Equipage: / noun; An archaic term for specifically-chosen equipment. Can also refer to a horse-drawn carriage with attendants.
Erdstall: / noun; A small underground passage most associated with the medieval period.
Evinced: / verb (past tense); To reveal the presence of or demonstrate clearly.
Evil eye: / noun; A curse believed to be cast by a malevolent glare. Alternatively, the protective talisman purported to guard against them.
Exhumation: / noun; To extract a buried thing, especially a corpse.
Expostulate: / verb; To strongly disagree.
Exsanguination: / noun; The fatal loss of blood suffered by a vertebrate.
Extremities: / noun (plural); The furthest points of a thing; in this context, it refers to fingers.