Readers, writers, wordsmiths, verbivores, and logophiles rejoice! Renowned lexicographer and author Eugene Ehrlich gathers the 3,500 most engrossing words in the English language and their concise definitions, including short discussions for words most often confused and misused by today's speakers and writers.

Between TV talk shows, radio call-in programs, email and the Internet, spontaneous-talk media has skyrocketed in the '90s. People are interacting more frequently and more fervently than ever before, turning the English language into an indecipherable mess. Now, this unique and concise compendium presents the most confused and misused words in the language today -- words misused by careless speakers and writers everywhere. It defines, discerns and distinguishes the finer points of sense and meaning. Was it fortuitous or only fortunate? Are you trying to remember, or more fully recollect? Is he uninterested or disinterested? Is it healthful or healthy, regretful or regrettable, notorious or infamous? The answers to these and many more fascinating etymological questions can be found within the pages of this invaluable (or is it valuable?) reference.

abacus n. soroban

abandoned adj. cade, derelict, profligate

abate v. mitigate, palliate, quash

abdicate v. abjure, abnegate, demit

abject adj. craven, fawning, ignominious

able adj. habile

abnormal adj. heteroclite, preternatural

abnormality n. deuteropathy

abolish v. disestablish, extirpate

abominable adj. flagitious, odious

Abominable Snowman yeti

aborigine n. autochthon, indigenous inhabitant

abound v. exuberate

abridge v. attenuate, epitomize

abscond v. decamp

absent-minded adj.
distrait, distraite

absinth n. wormwood

absolute adj. 1. rank, unmitigated; 2. assoluta, inviolable,
peremptory

absolution, grant shrive

absorbent adj. bibulous

absorption n. immersion, prepossession

abstain v. eschew, forbear

abstention n. abstemiousness

abstract adj. noetic

abstract n. compendium, epitome

abstract v. prescind

abstruse adj. involuted, recondite

absurdity n. bˆtise

abundance n. cornucopia, plenitude, profligacy

abuse v. calumniate, castigate, rail, revile, traduce

abuse n. aspersion, billingsgate, calumniation, castigation, obloquy, opprobrium, traducement

academic adj. moot

accept v. stomach

accessible adj. pervious

accessory n. ancillary, appurtenance, parergon

accident n. allision, fortuity

accidental adj. adventitious, aleatory, fortuitous, serendipitous

acclaim n. ‚clat, kudos

accomplish v. compass, effectuate

accomplished adj. compleat, consummate

accomplishments n. res gestae

account n. hexaemeron

accrue v. redound

accumulation n. alimentation, hypertrophy

accusation n. gravamen, impeachment

accuse v. impeach, implead, inculpate, recriminate

accusing adj. accusatory, criminative

accustom v. acculturate, inure, wont

achievement n. capstone, tour de force

acknowledge v. avouch, homologate

acme n. apogee, ne plus ultra

acquiescence n. complaisance

acquit v. exculpate

acronym n. initialism

active adj. volitant

actor n. deuteragonist, onnagata, protagonist

actress n. ing‚nue, soubrette

actual adj. veridical

actuality n. entelechy

adage n. aphorism, apothegm

adapt v. indigenize, quadrate

adaptation n. rifacimento

added adj. postiche

addition n. 1. additament, adjunct, appendicle; 2. parogoge

additional adj. adscititious

address n. allocution, apostrophe, salutatory

address v. apostrophize

adherent n. ideologue, pr‚cisian

adhesive adj. viscid, viscoid, viscose

adjacent adj. limitrophe, vicinal

adjunct n. appanage

adjust v. collimate

administer v. adhibit

admirer n. votary

admit v. intromit

adoring adj. idolatrous, seraphic