lexicography \ lek-suh-KAH-gruh-fee \ noun – The writing or compiling of dictionaries; the editing or making of dictionaries. The principles and practices applied to writing dictionaries. Origin: Lexicography is derived from the Greek lexicon (biblion), a word- or phrase-book (from lexis, a phrase, a word) + graphein, to write. A lexicographer (thought to be formed [...]

eclat \ ey-KLAH \ noun – Brilliance of success, reputation, etc. Showy or elaborate display. Acclamation; acclaim. Origin: Eclat comes from the French eclat , “fragment, burst, splinter, flash,” which relates to esclater , “to burst, break violently.”

jobbery \ JOB-uh-ree \ noun – The conduct of public or official business for the sake of improper private gain. Origin: Jobbery combines the sense of job and robbery and reflects the historically negative connotation of job, whose definition may derive from gob, as in “a mass or lump.”

totemic \ toh-TEM-ik \ adjective – Pertaining to an object or natural phenomenon with which a family or group considers itself closely related. Relating to a representation of such an object serving as the distinctive mark of the clan or group. Origin: Totemic derives from the Algonquian (probably Ojibwa) odoodeman , “his sibling kin, his [...]

exculpate \ EK-skuhl-payt; ek-SKUHL-payt transitive verb – To clear from alleged fault or guilt. To prove to be guiltless. To relieve of blame. To acquit. Origin: Exculpate is ultimately derived from Latin ex-, “without” + culpare, “to blame,” from culpa, “blame, fault.”

ferret \ FER-it \ verb – To search out, discover or bring to light. To harry, worry or torment. noun – Domesticated, usually red-eyed and albinic variety of the polecat. A narrow tape or ribbon, as of silk or cotton, used for binding, trimming, etc. Origin: Ferret originates in the Latin furonem, both “cat” and [...]