WORD PICTURE ACADEMY
Blog Post Links to Elysium's Passage
https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/ep-blog-posts
WORD PICTURE ACADEMY
So what's WORD PICTURE ACADEMY supposed to be about?
In the words of Sir Francis Bacon
Words are images of matter; to fall in love with them is to fall in love with a picture.
Vincent Van Gogh's dream-inspired paintings were among the best, but dream-inspired word pictures can be just as creative, if not more so, since the word canvas is not limited to what rests on an easel but on infinitely. What's not limited to the material world, can last forever in one form or another. Oral traditions that last thousands of years prove this.
When will a time come when Shakespeare or the Bible not be quoted and read? Probably never, as long as there remains a semblance of civilization. Inspired writing is immortal because it speaks to the heart.
Now, after over eleven years completing my seven-part Elysium's Passage novel series I intend on developing an online English language course for anyone wishing to upgrade their English skills, particularly for students and ESL immigrants. It may take a while since I'm still putting the final touches on the series as I continue to create more curriculum for this online academy. It may be a live group tutorial or a monetized course that's available at any time at no cost. This post gives an indication of what content will be offered.
In designing this curriculum, I'm currently selecting approximately 1,000 words to help with reading comprehension and facilitate more creative verbal/written expressions.
By the way, if you know of someone who may appreciate the contents of this post, send them the link for this post at https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/word-picture-academy
OBJECTIVES
Online tutorials will endeavour to achieve the following objectives:
Creative Expression
Create word pictures that engage the reader with inspiration, amusement, entertainment, and teaching. The student will be taught how to not only ‘tell’ but ‘show’ their story with creative expressions. For example, we might write the sunset was beautiful. But that’s telling, not showing.
Instead, we seek to create a picture of a beautiful sunset. The reader doesn’t need to be told about it but can see it painted in their imagination it with beautiful word pictures.
For example, from Book Four of Elysium’s Surreal Adventures: Later that evening, as I stood talking with Rhom on the port side, I witnessed brilliant aqua waves interspersed with currents of glowing turquoise. If that wasn’t enough, the evening skies streamed with wisps of magenta offset by shades of deep indigo. And the wind; there was no other description than to say melodic, coruscating with mystical intimations.
Creative Thinking
Words can be an effective tool to help create new worlds. A hundred years ago, we didn’t have words such as virtual reality, biosphere, noosphere, spacecraft, multiverse, etc, to open us to new dimensions of thought and fractals of infinite possibilities.
Business Communication
The Principle of the Slight Edge sets one apart from others. Having a large vocabulary with proper grammar will increase the odds of a high income. At least it can't hurt. A street sweeper does not require an extensive vocabulary to do their job, but a lawyer or professor will. So, who will make more money? There are no guarantees but why put limitations on the potential for greater earnings and expressive thought? Whether it's writing a well-thought-out resume, internal memo, sales pitch or proposal, having English skills is essential for success.
Social Mobility
We may be content and satisfied with our social limitations, especially if our family and friends are stuck in a sphere of narrow possibilities. However, once we expand our language skills, new opportunities become possible; we would never want to go back to a restrictive world that is stifled with few options to achieve higher quality friendships and careers.
We can easily drop socially downward but are less likely to rise upward without appropriate language skills to navigate through life. Being able to express ourselves in ways others that are properly understood is necessary for our concerns to be addressed. An effective communicator will not be ignored but be taken seriously.
Comprehension Skills
The quality of literature or communication one exposes oneself, be it entertainment or intellectual stimulation, will largely be determined by the extent of one's ability to comprehend what’s being said. Therefore, reading or listening to enlightened communication will be limited because it’s no fun to remain in the dark while others get it and you don’t. Obviously, this will enrich and open one to new worlds of inward adventures of vicarious reality.
Precise Words
To effectively communicate, it is necessary to have an appropriate repertoire of words when selecting the highest and best words to express ideas. Without that, it’s like painting a picture with just a few colours, no tones, hues, contrast, just bland. No one will be interested in looking at it because it's boring. No one who has a rich inward life wants to listen to banal and bland conversations that don’t interest us or engage us with stimulating thought.
Instead, we generally find it preferable to communicate with those who can engage us with precise words and expressions. Less is more when speech is precisely expressed with fewer words providing more meaning and description. Learning this skill will vivify communication by culling out annoying, superfluous words, be they spoken or written. This will give new confidence and a commanding advantage while engaged in discourse.
Punctuation
By understanding how to use punctuation for effective written communication, we are more apt to get the attention of the reader. For example, in using semi-colons effectively, we can create more interesting sentences that need not be run-ons or choppy short sentences. A few examples from Elysium's Elixir, my sixth novel, illustrate this:
They very well may, though I’m not sure it ends there; a thousand years is nothing to the universe.
There’s no telling how many; it could be twelve, twenty-four or more, depending on the conscious evolution of the subject.
Many scientists might call this impossible, but it’s not; the inherent conatus of the universe is to expand perpetually, including human’s nascent consciousness.
The use of exclamation marks! colons: semi-colons; ellipses… dashes – are all means to create more effective and engaging writing.
Proper Grammar and Pronunciation
Common errors in everyday speech scream out that one is grammatically ignorant. These verbal shortcomings can easily be corrected once the mistake is pointed out. For example, one of my pet peeves is: “Me and Dan are going to… “ Rather, Dan and I are going to …” It amazes me how many get this wrong.
Also, a word that few get right is the word “naturopath, or naturopathic. For some reason, many insist on saying naturalpath, even after you tell them there’s no such word. Ask any naturopath.
This course will point out many common grammatical mistakes, so no one needs to fear sounding ignorant.
Foreign Words and Phrases
Certain foreign words can often help us understand what is only sometimes expressed in English, at least succinctly. For example, various German words, such as weltanschauung, zeitgeist, gestalt, weltshmirtz, and wanderlust, often contain many shades of meaning captured in one word that would take much clarifying in English.
Or, to use a Latin expression, to say, after closing a major deal at work, Vini, Vidi, Vici, may be more effective to proclaim that instead of ‘I came, I saw, I conquered. Definitely, something is lost in the translation.
In French, there are many words and phrases of distinction that often become as natural as English in expressing embellished speech. Some examples might include coup de grâce (death blow), esprit de corps (camaraderie, bonding, solidarity, fellowship), raison d'etre (reason for living), élan vital (vital force or impulse of life), c’est la vie (that’s life).
The following sites may provide students with many useful foreign phrases in French, German, and Spanish.
https://www.mondly.com/french-phrases-expressions
https://www.mondly.com/blog/cool-latin-phrases/
https://www.mondly.com/german-phrases-expressions
https://www.mondly.com/spanish-phrases-expressions
Logic
Logic is important in writing since it establishes the credibility of the writer and the positions being advanced. There are many logical fallacies, so it's good to know what they are. I've identified many of them in this blog post. https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/it-s-logical
Though the tutorials won't get into teaching this sidebar information, students will be encouraged to become familiar with these pitfalls so they don't use them or at least recognize when others do and can call them out on it.
1. Argumentum ad hominem. One of the most common errors in logic that all too often occurs in politics is where the presenter is attacked rather than the position being advanced by the presenter. It's a cheap hit for those who don't know how to respond to the argument, so they go after the presenter for reasons that generally have nothing to do with what was being said.
2. Red herring. A red herring is an attempt to shift focus from the debate at hand by introducing an irrelevant point. Example: Losing a tooth can be scary; it’s a good thing there’s a Tooth Fairy.
3. Straw man. A straw man argument argues against a hyperbolic, inaccurate version of the opposition rather than their actual argument. Example: Erin thinks we need to stop using all plastics right now to save the planet from climate change.
4 Equivocation. A logical equivocation is a statement crafted to mislead or confuse readers or listeners by using multiple meanings or interpretations of a word or simply through unclear phrasing. Example: While I have a clear plan for the campus budget that accounts for every dollar spent, my opponent simply wants to throw money at special interest projects.
5 Slippery slope. With a slippery slope fallacy, the arguer claims a specific series of events will follow one starting point, typically with no supporting evidence for this chain of events. Example: If we make an exception for Bijal’s service dog, then other people will want to bring their dogs. Then everybody will bring their dog, and before you know it, our restaurant will be overrun with dogs, their slobber, their hair, and all the noise they make, and nobody will want to eat here anymore.
6 Hasty generalization. This fallacy is a statement made after considering just one or a few examples rather than relying on more extensive research to back up the claim. It’s important to keep in mind that what constitutes sufficient research depends on the issue at hand and the statement being made about it. For example, I felt nauseated both times I ate pizza from Georgio’s, so I must be allergic to something in pizza.
7 Appeal to authority. In an appeal to authority, the arguer claims an authority figure’s expertise to support a claim despite this expertise being irrelevant or overstated. Example: If you want to be healthy, you need to stop drinking coffee. I read it on a fitness blog.
8 False dilemma. This is also known as a false dichotomy, which claims there are only two options in a given situation. Often, these two options are extreme opposites of each other, failing to acknowledge that other, more reasonable options exist. Example: If you don’t support my decision, you were never really my friend.
9 Bandwagon fallacy. Here, the arguer claims that a specific action is the right thing to do because it’s popular. Example: Of course, it’s fine to wait until the last minute to write your paper. Everybody does it!
10 Appeal to ignorance. Such an appeal is a claim that something must be true because it hasn’t been proven false. It can also be a claim that something must be false because it hasn’t been proven true. This is also known as the burden of proof fallacy. Example: There must be fairies living in our attic because nobody’s ever proven that there aren’t fairies living in our attic.
11 Circular argument. A fallacy that uses the same statement as both the premise and the conclusion. No new information or justification is introduced. Example: Peppers are the easiest vegetable to grow because I think peppers are the easiest vegetable to grow.
12 Sunk cost fallacy. With this, the arguer justifies their decision to continue a specific course of action by the amount of time or money they’ve already spent on it. Example: I’m not enjoying this book, but I bought it, so I have to finish reading it.
13 Appeal to pity. Such an appeal attempts to sway a reader’s or listener’s opinion by provoking them emotionally. Example: I know I should have been on time for the interview, but I woke up late and felt really bad about it, so the stress of being late made it hard to concentrate on driving here.
14 Causal fallacy. This implies a relationship between two things where one can’t actually be proven. Example: When ice cream sales are up, so are shark attacks. Therefore, buying ice cream increases your risk of being bitten by a shark.
15 Appeal to hypocrisy. Also known as a tu quoque fallacy, this is a rebuttal that responds to one claim with reactive criticism rather than with a response to the claim itself. Example: “You don’t have enough experience to be the new leader.” “Neither do you!”
16. Cherry-picking. Selecting data to support a claim rather than drawing a logical conclusion from a broad body of evidence. Example: “Just look at the temperatures here this summer. Now we know for sure global warming is a fact.”
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SUMMARY OF LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Primarily, it is to become empowered with a solid and robust lifelong vocabulary by assimilating hundreds of essential words that are foundational for achieving the objectives listed below. We will avoid obscure words that aren't used in everyday life but concentrate on the most relevant and powerful words being used in meaningful conversations, lectures, articles and quality books.
- Creating a lifetime love for words and creative expression.
- Expand thinking into a higher awareness of reality.
- Express with oral and written precision.
- Understand educated and influential sources of communication, spoken and written.
- Becoming aware of proper punctuation and pronunciation.
- Effective to-the-point business communication.
- Understanding logical fallacies and logical validity
- Apply learning methodologies that are fun and practical.
- Anyone can benefit from these tutorials, however, the target audience is high school students contemplating a university education along with anyone studying English as a Second Language (ESL).
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GENERAL COMMENTS
For good reasons, there is some controversy on the correlation of a large vocabulary with intelligence. Obviously, an expanded vocabulary can bring with it a temptation to use our verbal abilities to promote and display an air of intellectual superiority. Such hubris is to be disavowed; language should not separate but unite us in greater understanding.
For this reason, wisdom is required in how we express ourselves and to whom. Write and speak with the intent to be understood with clarity, rather than impress by obfuscation. (Did that last word, impress you?)
I found a discussion on this and more in comments from the Quora Digest website, which I have pasted below as to what a quality vocabulary should be and what it shouldn't be abused for.
It is literally unavoidable: you put more words into your mind, and your mind will start humming like a well-greased engine. In other words, Grow your vocabulary, and you WILL get smarter. And just to show how deep that effect goes, studies have shown that when you get serious about learning words, using them, and reading more – your brain actually changes. In other words, vocabulary does really make you more intelligent. And I’m sure you’ll agree with me: “stupid” people don’t go very far in life.
Vocabulary breadth, as evidenced by a person's speech, is an excellent metric for intelligence. A person who uses precise vocabulary correctly when speaking and whose speech is similar to standard academic English is generally able to produce language that is more sophisticated when writing.
The distinction between vocabulary words and concepts is artificial. You don't speak using words you know you don't understand, and you can't understand many words without understanding the related concepts. Take the common science term evaporate. Who would use that sort of word metaphorically when they speak without also understanding conceptually what it refers to? No, you reach for that word precisely because you understand it and believe it's the best tool for the job.
The smarter the speaker, the better the toolkit. In brief, the size of the working vocabulary is more closely correlated with IQ than any other single factor. Of course, this rule of thumb is subject to the usual common sense caveats.
Some people intentionally use simple language so as to facilitate understanding or in keeping with contemporary literary fashion. Ernest Hemingway is perhaps the most famous example of this: a brilliant man and a great writer, he showed that even simple words have power in the hands of a master. And Winston Churchill, another great writer and brilliant man, famously wrote, “The short words are best, and the old words are the best of all.”
The size of vocabulary is correlated with education and reading, both one’s own and that of one’s parents. Studies find that the children of uneducated parents are exposed to far fewer words than the children of educated ones when young, and needless to say, those who are widely read pick up most words. To make this a valid criterion, one has to take into account an individual’s literacy and educational status.
Then there are the jargonites — academics, businessmen, and professionals who use fancy-Dan synonyms to dress their pedestrian thoughts in a bishop’s cope. In the words of Ernest Hemingway: “Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words? He thinks I don’t know the ten-dollar words. I know them all right. But there are older and simpler and better words, and those are the ones I use.”
A large vocabulary is a marker for academic accomplishments. Because of this, sadly, the use of lesser-known words and complexity in language has become an ingroup/outgroup marker within the academic community. And, since academe has the usual share of all-hat-no-cattle types, complexity has, at some level, become an anti-marker for intelligence. People who use ten-dollar words within academe are more likely to be less secure and less accomplished within that group and, therefore, more invested in proving that they belong.
The larger one’s vocabulary is, the greater their verbal intelligence is. An intelligent person will almost by definition, have a lot of things going on in their heads. Eventually, they’ll seek to communicate these ideas in some fashion, and a complex vocabulary is often necessary to describe what it is linguistically they’re thinking about.
An intelligent person who’s learned to broadly communicate effectively may deliberately use a simplified vocabulary, but that is different from “having a simple vocabulary”. I’d be inclined to refer to it more as an “adaptive vocabulary”. A version of a language that they can translate into, to ease communication with those that have less expertise with whatever it is they’re trying to communicate.
Most people will judge a person by the words they choose and how they speak. For instance, a sentence that begins with “I seen” is one that has immediately lost credibility.
It’s the intelligent, the smart and the clear thinkers who go places. Success comes to clever people because they know how to spot and grab opportunities. They’re that smart.
More words mean richer and more to-the-point thinking
Some psychologists think that a large vocabulary is one of the most vital indicators of overall intelligence.
In nearly all cases, using simple words is better than complex words. Nothing is more irritating than listening to someone using opaque language that leaves the audience confused.
It goes without saying that their verbal facility certainly has an edge over those whose vocabulary is restricted.
By the way, a good and evolving command of the English vocabulary naturally feeds and fuels the five skills sets often associated with English mastery, and they are: Reading, Listening, Thinking, Speaking and Writing.
I believe a person’s clarity of thoughts and opinions, be it about any affair, when we are meeting them would be first quality to make an impression. When a person is able to express clearly and put their ideas out distinctly, it evidently makes a breakthrough leading to further open conversations.
If you’re well-read, know a lot of words, and speak correctly, you’ll come off as someone coming from a wealthy background, literate, smart, and maybe a little arrogant. Using a lot of slang and swear words will put you on the other extreme.
Yes, though I would consider the clarity of their statements more of a sign of intelligence than overcomplicated vocabulary.
While it is the case that more intelligent people know and use more words, if you can’t express what you’re saying clearly and in simple terms, then it’s more intellectual posturing than intelligence.
Really smart people don’t show off their vocabulary. They use ordinary words as much as possible. You start sounding stupid when you say, “Extinguish the illumination” instead of “Turn off the lights” or “The fluid supply in my writing implement is exhausted” instead of “My pen is out of ink.”
Vocabulary can be learned but the way it is used will provide a good guide to intelligence. Never mistake education for intelligence. Many are educated but few display intelligence.
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SAMPLE WORDS
As stated previously, I'm in the process of compiling a list of 1,000 highly relevant words that most students might wish to learn if they don't know them already. I'm careful not to include obscure words by those that likely wouldn't be used in everyday life. The following words are part of what I plan to introduce to make second nature for speaking, reading, and thinking.
1. Prescient… perceptive, psychic, revelatory, clairvoyant, prophetic
2. Precipitous… hasty, quick, rash, impulsive. Also… steep, vertical, sheer
3. Assiduous… diligent, persevering, unremitting, industrious, persist
4. Arduous… difficult, laborious, gruelling, strenuous
5. Inexorable… relentless, unstoppable, inevitable, unalterable
6. Resplendent... Splendid, stunning, glittering, brilliant, dazzling, glorious, magnificent, alluring
7. Resonance... Reverberation, echo, significance, timbre, hint
8. Intrepid. Brave, fearless, gallant, audacious, dauntless, valiant, heroic
9. Inveterate.. incorrigible, adamant, entrenched, ensconced, embedded
10. Wont… accustomed, predilection, routine, habitual, tendency
11. Inadvertent… chance, involuntary, unintended, accidental
12. Serendipitous… unforeseen, unanticipated, unexpected
13. Intimation… hint, insinuation, inkling, allusion
14. Intimidate… threaten, frighten, daunt, alarm, bully
15. Integrity… honesty, veracity, uprightness, truthfulness
16. Gauche… tasteless, awkward, tacky, vulgar, uncouth, graceless, callow, clumsy
17. Enervate… deplete, drain, debilitate, devitalize, tire, enfeeble, exhaust, knackered, fatigued
18. Asperity… harsh, severity, brusqueness, sharpness, astringency, stern, curt
19. Cavort… frolic, prance, romp, frisk, skip, play
20. Convivium… convivial, joviality, celebratory, sociable, hospitable, genial.
21. Congenial… agreeable, friendly, pleasant, affable, hospitable.
22. Loquacious… garrulous, verbose, glib
23. Taciturn… reserved, introverted, distant, quiet, aloof
24. Reticent… unforthcoming, reserved, uncommunicative, quiet, discreet, aloof
25. Insouciance… nonchalance, disregard, indifference, detachment, unconcern, detachment
26. Impertinence… insolence, impudence, brazenness
27. Elucidate…, explain, clarify, illuminate, explicate, reveal, illustrate
28. Inordinate… excessive, unwarranted, exorbitant, extravagant
29. Extraordinary… unusual, amazing, astonishing, peculiar, surprising, bizarre
30. Perspicuous… lucid, pellucid, limpid
31. Perpetual… unceasing, everlasting, inexorable,
32. Obdurate… Inflexible
33. Impetuous… hasty, impulsive, reckless, spontaneous
34. Impertinent… impudent, brazen, rude, brash, disrespectful
35. Impudent… sassy, presumptuous, cheeky, impolite
36. Presumptuous… inconsiderate, impolite, rash, presuming
37. Audacious… overconfident, daring, risky, bold, courageous, foolhardy, cheeky
38. Pusillanimous… cowardly, faint-hearted, spineless, timid, nervous, tremulous, quivering
39. Discrete… separate, detached, isolated, unconnected, distinct.
40. Deleterious… detrimental, harmful, toxic, lethal, ruinous, injurious
41. Venomous… noxious, malicious, virulent, abusive
42. Vituperative… scurrilous, rancorous, cruel, spiteful, malevolent
43. Beatific… blissful, radiant, heavenly, ecstatic, adorable, serene, sublime, virtuous
44. Euphoric… ecstatic, joyful, exhilarated, exultant, elated, jubilant
45. Resplendent… stunning, glittering, brilliant, dazzling, glorious, magnificent, alluring
46. Inimitable… unique, incomparable, one-off, unmatched.
47. Coruscate (coruscating)… sparkling, scintillate, glisten
48. Glissade... a skilful glide down snow or ice, such as when skiing down a mountain
49. Abrogate... to revoke
50. Anachronism… relic, holdover, left-over, archaic
51. Cajole… coax, persuade through flattery, entice, persuade, inveigle
52. Conciliatory… pacifying, assuage, appease, mollify, agreement
53. Demagogue… agitator, haranguer, often political manipulator
54. Diatribe… tirade, rant, verbal assault, harsh criticism, invective
55. Dilatory… laggard, remiss, tardy, wasting time, negligent, slack, flagging
56. Bourgeoise… middle-class social order, values and practices
57. Equivocate… quibble, prevaricate, fudge, vacillate, ambiguous - to deceive
58. Fatuous… unintelligent, foolish, absurd, meaningless, inane, stupid, pointless
59. Gaffe… blunder, mistake, error, faux pas, blooper
60. Garrulous… Talkative, verbose, voluble, loquacious, effusive, wordy, chatty
61. Hoi Polloi… masses, ordinary people, public, commoners, populace, proletariat
62. Hubris… arrogance, exaggerated pride, over self-confidence
63. Iconoclast… revolutionary, radical, rebel, reformer who opposed certain beliefs
64. Impede… block, obstruct, hamper, hinder, encumber, delay, inhibit
65. Inchoate… immature, incipient, budding, embryonic, emergent, undeveloped
66. Indefatigable- unfailing vigour, persistence, untiring
67. Inundate… flood, overwhelm, swamp, submerge, engulf, drown
68. Martinet… tyrant, despot, disciplinarian, hardliner adhering to rules
69. Nonplussed… baffled, perplexed, confused, stumped, befuddled, flummoxed
70. Panache… elan, flamboyance, distinctive, stylish elegance, flair, confidence
71. Pillory… ridicule, deride, denounce, scorn, humiliate, brand, criticize
72. Pulchritude… pulchritudinous, beautiful, physical attractiveness, comeliness
73. Surreptitious… furtive, covert, clandestine, sneaky, sly, underhanded, secretive
74. Truculent… fierce, savage nature
75. Knackered… exhausted, fatigued, bushed, tired, worn out
76. Intemperance… unrestrained, excess, indulgent, hedonism, greed, gluttony
77. Intonation… tone, inflexion, pitch, chant, lilt, timbre, accentuation
78. Deluge… flood, inundation, torrent, surge, cascade, overflow, monsoon, saturate
79. Demarcate… boundaries, define, fix, delimit, segregate, establish, differentiate
80. Eclectic… diverse, varied, heterogenous, assorted
81. Foursquare… forthright, frank, honest, firm, unyielding
82. Insignia… emblem, crest, symbol, logo, motif, sign
83. Antiquated… obsolete, archaic, antediluvian, outmoded, old-fashioned
84. Maelstrom… whirlpool, vortex, tumult, turbulence, turmoil, flurry
85. Mendacious… deceitful, untrue, dishonest, spurious, inaccurate, untruthful
86. Meritorious… commendable, admirable, praiseworthy, laudable, estimable
87. Obdurate… obstinance, adamant, inflexible, implacable, unyielding, immovable
88. Obeisance… deference, homage, loyalty, bow, curtsy, respect, genuflection
89. Perambulate… stroll, walk about, traverse
90. Reverie… daydream, trance, musing, contemplation
91. Somniferous… inducing sleep, hypnogogic, soporific
92. Soporific… tranquillizing, calming, turgid, tedious, hypnotic, sleep-inducing
93. Talisman… charm, amulet, mascot, associated with magic
94. Vamoose… flee, bolt, escape, make off, run off, leave hurriedly, hasty retreat
95. Wallow… flounder, stumble, welter, stagger, lurch, reel
96. Zeitgeist… spirit of the times, characteristic outlook
97. Wallop… trash, defeat, thump, whack, hit, blow, smack, punch, bash
98. Vouch… to substantiate, vow, assure, promise
99. Unanimity… harmony, unison, accord, agreement, union, concord, consent
100. Oscillation… wavering, fluctuation, alteration, swaying, vacillation, undulation
1.
2. Unanimity… harmony, unison, accord, agreement, union, concord, consent
3. Oscillation… wavering, fluctuation, alteration, swaying, vacillation, undulation
4. Undulate… ripple, wavelike, surge, roll, rise and fall
5. Triage… sort out, sift, allocate in order of urgency
6. Tremulous… quivering, trembling, nervous, shy, timorous, skitterish, fearful, timid, bashful
7. Trenchant… forceful, incisive, forthwith, caustic, scathing, effective, sharp, biting
8. Opaque… misty, muddy, smokey, milky, obscure
9. Translucent… luminous, glowing, gleaming, lucid, transparent, lustrous, glow, clear
10. Malaise… discomfort, illness, unease, disquiet, malady, melancholy, discontent, disorder
11. Perfunctory… mechanical, unthinking, careless, cursory, routine, automatic, superficial
12. Quid Pro Quo… tradeoff, deal, exchange, tit for tat, bribe, this for that
13. Scintillating… sparkling, dazzling, shining, glittering, dazzling, animated, stimulating, brilliant
14. Quintessential… archetypal, model, exemplary, ideal, prototypical
15. Vitriol… bitterness, venom, contempt, bile, viciousness, spleen, scorn, maliciousness
16. Sycophant… flatterer, minion, gaining attention with powerful or influential people
17. Cacophony… disharmonious, discordant, stridency, bombastic
18. Ennui… weariness, tedium, languor, boredom, dissatisfaction, tired
19. Glib… superficial, simplistic, facile, shallow, casual, slick, smooth, insincere, douche
20. Umbrage… affront, offensive, aggravation, annoyance, resentment
21. Ubiquitous… pervasive, omnipresent, ever-present, universal, found everywhere
22. Nefarious… evil, wicked, despicable, reprehensible, infamous, perverse, degenerate
23. Capricious… unpredictable, whimsical, fickle, erratic, changeable, impulsive, flighty
24. Boondoggle… unnecessary, pretends to be useful but is a waste of time and money
25. Mellifluous… smooth, flowing, melodious sound, mellow, dulcet, soothing
26. Passé… out of date, out of fashion, outmoded, past its prime
27. Avante-garde… experimental, pushes boundaries in artistic expression, progressive, radical
28. Leitmotif… theme, topic, motif, subject
29. Aesthetic… esthetic, artistic, beautiful, appealing, visual
30. Countenance… allow, tolerate, approve, stomach, face, expression, visage,
31. Larceny… stealing, theft, robbery, thief, burglary, pilfering
32. Impressionist… performer, mimic, impersonator, imitator, entertainer, comic
33. Tryst… rendezvous, encounter, date, affair, one-night stand
34. Catch 22… dilemma, paradox, conflict with no escape
35. Obtuse… dim, slow-witted, imperceptive, insensitive, stupid
36. Quagmire - any difficult or precarious situation; predicament
37. Flummoxed… baffled, bewildered, confounded, perplexed, puzzled, mystified, confused
38. Caustic… sarcastic, acerbic, biting, corrosive, acidic, cutting, sharp, burning
39. Fait Accompli… already done, accomplished, irreversible, complete
40. Salvage… rescue, saving, recovery, raising, reclamation, restoration
41. Savage… brutal, vicious, ferocious, fierce
42. Gregarious… outgoing, extroverted, convivial, sociable, expressive
43. Innuendo… insinuation, allusion, oblique remark, hint, disparaging inference
44. Modus vivendi (Latin)… way of life, practice, truce, settlement, compromise, deal
45. Fastidious… demanding, pernickety, fussy, demanding, particular, difficult to please
46. Maudlin… weepy, mushy, mawkish, sappy, sentimental, choked up
47. Innuendo… allusive, oblique remark or hint
48. Modus vivendi (Latin)… way of living
49. Flabbergasted - that feeling when you are like, Is this real?
50. Teetotaler - abstaining completely from alcohol qualifies somebody as a teetotale
51. Empathy - sensitivity to other people’s feelings
52. Unabashed- Not embarrassed
53. Untoward… annoying, troublesome, unseemingly, improper, unbecoming
54. Vicissitudes… changes, vagaries, fluctuations, deviations, unwanted variations
55. Bodacious… insolent, brazen, audacious, brassy, baldfaced.
56. Bodacious… can also mean something large or important that’s admired and enjoyed.
57. Bodega ... small store that sells food and other items in a Spanish neighbourhood
58. Obfuscate… obscure, confuse, muddle, cloud, conceal.
59. Interminable… protracted, wearisome, unending
60. Intrusive… invasive, indiscrete, push, meddlesome, interfering
61. Invective… attack, diatribe, tirade, abusive, vituperative, denunciation, execration
62. Execration… curse, malediction, expletive, imprecate
63. Chicanery… deception, trickery, underhanded, double-dealing, waffle, flimflam
64. Imprecate… revile, curse, execrate, malign, excoriate
65. Vanquish… defeat, subjugate, conquer, annihilate, subdue, route, overpower
66. Transduce… convert, transform into another form
67. C’est la vie… life goes on
68. Contenance… to admit as acceptable or possible
69. Insidious… treacherous, underhanded, deceptive
70. Stealth or stealthy… furtive, sly, crafty covert, sneaky, surreptitious, clandestine, slippery
71. Clandestine… concealed, secretive, undercover,
72. Ambiguous… vague, abstruse, equivocal, indefinite
73. Reprobate… depraved, perverse, degenerate, sinner, wrongdoer, trouble-maker
74. Ravenous… extremely hungry, gluttonous, voracious, insatiable, starving
75. Avatar… incarnate divine teacher, an embodied divine being
76. Raison d’etre... reason for being, or reason for living
77. Internecine… destructive, devastating, injurious, deadly, costly
78. Impeccable... flawless, faultless, immaculate, unsullied, unimpeachable
79. Quixotic… impractical, unrealistic, dreamy, idealistic, romantic
80. Somnolent… drowsy, lethargic, sleep, torpid, inducing sleep
81. Demure… modest, reserved, decorous, diffident, coy, modest, sedate, shy, bashful
82. Piquancy… tart and tanging spiciness
83. Bereft... lacking, deprived, bereaved, lovelorn, unbeloved
84. Blanch… pale, lighten, blench, boil, poach
85. Blithe… carefree, casual, merry, amiable, lighthearted, happy, unconcerned
86. Accord… concurrence, harmony, agreement, treaty, pact, deal, solidarity, consensus
87. Ephemeral… short-lived, passing, transient, temporary, fleeting, momentary, brief
88. Enthrall… captivate, beguile, fascinate, entrance, rivet, mesmerize, grip, spellbound
89. Fiend… villain, brute, ogre
90. Wreak… inflict, cause damage
91. Inveigle… charm, influence, beguile, allure, seduce, con, deceive, wheedle
92. Proscribe… forbid, disallow, ban, prohibit, veto, exclude, bar, prohibit
93. Providence… wisdom, prudence, frugality, thrift, forethought, provision
94. Perfidious… disloyal, treacherous, untrue, base, low, deceitful
95. Colloquial… slang, idiomatic, conversational, informal, (sometimes) vulgar speech.
96. Collusion… plan to deceive, conspire together, secretly defraud.
97. Collateral… surety, security, indemnity, warranty
98. Collate… arrange, order, classify, systematize, gather, compare, codify
99. Ensconce… entrench, hide, conceal, install, shield, establish
100. Flaunt… exhibit, sport, show off, brandish, parade, display, vaunt
101. Forage… search (for food), rummage, quest, fodder, hunt
102. Foray… raid, incursion, plunder, assault, loot, despoil, sortie, rifle
103. Forbearance… patience, self-control, tolerance, leniency, restraint
104. Glorification… adoration, exaltation, veneration, praise
105. Hector… hassle, intimate, bully, badger, browbeat, harass
106. Impenitent… unrepentant, defiant, brazen, shameless
107. Imperative… vital, essential, necessary, crucial, obligatory
108. Chastise… reprimand, censure, rebuke, castigate, upbraid, scold
109. Disposition… temperament, inclination, tendency, nature
110. Dissertation… thesis, critique, essay, study, tract, paper
111. Equitable… just, reasonable, impartial, evenhanded, fair, unbiased
112. Libidinous… sexual arousal, erogenous, lustful
113. Vacillate… dither, waver, hesitate, equivocate, falter
114. Knell… Bell ringing, tolls solemnly, ominously, often in reference to a funeral
115. Unctuous… oily, affected, suave, smug, too smooth and anxious to please
116. Imposition… obligation, burden, hassle, bother, nuisance
117. Genealogy… lineage, family, pedigree, descendants
118. Genetic… hereditary, inherited, innate, inborn, native
119. Trundle… saunter, wander, trapse
120. Impunity… exemption, immunity, license, latitude, freedom
121. Asymmetrical… lopsided, uneven, disproportionate, distorted, irregular
122. Symmetrical… regular, even, proportioned, balanced
123. Rapprochement… reconciliation, settlement, accord, understanding, reunion, entente
124. Pugnacious… aggressive, confrontational, belligerent, contentious
125. Petulant… peevish, cantankerous, sulky, irritable, grumpy, ill-tempered
126. Sagacious… wise, sage, learnt, perceptive, prescient, astute, discerning
127. Sanguine… cheerful, confident, optimistic, upbeat, hopeful
128. Piquant… piquancy, spiciness, tang, tartness, zest, smack, sharpness
129. Systematic… methodical, orderly, organized, efficient, logical
130. Supposition… belief, hypothesis, assumption, opinion, thesis, surmise
131. Libertine… degenerate, dissolute, debauched, profligate, riotous
132. Quizzical… questioning, curious, puzzled, perplexed, enquiring, sardonic
133. Quantum… important, significant, dramatic, substantial, huge
134. Banal… prosaic, hackneyed, predictable, boring, cliché, trite, facile, dull
135. Matrix… milieu, medium, background, atmosphere, ground
136. Modlin… tearful, weakly emotional, foolishly sentimental
137. Ignominious… humiliating, shameful, disgraceful, dishonourable, despicable
138. Cohere… adhere, stick, conform, gel, bind
139. Nepotism… favouritism, prefer bias, partiality, prejudice
140. Negate… contradict, disavow, contravene, disprove, repudiate
141. Postulate… assume, hypothesize, propose, claim, nominate
142. Duplicity… deceit, deception, unfaithfulness, disloyalty
143. Snivelling… weeping, moaning, howling, bawling, blubbering
144. Conniving… devious, scheming, conspiratorial, cunning, sly, crafty
145. Indiscretion… impudence, incaution, reckless, impudence, tackles, rashness
146. Myopic… narrow-minded, bigoted, intolerant, blinkered, biased, parochial
147. Egregious… conspicuously bad, terrible, heinous, evil
148. Foment… provoke, incite, ferment, aggravate, foster, stimulate, fan, fuel
149. Illiberal… reactionary, proscriptive, parochial, narrow-minded, mean, parsimonious
150. Nominal… insignificant, ostensible, token, supposed, minor, minimal, trifling
151. Litigate… sue, contest, prosecute, petition, arraign, charge, implead,
152. Nomenclature… classification, terminology, codify, catalogue, arrangement
153. Listless… lethargic, indolent, enervated, limp, inactive, inert, apathetic
154. Liturgy… ritual, rite, worship, mass
155. Ambiguity… vagueness, uncertainty, haziness, indistinctiveness, opacity
156. Opacity… opaqueness, imperviousness, denseness, cloudy, murky,
157. Inertia… torpor, lethargy, sluggishness, indolence, apathy, laziness
158. Fallow… uncultivated, unused, bare, empty, seedless
159. Eviscerate… disembowel, gut, fillet
160. Furtive… secretive, sly, sneaky, clandestine
161. Gnostic… inner knowledge, mystical, arcana, esoteric
162. Mystic… spiritualist, sage, sorcerer
163. Noosphere… collective sphere of consciousness, spiritual, mental, Ideas
164. Biosphere… biological sphere, environment living on earth’s land and sea
165. Geosphere… earth’s material surface, rocks, ocean bottom
166. Confluence… convergence, flowing together, meeting, union
167. Meld… combine, mix, blend, amalgamate, fusion, merge
168. Misanthrope… misanthropic, malcontent, loner, pessimist, recluse, cynic
169. Misogynous… misogynistic, hate or discriminate against woman
170. Meander… meandrous, winding, wandering, rambling, curve, twist, bend
171. Meandrous… circuitous, convoluted, crooked, flexuous, gyrating, labyrinthine, mazy
172. Misandry… misandrist, contempt, ingrained prejudice against men
173. Pander… gratify or indulge other’s needs, habits and base desires
174. Supplicate… beg, appeal, plead, petition, beseech, request, implore, entreat, solicit
175. Propitiate… propitiation, placate, appease, mollify, pacify, soothe, calm down
176. Synergy… collaboration, cooperation, interaction, coalition, harmony, teamwork, unity
177. Procure… obtain, acquire, secure, attain, buy, gain, get
178. Psyop… psychological manipulation to influence perception, propaganda
179. Coherent… comprehensible, articulate, lucid, rational, intelligible, clear
180. Cantankerous… irritable, argumentative, difficult, grumpy, grouchy, disagreeable
181. Contiguous… attached, touching, adjoining, adjacent, nearby, bordering, flanking
182. Cynic… pessimist, scoffer, doubter, sceptic
183. Implicate… connect, accuse, involve, incriminate, link, associate
184. Magnum opus… work of art, stunning success, tour de force, masterwork
185. Internecine… destructive, decimating, injurious, costly, deadly, havoc-wreaking
186. Minx… flirtatious, coquettish, imprudent, cunning young woman
187. Coquette… coquettish, flirt, philander, young woman manipulating men with her charms
188. Gentry… nobility, elite, aristocracy, upper class
189. Indolent… sluggish, slothful, idle, lethargic, torpid, lazy, laidback, lax, languid
190. Gaunt… thin, skinny, lean, boney, emaciated, scrawny
191. Genocide… massacre, extermination, annihilation, slaughter, destruction
192. Chivalrous… gallant, courtly, valiant, noble, mannerly, polite, brave, courageous
193. Chide… reproach, scold, rebuke, reprove, harass, criticize, blame
194. Contingent… depending, reliant, provisional, liable, conditional, subject to
195. Cohort… associate, regiment, group, partner, ally, follower
196. Xenophobic… racist, chauvinistic, nationalistic, prejudiced
197. Invidious… offensive, unenviable, undesirable, unfair, discriminatory
198. Zealot… extremist, fanatic, dogmatist, devotee, advocate, aficionado
199. Aspiration… ambition, goal, aim, target, hope, desired end, wish
200. Nexus… connection, link, node, relationship, join, bond, tie
201. Apparition… ghost, phantom, ghoul, spirit, phantasm
202. Spectre… threat, shadow, menace, threat, danger, anticipation, spirit, presence
203. Moxie… grit, gumption, guts, backbone
204. Parochial… closeminded, narrow, provincial, unsophisticated,
205. Apprehend… catch, capture, detain, arrest
206. Admonish… reprove, reprimand, reproach, scold, chide, warn, caution
207. Aplomb… composure, self-confidence, assurance, style, ease, poise, cool
208. Sonorous… loud, deep, resonant, booming, resounding
209. In situ… the natural or original position, place
210. Placate… pacify, soothe, calm, mollify, appease, satisfy, propitiate, please
211. Subterfuge… trick, ruse, ploy, manoeuvre, machination, duplicity, con, scheme
212. Sublimate… channel, direct, reroute, redirect, transfer
213. Zenith… peak, summit, pinnacled, top, acme, apex
214. Alpha… first, leading, dominant, chief, primary
215. Omega… ending, finish, finale, termination, conclusion
216. Asinine… silly, stupid, idiotic, dim, unintelligent,
217. Psychotic… deranged, demented, insane, psychopathic, delusional, crazy
218. Dysfunctional…flawed, broken, debilitated, inhibited, maladjusted
219. Psychosis… insanity, phobia, fixation, obsession, neurosis,
220. Systemic… universal, total, inherent, fundamental, integral, congenital
221. Sedentary… inactive, sitting, inactive, idle, seated, settled, sluggish, stationary, torpid
222. Sedate… calm, serene, placid, composed, unflappable, staid, demure
223. Ebullient… jolly, cheerful, enthusiastic, jovial, lively, happy, bouncy, fun
224. Metaphysical… abstract, theoretical, philosophical, incorporeal, speculative, conjectural
225. Conjecture… guess, speculation, inference, assumption, estimate, surmise
226. Dystopia… a society where all has gone wrong, resulting in fear, dehumanization, misery
227. Utopia… an ideal society, paradise, idea, heaven, Shangri-La
228. Miasma… murk, fog, haze, cloud, film, mist
229. Persona non grata… unacceptable person, unwelcome
230. Symbiosis… cooperation, interdependence, relationship, interaction, synergy
231. Synergy… collaboration, interaction, working together cooperatively
232. Intrinsic… inherent, essential, innate, native, built-in, fundamental, basic
233. Extrinsic… external, extraneous, not inherent
234. Pertinent… relevant, appropriate, apt, relatable, valent
235. Insular… narrow-minded, blinkered, limited, inward-looking
236. Ocular… visual, optical,
237. Licentious… dissolute, shameless, immodest, dissipated, impious
238. Intrepid… bold, courageous, valent, audacious, heroic, dauntless, fearless
239. Extrapolate… infer, generalize, deduce, conclude, reason
240. Interpolate… insert, incorporate, interpose, add, interject, introduce
241. Fastidious… demanding, persnickety, fussy, exacting, choosy, finicky
242. Pacify… appease, soothe, calm, placate, mollify
243. Ostensible… apparent, perceived, seeming, alleged, supposed
244. Countermand… revoke, stop, reverse, annul, retract, cancel
245. Contrarian… one who takes a position opposite to most opinions
246. Copious… abundant, plentiful, bountiful, ample, numerous
247. Lucid… clear, plain, simple, articulate, well-spoken, congent, reasoned
248. Natter… idle chatter about unimportant things
249. Nader… lowest point, rock bottom
250. Solicitous… caring, attentive, considerate, apprehensive, anxious
251. Purveyor… transmitter, seller, supplier, spreader, bringer, source
252. Placid… docile, mild, calm, peaceful, tranquil, quiet, easy-going
253. Diaphonous… to see through, insubstantial, vague, ethereal
254. Sustenance… nourishment, food, nutrition, victuals
255. Indubitable… unquestionable, certain, undeniable, irrefutable, conclusive
256. Doppelgänger… double, twin, clone, lookalike, shadow
257. Alacrity… eagerness, enthusiasm, readiness, quickness, promptness, zeal
258. Deduce… infer, construe, assume, comprehend, understand, presume
259. Retribution… vengeance, revenge, payback, reprisal
260. Resilience… pliable, flexible, bounciness, springiness, elasticity, suppleness, buoyancy
261. Circuitous… indirect, meandering, twisting, ambiguous, crooked, indirect, mazy
262. Convoluted… complex, complicated, elaborate, tortuous, twisted, serpentine, sinuous,
263. Gyrate… spin, revolve, spiral, twizzle, swivel, serpentine, sinuous
264. Labyrinthine... convoluted, complex, intricate, tortuous, tangled, complicated.
265. Serpentine… winding, twisting, roundabout, bending, indirect, snakelike
266. Sinuous… lithe, supple, graceful, flowing
267. Reciprocity… Exchange, mutuality, trade, interchange
268. Restive… agitated, twitchy, restless, edgy, uneasy, fidgety
269. Reparation… compensation, amends, reimbursement, recompense, restitution
270. Renege… revoke, default, break a promise, go back on
271. Reclamation… recovery, repossession, recuperate, salvage, retrieval
272. Redouble… renew, augment, intensify, amplify
273. Excoriate… criticize, attach, condemn, upbraid, denounce, censure, reprimand, castigate, scold
274. Renown… fame, reputation, notoriety, popularity, recognition, distinction, prominence
275. Rebuke… reprimand, reproach, censure, criticize, lecture, admonition
276. Admonition… warning, rebuke, caution, scolding, reproach
277. Reprehensible… disgraceful, shameful, culpable, inexcusable, liable, guilty
278. Ipso facto… therefore, thus, as a result, so, by the fact of
279. Notorious… disreputable, tarnished, infamous
280. Notary… legal clerk, attorney, barrister, solicitor
281. Mendicant… homeless, beggar, panhandler, indigent
282. Iridescent… lustrous, shimmer, dazzling, shining, glistening, flicker, sparkling
283. Demise… death, decease, passing, expiry, termination, downfall, failure, ruin
284. Indenture… contract, agreement, pact, deal, treaty
285. Tort… misdeed, offence, misdeed, illegal
286. Castigate… reprimand, scold, rebuke, criticize
287. Elliptical… indirect, oblique, abstruse, egg-shaped
288. Cryptic… secret, hidden, mysterious, enigmatic, puzzling
289. Foliage… shrubbery, greenery, vegetation, verdure, flora
290. Emissary… envoy, agent, representative, delegate, ambassador
291. Culminate… conclude, finish, climax, crown, end, close
292. Pillory… denounce, ridicule, deride, humiliate, scorn, brand
293. Pedantic… doctrinaire, dull, fussy, finicky, nitpicking, arcane, plodding
294. Sophistry… illogical, dishonest, casuistry, fallacious, fraudulent, laborious
295. Apposition… juxtaposition, comparison, connection, collocation
296. Substratum… substrate, base material, underlying support,
297. Plausible… reasonable, credible, probable, conceivable, likely, acceptable
298. Temper… to anneal, make stronger with testing and hardship
299. Anneal… harden, toughen, forge, galvanize, strengthen
300. Impede… hinder, hamper, obstruct, encumber, inhibit, block, delay
301. Noxious… harmful, toxic, poisonous, venomous, injurious, pernicious, hateful
302. Arcane… mysterious, esoteric, secret, deep, hidden, obscure, inscrutable
303. Stupendous… astonishing, amazing, awesome, breathtaking, fantastic, wonderful
304. Beatific… blissful, radiant, sublime, heavenly, ecstatic, adorable, virtuous, saintly
305. Beatitudes… happiness, blessing, declarations from sermon on the mount.
306. Benediction… approval, sanction, blessing, public pronouncement of good wishes
307. Invocation… request, entreaty, plea, petition, solicitation, incantation, supplication
308. Saunter… walk, stroll, amble, ramble, wander, mosey, meander
309. Gait… pace, manner, style of walk, posture, bearing, step
310. Insipid… dull, unexciting, boring, lifeless, inane, banal, trite, bland, wishy-washy
311. Vector… path, course, trajectory, route, direction
312. Hyperbole… exaggeration, overstatement, overemphasis, inflation, embellishment
313. Simile… figure of speech comparing two unlike things with ‘as’ or ‘like’
314. Simulate… pretend, copy, imitate, fake, mimic, replicate, feign, fake
315. Persnickety… paying too much attention to detail, over particular, fussy
316. Rout… retreat, flight, surrender, defeat, thrashing, disarray, landslide
317. Lament… weep, dirge, wailing, mourn, bewail, grieve.
318. Incantation… summons, spell, charm, invocation
319. Laudable… credible, meritorious, commendable, impressive, worthy, admirable
320. Langer… a fool, idiot, disagreeable man, often intoxicated
321. Juxtaposition… comparison, contrast, collation, connection, concurrence
322. Libation… brew, drink, beverage. Also, tribute, offering, oblation, offertory
323. Libido… sexual drive, eros, passion
324. Libidinous… lustful, sensual, wanton, carnal, salacious, prurient, debauched, lascivious
325. Laconic… curt, concise, short, terse, brief
326. Voluptuous… luscious, lush, epicurean
327. Agape… unconditional divine love
328. Philia… brotherly love, community with virtue, equality, and familiarity
329. Eros… sexual love, erotic
330. Erotic… suggestive, aphrodisiac, carnal, titillating, bawdy, lustful, erogenous
331. Dispassionate… Impartial, rational
332. Intonation… tone, pitch, inflexion, lilt, cadence, tone, timbre, accentuation
333. Vivify… animate, revive, quicken, recreate, revivify
334. Flaunt… exhibit, display, flourish, brandish, boast
335. Bifurcate… split, fork, divide, diverge, separate, brancy, converge
336. Presupposition… assumption, belief, premise, hypothesis, deduction
337. Tincture… extract, mixture, solution, distillate. Or… hint, nuance, tone, shade
338. Tantamount… equivalent, synonymous, identical, indistinguishable, equal
339. Misnomer… misleading term, inaccuracy, incongruity, contradiction
340. Tenuous… weak, shakey, unconvincing, fragile, vague, unsubstantiated
341. Debilitate… enervate, hamper, hinder, weaken, drain, incumber, incapacitate
342. Titillate… stimulate, tickle, arouse, interest, tease
343. Quixotic… idealistic, unrealistic, romantic, impractical
344. Hedonist… epicurean, sybarite, debauchee, rake, roué
345. Dirge… requiem, elegy, lament, chant, mournful song
346. Truncate… shorten, abbreviate, trim, cut, prune, pare
347. Octave… interval of one musical pitch and another, scale, eight, distance between notes
348. Continuum… range, scale, field, band
349. Anachronistic… dated, belonging to an earlier period, old-fashioned
350. Continence… self-control, holding back, abstinence, restraint, chastity
351. Incontinence… loss of bladder control, dissolution
352. Acronym… First letters representing the name of something (Eg UN or KFC)
353. Existential.. experiential, factual, observational, pragmatic, empirical
354. Preamble… introduction, preface, overture, opening
355. Intransigent… inflexible, stubborn, obdurate, obstinate, intractable, reactionary
356. Rarify/rarified… refined, elaborate, complicated
357. Parsimonious… stingy, frugal, miserly, cheap, tight, sparing, ungenerous
358. Non sequitur… ‘it does not follow,’ no connection between premises and conclusion
359. Redundant… surplus, unneeded, superfluous, unnecessary, outmoded, unwanted
360. Epicurean… hedonistic, self-indulgent, sensual, luscious, libertine, bacchanalian
361. Wizened… wrinkled, withered, crinkly, aged, shriveled
362. Impropriety… unacceptable, improper behaviour, indecorous, unsuitable language
363. Imperturbable… calm, cool, unflappable, composed, unflustered, unruffled, collected
364. Fusion… synthesis, combination, mixture, blend, merge, meld, union, continuation
365. Impotent… powerless, helpless, weak, incapable, ineffectual, feeble
366. Decadent… corrupt, depraved, debauched, degenerate, dissolute, licentious, profligate
367. Unsavoury… Distasteful, nasty, objectionable, obnoxious, shady, unpalatable, unpleasant
368. Savvy… perceptive, shrewd, know-how, practical, knowledgeable
369. Precarious… dangerous, risky, hazardous, perilous, shakey
370. Evince… show, demonstrate, manifest, reveal, display, verify, support
371. Choleric… irascible, hot-headed, temper, angry, irate, irritable, irascible
372. Melancholy… sad, miserable, glum, gloomy, dejected, dismal, despondent
373. Phlegmatic… calm, composed, unflappable, indifferent, placid, stoic, apathetic
374. Oblation… offering, sacrifice, gift, present
375. Deciduous… trees with leaves that fall
376. Coniferous… cone-bearing trees with needles
377. Alienation… isolation, disaffection, estrangement, distancing, dissension
378. Profligate… wasteful, reckless, squander, extravagant, dissolute, licentious
379. Qua… in the capacity of, the character of being, by virtue of being
380. Auspicious… favourable, promising, positive, propitious, opportune, providential
381. Requiem… elegy, mass, funeral, hymn, change, dirge
382. Timorous… … frightening, reticent, apprehensive, bashful, coy, timid, faint-hearted, sca
383. Inhibit… constrain, impede, obstruct, deter, restrain, reduce, hamper, stall, restrain
384. Aggregate… collective, cumulate, amass, summative, sum, combination,
385. Coup de grâce… death blow, final decisive strike, finishing blow
386. Decimate… destroy, devastate, annihilate, reduce, ruin, demolish
387. Cohesion… unity, consistency, interrelation, structure, solidity
388. Fragment… piece, portion, splinter, scrap, part, section
389. Inherent… integral, innate, inborn,
390. Multifarious… diverse, varied, assorted, manifold, heterogenous
391. Dubious… doubtful, uncertain, unsure, undecided, unconvincing, questioning, suspicious
392. Salacious… scandalous, sensational, passionate, lustful, lecherous, lascivious, lewd
393. Impetus… motivation, push, drive, spur, impulsion, momentum, force
394. Impervious… impenetrable, incapable of being harmed or affected
395. Penitent… repentant, contrite, remorseful, regretful, rueful, sorry, apologetic
396. Disingenuous… dishonest, insincere, deceitful, misleading, duplicitous, devious
397. Duplicity… disloyal, treachery, betrayal, deceit, fraudulent
398. Ingenuous… innocent, inexperienced, naïve, trusting, simple, unworldly
399. Perpetrate… enact, execute, commit, perform, effect, do
400. Perpetuity… endless, permanency, imperishable, infinity eternal, timeless,
401. Erogenous… erotic, sexual, sensual, seductive, stimulating, aphrodisiac, titillating
402. Venal… corruptible, mercenary, unprincipled, degenerate, decadent, amoral, crooked
403. Personify… personalize, exemplify, embody, incarnate, show, epitomize
404. Anthropomorphomize… to attribute human form or personality to what’s not human
405. Coalesce… merge, combine, join, mingle, meld, cleave, mingle, blend, fuse, amalgamate
406. Importune… pester, harass, persist, demand, bother, badger, beleaguer, plague
407. Pernicious… malicious, wicked, evil, malevolent, malign, maleficent, spiteful, destructive
408. Exculpate… free, excuse, clear, acquit, exonerate, absolve, release
409. Explicate… explain, elucidate, expound, illuminate, clarify, make plain
410. Exonerate… absolve, vindicate, pardon, acquit, forgive, exculpate
411. Specious… false, hollow, inaccurate, unfounded, phoney, bogus, unsound, baseless
412. Sybarite… sensualist, epicurean, voluptuary, pleasure-lover, hedonist
413. Penal… punitive, punishing, corrective, disciplinary, severe
414. Post-humous… following or occurring after death
415. Veni-Vidi-Vici… ‘I came, I saw, I conquered’ (Julius Caesar)
416. Causality… cause, connection, causation, fate, destiny
417. Doublespeak… language used to deceive, conceal or misrepresent the truth
418. Complicit… helping commit a crime or some wrongdoing
419. Surmise… guess, inference, supposition, postulation, assumption, suspicion, speculate
420. Plenitude… plenteous, abundance, copious, amplitude, repletion, fullness
421. Nascent… budding, embryonic, emerging, blossoming, bourgeoning
422. Entente… agreement, contract, settlement, appointment, compromise, deal, pact
423. Embryonic… emergent, nascent, primary, budding, sprouting, developing, prenatal
424. Abstinence… self-denial, self-restraint, moderation, asceticism
425. Inopportune… ill-timed, unfortunate, untimely, inappropriate, inconvenient
426. Recondite… obscure, abstruse, complex, esoteric, hidden, concealed
427. Habiliments… clothing, vestures, wear
428. Ineptitude… incompetence, uselessness, maladroitness, ineptness, lacking skill
429. Propitious… auspicious, encouraging, upbeat, rosey, hopeful, optimistic
430. Hasta la vista… ‘so long; see you again’
431. Parity… equivalence, par, equality, uniformity, similarity
432. Minuscule… tiny, minute, microscopic, infinitesimal, diminuative
433. Extol… praise, exalt, commend, eulogize, admire, worship
434. Penurious... impoverished, destitute, indigent, impecunious
435. Domicile… country considered permanent home or originated
436. Equanimity… mental calmness, coolness, composure, and evenness of temper,
437. Concentric… rings, circles or spheres that have the same centre
438. Discordant… conflicting, disagreeing, dissonant, disputatious, cacophonous
439. Lugubrious… sad, mournful, gloomy, doleful, melancholy, cheerless, dismal, morose
440. Salubrious… healthy, wholesome, clean, respectable, decent,
441. Supine… flat on the back, horizontal, listless, apathetic, recumbent
442. Prostrate… flat, face down, exhausted, drained, prone, level
443. Inflammatory… provocative, seditious, fiery, stirring, incendiary, rabble-rousing
444. Diffuse… dispersed, drawn-out, rambling, turgid, verbose
445. Detente… a relaxing of national tensions, as by negotiations or agreements. E.g. Russia
446. Surreal… dreamlike, phantasm, odd, strange, bizarre, unreal, weird
447. Amorphous… formless, shapeless, vague, unstructured, fluid, nebulous
448. Elusive… abstract, subtle, indefinable, mysterious, obscure, tenous
449. Allude… mention, suggest, indicate, refer, introduce, make reference to
450. Inference… implication, suggestion, insinuation, presumption, extrapolation
451. Illuminate… clarify, brighten, irradiate, enlighten, inform, elucidate
452. Epiphany… sudden insight, inspiration, flash, realization, orphic
453. Usurious… exorbitant, excessive interest rate, extortion, steep, unconscionable
454. Euphemism… understatement, synonym, code word, neutral term
455. Metaphor… symbol, comparison, image, representation,
456. Allegory… story, fable, symbol, tale, parable
457. Lading… cargo, freight, shipment, goods, load
458. Aficionado… enthusiast, devotee, adherent, fan, admirer, buff
459. Melodramatic… overdramatic, histrionic, exaggerated, theatrical, over-the-top
460. Denouement… day·noo·maan, conclusion, finale, how the plot turns out
461. Bailiff… evictor, agent, dispossessor, law officer
462. Baying… howling, woofing, barking, yelping, wailing, yapping
463. Verve… vigour, vim, dash, spirit, animation, vitality, dynamism, enthusiasm, life
464. Rapprochement… reconciliation, harmonize, after being enemies or unfriendliness.
465. Diametric… opposite, polar
466. Hierarchy… grading, pyramid, ladder, vertical integration, higher dominates
467. Heterarchy… horizontal integration for governance, no one dominates
468. Transcendence… otherworldliness, excellence, preeminence, superiority, loftiness
469. Meticulous… careful, scrupulous, thorough, fussy, detailed, particular, accurate
470. Antic… jaunt, lark, escapade, exploit, adventure
471. Scruples… integrity, conscientious, principled, ethical, moral, scrupulous, upright
472. Involution… engagement, involvement, participation, infolding
473. Implacable… merciless, ruthless, cruel, hard-hearted, callous, unyielding, obdurate
474. Portent… sign, presage, augury, omen, foreshadowing, herald, premonition, portend
475. Tenets… creeds, doctrines, views, canons, principles, beliefs, percepts, views
476. De rigueur… compulsory, requisite, necessary, enforced, indispensable, vital, mandatory
477. Augury… prognostication, prophesy, divination, forecast, predictions, forwarning, omen
478. Quandary… dilemma, jam, difficulty, predicament, catch-22
479. Perilous… dangerous, unsafe, terrifying, exposed, extreme, hazardous
480. Supercilious, arrogant, condescending, haughty, patronizing, snobbish, pompous, contemptuous
481. Consociate… to bring or to come to associate with friends and community
482. Remorse… repentance, penitent, compunction, shame, sorrow, regret, guilt
483. Apoplectic… enraged, irate, seething, angry, annoyed, furious
484. Ingratiate… curry favour, grovel, suck up, toady
485. Avocation… work that’s a hobby, pastime, diversion or amusement
486. Extemporaneous… extemporal, impromptu, spontaneous, unrehearsed, ad-libbed
487. Fidelity… loyalty, faithfulness, devotion, reliability, commitment
488. Infidelity… unfaithful, disloyalty, perfidy, betrayal, treason,
489. Failsafe… guaranteed, reliable, foolproof, dependable,
490. Ruminate… ponder, cogitate, meditate, contemplate, reflect, muse
491. Tincture… tinge, hint, nuance, distillation, shade, tone, solution, essence, extract
492. Theocracy… government by religion, clergy
493. Presentiment… intuition, suspicion, foreboding, premonition, awareness
494. Consciousness… awareness, perception, cognizance, realization
495. Calibre… calibration, quality of one’s character or ability
496. Concomitant… adjoining, touching, attached, connecting, nearby, bordering, flanking
497. Egotistic… narcissistic, selfish, egocentric
498. Verboten… forbidden, prohibited, taboo, proscribe, outlawed, impermissible
499. Comport… behave, conduct, bear, carry
500. Impregnable… unassailable, invincible, unconquerable, impenetrable, indestructible, secure
501. Comeuppance… due, punishment, reward, just deserts, what’s deserved, coming to you
502. Appellant… accuser, complainment, planfiff, litigant
503. Pontificate… preach, be dogmatic, sound off, hold forth
504. Ponderous… heavy, cumbersome, bulky, hefty, laborious, unwieldy, tedious
505. Careen… Stagger, swerve, wind, twist, meander, snake, bowl, reel, sway, tilt, lurch, shift, wobble
506. Infamous… shameful, ignoble, vile heinous, notorious, outrageous
507. Infamous… renown, legendary, well-known, recognized
508. Milieu… environment, scene, setting, location, locale, ambience, climate, atmosphere, situation
509. Crater…dip, hollow, cavern, cavity, indention, opening, depression, basin,
510. Illicit… illegal, illegitimate, banned, forbidden, proscribed, criminal
511. Elicit… prompt, stimulate, extract, provoke, cause, obtain, educe, draw
512. Spectrum… range, band, field, gamut, scale, continuum
513. Sequence… order, arrangement, categorization, system, series, progression, chain, string
514. Allocation… distribution, provision, share, portion, allotment, allowance, provision
515. Impecunious… poor, disadvantaged, ruined, broke, destitute, impoverished
516. Allotment… portion, allowance, share, ration, allocation,
517. Incongruous… incompatible, odd, inconsistent, unsuitable, inharmonious, incompatible
518. Incompetence… ineffective, ineptitude, useless, unskilled, inability
519. Rabid… fervent, ardent, zealous; or diseased, sick, ill, infected, unwell
520. Seditious… treasonous, disloyal, subversive, mutinous, rebellious
521. Subversive… insubordinate, seditious, traitorous, dissident, insurrectionist
522. Hedging… equivocation, dodging, fudging, evading, get-around, prevarication,
523. Heinous… atrocious, monstrous, monstruous, dreadful, shocking, odious
524. Histrionic… theatrical, dramatic, exaggerated, unrestrained, melodramatic
525. A posteriori… inductive reasoning, conclusions derived from facts or observations
526. A priori… deductive reasoning, prior to, beforehand, presupposed, presumptive
527. Ipso facto… therefore, hence, thus, consequently, as a result,
528. Malfeasance… wrongdoing, misconduct, illegal, causing physical or monetary harm.
529. Minion… subordinate, sycophant, underling, follower, assistant
530. Pungent… Strong, spicy, piquant, powerful, sharp-tasting, heady, stimulating
531. Mentation… mental activity, state
532. Effette… weak, overly refined, effeminate male,
533. Assail… attack, assault, beset, storm, charge, rush, beat, overwhelm
534. Matastitize… to spread or grow, as with cancer in the body by metastasis
535. Corroborate… verify, substantiate, confirm, agree, validate, document, support
536. Collaborate… work together, cooperate, team up, join forces, partnership
537. Impediment… impairment, obstruction, barrier, hindrance, hurdle, block, inhibition
538. Incendiary… aggressive, inflammable, provocative, stirring, rousing, combustible
539. Epitomize… typify, embody, exemplify, incarnate, symbolize, characterize, personify
540. Urchin… a mischievous, roguish child who is small, raggedly dressed
541. Obstreperous… rowdy, disorderly, undisciplined, bad-tempered, disruptive, unruly
542. Ludicrous… absurd, ridiculous, nonsensical, farcical, outrageous, foolish, daft
543. Extenuate… mitigate, downplay, excuse, justify, minimize, moderate, make allowances
544. Cretin… Half-wit, idiot, imbecile, moron. simpleton, lack common sense.
545. Consort… partner, associate, spouse
546. Addled… confused, muddled, bemused, perplexed, befuddled
547. Phosphorescence… light emitted without combustion
548. Triad… triad, triangle, triumvirate, triple, threesome
549. Palliate… alleviate, assuage, relieve, qualify, reduce, soften, diminish
550. Decorous… well-behaved, modest, correct, good, seemly, serenity, respectable
551. Décor… decoration, furnishings, style, ornamentation, interior design
552. Magnanimous… generous, noble, worthy, upright, fair, high-minded
553. Florid… ornate, flowery, nancy, showy, extravagant, ostentatious
554. Elongate… lengthen, stretch, extend, draw out
555. Insurrection… insurgency, revolution, revolt, uprising, mutiny, retaliation, rebellion
556. Abysmal… terrible, awful, dreadful. Appaling, horrible
557. Monolith… monument, column, stone, pillar, megalith
558. Muse… ponder, consider, cogitate, contemplate, recollect, meditate, think
559. Preposterous… outrageous, ridiculous, laughable, unreasonable, silly, ludicrous
560. Incumbent… obligatory, mandatory, binding, unavoidable, inescapable,
561. Incumbent… officeholder, executive, official, appointee, current, sitting, now
562. Monotonous... dull, droning, repetitive, boring, tedious, dreary, pedestrian, uninteresting
563. Fulcrum… pivot, hinge, swivel, support, point
564. Default… nonpayment, default, avoidance, evasion
565. Affable… pleasant, friendly, sociable, easygoing, jovial, cordial
566. Avarice… avaricious, greed, acquisitiveness, cupidity, covetousness, selfish
567. Miniscule… tiny, minute, minature, diminuative, microscopic
568. Arsenal… armoury, resource, stash, cache, fund
569. Esoteric… obscure, arcane, cryptic, abstruse, mysterious, secret, occult
570. Arcana… secret, mysterious or specialized knowledge, language, accessible by initiate
571. Pending… awaiting, incomplete, imminent, expected, approaching, impending, undecided
572. Amenable… agreeable, acquiescent, docile, pliable, flexible, cooperative, passive, odedient
573. Amiable… affable, friendly, kind, likeable, amicable, sociable,good-natured, cordial, affable
574. Lionize… idolize, praise, celebrate, applaud, extol, idolize, glorify
575. Sage… wise, learned, clever, prudent, sagacious, perceptive, advisor, mentor, erudite, shrewd
576. Ferment… agitation, mayhem, unrest, tumult, confusion, excitement,uproar, commotion
577. Anon… presently, soon, shortly, rapidly, immediately
578. Anonymous… nameless, unidentified, unknown, mysterious, shadowy, insigned
579. Lecherous… lustful, lascivious, libidinous, lewd
580. Lewd… vulgar, dawdy, rude, coarse
581. Epic… grand, ambitious, impressive, classic, heroic, marathon, extravaganza
582. Epistle… letter, missive, communication, message, dispatch, note
583. Tome… book, volume, digest, large literary work
584. Ogre… monster, tyrant, fiend, troll
585. Sacrament… ceremony, rite, service, mass, ritual, mass
586. Alchemy… transformative, experimentation
587. Beneficent… charitable, altruistic, humanitarian, philanthropic, advantageous, helpful, generous
588. Interlocutory… dialogue, conversation, order, decree, informal judicial decision
589. Priggish… prudish, prim, straightlaced, stuffy, starchy, pompous, squeamish
590. Oratory… orator, speechmaking, rhetoric, debating, declamation, eloquence
591. Rhetoric… oratory, speech, grandiloquence, bombast, pomposity, idiom, expression
592. Repertoire… selection, list, range, catalogue, gamut, series, group, collection
593. Requisition… request, summons, application, demand, appropriation
594. Waif… urchin, stray, raggamuffin, orphan
595. Indignity... humiliation, mortification, dishonour, ignominy, shame, disrepute, disgrace, infamy
596. Juggernaut… relentless, destructive, ruthless, stoppable force, steamroller
597. Residual… remaining, outstanding, lasting, balanced, enduring, lingering
598. Reprimand… admonishment, rebuke, warning, reproof, dressing-downs
599. Comprehensive… complete, inclusive, full, broad, ample, thorough
600. Prude… prig, killjoy, pendant, square, stuffed-shirt
601. Platonic… spiritual, friendly, neighbourly, nonsexual, amicable
602. Perdition… punishment, purgatory, hell, inferno, underworld, abyss,
603. Numinous… mystical, magic, supernatural, spiritual
604. Hypostasis… epistasis, underlying reality, substrate,
605. Static… still, fixed, inert, immobile, inactive, unmoving, stationary, motionless
606. Lexicon… word list, dictionary, glossary, concordance, reference book…
607. Niggardly… meagre, wretched, inefficient, paltry, beggarly, stingy, ungenerous
608. Pompous… arrogant, haughty, ostentatious, pretentious, exaggerated, showy, grandiose
609. Entourage… following, back-up, support, staff
610. Lunar… related to the moon, cosmological, stellar, astral
611. Miscreant… trouble-maker, villain, rebel, offender, wrongdoer, scoundrel, criminal, reprobate
612. Narcissistic… unreasonable sense of self-importance, prideful, hubris
613. Modus operandi… a particular way method of doing something
614. Maestro… expert, genius, whiz, viruoso, talented, marvel, ace
615. Precocious… advanced, intelligent, bright, mature, clever, gifted, developed
616. Soliloquy… speech, monologue, oration, declamation
617. Ode… poem, verse, rhyme, sonnet, limerick, song
618. Interlope… intrude, encroach, interfere, meddle
619. Bequeath… leave, give, bestow, will, donate
620. Besmirch… sully, defame, tarnish, slander, taint, damage
621. Purview… the range of experience or expertise, area of responsibility
622. Fortuitous… chance, accidental, unplanned, accidental, serendipitous
623. Recumbent… reclining, resting, horizontal, leaning, accumbent
624. Frivolous… playful, lighthearted, frolic, merry, flippant, silly, dizzy, perky, giddy
625. Rubicon… to reach a point where one cannot change a decision or course of action.
626. Harried… agitated, harassed, stressed, beleaguered, anxious, distraught, troubled
627. Panacea… cure-all, solution, remedy, answer
628. Wheelhouse… expertise, interests, comfort zone, abilities
629. Germane… relevant, related, applicable, apposite, appropriate, fitting, apt, suited
630. Constellation… assemblage, pattern, arrangement, gathering, group
631. Beguile… enticing, luring, wooing, charming, mesmerizing, enthralling, fascinating
632. Hegemony… dominion, control, power, authority, supremacy, subjugation
633. Solipsistic… self-centred, selfish, belief that the self is all that can be known to exist.
634. Fantasmic… A fortunate occurrence with an element of magic or mysticism.
635. Concupiscent… lustful, incontinent, lecherous, unchaste, ruttish
636. Incontinent… promiscuous, unrestrained, uncontrollable, unchecked, unbridled
637. Sycophant… flatterer, obsequious, insincere, acting to gain an advantage
638. Tour de Force… achievement, impressive performance, masterpiece, magnum opus
639. Ostentatious… flashy, showy, flamboyant, grandiose, modest, brazen, imposing
640. Iteration… repetition, reiteration, recapitulation, duplication, different form or version
641. Gravitas… dignity, seriousness, or solemnity of manner
642. Mia culpa… admission of fault
643. Grifter…con artist: someone who swindles people out of money through fraud
644. Assuage... mitigate, appease, soften
645. Mollify... moderate, placade, calm
646. Prima Facia… based on the first impression; accepted as correct until proven otherwise
647. Trove… storehouse of valuable and delightful treasures
648. Poseur… fake, attempting to be cool, to impress being someone you’re not.
649. Apocalyptic… fateful, portentous, prescient prognosticative prophetic revelational revelatory
650. Trope… cliché, platitude, truism, saying, adage, generalization, platitude
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ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR/AUTHOR
I have a Bachelor's degree in English and Philosophy and a BEd in Secondary English. Though I've always been fascinated with words and reading throughout the years, I worked in the real estate sector for most of my adult years, including brokerage in land assembly and acquisitions, office leasing, land development, ownership and management of residential properties, etc.
If you're interested in knowing more about my background, you can read about my past in the following posts if you like.
Author Interview
https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/author-interview
Author's Pictography. Pictures from childhood to adulthood.
https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/picto-bio
My TWILIGHT ZONE BACKSTORY
https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/how-it-came
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ELYSIUM'S PASSAGE NOVEL SERIES
As an update on my Elysium's Passage series, I hope to have all seven books posted on Amazon in late 2024 or early 2025.
PENDING PUBLICATION
ELYSIUM’S PASSAGE SERIES
The Ascent: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage
The Summit: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage
Quantum Leaps: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage
Surreal Adventures: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage
Mystical Romance: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage
The Elixir: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage
The Return: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage
1. The Ascent is the first novel in the Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage that’s foundational to everything that happens in the following narratives that embark on an adventure that will surprise and delight the reader like no other book.
It all begins with an extreme adventure of climbing a remote and challenging mountain somewhere in the Andean Mountains. Just as James, the protagonist, is about to reach the mountain summit, he falls into an abyss that leaves him in a coma for almost a year.
After being airlifted by a forestry helicopter and flown back to London, where his body remains for almost a year. Eventually, he learns it was not him but his body that was rescued. Several days later, without understanding what happened, he continues to climb to the summit in an alternate dimension of higher consciousness.
Fortuitously, he meets two adventurers on the summit ridge who are no longer of this world. After that, his surreal life leads him to several new adventures in the subsequent chronicles that include a rich mix of adventure, romance, and fantasy, along with profound discussions of philosophy, spirituality and the afterlife.
2. The Summit, the second novel in the Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage, carries on where James, the narrator and protagonist, is taught more about a multidimensional reality that he finds difficult to comprehend.
Not only does he find he’s not as clever as he imagined, but his off-world companions on the summit demonstrate that much of what he believed about life was not just parochial but wrong. At first, he finds this difficult to comprehend since their teachings are contrary to his limited understanding of non-material reality.
After being tricked into teleporting off a ledge where he was trapped, James becomes aware of the new reality that makes him capable of far more adventures than could have ever been experienced previously in his physical body back home.
Now, if only he would win over the only woman in this life who matters, the nurse on the other side of the veil, who continually demonstrates her unconditional love toward his healing.
Warning: This book may also open the reader’s eyes to a much vaster reality than most might be aware. As with the other Chronicles, there are discussions of philosophy, the spiritual afterlife and what might seem like fantasy.
3. Quantum Leaps is the third novel in Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage, where James, the philosopher-protagonist, teleports back to London to visit his body and make contact with the special nurse taking care of it in his absence. Immediately, he feels an inexplicable spiritual bond with her for reasons he remains unaware of.
Now aroused by a renewed interest in matters of love, the beginnings of a relationship begin to emerge as he attempts to reach across the chasm of their worlds. But it’s not until the fifth novel, Mystical Romance, that he encounters her in a way that he finds difficult to believe.
However, before that can happen, there is much about his failed relationships that must be resolved before he is ready to move forward in his new life in Elysium’s Passage. It is during this time he christens his comatose body as the fall guy since it took the fall for him down the abyss so he could learn the lessons he’s now learning.
That will be the next focus of his life, where in his next Surreal Adventures, he is given virtual lessons to release many of his past beliefs about life.
4. Surreal Adventures is the fourth novel in the Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage, which finds James, the protagonist and narrator, escorted by his companions to a remote South Pacific Island, where he is left to reflect on what he’s learned.
During the next forty days, he battles the demons of his past as he works through some rather painful issues from his early youth. Here, in a tropical storm, he encounters an eery suspended spectre of the one he loved yet still resents for abandoning him as a child.
After this, he achieves peace of mind and is ready to return to his lodge to join his off-world companions on the Andes summit. However, just when it seemed things couldn’t get any stranger, a sixteenth-century sea captain sails his ancient ‘ghost’ ship onto the beach. Together, they sail off on a mystical ocean voyage to a couple of virtual islands supposedly in the South Pacific, where he witnesses and, at times, participates in several important life lessons.
Near the end, these encounters help prepare him for a new challenge within the interior of a mountain, where he falls deep into a dark tomb of fear. After being rescued by a mysterious stranger wielding his Excaliber, he continues on to where his life is about to be transformed in the following chronicle, Mystical Romance.
5. Mystical Romance is the fifth chronicle in Elysium’s Passage, which will surprise the reader with a romantic twist of how love is expressed in higher realms. From this lofty perspective, everything about intimacy is understood as within, so without.
After escaping his tomb, James, the narrator and protagonist, makes his way through a maze of tunnels until he arrives at a large oak door, which he opens with the golden key he had been given. There, he steps into Elysium’s Passage’s Great Hall, where his life and recent achievements are celebrated now that his eyes have been opened to perceive a fascinating interior world of wonderment… and romance.
To say more might risk diminishing the multitude of delightful surprises as circumstances begin to open to The Elixir, where James is about to re-enter his earthly body’s existence.
6. The Elixir is the sixth chronicle of the Elysium’s Passage series that prepares James, the narrator-protagonist, to awaken and return to his body in London. Before that can happen, however, his off-worlder friend presents a mysterious equation enshrouded with a light code frequency that will stimulate multidimensional DNA strands within him.
Much of this narration is centred in London, where his nurse unknowingly becomes involved in how the Elixir’s equation finds its way from a taxi cab driver to higher echelons of science. There are many twists in how she unwittingly brings the Elixir to the attention of mathematicians and physicists, after which they eventually discover how to code the equation into a laser ray to stimulate his fall-guy body into full consciousness.
Ostensibly a new Adam, he is destined to return humanity to a higher multidimensional existence. How this happens is filled with intrigue, as is his shocking return to his earthly body.
7. The Return is the seventh and last chronicle in the series where James, the narrator and protagonist, has re-emerged from Elysium’s Passage as he readjusts to life in the third dimension. Many of the events experienced in the previous novels are tied together in an exciting, fast-moving, action-packed narrative over several countries.
At first, it seems all memories have been lost, with his fall guy’s brain not being aware of what happened to him while in his coma. As a consequence, it takes a while for him to be convinced he has been out of his earthly body for almost a year.
Through some rather unexpected events and evidence, along with his girlfriend’s urging, he is brought to an awareness of much of what occurred. It takes a while for his mind to catch up with the changes made in his heart during his stay in the alternate realm. But after experiencing several harsh realities, he discovers what he became within while out of his body. Gradually, he comes to understand the many challenges that lie ahead for him in fulfilling his future mission on Earth.
This book is filled with adventure, romance and personal intrigue that ties together all six previous narratives of the Elysium’s Passage series.
Here's a little unprofessional video I did a few years ago where my little companion, Octavia, stole the show.
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