Lexicon

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V

Limn

limned; limning\ ˈli-​miŋ  , ˈlim-​niŋ \
1: to draw or paint on a surfaceThe artist limned a portrait.
2: to outline in clear sharp detail : DELINEATE he was limned by a streetlight— Stephen Coonts
3: DESCRIBE the novel limns the frontier life of the settlers

Linn

noun (Scottish archaic)

  1. a waterfall
  2. the pool below a waterfall
  3. a steep precipice

[“The Island” — Lord Byron]

Maieutic

adjective

  1. relating to or resembling the Socratic method of eliciting new ideas from another

[Full Dark House — Christopher Fowler]

Mansuetude

noun (ARCHAIC)

meekness; gentleness.

[“Writing Past the Wall, or the Passion According to H.C.” (Introduction to Hélène Cixous’s Coming to Writing and Other Essays) — Susan Rubin Suleiman]

Marmoreal

adj. (literary)

  1. made of or likened to marble: the marmoreal skin took on the flush of color.

[The Waves — Virginia Woolf]

Medullary

adj.

  1. relating to the inner region of an organ, tissue, or structure

[Wildwood — Roger Deakin]

Melic

adjective

(of a poem, especially an Ancient Greek lyric) meant to be sung.

[Stefan Lorenzutti, in conversation]

Meliorism

n. 

  1. the belief that the world can be made better by human effort

[Nicholson Baker — The Mezzanine]

Mephitic

adj. (literary)

(especially of a gas or vapor) foul-smelling; noxious. “the cloud of mephitic vapors lingered above our heads”

 

Meretricious

adj.

  1. Of or pertaining to prostitutes; wanton; libidinous.
  2. Alluring by false attractions; having a gaudy but deceitful appearance; tawdry; showy: as, meretricious dress or ornaments.

[The Waves — Virginia Woolf]