All About Literature

1.       lachrymose : given to causing tears. The game is perpetuated by the sons in a sometimes vicious sibling rivalry that inevitably subsides into lachrymose reconciliation. -- Arthur Gelb and Barbara Gelb, O'Neill: Life With Monte Cristo 2.       abscond : to depart secretly. The criminal is not concerned with influencing or affecting public opinion: he simply wants to abscond with his money or accomplish his mercenary task in the quickest and easiest way possible so that he may reap his reward and enjoy the fruits of his labours. -- Bruce Hoffman, Inside Terrorism 3.       probity : complete and confirmed integrity. Unless some light is shed on shady dealings and some probity restored, more young lives will be blighted and careers choked off. -- Norman Lebrecht, Who Killed Classical Music? 4.       taciturn : not inclined to talk. On stage she seemed to be...

1.       prolix : wordy. It was a cumbersome book, widely criticized for being prolix in style and maddeningly circular in argument. -- Simon Winchester, "Word Imperfect", The Atlantic, May 2001 2.       cavalcade : a procession. Behind him he sensed the progress of the cavalcade as one by one the carriages wheeled off the Dublin road. -- Stella Tillyard, Citizen Lord: The Life of Edward Fitzgerald, Irish Revolutionary 3.       celerity : quickness; swiftness. Though not in the best of physical form, he was capable of moving with celerity. -- Malachy McCourt, A Monk Swimming: A Memoir 4.       obloquy : ill repute. There he remained, weeping indignantly at her stream of obloquy, bitterly ashamed of his tears, until it was time for supper. -- Jonathan Keates, Stendhal 5.       extol : to praise. Let your deeds themselves praise yo...