Crying of Lot 49

variorum

(adj.) (of an edition of an author’s work) having notes by various editors or commentators; including variant readings from manuscripts or earlier editions

codicil

an addition or supplement that explains, modifies, or revokes a will or part of one

pallid

(of a person’s face) pale, typically because of poor health; feeble or insipid; from the latin pallidus meaning pale

arterial

(adj.) relating to an artery or arteries; (n.) a through road

plinth

(n.) a heavy base supporting a statue or vase; (architecture) the lower square slab at the base of a column

domicile

(n.) the country that a person treats as their permanent home, or lives in and has a substantial connection with; (v.) treat a specified country as a permanent home

escrow

/ˈeskrō/ (n.) a bond, deed, or other document kept in the custody of a third party and taking effect only when a specified condition has been fulfilled; (v,) place in custody or trust e.g. "those funds are escrowed for the purpose of improving municipal services"

chrism

a mixture of oil and balsam, consecrated and used for anointing at baptism and in other rites of catholic, orthodox, and anglican churches

censer

a container in which incense is burned, typically during a religious ceremony

prefab

(adj.) (of a building) manufactured in sections to enable assembly on site; prefabricated; (n.) a prefabricated building

payola

(n.) the practice of bribing someone to use their influence or position to promote a particular product or interest

lambent

(adj,) glowing, gleaming or flickering with a soft radiance

hierophany

/ˌhaɪ(ə)ˈrɑfəni/ (n.) a physical manifestation of the holy or sacred in the natural world

galleon

a sailing ship in use (especially by spain) from the 15th through 17th centuries, originally as a warship, later for trade. mainly square-rigged with three or more decks and masts

frieze

/frēz/ (n.) a broad horizontal band of sculpted or painted decoration, especially on a wall near the ceiling; (architecture) part of an entablature between the architrave and the cornice

quay

a concrete, stone, or metal platform lying alongside or projecting into water for loading and unloading ships

reticulate

(v.) divide or mark (something) in such a way as to resemble a net or network; (adj.) arranged or marked like a net or network; reticulated; from the latin rete or reticulum meaning net and a fine network or netlike structure respectively

pinguid

(adj.) of the nature of or resembling fat; oily or greasy

ancillary

(adj.) providing necessary support to the primary activities or operations of an organization, institution, industry, or system; (n.) a person whose work provides necessary support to the primary activities of an organization, institution, or industry

somnolent

sleepy; drowsy; from the latin somnus meaning sleep

ogive

(architecture) a pointed or Gothic arch; (statistics) a cumulative frequency graph

verdigris

(n.) a bright bluish-green encrustation or patina formed on copper or brass by atmospheric oxidation, consisting of basic copper carbonate

trimaran

a yacht with three hulls in parallel

enfilade

/ˈenfəläd,ˈenfəˌlād/ (n.) a volley of gunfire directed along a line from end to end; a suite of rooms with doorways in line with each other; (v.) direct a volley of gunfire along the length of (a target)

vertiginous

/vərˈtijənəs/ (adj.) causing vertigo, especially by being extremely high or steep; relating to or affected by vertigo

strafe

(v.) attack repeatedly with bombs or machine-gun fire from low-flying aircraft; (n.) an attack from low-flying aircraft

heretofore

before now

apoplectic

(adj.) overcome with anger; extremely indignant

livery

special unform worn by a servant or official

poltroon

an utter coward

viscera

pl. of viscus; the internal organs in the main cavities of the body, especially those in the abdomen, e.g. the intestines;

adenoidal

(adj.) exhibiting the characteristics (such as snoring, moth breathing and voice nasality) of one affected with abnormally enlarged adenoids ((n.) either of two abnormally enlarged masses of lymphoid tissue at the back of the pharynx that usually obstruct the nasal and ear passages)

arroyo

(n.) a steep-sided gully formed by the action of fast-flowing water in an arid or semi-arid region, found chiefly in the southwestern U.S.

stelliferous

having star-shaped markings; having or abounding with stars

probate

(n.) the official proving of a will; (v.) establishing the validity of (a will)

maraud

(v) roam in search of things to steal or people to attack; raid and plunder (a place)