dictionary of purple prose, for all your extravagant word needs:
abeyance – (noun) a state of temporary disuse or suspension.
accismus – (noun) a feigned refusal of something earnestly desired.
acherontic – (adj.) Acheronian, Acherontic, Stygian (dark and dismal as of the rivers Acheron and Styx in Hades).
acquiesce – (verb) accept something reluctantly but without protest.
acumen – (noun) the ability to make good judgements and make quick decisions.
aesthete – (noun) a person who is appreciative of and sensitive to art and beauty.
afflatus – (noun) a divine creative impulse or inspiration.
akimbo – (adverb) with hands on the hips and elbows turned outwards.
amicable – (adj.) characterized by friendliness and absence of discord.
alphitomancy – (noun) the use of barley as a means for divination.
apocryphal – (adj.) [of a story or statement] of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true.
approbation – (noun) approval or praise. See also: approbatory (adj.)
arbalest – (noun) [historical] A crossbow with a special mechanism for drawing back and releasing the string.
ardent – (adj.) very enthusiastic or passionate; [archaic] burning, glowing.
arras – (noun) a wall hanging made of a rich tapestry fabric, typically used to conceal an alcove.
arrogate – (verb) take or claim (something) for oneself without justification.
ascendancy – (noun) [mass noun] occupation of a position of dominant power or influence.
atrabilious – (adj.) [literary] Melancholy or irritable.
aubade – (noun) a poem or piece of music appropriate to the dawn or early morning.
avarice – (noun) [mass noun] extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
bagatelle – (noun) 1. a thing regarded as too unimportant or easy to be worth much consideration; 2. a short, light piece of music, especially one for the piano.
balbutient – (adj.) [literary] stuttering, stammering.
baleful – (adj.) threatening; menacing.
battologize – (verb) to repeat (a word, phrase, mannerism, etc.) excessively.
becalmed – (adj.) [of a sailing ship] unable to move through lack of wind.
bedeck – (verb + object) to decorate.
belliferous – (adj.) someone or something waging war or creating a warlike condition.
bibacious – (adj.) addicted to drinking alcohol.
bibliobibuli – (noun) to be drunk on books.
bibliophagist – (noun) one who reads books omnivorously.
bibliosmia – (noun) the act of smelling a book for pleasure.
bilious – 1. (adj.) affected by or associated with nausea and vomiting; [of a color] lurid or sickly. 2. (adj.) spiteful or bad-tempered.
billets-doux – (noun) [dated, humorous] a love letter.
bivouac – (noun) a temporary camp without tents or cover, used especially by soldiers or mountaineers.
bloviate – (verb) talk at length, especially in an inflated or empty way. Also, bloviation(noun), bloviator (person; noun).
bonhomie – (noun) cheerful friendliness; geniality.
book-bosomed – (noun) a person who carries a book at all times.
brigandage – (noun) a gang that ambushes and robs people in forests and mountains.Also, brigand (noun), brigandry (noun).
bumptious – (adj.) irritatingly self-assertive.
bulwark – (noun) a defensive wall; an extension of a ship’s sides above the level of the deck.
(noun) 1. heavy material, such as gravel, sand, or iron, placed in the bilge of a ship to ensure its stability; a heavy substance carried in an airship or on a hot-air balloon to stabilize it and jettisoned when greater altitude is required; something providing stability or substance. 2. gravel or coarse stone used to form the bed of a railway track or the substratum of a road; a mixture of coarse and fine aggregate for making concrete.
(verb + object) to give stability or form.
canaille – (noun) [derogatory] the common people; the masses.
candelabrum – (noun) a large branched candlestick or holder for several candles or lamps.
carafe – (noun) an open-topped glass flask used for serving wine or water in a restaurant.
censure – (noun) the formal expression of severe disapproval.
chantage – (noun) the extortion of money by blackmail.
chthonian – (adj.) relating to or inhabiting the underworld.
codex – (noun) 1. an ancient manuscript text in book form. 2. an official list of medicines, chemicals, etc.
cogswoggled – (verb) Slang. Used similarly to “I’ll be damned.”
colloquy – (noun) 1. formal a conversation 2. gathering for discussion of theological questions.
conclave – (noun) a private meeting.
concatenate – (verb) to link together as in a chain. (noun) a series of things depending on or resulting from each other.
concupiscence – (noun) a strong, sexual desire; lust.
corpulent – (adj.) (of a person) fat.
cozen – (verb) to trick or deceive. See also: cozenage.
crapehanger – (noun) a person who sees the gloomy side of things; pessimist.
cunctation – (noun) someone who delays or procrastinates.
curvet – (noun) a graceful or energetic leap.
cynosure – (noun) a person or thing that is the center of attention or admiration.
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