The hutchinson dictionary of difficult words

The Hutchinson Dictionary of Difficult Words
Preface
The general dictionaries which we all have on our bookshelves and desks, and
which we constantly consult, have one significant but little-considered
characteristic in common: much of their contents is never used. When was the
last time you needed to find out the meaning of the or but, the spelling of cat or
dog? And yet dictionaries compiled for adult native-speakers of English take care
to include such straightforward words, which present no difficulty to dictionary
users, and which consequently are seldom – if ever – looked up. As dictionaries
descend the ladder of size past 'concise' to 'pocket', it is the less frequent and
less familiar words that are omitted; the ones we all know are allowed to stay.
We rather take this feature of dictionaries for granted, as if that is how they
have always been, and therefore that is how they should always be. But that is
not how they have always been. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the commonest
type of lexical reference book was one that included only those words that might
present some difficulty to the user, through unfamiliarity, orthographic
irregularity, etc. These are termed 'hard-word dictionaries'. But in the 18th
century, the practice began to grow of including more everyday words as well.
Confirmed by Dr Johnson's magisterial English Dictionary of 1755, this is the
tradition that has won out: we now assume that dictionaries will be inventories
of all the words of a language.
However, even the huge Oxford English Dictionary would not seriously make that
claim. No dictionary, however big, can be a hundred percent comprehensive –
much less a pocket dictionary. As far as the practical needs of users are
concerned, it makes much better sense to include only words that they are likely
to look up. The space saved by omitting the likes of and, be, do, house, and
small can be much more profitably given to words whose meaning, spelling,
pronunciation, etc. cause problems.
That is the idea behind The Hutchinson Dictionary of Difficult Words. It is a
compendium of around 14,000 of the more troublesome and obscure words in the

English language. It gives you access to the farthest reaches of English
vocabulary, including within its modest compass terms that can otherwise be
found only in the largest multi-volume unabridged dictionaries and specialist
reference books. It is not a dictionary to be left on the shelf, but a practical
problem-solver whose every entry serves a purpose.

© Copyright Research Machines plc 2006. All rights reserved. Helicon Publishing is
a division of Research Machines plc.
Helicon Publishing


New Mill House
183 Milton Park
Abingdon
Oxon OX14 4SE
e-mail:
Web site: www.helicon.co.uk


Table of contents
A
aardvark
aardwolf
aasvogel
aba
abaca
abacist
abacterial
abaction
abaculus

abacus
abalone
abandonment
abapical
abarthrosis
abarticular
à bas
abasia
abate
abatement
abatis, abattis
abatjour
abat-sons
abat-vent
abat-voix
abaxial
abb
abba
abbozzo
abditive
abdominous
abducent
abecedary
abele
aberdevine
abernethy
aberrant
aberration
ab extra
abient

abietic


abigail
ab initio
abiogenesis
abiological
abiosis
abiotrophy
abirritate
abjure
ablactate
ablation
ablative
ablaut
ablegate
ablepsia
abluent
ablution
abnegate
aboma
abomasum
aboral
aborigine
abortifacient
aboulia, abulia
ab ovo
abrade
abrasion
abreaction

abreuvoir
abrogate
abruption
abscind
abscissa
abscissin, abscisin
abscission
absconce
abseil
absentee
absente reo
absinth(e)
absit omen
absolutism
absolutory
absorptiometer
absquatulate


abstemious
absterge
abstinent
abstruse
abulia
ab urbe condita
abut
aby(e)
abyssal
academic
acajou

acaleph
acantha
acanthus
a cappella, a capella
acariasis
acaricide
acarpous
acatalectic
acatalepsy
acaudate
acaulescent
accelerator
accelerometer
accensor
accentor
acceptance
acceptilation
accessit
acciaccatura
accidence
accident
accidental
accipiter
accismus
acclivity
accolade
accolent
accommodation
accouchement
accoutre

accredit
accrementition
accrescent
accretion


accrue
accubation
acculturation
accumbent
accumulator
accusative
accusatorial
aceldama
acephalous
acerate
acerbity
aceric
acerose, acerate
acerous
acervate
acescent
acetabulum
acetarious
acetic
acetify
acetometer, acetimeter
acetone
acetous, acetose
acetyl

achar
a chara
Achates
achene
à cheval
Achilles
achlamydeous
acholous
achondroplasia
achor
achromat
achromatopsia,
achromia
achroous
acicula
acidimeter, acidometer
acidophilic
acidosis
acidulous
acierage
aciform


acinaciform
aciniform
acinous, acinose
acipenser
aclastic
aclinic
acology

acomia
aconite
aconitine
acopic
acor
à corps perdu
acosmism
acotyledon
acoumeter
à coup sûr
acousma
acoustic
acquire
acquittance
acrasy
acratia
acriflavine
acrimonious
acritochromacy
acroamatic
acrocephalous, acrocephalic
acrodont
acrogen
acrolith
acrologic
acromegaly
acromonogrammatic
acronychal, acronycal,
acronyx
acrophobia

acropolis
acroscopic
acrospire
acroteleutic
acroter
acroteric
acroterion
acrotic


actamer
actin
actinism
actinium
actino-chemistry
actinograph
actinoid
actinology
actinometer
actinomorphic, actinomorphous
actinomycin
actinomycosis
actinophone
actinotherapy
actuary
actuate
actum ut supra
aculeate
aculeiform
acumen

acuminate
acuminulate
acupressure
acushla
acutorsion
acyanopsia
acyclic
acyrology
adactylous
adamant
adaxial
ad captandum (vulgus)
addendum
addio
additament
addititious
additive
address
adduce
adduct,
adeciduate
adelphogamy
ademonist
ademption


adenia
adeniform
adenitis
adenoid

adenology
adenoma
adenopathy
adenose
adenotomy
adenovirus
adephagous
adespoton
ad eundem (gradum)
à deux
adevism
ad finem
ad hanc vocem
adherent
adhibit
ad hoc
ad hominem
ad hunc locum
adiabatic
adiabolist
adiactinic
adiaphoresis
adiaphoron
adiapneustia
adiathermic
adient
ad infinitum
ad interim
adios
adipescent

adipic
adipocere
adipose
adipsy
adit
adjunct
adjutator
adjuvant
ad libitum
ad locum
admaxillary


admeasurement
admensuration
adminicle
admonish
adnate
ad nauseam
adnominal
adnomination
adnoun
adobe
Adonic
adonize
adoptionism
adoral
adosculation
adoxography
adrectal

ad rem
adrenal
adrenalin(e)
adrenergic
adscititious
adsorb
adsum
adulation
adumbral
adumbrate
aduncous, aduncate
ad unguem
adust
ad usum
ad valorem
advection
advehent
advenient
adventitious
adventive
ad verbum
adversaria
adversative
ad vitam aut culpam
advowee
advowson
adynamic
adytum

adz(e)
aedile
aedoeology
aegagrus
aegilops
aegis
aegrotat
aeneous
Aeolian
aeolipyle, aeolipile
aeolistic
aeolotropic
aeon
aepyornis
aere perennius
aeriform
aerobe, aerobium
aerobiology
aerodonetics
aerodynamics
aerodyne
aerofoil, airfoil
aerogel
aerogenic
aerolite, aerolith
aerology
aeromancy
aeromechanics
aerometer
aeronomy

aeropause
aerophagia
aerophilately
aerophobia
aerophore
aerophyte
aeropleustic
aeroscopy
aerose
aerospace
aerosphere
aerostat
aerotherapeutics
aerotrain
aerugo


aesculaceous
aesthesia
aesthesiogenic
aesthesiometer
aesthesis
aesthete
aesthetic
aestival
aetat, aet
aether
aetherial
aetiology, etiology
afebrile

affect
afferent
affiche
affidavit
affiliate
affinal
affined
affinity
affirmation
affix
afflatus
affluent
afflux
affranchise
affreightment
affricate
affusion
aficionado
aflatoxin
à fond
a fortiori
afreet
afrormosia
afterbirth
afterdamp
aga, agha
agalactia
agami
agamic, agamous
agamogenesis

agamy


agape
agar-agar
agaric
agathism
agave
agenesis
ageotropic
ageustia
agger
aggeration
aggiornamento
agglomerate
agglutinate
agio
agist
aglet, aiglet
agley
aglossal, aglossate
aglutition
agminate
agnail
agnate
agnathous
agnomen
agnosia
agnostic
agomphious

agon
agonic
agoraphobia
agouti
agraffe
agranulocytosis
agraphia
agrarian
agrestial
agrestic,
agricolist
agriology
agrobiology
agrology
agronomy
agrostology
agrypnia
aguardiente


agynary
ahimsa
ahypnia
aide-mémoire
aiger
aigrette
aiguille
aikido
ailanthus
aileron

ailurophile
aîné
aïoli
ait
à jour
akinesia, akinesis
à la
ala
alabamine
alabaster
à la belle étoile
alalia
à la mode
alamode
à la mort
alanine
alar(y)
alastrim
alate
alaudine
alb
albacore, albicore
albedo
albescent
albicant
albificative
albiflorous
albino
Albion
alborado

albuginea
albugo
albumen
albumin
albuminate


albuminoid
albuminuria
alburnum
alcahest
Alcaic
alcaide
alcalde
alcazar
alcoholometer
al dente
aldrin
aleatoric
aleatory
ale-conner
alecost
alectryomachy
alegar
alembic
aleph
alethiology
aleurometer
aleurone
alevin

alexandrine
alexandrite
alexia
alexipharmic
alexipyretic
alexiteric
alfalfa
alga
algaroba, algarroba
algazel
algedonic
algefacient
algesia
algid
algific
alginuresis
algivorous
algogenic
algolagnia
algology
algometer
algophilia


algophobia
algor
algorism
algorithm
algous
alias

alibi
alible
alicyclic
alidade
alienism
aliferous
aliform
aligerous
aliment
alimentotherapy
aliped
aliphatic
aliquant
aliquot
aliter
alizarin
alk
alkahest
alkalescent
alkali
alkalify
alkalimeter
alkaline
alkalize
alkaloid
alkalosis
alkanet
alkolometry
allantiasis
allantoic

allantois
allative
allegory
allele, allelomorph
allergen
allergy
alliaceous
alligation


allision
alliteration
allocatur
allochromatic
allochroous
allochthonous
allocution
allodium
allo-erotism, allo-eroticism
allogamy
allogeneous
allograft
allograph
allolalia
allomerism
allometry
allonge
allonym
allopathy
allophone

allopurinal
allosematic
allotheism
allotropy
alluvion
alluvium
almagest
alma mater
almandine
almira
almoner
almucantar
alnico
aloe
alogia
alogism
alopecia
alopecoid
alpenglow
alpestrine
alpha
alphanumeric, alphameric
alphosis
alsike
alsinaceous


alt
altarage
altazimuth

alterative
altercation
alter ego
alterity
alternator
althaea, althea
althing
altiloquence
altimeter
altisonant
altissimo
altivolant
alto-relievo
altruism
alula
alum
alumina
aluminate
aluminium
aluminize
aluminosis
aluminous
aluminum
alumnus
alveary
alveola
alveolar
alveolate
alveolus
alviducous

alvine
amadelphous
amadou
amah
amalgam
amandine
amanita
amanous
amanuensis
amaranth
amarthritis
amaryllis


amative
amatol
amaurosis
ambages
ambari
ambergris
ambiance, ambience
ambidextrous
ambient
ambiguous
ambilaevous
ambilateral
ambisinister
ambit
ambivalence
ambivert

amblyopia
ambo
ambrosia
ambry
ambsace
ambulant
ambulatory
ameba
amebicide
âme damnée
amelification
ameloblast
amenable
amende
amenity
amenorrhoea
a mensa et thoro
ament, amentum
amentia
amerce
americium
ametropia
amiantus, amianthus
amice
amicicide
amicron
amicus curiae
amigo
amine

amino acid
aminobutene
amitosis
ammeter
ammonite
ammophilous
ammotherapy
amnesia
amniocentesis
amnion
amniotic
amoeba
amoebaean
amoebiform
amoretto
amorphous
amortize
amortizement
amour
amour-propre
ampelideous
ampelotherapy
amperage
ampere
ampersand
amphetamine
amphibian
amphibious
amphibole

amphibolic
amphibolite
amphibology, amphiboly
amphibrach
amphichroic, amphichromatic
amphicoelous
amphictyonic
amphicyrtic
amphigean
amphigony
amphigory, amphigouri
amphilogism
amphimacer
amphimixis
amphipodous


amphiprostyle
amphirhinal
amphisbaena
amphiscian
amphivorous
amphora
amphoteric
ampicillin
amplexus
ampliative
amplitude
ampulla
amyctic

amygdala
amygdalin
amygdaloid
amylaceous
amylase
amyloid
amylolysis
amylopsin
amylose
amyotonia
ana
anabaptist
anabas
anabasis
anabiosis
anableps
anabolic steroid
anabolism
anacardic
anacathartic
anachorism
anachronic
anachronism
anaclitic
anacoluthon
anaconda
Anacreontic
anacrusis
anadem
anadiplosis

anadipsia
anadromous


anaemia
anaemotrophy
anaeretic, aneretic
anaerobe
anaerophyte
anaesthesia
anagalactic
anagenesis
anaglyph
anagnorisis
anagoge, anagogy
anal
analects, analecta
analemma
analeptic
analgesia
analgetic
analgia
anallagmatic
analogous
analogy
analphabet
anamnesis
anamorphic
anamorphosis
ananas

anandrious
anandrous
ananthous
ananym
anapaest, anapest
anaphora
anaphrodisia
anaphroditic
anaphylaxis
anaplasia
anaplasty
anaptotic
anaptyxis
anarthrous
anasarcous
anastigmat
anastomosis
anastrophe
anathema


anatocism
anatomy
anaudia
anbury, ambury
anchorite, anchoret
anchusa
anchylosis
ancien régime
ancillary

ancipital, ancipitous
ancistroid
ancon
anconal
ancoral
ancress,
ancylostomiasis, ankylostomiasis
andiron
androcentric
androcephalous
androcracy
androgen
androgyne
androgynous
android
andromedotoxin
andromorphous
androphagous
androphilic
androphobia
androphonomania
androphorous
androsphinx
androsterone
anecdotage
anechoic
anele
anemia,
anemochord
anemograph

anemometer
anemophilous
anemophobia
anemoscope
anencephaly
anent


anenterous
anergy
aneroid
anesis
aneurin
aneurysm, aneurism
anfractuous
angary
angelica
angelolater
angelology
angelus
angiitis
angina
angiography
angioid
angiology
angioma
angiospasm
angiosperm
angiotomy
anglicism, Anglicism

anglophone, Anglophone
angora
angostura
angst
angstrom
anguiform
anguilliform
anguine, anguinous
angulation
anhedonia
anhedral
anhelation
anhidrosis
aniconic
anidian
anil
anile
aniline
anility
anima
animadvert
animalcule, animalculum