My Glossary...

This is my personal glossary of words which I have picked up through reading and by ear, the aim being to gradually expand my vocabulary, improve my writing and help my spelling.

A-Z

Abortive 

failing to produce the intended result.

Arbitrarily

on the basis of personal choice for random whim, rather than any reason or system.

Aural 

of or relating to the ear or the sense of hearing.

Austere

1. severe or strict in manner or attitude. 2. (of living conditions or way of life) having no luxuries or comforts.

Banal

so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring 

Biophilic Design    

design that connects humans with direct or indirect experiences of nature within the built environment - a concept used to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct nature, indirect nature, and space and place conditions.

Criterion 

a principle standard of which something may be judged or decided.

Deductive reasoning

logical process that involves drawing specific conclusions based on general principles or premises. 

Desideratum    

something that is needed or wanted - A new book could be desideratum.

Domicile

the country that a person treats as their permanent home, lives in a has a substantial connection with.

Elusive

eluding or failing to allow or accommodate for a clear perception or complete mental grasp; hard to express or define.

Empirical data

Primary data, acquired through experimentation and observation.

Entity

existence; being.

Ephemeral

lasting for a very short time.

Exacerbate

make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse.

Existential 

(implying or affirming) Existence of a thing.

Extrapolates

extend the application (of a method or conclusion) to an unknown situation by assuming that existing trends will continue or similar methods will be applicable.

Fluted 

having flutes, or grooves; ridged.

Flux

something that constantly changes.

Holistic

treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just symptoms of an illness.

Hydroscopic 

viewing objects below the surface of water.

Impermeable 

something that does not allow water to pass through it. 

Impervious

not allowing liquid to pass through.

Inchoate

just begun and so not fully formed to developed; rudimentary.

Inductive reasoning 

the process of deriving general principles or conclusions based on specific observations or examples. 

Inert

lacking the ability or strength to move.

Irritative 

serving to tending to irritate.

Limpid

(of a liquid) completely clear and transparent.

Matrix

the cultural, social, or political environment in which something devlops.

Monotony

lack of variety or interest; tedious repetition or routine.

Myopic

Short-sighted.

Non-empirical data

Secondary data, comprehensive review or analysis of journal literature or articles that focus on methodology.

Ontological

relating to the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being.

Pastiche

an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period.

Percolate

of a liquid or gas filter gradually through a porous surface or substance.

Plenitude

an abundance.

Porosity

the quality or degree of having tiny spaces or holes through which liquid or air may pass through.

Potency 

the power of something to influence or make an impression.

Precedents

and earlier event or action that is regarded as and example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar.

Rhizomatic 

using the botanical metaphor for rhizome to describe the complex and often messy nature of learning.

Seminal

containing or contributing the seeds of later development: creative original.

Sequester 

to remove or withdraw into solitude or retirement; seclude.

Serendipity    

good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries - good fortune, a stroke of luck.

Subliminal

below the threshold of sensation or consciousness; perceived by or affecting someone's mind without their being aware of it.

Succinct 

briefly and clearly expressed.

Synergies

the interaction or cooperation of two or more organisations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.

"the synergy between artist and record company"

Synopsis 

a brief summary or general survey of something.

Tangible

perceptible by touch.

Vitrify

convert something into glass or a glass-like substance, typically by exposure to heat.

Xerophytic 

a species of plant which has adapted to survive with little liquid water