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DPS Semantics
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| "Famous" Semantics Words
2017- 2018
legerdemain (lej-uhr-duh-MAYN) n. [<French]
sleight of hand; skill at juggling and magic tricks
The magician’s legerdemain included making a coworker
disappear from a enclosure.
(First appeared in Words of the Champions in 1953 and in Paideia
in 2003 - That’s Entertainment. On the Colorado State Spelling
Bee written test in 1972 and 1985.)
lacteal (lak-TEE-uhl) adj. [<Latin]
relating to milk
Liz was surprised to learn that her lacteal drink was made from soybeans.
(First appeared in Words of the Champions in 1962.)
lectern (LEK-tuhrn) n. [<Latin]
a reading stand
Miguel clutched the lectern in an attempt to conceal his nervousness.
(First appeared in Words of the Champions in 1982. On the City Written
spelling test in 2018 and the Colorado State written test in 1984.)
viscount (VY-kount) n. [<English<French<Latin]
a noble ranking below an earl and above a baron
The viscount had no children and was becoming desperate to have an heir.
(First appeared in Paideia in 2000 - The Round Table.)
lugubrious (luh-GOO-bree-uhs) adj. [<English<Latin]
expressive of grief or sorrow; very sad or mournful
The funeral director spoke in lugubrious tones as she explained
the arrangements.
(First appeared in Words of the Champions in 1953. First appeared in Paideia
in 2000 - Mood Swings and again in 2006 - Filed of Champions. On the Colorado
State Spelling Bee written test in 1965 and 1983.)
hemidemisemiquaver (hem-ee-dem-ee-SEM-ee-kway-vuhr)
n. [<English<Latin<Greek]
a sixty-fourth note
He told us that a hemidemisemiquaver is the British name for a
musical note having the time value of a sixty-fourth of a whole note.
chintz (chints) n. [<Hindi]
a usually glazed cotton fabric printed with colorful designs
The photograph shows Grandma wearing a dress made of chintz.
(First appeared in Spell It! in 2007 - Words from Asian Languages. "Chintz" is tied
for the longest word having its letters in alphabetical order. Others are "begins"
and "almost." From chintz we get chintzy meaning gaudy, cheap, or stingy.)
solder (SAW-duhr) v. [<English<French<Latin]
to unite or join parts together by means of a melted metallic alloy
Jennifer’s class learned how to solder wires so they could
experiment with electric circuits.
(First appeared in Words of the Champions in 1953
and in Paideia in 2000 - The Ties That Bind.)
pridian (PRID-ee-uhn) adj. [<Latin]
of or relating to a previous day or to yesterday; former
As the bills accumulated, Gina began to doubt her plan
to restore the Victorian mansion to its pridian glory.
(First appeared in Paideia in 2004 - It’s about Time).
knoll (nohl) n. [<English]
a small rounded hill; a mound
Danielle lay at the top of the grassy knoll to catch some rays.
(First appeared in Words of the Champions in 1953 and in Paideia in 1996 -
What on Earth? On the City Written spelling test in 1997 and 2000.)
plethora (PLETH-uh-ruh) n. [<Greek]
an overabundance; an excess; profusion
The jury retired to consider the plethora of evidence presented in court.
(First appeared in Paideia in 2002 - Spelling Counts.)
grimthorpe (GRIM-thohrp) v. [<English name]
to remodel an older building without proper knowledge
or care to retain its original quality and character
Lets change the zoning so that no one will grimthorpe the
oldest houses in our city.
(A proper name that has become a verb, similar to Boycott. Edmund Beckett
first Baron Grimthorpe 1816-1905 was an English architect severely criticized
for radical changes he made to St. Albans Cathedral.)
kepi (KAY-pee) n. [<French<German<Latin]
a military cap having a close-fitting band, a round
flat top sloping toward the front, and a visor
In the foyer of the French embassy the is a statue of a soldier wearing a kepi.
(First appeared in Words of the Champions in 1953 and in Paideia in 1996 -
What on Earth? On the City Written spelling test in 1997 and 2000.)
urisk (UHR-isk) n. [<Scottish Gaelic]
a good-natured elf of Scottish folklore said to
frequent sequestered places and waterfalls
Legend has it the urisk would help farmers tend their fields
but was shy and avoided by people afraid of its appearance.
(On the 2017 Colorado State Spelling Bee written test.)
canopy (KAN-uh-pee) n. [<English<Latin<Greek]
a drapery over a bed; a cover; a roof-like projection
A canopy was erected in the back yard to shield
the party goers from the sun.
(First appeared in Words of the Champions in 1953 and again in 1977.
First appeared in Paideia in 1995 - Air Travel, and again in 2005 -
English, Latin, & Greek II.)
canapé (KAN-uh-pee) n. [<French]
a small piece of bread or a cracker spread with
spiced meat or cheese and served as an appetizer
The hostess served Aaron a salty canapé spread with caviar.
déjà vu (day-zhaw-VOO) n. [<French]
the feeling that someone has seen or heard
something before
A nightmarish déjà vu hit us as we sat in on the conference.
(On the Scripps grade-specific list in 2018.)
déjà vu
oeuvre (UHRV-ruh) n. [<French<Latin]
the lifework of a writer, artist, or composer
The poet won the award not for any particular work, but for his oeuvre.
(First appeared in Paideia in 1995 - The Printed Word.)
reticent (RET-uh-suhnt) adj. [<Latin]
disinclined to speak; uncommunicative
Jordan is usually reticent until someone brings up politics
then you can’t shut him up.
(First appeared in Words of the Champions in 1986. As a noun reticence
appeared in Paideia in 1996 - Synonyms & Antonyms and again in 2001 -
Watership Down). On the City Written spelling test in 1972 and 2002.)
rhabdoid (RAB-doid) adj. [<Greek]
shaped like a rod
Rhabdoid tumors occur in the kidneys of children
and are treated with chemotherapy..
(The winning word for Faith Baca, 8th grader at Rocky Mountain School of
Expeditionary Learning when she won the 2017 Colorado State Spelling Bee. )
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