calvity
n. baldness
One wonders if there’s a personal story behind this “method of concealing partial baldness,” patented by Donald and Frank Smith in 1977. The hair is grown to a length of 3 or 4 inches, divided into equal portions, and brushed over the bald area, using hair spray to hold it in place. “By lightly sweeping the hair into the desired style as the hair spray dries, an appearance of a full head of hair is given.”
euphuistic
adj. using high-flown and affected language
noctuary
n. an account of what happens during a particular night
equitation
n. the art of horseback riding
abequitate
v. to ride away
fleer
v. to smile contemptuously
maledicent
adj. given to evil-speaking; slanderous
malison
n. a curse
nefandous
adj. not to be spoken of, unmentionable
tacenda
n. things to be passed over in silence
ughten
n. the part of the night immediately before daybreak
ruelle
n. the space between a bed and the wall
minimifidian
n. a person who has the least possible faith in something
adaemonist
n. one who denies the existence of the devil
devilshine
n. demonic power or skill
Ronald Knox wrote, “It is stupid of modern civilization to have given up believing in the devil, when he is the only explanation of it.”