It’s often easy to draw a word’s meaning from context, but in the age of Wikipedia, Urban Dictionary, and Google Define, there’s little excuse for not knowing a word’s precise definition. Here are a handful that I’ve clarified recently, courtesy of my browser history.

Insouciant — Marked by a blithe lack of concern.

Dandy — A dandy is a man who rejects bourgeois values, devotes particular attention to his physical appearance, refines his language, and cultivates his hobbies. Wing may be a spoiled dandy, but he’s an expert swordsman.

Cephalopod — A member of the group of molluscs that includes octopuses, squid, nautiluses and cuttlefishes. There was a strong cephalopod theme [in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest]

Gamine — A girl or woman of impish appeal. Audrey Hepburn

Pastiche — A work of art that imitates the style of some previous work.

Wanly — Suggestive or indicative of weariness, illness, or unhappiness. My wan expression suggested hours of studying.

Oblique — An indirect or evasive angle. The salesperson’s oblique answers served only to dodge my true questions.

Poncey — The actions of a pompous tosser who thinks their value is higher than it is actually worth.

Cadaver — A dead body intended for dissection. One minute to midnight we hit the street, cold as a cadaver, hard as concrete.

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