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](http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=insouciant) — Marked by a blithe lack of concern.

[Dandy](http://www.google.ca/search?q=define%3Adandy) — 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](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamine) — A girl or woman of impish appeal. *Audrey Hepburn*

[Pastiche](http://www.google.ca/search?q=define%3Apastiche) — A work of art that imitates the style of some previous work.

[Wanly](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/wanly) — Suggestive or indicative of weariness, illness, or unhappiness. *My wan expression suggested hours of studying.*

[Oblique](http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=define%3Aoblique) — An indirect or evasive angle. *The salesperson’s oblique answers served only to dodge my true questions.*

[Poncey](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Poncey) — The actions of a pompous tosser who thinks their value is higher than it is actually worth.

[Cadaver](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cadaver) — A dead body intended for dissection. *One minute to midnight we hit the street, cold as a cadaver, hard as concrete.*

← Earlier Later → Posted at 10:51 pm to Writing.