dictionary of purple prose, for all your extravagant word needs:
(source)
A
- abeyance – (noun) a state of temporary disuse or suspension.
- accismus – (noun) a feigned refusal of something earnestly desired.
- acherontic – (adj.) Acheronian, Acherontic, Stygian (dark and dismal as of the rivers Acheron and Styx in Hades).
- acquiesce – (verb) accept something reluctantly but without protest.
- acumen – (noun) the ability to make good judgements and make quick decisions.
- aesthete – (noun) a person who is appreciative of and sensitive to art and beauty.
- afflatus – (noun) a divine creative impulse or inspiration.
- akimbo – (adverb) with hands on the hips and elbows turned outwards.
- amicable – (adj.) characterized by friendliness and absence of discord.
- alphitomancy – (noun) the use of barley as a means for divination.
- apocryphal – (adj.) [of a story or statement] of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true.
- approbation – (noun) approval or praise. See also: approbatory (adj.)
- arbalest – (noun) [historical] A crossbow with a special mechanism for drawing back and releasing the string.
- ardent – (adj.) very enthusiastic or passionate; [archaic] burning, glowing.
- arras – (noun) a wall hanging made of a rich tapestry fabric, typically used to conceal an alcove.
- arrogate – (verb) take or claim (something) for oneself without justification.
- ascendancy – (noun) [mass noun] occupation of a position of dominant power or influence.
- atrabilious – (adj.) [literary] Melancholy or irritable.
- aubade – (noun) a poem or piece of music appropriate to the dawn or early morning.
- avarice – (noun) [mass noun] extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
B
- bagatelle – (noun) 1. a thing regarded as too unimportant or easy to be worth much consideration; 2. a short, light piece of music, especially one for the piano.
- balbutient – (adj.) [literary] stuttering, stammering.
- baleful – (adj.) threatening; menacing.
- ballast –
- battologize – (verb) to repeat (a word, phrase, mannerism, etc.) excessively.
- becalmed – (adj.) [of a sailing ship] unable to move through lack of wind.
- bedeck – (verb + object) to decorate.
- belliferous – (adj.) someone or something waging war or creating a warlike condition.
- bibacious – (adj.) addicted to drinking alcohol.
- bibliobibuli – (noun) to be drunk on books.
- bibliophagist – (noun) one who reads books omnivorously.
- bibliosmia – (noun) the act of smelling a book for pleasure.
- bilious – 1. (adj.) affected by or associated with nausea and vomiting; [of a color] lurid or sickly. 2. (adj.) spiteful or bad-tempered.
- billets-doux – (noun) [dated, humorous] a love letter.
- bivouac – (noun) a temporary camp without tents or cover, used especially by soldiers or mountaineers.
- bloviate – (verb) talk at length, especially in an inflated or empty way. Also, bloviation(noun), bloviator (person; noun).
- bonhomie – (noun) cheerful friendliness; geniality.
- book-bosomed – (noun) a person who carries a book at all times.
- brigandage – (noun) a gang that ambushes and robs people in forests and mountains.Also, brigand (noun), brigandry (noun).
- bumptious – (adj.) irritatingly self-assertive.
- bulwark – (noun) a defensive wall; an extension of a ship’s sides above the level of the deck.
- (noun) 1. heavy material, such as gravel, sand, or iron, placed in the bilge of a ship to ensure its stability; a heavy substance carried in an airship or on a hot-air balloon to stabilize it and jettisoned when greater altitude is required; something providing stability or substance. 2. gravel or coarse stone used to form the bed of a railway track or the substratum of a road; a mixture of coarse and fine aggregate for making concrete.
- (verb + object) to give stability or form.
C
- canaille – (noun) [derogatory] the common people; the masses.
- candelabrum – (noun) a large branched candlestick or holder for several candles or lamps.
- carafe – (noun) an open-topped glass flask used for serving wine or water in a restaurant.
- censure – (noun) the formal expression of severe disapproval.
- chantage – (noun) the extortion of money by blackmail.
- chthonian – (adj.) relating to or inhabiting the underworld.
- codex – (noun) 1. an ancient manuscript text in book form. 2. an official list of medicines, chemicals, etc.
- cogswoggled – (verb) Slang. Used similarly to “I’ll be damned.”
- colloquy – (noun) 1. formal a conversation 2. gathering for discussion of theological questions.
- conclave – (noun) a private meeting.
- concatenate – (verb) to link together as in a chain. (noun) a series of things depending on or resulting from each other.
- concupiscence – (noun) a strong, sexual desire; lust.
- corpulent – (adj.) (of a person) fat.
- cozen – (verb) to trick or deceive. See also: cozenage.
- crapehanger – (noun) a person who sees the gloomy side of things; pessimist.
- cunctation – (noun) someone who delays or procrastinates.
- curvet – (noun) a graceful or energetic leap.
- cynosure – (noun) a person or thing that is the center of attention or admiration.