UNUSUAL WORDS CXXVII

Can you give a simple definition of these less-frequently-used words?

1. FINIAL

2. MOCHI 

3. CERISE

4. VELOUR 

5. FREESIA

6. DROGUE 

7. HECTARE 

8. GOSSAMER

9. OIKOLOGIST

10. LYCANTHROPY  

 

Answers: 

 

1. FINIAL - A decorative ornament, often at the top of a dome or corner of a building

 

2. MOCHI - A sweet rice used in Japanese cooking

 

3. CERISE - A dark pink color

 

4. VELOUR - A plush, woven fabric resembling velvet

 

5. FREESIA - A fagrant, colorful plant of the iris family

 

6. DROGUE -  A parachute used to decelerate an object that is moving rapidly 

 

7. HECTARE - A metric unit of square measure equal to about 2 1/2 acres / (an acre = about 90% of the area of a football field without the end zones) 

 

8. GOSSAMER - Cobwebs spun by spiders / Something ultra-fine and delicate

 

9. OIKOLOGIST - A housewife / Oikology is the science of housekeeping - especially concerned with cleanliness

 

10. LYCANTHROPY - Transformation of a person into a werewolf, as in folklore or a mental delusion