\ ab-ˈskänd \ Verb To leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection From Latin abscondere, meaning “to hide away” The thief absconded with the jewels before anyone noticed.

\ ˌpəl-krə-ˈtüd-nəs \ Adjective Having great physical beauty From Latin pulchritudo, meaning “beauty” The pulchritudinous sunset took my breath away.

\ ˈfla-bər-ˌgast \ Verb To surprise (someone) greatly; astonish Of uncertain origin, possibly from flabbergasted, a colloquial term from the 18th century I was flabbergasted when I learned the news.

\ pə-ˈri-frə-səs \ Noun The use of indirect and circumlocutory speech or writing From Greek peri “around” + phrazein “to declare” His speech was full of periphrasis, making it difficult

\ ˌpər-spə-ˈkā-shəs \ Adjective Having a ready insight into and understanding of things From Latin perspicax, perspicac- (from perspicere ‘look at closely’) + -ious The detective’s perspicacious mind quickly identified

\ sə-ˈli-lə-kwē \ Noun An act of speaking one’s thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play From Latin solus “alone”

\ säm-ˈnam-byə-list \ Noun A person who walks while asleep From Latin somnus “sleep” + ambulare “to walk” The somnambulist was found wandering the streets in the middle of the

\ sin-ˈti-lə \ Noun A tiny trace or spark of a specified quality or feeling From Latin scintilla “spark” There wasn’t a scintilla of doubt in her mind about the