The Lexicologist’s Handbook: Sampler
Kafkaesque
Pronunciation: Kaff-ka-esk
Type: Adjective
Definition:
Characteristic, typical of or reminiscent of the surreal, nightmarish qualities of Franz Kafka’s writing.
Example:
Chris’ parents banned him from watching television after he started having Kafkaesque dreams.
Kaput
Pronunciation: Ka-put
Type: Adjective
Definition:
Broken or useless.
Example:
We couldn’t get back home because the car’s engine was kaput.
Kasbah
Pronunciation: Kaz-bar
Type: Noun
Definition:
A type of fortress or a formerly fortified complex of buildings, usually where a citadel is found.
Example:
Bettie had never been inside the Kasbah, but she knew that The Clash wanted to rock it.
Kayak
Pronunciation: Kye-yak
Type: Noun, Verb
Definition:
A type of canoe made from a light frame and a water-tight covering, originally used by the Eskimo. The verb describes the action of travelling using this type of transportation.
Example:
#1: Kevin planned to continue his expedition by kayak.
#2: They got stuck in the jungle and had to kayak downstream.
Kelpie
Pronunciation: Kell-pee
Type: Noun
Definition:
A water spirit from Scottish folklore†, taking the form of a supernatural horse that delights in the drowning of travellers. It’s also the name of an Australian breed of sheepdog.
Example:
The last thing that Leonard ever saw was the flowing mane of the kelpie.
Kenspeckle
Pronunciation: Ken-speck-ul
Type: Adjective
Definition:
Easy to recognise or conspicuous.
Example:
The kenspeckle elephant had pink skin.
Kibbutz
Pronunciation: Kih-bootz
Type: Noun
Definition:
A communal settlement in Israel, usually one that’s based on agriculture.
Example:
The old Jew hobbled back to the kibbutz.
Kibosh
Pronunciation: Kye-bosh
Type: Noun
Definition:
To put an end to or dispose of something, or to stop something from happening.
Example:
The businessman put the kibosh on the deal.
Kinaesthesia
Pronunciation: Kin-ass-thee-zee-a
Type: Noun
Definition:
The sense of the relative position of different parts of the body.
Example:
Even though there was zero gravity, the astronaut’s kinaesthesia told him his head was by his knee.
Kinky
Pronunciation: Kin-kee
Type: Adjective
Definition:
Involving, related to or prone to sexually provocative behaviour.
Example:
Gary’s dad had a passion for watching kinky movies.
Kismet
Pronunciation: Kiss-met
Type: Noun
Definition:
Fate.
Example
It looked like certain death, but kismet intervened and saved my life that night.
Kleptomaniac
Pronunciation: Klep-toe-may-nee-ack
Type: Noun
Definition:
Someone that’s addicted to stealing.
Example:
The kleptomaniac kept the pen that the examiner lent to him.
Knurl
Pronunciation: Nurl
Type: Noun
Definition:
A small projecting ridge, especially one that’s in a series around the edge of something.
Example:
Keith cut his finger on the metal knurl of the open tin of beans.
Kook
Pronunciation: Kook
Type: Noun
Definition:
A strange, crazy or eccentric person.
Example:
‘That old man?’ said Owen. ‘He’s nothing but a crazy old kook.’
Kowtow
Pronunciation: Cow-tow
Type: Verb
Definition:
To kneel and touch the ground with the forehead or to act in any other subservient† manner.
Example:
The general refused to kowtow to the emperor.
Kryptonite
Pronunciation: Kripp-ton-ite
Type: Noun
Definition:
A fictional element from the Superman series, created from the radioactive remains of the planet Krypton.
Example:
Superman had a mortal fear of kryptonite, his only weakness.
Kukri
Pronunciation: Koo-kree
Type: Noun
Definition:
A curved knife that grows broader and forms a point, often used by Ghurkhas.
Example:
Jonathan Harker cut off Dracula’s head with a kukri.
Kumquat
Pronunciation: Kum-kwot
Type: Noun
Definition:
A type of fruit that’s similar to an orange.
Example:
Laura’s favourite fruit is the kumquat.
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