Vocab from The Disappearing Spoon and Before Versailles

The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean


Lacrimator: a tear-producing substance (as tear gas)

Neologism: 1:a new word, meaning, usage, or phrase.
2: the introduction or use of new words or new senses of existing words.

Transuranic: (of an element) having an atomic number greater than that of uranium

Susurrus: a soft murmuring or rustling sound; whisper.

Heuristically: 1: serving to indicate or point out; stimulating interest as a means of furthering investigation.
2: encouraging a person to learn, discover, understand, or solve problems on his or her own, as by experimenting, evaluating possible answers or solutions, or by trial and error: a heuristic teaching method.



Before Versailles by Karleen Koen


Biddable: willing to do what is asked; obedient; tractable; docile

Ormolu: also called mosaic gold. an alloy of copper and zinc used to imitate gold.

Hautboy: oboe.

Gamine: 1: a neglected girl who is left to run about the streets.
2: a diminutive or very slender girl, especially one who is pert, impudent, or playfully mischievous.

Parterre: 1: also called parquet circle. the rear section of seats, and sometimes also the side sections, of the main floor of a theater, concert hall, or opera house.
2: an ornamental arrangement of flower beds of different shapes and sizes.

Parvenu: a person who has recently or suddenly acquired wealth, importance, position, or the like, but has not yet developed the conventionally appropriate manners, dress, surroundings, etc.