Descriptionary

touchstone n. (TUCH stohn) a measure or test of worth or genuineness. The health of the fish popula­tion was used as a touchstone for the effectiveness of the state's environmental regulations.

tour de force n. (toor de FORS) an exceptional work, feat, or achievement. The novelist's latest work is being called a tour de force by critics.

transcend vb. (tran SEND) to surpass or exceed. The existence of God transcends logic, but then, so does life.

transcendental adj. (tran sen DENT ul) supernatural; spiritual; beyond the worldly or physical. For many, deep meditation can be a transcendental experience.

transgression n. (trans GRESH un) a sin; a violation of the law. For the transgression of stealing the police officer's doughnuts, the transient was ordered by the court to perform forty hours of community service.

transient adj. (TRAN shunt) transitory; passing quickly. A comet is a rare and transient event.

traumatic adj. (truh MAT ik) psychologically wounding; shocking; deeply disturbing. Being involved in a serious car accident is traumatic.

travesty n. (TRAV es tee) a farce; a poor imitation.

Our court case was ineptly handled by the judge; it was a travesty of justice.

trepidation n. (trep uh DAY shun) fear; anxiety. We

approached the sleeping bear's den with trepidation.

trite adj. (TRYTE) unoriginal; stale; hackneyed.

Most new writers describe scenes with words and phrases they've encountered in print before, and thus their writing is ineffective and trite.

tryst n. (TRIST) a secret rendezvous made by lovers. The two employees arranged a tryst every Saturday at midnight.

tumultuous adj. (tuh MULT choo us) wild and uproarious. The stock market suffered another tumul­tuous day of trading, as stock prices plummeted to new lows.

tutelage n. (TOOT ul ij) instruction; teaching. Per­haps nearly anyone could learn to write a novel under the tutelage of Stephen King.

tyranny n. (TEER un ee) dictatorship; oppression. Under the evil king's tyranny, peasants were forced to work the fields from sunup until sundown with little pay.

ubiquitous adj. (yoo BIK wit us) omnipresent; seem­ingly everywhere. The ubiquitous Japanese beetles are the bane of gardeners.

ulterior adj. (ul TEER ee er) undisclosed; hidden. My uncle had an ulterior motive for wanting to trim our hedges; he wanted to get a gander at the nude sunbathers next door.

ultimatum n. (ul tuh MAY tum) final warning, demand, or offer. Franky was given an ultimatum; either he would stop throwing food or he would have to leave the table.

unassuming adj. (un uh SOOM ing) modest; unpre­tentious. Mary was so unassuming, she truly could not believe that her painting had been awarded first prize.