Brutalism (noun)

Brutalism (BROODL-izm) is a style of architecture featuring massive, unadorned, block-like forms. The term was first used in the 1950s and 1960s to describe innovative buildings constructed primarily with raw concrete and steel. As I used it today: “The architecture [of Luis Montoya’s studio] was Brutalism, with huge steel doors hiding the inner courtyard from the parking lot.”

Plasticity (noun)  

Plasticity (plas-TIH-sih-tee) is the quality of being molded or shaped. As used by Jacob Bronowski: “Man is unique not because he does science, and is unique not because he does art, but because science and art equally are expressions of his marvelous plasticity of mind.”

Lurid (adjective).- Lurid (LOOR-id) means shocking, causing horror or revulsion; glaringly vivid or sensational. As used by Edgar Allan Poe in The Pit and the Pendulum: “Demon eyes, of a wild and ghastly vivacity, glared upon me in a thousand directions, where none had been visible before, and gleamed with the lurid lustre of a fire that I could not force my imagination to regard as unreal.”

Nocuous (adjective) .- Something that’s nocuous (NAHK-yoo-us) is harmful, likely to cause damage or injury. As used by the Indian spiritual leader Guru Nanak (1469-1539): “[The king] shall use his utmost exertions to remove those men who are nocuous like thorns. [He] shall cause a goldsmith who behaves dishonestly, the most nocuous of all the thorns, to be cut to pieces with razors.”

Alacrity (noun)

Alacrity (uh-LAK-rih-tee) is cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness. As used by Jordan Salcito in The Daily Beast: “Down under, people endearingly call boxes of wine ‘goons,’ and they drink them with alacrity.”

Frisson (noun) – A frisson (free-SOHN) is a shudder of emotion; a sudden strong feeling of excitement. As used by Martin Amis: “A novel comes not from a decision but a frisson, a sort of shiver that goes through you.”

Diffidence (noun) –Diffidence (DIF-ih-dunhs) is timidity; lacking confidence. As used by Golda Meir: “Ability hits the mark where presumption overshoots and diffidence falls short.”

Temporize (verb) – To temporize (TEM-puh-rize) is to be evasive in order to gain time or delay acting. As used by Washington Post columnist Lloyd Grove: “I am still temporizing and twiddling on that [where he will go on vacation], but I hope there will be some closure… by the end of the day.”

Cerebrate (verb) – To cerebrate (SARE-uh-brate) isto use the mind; to think or think about. As used by Michael Innes in An Awkward Lie: “If you simply retire to your own room, shove your backside into an excessively sprung easy chair, and there grimly cerebrate, the chances are that you will eventually do no more than crawl into bed – to wake up six to eight hours later with an unsolved conundrum and a filthy headache.”