Here are the meanings of the 10 hardest words that have also been used in Times articles.
1. bibelot — a trinket or decorative item:
Growing up, she spent lots of time with her father’s sisters, in “very Proustian” domiciles, learning to share her aunts’ love of neo-Classical Empire furnishings in bibelot-arrayed rooms. — In Connecticut, a House That Blurs the Boundaries of Time and Place (Sept. 30, 2020)
2. tantara — the blast of a horn or trumpet:
But the day was not yet replete with wonders, because before Zelikman could reply there were shouts from the rear and then the blatting tantara of an inhuman horn. — Gentlemen of the Road (April 1, 2007)
3. collet — a band or ring:
The stones are collet set: the metal goes around the stone and the artisans “would pinch it like how you pinch a pie crust around the corners,” Ms. Moross said. She believes the ring was made in London between 1800 and 1835. — Bold Face Names With Big Engagement Rings (May 13, 2019)
4. bootee — a short sock or boot, especially for an infant:
For a subtler, more classic vibe, opt for a streamlined leather bootee with a pointed toe and a small heel (the blockier the heel, the easier it will be to walk). — What Are the Best Forever Boots? (Nov. 7, 2022)
5. bonito — a fish that’s a relative of the tuna; skipjack tuna are called bonito in Japan:
A bundle of latkes cooked in another friend’s Berkeley apartment, topped with bonito flakes and Kewpie mayo, which we christened okonomiyaki. The only things they shared were the name and the feeling. It was all okonomiyaki. All very much itself. — A Japanese Pancake That Wastes Nothing and Saves Everything (Oct. 4, 2023)
6. ramify — to spread out or extend:
He still obtains them mostly in Nigeria but is building his Ghana circuits; minor local differences in products and tastes could ramify through his artwork into new colors and patterns. — El Anatsui Builds Monumental Art From Daily Life (Oct. 9, 2023)
7. tootle — to softly toot on a horn, or to meander:
Hoffman was known to tootle around in a pink Cadillac driven by a fellow nonagenarian. While her son fished for largemouth bass in the Wakulla River, Ms. Hoffman rowed their boat. She hauled gallon jugs of water for the pine trees they had planted. — Katherine Hoffman, ‘Eternal’ Florida State Figure, Dies at 105 (July 29, 2020)
8. oleic — a type of fatty acid:
It comes from cocoa butter and is made of equal parts of oleic acid, a heart healthy monounsaturated fat found in olive oil, and stearic and palmitic acids. — Is the Saturated Fat in Chocolate as Bad as the Fat in Meat? (April 5, 2019)
9. riyal — the currency of Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Qatar:
Much has been said and written in recent days and years about slow improvements made for migrant workers in Qatar. Since 2021, the country has had a minimum wage of 1,000 Qatari riyals a month, about $275, regardless of the job or the nationality of the worker. — In Asian Town, Some of the Workers Who Built the World Cup Gather to Watch It (Nov. 20, 2022)
10. betel — a plant from Southeast Asia whose leaves are used for chewing and cooking:
The couple served Indian-inspired drinks that incorporated cardamom and betel leaves and were named after Mariah Carey songs. — Not Their Parents’ South Asian Weddings (Oct. 5, 2023)
The list of the week’s easiest words:
Eve Washington, Josh Katz and Tom Giratikanon
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