I decided on a whim, as I will from time to time, that I need to occasionally make lists of ‘good words’. The only criteria is that they’re unusual, specific, and striking. Utility and practicality do not denote a ‘good word’; hardly ever will you be able to use these in a common sentence. It’s all for fun, isn’t it?

• Austere – severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance. This word just sounds great. If you ever need euphony and alliteration in a poem, use it.
• Apoplectic - overcome with anger; extremely indignant. Plain cool.
• Sallow - of a person; an unhealthy yellow color. Sallow, sagging, slumping, sick- lot’s of descriptive potential.
• Penurious - extremely poor. Unlike the other words on this list, I don’t think this sounds anything like its definition. In fact, when I hear penurious, I think of an Englishman in a study, reading a journal of medicine.
• Lugubrious – looking sad and dismal. This word is great; it was often used by Kerouac, and reminds me of the Beat generation.
• Tarn - a small mountain lake. I think of a small, Scottish lake. Close enough; it’s from old Norse.
• Prolixity -tediously lengthy, wordy. I always should have to completely and utterly make sure that my work, written or otherwise, is not possibly conceived as prolix.
• Cant-hypocritical and sanctimonious talk. Sanctimonious is a good word too.

• Algid- chilly or cold. Extremely ancient; no one will know what you’re talking about. It sounds like frigid though and I like its brevity.