Here are the meanings of the least commonly found words that have been used in (mostly) recent Times articles.
1. admonishing — aiming to encourage or encourage:
“Comedy Punks” is kind of typical admonishing a rise-and-fall-and-rise advertising story. – The Children in the Hall Have Grown Old. Their Comedy No. (May 24, 2022)
2. hamate – a small, wedge-shaped bone in the wrist (if you’re holding a baseball bat, the bone is roughly where the handle of the bat meets your palm – and is therefore a common source of baseball injuries):
With Andrew Benintendi still working his way back from being broken hamate bone in his hand, the Yankees’ preferred left fielder appears to be rookie Oswaldo Cabrera. – Yankees Close to Division Title, but Still Have Confidence Issues (September 27, 2022)
3. cup — musical direction to leave an instrument or voice silent:
He will do so only after a new, improbable overture, which could be described by a single musical term: cup. As they arrive, audience members will be asked to surrender their cell phones, watches and other electronic devices before entering the drill hall, where they will don noise-canceling headphones and sit in fabric deck chairs designed to Ms. Abramovic’s specifications. – Marina Abramovic and Igor Levit’s Variation on “Goldberg” will make the audience win their Bach (December 2, 2015)
4. deicide – the act of killing a divine being:
A few minutes into its sold-out concert at the Beacon Theater on Monday night, Steely Dan uncorked a song of recent vintage. It was “Godwhacker,” from the band’s 2003 album, “Everything Must Go” (Repeat), and the lyrics cheerfully gestured to a tale of revenge, pursuit and, well, deicide. – Tolerating the New Tunes, but Rejoicing in the Old (May 23, 2007)
5. eidetics — marked by mental images that are unusually vivid and almost photographically accurate:
Avery lacks a fully developed character, and often reacts to alarming events in ways that are emotionally and logically implausible. Some of her most striking features – she turns out to be a chess genius with an eidetics memory and talent for entering and entering – are functional rather than organic. – Stacey Abrams’ Legal Thriller Has Lots of Moving Pieces (May 11, 2021)
6. mistrust — the state of being modest or unassuming:
Where it generated criticism, the complaint was often about its prescriptive nature mistrust: Having been diagnosed so damn well, Deneen was a bit hesitant about the “what to do?” – How Do You Replace Elite? (June 28, 2023)
7. incidence – the rate of new cases of disease or other harmful events:
Preeclampsia affects about one in 25 pregnancies, and the incidence has increased in recent years in the United States. The problem usually starts about halfway through pregnancy, although it can also occur after childbirth. – Blood Test Predicts Preeclampsia in Pregnant Women (July 3, 2023)
8. dietary – related to nutrition or diet:
Vanessa Rissetto, registered dietitian and acting director of the dietary internship program at New York University, also suggested other money-saving tips. – 5 Ways Teens Can Get More Fruits and Vegetables Into Their Diets (January 22, 2021)
9. shins – bones of inner legs:
In Greek folklore, a donkey – an equid involved in the harvest and production of wine – was the mountain that carried the god Dionysus into battle against the giants, and flutes formed by a donkey. shins (which produced an arm-like sound) were used in his worship. – Finally, a Donkey Family Tree (March 14, 2023)
10. hematite — abundant ore, which is a main source of iron used by humans:
The cozy interior, clad in raw knotty spruce, is joined by a glossy oxblood red-painted spruce board floor (a nod to Falu red, the hematite-rich pigment that has been used to paint Swedish houses since the 18th century) that runs through the building… – Cozy Cottage on an Island North East of Stockholm (August 26, 2020)
The list of the easiest words of the week: