conducive adj. (kun DOO siv) that which facilitates, leads to, or helps to bring about. Good nutrition is conducive to optimum health.
congenial adj. (kun JEEN yul) friendly, especially when others are compatible and have similar interests and tastes. We all had much in common, which made for a very congenial atmosphere at the dinner table.
congenital adj. (kun JEN i tull) that which exists before or from birth. Sadly, the toddler was found to have a congenital heart defect.
conjecture n. (kun JEK chur) speculation based on inference; guesswork. That aliens exist on other planets is merely conjecture; nobody knows for sure.
connive vb. (kuh NIVE) to collude or plot. They were born thieves who could be counted on while in prison to connive and conspire.
connoisseur n. (KON uh SUR) an authority or expert. Our local wine connoisseur uses more than forty different words and terms to describe the taste of wines.
consecrate vb. (KON suh KRAYT) to make sacred or holy or set apart as such. The priest is scheduled to consecrate the shrine this afternoon.
consensus n. (kun SEN sus) an agreement by all. The assembly finally reached a consensus and voted to pass the resolution.
conservative adj. (kun SURV uh tiv) traditional in values. My father believed in a conservative brand of politics because he disliked progress or change of any kind.
conspicuous adj. (kun SPIK yoo us) glaringly obvious; that which stands out. Wearing a Lone Ranger mask to the supermarket will make you rather conspicuous.
conspiracy n. (kun SPEER uh see) a secret group effort to commit a wrongdoing. After the assassination, the FBI worked to uncover those involved in the conspiracy.
consummate adj. (kon SUM it) accomplished; perfect. It was no wonder all her albums sold millions of copies; she was the consummate vocalist.
contentious adj. (kun TEN shus) argumentative; quarrelsome. The contentious couple would likely solve their differences by going their separate ways.
contingent adj. (kun TIN junt) subject to. We'll go to the beach, contingent upon how hot it gets.
contrite adj. (kun TRITE) apologetic; sorry. It is easy to forgive someone when they're contrite.
contrived adj. (kun TRIVED) overly planned, resulting in a forced or unnatural effect. His play was replete with unbelievable coincidences; it was simply too contrived to be believed.
conundrum n. (kuh NUN drum) a puzzle; a baffling problem. Protecting the environment while keeping factories humming has long been a political conundrum.
convivial adj. (kun VIV ee ul) social and fond of the party life. The convivial party-goers performed the conga around the guest of honor.
copious adj. (KOH pee us) plentiful; abounding.
The old dowser claimed to have found a copious water supply.
cornerstone n. (KORN ur stohn) a vital or most vital element. The right to vote is a cornerstone of every democracy.
corroborate vb. (kuh ROB uh RAYT) to substantiate; to offer supportive information. When putting forth a new scientific theory, it pays to have others corroborate your findings.
coup n. (KOO) a brilliant move or action. The chess champion lost suddenly with a coup by the challenger.
coup d'etat n. (koo day TAH) an overthrow of a ruler or government, especially by a small group. The dictator was forced to abdicate his position after a decisive coup d'etat by his opposition.
covenant n. (KUV uh nunt) a contractual or binding agreement. The community enforced a covenant restricting fences over six feet in height.
covert adj. (koh VURT) secret; undercover. The spy carried out a covert operation.
coy adj. (KOY) shy or flirtatiously shy; demure. Her coy gazes attracted the attention of the boys.
crass adj. (KRASS) crude and indelicate. We were offended by her crass remarks.
credence n. (KREE dens) belief that something is true. I don't give psychics much credence; if they could really predict the future they'd all be millionaires.
creme de la creme (KREM duh luh KREM) French term for the "cream of the cream," or the best of the best. All the desserts were delicious, but the chocolate cake was the creme de la creme.
crescendo n. (kruh SHEN doh) an increase in intensity and accompanying climax. The orchestra played a near-deafening crescendo.
critical mass n. a metaphor used to illustrate a crisis point; the state of any problem that has grown unchecked and threatens to explode. The metaphor originates from the minimum amount of fissionable material needed to cause a nuclear explosion. Don't wait for environmental problems to reach critical mass; do something about them now.
cross the Rubicon to take some critical action that will result in great consequences, from which there is no turning back. Originating from the crossing of the Rubicon by Julius Caesar and his troops in 49 b.c. By permanently giving up its electronics division, the company has crossed the Rubicon into uncharted terrain.
cryptic adj. (KRIP tik) mysterious; secret; concealed. The spies sent cryptic messages to each other.
curry favor to win one over through flattery. Politicians curry favor with voters by telling them how wonderful they and their home towns are.
cursory adj. (KUR suh ree) performed superficially and without much attention to detail. The clerk made a cursory inspection of her nails and then promptly started chewing on them.
curt adj. (KURT) brief or abrupt to the point of being considered impolite. The clerk was so curt and unfriendly that we decided to take our business elsewhere.
cut the Gordian knot to solve a convoluted problem quickly. Originating from the legendary knot tied by King Gordius as a challenge to would-be conquerors of Asia Minor in 400 b.c. and cut by Alexander the Great. The mayor cut the Gordian knot of cleaning up air pollution by simply restricting the number of cars on the roads.