Dictionary
Owen McLaughlin
Margarita Barrios Ponce
NEU 2024
incipient
adjective | in-SIP-ee-unt
Used to describe things which are beginning to come into being or which are to become apparent.
Frankenstein (1931)
posse
noun | PAH-see
A group of friends, or a group of people who are gathered together for a particular purpose.
Saw (2004)
diligent
adjective | DIL-uh-junt
Someone or something described as diligent is characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort.
Halloween (1978)
skulk
verb | SKULK
To move around or hide in a stealthy or secretive way. A person or animal that is said to be skulking is often assumed or considered to be up to some form of wrongdoing or mischief.
Carrie (1976)
accolade
noun | AK-uh-layd
Refers to an award or expression of praise. It is often used in the plural form.
Get Out (2017)
circumspect
adjective | SER-kum-spekt
Someone described as circumspect is careful to consider all circumstances and risks before doing or saying something.
Evil Dead II (1987)
retronym
noun | RET-roh-nim
Refers to a term (such as analog watch, film camera, or acoustic guitar) that is created and adopted to distinguish the original or older version, form, or example of something from others that are more recent.
Scream (1996)
ferret
verb | FAIR-ut
To find something, such as information, by careful searching. It is usually followed by the word out.
Paranormal Activity (2007)
ominous
adjective | AH-muh-nus
Something described as ominous hints or suggests that something bad is coming or is going to happen.
The Exorcist (1973)
tenet
noun | TEN-ut
A tenet is a principle, belief, or doctrine that is held to be true by members of an organization, movement, or profession.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
mangle
verb | MANG-gul
To mangle something is to ruin it due to carelessness or a lack of skill. Mangle can also mean “to injure or damage something or someone severely by cutting, tearing, or crushing.”
Evil Dead II (1987)
Elysian
adjective | ih-LIZH-un
Something described as elysian is blissful or delightful in a way that evokes something otherworldly. Elysian is also used to mean "of or relating to Elysium"—that is, an eternal paradise for the souls of the heroic and pure in classical mythology.
The Exorcist (1973)
gargoyle
noun | GAR-goy-ul
A gargoyle is a strange or grotesque human or animal figure that sticks out from the roof of a building (such as a church) and is used to cause rainwater to flow away from the building's sides.
Scream (1996)
cosplay
verb | KAHZ-play
To cosplay is to engage in the activity or practice of dressing up as a character from a work of fiction (such as a comic book, video game, or television show).
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
oneiric
adjective | oh-NYE-rik
Oneiric is an adjective meaning "of or relating to dreams."
bunkum
noun | BUNG-kum
Bunkum is an old-fashioned and informal word that refers to foolish or insincere talk or ideas.
Pearl (2022)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
whinge
verb | WINJ
Whinge is a verb used especially in British English to mean "to complain fretfully."
The Shining (1980)
axiomatic
adjective | ak-see-uh-MAT-ik
Axiomatic is a formal adjective that describes something—usually a statement—that is understood as obviously true, such that it is or should be taken for granted.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
harangue
noun | huh-RANG
A harangue is a forceful or angry speech or piece of writing.
The Addams Family (1964)
kindred
adjective | KIN-drud
To say that two people or things are kindred is to say that they are of a similar nature or character, or that they have the same ancestry.
The Thing (1982)
conflate
verb | kun-FLAYT
Two closely related meanings of the verb conflate are “to confuse,” i.e. “to fail to differentiate,” and “to blend or bring together.”
Child’s Play (1988)
sarcasm
noun | SAHR-kaz-um
Refers to the use of words that mean one thing to communicate the exact opposite of that thing, especially to insult someone, to show irritation, or to be funny.
The Ring (2002)
unfettered
adjective | un-FET-erd
Describes what is not controlled or restricted. It is a synonym of both free and unrestrained.
Hereditary (2018)
capitulate
verb | kuh-PIH-chuh-layt
To surrender to an enemy, often after negotiating terms, or to stop trying to fight or resist something.
vivacious
adjective | vuh-VAY-shus
Someone or something described as vivacious is happy and lively in an appealing way. It (2017)
The Evil Dead (1981)
lexicographer
noun | lek-suh-KAH-gruh-fer
A lexicographer is an author or editor of a dictionary.
This Is The End (2013)
docile
adjective | DAH-sul
Docile is used to describe those who are easily taught, led, or managed.
Alien (1979)
ne plus ultra
noun | nay-plus-UL-truh
Ne plus ultra refers to the highest point of development or success that something may achieve; it is a synonym of acme.
Annabelle (2014)
emote
verb | ih-MOHT
To emote is to express emotion in a very dramatic or obvious way.
Psycho (1960)
bailiwick
noun | BAY-lih-wik
Refers to the domain or sphere in which someone has superior knowledge or authority.
Happy Death Day (2017)
quotidian
adjective | kwoh-TID-ee-un
Something described as quotidian occurs every day or occurs routinely or typically. More broadly, quotidian is used as a synonym of commonplace and ordinary.
The Shining (1980)
damask
noun | DAM-usk
Damask refers to a usually shiny, thick fabric (as of linen, cotton, silk, or rayon) made with patterns. The word can also be used as a synonym of Damascus steel, or for a grayish red color.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
prognosticate
verb | prahg-NAHSS-tuh-kayt
To prognosticate is to predict or foreshadow something.
Jennifer’s Body (2009)
acquisitive
adjective | uh-KWIZ-uh-tiv
Someone or something described as acquisitive is characterized by a strong desire to own or acquire more things.
Midsommar (2019)
zeitgeber
noun | TSYTE-gay-ber
Zeitgeber refers to an environmental agent or event (such as the occurrence of light or dark) that provides the stimulus which sets or resets an organism’s biological clock.
Saw (2004)
gratuitous
adjective | gruh-TOO-uh-tuss
Describes things that are not necessary, appropriate, or justified, as in "a gratuitous insult" or "a gratuitous assumption." Gratuitous can also mean "free."
signet
noun | SIG-nut
Refers to a seal used officially to give personal authority to a document in lieu of a signature, or to the impression made by or as if by such a seal.
Suspiria (2018)
The Exorcist (1973)
absolve
verb | ub-ZAHLV
To absolve someone is to free them from a responsibility or commitment, or from the consequences of guilt.
Gremlins (1984)
fissile
adjective | FISS-ul
Describes materials that are capable of undergoing fission—that is, the process in which the nucleus of a heavy atom is split apart, releasing a large amount of energy.
Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
MacGuffin
noun | muh-GUFF-in
A MacGuffin is an object, event, or character in a film or story that serves to set and keep the plot in motion despite usually lacking intrinsic importance.