Smart Words: Vocabulary for the Erudite

Whoever said sounding smart had to be painful? It's all in how you acquire the "ten-dollar words" of English. makes fast and smooth learning of words such as , and . How? By sticking to ultra-simple definitions, then offering a memorable—and often funny—description of when or why to use the word. A sample sentence shows you how. And the phonetics are a snap. Here's the description of , defined as : "Make that luxurious with a capital S. The word got its start from Sybaris, an ancient Greek city known for being a tad over the top in the pamper-me department." Whether you're a word lover, a fan of quirky reference books, or simply in need of a vocabulary makeover, will help you be smart(er) about the words you use and the way you use them.