fractious

Here is an adjective that serves the speaker well, if the word 'grumpy' comes to mind.

While the word is now obsolete as a noun, it survives as an adjective and is universally applicable to situations in which people are irritable or unruly - its alternative meaning.

When you use it, remember to value the audible impact of the sound on the ear - the vowel and consonant combinations clearly carry its meaning.

sartorial

As another seldom-heard word, this one carries clear impressions of dress and carriage.

Referring in the Latin to tailors and the art of tailoring, the adjective describes a person who is well-dressed.

Interestingly, from the context in which the word is used, there can be cynicism or exaggeration of dress, carriage and demeanour within the written or spoken piece.

This is an excellent example of the meaning and intention needing to be clearly understood to avoid error and embarrassment.

repository

While this word is not often heard or said, it has value in the resonance of its meaning. From 15th Century Latin, via repositorium, from the original Latin, reponere - to place, the application varies.

As a noun, repository is a place or container where specific items can be safely stored. The definition can apply to artifacts like those found in a museum, or goods in a warehouse.

With specific meaning implied in context, a repository can be a sepulchre, a burial place or a dedicated receptacle that holds relics of the dead.

The word can also refer to a person who holds a secret secure, as a confidant.

taint

Arising out of the Old French 'teindre' from the Latin meaning 'to dye', this evocative word can be used literally and figuratively.

Its literal meaning communicates contamination or pollution of a substance.

As a metaphor, it can be applied to people, circumstances and ideas.

consort/cohort

What is the different between these nouns?

As a noun, a consort is the term given to the husband or wife of a reigning monarch. Over time, it has widened to include the implication of being a partner of long-standing, a husband or a wife.

Interestingly, as a verb, 'to consort with' carries negative implications of a person spending time with undesirable or inappropriate people.

The use of cohort as a noun arises from a military context; originally appearing in relation to one of ten units of 300 to 600 men in the ancient Roman Legion.

The noun has been extended to include any size band of warriors and implies followership.

It is also used on the context of statistics where cohorts have one or more statisitics in common with the rest of the people in the group.

flush

Words in which sounds conveys meaning, texture and impact are immensely valuable in spoken language. This is one of many examples. Look at how varied its application is:

As a noun, a 'flush' applies in card games like poker. It means cards of a single suit are being held by the player. It also refers to redness of the skin when blood infuses the facial capiliaries as in 'a rosy flush' which could be caused by excess sun, emotional awkwardness or too much wine!

As a verb, the meaning is taken from the context and can be:

• the act of blushing or causing someone to blush
• to flood with water or other liquid (as in the medical procedure of flushing a wound)
• to drive out (as in cleansing with water or liquid a pipe or other contained space e.g a toilet)
• to drive out (as in causing a person, bird or animal to escape their hiding place)

As an adjective, the word has several applications including:

•  material or goods being adjacent to, continuous with or even with other matter
• abundance in relation to wealth and money
• as a metaphor for 'full to the brim' as in 'flushed with success'

If you had to use this word at work, how and where would you apply it?

vast

This is a wonderful four-letter word that can be used as an adjective literally and figuratively to express largeness and immensity.

Honour its intention as applied to extremely large physical boundaries. Use it sparingly in relation to far-reaching, massive scope projects and concepts.

That way, the immensity inherent in the word will be carried into the mind of listeners.