Being part 8 of an shambling parade of posts extracted from the Word Lover’'s Dictionary: Unusual, Obscure, and Preposterous Words by Josefa Heifetz (New York: Carol Publishing, 1974, 1994). For beginning entries in this series, please see Part 1 and Part 2. If you want to find all posts in the series, search on the title "Will Geek for Words". Eventually I add them to the sidebar listing. Part 8 encompasses the letter K words and their definitions. I sincerely regret not being able to reproduce the pronunciation of the words. If you would like a hint about speaking them, leave a comment and I'll do my best to reply in a understandable manner.

Amazingly, this is not a promotional stunt. I am not paid to plug this book yet here I am, mentioning it at the top of each of these posts. However if the publishers are interested in giving me a kickback, I wouldn't be adverse to accepting a nice certificate with a fancy border and calligraphy noting my devotion to language. An honorary degree would be great as well. (What I'll probably get is a nice "cease and desist" letter from their lawyers. No good deed goes unpunished for long.)

• kakistocracy, n.: government by the worst citizens.
• kalopsia, n.: condition where things appear more beautiful than they really are.
• keck, v.i.: 1. to retch. 2. to express disgust. 3. to make a retching sound. -n. an attempt to vomit; queasiness.
• keister, n.: 1. a safe or strongbox. 2. a burglar's tool kit. 3. the local jail. 4. the buttocks. 5. good luck (all slang).
• kerlarap, v.i.: to cavort; to play.
• kerygma, n.: Christian preaching. kerygmatic, adj.
• kippage, n.: commotion, confusion, excitement.
• klebenliben, n.: a pathologic reluctance to stop talking about a certain subject.
• kleptic, adj.: thievish.
• knout, n.: a lash made of twisted leather thongs and laced with wire.
• kokomo, n.: a cocaine addict; any drug addict (slang).
• kordax, n.: 1. an ancient Dionysian phallic dance performed in the buff. 2. any lively Renaissance court dance. also cordax.