Austere - without decoration or luxury; severely simple
adjective
aw-steer 
1300–50; Middle English  (< Anglo-French ) < Latin austērus  <Greek austērós  harsh, rough, bitter 

 

This background is very austere because it is a simple country setting. 

A British laser for austere times 

above found from: http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v213/n2/full/sj.bdj.2012.650.html 

Esoteric- intended for or understood by only a certain group; beyond the understanding of most people 

adjective 

es-uh-ter-ik

1645–55;  < Greek esōterikós  inner, equivalent to esṓter ( os ) inner+ -ikos -ic 

This image is esoteric because it consists of Chinese characters which are extremely difficult to understand if you do not speak and write fluent Chinese. 

What is Esoteric Astrology? 

above found from http://www.esotericastrologer.org/ 

Facsimile- an exact copy or reproduction 

noun 

fak-sim-uh-lee 

1655–65;  earlier fac simile  make the like, equivalent to Latin fac (imperative of facere ) + simile 

The image above is a facsimile because it shows an page from the original copy of the Bible. 

Facsimiles—from Latin, fac simile (make similar)—is the name given to a genre of publishing based on photomechanical printing techniques used to recreate (sometimes in exact detail) an original hand-written manuscript or printed edition 

above found from 

http://www.omifacsimiles.com/marticles.html 

Grotesque- distorted or strikingly inconsistent in shape, appearance, or manner 

adjective 

groh-tesk 

1555–65;  < French  < Italian grottesco  (as noun, grottesca grotesque decoration such as was apparently found in excavateddwellings), derivative of grotta 

 

The image represents grotesque because it is an odd statue of a man's head that looks disturbing and strange. 

Horror, the Grotesque, and the Macabre: A Christian Appraisal 

above found from http://www.decentfilms.com/articles/horror 

Mesmerize- to hypnotize or fascinate; hold spellbound 

verb 

mez-muh-rahyz, mes- 

1820–30; mesmer(ism)  + -ize 

This image represents the word mesmerize because it captures your eye and fascinates you. 

Circus Flora to Mesmerize Crowds Under the Big Top with 'The Wizard' 

http://ballwin-ellisville.patch.com/articles/circus-flora-mesmerizes-crowds-under-the-big-top-with-the-wizard 

Metamorphosis- a great or complete change; transformation 

noun 

met-uh-mawr-fuh-sis 

1525–35;  < Neo-Latin metamorphōsis  < Greek metamórphōsis transformation 

The above image represents the word metamorphosis because it shows the change in shape the caterpillar goes through to become the butterfly. 

How Did Insect Metamorphosis Evolve? 

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=insect-metamorphosis-evolution 

Notorious- known widely but unfavorably; having a bad reputation

adjective 

noh-tawr-ee-uhs, -tohr-, nuh- 

1540–50;  < Medieval Latin nōtōrius  evident, equivalent to nō (scere ) to get to know ( see notify) + -tōrius -tory¹ 

The above image represents the word notorious because Adolf Hitler is famous worldwide to this day for mass-murdering millions of Jews and for being one of the most evil leaders of all time. 

The Unsolved Mystery of the Notorious B.I.G. 

above found from http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-unsolved-mystery-of-the-notorious-b-i-g-20110107 

Perfunctory- done only as a routine, with little care or interest 

adjective 

per-fuhngk-tuh-ree 

1575–85;  < Late Latin perfūnctōrius  negligent, superficial,derivative of perfungī  to do one's job, be done, equivalent to per-per-  + fung-,  base of fungī  to perform, function  + -tōrius -tory¹ 

The above image represents the word perfunctory because it illustrates a pediatrician giving a routine check-up on a patient. 

Our Perfunctory President 

above found from: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/12/our_perfunctory_president.html 

Provocative- tending to arouse interest or curiosity 

adjective 

pruh-vok-uh-tiv

1375–1425; late Middle English  < Late Latin prōvocātīvus. 

The above image represents the word provocative because it gets your attention and jumps out to you. 

Provocative alchemy: Harnessing art and the environment to inspire local teachers 

above found from http://www.mountainx.com/article/45280/Provocative-alchemy-Harnessing-art-and-the-environment-to-inspire-local-teachers 

Travesty- a crude, exaggerated, or ridiculous representation; mockery 

noun 

trav-uh-stee 

1655–65;  < French travesti , past participle of travestir  to disguise< Italian travestire , equivalent to tra-  (< Latin trāns- trans-) +vestire  to clothe < Latin vestīre; see vest 

The above image represents the word travesty because it is showing a magazine in Texas making fun of Barack Obama. 

Why are there no articles on the travesty happening with Timbuktu in Mali? 

above found from http://answers.vanguardngr.com/9805/why-there-articles-the-travesty-happening-with-timbuktu-mali