“Ad hoc,” meaning “for this.” “Ad hoc” refers to something that has been created for a specific purpose or goal, often existing only until that goal has been achieved.

Example:  “The school board needed more information on enrollment, so it called for an ad hoc panel to gather statistics about the current student body.”

“De facto” means “In fact” or “in reality” – what actually is done. For example, it might be the rule on a road to only use the express lane if you’re travelling over the minimum speed limit, but if everyone’s driving above the speed limit, all lanes become de facto express lanes.

Example:  “Although Keith was the elected chairperson, he was never at the meetings, and Thomas became the de facto head of the committee.”

“Hypothesis” is something that is assumed to be true, for the sake of argument. In a hypothesis, the known facts are sometimes ignored in order to provide material for further discussion. You might say that a hypothesis is a “what if …?” statement.

Example:  “Her hypothesis that global warming could be slowed significantly by eliminating all air travel is interesting, but not practical in this age of global commerce.”

Another word for something that is understood without being directly stated is “putative.” However, while “implicit” means the underlying substance is unstated but agreed on, “putative” refers to something that might not really be agreed on, but that no-one wants to bother to dispute.

Example:  “Michael was the only person who researched the mountain trails and access routes, so he became the putative leader of the Sunday hiking club.”

“Implicit” means “understood and agreed on, but not stated openly.” But unlike “nebulous,” something “implicit” is very clearly seen or understood, just not obviously or openly.

Example:  “The people she hired knew there was an implicit understanding that they’d join in the company’s volunteer projects from time to time.”

Something that’s hard to see clearly is “nebulous.” You might be familiar with the astronomical term “nebula,” which refers to a fuzzy cloud of gas and stars; a nebula is nebulous, because it’s hazy, vague, not clearly defined. An idea can be nebulous as well as an image or object.

Example:  “The goal of the proposed project was too nebulous, and the planning committee rejected it until the organizers could provide more details.”

“Diffident” means “timid” or “bashful.” It’s used to describe someone who lacks self-confidence or who is excessively modest. Shy people tend to be diffident, afraid to offer an opinion, even then they’ve got the right answer.

Example:  “Jane is so diffident, it’s hard to believe she runs her own company; when she’s in a group, she never takes the lead.”

Using words in just the right way can be a powerful tool for influencing other people. Creative and effective use of words is called “rhetoric.” While this can refer to writing, it’s more often used to describe a way of speaking, or a speech.

Example:  “Many politicians rely on paid writers to create the rhetoric they use when giving speeches at campaign events.”

A “saw” is a saying, usually one that’s been around for a long time. And even if the saw is no longer much used in modern life, it still describes something that’s true. Another saw, or saying, that you might know is “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

Example:  “My grandmother always used her teabag twice, quoting that old saw ‘waste not, want not.’”

The opposite of laconic is “loquacious.” A loquacious person is one who talks all the time. Synonyms for loquacious are “chatty,” “talkative,” and “garrulous.”

Example:  “I tried to study at my desk, but my roommate is so loquacious I couldn’t concentrate, and I went to the library instead.”