Encomium

Pronunciation:
\en-ˈkō-mē-əm\


Definition:
glowing and warmly enthusiastic praise
 
Etymology:
Latin, from Greek enkōmion, from en in + kōmos revel, celebration


First Known Use: 1567

I saw this word used in a comment about the press after Whitney Houston's death. Here is the quote:
 
"If you've come within earshot of a mainstream media outlet in the past week, you've encountered a tribute to Whitney Houston. There's a huge unspoken presence in almost every encomium, though: perhaps out of reluctance to seem to speak ill of the dead, they don't mention Houston's disastrous 2010 tour, which was as clear a signal as the public could've asked for that the singer was suffering."
 
What a sad topic, but a great word. This is one of those words that could be used prolifically and very few would have any idea what it meant!
 
Use it, wordsmiths! Use it!

Pensive

Pronunciation:
\ˈpen(t)-siv\

Definition:
1: musingly or dreamily thoughtful

2: suggestive of sad thoughtfulness

Etymology:
Middle English pensif, from Anglo-French, from penser to think, from Latin pensare to ponder, frequentative of pendere to weigh

First Known Use: 14th century

I have always loved this word. It is very descriptive in a narrow way, much like melancholy.
 
Jack, Chase and I were driving back from Huntsville after seeing a movie and Chase, who was sitting beside me, was very quiet and looking out the window. I patted him on the leg and said, "Chase, you doing okay?" "Yes" was his one-word reply. "Are you pensive?" I asked. "Mom, I don't even know what that means. Good grief, I'm just sitting here."
 
That comment made me pensive. haha!