Bonanza

bo-nan-za {buh-nan-zuh}
A rich mass of ore, like silver or gold, or another large (and usually unexpected) source of wealth or luck.

"A couple in California found a bonanza buried in their yard--eight old tin cans filled with gold coins worth ten million dollars."

Vulcanist

A volcanist is a person who studies volcanoes.

Volcanology is the study of volcanoes. Vulcanology is an alternate spelling of volcanology.

So it would be reasonable to assume that a vulcanist is also a person who studies volcanoes, right?

Surprise!

Vul-can-ist {vuhl-can-ist}
A person who believes there are volcanoes on the moon.
(this according to New Webster's Comprehensive Dictionary, edited by Bernard S. Cayne and Doris E. Lechner)

Okay, so it's also used as an alternate spelling of "volcanist" in many dictionaries, but the moon definition is much more fun.

Vociferate

Vo-ci-fer-ate {voe-si-fur-8}
To utter loudly or shout, especially in protest. Also to bawl or cry loudly.

My 5 year old brother was picking on the baby, so mom started to vociferate. And so did the baby. And the 5 year old.

Procerite

pro-cer-ite {pro-ceer-ite}
The last segment of the antenna in some crustaceans, like lobsters.

Labyrinth

lab-y-rinth {lab-uh-rinth}
Basically, a maze. In Greek mythology, it was a maze hidden below the palace of King Minos where a half-man, half-bull, man-eating monster called the Minotaur lived. In the story of Theseus and the Minotaur, every seven years, the people of the city Athens had to send seven girls and seven boys to Crete to be fed to the monster. One year, Theseus, son of King Aegeus, decided do go to Crete and try to slay the Minotaur. He told his father that he would put up white sails if he succeeded, and black sails if he died. When he reached Crete, the daughter of Minos fell in love with him, and gave him a ball of yarn. When he got to the labyrinth, he tied the end to the door and unwound the string as he went, so that he could find his way back. He found the center of the maze, and successfully slew the Minotaur! But they had to leave Crete early the next morning, so they forgot to put up the white sails, and King Aegeus threw himself into the sea in his grief. Theseus was crowned King of Athens upon his return. Sad, isn't it? Most Greek myths are, with the story of Midas's golden touch being one of the few that isn't.

Lexiphanic

lex-i-phan-ic {lecks ih fan ick}: Using big words to impress people.
Example: We write this blog because we like being lexiphanic.