When I come across a word I don’t know, I look it up and make a note of it. Each week, I post the list here [week 295]

Ossicones: (noun) the bony protrusions on a giraffe’s head \[from a sign at Blackpool Zoo\]

Thigmotactic: (adjective) describes how a living thing moves toward or away from physical touch or contact with a solid object \[from Blindsight by Peter Watts\]

**Morphometric**: (adjective) relating to the quantitative measurement and statistical analysis of the shape, form, and size of living organisms, organs, or physical landforms \[ibid\]

Oogenesis: (noun) the biological process by which female gametes, or egg cells (ova), are produced and mature in the ovaries \[ibid\]

Attenuate: (adjective) reduced in strength, value, or made thin and slender \[ibid\]

Apical: (adjective) relating to, located at, or forming an apex, which is the top, tip, or highest point of a structure \[ibid\]

Panegyric: (noun) a formal speech or piece of writing that expresses high and elaborate praise for a person, group, or institution \[from the podcast Echoes of Empire\]

Ormolu: (noun) finely cast bronze, brass, or copper decorated with a thin, durable layer of high-carat gold \[from the ITV programme Poirot\]

Gravamen: (noun) the core, essence, or most serious part of a complaint, charge, or legal action \[from this tweet [https://x.com/wesyang/status/2093156167086149640?s=46](https://x.com/wesyang/status/2093156167086149640?s=46)\]