unheimlich (de)

uncanny (used by Freud)

unicameral (en)

(adjective) having or consisting of a single legislative chamber

unlettered (en)

(adjective) lacking facility in reading and writing and ignorant of the knowledge to be gained from books / (adjective) illiterate / (adjective) not marked with letters

urubus (en)

black vulture

Uruguay Round (en)

the 8th round of multilateral trade negotiations (MTN) conducted within the framework of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), spanning from 1986 to 1994 and embracing 123 countries as "contracting parties"; led to the formation of the WTO (starting Jan 1 1995) from the ashes of the GATT

usufruct (en)

(noun) the legal right of using and enjoying the fruits or profits of something belonging to another / (noun) the right to use or enjoy something

vacillate (en)

alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; differs from oscillate in that the rhythm is irregular

vade mecum (en)

(noun) a book for ready reference; manual / (noun) something regularly carried about by a person

vainglory (en)

(noun) excessive or ostentatious pride especially in one's achievements / (noun) vain display or show; vanity

valedictory (en)

(adj) serving as a farewell OR (noun) a farewell address

valence (en)

(chemistry) the combining power of an element. or like, aspect

valorization (en)

give or assign a value to, especially a higher value: "The prophets valorized history"

value rationality (en)

defined by Max Weber in opposition to instrumental rationality: "determined by a conscious belief in the value for its own sake of some ethical, aesthetic, religious, or other form of behavior, independently of its prospects of success"

vamps (en)

(in jazz and popular music) a short, simple introductory passage, usually repeated several times

vanishing mediator (en)

a concept that exists to mediate between two opposing ideas, as a transition occurs between them. At the point where one idea has been replaced by the other, and the concept is no longer required, the mediator vanishes. Fredric Jameson introduced the term in a 1973 essay; used by Žižek

vanitas painting (en)

a still life that contains collections of objects symbolic of the inevitability of death and the transience and vanity of earthly achievements and pleasures; it exhorts the viewer to consider mortality and to repent; most notable during the 16th/17th centuries in Flanders and the Netherlands

variegated (en)

(adj) exhibiting different colors, especially as irregular patches or streaks

vatic (en)

(adjective) prophetic, oracular; describing or predicting what will happen in the future

velleity (en)

(noun) the lowest degree of volition / (noun) a slight wish or tendency; inclination

venerable (en)

accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character

verdant (en)

green with vegetation; covered with growing plants or grass

verdigrised (en)

a green or bluish patina formed on copper, brass, or bronze surfaces when exposed to air

vergers (en)

a person, usually a layperson, who assists in the ordering of religious services, particularly in Anglican churches

veridical (en)

(adjective) truthful veracious / (adjective) not illusory; genuine

verisimilar (en)

having the appearance of truth; likely; probable