Expanding lexicon

Words I had to look up today while reading Walter Benjamin's "The Task of the Translator" (which I loved, I think...).

apodictic - demonstrably or necessarily true; expressing absolute certainty

banausic - serving utilitarian purposes only; mechanical; practical

On the other hand, this morning I wondered aloud if maybe the New York Times isn't slipping just a little in some areas and was told that, "You're not the only one who's said that lately."