| Term | Definition |
| glib | adj. done in a smooth, offhand manner; easily spoken; speaking too smoothly to be sincere |
| lugubrious | adj. sad or mournful, often to an exaggerated degree; doleful |
| finesse | n. delicate skill; subtlety; v. to bring about with skill; to evade |
| nemesis | n. an avenger; an unbeatable rival; a person who punishes another for evil deeds |
| purloin | v. to steal |
| banal | adj. commonplace; trite; stale from overuse |
| pseudonym | n. a fictitious name assumed by an author; a pen name |
| lampoon | n. strongly satirical writing; v. to ridicule or satarize |
| nefarious | adj. villainous; infamous; having a bad reputation |
| bellicose | adj. quarrelsomsome; hostile; inclined to fighting |
| euphemism | n. a mild expression used in place of a harsh, crude, or distasteful expression |
| nebulous | adj. hazy; vague; not clearly defined |
| abject | adj. hopelessly low; wretched; miserable; without self-respect |
| propriety | n. acceptable behavior; conformity with conventional standards |
| revile | v. to attack with abusive language; to call insulting names |
| distraught | adj. in a state of mental conflict; agitated; crazed |
| admonish | v. to reprove mildy and kindly, but seriusly; to caution or warn; to urge |
| prosaic | adj. matter-of-fact; ordinary; commonplace |
| phlegmatic | adj. sluggish; indifferent; calm |
| commensurate | adj. in proper proportion; having the same scale, measure, or size; proportionate |