| Term | Definition |
|---|
| excursus \ik-SKUR-sus\ | a message that departs from the main subject |
| trice \TRYS\ | a very short time; an instant; a moment |
| sedition \sih-DISH-un\ | resistance to authority, insubordination |
| apostasy \uh-POS-tuh-see\ | abandonment of one's religion, party, principles, or cause |
| arriviste \a-ree-VEEST\ | a person who has recently attained success, wealth, or high status but not general acceptance or respect; an upstart. |
| prepotency \pree-POTE-n-see\ | quality of having superior power |
| tenet \TEN-it\ | any opinion, principle, dogma, or doctrine that a person believes or maintains as true |
| clarion \KLAIR-ee-uhn\ | a medieval brass instrument with a clear shrill tone |
| toper \TOH-puhr\ | drunkard |
| argot \AHR-go; -gut\ | a specialized vocabulary for a particular group |
| abecedarian \ay-bee-see-DAIR-ee-uhn\ | pertaining to the alphabet; rudimentary; a beginner |
| rivulet \RIV-yuh-lut\ | a small stream |
| putsch \PUCH ('u' as in 'push')\ | an attempt to overthrow a government |
| brio \BREE-oh\ | enthusiastic vigor; vivacity; liveliness; spirit |
| spoonerism \SPOO-nuh-riz-uhm\ | a mistake in speaking in which the sounds of two or more words are switched, such as "ears and sparrows" for "spears and arrows" |
| quagmire \KWAG-myr; KWOG-\ | soft, soggy mud or slush; a difficult or entrapping situation |
| ukase \yoo-KAYS; -kayz\ | order or proclamation by an authority |
| indigence \IN-dih-juhn(t)s\ | a state of extreme poverty or destitution |
| termagant \TUR-muh-guhnt\ | a scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman |
| pantheon \PAN-thee-on; -uhn\ | public building dedicated to the dead or gods |
| celerity \suh-LAIR-uh-tee\ | quickness; swiftness |
| pastiche \pas-TEESH; pahs-\ | a work of art that imitates the style of some previous work |
| denouement \day-noo-MAWN\ | an outcome; result |
| acrimony \AK-ruh-moh-nee\ | bitterness; hatred |
| penchant \PEN-chunt\ | a strong attraction; inclination |
| bombast \BOM-bast\ | pompous or pretentious talk or writing |
| delectation \dee-lek-TAY-shun\ | great pleasure; delight. |
| polymath \POL-ee-math\ | a person of great and varied learning |
| fiat \FEE-uht; -at; -aht; FY-uht; -at\ | an official order |
| bon vivant \bon-vee-VONT\ | a person who enjoys good food and drink and lives luxuriously |
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