| Term | Definition |
|---|
| aphorism | a short pithy instructive saying |
| pique | a sudden outburst of anger |
| approbation | official recognition or approval |
| precipitate | bring about abruptly |
| laconic | brief and to the point |
| hedonist | someone motivated by desires for sensual pleasures |
| taciturn | habitually reserved and uncommunicative |
| iconoclastic | characterized by attack on established beliefs or institutions |
| didactic | instructive (especially excessively) |
| prevaricate | be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information |
| internecine | characterized by bloodshed and carnage for both sides |
| contrived | showing effects of planning or manipulation |
| diabolical | extremely evil or cruel |
| belie | represent falsely |
| sycophant | a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage |
| harbinger | an indication of the approach of something or someone |
| paucity | an insufficient quantity or number |
| flippant | lacking proper seriousness |
| adjudicate | to settle judicially |
| platonic | free from physical desire |
| vindictive | showing malicious ill will and a desire to hurt |
| immured | imprisoned or confined |
| ephemeral | enduring a very short time |
| crenate | having a margin with rounded scallops |
| garrulous | full of trivial conversation |
| sanguine | inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life |
| cep | brown edible mushroom |
| modicum | a small or moderate or token amount |
| indubitably | in a manner or to a degree that could not be doubted |
| symptomatic | characteristic or indicative of e.g. a disease |
| salubrious | promoting health |
| beatification | the action of rendering supremely blessed and extremely happy |
| bellicose | warlike |
| martinet | A strict disciplinarian |
| abrogate | revoke formally |
| ziggurat | a rectangular tiered temple or terraced mound erected by the ancient Assyrians and Babylonians |
| solipsism | (philosophy) the philosophical theory that the self is all that you know to exist |
| Corinthian | a man devoted to the pursuit of pleasure |
| simulacrum | an insubstantial or vague semblance |
| academic | an educator who works at a college or university |
| argot | a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves) |
| Merovingian | a Frankish dynasty founded by Clovis I that reigned in Gaul and Germany from about 500 to 750 |
| factotum | a person employed to do all kinds of work. |
| quixotic | not sensible about practical matters |
| trepanation | the act of surgically cutting a round hole. |
| argot | a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves) |
| riposte | a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one) |
| immolate | offer as a sacrifice by killing or by giving up to destruction |
| estoppel | a rule of evidence whereby a person is barred from denying the truth of a fact that has already been settled |
| piratical | characteristic of pirates |
| aspergillum | vessel for sprinkling holy water |
| reticence | the trait of being uncommunicative |
| macabre | shockingly repellent |
| test | the act of testing something |
| terms | the amount of money needed to purchase something |
| hedonistic | devoted to pleasure |
| elocution | an expert manner of speaking involving control of voice and gesture |
| fungible | a commodity that is freely interchangeable with another in satisfying an obligation |
| phlegmatic | showing little emotion |
| legislation | the act of making or enacting laws |
| susurrus | the indistinct sound of people whispering |
| imprimatur | formal and explicit approval |
| parallel | an imaginary line around the Earth parallel to the equator |
| blog | user generated site with reverse chronological entries |
| diffident | lacking self-confidence |
| mens_rea | (law) criminal intent |
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