| Term | Definition |
|---|
| pellucid | transparent, clear; also, easily understandable. |
| moribund | dying. |
| roseate | cheerful; bright; also, rose-colored. |
| conspectus | a sketch, survey, or outline of a subject. |
| missive | a written message; a letter. |
| genial | sympathetically cheerful and cheering; kindly. |
| idee fixe | a fixed idea; an obsession. |
| Pyrrhic victory | a victory achieved at great cost. |
| bucolic | rustic; pastoral. |
| crux | the essential point or feature. |
| satiety | fullness to or beyond the point of satisfaction. |
| vivify | to endue with life; to enliven. |
| slaver | to slobber; to drool. |
| beau ideal | a perfect or an idealized type or model. |
| raffish | tawdry; also, rakish. |
| impregnable | able to resist attack. |
| doyen | the senior member of a body or group. |
| sonorous | yielding sound; impressive in sound. |
| turbid | muddy; not clear; also, confused; disordered. |
| apogee | the highest point. |
| hoi polloi | the common people; the masses. |
| malodorous | having a bad odor. |
| lapidary | of or pertaining to stone cutting; also, terse or refined in expression. |
| hardscrabble | barren, marginal; also, marked by poverty. |
| enjoin | to direct or impose with authority; also, to forbid. |
| nascent | beginning to exist. |
| exegesis | exposition; explanation. |
| favonian | pertaining to the west wind; soft; mild; gentle. |
| punctilio | a fine point of exactness in conduct, ceremony, or procedure. |
| interregnum | the interval between two reigns; also, any breach of continuity in an order. |
| hinterland | backcountry. |
| chimerical | merely imaginary; fanciful. |
| sunder | to break apart. |
| uxorious | excessively fond of or submissive to a wife. |
| coxcomb | a vain, showy fellow. |
| bowdlerize | to remove or modify the parts considered offensive. |
| incarnadine | pink or red; also, to redden. |
| tractable | docile; manageable, governable. |
| bromide | a commonplace or conventional saying. |
| eddy | a current running contrary to a main current or in a circular direction. |
| imprecation | a curse. |
| foofaraw | excessive or flashy ornamentation; also, a fuss over a trivial matter. |
| cudgel | a short heavy stick. |
| yeasty | frothy; foamy; spumy, like yeast. |
| pettifogger | a petty, unscrupulous lawyer; also, who quibbles over trivia. |
| extemporaneous | composed, performed, or uttered on the spur of the moment. |
| censure | to criticize severely; also, an expression of disapproval. |
| supine | lying on the back; also, indolent; listless. |
| inscrutable | difficult to fathom or understand. |
| dissimulate | to hide under a false appearance; also, to feign or pretend. |
| overweening | overbearing; also, excessive. |
| conflate | to bring together; to meld. |
| maunder | to talk or wander aimlessly. |
| gadabout | one who roams about in search of amusement or social activity. |
| cohort | a group; also, a companion or associate. |
| homily | a sermon or lecture; also, an inspirational saying or a platitude. |
| debouch | to emerge; to issue. |
| machination | a crafty scheme intended to accomplish some usually evil end. |
| unguent | an ointment. |
| skulk | to hide in a sneaking manner. |
| dictum | an authoritative statement. |
| risible | exciting or provoking laughter. |
| sartorial | of or relating to a tailor, tailoring, or clothing. |
| interstice | a space between things or parts. |
| Argus-eyed | extremely observant; watchful. |
| syncretic | uniting and blending together different belief systems. |
| ossify | to harden or to become bone. |
| approbation | formal or official approval; also, praise. |
| inkhorn | affectedly or ostentatiously learned. |
| olla podrida | a kind of seasoned stew; also, a mixture, a hodgepodge. |
| neologism | a new word or expression; the use or creation of new words or expressions. |
| pule | to whimper; to whine. |
| reticent | inclined to keep silent. |
| opportune | suitable for a given purpose or occasion. |
| impassive | devoid of emotion; also, showing no emotion. |
| derogate | to deviate from expectation; also, to detract; also, to disparage. |
| malaise | a condition of uneasiness or ill-being. |
| flibbertigibbet | a silly, flighty, or excessively talkative person. |
| urbane | polished and smooth in manner. |
| wassail | an expression of good wishes on a festive occasion, especially in drinking to some one. |
| irenic | promoting peace. |
| bricolage | construction or something constructed by using whatever materials happen to be available. |
| efface | to cause to disappear by rubbing out, striking out, etc. |
| equanimity | calmness; composure. |
| acuity | acuteness of perception or vision. |
| ignoramus | an ignorant person; a dunce. |
| fait accompli | an accomplished and presumably irreversible deed or fact. |
| prevaricate | to depart from or evade the truth. |
| ostracize | to banish or expel. |
| fillip | a snap; also, a stimulus. |
| apocryphal | of doubtful authority or authenticity. |
| harangue | a speech addressed to a public assembly; also, a noisy or pompous speech. |
| copse | a thicket of small trees. |
| obfuscate | to darken or obscure. |
| agrestic | pertaining to fields or the country. |
| congeries | a collection; an aggregation. |
| peripatetic | walking about or traveling from place to place. |
| turgid | swollen, bloated; also, bombastic, pompous. |
| idyll | a poem or prose work depicting rural or pastoral life; also, a carefree episode or experience. |
| ab ovo | from the beginning. |
| gauche | lacking social polish; tactless. |
| inexorable | unyielding; relentless. |
| putative | commonly thought or deemed; supposed. |
| dotage | feebleness of mind due to old age. |
| bootless | unavailing; useless. |
| proclivity | a natural inclination. |
| exacerbate | to aggravate; to make worse. |
| subaltern | subordinate. |
| mollify | to reduce in intensity; to soothe; to soften. |
| trencherman | a hearty eater. |
| avoirdupois | weight; heaviness. |
| inclement | harsh; severe -- especially said of the weather. |
| travail | painful, arduous work; also, agony, anguish. |
| equivocate | to be deliberately ambiguous or unclear. |
| redact | to edit. |
| vapid | flat; dull; spiritless. |
| galvanic | pertaining to a direct current of electricity; also, having the effect of an electric shock. |
| swan song | a final or farewell appearance, action, or pronouncement. |
| recalcitrant | stubbornly resistant to and defiant of authority or restraint. |
| indomitable | incapable of being subdued or overcome. |
| bloviate | to speak or write in a pompous manner. |
| tutelary | guardian; protecting. |
| privation | the state of being deprived of something. |
| gambol | to dance and skip about in play. |
| deprecate | to disapprove of; also, to belittle. |
| braggadocio | empty boasting. |
| perorate | to conclude or sum up a long discourse; also, to speak at length. |
| hypnagogic | leading to sleep; hypnotic. |
| concinnity | elegance -- used chiefly of literary style. |
| extraneous | coming from the outside; also, not essential; also, irrelevant. |
| lascivious | lewd; lustful. |
| facile | easily done or performed. |
| tchotchke | a trinket; a knickknack. |
| exemplar | an ideal model or type. |
| obstreperous | noisily and stubbornly defiant; also, boisterous. |
| qua | in the capacity or character of; as. |
| ken | perception, view; especially, reach of sight or knowledge. |
| ancillary | subordinate, subsidiary; auxiliary. |
| perfidy | faithlessness; treachery. |
| felicitous | apt or appropriate; also, delightful. |
| solicitous | manifesting, expressing, or full of care or concern. |
| crabwise | sideways; also, in a cautiously indirect manner. |
| rapport | relation characterized by sympathetic understanding. |
| inveterate | deep-rooted; of long standing. |
| virtu | love of or taste for fine objects of art; also, productions of art. |
| contemporaneous | originating, existing, or occurring at the same time. |
| febrile | feverish. |
| wan | pale; also, lacking vitality or intensity. |
| acquiesce | to accept or consent passively or without objection. |
| confute | to refute conclusively. |
| insouciant | Marked by blithe unconcern; nonchalant. |
| surcease | cessation; stop; end. |
| arcane | understood or known by only a few. |
| verisimilitude | the quality of seeming to be true. |
| pervicacious | stubborn; obstinate. |
| small beer | weak beer; also, matters of little importance. |
| vade mecum | a book or other thing that one regularly carries about. |
| suasion | the act of persuading. |
| pejorative | disparaging; belittling. |
| tetchy | peevish; testy; irritable. |
| erudite | characterized by extensive reading or knowledge. |
| fanfaronade | empty boasting; bluster. |
| riparian | of or pertaining to the bank of a river. |
| inhere | to be inherent. |
| staid | steady or sedate in character. |
| commodious | comfortably spacious; roomy. |
| improvident | lacking foresight; negligent; thoughtless. |
| cataract | a large waterfall; also, a downpour, a flood. |
| solace | comfort in grief. |
| opprobrium | reproach mingled with contempt. |
| stanch | to stop the flowing of; to check. |
| vertiginous | causing dizziness; also, giddy; dizzy. |
| militate | to have force or influence. |
| ostensible | appearing to be true, but not necessarily so. |
| fulsome | offensive from excess of praise. |
| aesthete | one who cultivates great sensitivity to beauty. |
| monomania | obsession with a single subject. |
| prescient | knowing or anticipating the outcome of events before they happen. |
| prima facie | at first view. |
| supercilious | disdainfully arrogant. |
| concatenation | a chain; a succession. |
| inveigh | to rail (against some person or thing). |
| sough | to make a soft, low sighing or rustling sound. |
| avuncular | resembling an uncle, as in kindness or indulgence. |
| peremptory | precluding or putting an end to all debate or action. |
| ascribe | to attribute. |
| compunction | anxiety or unease from guilt; also, a scruple. |
| animus | a feeling of ill will; also, animating spirit; disposition. |
| piebald | mottled; also, mixed. |
| eremite | a hermit. |
| corroborate | to strengthen or make more certain with other evidence. |
| fatuous | inanely foolish; stupid; also, llusory. |
| arrogate | to claim or seize without right or justification. |
| chary | wary; cautious. |
| fortuitous | happening by chance. |
| adumbrate | to outline; also, to foreshadow; also, to suggest; also, to shade. |
| supposititious | fraudulently substituted; also, hypothetical. |
| renege | to go back on a promise or commitment. |
| vagary | an extravagant, erratic, or unpredictable notion, action, or occurrence. |
| tete-a-tete | a private conversation. |
| expiate | to make amends for; to atone for. |
| denizen | an inhabitant. |
| robustious | boisterous; vigorous. |
| provender | food or provisions. |
| habitue | one who habitually frequents a place. |
| aegis | a shield; protection. |
| sui generis | unique. |
| requisite | required; indispensable. |
| explicate | to explain. |
| plaudit | enthusiastic approval. |
| depredation | an act of plundering or ravaging. |
| complaisant | exhibiting a desire to please. |
| emblazon | to display pompously; to decorate. |
| apotheosis | a model of excellence or perfection of a kind. |
| hubris | overbearing pride or presumption. |
| genuflect | to bend the knee, as in worship; also, to grovel. |
| histrionic | theatrical. |
| quisling | a collaborator; a traitor. |
| cap-a-pie | from head to foot. |
| mountebank | a quack; also, a charlatan. |
| connubial | of or pertaining to marriage. |
| florid | flushed with red; also, excessively ornate. |
| arrant | outright; thoroughgoing. |
| quandary | a state of difficulty or perplexity. |
| imbroglio | a complicated and embarrassing state of things. |
| innocuous | harmless; also, unlikely to offend or provoke. |
| scuttlebutt | gossip; rumor. |
| bon ton | the height of the fashion; fashionable society. |
| nescience | lack of knowledge or awareness. |
| exculpate | to clear from alleged fault or guilt. |
| cursory | hastily or superficially performed. |
| mordant | biting; caustic; sarcastic. |
| limn | to draw or paint; also, to describe. |
| plebeian | common; vulgar. |
| grandiloquent | lofty in style. |
| apologia | a formal defense or justification. |
| germane | appropriate or fitting; relevant. |
| eschew | to shun; to avoid. |
| heterogeneous | consisting of dissimilar elements. |
| contretemps | something inopportune or embarrassing. |
| stormy petrel | a type of seabird; also, one fond of or bringing strife. |
| neoteric | recent in origin; new. |
| glabrous | without hairs or projections; smooth. |
| extricate | to free or release from a difficulty or entanglement. |
| contumely | rudeness compounded of haughtiness and contempt. |
| bravura | a showy display. |
| paucity | fewness; insufficiency. |
| arbiter | one having the power of judging and determining. |
| discrete | constituting a separate thing; also, consisting of distinct or unconnected parts. |
| gainsay | to contradict; to deny. |
| emolument | the wages or perquisites arising from office, employment, or labor. |
| billingsgate | foul language. |
| practicable | feasible; also, usable. |
| choleric | easily angered; also, indicating or expressing anger. |
| juxtaposition | the act or an instance of placing in nearness. |
| salad days | a time of youthful inexperience, innocence, or indiscretion. |
| gravid | pregnant. |
| transmogrify | to transform. |
| ephemeron | something short-lived. |
| clemency | disposition to show mercy; also, an act of mercy. |
| languor | lack of energy or vitality. |
| sobriquet | a nickname. |
| littoral | on a coastal or shore region. |
| Brobdingnagian | gigantic; enormous. |
| sedulous | diligent in application or pursuit. |
| autocrat | a ruler with unlimited authority. |
| copious | large in quantity; also, affording an abundant supply. |
| venal | capable of being bought; also, corruptible. |
| timorous | full of apprehensiveness; fearful. |
| aficionado | an enthusiastic admirer; a fan. |
| luminary | any body that gives light; also, a person of eminence or brilliant achievement. |
| daedal | skillful; artistic; ingenious. |
| temerity | unreasonable or foolhardy contempt of danger. |
| wag | a humorous person; a wit. |
| execrable | detestable; extremely bad. |
| rapine | the act of plundering. |
| pablum | something (as writing or speech) that is trite, insipid, or simplistic. |
| aspersion | a damaging or derogatory remark. |
| otiose | ineffective; also, being at leisure; also, of no use. |
| turgid | swollen, bloated; also, bombastic, pompous. |
| derogate | to deviate from expectation; also, to detract; also, to disparage. |
| virtu | love of or taste for fine objects of art; also, productions of art. |
| appurtenance | an adjunct or accessory. |
| cupidity | eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth. |
| multifarious | having great diversity or variety. |
| fulsome | offensive from excess of praise. |
| arrant | outright; thoroughgoing. |
| palimpsest | an object or place whose older layers or aspects are apparent. |
| spurious | not genuine; false; illegitimate. |
| cognoscente | a person with special knowledge. |
| bombinate | to buzz, hum, or drone. |
| incontrovertible | indisputable; unquestionable. |
| protean | readily assuming different shapes or forms. |
| torpid | dull; sluggish; apathetic. |
| junta | a governmental council or committee, esp. one that rules after a revolution. |
| variegated | having marks or patches of different colors; also, varied. |
| malcontent | one who is discontented or dissatisfied. |
| cerebration | the act or product of thinking. |
| forfend | to avert; also, to protect or preserve. |
| equable | equal and uniform; also, not easily disturbed. |
| pleonasm | the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea. |
| chicanery | the use of trickery to deceive. |
| defenestrate | to throw out of a window. |
| martinet | a strict disciplinarian. |
| brummagem | cheap and showy; also, spurious. |
| cum | with; along with; combined with. |
| hobbledehoy | an awkward, gawky young fellow. |
| fustian | pompous or pretentious language. |
| bonhomie | pleasant and easy manner. |
| rusticate | to go or send to the country. |
| stripling | an adolescent youth. |
| panoply | a splendid or impressive array. |
| coeval | existing during the same period of time; also, a contemporary. |
| salmagundi | a mixture or assortment; also, a kind of mixed dish or salad. |
| desuetude | disuse. |
| land of Nod | sleep. |
| hortatory | serving to encourage or incite. |
| choler | anger. |
| expeditious | characterized by speed and efficiency. |
| implacable | incapable of being pacified. |
| patina | a superficial layer. |
| caveat | a warning or caution. |
| itinerant | traveling from place to place. |
| agog | in eager desire. |
| rebarbative | repellent; irritating. |
| sporadic | occuring singly, or occasionally, or in scattered instances. |
| equipoise | equilibrium; also, counterbalance. |
| harridan | a scolding, vicious woman. |
| provenance | origin; source. |
| microcosm | a smaller, representative system having analogies to a larger system. |
| gloaming | twilight; dusk. |
| doula | a woman who assists in childbirth. |
| largess | generous giving; also, gifts of money or other valuables. |
| dilettante | an amateur; also, an admirer or lover of the fine arts. |
| simulacrum | a representation; an insubstantial or vague semblance. |
| toothsome | delicious; attractive; luscious. |
| countermand | to revoke (a former command) or recall by a contrary order. |
| expropriate | to deprive of possession; also, to transfer (property) to oneself. |
| perambulate | to stroll; to walk through or over. |
| contradistinction | distinction by contrast. |
| ululate | to howl; to wail. |
| crapulous | sick from, or marked by, excessive drinking. |
| parvenu | an upstart; one newly risen in class or economic status. |
| manse | a large and imposing residence. |
| uxorious | excessively fond of or submissive to a wife. |
| Ides | the fifteenth day of March, May, July, and October, and the thirteenth day of the other months. |
| megalomania | a mental disorder characterized by delusions of grandeur. |
| verdant | green. |
| amalgam | an alloy of mercury with other metals; also, a mixture. |
| dudgeon | a state or fit of intense indignation. |
| paragon | a model of excellence or perfection. |
| aubade | a song greeting the dawn. |
| succor | aid; help; also, to help or relieve. |
| paterfamilias | the male head of a household; the father of a family. |
| stolid | unexcitable; unemotional. |
| metier | an occupation, especially in which one excels. |
| bellwether | a leader or leading indicator. |
| confluence | a flowing or coming together. |
| superfluous | more than is wanted or is sufficient. |
| invidious | tending to provoke envy or ill will. |
| benignant | kind; gracious; favorable. |
| edacious | given to eating. |
| malleable | capable of being shaped; also, adaptable. |
| parlous | fraught with danger; hazardous. |
| disparate | fundamentally different; also, composed of dissimilar elements. |
| sapient | wise; sage; discerning. |
| visage | the face; also, appearance; aspect. |
| excoriate | to express strong disapproval of; also, to flay. |
| tendentious | marked by a strong tendency in favor of a particular point of view. |
| milieu | environment; setting. |
| deus ex machina | an agent who appears unexpectedly to solve an apparently insoluble difficulty. |
| autodidact | one who is self-taught. |
| stertorous | characterized by a heavy snoring or gasping sound. |
| eleemosynary | relating to charity; charitable. |
| concupiscence | lust. |
| spoony | foolishly or sentimentally in love. |
| desideratum | something desired. |
| malaise | a condition of uneasiness or ill-being. |
| imbue | to dye; to instill profoundly. |
| canard | an unfounded or false report. |
| probity | complete and confirmed integrity. |
| titivate | to smarten up; to spruce. |
| jovial | merry; joyous; jolly. |
| salutary | beneficial; also, healthful. |
| alacrity | a cheerful readiness, willingness, or promptness. |
| munificent | very generous. |
| cogent | appealing to the mind or to reason; convincing. |
| apothegm | a short, witty, and instructive saying. |
| posit | to postulate; also, to suggest. |
| scion | a descendant; an heir. |
| vim | energy; vigor. |
| plenary | full; complete. |
| gastronome | a lover of good food and drink. |
| sine qua non | an indispensable thing. |
| exegete | one who explains or interprets difficult parts of written works. |
| recondite | difficult to understand. |
| diktat | an authoritative decree or order. |
| esurient | hungry; greedy. |
| ineffable | incapable of being expressed. |
| dubiety | the condition or quality of being doubtful; also, a matter of doubt. |
| pugilist | a boxer. |
| renascent | rising again into being; showing renewed vigor. |
| sesquipedalian | (of words) long; having many syllables. |
| encumbrance | a burden, impediment, or hindrance. |
| pugnacious | combative; quarrelsome. |
| capricious | whimsical; changeable. |
| comity | a state of mutual harmony, friendship, and respect. |
| quondam | former; sometime. |
| ergo | therefore; consequently. |
| susurration | a whispering; a soft murmur. |
| irrefragable | impossible to refute. |
| tutelage | guardianship; protection; also, instruction. |
| incommunicado | without means or right to communicate. |
| predilection | an established preference. |
| flippant | showing inappropriate levity; pert. |
| grandee | a man of elevated rank or station; a nobleman. |
| wunderkind | one who achieves success or acclaim during youth. |
| lucre | money; profit. |
| epigone | an inferior imitator. |
| sang-froid | coolness in trying circumstances. |
| consanguineous | related by blood; descended from the same ancestor. |
| transmute | to change from one nature, form, substance, or state into another. |
| galumph | to move in a clumsy manner or with a heavy tread. |
| rejoinder | an answer to a reply. |
| distrait | divided or withdrawn in attention, especially because of anxiety. |
| vituperation | abusive language. |
| lubricious | lewd; also, slippery or smooth. |
| oblation | an offering. |
| putsch | an attempt to overthrow a government. |
| impervious | impenetrable; also, not capable of being affected. |
| cosmopolite | a cosmopolitan person. |
| quagmire | a predicament. |
| eldritch | unearthly; weird; eerie. |
| indurate | to make hard; to harden. |
| slake | to satisfy or quench; also, to cause to lessen. |
| profuse | plentiful; copious. |
| hubris | overbearing pride or presumption. |
| apogee | the highest point. |
| voluble | characterized by a ready flow of speech. |
| bibulous | of, pertaining to, marked by, or given to the consumption of alcohol. |
| perfunctory | done routinely. |
| omnipresent | present in all places at the same time. |
| forlorn | sad and lonely because deserted, abandoned, or lost. |
| evince | to show in a clear manner. |
| seriatim | in a series; one after another. |
| coruscate | to give off or reflect bright beams or flashes of light. |
| turpitude | baseness; depravity. |
| moiety | a half; a small part. |
| bete noire | something or someone particularly detested or avoided. |
| stasis | a state of balance, equilibrium, or stagnation. |
| extirpate | to eradicate; to destroy. |
| perdurable | very durable; long lasting. |
| circumambient | surrounding; encompassing. |
| ukase | an edict. |
| discursive | digressive; rambling; also, marked by analytical reasoning. |
| pukka | authentic; genuine; also, first-class. |
| kvetch | to complain habitually. |
| brio | vigor; vivacity. |
| importunate | troublesomely urgent. |
| dishabille | the state of being carelessly or partially dressed. |
| purblind | having greatly reduced vision. |
| asseverate | to affirm or declare positively or earnestly. |
| celerity | quickness; swiftness. |
| nefarious | wicked in the extreme. |
| agitprop | propaganda. |
| inamorata | a woman whom one is in love with. |
| diffident | bashful or unassertive. |
| polymath | a person of great or varied learning. |
| fiduciary | relating to the holding of something in trust for another. |
| perspicacity | clearness of understanding. |
| legerdemain | sleight of hand. |
| cavalcade | a procession. |
| faineant | doing nothing; idle; also, a do-nothing. |
| perforce | by necessity. |
| mellifluous | flowing sweetly or smoothly. |
| eschew | to shun; to avoid. |
| blackguard | a scoundrel. |
| mulct | to defraud. |
| paean | a song or other expression of praise or joy. |
| incipient | beginning to exist or appear. |
| salubrious | healthful. |
| fiat | an arbitrary or authoritative command or order. |
| gelid | extremely cold; icy. |
| billet | to quarter, or place in lodgings. |
| incongruous | lacking in harmony. |
| nepotism | favoritism shown to members of one's family. |
| fey | possessing or displaying a strange and otherworldly aspect or quality. |
| ambuscade | an ambush; also, to ambush. |
| gourmand | one who enjoys good food in great quantities. |
| lachrymose | given to causing tears. |
| coquette | a flirt. |
| potboiler | a usually inferior literary or artistic work, produced quickly for the purpose of making money. |
| parse | to analyze. |
| nimiety | excess. |
| quotidian | occurring daily; also, ordinary. |
| fugacious | lasting but a short time. |
| cabal | a group that seeks power usually through intrigue. |
| pecuniary | relating to money. |
| postprandial | happening or done after a meal. |
| spoonerism | the transposition of usually initial sounds in a pair of words. |
| furbelow | something showy or superfluous. |
| stygian | dark and gloomy; also, infernal. |
| lumpen | those individuals cut off from their normal socioeconomic class. |
| copacetic | very satisfactory. |
| pestiferous | bearing or bringing disease, moral harm, or annoyance. |
| luculent | clear; easily understood. |
| sapid | having flavor, especially a strong pleasant flavor. |
| contemn | to scorn; to despise. |
| aliment | nutriment or sustenance. |
| temporize | to be indecisive or evasive in order to gain time; also, to go with the times. |
| magniloquent | lofty or grandiose in speech or expression. |
| jape | to jest. |
| biddable | easily led or commanded; obedient. |
| cloy | to weary or become distasteful through excess. |
| amanuensis | one employed to take dictation or to copy manuscripts. |
| shibboleth | a word, pronunciation, saying, belief, practice, etc., that distinguishes one group from another. |
| complement | something that fills up or completes. |
| maudlin | excessively sentimental. |
| Panglossian | excessively or naively optimistic. |
| supervene | to take place or occur as something additional, extraneous, or unexpected. |
| hagiography | biography of saints; also, idealizing or idolizing biography. |
| malapropos | unseasonable or unseasonably; inappropriate or inappropriately. |
| redoubt | a stronghold. |
| detritus | debris. |
| obloquy | ill repute. |
| extant | still existing. |
| arbitrage | the nearly simultaneous purchase and sale of an asset in order to profit from price discrepancies. |
| panegyric | an expression of formal or elaborate praise. |
| masticate | to chew. |
| fettle | a state or condition of fitness, order, or mind. |
| cavalcade | a procession. |
| enervate | to weaken. |
| atavism | reversion to a remote ancestral type or to an earlier form. |
| rara avis | a rare or unique person or thing. |
| euphonious | pleasing or sweet in sound. |
| scintilla | a tiny amount; a spark. |
| matutinal | relating to or occurring in the morning. |
| detritus | debris. |
| pusillanimous | cowardly. |
| extol | to praise. |
| intransigent | uncompromising. |
| palindrome | a word, verse, phrase, or sentence that reads the same backward or forward. |
| supplicate | to make a humble and earnest petition. |
| labile | open to change; apt or likely to change. |
| traduce | to vilify. |
| claque | a group of fawning admirers. |
| frisson | a brief moment of intense excitement. |
| extempore | without premeditation or preparation. |
| cosset | to treat with excessive indulgence; to pamper. |
| aver | to assert as true. |
| wayworn | wearied by traveling. |
| ameliorate | to make or grow better. |
| concomitant | accompanying; attending. |
| triskaidekaphobia | fear of the number 13. |
| indolent | lazy; inactive. |
| lenity | the state or quality of being lenient. |
| camarilla | a group of secret and often scheming advisers. |
| ablution | the washing of the body or some part of it. |
| untoward | not favorable or fortunate; also, improper. |
| menagerie | a collection of wild or unusual animals; also, a diverse group. |
| presage | an omen; also, to predict. |
| abnegate | refuse or deny oneself; also, to give up (rights, claims, etc.). |
| faction | a usually contentious group or party; also, internal dissension. |
| pallor | unusual or extreme paleness. |
| suffuse | spread through or over; to flush. |
| artifice | an artful trick, stratagem or device; also, cleverness, skill. |
| saturnine | gloomy or sullen. |
| lionize | to treat or regard as an object great interest or importance. |
| finical | finicky. |
| pliant | easily bent or flexed; also, easily influenced; compliant. |
| dissemble | to hide under a false appearance; also, to assume a false appearance. |
| recreant | cowardly; also, unfaithful or disloyal. |
| fetter | a restraint; also, to impose restraints on. |
| tumid | swollen; bulging; also, bombastic. |
| agglomeration | a cluster or mass. |
| odium | intense hatred or dislike. |
| unfledged | not fully developed; immature. |
| countenance | appearance or expression of the face; also, to tolerate or encourage. |
| betimes | early; also, on occasion. |
| glutinous | gluey; sticky. |
| durance | imprisonment. |
| ingenuous | demonstrating childlike simplicity; also, open; frank. |
| manumit | to free from slavery or servitude. |
| hermitage | a secluded residence; a retreat. |
| blandishment | flattering speech or action. |
| peradventure | chance, uncertainty, or doubt. |
| antiquarian | one who collects, studies, or deals in antiquities. |
| naif | a naive or inexperienced person. |
| altercation | a heated, noisy, or angry dispute. |
| quorum | such a number of the officers or members of any body as is legally competent to transact business. |
| gravitas | high seriousness. |
| exigent | requiring immediate aid or action; also, demanding. |
| irascible | easily provoked to anger. |
| ineluctable | impossible to avoid or evade. |
| voluble | characterized by a ready flow of speech. |
| commination | a denunciation. |
| philomath | a lover of learning; a scholar. |
| amative | pertaining to or disposed to love. |
| callow | immature. |
| woebegone | woeful; also, run-down. |
| lineament | a distinguishing or characteristic feature. |
| abscond | to depart secretly. |
| garrulous | talkative; also, wordy. |
| acumen | quickness or keenness of perception or discernment. |
| sentient | capable of perceiving by the senses. |
| varicolored | having a variety of colors. |
| nostrum | a questionable remedy. |
| rictus | a gaping grin or grimace. |
| ameliorate | to make or grow better. |
| somnolent | drowsy; also, tending to cause sleepiness. |
| mien | demeanor; also, aspect; appearance. |
| potable | drinkable; also, a beverage, especially an alcoholic one. |
| temerarious | reckless; rash. |
| introspection | the act or process of self-examination; reflection. |
| malfeasance | wrongdoing, misconduct, or misbehavior. |
| fealty | fidelity; allegiance; faithfulness. |
| atelier | a workshop; a studio. |
| apparition | a ghost; also, an unexpected appearance. |
| propinquity | nearness. |
| ersatz | being a substitute or imitation. |
| flummox | to confuse; to perplex. |
| iota | a very small quantity or degree. |
| ennui | a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction arising from lack of interest. |
| assuage | to soften; to ease, or lessen. |
| regale | to entertain with something that delights. |
| eke | to gain or supplement with great effort or difficulty. |
| badinage | light, playful talk. |
| indelible | incapable of being removed or erased. |
| volte-face | an about-face. |
| kismet | destiny; fate. |
| refulgent | brilliant; resplendent. |
| caesura | a break or pause in a line of verse; also, any break or pause. |
| wastrel | a person who wastes; a loafer. |
| circumlocution | the use of many words to express an idea that might be expressed by few. |
| Zeitgeist | the spirit of the time. |
| affable | easy to speak to; also, gracious. |
| parsimonious | frugal to excess. |
| beholden | obliged; indebted. |
| waylay | to ambush or accost. |
| castigate | to punish or criticize severely. |
| somniferous | causing or inducing sleep. |
| captious | disposed to find fault or raise objections. |
| sojourn | to dwell for a time; also, a temporary stay. |
| nugatory | insignificant; also, ineffectual. |
| ubiquitous | being everywhere. |
| tryst | an appointment (as between lovers) to meet. |
| pari passu | at an equal pace or rate. |
| enmity | hatred; ill will. |
| numinous | spiritual; holy. |
| dilatory | given to, or marked by, procrastination or delay. |
| parley | a conference or discussion; also, to confer. |
| ephemeral | short-lived. |
| truculent | fierce; savage; ferocious. |
| vicissitude | a change in condition or fortune. |
| schadenfreude | a malicious satisfaction in the misfortunes of others. |
| tyro | a novice. |
| expatiate | to speak or write at length. |
| peccadillo | a slight offense; a petty fault. |
| bagatelle | a trifle; also, a short, light literary or musical piece. |
| descant | a discourse; also, to discourse. |
| canorous | melodious; musical. |
| unctuous | marked by a false or smug earnestness or agreeableness. |
| evanescent | fleeting. |
| venial | capable of being forgiven; excusable. |
| capacious | able to contain much. |
| trammel | something that impedes activity, progress, or freedom; also, to hamper. |
| busker | a street musician or performer. |
| sybarite | a person devoted to luxury and pleasure. |
| deride | to laugh at with contempt. |
| cavil | to raise trivial objections; also, a trivial objection. |
| farrago | an assortment; a medley. |
| demagogue | a leader who obtains power by means of appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace. |
| quaff | to drink with relish. |
| hirsute | covered with hair or bristles. |
| tenebrous | dark; gloomy. |
| ostentation | excessive or pretentious display. |
| officious | meddlesome. |
| afflatus | a divine inspiration. |
| quorum | such a number of the officers or members of any body as is legally competent to transact business. |
| hauteur | haughtiness; arrogance. |
| xenophobia | fear or hatred of what is strange or foreign. |
| bacchanalia | a revel. |
| immure | to enclose within or as if within walls. |
| deliquesce | to melt away or become liquid. |
| capitulate | to surrender under agreed conditions. |
| adventitious | added extrinsically; not essentially inherent. |
| modicum | a small or token amount. |
| fetid | stinking. |
| gimcrack | a showy but useless or worthless object. |
| banal | commonplace; trivial. |
| halcyon | peaceful; undisturbed; happy. |
| adamant | not susceptible to persuasion; unyielding. |
| jocund | light-hearted; mirthful. |
| segue | to proceed without interruption. |
| puerile | juvenile; childish. |
| nadir | the lowest point. |
| effulgence | the state of being bright and radiant. |
| inchoate | partly but not fully in existence or operation. |
| beneficence | the practice of doing good. |
| sempiternal | everlasting; eternal. |
| onus | burden; also, blame; stigma. |
| abstemious | temperate; abstinent; refraining from indulgence. |
| cant | empty, solemn speech. |
| laconic | using or marked by the use of a minimum of words. |
| palpable | plain; distinct; obvious. |
| gewgaw | a trinket; a bauble. |
| conurbation | an aggregation or continuous network of urban communities. |
| sinecure | an office or position that involves little work or responsibility. |
| abjure | to renounce, reject, or shun. |
| lackadaisical | lacking spirit or liveliness. |
| aberrant | abnormal. |
| votary | one devoted to some pursuit, worship, study, or way of life. |
| pelf | money; riches. |
| tocsin | a warning. |
| lexicon | a dictionary; also, the vocabulary of a person, group, etc. |
| umbrage | offense; resentment. |
| orotund | full in sound; also, bombastic. |
| loquacious | very talkative. |
| bruit | To report; to noise abroad. |
| virago | an ill-tempered, overbearing woman; also, a woman of great strength and courage. |
| mawkish | sickly or excessively sentimental. |
| malediction | a curse. |
| susurrus | a whispering or rustling sound. |
| neophyte | a novice. |
| immolate | to kill or destroy, often by fire. |
| alpenglow | a reddish glow seen near sunset or sunrise on the summits of mountains. |
| subfusc | dark or dull in color. |
| mores | customs; habits; ways. |
| dapple | a small contrasting blotch; also, to mark with spots. |
| winsome | light-hearted. |
| verdure | greenness. |
| propitious | presenting favorable circumstances. |
| nosegay | a bouquet. |
| oneiric | pertaining to or suggestive of dreams. |
| laudable | praiseworthy; commendable. |
| puissant | powerful. |
| diadem | a crown. |
| ebullient | high-spirited. |
| aplomb | confidence; coolness. |
| kobold | a kind of domestic spirit in German mythology. |
| prestidigitation | sleight of hand. |
| rubicund | inclining to redness; ruddy. |
| lambent | playing on the surface; flickering. |
| anodyne | serving to relieve pain. |
| ingenue | a naive girl or young woman, or an actress representing such a person. |
| subterfuge | a deceptive device or stratagem. |
| maelstrom | a large, powerful whirlpool; also, a violent, disordered, or turbulent state of affairs. |
| crepuscular | pertaining to twilight. |
| repast | a meal. |
| soporific | causing sleep; also, something that causes sleep. |
| bivouac | a usually temporary encampment; also, to encamp. |
| quidnunc | a gossip; a busybody. |
| lassitude | lack of vitality or energy. |
| billet-doux | a love letter. |
| wheedle | to entice by flattery. |
| alfresco | outdoors; outdoor. |
| redivivus | living again; revived; restored. |
| chagrin | acute vexation or embarrassment. |
| gaucherie | a socially awkward or tactless act; also, lack of tact. |
| panache | dash or flamboyance in manner or style. |
| logorrhea | excessive talkativeness. |
| assiduous | constant in application or attention. |
| sylvan | pertaining to woods or forests. |
| voluptuary | a person devoted to luxury and the gratification of sensual appetites. |
| inure | to make used to; also, to take or have effect. |
| auspicious | favorable; also, prosperous; fortunate. |
| tmesis | in grammar and rhetoric, the separation of the parts of a compound word. |
| carapace | a shell; a protective covering. |
| paladin | a champion of a cause. |
| hale | free from disease and weakening conditions; healthy. |
| sacrosanct | sacred; inviolable. |
| melange | a mixture. |
| vainglory | excessive pride or vain display. |
| sub rosa | secretly; privately; confidentially. |
| digerati | persons knowledgeable about computers. |
| confrere | a colleague, comrade, or intimate associate. |
| querulous | habitually complaining; also, expressing complaint. |
| vociferous | clamorous; noisy. |
| firmament | the sky; the heavens. |
| jollification | merrymaking; revelry. |
| benefaction | the act of conferring a benefit; also, a benefit conferred. |
| apposite | of striking appropriateness and relevance. |
| cynosure | a center of attention. |
| quiddity | the essence or nature of a thing. |
| perquisite | a benefit in addition to a salary. |
| Hogmanay | the name, in Scotland, for the last day of the year. |
| neoteric | recent in origin; new. |
| surly | ill-humored; sullen and gruff. |
| vivify | to endue with life; to enliven. |
| sycophant | one who seeks favor by flattery; a toady. |
| abrogate | to annul; to do away with. |
| penury | extreme poverty; also, insufficiency. |
| variegated | having marks or patches of different colors; also, varied. |
| clamber | to climb with difficulty, or on all fours. |
| asperity | roughness of surface, sound, or manner. |
| effete | infertile; also, worn out; also, decadent, effeminate. |
| venerate | to treat with deep respect. |
| gustatory | pertaining to the sense of taste. |
| tergiversation | evasion; also, desertion of a cause, party, etc. |
| obstreperous | noisily and stubbornly defiant; also, boisterous. |
| serendipity | the faculty or phenomenon of making fortunate accidental discoveries. |
| yen | a strong desire or inclination. |
| timorous | full of apprehensiveness; fearful. |
| irenic | promoting peace. |
| bilious | of or pertaining to bile; also, ill-tempered. |
| galvanic | pertaining to a direct current of electricity; also, having the effect of an electric shock. |
| pantheon | the collective gods of a people; also, a group of highly esteemed persons. |
| slaver | to slobber; to drool. |
| unguent | an ointment. |
| abeyance | suspension; temporary cessation. |
| concinnity | elegance -- used chiefly of literary style. |
| peripatetic | walking about or traveling from place to place. |
| frangible | capable of being broken; easily broken. |
| hebetude | mental dullness or sluggishness. |
| soi-disant | self-styled; so-called. |
| opprobrium | reproach mingled with contempt. |
| quandary | a state of difficulty or perplexity. |
| surreptitious | done, made, or gotten by stealth; also, marked by stealth. |
| quixotic | foolishly impractical; also, capricious, impulsive. |
| languor | lack of energy or vitality. |
| pulchritude | beauty. |
| censure | to criticize severely; also, an expression of disapproval. |
| hector | to bully or harass. |
| miasma | a thick vaporous atmosphere, often noxious. |
| rapport | relation characterized by sympathetic understanding. |
| forcible | effected by force used against resistance; also, powerful. |
| bombinate | to buzz, hum, or drone. |
| insuperable | incapable of being passed over, surmounted, or overcome. |
| latitudinarian | having or expressing broad and tolerant views. |
| hinterland | backcountry. |
| buss | a kiss; to kiss. |
| discrete | constituting a separate thing; also, consisting of distinct or unconnected parts. |
| plaintive | expressive of sorrow or melancholy. |
| tractable | docile; manageable, governable. |
| quietus | final acquittance, as from debt; also, rest; death. |
| inscrutable | difficult to fathom or understand. |
| avatar | an incarnation. |
| expiate | to make amends for; to atone for. |
| gauche | lacking social polish; tactless. |
| lambaste | to scold sharply; also, to beat. |
| recrudescent | breaking out again. |
| flibbertigibbet | a silly, flighty, or excessively talkative person. |
| malapropism | the usually unintentionally humorous misuse of a word, especially by confusion with one of similar sound; also, an example of such misuse. |
| raffish | tawdry; also, rakish. |
| vet | to subject to thorough appraisal; to evaluate. |
| pleonasm | the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea. |
| tenet | any opinion, principle, or doctrine held to be true. |
| qua | in the capacity or character of; as. |
| invective | insulting or abusive language. |
| bowdlerize | to remove or modify the parts considered offensive. |
| fait accompli | an accomplished and presumably irreversible deed or fact. |
| pettifogger | a petty, unscrupulous lawyer; also, who quibbles over trivia. |
| vagary | an extravagant, erratic, or unpredictable notion, action, or occurrence. |
| idyll | a poem or prose work depicting rural or pastoral life; also, a carefree episode or experience. |
| truckle | to act in a subservient manner. |
| patrician | a nobleman; also, a person of refined upbringing, manners, and taste. |
| apocryphal | of doubtful authority or authenticity. |
| efficacious | producing, or capable of producing, a desired effect. |
| deign | to condescend. |
| sanctum | a place where one is free from intrusion. |
| malinger | to feign illness or inability. |
| redound | to have a consequence or effect. |
| perfidy | faithlessness; treachery. |
| doughty | valiant; brave. |
| anathema | a curse; a person or thing cursed, or intensely disliked. |
| salad days | a time of youthful inexperience, innocence, or indiscretion. |
| connubial | of or pertaining to marriage. |
| repletion | the condition of being completely or excessively full. |
| woebegone | woeful; also, run-down. |
| perorate | to conclude or sum up a long discourse; also, to speak at length. |
| gambol | to dance and skip about in play. |
| mephitic | offensive to the smell; also, noxious. |
| inimical | unfriendly; unfavorable. |
| ken | perception, view; especially, reach of sight or knowledge. |
| proscribe | to forbid; to prohibit. |
| grandiloquent | lofty in style. |
| approbation | formal or official approval; also, praise. |
| puckish | whimsical; mischievous; impish. |
| coterminous | of equal extent or duration. |
| mountebank | a quack; also, a charlatan. |
| tirade | a long angry speech. |
| palaver | idle talk; also, to talk idly. |
| vertiginous | causing dizziness; also, giddy; dizzy. |
| remonstrate | to present and urge reasons in opposition. |
| bailiwick | a person's specific area of knowledge, authority, interest, skill, or work. |
| impregnable | able to resist attack. |
| renege | to go back on a promise or commitment. |
| apprise | to give notice to; to inform. |
| improvident | lacking foresight; negligent; thoughtless. |
| carom | to strike and rebound; also, a glancing off. |
| myrmidon | a loyal follower. |
| privation | the state of being deprived of something. |
| ossify | to harden or to become bone. |
| troglodyte | someone who dwells in a cave. |
| wan | pale; also, lacking vitality or intensity. |
| peremptory | precluding or putting an end to all debate or action. |
| harbinger | a precursor; one that presages what is to come. |
| small beer | weak beer; also, matters of little importance. |
| commodious | comfortably spacious; roomy. |
| scapegrace | one who is wild and reckless. |
| nascent | beginning to exist. |
| gravid | pregnant. |
| lucubration | nocturnal study. |
| supine | lying on the back; also, indolent; listless. |
| heterodox | holding unorthodox opinions. |
| predilection | an established preference. |
| verisimilitude | the quality of seeming to be true. |
| commensurate | equal in measure or extent; also, proportionate. |
| urbane | polished and smooth in manner. |
| abstruse | difficult to comprehend. |
| militate | to have force or influence. |
| embonpoint | plumpness of person. |
| preternatural | beyond of different from what is natural; inexplicable; extraordinary; abnormal. |
| hardscrabble | barren, marginal; also, marked by poverty. |
| ignoramus | an ignorant person; a dunce. |
| apologia | a formal defense or justification. |
| sentient | capable of perceiving by the senses. |
| conflagration | a large and destructive fire. |
| bromide | a commonplace or conventional saying. |
| suasion | the act of persuading. |
| roue | a man devoted to a life of sensual pleasure. |
| hullabaloo | a confused noise; uproar. |
| neologism | a new word or expression; the use or creation of new words or expressions. |
| redoubtable | formidable; also, illustrious; eminent. |
| accede | to agree or assent; also, to become a party. |
| doyen | the senior member of a body or group. |
| abecedarian | pertaining to the alphabet; also, rudimentary; also, a beginner. |
| crabwise | sideways; also, in a cautiously indirect manner. |
| glabrous | without hairs or projections; smooth. |
| tarradiddle | a fib; also, pretentious nonsense. |
| irrupt | to burst in forcibly or suddenly. |
| agrestic | pertaining to fields or the country. |
| cap-a-pie | from head to foot. |
| fetor | a strong, offensive smell. |
| olla podrida | a kind of seasoned stew; also, a mixture, a hodgepodge. |
| pernicious | deadly; destructive; exceedingly harmful. |
| aegis | a shield; protection. |
| politic | political; also, shrewdly tactful. |
| starveling | one who is starving or being starved; also, poor in quality. |
| autochthonous | indigenous; native. |
| palliate | to extenuate; also, to relieve. |
| vade mecum | a book or other thing that one regularly carries about. |
| comely | pleasing to the sight. |
| dictum | an authoritative statement. |
| mendicant | a beggar. |
| enjoin | to direct or impose with authority; also, to forbid. |
| braggadocio | empty boasting. |
| homily | a sermon or lecture; also, an inspirational saying or a platitude. |
| recumbent | reclining; lying down. |
| sonorous | yielding sound; impressive in sound. |
| bedizen | to dress or adorn in gaudy manner. |
| equanimity | calmness; composure. |
| primogeniture | the state of being the firstborn; also, an exclusive right of inheritance that belongs to the eldest son. |
| ancillary | subordinate, subsidiary; auxiliary. |
| Potemkin village | a false front or facade. |
| favonian | pertaining to the west wind; soft; mild; gentle. |
| trenchant | forceful and vigorous; also, caustic; also, clear-cut. |
| yeasty | frothy; foamy; spumy, like yeast. |
| deipnosophist | one skilled in table talk. |
| jeremiad | a doleful story; also, a dolorous or angry tirade.. |
| delectation | great pleasure; delight. |
| pin money | money for incidental expenses; also, a trivial sum. |
| ab ovo | from the beginning. |
| woolgathering | indulgence in idle daydreaming. |
| peccant | sinning. |
| nolens volens | whether unwilling or willing. |
| quisling | a collaborator; a traitor. |
| misprize | to despise; also, to undervalue. |
| tete-a-tete | a private conversation. |
| agon | struggle; conflict. |
| collegial | characterized by or having authority vested equally among colleagues. |
| ludic | playful. |
| refractory | stubbornly disobedient. |
| congeries | a collection; an aggregation. |
| errant | wandering; deviating from an appointed course, or from a direct path; roving. |
| teetotaler | one pledged to abstinence from alcoholic drinks. |
| flummery | mumbo jumbo; nonsense. |
| overweening | overbearing; also, excessive. |
| acrimony | bitter, harsh, or biting sharpness. |
| remunerate | to pay an equivalent to for any service, loss, or expense. |
| supernal | being on high; celestial. |
| libation | the act of pouring a liquid as a sacrifice; also, a beverage. |
| acuity | acuteness of perception or vision. |
| salient | noticeable; also, projecting; also, leaping. |
| pandemic | affecting a whole people or a number of countries. |
| entreat | to ask for or request earnestly. |
| ineffectual | without effect; weak; useless. |
| hypnagogic | leading to sleep; hypnotic. |
| draconian | excessively harsh; severe. |
| eructation | the act of belching; a belch. |
| treacly | overly sweet or sentimental. |
| sciolism | superficial knowledge. |
| beau ideal | a perfect or an idealized type or model. |
| incarnadine | pink or red; also, to redden. |
| roborant | restoring strength or vigor; also, a restorative. |
| aerie | a nest or dwelling built in a lofty place. |
| ensorcell | to enchant; to bewitch. |
| lapidary | of or pertaining to stone cutting; also, terse or refined in expression. |
| megrim | a migraine; also, a fancy or whim; in the plural, low spirits. |
| apotheosis | a model of excellence or perfection of a kind. |
| fructuous | fruitful; productive. |
| providential | resulting from divine providence; also, peculiarly fortunate or appropriate. |
| conflate | to bring together; to meld. |
| bloviate | to speak or write in a pompous manner. |
| sui generis | unique. |
| nonpareil | having no equal. |
| efface | to cause to disappear by rubbing out, striking out, etc. |
| gamine | an urchin; also, a mischievous girl or young woman. |
| senescence | the state of being or growing old. |
| arcanum | a secret; a mystery. |
| flaneur | one who strolls about aimlessly; a lounger; a loafer. |
| presentiment | a premonition. |
| countervail | to counteract; also, to offset. |
| abominate | to detest intensely. |
| pervicacious | stubborn; obstinate. |
| foofaraw | excessive or flashy ornamentation; also, a fuss over a trivial matter. |
| Cockaigne | an imaginary land of ease and luxury. |
| imprimatur | approval or sanction. |
| punctilio | a fine point of exactness in conduct, ceremony, or procedure. |
| verbose | wordy. |
| excrescence | something growing out from something else; also, a disfiguring or unwanted part. |
| amicable | characterized by friendliness and good will. |
| fungible | interchangeable. |
| nimbus | a dark gray rain cloud; also, a halo, an aura. |
| eddy | a current running contrary to a main current or in a circular direction. |
| Methuselah | an extremely old man. |
| bon vivant | a person with refined and sociable tastes. |
| copse | a thicket of small trees. |
| contrite | feeling or expressing grief and regret for sins or offenses. |
| sere | dry; withered. |
| dolorous | marked by, causing, or expressing grief or sorrow. |
| plenipotentiary | invested with full power. |
| myriad | consisting of a very great but indefinite number; also, a very great many. |
| bricolage | construction or something constructed by using whatever materials happen to be available. |
| malodorous | having a bad odor. |
| pied-a-terre | a temporary or second place of lodging. |
| epicene | having the characteristics of both the male and the female. |
| skulduggery | devious, dishonest, or unscrupulous behavior or activity. |
| adage | an old saying. |
| wizened | shriveled; withered. |
| indefatigable | untiring. |
| disport | to frolic; to amuse (oneself). |
| appellation | a name, title, or designation. |
| longueur | a tedious passage in a work of literature, etc. |
| rivulet | a small stream or brook. |
| chimera | a mental fabrication. |
| avoirdupois | weight; heaviness. |
| machination | a crafty scheme intended to accomplish some usually evil end. |
| calumny | malicious misrepresentation; slander. |
| fatidic | of, relating to, or characterized by prophecy. |
| tatterdemalion | a person dressed in tattered clothing. |
| confabulation | familiar talk. |
| inkhorn | affectedly or ostentatiously learned. |
| quash | to annul; also, to crush; to subdue. |
| wiseacre | a smart aleck. |
| cacophony | harsh or discordant sound. |
| excursus | a digression. |
| credulous | inclined to believe too readily. |
| harangue | a speech addressed to a public assembly; also, a noisy or pompous speech. |
| ignoble | not noble. |
| enunciate | to utter articulately; also, to state or set forth precisely or systematically. |
| acclimate | to accustom or become accustomed to a new climate, environment, or situation. |
| cudgel | a short heavy stick. |
| abulia | loss or impairment of the ability to act or to make decisions. |
| didactic | conveying instruction; teaching some moral lesson. |
| rapprochement | the establishment or state of cordial relations. |
| tremulous | shaking, quivering; also, affected with fear. |
| histrionic | theatrical. |
| cohort | a group; also, a companion or associate. |
| egress | the act of going out or leaving; exit. |
| indigence | extreme poverty. |
| effusive | excessively demonstrative. |
| obeisance | an expression of deference. |
| affray | a tumultuous assault or quarrel; a brawl. |
| prima facie | at first view. |
| undulant | resembling waves in form, motion, or occurrence. |
| convivial | relating to feasting, drinking, and good company; festive. |
| maunder | to talk or wander aimlessly. |
| corpulent | very fat; obese. |
| popinjay | a vain and talkative person. |
| vatic | of or characteristic of a prophet or prophecy. |
| fecund | fruitful; prolific. |
| caterwaul | to make a harsh cry or screech. |
| acerbic | sharp, biting, or acid in temper, expression, or tone. |
| heterogeneous | consisting of dissimilar elements. |
| rodomontade | pretentious, bragging speech. |
| hoary | white or gray with age; hence, extremely old. |
| foundling | a deserted or abandoned child. |
| cavort | to bound or prance about. |
| inexorable | unyielding; relentless. |
| diablerie | sorcery; also, mischievous conduct. |
| debouch | to emerge; to issue. |
| jejune | lacking in nutritional value; also, immature; also, dull. |
| redolent | having or exuding fragrance; also, evocative, reminiscent. |
| imprecation | a curse. |
| obsequious | servilely attentive; fawning. |
| effrontery | shameless boldness; insolence. |
| arriviste | an upstart. |
| fallible | liable to make a mistake. |
| gadabout | one who roams about in search of amusement or social activity. |
| ribald | characterized by, or given to, vulgar humor. |
| turbid | muddy; not clear; also, confused; disordered. |
| propitiate | to appease; to conciliate. |
| discomfit | to disconcert; also, to thwart. |
| intrepid | fearless; bold. |
| chortle | to utter, or express with, a snorting, exultant laugh or chuckle. |
| louche | of questionable taste or morality. |
| supplant | to take the place of. |
| clerisy | the intelligentsia. |
| denouement | the final resolution of the main complication of a literary or dramatic work. |
| prink | to primp. |
| sagacious | of keen penetration and judgment; wise. |
| disquisition | a formal discourse on a subject. |
| panjandrum | an important or self-important official. |
| tattoo | a rapid, rhythmic drumming or rapping. |
| cormorant | a gluttonous or greedy person. |
| pastiche | a hodgepodge; a potpourri. |
| egregious | outrageously bad. |
| cajole | to coax. |
| Promethean | of or pertaining to Prometheus; also, boldly original. |
| contretemps | something inopportune or embarrassing. |
| ne plus ultra | the acme; also, the most profound degree. |
| empyrean | the highest heaven; the heavens; the sky. |
| malversation | misconduct in public office. |
| cadre | a core or nucleus of trained or otherwise qualified personnel around which an organization is formed. |
| exhort | to urge strongly. |
| genuflect | to bend the knee, as in worship; also, to grovel. |
| demur | to object; also, to delay. |
| perfervid | ardent; impassioned. |
| solecism | a nonstandard usage or grammatical construction. |
| extemporaneous | composed, performed, or uttered on the spur of the moment. |
| forgo | to do without. |
| raiment | clothing in general; garments. |
| aborning | (while) being produced or born. |
| dulcet | melodious. |
| hoi polloi | the common people; the masses. |
| recherche | exotic; rare; also, affected, pretentious. |
| permeate | to spread or diffuse through. |
| germane | appropriate or fitting; relevant. |
| disconsolate | hopelessly sad; also, saddening; cheerless. |
| languid | lacking vigor or force. |
| etiolate | to blanch or bleach; to make sickly. |
| moil | to labor; to toil; to drudge. |
| exegesis | exposition; explanation. |
| cornucopia | the horn of plenty; also, an abundance. |
| benison | blessing; benediction. |
| punctilious | precise; exact in the smallest particulars. |
| brackish | somewhat salty; also, distasteful. |
| raillery | good-humored banter or teasing repartee. |
| sedition | incitement of rebellion against lawful authority. |
| riposte | a quick and effective reply by word or act. |
| tintinnabulation | a tinkling sound, as of a bell or bells. |
| slugabed | one who stays in bed until a late hour. |
| manse | a large and imposing residence. |
| rebarbative | repellent; irritating. |
| felicitous | apt or appropriate; also, delightful. |
| nostrum | a questionable remedy. |
| subaltern | subordinate. |
| quidnunc | a gossip; a busybody. |
| provenance | origin; source. |
| obviate | to anticipate and dispose of or make unnecessary. |
| lucre | money; profit. |
| dudgeon | a state or fit of intense indignation. |
| gloaming | twilight; dusk. |
| sedulous | diligent in application or pursuit. |
| querulous | habitually complaining; also, expressing complaint. |
| restive | resisting control; stubborn. |
| abstemious | temperate; abstinent; refraining from indulgence. |
| fop | a man who is vain about his dress and appearance. |
| apparition | a ghost; also, an unexpected appearance. |
| inveterate | deep-rooted; of long standing. |
| glower | to stare angrily or with a scowl. |
| itinerant | traveling from place to place. |
| risible | exciting or provoking laughter. |
| lackadaisical | lacking spirit or liveliness. |
| scuttlebutt | gossip; rumor. |
| consanguineous | related by blood; descended from the same ancestor. |
| milieu | environment; setting. |
| capacious | able to contain much. |
| pule | to whimper; to whine. |
| sublunary | situated beneath the moon; terrestrial. |
| cavil | to raise trivial objections; also, a trivial objection. |
| impecunious | habitually without money; poor. |
| introspection | the act or process of self-examination; reflection. |
| propound | to put forward for consideration. |
| neophyte | a novice. |
| rapport | relation characterized by sympathetic understanding. |
| imbroglio | a complicated and embarrassing state of things. |
| rictus | a gaping grin or grimace. |
| winsome | light-hearted. |
| melee | a confused conflict. |
| obdurate | hardened in feelings or in wrongdoing; unyielding. |
| placate | to appease; to pacify. |
| spurious | not genuine; false; illegitimate. |
| waylay | to ambush or accost. |
| ingenue | a naive girl or young woman, or an actress representing such a person. |
| osculation | the act of kissing; a kiss. |
| voluptuary | a person devoted to luxury and the gratification of sensual appetites. |
| enmity | hatred; ill will. |
| sub rosa | secretly; privately; confidentially. |
| compunction | anxiety or unease from guilt; also, a scruple. |
| upbraid | to scold or criticize harshly. |
| gaucherie | a socially awkward or tactless act; also, lack of tact. |
| aggress | to make an attack. |
| mores | customs; habits; ways. |
| sough | to make a soft, low sighing or rustling sound. |
| chimerical | merely imaginary; fanciful. |
| grandee | a man of elevated rank or station; a nobleman. |
| complaisant | exhibiting a desire to please. |
| spoony | foolishly or sentimentally in love. |
| forfend | to avert; also, to protect or preserve. |
| sylvan | pertaining to woods or forests. |
| countermand | to revoke (a former command) or recall by a contrary order. |
| stormy petrel | a type of seabird; also, one fond of or bringing strife. |
| votary | one devoted to some pursuit, worship, study, or way of life. |
| melange | a mixture. |
| salutary | beneficial; also, healthful. |
| scrabble | to scrape or scratch with the hands or feet. |
| piebald | mottled; also, mixed. |
| berate | to scold severely or angrily. |
| limn | to draw or paint; also, to describe. |
| mollify | to reduce in intensity; to soothe; to soften. |
| immolate | to kill or destroy, often by fire. |
| tetchy | peevish; testy; irritable. |
| emolument | the wages or perquisites arising from office, employment, or labor. |
| benignant | kind; gracious; favorable. |
| preponderate | to exceed in weight, influence, importance, amount, etc. |
| verdant | green. |
| trencherman | a hearty eater. |
| diadem | a crown. |
| virago | an ill-tempered, overbearing woman; also, a woman of great strength and courage. |
| supposititious | fraudulently substituted; also, hypothetical. |
| inanition | exhaustion from lack of nourishment; also, emptiness. |
| conspectus | a sketch, survey, or outline of a subject. |
| salmagundi | a mixture or assortment; also, a kind of mixed dish or salad. |
| caesura | a break or pause in a line of verse; also, any break or pause. |
| expeditious | characterized by speed and efficiency. |
| deprecate | to disapprove of; also, to belittle. |
| misnomer | a misnaming. |
| verbiage | an overabundance of words. |
| Brobdingnagian | gigantic; enormous. |
| invidious | tending to provoke envy or ill will. |
| chicanery | the use of trickery to deceive. |
| minatory | threatening; menacing. |
| stentorian | extremely loud. |
| circumspect | cautious; prudent. |
| plebeian | common; vulgar. |
| explicate | to explain. |
| censorious | harshly critical. |
| equable | equal and uniform; also, not easily disturbed. |
| assiduous | constant in application or attention. |
| noisome | offensive or disgusting; also, harmful; unwholesome. |
| inure | to make used to; also, to take or have effect. |
| bivouac | a usually temporary encampment; also, to encamp. |
| confrere | a colleague, comrade, or intimate associate. |
| tmesis | in grammar and rhetoric, the separation of the parts of a compound word. |
| umbrage | offense; resentment. |
| susurrus | a whispering or rustling sound. |
| canorous | melodious; musical. |
| trepidation | a state of dread or alarm; apprehension. |
| sacrosanct | sacred; inviolable. |
| oneiric | pertaining to or suggestive of dreams. |
| maelstrom | a large, powerful whirlpool; also, a violent, disordered, or turbulent state of affairs. |
| epigone | an inferior imitator. |
| nonage | a period of youth or immaturity. |
| quiescent | at rest; still; inactive. |
| maladroit | awkward; unskillful; inept. |
| virtu | love of or taste for fine objects of art; also, productions of art. |
| outre | unconventional; eccentric; bizarre. |
| sartorial | of or relating to a tailor, tailoring, or clothing. |
| lacuna | a blank space; a missing part. |
| funereal | pertaining to or suiting a funeral; gloomy; mournful. |
| simulacrum | a representation; an insubstantial or vague semblance. |
| putative | commonly thought or deemed; supposed. |
| vitiate | to make faulty or imperfect. |
| daedal | skillful; artistic; ingenious. |
| autocrat | a ruler with unlimited authority. |
| comestible | suitable to be eaten. |
| objurgate | to scold or rebuke sharply. |
| sardonic | scornful, mocking. |
| lexicon | a dictionary; also, the vocabulary of a person, group, etc. |
| contemporaneous | originating, existing, or occurring at the same time. |
| panoply | a splendid or impressive array. |
| supererogatory | going beyond what is required or expected; also, superfluous, unnecessary. |
| comity | a state of mutual harmony, friendship, and respect. |
| eleemosynary | relating to charity; charitable. |
| inclement | harsh; severe -- especially said of the weather. |
| hugger-mugger | secret; also, muddled, disorderly. |
| genial | sympathetically cheerful and cheering; kindly. |
| florid | flushed with red; also, excessively ornate. |
| sapient | wise; sage; discerning. |
| disparate | fundamentally different; also, composed of dissimilar elements. |
| prevaricate | to depart from or evade the truth. |
| inveigle | to persuade or obtain by ingenuity or flattery. |
| harridan | a scolding, vicious woman. |
| segue | to proceed without interruption. |
| lascivious | lewd; lustful. |
| visage | the face; also, appearance; aspect. |
| lugubrious | mournful; gloomy; dismal. |
| interstice | a space between things or parts. |
| sempiternal | everlasting; eternal. |
| idee fixe | a fixed idea; an obsession. |
| prestidigitation | sleight of hand. |
| ephemeron | something short-lived. |
| desultory | jumping from subject to subject; erratic; inconsistent. |
| specious | apparently right but not so in reality. |
| interpolate | to insert between; also, to alter or corrupt by insertion. |
| stertorous | characterized by a heavy snoring or gasping sound. |
| alpenglow | a reddish glow seen near sunset or sunrise on the summits of mountains. |
| fatuous | inanely foolish; stupid; also, llusory. |
| miscreant | a scoundrel, a villain; also, a heretic. |
| trice | an instant; a moment. |
| surfeit | an excessive amount; also, to supply to excess. |
| provender | food or provisions. |
| bibelot | a trinket. |
| gnomic | uttering, containing, or characterized by maxims. |
| invective | insulting or abusive language. |
| paterfamilias | the male head of a household; the father of a family. |
| land of Nod | sleep. |
| inhere | to be inherent. |
| bombast | pompous or pretentious speech or writing. |
| valetudinarian | a weak or sickly person. |
| bellwether | a leader or leading indicator. |
| facile | easily done or performed. |
| jovial | merry; joyous; jolly. |
| inculcate | to teach and impress by frequent repetition or instruction. |
| parvenu | an upstart; one newly risen in class or economic status. |
| choleric | easily angered; also, indicating or expressing anger. |
| insouciant | Marked by blithe unconcern; nonchalant. |
| concupiscence | lust. |
| nettlesome | causing irritation, vexation, or distress. |
| dapple | a small contrasting blotch; also, to mark with spots. |
| antediluvian | extremely old. |
| ostracize | to banish or expel. |
| thaumaturgy | the performing of miracles or magic. |
| paucity | fewness; insufficiency. |
| encomium | expression of praise. |
| requisite | required; indispensable. |
| toper | a drunkard; a sot. |
| plaint | an expression of sorrow; also, a complaint. |
| travail | painful, arduous work; also, agony, anguish. |
| alacrity | a cheerful readiness, willingness, or promptness. |
| disheveled | in loose disorder; disarranged. |
| junta | a governmental council or committee, esp. one that rules after a revolution. |
| respite | an interval of rest or relief. |
| wheedle | to entice by flattery. |
| febrile | feverish. |
| habitue | one who habitually frequents a place. |
| Pyrrhic victory | a victory achieved at great cost. |
| animadversion | harsh criticism or disapproval. |
| encumbrance | a burden, impediment, or hindrance. |
| copious | large in quantity; also, affording an abundant supply. |
| impugn | to call in question; to make insinuations against. |
| ascetic | one who practices extreme self-denial; also, austere, severe. |
| aggrandize | to make or make appear great or greater. |
| syncretic | uniting and blending together different belief systems. |
| donnybrook | a brawl or dispute. |
| surcease | cessation; stop; end. |
| perquisite | a benefit in addition to a salary. |
| scion | a descendant; an heir. |
| proselytize | to convert (someone) to another religion, belief, etc. |
| abattoir | a slaughterhouse. |
| tchotchke | a trinket; a knickknack. |
| factitious | artificial; not authentic or genuine. |
| alfresco | outdoors; outdoor. |
| plethora | excess. |
| jocular | given to or characterized by joking. |
| physiognomy | the face or appearance. |
| constitutional | a walk taken for one's health. |
| tutelage | guardianship; protection; also, instruction. |
| incommunicado | without means or right to communicate. |
| fillip | a snap; also, a stimulus. |
| phantasmagoria | a shifting series or succession of things seen or imagined. |
| cum | with; along with; combined with. |
| excoriate | to express strong disapproval of; also, to flay. |
| skulk | to hide in a sneaking manner. |
| apothegm | a short, witty, and instructive saying. |
| sine qua non | an indispensable thing. |
| cognoscente | a person with special knowledge. |
| vehement | marked by intensity of emotions or convictions. |
| amalgam | an alloy of mercury with other metals; also, a mixture. |
| wunderkind | one who achieves success or acclaim during youth. |
| cozen | to deceive or obtain by deceit. |
| bucolic | rustic; pastoral. |
| irrefragable | impossible to refute. |
| stolid | unexcitable; unemotional. |
| redact | to edit. |
| hyperbole | extravagant exaggeration. |
| vainglory | excessive pride or vain display. |
| requisite | required; indispensable. |
| dour | stern or unyielding or gloomy. |
| equipoise | equilibrium; also, counterbalance. |
| doppelganger | a ghostly double. |
| gainsay | to contradict; to deny. |
| flout | to treat with contempt and disregard. |
| supercilious | disdainfully arrogant. |
| en masse | all together; as a whole. |
| cadge | to beg; to sponge. |
| perambulate | to stroll; to walk through or over. |
| agog | in eager desire. |
| innocuous | harmless; also, unlikely to offend or provoke. |
| mimetic | imitative. |
| defenestrate | to throw out of a window. |
| metier | an occupation, especially in which one excels. |
| caveat | a warning or caution. |
| succor | aid; help; also, to help or relieve. |
| inveigh | to rail (against some person or thing). |
| stoic | indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; also, one who is stoic. |
| confluence | a flowing or coming together. |
| hortatory | serving to encourage or incite. |
| dotage | feebleness of mind due to old age. |
| canard | an unfounded or false report. |
| malaise | a condition of uneasiness or ill-being. |
| transmogrify | to transform. |
| evince | to show in a clear manner. |
| gesticulate | to make gestures or motions. |
| martinet | a strict disciplinarian. |
| supernumerary | exceeding a necessary or usual number. |
| deus ex machina | an agent who appears unexpectedly to solve an apparently insoluble difficulty. |
| hobbledehoy | an awkward, gawky young fellow. |
| toothsome | delicious; attractive; luscious. |
| ascribe | to attribute. |
| titivate | to smarten up; to spruce. |
| uxorious | excessively fond of or submissive to a wife. |
| atrabilious | irritable; ill-natured. |
| expropriate | to deprive of possession; also, to transfer (property) to oneself. |
| venal | capable of being bought; also, corruptible. |
| pejorative | disparaging; belittling. |
| nuptial | of or pertaining to marriage. |
| imbue | to dye; to instill profoundly. |
| denizen | an inhabitant. |
| staid | steady or sedate in character. |
| nonplus | to confound; to perplex; to bewilder. |
| adumbrate | to outline; also, to foreshadow; also, to suggest; also, to shade. |
| turgid | swollen, bloated; also, bombastic, pompous. |
| paragon | a model of excellence or perfection. |
| ambit | circuit or compass; also, sphere of action or influence. |
| profligate | shamelessly immoral; also, recklessly wasteful. |
| cerebration | the act or product of thinking. |
| rotund | round; rounded in figure. |
| acquiesce | to accept or consent passively or without objection. |
| bedaub | to besmear; also, to overdecorate. |
| dilettante | an amateur; also, an admirer or lover of the fine arts. |
| execrable | detestable; extremely bad. |
| nebbish | a weak-willed, timid, or ineffectual person. |
| filial | of, pertaining to, or befitting a son or daughter. |
| panacea | a cure-all. |
| leitmotif | a dominant and recurring theme. |
| arbiter | one having the power of judging and determining. |
| recidivism | a tendency to lapse into a previous condition or pattern of behavior; esp., into prior criminal habits. |
| impassible | incapable of suffering; also, unfeeling or not showing feeling. |
| contumacious | obstinate; stubbornly disobedient. |
| largess | generous giving; also, gifts of money or other valuables. |
| cataract | a large waterfall; also, a downpour, a flood. |
| sotto voce | spoken low or in an undertone. |
| wraith | a ghost; also, something insubstantial or shadowy. |
| vapid | flat; dull; spiritless. |
| internecine | destructive; especially, mutually destructive; also, relating to conflict within a group. |
| potentate | one who possesses great power or sway. |
| crux | the essential point or feature. |
| avuncular | resembling an uncle, as in kindness or indulgence. |
| deracinate | to uproot. |
| amity | friendship; friendly relations. |
| microcosm | a smaller, representative system having analogies to a larger system. |
| juxtaposition | the act or an instance of placing in nearness. |
| exemplar | an ideal model or type. |
| solicitous | manifesting, expressing, or full of care or concern. |
| dyspeptic | pertaining to or having indigestion; also, irritable or ill-humored. |
| obfuscate | to darken or obscure. |
| termagant | a scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman. |
| extraneous | coming from the outside; also, not essential; also, irrelevant. |
| bifurcate | to divide into two branches. |
| felicitous | apt or appropriate; also, delightful. |
| portent | a sign or omen. |
| bellicose | inclined to or favoring war or strife. |
| interlard | to insert between; to mix. |
| Argus-eyed | extremely observant; watchful. |
| repine | to feel or express discontent. |
| plaudit | enthusiastic approval. |
| limpid | clear; also, serene. |
| aficionado | an enthusiastic admirer; a fan. |
| rapacious | grasping; greedy. |
| satiety | fullness to or beyond the point of satisfaction. |
| obtrude | to thrust out; also, to impose on others. |
| patina | a superficial layer. |
| animus | a feeling of ill will; also, animating spirit; disposition. |
| tutelary | guardian; protecting. |
| arcane | understood or known by only a few. |
| rusticate | to go or send to the country. |
| fractious | tending to cause trouble; also, irritable. |
| stanch | to stop the flowing of; to check. |
| furtive | obtained or characterized by stealth; sly; secret; stealthy. |
| Elysium | paradise. |
| otiose | ineffective; also, being at leisure; also, of no use. |
| plangent | beating with a loud or deep sound; also, expressing sadness. |
| malcontent | one who is discontented or dissatisfied. |
| gallimaufry | a hodgepodge. |
| meretricious | tawdry. |
| solace | comfort in grief. |
| admonition | gentle or friendly reproof; friendly warning. |
| interregnum | the interval between two reigns; also, any breach of continuity in an order. |
| velleity | a slight wish or inclination. |
| derogate | to deviate from expectation; also, to detract; also, to disparage. |
| mazy | resembling a maze; intricate or confusing. |
| pablum | something (as writing or speech) that is trite, insipid, or simplistic. |
| wag | a humorous person; a wit. |
| eremite | a hermit. |
| pertinacious | holding obstinately to a belief, purpose or design; also, stubbornly persistent. |
| Hobson's choice | a choice without an alternative. |
| luminary | any body that gives light; also, a person of eminence or brilliant achievement. |
| benefaction | the act of conferring a benefit; also, a benefit conferred. |
| superannuated | old; discharged or disqualified on account of old age. |
| expunge | to strike out or erase; to obliterate. |
| fustian | pompous or pretentious language. |
| dissimulate | to hide under a false appearance; also, to feign or pretend. |
| stripling | an adolescent youth. |
| terminus | the end of a transportation line or route; any finishing point. |
| asseverate | to affirm or declare positively or earnestly. |
| sentient | capable of perceiving by the senses. |
| malapropos | unseasonable or unseasonably; inappropriate or inappropriately. |
| agitprop | propaganda. |
| fiat | an arbitrary or authoritative command or order. |
| nimiety | excess. |
| surreptitious | done, made, or gotten by stealth; also, marked by stealth. |
| pleonasm | the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea. |
| abominate | to detest intensely. |
| discursive | digressive; rambling; also, marked by analytical reasoning. |
| countervail | to counteract; also, to offset. |
| myrmidon | a loyal follower. |
| perforce | by necessity. |
| pusillanimous | cowardly. |
| claque | a group of fawning admirers. |
| fugacious | lasting but a short time. |
| hauteur | haughtiness; arrogance. |
| somnolent | drowsy; also, tending to cause sleepiness. |
| susurration | a whispering; a soft murmur. |
| puerile | juvenile; childish. |
| gelid | extremely cold; icy. |
| philomath | a lover of learning; a scholar. |
| redoubt | a stronghold. |
| extant | still existing. |
| incipient | beginning to exist or appear. |
| extempore | without premeditation or preparation. |
| potable | drinkable; also, a beverage, especially an alcoholic one. |
| irascible | easily provoked to anger. |
| descry | to catch sight of; to detect. |
| mien | demeanor; also, aspect; appearance. |
| nefarious | wicked in the extreme. |
| volte-face | an about-face. |
| exiguous | extremely scanty. |
| pecuniary | relating to money. |
| traduce | to vilify. |
| postprandial | happening or done after a meal. |
| sinecure | an office or position that involves little work or responsibility. |
| apogee | the highest point. |
| incontrovertible | indisputable; unquestionable. |
| furbelow | something showy or superfluous. |
| maudlin | excessively sentimental. |
| exigent | requiring immediate aid or action; also, demanding. |
| contravene | to act or be counter to. |
| temerarious | reckless; rash. |
| philter | a love potion. |
| reticent | inclined to keep silent. |
| pronunciamento | a proclamation; a pronouncement. |
| voluble | characterized by a ready flow of speech. |
| erudite | characterized by extensive reading or knowledge. |
| quotidian | occurring daily; also, ordinary. |
| roister | to revel; to carouse. |
| seriatim | in a series; one after another. |
| detritus | debris. |
| sybarite | a person devoted to luxury and pleasure. |
| loquacious | very talkative. |
| tyro | a novice. |
| salubrious | healthful. |
| evanescent | fleeting. |
| ineluctable | impossible to avoid or evade. |
| prolix | wordy. |
| cavalcade | a procession. |
| celerity | quickness; swiftness. |
| obloquy | ill repute. |
| extol | to praise. |
| frisson | a brief moment of intense excitement. |
| malediction | a curse. |
| lenity | the state or quality of being lenient. |
| unctuous | marked by a false or smug earnestness or agreeableness. |
| expatiate | to speak or write at length. |
| nescience | lack of knowledge or awareness. |
| desideratum | something desired. |
| indomitable | incapable of being subdued or overcome. |
| raconteur | one who excels in telling stories and anecdotes. |
| sunder | to break apart. |
| peccadillo | a slight offense; a petty fault. |
| extricate | to free or release from a difficulty or entanglement. |
| aspersion | a damaging or derogatory remark. |
| levity | frivolity. |
| mellifluous | flowing sweetly or smoothly. |
| logorrhea | excessive talkativeness. |
| arrogate | to claim or seize without right or justification. |
| forlorn | sad and lonely because deserted, abandoned, or lost. |
| comport | to behave (oneself) in a particular manner. |
| farrago | an assortment; a medley. |
| ratiocination | the process of reasoning. |
| varicolored | having a variety of colors. |
| doula | a woman who assists in childbirth. |
| nonagenarian | someone whose age is in the nineties. |
| friable | easily crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder. |
| gravitas | high seriousness. |
| lachrymose | given to causing tears. |
| abscond | to depart secretly. |
| probity | complete and confirmed integrity. |
| taciturn | not inclined to talk. |
| proclivity | a natural inclination. |
| demagogue | a leader who obtains power by means of appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace. |
| exculpate | to clear from alleged fault or guilt. |
| recalcitrant | stubbornly resistant to and defiant of authority or restraint. |
| quondam | former; sometime. |
| pellucid | transparent, clear; also, easily understandable. |
| desuetude | disuse. |
| apposite | of striking appropriateness and relevance. |
| jocund | light-hearted; mirthful. |
| firmament | the sky; the heavens. |
| spoonerism | the transposition of usually initial sounds in a pair of words. |
| perfunctory | done routinely. |
| beholden | obliged; indebted. |
| polyglot | speaking or containing many languages. |
| abjure | to renounce, reject, or shun. |
| collude | to act in concert; to conspire. |
| dissolute | loose in morals and conduct. |
| mendacious | untruthful; also, untrue. |
| clemency | disposition to show mercy; also, an act of mercy. |
| ebullient | high-spirited. |
| propitious | presenting favorable circumstances. |
| indolent | lazy; inactive. |
| adamant | not susceptible to persuasion; unyielding. |
| bonhomie | pleasant and easy manner. |
| depredation | an act of plundering or ravaging. |
| lissom | supple; nimble. |
| enervate | to weaken. |
| condign | deserved; adequate. |
| blandishment | flattering speech or action. |
| plenary | full; complete. |
| cosset | to treat with excessive indulgence; to pamper. |
| sang-froid | coolness in trying circumstances. |
| brio | vigor; vivacity. |
| vociferous | clamorous; noisy. |
| protean | readily assuming different shapes or forms. |
| eschew | to shun; to avoid. |
| somniferous | causing or inducing sleep. |
| gregarious | seeking and enjoying the company of others. |
| lassitude | lack of vitality or energy. |
| inchoate | partly but not fully in existence or operation. |
| esurient | hungry; greedy. |
| subterfuge | a deceptive device or stratagem. |
| gastronome | a lover of good food and drink. |
| affable | easy to speak to; also, gracious. |
| precipice | a very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging place. |
| purblind | having greatly reduced vision. |
| fulminate | to issue or utter verbal attacks or censures. |
| cogitate | to think; to ponder. |
| lambent | playing on the surface; flickering. |
| Zeitgeist | the spirit of the time. |
| pugnacious | combative; quarrelsome. |
| acumen | quickness or keenness of perception or discernment. |
| rapine | the act of plundering. |
| autodidact | one who is self-taught. |
| dilatory | given to, or marked by, procrastination or delay. |
| bete noire | something or someone particularly detested or avoided. |
| chary | wary; cautious. |
| kvetch | to complain habitually. |
| platitude | a banal, trite, or stale thought or remark. |
| ablution | the washing of the body or some part of it. |
| ameliorate | to make or grow better. |
| chagrin | acute vexation or embarrassment. |
| tortuous | marked by repeated turns and bends. |
| kismet | destiny; fate. |
| exacerbate | to aggravate; to make worse. |
| penchant | a strong liking. |
| ennui | a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction arising from lack of interest. |
| garrulous | talkative; also, wordy. |
| acrid | sharp and harsh; bitter. |
| rubicund | inclining to redness; ruddy. |
| sojourn | to dwell for a time; also, a temporary stay. |
| laudable | praiseworthy; commendable. |
| aesthete | one who cultivates great sensitivity to beauty. |
| perspicacity | clearness of understanding. |
| rara avis | a rare or unique person or thing. |
| turpitude | baseness; depravity. |
| diffident | bashful or unassertive. |
| persiflage | frivolous or bantering talk. |
| moribund | dying. |
| sobriquet | a nickname. |
| polymath | a person of great or varied learning. |
| appurtenance | an adjunct or accessory. |
| hirsute | covered with hair or bristles. |
| nadir | the lowest point. |
| wastrel | a person who wastes; a loafer. |
| facetious | playfully jocular; humorous. |
| afflatus | a divine inspiration. |
| cupidity | eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth. |
| intransigent | uncompromising. |
| cynosure | a center of attention. |
| refulgent | brilliant; resplendent. |
| concomitant | accompanying; attending. |
| ribald | characterized by, or given to, vulgar humor. |
| sesquipedalian | (of words) long; having many syllables. |
| deleterious | harmful. |
| temerity | unreasonable or foolhardy contempt of danger. |
| extirpate | to eradicate; to destroy. |
| lineament | a distinguishing or characteristic feature. |
| monomania | obsession with a single subject. |
| pari passu | at an equal pace or rate. |
| prelapsarian | pertaining to the time or state before the Fall. |
| coeval | existing during the same period of time; also, a contemporary. |
| immure | to enclose within or as if within walls. |
| bumptious | crudely, presumptuously, or noisily self-assertive. |
| apostasy | desertion or departure from one's faith, principles, or party. |
| importunate | troublesomely urgent. |
| busker | a street musician or performer. |
| disconcert | to disturb the composure of. |
| malfeasance | wrongdoing, misconduct, or misbehavior. |
| intractable | not easily governed, managed, or directed. |
| equivocate | to be deliberately ambiguous or unclear. |
| factotum | a person employed to do all kinds of work. |
| peregrination | a traveling from place to place. |
| diaphanous | allowing light to pass through. |
| quorum | such a number of the officers or members of any body as is legally competent to transact business. |
| relegate | to assign or remove, usually to an inferior position. |
| fanfaronade | empty boasting; bluster. |
| roseate | cheerful; bright; also, rose-colored. |
| camarilla | a group of secret and often scheming advisers. |
| torpid | dull; sluggish; apathetic. |
| concomitant | accompanying; attending. |
| stasis | a state of balance, equilibrium, or stagnation. |
| prepotency | predominance. |
| bagatelle | a trifle; also, a short, light literary or musical piece. |
| insensate | lacking sensation or awareness. |
| confute | to refute conclusively. |
| revenant | one who returns after death or a long absence. |
| corroborate | to strengthen or make more certain with other evidence. |
| exegete | one who explains or interprets difficult parts of written works. |
| dubiety | the condition or quality of being doubtful; also, a matter of doubt. |
| carapace | a shell; a protective covering. |
| tocsin | a warning. |
| puissant | powerful. |
| aplomb | confidence; coolness. |
| procrastination | To put off doing something. |
| opportune | suitable for a given purpose or occasion. |
| renascent | rising again into being; showing renewed vigor. |
| fettle | a state or condition of fitness, order, or mind. |
| proponent | an advocate. |
| cursory | hastily or superficially performed. |
| numinous | spiritual; holy. |
| evince | to show in a clear manner. |
| recondite | difficult to understand. |
| pelf | money; riches. |
| flagitious | grossly wicked; scandalous. |
| auspicious | favorable; also, prosperous; fortunate. |
| deliquesce | to melt away or become liquid. |
| prescient | knowing or anticipating the outcome of events before they happen. |
| indigent | extremely poor. |
| palpable | plain; distinct; obvious. |
| billingsgate | foul language. |
| anodyne | serving to relieve pain. |
| schadenfreude | a malicious satisfaction in the misfortunes of others. |
| euphonious | pleasing or sweet in sound. |
| quaff | to drink with relish. |
| ostensible | appearing to be true, but not necessarily so. |
| xenophobia | fear or hatred of what is strange or foreign. |
| recrimination | a counter accusation. |
| malleable | capable of being shaped; also, adaptable. |
| perdurable | very durable; long lasting. |
| onus | burden; also, blame; stigma. |
| triskaidekaphobia | fear of the number 13. |
| bravado | a real or pretended show of courage or boldness. |
| littoral | on a coastal or shore region. |
| redivivus | living again; revived; restored. |
| paladin | a champion of a cause. |
| bootless | unavailing; useless. |
| gimcrack | a showy but useless or worthless object. |
| munificent | very generous. |
| hobnob | to associate familiarly. |
| fiduciary | relating to the holding of something in trust for another. |
| indelible | incapable of being removed or erased. |
| fortuitous | happening by chance. |
| diktat | an authoritative decree or order. |
| boulevardier | a man-about-town. |
| convivial | relating to feasting, drinking, and good company; festive. |
| legerdemain | sleight of hand. |
| foment | to nurse to life or activity; to incite. |
| concatenation | a chain; a succession. |
| parsimonious | frugal to excess. |
| moiety | a half; a small part. |
| venial | capable of being forgiven; excusable. |
| accede | to agree or assent; also, to become a party. |
| portend | to foreshadow; to bode. |
| chthonic | dwelling in or under the earth; also, pertaining to the underworld. |
| mercurial | changeable; temperamental; volatile. |
| ineffable | incapable of being expressed. |
| adventitious | added extrinsically; not essentially inherent. |
| omnipresent | present in all places at the same time. |
| gourmand | one who enjoys good food in great quantities. |
| crepuscular | pertaining to twilight. |
| exalt | to praise, glorify, or honor. |
| contradistinction | distinction by contrast. |
| soporific | causing sleep; also, something that causes sleep. |
| deride | to laugh at with contempt. |
| laconic | using or marked by the use of a minimum of words. |
| bellwether | a leader or leading indicator. |
| effulgence | the state of being bright and radiant. |
| riparian | of or pertaining to the bank of a river. |
| mordant | biting; caustic; sarcastic. |
| woebegone | woeful; also, run-down. |
| scintilla | a tiny amount; a spark. |
| halcyon | peaceful; undisturbed; happy. |
| tendentious | marked by a strong tendency in favor of a particular point of view. |
| palimpsest | an object or place whose older layers or aspects are apparent. |
| ostentation | excessive or pretentious display. |
| captious | disposed to find fault or raise objections. |
| ersatz | being a substitute or imitation. |
| paroxysm | an outburst; a fit. |
| tenebrous | dark; gloomy. |
| cadre | a core or nucleus of trained or otherwise qualified personnel around which an organization is formed. |
| gubernatorial | of or pertaining to a governor. |
| inscrutable | difficult to fathom or understand. |
| parley | a conference or discussion; also, to confer. |
| clarion | a kind of trumpet; also, loud and clear. |
| circumambient | surrounding; encompassing. |
| trammel | something that impedes activity, progress, or freedom; also, to hamper. |
| matutinal | relating to or occurring in the morning. |
| beneficence | the practice of doing good. |
| aver | to assert as true. |
| nugatory | insignificant; also, ineffectual. |
| multifarious | having great diversity or variety. |
| impassive | devoid of emotion; also, showing no emotion. |
| fealty | fidelity; allegiance; faithfulness. |
| segue | to proceed without interruption. |
| visage | the face; also, appearance; aspect. |
| obsequious | servilely attentive; fawning. |
| pukka | authentic; genuine; also, first-class. |
| coruscate | to give off or reflect bright beams or flashes of light. |
| foment | to nurse to life or activity; to incite. |
| missive | a written message; a letter. |
| hale | free from disease and weakening conditions; healthy. |
| edacious | given to eating. |
| algorithm | a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem. |
| bouleversement | complete overthrow; a reversal. |
| practicable | feasible; also, usable. |
| encumbrance | a burden, impediment, or hindrance. |
| repast | a meal. |
| panacea | a cure-all. |
| circumlocution | the use of many words to express an idea that might be expressed by few. |
| meticulous | extremely careful about details. |
| wayworn | wearied by traveling. |
| parlous | fraught with danger; hazardous. |
| vim | energy; vigor. |
| booboisie | a class of people regarded as stupid or foolish. |
| orotund | full in sound; also, bombastic. |
| palindrome | a word, verse, phrase, or sentence that reads the same backward or forward. |
| flippant | showing inappropriate levity; pert. |
| irrefragable | impossible to refute. |
| cogent | appealing to the mind or to reason; convincing. |
| ukase | an edict. |
| fetid | stinking. |
| badinage | light, playful talk. |
| atelier | a workshop; a studio. |
| posit | to postulate; also, to suggest. |
| callow | immature. |
| succinct | brief; concise. |
| lugubrious | mournful; gloomy; dismal. |
| officious | meddlesome. |
| castigate | to punish or criticize severely. |
| propinquity | nearness. |
| descant | a discourse; also, to discourse. |
| robustious | boisterous; vigorous. |
| subfusc | dark or dull in color. |
| jollification | merrymaking; revelry. |
| doff | to take off; to remove; also, to rid oneself of. |
| conurbation | an aggregation or continuous network of urban communities. |
| pugilist | a boxer. |
| gewgaw | a trinket; a bauble. |
| quiddity | the essence or nature of a thing. |
| complement | something that fills up or completes. |
| acclimate | to accustom or become accustomed to a new climate, environment, or situation. |
| stentorian | extremely loud. |
| expeditious | characterized by speed and efficiency. |
| proselytize | to convert (someone) to another religion, belief, etc. |
| equable | equal and uniform; also, not easily disturbed. |
| sacrosanct | sacred; inviolable. |
| indefatigable | untiring. |
| gravid | pregnant. |
| hyperbole | extravagant exaggeration. |
| funereal | pertaining to or suiting a funeral; gloomy; mournful. |
| flibbertigibbet | a silly, flighty, or excessively talkative person. |
| vet | to subject to thorough appraisal; to evaluate. |
| acme | the highest point of something. |
| efface | to cause to disappear by rubbing out, striking out, etc. |
| stanch | to stop the flowing of; to check. |
| aggress | to make an attack. |
| excursus | a digression. |
| cataract | a large waterfall; also, a downpour, a flood. |
| mazy | resembling a maze; intricate or confusing. |
| entreat | to ask for or request earnestly. |
| hypnagogic | leading to sleep; hypnotic. |
| florid | flushed with red; also, excessively ornate. |
| leitmotif | a dominant and recurring theme. |
| bon ton | the height of the fashion; fashionable society. |
| fungible | interchangeable. |
| transmogrify | to transform. |
| benefaction | the act of conferring a benefit; also, a benefit conferred. |
| salutary | beneficial; also, healthful. |
| interstice | a space between things or parts. |
| neophyte | a novice. |
| dyspeptic | pertaining to or having indigestion; also, irritable or ill-humored. |
| melange | a mixture. |
| limn | to draw or paint; also, to describe. |
| vapid | flat; dull; spiritless. |
| pernicious | deadly; destructive; exceedingly harmful. |
| valetudinarian | a weak or sickly person. |
| cerebration | the act or product of thinking. |
| hortatory | serving to encourage or incite. |
| mimetic | imitative. |
| bellicose | inclined to or favoring war or strife. |
| veritable | real; true; genuine. |
| apprise | to give notice to; to inform. |
| explicate | to explain. |
| maelstrom | a large, powerful whirlpool; also, a violent, disordered, or turbulent state of affairs. |
| billet-doux | a love letter. |
| dissimulate | to hide under a false appearance; also, to feign or pretend. |
| adage | an old saying. |
| histrionic | theatrical. |
| contrite | feeling or expressing grief and regret for sins or offenses. |
| lacuna | a blank space; a missing part. |
| qua | in the capacity or character of; as. |
| iota | a very small quantity or degree. |
| malversation | misconduct in public office. |
| confrere | a colleague, comrade, or intimate associate. |
| supine | lying on the back; also, indolent; listless. |
| conflagration | a large and destructive fire. |
| plenipotentiary | invested with full power. |
| errant | wandering; deviating from an appointed course, or from a direct path; roving. |
| preternatural | beyond of different from what is natural; inexplicable; extraordinary; abnormal. |
| idee fixe | a fixed idea; an obsession. |
| succor | aid; help; also, to help or relieve. |
| piebald | mottled; also, mixed. |
| mollify | to reduce in intensity; to soothe; to soften. |
| staid | steady or sedate in character. |
| prima facie | at first view. |
| exemplar | an ideal model or type. |
| recidivism | a tendency to lapse into a previous condition or pattern of behavior; esp., into prior criminal habits. |
| nosegay | a bouquet. |
| wan | pale; also, lacking vitality or intensity. |
| digerati | persons knowledgeable about computers. |
| avuncular | resembling an uncle, as in kindness or indulgence. |
| nebbish | a weak-willed, timid, or ineffectual person. |
| cadge | to beg; to sponge. |
| minatory | threatening; menacing. |
| quietus | final acquittance, as from debt; also, rest; death. |
| sagacious | of keen penetration and judgment; wise. |
| feckless | ineffective; weak; worthless. |
| invective | insulting or abusive language. |
| sartorial | of or relating to a tailor, tailoring, or clothing. |
| puckish | whimsical; mischievous; impish. |
| abulia | loss or impairment of the ability to act or to make decisions. |
| small beer | weak beer; also, matters of little importance. |
| vagary | an extravagant, erratic, or unpredictable notion, action, or occurrence. |
| nimbus | a dark gray rain cloud; also, a halo, an aura. |
| overweening | overbearing; also, excessive. |
| insuperable | incapable of being passed over, surmounted, or overcome. |
| effete | infertile; also, worn out; also, decadent, effeminate. |
| spry | nimble. |
| luminary | any body that gives light; also, a person of eminence or brilliant achievement. |
| ignoble | not noble. |
| appellation | a name, title, or designation. |
| galvanic | pertaining to a direct current of electricity; also, having the effect of an electric shock. |
| fillip | a snap; also, a stimulus. |
| apologia | a formal defense or justification. |
| flaneur | one who strolls about aimlessly; a lounger; a loafer. |
| hullabaloo | a confused noise; uproar. |
| myriad | consisting of a very great but indefinite number; also, a very great many. |
| nepotism | favoritism shown to members of one's family. |
| potboiler | a usually inferior literary or artistic work, produced quickly for the purpose of making money. |
| distrait | divided or withdrawn in attention, especially because of anxiety. |
| raiment | clothing in general; garments. |
| politic | political; also, shrewdly tactful. |
| internecine | destructive; especially, mutually destructive; also, relating to conflict within a group. |
| bevy | a group; an assembly. |
| furtive | obtained or characterized by stealth; sly; secret; stealthy. |
| pulchritude | beauty. |
| mendicant | a beggar. |
| plaudit | enthusiastic approval. |
| abstruse | difficult to comprehend. |
| swan song | a final or farewell appearance, action, or pronouncement. |
| teetotaler | one pledged to abstinence from alcoholic drinks. |
| undulant | resembling waves in form, motion, or occurrence. |
| rapprochement | the establishment or state of cordial relations. |
| chortle | to utter, or express with, a snorting, exultant laugh or chuckle. |
| hobbledehoy | an awkward, gawky young fellow. |
| bricolage | construction or something constructed by using whatever materials happen to be available. |
| clamber | to climb with difficulty, or on all fours. |
| nettlesome | causing irritation, vexation, or distress. |
| patrician | a nobleman; also, a person of refined upbringing, manners, and taste. |
| heterogeneous | consisting of dissimilar elements. |
| sotto voce | spoken low or in an undertone. |
| bailiwick | a person's specific area of knowledge, authority, interest, skill, or work. |
| nonplus | to confound; to perplex; to bewilder. |
| inkhorn | affectedly or ostentatiously learned. |
| jocular | given to or characterized by joking. |
| incommunicado | without means or right to communicate. |
| apotheosis | a model of excellence or perfection of a kind. |
| bucolic | rustic; pastoral. |
| limpid | clear; also, serene. |
| solicitous | manifesting, expressing, or full of care or concern. |
| comely | pleasing to the sight. |
| inexorable | unyielding; relentless. |
| nonpareil | having no equal. |
| ossify | to harden or to become bone. |
| commodious | comfortably spacious; roomy. |
| pastiche | a hodgepodge; a potpourri. |
| martinet | a strict disciplinarian. |
| connubial | of or pertaining to marriage. |
| acrimony | bitter, harsh, or biting sharpness. |
| lambaste | to scold sharply; also, to beat. |
| bibelot | a trinket. |
| egress | the act of going out or leaving; exit. |
| propitiate | to appease; to conciliate. |
| stripling | an adolescent youth. |
| peripatetic | walking about or traveling from place to place. |
| abattoir | a slaughterhouse. |
| rivulet | a small stream or brook. |
| obstreperous | noisily and stubbornly defiant; also, boisterous. |
| donnybrook | a brawl or dispute. |
| hoi polloi | the common people; the masses. |
| pervicacious | stubborn; obstinate. |
| alfresco | outdoors; outdoor. |
| dotage | feebleness of mind due to old age. |
| parse | to analyze. |
| commensurate | equal in measure or extent; also, proportionate. |
| paterfamilias | the male head of a household; the father of a family. |
| rotund | round; rounded in figure. |
| wag | a humorous person; a wit. |
| efficacious | producing, or capable of producing, a desired effect. |
| aegis | a shield; protection. |
| denouement | the final resolution of the main complication of a literary or dramatic work. |
| yen | a strong desire or inclination. |
| irenic | promoting peace. |
| perorate | to conclude or sum up a long discourse; also, to speak at length. |
| sui generis | unique. |
| collegial | characterized by or having authority vested equally among colleagues. |
| slaver | to slobber; to drool. |
| discomfit | to disconcert; also, to thwart. |
| sere | dry; withered. |
| gadabout | one who roams about in search of amusement or social activity. |
| effusive | excessively demonstrative. |
| languor | lack of energy or vitality. |
| bloviate | to speak or write in a pompous manner. |
| mephitic | offensive to the smell; also, noxious. |
| oblation | an offering. |
| interlard | to insert between; to mix. |
| fait accompli | an accomplished and presumably irreversible deed or fact. |
| blackguard | a scoundrel. |
| peremptory | precluding or putting an end to all debate or action. |
| genuflect | to bend the knee, as in worship; also, to grovel. |
| redolent | having or exuding fragrance; also, evocative, reminiscent. |
| satiety | fullness to or beyond the point of satisfaction. |
| presentiment | a premonition. |
| timorous | full of apprehensiveness; fearful. |
| penury | extreme poverty; also, insufficiency. |
| cudgel | a short heavy stick. |
| tirade | a long angry speech. |
| aright | rightly; correctly. |
| filial | of, pertaining to, or befitting a son or daughter. |
| brackish | somewhat salty; also, distasteful. |
| louche | of questionable taste or morality. |
| solecism | a nonstandard usage or grammatical construction. |
| riposte | a quick and effective reply by word or act. |
| longueur | a tedious passage in a work of literature, etc. |
| juxtaposition | the act or an instance of placing in nearness. |
| vatic | of or characteristic of a prophet or prophecy. |
| crux | the essential point or feature. |
| exegesis | exposition; explanation. |
| arriviste | an upstart. |
| carom | to strike and rebound; also, a glancing off. |
| slake | to satisfy or quench; also, to cause to lessen. |
| eremite | a hermit. |
| cohort | a group; also, a companion or associate. |
| avatar | an incarnation. |
| ne plus ultra | the acme; also, the most profound degree. |
| exhort | to urge strongly. |
| senescence | the state of being or growing old. |
| Cockaigne | an imaginary land of ease and luxury. |
| skulduggery | devious, dishonest, or unscrupulous behavior or activity. |
| fey | possessing or displaying a strange and otherworldly aspect or quality. |
| remonstrate | to present and urge reasons in opposition. |
| hinterland | backcountry. |
| aficionado | an enthusiastic admirer; a fan. |
| machination | a crafty scheme intended to accomplish some usually evil end. |
| germane | appropriate or fitting; relevant. |
| fallible | liable to make a mistake. |
| oblivious | forgetful; also, unmindful. |
| militate | to have force or influence. |
| permeate | to spread or diffuse through. |
| caterwaul | to make a harsh cry or screech. |
| agon | struggle; conflict. |
| deracinate | to uproot. |
| intrepid | fearless; bold. |
| cavort | to bound or prance about. |
| suasion | the act of persuading. |
| arrant | outright; thoroughgoing. |
| latitudinarian | having or expressing broad and tolerant views. |
| homily | a sermon or lecture; also, an inspirational saying or a platitude. |
| rejoinder | an answer to a reply. |
| concinnity | elegance -- used chiefly of literary style. |
| fecund | fruitful; prolific. |
| tattoo | a rapid, rhythmic drumming or rapping. |
| imprecation | a curse. |
| supplant | to take the place of. |
| vertiginous | causing dizziness; also, giddy; dizzy. |
| pied-a-terre | a temporary or second place of lodging. |
| Argus-eyed | extremely observant; watchful. |
| corpulent | very fat; obese. |
| bacchanalia | a revel. |
| profuse | plentiful; copious. |
| doyen | the senior member of a body or group. |
| billet | to quarter, or place in lodgings. |
| coterminous | of equal extent or duration. |
| plaintive | expressive of sorrow or melancholy. |
| tremulous | shaking, quivering; also, affected with fear. |
| doughty | valiant; brave. |
| contretemps | something inopportune or embarrassing. |
| arbiter | one having the power of judging and determining. |
| pablum | something (as writing or speech) that is trite, insipid, or simplistic. |
| milksop | an unmanly man. |
| cajole | to coax. |
| hardscrabble | barren, marginal; also, marked by poverty. |
| potentate | one who possesses great power or sway. |
| moil | to labor; to toil; to drudge. |
| redact | to edit. |
| privation | the state of being deprived of something. |
| venerate | to treat with deep respect. |
| starveling | one who is starving or being starved; also, poor in quality. |
| etiolate | to blanch or bleach; to make sickly. |
| wiseacre | a smart aleck. |
| quagmire | a predicament. |
| dictum | an authoritative statement. |
| quixotic | foolishly impractical; also, capricious, impulsive. |
| maunder | to talk or wander aimlessly. |
| vade mecum | a book or other thing that one regularly carries about. |
| amicable | characterized by friendliness and good will. |
| effrontery | shameless boldness; insolence. |
| cabal | a group that seeks power usually through intrigue. |
| forcible | effected by force used against resistance; also, powerful. |
| neoteric | recent in origin; new. |
| indigence | extreme poverty. |
| frangible | capable of being broken; easily broken. |
| grandiloquent | lofty in style. |
| approbation | formal or official approval; also, praise. |
| dishabille | the state of being carelessly or partially dressed. |
| clerisy | the intelligentsia. |
| debouch | to emerge; to issue. |
| epicene | having the characteristics of both the male and the female. |
| braggadocio | empty boasting. |
| hubris | overbearing pride or presumption. |
| gustatory | pertaining to the sense of taste. |
| ken | perception, view; especially, reach of sight or knowledge. |
| recherche | exotic; rare; also, affected, pretentious. |
| chimera | a mental fabrication. |
| mulct | to defraud. |
| hector | to bully or harass. |
| disquisition | a formal discourse on a subject. |
| tatterdemalion | a person dressed in tattered clothing. |
| panjandrum | an important or self-important official. |
| dulcet | melodious. |
| serendipity | the faculty or phenomenon of making fortunate accidental discoveries. |
| extemporaneous | composed, performed, or uttered on the spur of the moment. |
| copse | a thicket of small trees. |
| ludic | playful. |
| popinjay | a vain and talkative person. |
| embonpoint | plumpness of person. |
| idyll | a poem or prose work depicting rural or pastoral life; also, a carefree episode or experience. |
| unguent | an ointment. |
| redoubtable | formidable; also, illustrious; eminent. |
| tenet | any opinion, principle, or doctrine held to be true. |
| benison | blessing; benediction. |
| arcanum | a secret; a mystery. |
| diablerie | sorcery; also, mischievous conduct. |
| eldritch | unearthly; weird; eerie. |
| disport | to frolic; to amuse (oneself). |
| repine | to feel or express discontent. |
| troglodyte | someone who dwells in a cave. |
| abeyance | suspension; temporary cessation. |
| gamine | an urchin; also, a mischievous girl or young woman. |
| sedition | incitement of rebellion against lawful authority. |
| lubricious | lewd; also, slippery or smooth. |
| hebetude | mental dullness or sluggishness. |
| acuity | acuteness of perception or vision. |
| sanctum | a place where one is free from intrusion. |
| empyrean | the highest heaven; the heavens; the sky. |
| demur | to object; also, to delay. |
| rodomontade | pretentious, bragging speech. |
| gallimaufry | a hodgepodge. |
| impregnable | able to resist attack. |
| urbane | polished and smooth in manner. |
| bibulous | of, pertaining to, marked by, or given to the consumption of alcohol. |
| acerbic | sharp, biting, or acid in temper, expression, or tone. |
| redound | to have a consequence or effect. |
| languid | lacking vigor or force. |
| predilection | an established preference. |
| repletion | the condition of being completely or excessively full. |
| transmute | to change from one nature, form, substance, or state into another. |
| forgo | to do without. |
| abed | in bed. |
| malapropism | the usually unintentionally humorous misuse of a word, especially by confusion with one of similar sound; also, an example of such misuse. |
| soi-disant | self-styled; so-called. |
| paean | a song or other expression of praise or joy. |
| flummery | mumbo jumbo; nonsense. |
| dolorous | marked by, causing, or expressing grief or sorrow. |
| pantheon | the collective gods of a people; also, a group of highly esteemed persons. |
| surly | ill-humored; sullen and gruff. |
| fatidic | of, relating to, or characterized by prophecy. |
| enjoin | to direct or impose with authority; also, to forbid. |
| turbid | muddy; not clear; also, confused; disordered. |
| renege | to go back on a promise or commitment. |
| enunciate | to utter articulately; also, to state or set forth precisely or systematically. |
| punctilious | precise; exact in the smallest particulars. |
| foofaraw | excessive or flashy ornamentation; also, a fuss over a trivial matter. |
| autochthonous | indigenous; native. |
| gambol | to dance and skip about in play. |
| bowdlerize | to remove or modify the parts considered offensive. |
| remunerate | to pay an equivalent to for any service, loss, or expense. |
| discrete | constituting a separate thing; also, consisting of distinct or unconnected parts. |
| nascent | beginning to exist. |
| excrescence | something growing out from something else; also, a disfiguring or unwanted part. |
| refractory | stubbornly disobedient. |
| heterodox | holding unorthodox opinions. |
| conflate | to bring together; to meld. |
| bombinate | to buzz, hum, or drone. |
| putsch | an attempt to overthrow a government. |
| bilious | of or pertaining to bile; also, ill-tempered. |
| foundling | a deserted or abandoned child. |
| bedizen | to dress or adorn in gaudy manner. |
| tintinnabulation | a tinkling sound, as of a bell or bells. |
| cosmopolite | a cosmopolitan person. |
| galumph | to move in a clumsy manner or with a heavy tread. |
| salad days | a time of youthful inexperience, innocence, or indiscretion. |
| affray | a tumultuous assault or quarrel; a brawl. |
| faineant | doing nothing; idle; also, a do-nothing. |
| prink | to primp. |
| segue | to proceed without interruption. |
| palimpsest | an object or place whose older layers or aspects are apparent. |
| bete noire | something or someone particularly detested or avoided. |
| farrago | an assortment; a medley. |
| expatiate | to speak or write at length. |
| nadir | the lowest point. |
| protean | readily assuming different shapes or forms. |
| fulsome | offensive from excess of praise. |
| constitutional | a walk taken for one's health. |
| quondam | former; sometime. |
| sinecure | an office or position that involves little work or responsibility. |
| vainglory | excessive pride or vain display. |
| canard | an unfounded or false report. |
| gainsay | to contradict; to deny. |
| portend | to foreshadow; to bode. |
| ratiocination | the process of reasoning. |
| equivocate | to be deliberately ambiguous or unclear. |
| frisson | a brief moment of intense excitement. |
| tchotchke | a trinket; a knickknack. |
| inveigh | to rail (against some person or thing). |
| propound | to put forward for consideration. |
| acrid | sharp and harsh; bitter. |
| lachrymose | given to causing tears. |
| fop | a man who is vain about his dress and appearance. |
| defenestrate | to throw out of a window. |
| brio | vigor; vivacity. |
| supercilious | disdainfully arrogant. |
| gesticulate | to make gestures or motions. |
| probity | complete and confirmed integrity. |
| inveterate | deep-rooted; of long standing. |
| Hobson's choice | a choice without an alternative. |
| rebarbative | repellent; irritating. |
| afflatus | a divine inspiration. |
| comport | to behave (oneself) in a particular manner. |
| sunder | to break apart. |
| espy | to see at a glance. |
| compunction | anxiety or unease from guilt; also, a scruple. |
| venial | capable of being forgiven; excusable. |
| gimcrack | a showy but useless or worthless object. |
| truculent | fierce; savage; ferocious. |
| unctuous | marked by a false or smug earnestness or agreeableness. |
| celerity | quickness; swiftness. |
| vehement | marked by intensity of emotions or convictions. |
| putative | commonly thought or deemed; supposed. |
| wheedle | to entice by flattery. |
| stolid | unexcitable; unemotional. |
| lugubrious | mournful; gloomy; dismal. |
| abjure | to renounce, reject, or shun. |
| vicissitude | a change in condition or fortune. |
| redress | to set right. |
| ubiquitous | being everywhere. |
| propinquity | nearness. |
| venal | capable of being bought; also, corruptible. |
| obviate | to anticipate and dispose of or make unnecessary. |
| mellifluous | flowing sweetly or smoothly. |
| prestidigitation | sleight of hand. |
| gastronome | a lover of good food and drink. |
| exculpate | to clear from alleged fault or guilt. |
| diaphanous | allowing light to pass through. |
| supernumerary | exceeding a necessary or usual number. |
| indomitable | incapable of being subdued or overcome. |
| argot | a specialized vocabulary peculiar to a particular group. |
| impugn | to call in question; to make insinuations against. |
| lascivious | lewd; lustful. |
| parsimony | excessive sparingness in the expenditure of money. |
| atrabilious | irritable; ill-natured. |
| peccadillo | a slight offense; a petty fault. |
| logorrhea | excessive talkativeness. |
| travail | painful, arduous work; also, agony, anguish. |
| acquiesce | to accept or consent passively or without objection. |
| elucidate | to make clear or manifest. |
| recalcitrant | stubbornly resistant to and defiant of authority or restraint. |
| abstemious | temperate; abstinent; refraining from indulgence. |
| gravitas | high seriousness. |
| Ides | the fifteenth day of March, May, July, and October, and the thirteenth day of the other months. |
| mendacious | untruthful; also, untrue. |
| verdure | greenness. |
| emblazon | to display pompously; to decorate. |
| collude | to act in concert; to conspire. |
| risible | exciting or provoking laughter. |
| surcease | cessation; stop; end. |
| adumbrate | to outline; also, to foreshadow; also, to suggest; also, to shade. |
| Elysium | paradise. |
| demagogue | a leader who obtains power by means of appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace. |
| augury | an omen; prediction. |
| fulminate | to issue or utter verbal attacks or censures. |
| sycophant | one who seeks favor by flattery; a toady. |
| vitiate | to make faulty or imperfect. |
| factious | addicted to form parties and raise dissensions. |
| quiescent | at rest; still; inactive. |
| purblind | having greatly reduced vision. |
| coxcomb | a vain, showy fellow. |
| chicanery | the use of trickery to deceive. |
| habitue | one who habitually frequents a place. |
| pellucid | transparent, clear; also, easily understandable. |
| buss | a kiss; to kiss. |
| factitious | artificial; not authentic or genuine. |
| profligate | shamelessly immoral; also, recklessly wasteful. |
| bedaub | to besmear; also, to overdecorate. |
| bifurcate | to divide into two branches. |
| contumacious | obstinate; stubbornly disobedient. |
| firmament | the sky; the heavens. |
| arcane | understood or known by only a few. |
| perfunctory | done routinely. |
| temerity | unreasonable or foolhardy contempt of danger. |
| superannuated | old; discharged or disqualified on account of old age. |
| egregious | outrageously bad. |
| tutelary | guardian; protecting. |
| condign | deserved; adequate. |
| lambent | playing on the surface; flickering. |
| confabulation | familiar talk. |
| expiate | to make amends for; to atone for. |
| somniferous | causing or inducing sleep. |
| aubade | a song greeting the dawn. |
| cogitate | to think; to ponder. |
| persiflage | frivolous or bantering talk. |
| obfuscate | to darken or obscure. |
| calumny | malicious misrepresentation; slander. |
| ablution | the washing of the body or some part of it. |
| undulate | to move in waves. |
| cosset | to treat with excessive indulgence; to pamper. |
| subterfuge | a deceptive device or stratagem. |
| kismet | destiny; fate. |
| turpitude | baseness; depravity. |
| ephemeral | short-lived. |
| inveigle | to persuade or obtain by ingenuity or flattery. |
| portentous | foreboding; ominous. |
| facetious | playfully jocular; humorous. |
| deign | to condescend. |
| restive | resisting control; stubborn. |
| schadenfreude | a malicious satisfaction in the misfortunes of others. |
| pari passu | at an equal pace or rate. |
| mawkish | sickly or excessively sentimental. |
| panache | dash or flamboyance in manner or style. |
| adventitious | added extrinsically; not essentially inherent. |
| kvetch | to complain habitually. |
| pejorative | disparaging; belittling. |
| cognoscente | a person with special knowledge. |
| alacrity | a cheerful readiness, willingness, or promptness. |
| bravura | a showy display. |
| vivify | to endue with life; to enliven. |
| sonorous | yielding sound; impressive in sound. |
| anathema | a curse; a person or thing cursed, or intensely disliked. |
| laconic | using or marked by the use of a minimum of words. |
| deleterious | harmful. |
| platitude | a banal, trite, or stale thought or remark. |
| quash | to annul; also, to crush; to subdue. |
| meretricious | tawdry. |
| bumptious | crudely, presumptuously, or noisily self-assertive. |
| laudable | praiseworthy; commendable. |
| inamorata | a woman whom one is in love with. |
| penchant | a strong liking. |
| disconcert | to disturb the composure of. |
| physiognomy | the face or appearance. |
| masticate | to chew. |
| sempiternal | everlasting; eternal. |
| harangue | a speech addressed to a public assembly; also, a noisy or pompous speech. |
| supernal | being on high; celestial. |
| rubicund | inclining to redness; ruddy. |
| moribund | dying. |
| apothegm | a short, witty, and instructive saying. |
| wastrel | a person who wastes; a loafer. |
| malodorous | having a bad odor. |
| plangent | beating with a loud or deep sound; also, expressing sadness. |
| immure | to enclose within or as if within walls. |
| rara avis | a rare or unique person or thing. |
| scapegrace | one who is wild and reckless. |
| ruminate | to chew the cud; also, to ponder; to reflect. |
| hirsute | covered with hair or bristles. |
| admonition | gentle or friendly reproof; friendly warning. |
| abrogate | to annul; to do away with. |
| importunate | troublesomely urgent. |
| kitsch | art in pretentious bad taste. |
| monomania | obsession with a single subject. |
| ribald | characterized by, or given to, vulgar humor. |
| febrile | feverish. |
| rapacious | grasping; greedy. |
| extirpate | to eradicate; to destroy. |
| uxorious | excessively fond of or submissive to a wife. |
| anodyne | serving to relieve pain. |
| bootless | unavailing; useless. |
| flummox | to confuse; to perplex. |
| concomitant | accompanying; attending. |
| busker | a street musician or performer. |
| turgid | swollen, bloated; also, bombastic, pompous. |
| denizen | an inhabitant. |
| peregrination | a traveling from place to place. |
| tocsin | a warning. |
| palliate | to extenuate; also, to relieve. |
| improvident | lacking foresight; negligent; thoughtless. |
| inimical | unfriendly; unfavorable. |
| halcyon | peaceful; undisturbed; happy. |
| coeval | existing during the same period of time; also, a contemporary. |
| obtrude | to thrust out; also, to impose on others. |
| cozen | to deceive or obtain by deceit. |
| perfervid | ardent; impassioned. |
| recrudescent | breaking out again. |
| deride | to laugh at with contempt. |
| billingsgate | foul language. |
| factotum | a person employed to do all kinds of work. |
| jejune | lacking in nutritional value; also, immature; also, dull. |
| evince | to show in a clear manner. |
| cacophony | harsh or discordant sound. |
| perfidy | faithlessness; treachery. |
| onus | burden; also, blame; stigma. |
| tergiversation | evasion; also, desertion of a cause, party, etc. |
| opprobrium | reproach mingled with contempt. |
| hoary | white or gray with age; hence, extremely old. |
| tractable | docile; manageable, governable. |
| recumbent | reclining; lying down. |
| prevaricate | to depart from or evade the truth. |
| libation | the act of pouring a liquid as a sacrifice; also, a beverage. |
| quandary | a state of difficulty or perplexity. |
| obsequious | servilely attentive; fawning. |
| simulacrum | a representation; an insubstantial or vague semblance. |
| miasma | a thick vaporous atmosphere, often noxious. |
| ululate | to howl; to wail. |
| toothsome | delicious; attractive; luscious. |
| asperity | roughness of surface, sound, or manner. |
| impervious | impenetrable; also, not capable of being affected. |
| auspicious | favorable; also, prosperous; fortunate. |
| puissant | powerful. |
| otiose | ineffective; also, being at leisure; also, of no use. |
| lucubration | nocturnal study. |
| quaff | to drink with relish. |
| perdurable | very durable; long lasting. |
| crapulous | sick from, or marked by, excessive drinking. |
| equanimity | calmness; composure. |
| megalomania | a mental disorder characterized by delusions of grandeur. |
| verbose | wordy. |
| gauche | lacking social polish; tactless. |
| euphonious | pleasing or sweet in sound. |
| fustian | pompous or pretentious language. |
| contradistinction | distinction by contrast. |
| disparate | fundamentally different; also, composed of dissimilar elements. |
| palaver | idle talk; also, to talk idly. |
| malleable | capable of being shaped; also, adaptable. |
| termagant | a scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman. |
| consanguineous | related by blood; descended from the same ancestor. |
| verisimilitude | the quality of seeming to be true. |
| tendentious | marked by a strong tendency in favor of a particular point of view. |
| avoirdupois | weight; heaviness. |
| dudgeon | a state or fit of intense indignation. |
| rusticate | to go or send to the country. |
| ascetic | one who practices extreme self-denial; also, austere, severe. |
| excoriate | to express strong disapproval of; also, to flay. |
| dilettante | an amateur; also, an admirer or lover of the fine arts. |
| truckle | to act in a subservient manner. |
| nugatory | insignificant; also, ineffectual. |
| moiety | a half; a small part. |
| variegated | having marks or patches of different colors; also, varied. |
| convivial | relating to feasting, drinking, and good company; festive. |
| posit | to postulate; also, to suggest. |
| expunge | to strike out or erase; to obliterate. |
| largess | generous giving; also, gifts of money or other valuables. |
| woebegone | woeful; also, run-down. |
| milieu | environment; setting. |
| accede | to agree or assent; also, to become a party. |
| salient | noticeable; also, projecting; also, leaping. |
| wunderkind | one who achieves success or acclaim during youth. |
| obeisance | an expression of deference. |
| felicitous | apt or appropriate; also, delightful. |
| grandee | a man of elevated rank or station; a nobleman. |
| disconsolate | hopelessly sad; also, saddening; cheerless. |
| malinger | to feign illness or inability. |
| credulous | inclined to believe too readily. |
| tryst | an appointment (as between lovers) to meet. |
| paragon | a model of excellence or perfection. |
| inscrutable | difficult to fathom or understand. |
| soporific | causing sleep; also, something that causes sleep. |
| congeries | a collection; an aggregation. |
| didactic | conveying instruction; teaching some moral lesson. |
| officious | meddlesome. |
| flippant | showing inappropriate levity; pert. |
| castigate | to punish or criticize severely. |
| aver | to assert as true. |
| callow | immature. |
| lucre | money; profit. |
| epigone | an inferior imitator. |
| imbue | to dye; to instill profoundly. |
| concupiscence | lust. |
| irrefragable | impossible to refute. |
| rictus | a gaping grin or grimace. |
| nostrum | a questionable remedy. |
| scintilla | a tiny amount; a spark. |
| ergo | therefore; consequently. |
| animus | a feeling of ill will; also, animating spirit; disposition. |
| ignoramus | an ignorant person; a dunce. |
| interregnum | the interval between two reigns; also, any breach of continuity in an order. |
| lexicography | the writing or compiling of dictionaries. |
| circumambient | surrounding; encompassing. |
| purdah | social seclusion. |
| proscribe | to forbid; to prohibit. |
| coquette | a flirt. |
| cadre | a core or nucleus of trained or otherwise qualified personnel around which an organization is formed. |
| titivate | to smarten up; to spruce. |
| bromide | a commonplace or conventional saying. |
| orotund | full in sound; also, bombastic. |
| pertinacious | holding obstinately to a belief, purpose or design; also, stubbornly persistent. |
| Promethean | of or pertaining to Prometheus; also, boldly original. |
| extraneous | coming from the outside; also, not essential; also, irrelevant. |
| amity | friendship; friendly relations. |
| pettifogger | a petty, unscrupulous lawyer; also, who quibbles over trivia. |
| mountebank | a quack; also, a charlatan. |
| apparition | a ghost; also, an unexpected appearance. |
| perquisite | a benefit in addition to a salary. |
| exigency | state of requiring immediate action; also, an urgent situation; also, that which is required in a particular situation. |
| succinct | brief; concise. |
| ineffectual | without effect; weak; useless. |
| sapient | wise; sage; discerning. |
| pugilist | a boxer. |
| deus ex machina | an agent who appears unexpectedly to solve an apparently insoluble difficulty. |
| circumspect | cautious; prudent. |
| tutelage | guardianship; protection; also, instruction. |
| visage | the face; also, appearance; aspect. |
| introspection | the act or process of self-examination; reflection. |
| missive | a written message; a letter. |
| expropriate | to deprive of possession; also, to transfer (property) to oneself. |
| malcontent | one who is discontented or dissatisfied. |
| ukase | an edict. |
| derogate | to deviate from expectation; also, to detract; also, to disparage. |
| raillery | good-humored banter or teasing repartee. |
| neologism | a new word or expression; the use or creation of new words or expressions. |
| malaise | a condition of uneasiness or ill-being. |
| raffish | tawdry; also, rakish. |
| parlous | fraught with danger; hazardous. |
| querulous | habitually complaining; also, expressing complaint. |
| cornucopia | the horn of plenty; also, an abundance. |
| panacea | a cure-all. |
| sine qua non | an indispensable thing. |
| fractious | tending to cause trouble; also, irritable. |
| vim | energy; vigor. |
| perambulate | to stroll; to walk through or over. |
| wizened | shriveled; withered. |
| modicum | a small or token amount. |
| oneiric | pertaining to or suggestive of dreams. |
| execrable | detestable; extremely bad. |
| patina | a superficial layer. |
| provenance | origin; source. |
| caveat | a warning or caution. |
| nonage | a period of youth or immaturity. |
| atelier | a workshop; a studio. |
| fetid | stinking. |
| itinerant | traveling from place to place. |
| conurbation | an aggregation or continuous network of urban communities. |
| equipoise | equilibrium; also, counterbalance. |
| coruscate | to give off or reflect bright beams or flashes of light. |
| voluptuary | a person devoted to luxury and the gratification of sensual appetites. |
| harridan | a scolding, vicious woman. |
| ambit | circuit or compass; also, sphere of action or influence. |
| rapport | relation characterized by sympathetic understanding. |
| pandemic | affecting a whole people or a number of countries. |
| apocryphal | of doubtful authority or authenticity. |
| cormorant | a gluttonous or greedy person. |
| microcosm | a smaller, representative system having analogies to a larger system. |
| harbinger | a precursor; one that presages what is to come. |
| censure | to criticize severely; also, an expression of disapproval. |
| capricious | whimsical; changeable. |
| sporadic | occuring singly, or occasionally, or in scattered instances. |
| wassail | an expression of good wishes on a festive occasion, especially in drinking to some one. |
| quidnunc | a gossip; a busybody. |
| impassible | incapable of suffering; also, unfeeling or not showing feeling. |
| gloaming | twilight; dusk. |
| manse | a large and imposing residence. |
| Grub Street | the world or category of impoverished literary hacks. |
| Hogmanay | the name, in Scotland, for the last day of the year. |
| emolument | the wages or perquisites arising from office, employment, or labor. |
| palindrome | a word, verse, phrase, or sentence that reads the same backward or forward. |
| deprecate | to disapprove of; also, to belittle. |
| bivouac | a usually temporary encampment; also, to encamp. |
| umbrage | offense; resentment. |
| incipient | beginning to exist or appear. |
| dapple | a small contrasting blotch; also, to mark with spots. |
| pugnacious | combative; quarrelsome. |
| capitulate | to surrender under agreed conditions. |
| susurrus | a whispering or rustling sound. |
| thaumaturgy | the performing of miracles or magic. |
| capacious | able to contain much. |
| glower | to stare angrily or with a scowl. |
| canorous | melodious; musical. |
| repast | a meal. |
| spoonerism | the transposition of usually initial sounds in a pair of words. |
| tenebrous | dark; gloomy. |
| nescience | lack of knowledge or awareness. |
| gewgaw | a trinket; a bauble. |
| effulgence | the state of being bright and radiant. |
| assuage | to soften; to ease, or lessen. |
| exiguity | smallness; thinness; the quality of being meager. |
| seriatim | in a series; one after another. |
| tmesis | in grammar and rhetoric, the separation of the parts of a compound word. |
| chthonic | dwelling in or under the earth; also, pertaining to the underworld. |
| objurgate | to scold or rebuke sharply. |
| plethora | excess. |
| lissom | supple; nimble. |
| badinage | light, playful talk. |
| propitious | presenting favorable circumstances. |
| inclement | harsh; severe -- especially said of the weather. |
| kobold | a kind of domestic spirit in German mythology. |
| knell | the stoke of a bell tolled at a funeral. |
| cogent | appealing to the mind or to reason; convincing. |
| regale | to entertain with something that delights. |
| mordant | biting; caustic; sarcastic. |
| agog | in eager desire. |
| captious | disposed to find fault or raise objections. |
| arbitrage | the nearly simultaneous purchase and sale of an asset in order to profit from price discrepancies. |
| redoubt | a stronghold. |
| chichi | affectedly trendy. |
| taw | a large marble. |
| vexillology | the study of flags. |
| quorum | such a number of the officers or members of any body as is legally competent to transact business. |
| abscond | to depart secretly. |
| virtu | love of or taste for fine objects of art; also, productions of art. |
| junta | a governmental council or committee, esp. one that rules after a revolution. |
| gamut | a complete extent or range. |
| lexicon | a dictionary; also, the vocabulary of a person, group, etc. |
| aestival | of or belonging to the summer. |
| slugabed | one who stays in bed until a late hour. |
| desultory | jumping from subject to subject; erratic; inconsistent. |
| irascible | easily provoked to anger. |
| acumen | quickness or keenness of perception or discernment. |
| scion | a descendant; an heir. |
| bandog | a large and fierce dog. |
| multifarious | having great diversity or variety. |
| sublunary | situated beneath the moon; terrestrial. |
| ebullient | high-spirited. |
| Brobdingnagian | gigantic; enormous. |
| extant | still existing. |
| verdant | green. |
| Whig | a friend and supporter of the American Revolution. |
| trepidation | a state of dread or alarm; apprehension. |
| torrid | drying or scorching with heat; burning; parching. |
| gnomic | uttering, containing, or characterized by maxims. |
| comity | a state of mutual harmony, friendship, and respect. |
| tyro | a novice. |
| avarice | an excessive desire of gain; greediness. |
| eke | to gain or supplement with great effort or difficulty. |
| tittle-tattle | idle, trifling talk. |
| bellwether | a leader or leading indicator. |
| torpid | dull; sluggish; apathetic. |
| grok | to understand. |
| ameliorate | to make or grow better. |
| bestow | to give or confer. |
| comestible | suitable to be eaten. |
| requisite | required; indispensable. |
| prolix | wordy. |
| sobriquet | a nickname. |
| Zeitgeist | the spirit of the time. |
| numismatics | the collection and study of coins. |
| palpable | plain; distinct; obvious. |
| listless | having no desire or inclination. |
| antediluvian | extremely old. |
| melee | a confused conflict. |
| genial | sympathetically cheerful and cheering; kindly. |
| raucous | unpleasantly loud and harsh. |
| aberrant | abnormal. |
| diffident | bashful or unassertive. |
| superfluous | more than is wanted or is sufficient. |
| gregarious | seeking and enjoying the company of others. |
| erudite | characterized by extensive reading or knowledge. |
| insouciant | Marked by blithe unconcern; nonchalant. |
| salubrious | healthful. |
| verbiage | an overabundance of words. |
| ascribe | to attribute. |
| jovial | merry; joyous; jolly. |
| adamant | not susceptible to persuasion; unyielding. |
| desideratum | something desired. |
| ersatz | being a substitute or imitation. |
| solace | comfort in grief. |
| triskaidekaphobia | fear of the number 13. |
| stoic | indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; also, one who is stoic. |
| encumbrance | a burden, impediment, or hindrance. |
| puerile | juvenile; childish. |
| innocuous | harmless; also, unlikely to offend or provoke. |
| colloquial | characteristic of informal spoken language. |
| eleemosynary | relating to charity; charitable. |
| dour | stern or unyielding or gloomy. |
| incongruous | lacking in harmony. |
| winsome | light-hearted. |
| apposite | of striking appropriateness and relevance. |
| tumult | the commotion or agitation of a crowd. |
| parvenu | an upstart; one newly risen in class or economic status. |
| riparian | of or pertaining to the bank of a river. |
| dilatory | given to, or marked by, procrastination or delay. |
| edify | to instruct and improve. |
| impecunious | habitually without money; poor. |
| polyglot | speaking or containing many languages. |
| sedulous | diligent in application or pursuit. |
| juju | an object superstitiously believed to embody magical powers. |
| chagrin | acute vexation or embarrassment. |
| metier | an occupation, especially in which one excels. |
| facile | easily done or performed. |
| perforce | by necessity. |
| evanescent | fleeting. |
| quotidian | occurring daily; also, ordinary. |
| specious | apparently right but not so in reality. |
| munificent | very generous. |
| indolent | lazy; inactive. |
| intransigent | uncompromising. |
| tortuous | marked by repeated turns and bends. |
| paucity | fewness; insufficiency. |
| autodidact | one who is self-taught. |
| fatuous | inanely foolish; stupid; also, llusory. |
| complement | something that fills up or completes. |
| taciturn | not inclined to talk. |
| en masse | all together; as a whole. |
| confluence | a flowing or coming together. |
| maudlin | excessively sentimental. |
| enervate | to weaken. |
| recondite | difficult to understand. |
| paroxysm | an outburst; a fit. |
| copious | large in quantity; also, affording an abundant supply. |
| exalt | to praise, glorify, or honor. |
| erroneous | containing or characterized by error. |
| prescience | knowledge of events before they take place. |
| ineluctable | impossible to avoid or evade. |
| obdurate | hardened in feelings or in wrongdoing; unyielding. |
| banal | commonplace; trivial. |
| affable | easy to speak to; also, gracious. |
| noisome | offensive or disgusting; also, harmful; unwholesome. |
| exacerbate | to aggravate; to make worse. |
| misnomer | a misnaming. |
| lackadaisical | lacking spirit or liveliness. |
| hauteur | haughtiness; arrogance. |
| skulk | to hide in a sneaking manner. |
| voluble | characterized by a ready flow of speech. |
| ostracize | to banish or expel. |
| autocrat | a ruler with unlimited authority. |
| beholden | obliged; indebted. |
| aplomb | confidence; coolness. |
| disheveled | in loose disorder; disarranged. |
| precocious | characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development. |
| reticent | inclined to keep silent. |
| legerdemain | sleight of hand. |
| vituperate | to overwhelm with wordy abuse. |
| foment | to nurse to life or activity; to incite. |
| contumely | rudeness compounded of haughtiness and contempt. |
| philomath | a lover of learning; a scholar. |
| aesthete | one who cultivates great sensitivity to beauty. |
| nefarious | wicked in the extreme. |
| proclivity | a natural inclination. |
| flout | to treat with contempt and disregard. |
| sesquipedalian | (of words) long; having many syllables. |
| inchoate | partly but not fully in existence or operation. |
| circumlocution | the use of many words to express an idea that might be expressed by few. |
| wayworn | wearied by traveling. |
| potable | drinkable; also, a beverage, especially an alcoholic one. |
| crepuscular | pertaining to twilight. |
| doppelganger | a ghostly double. |
| chimerical | merely imaginary; fanciful. |
| sybarite | a person devoted to luxury and pleasure. |
| gourmand | one who enjoys good food in great quantities. |
| animadversion | harsh criticism or disapproval. |
| desuetude | disuse. |
| pusillanimous | cowardly. |
| inculcate | to teach and impress by frequent repetition or instruction. |
| mien | demeanor; also, aspect; appearance. |
| garrulous | talkative; also, wordy. |
| aggrandize | to make or make appear great or greater. |
| sojourn | to dwell for a time; also, a temporary stay. |
| bombast | pompous or pretentious speech or writing. |
| cupidity | eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth. |
| berate | to scold severely or angrily. |
| supererogatory | going beyond what is required or expected; also, superfluous, unnecessary. |
| encomium | expression of praise. |
| sardonic | scornful, mocking. |
| raconteur | one who excels in telling stories and anecdotes. |
| polymath | a person of great or varied learning. |
| extempore | without premeditation or preparation. |
| blandishment | flattering speech or action. |
| hugger-mugger | secret; also, muddled, disorderly. |
| quiddity | the essence or nature of a thing. |
| implacable | incapable of being pacified. |
| edacious | given to eating. |
| surfeit | an excessive amount; also, to supply to excess. |
| perspicacity | clearness of understanding. |
| aberrant | abnormal. |
| ennui | a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction arising from lack of interest. |
| invidious | tending to provoke envy or ill will. |
| jocund | light-hearted; mirthful. |
| panoply | a splendid or impressive array. |
| miscreant | a scoundrel, a villain; also, a heretic. |
| fugacious | lasting but a short time. |
| respite | an interval of rest or relief. |
| somnolent | drowsy; also, tending to cause sleepiness. |
| cavil | to raise trivial objections; also, a trivial objection. |
| daedal | skillful; artistic; ingenious. |
| sang-froid | coolness in trying circumstances. |
| clinquant | tinsel. |
| assiduous | constant in application or attention. |
| intractable | not easily governed, managed, or directed. |
| detritus | debris. |
| eschew | to shun; to avoid. |
| apogee | the highest point. |
| cant | empty, solemn speech. |
| imbroglio | a complicated and embarrassing state of things. |
| levity | frivolity. |
| choler | anger. |
| inure | to make used to; also, to take or have effect. |
| bonhomie | pleasant and easy manner. |
| land of Nod | sleep. |
| ineffable | incapable of being expressed. |
| vociferous | clamorous; noisy. |
| beneficence | the practice of doing good. |
| plenary | full; complete. |
| lassitude | lack of vitality or energy. |
| chary | wary; cautious. |
| descry | to catch sight of; to detect. |
| cynosure | a center of attention. |
| fin de siecle | characteristic of the close of the century; sophisticated; world-weary. |
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