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a posteriori: relating to or denoting reasoning or knowledge that proceeds from observations or experiences to the deduction of probable causes
aberration: a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome
abnegate: renounce or reject (something desired or valuable)
abstraction: the quality of dealing with ideas rather than events
aggregate: a whole formed by combining several (typically disparate) elements
anodyne: not likely to provoke dissent or offense; uncontentious or inoffensive, often deliberately so
aphorism: a pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”
approbation: approval
assuage: make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense
atavistic: relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral
atrophy: (of body tissue or an organ) waste away, typically due to the degeneration of cells, or become vestigial during evolution; figurative gradually decline in effectiveness or vigor due to underuse or neglect
attrition: the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure
augury: a sign of what will happen in the future; an omen
avail: use or take advantage of (an opportunity or available resource)
avarice: extreme greed for wealth or material gain
bastion: an institution, place, or person strongly defending or upholding particular principles, attitudes, or activities
beguile: charm or enchant (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way
behoove: formal it is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something; it is incumbent on; [with negative] it is appropriate or suitable; it befits
cadre: a small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or profession
canvass: ascertain
caveat: a warning or proviso of specific stipulations, conditions, or limitations
comport (oneself): behave; (with) - accord with, agree with
congener: a thing or person of the same kind or category as another
congenital: (esp. of a disease or physical abnormality) present from birth
contingency: a future event or circumstance that is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty; a provision for such events; absence of uncertainty in events
contravene: violate the prohibition or order of (a law, treaty, or code of conduct); conflict with (a right, principle, etc.), esp. to its detriment
copasetic (copacetic): informal in excellent order; fine
coup de grâs: a final blow or shot given to kill a wounded person or animal
deductive: characterized by the inference of particular instances from a general law
denouement: the final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved; the climax of a chain of events, usually when something is decided or made clear
desultory: lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm; unfocused; occurring randomly or occasionally
disingenuous: not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does
disparate: essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison
duplicitous: deceitful; Law (of a charge or plea) containing more than one allegation
embolize: to lodge in and obstruct (as a blood vessel or organ)
encomium: a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly
epithet: an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned
epoch: a period of time in history or in a person’s life, typically one marked by notable events or particular characteristics
euphony: the quality of being pleasing to the ear, esp. through a harmonious combination of words
evince: reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling); be evidence of; indicate
expedient: convenient and practical, although possibly improper or immoral
extant: (esp. of a document) still in existence; surviving
fealty: a feudal tenant’s or vassal’s sworn loyalty to a lord
gratuitous: uncalled for, unwarranted; lacking good reason; done free of charge
gregarious: (of a person) fond of company; sociable
guile: sly or cunning intelligence; guileless - innocent and without deception
halcyon: denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful
idiosyncrasy: a mode of behavior of way of thought peculiar to an individual
idiosyncrasy: a mode of behavior or way of thought peculiar to an individual; a distinctive or peculiar feature or characteristic of a place or thing
idyll: an extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque episode or scene, typically an idealized or unsustainable one
ignominious: deserving or causing public disgrace or shame
immaculate conception: something without sin or ulterior motives
impetus: the force that makes something happen or happen more quickly
in concert with: to be in agreement, accordance, or harmony with
inchoate: just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary
incipient: in an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop
incumbent: [on, upon] necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibility; (of an official or regime) currently holding office
indemnify: compensate (someone) for harm or loss
indubitable: impossible to doubt; unquestionable
inductive: characterized by the inference of general laws from particular instances
inexorable: impossible to stop or prevent
inimical: tending to obstruct or harm
iniquity: immoral or grossly unfair behavior
innocuous: not harmful or offensive
innominate: not named or classified
insouciance: casual lack of concern; indifference
inure: accustom someone to something, esp. something unpleasant
ipso facto: by that very fact or act
junta: a military or political group that rules a country after taking power by force
lacustrine: of, relating to, or associated with lakes
libertine: a person, esp. a man, who behaves without moral principles or a sense of responsibility, esp. in sexual matters
mawkish: sentimental in a feeble or sickly way
milieu: social setting
misanthrope: a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society
mitigate: make less severe, serious, or painful
myopia: lack of imagination, foresight, or intellectual insight; nearsightedness
obtuse: annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand
opine: hold and state as one’s opinion
opprobrium: harsh criticism or censure
paradigm: a typical example or pattern of something; a model; a worldview underlying the theories and methodology of a particular scientific subject
paradox: a statement or proposition that, despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory; something that combines contradictory features or qualities
parity: the state or condition of being equal, esp. regarding status or pay
parlance: a particular way or speaking or using words, esp. a way common to those with a particular job or interest
pathos: a quality that evokes pity or sadness
patina: figurative an impression or appearance of something
pedagogic: of or relating to teaching
pedantic: of or like a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning
pejorative: expressing contempt or disapproval
perdition: (in Christian theology) a state of eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and unpenitent person passes after death
perfervid: intense and impassioned
perfunctory: (of an action or gesture) carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection
perspicacious: having a ready insight into and understanding of things
pervasive: (esp. of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people
piquant: pleasantly stimulating or exciting to the mind
pithy: (of language or style) concise and forcefully expressive
plenary: unqualified; absolute
polemical: or or relating to, or involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing or speech
polity: an organized society; a state as a political entity
precept: a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought
prescient: having or showing knowledge of events before they take place
primeval (primaeval): of or resembling the earliest ages in the history of the world
privation: a state in which things that are essential for human well-being such as food and warmth are scarce or lacking
probative: affording proof or evidence
propensity: an inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way
prurient: having or encouraging an excessive interest in sexual matters
quixotic: exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical
quotidian: of or occurring every day; daily; ordinary or everyday, esp. when mundane
recalcitrant: having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline
recidivism: a tendency to lapse into a previous condition or pattern of behavior, esp. a falling back or relapse into prior criminal habits
reprehensible: deserving censure or condemnation
reticent: not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily
rhapsody: an effusively enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of feeling
sacrosanct: (esp. of a principle, place, or routine) regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered with
sally: make a military sortie
sanctimonious: making a show of being morally superior to other people
sanctimonious: derogatory making a show of being morally superior to other people
sardonic: grimly mocking or cynical
sleight: the use of dexterity or cunning, esp. so as to deceive
solipsism: the view or theory that the self is all that can be known to exist
specious: superficially possible, but actually wrong
specious: superficially plausible, but actually wrong; misleading in appearance, esp. misleadingly attractive
sua sponte: of one’s own accord
sublime: of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe
substantiate: provide evidence to support or prove the truth of
syncretism: the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought
temerity: excessive confidence or boldness
unmitigated: absolute; unqualified
unremitting: never relaxing or slackening; incessant
urbane: (of a person, esp. a man) suave, courteous, and refined in manner
visceral: related to deep inner feelings rather than intellect
watershed: an event or period marking a turning point in a course of action or state of affairs