Brain Builders 5-1 (Nouns)

maverick

an independent person

elite

the best of a given group

amanuensis

a secretary or trained scribe who writes letters for other people

farrier

a blacksmith

internist

a doctor of internal medicine

lapidary

an expert in precious stones

extrovert

one who is outgoing

desperado

an outlaw, a dangerous man

grandee

a nobleman of highest rank in Spain or Portugalcon

renegade

a traitor or outlaw; a rebel

thrall

a slave or bondman; a person under the moral or psychological domination of something or someone; slavery

malingerer

one who fakes illnesses

pettifogger

A petty, quibbling, unscrupulous lawyer.

barrister

a lawyer (British)

shamus

a private detective

proletariat

the working class

sycophant

a flatterer seeking favors or gain; a servile self-seeker

bibliophile

a lover of books

miscreant

a villain

nabob

a wealthy, influential person (a bigwig)

myrmidon

a faithful follower

thespian

an actor or actress

bon vivant

one who enjoys good food

parvenu

An upstart; a person who suddenly acquires wealth and power and rises to a higher class, but who is not accepted by the members of that class.

vis-a-vis

face to face with one another

craven

a coward

braggadocio

a braggart; pretentiousness; vain, noisy, or bragging swaggering manner

proxy

Agent, substitute, person authorized to act on behalf of another

votary

n. A person who is devoted to a cause or organization, especially one of a religious nature.

surrogate

(n.) one acting in place of another (The surrogate carried the child to term for its biological parents.)

concierge

doorkeeper; caretaker; custodian; janitor

wayfarer

a person who travels, especially from place to place on foot

gourmand

a glutton

demagogue

a corrupted leader

muskraker

a journalist who uncovers/exposes abuses and corruption in a society

reactionary

strongly opposed to change; ultra-conservatist

waif

a homeless child

fob

a pocket watch

partisan

a strong supporter of a party, cause, or person

calliope

a keyboard instrument at carnivals

coiffure

a hairdo

condiment

a seasoning for food

deluge

a flood; an overwhelming rush

dossier

a set of documents containing information about a person or event; a file

flotilla

a small fleet of boats or ships

cyclopean

(adj) massive, vast, immense, mammoth

gorgon

a monster

rampike

a dead tree, especially the bleached skeleton or splintered trunk of a tree killed by fire, lightning, or wind

reflex

unthinking behavior

ruse

an action intended to deceive someone; a trick

victual

food

bibelot

a small object of beauty or rarity (an artifact)

incubus

nightmare; mental burden

recreant

a coward

squib

a firecracker

guffaw

loud laughter

portmanteau

a bag for clothes

abbess

The lady superior of a nunnery.

poltroon

a coward

cabochon

a precious stone