Abstruse
(adj) Extremely difficult to understand, occult
Affront
(n) An open, intentional or confrontational insult; an offense
Canard
(n) A false rumor or fabricated story, false
Captious
(adj) Carping, nit-picky, faultfinding
Cognizant
(adj) Aware, informed, acquainted
Contrite
(adj) Guilty, remorseful, regretful for a misdeed or sin
Cynosure
(n) The center of attention, attraction or interest
Decorous
(adj) Well behaved, dignified
Deign
(v) To condescend
Desiccated
(adj) Dried out, shriveled; drained of spirit and/or life
Efficacy
(n) The power to produce a desired result, effectiveness
Engender
(v) To create, bring into existence, cause
Ethereal
(adj) Heavenly, light, airy
Facade
(n) A surface appearance that conceals what lies behind, an exterior
Ghoulish
(adj) Revolting in a morbid way; relating to death
Incongruous
(adj) Unsuitable, incompatible
Machination
(n) A scheme or underhanded plot
Mesmerize
(v) To hypnotize or entrance; to fascinate
Opprobrium
(n) Infamy, dishonor
Putative
(adj) Presumed, hypothesized, regarded as such