affinity
(n.) a natural attraction to a person, thing, or activity; a relationship, connection
cognate
(adj.) closely related in origin, essential nature, or function; (n.) such a person or thing
derring-do
(n.) valor or heroism; daring deeds or exploits (often used to poke fun at false heroics)
divination
(n.) the art or act of predicting the future or discovering hidden knowledge
folderol
(n.) foolish talk, ideas, or procedures; nonsense; a trifle
gamut
(n.) an entire range or series
lucubration
(n.) laborious study or thought, especially at night; the result of such work
mnemonic
(adj.) relating to or designed to assist the memory; (n.) a device to aid the memory
obloquy
(n.) public abuse indicating strong disapproval or censure; the disgrace resulting from such treatment
parameter
n. a determining or characteristic element; a factor that shapes the final outcome; a limit; a boundary
pundit
(n.) a learned person; one who gives authoritative opinions
volte-face
(n.) an about-face; a complete reversal
aegis
(n.) protection; patronage; sponsorship
apprise
(v.) to inform of; to make aware of by giving oral or written notice
bibulous
(adj.) fond of or inclined to drink, absorbent
claque
(n.) a group of people hired to applaud a performer or performance; enthusiastic or fawning admirers; an opera hat
deracinate
(v.) to pull up by the roots; to root out; uproot, or dislocate; to eliminate all traces of
lachrymose
(adj.) given to tears or weeping; causing to shed tears; mournful, lugubrious
lexicon
(n.) a dictionary of a language; the special vocabulary of a person, group, or subject; a compendium
melee
(n.) a confused struggle; a violent free-for-all; a tumultuous mingling
miniscule
(adj.) very small, tiny: (n.) a lowercase letter
obfuscate
(v.) to darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder
polarize
(v.) to cause to concentrate around two conflicting or contrasting positions; to cause light to vibrate in a pattern
purview
(n.) the range, extent, or scope of something; in law, the scope or limit of what is provided in a statue
vassal
(n.) a person under the protection of a feudal lord to whom he or she owes allegiance; a subordinate or dependent; a servant
(adj.) subservient
adjunct
(n) something added to something else as helpful or useful but not essential; an assistant or helper; a valuable quality or characteristic; (adj) added or connected in a subordinate capacity; attached to a faculty or staff in an auxiliary capacity
caterwaul
(v) to howl or screech like a cat; to quarrel; (n) a harsh or noisy cry; a racket
hidebound
(adj) narrow-minded and rigid, especially in opinions or prejudices; stubbornly and unthinkingly conservative
hierarchy
(n) any system of things or people arranged or graded one above another in order of rank, wealth, class, etc.
morass
(n) a patch of low, soft, wet ground; a swamp; a confusing situation in which one is entrapped, as in quicksand
noisome
(adj) offensive or disgusting; foul-smelling; harmful or injurious
oblivious
(adj) forgetful; unaware
poltroon
(n) a base coward
raillery
(n) good-humored ridicule; teasing
vignette
(n) a short description or sketch; a picture or illustration with edges that gradually shade off; a decorative design on the title page of a book or at the beginning or end of a chapter
Ancillary
(n.) subordinate or supplementary
Gratis
(adj.) free; (adv.) without charge
Macrocosm
(n.) the universe considered as a whole; the entire complex structure of something
Persiflage
(n.) lighthearted joking, talking, or writing
Plethora
(n.) overfullness; superabundance; superfluity
Quizzical
(adj.) puzzled; mocking; odd; equivocal
Rapacity
(n.) inordinate greed; the disposition to obtain one's desires by force, extortion, or plunder
Schism
(n.) a formal split within a religious organization; any division or separation of a group or organization into hostile factions
Virtuoso
a brilliant performer; a person with masterly skill or technique; masterly or brilliant
syn-expert
ant- amateur
Commensurate
(adj.) equal in size, extent, duration, or importance; proportionate; measurable by the same standards
Diaphanous
(adj.) very sheet and light; almost completely transparent
Emolument
(n.) profit derived from an office or position or from employment; a fee or salary
Foray
(n.) a quick raid, especially for plunder; a venture into some field of endeavor; (v.) to make such a raid
Insouciant
(adj.) blithely indifferent or unconcerned; carefree; happy-go-lucky
Obsequies
(n.) funeral rites or ceremonies
Persona
(n.) a character in a novel or play; the outward character or role that a person assumes
Philippic
(n.) a bitter verbal attack
Prurient
(adj.) having lustful desires or interests; tending to arouse sexual desires
Sacrosanct
(adj.) very sacred or holy; inviolable; set apart or immune from questioning or attack
Tendentious
(adj.) intended to promote a particular point of view, doctrine, or cause; biased or partisan
Vicissitude
(n.) a change, variation, or alteration; (pl.) successive or changing phases or conditions
Abortive
(adj.) failing to accomplish an intended aim or purpose; only partially or imperfectly developed
Contumelious
(adj.) insolent or rude in speech or behavior; insultingly abusive; humiliating
Dictum
(n.) a short saying; an authoritative statement
Iconoclastic
(adj.) attacking or seeking to overthrow popular or traditional beliefs, ideas, or institutions
Maladroit
(adj.) lacking skill or dexterity; tacking tact, perception, or judgment
Modulate
(v.) to change or vary the intensity or pitch; to temper or soften; to regulate, adjust
Portentous
(adj.) foreshadowing an event to come; causing wonder or awe; self-consciously weighty, pompous
Prescience
(n.) knowledge of events or actions before they happen, foresight
Quid pro quo
(n.) something given in exchange or return for something else
Salubrious
(adj.) conducive to health or well-being; wholesome
Saturnalian
(adj.) characterized by riotous or unrestrained revelry or licentiousness
Touchstone
(n.) a means of testing worth or genuineness
Traumatic
(adj.) so shocking to the emotions as to cause lasting and substantial psychological damage