abeyance
(n.) a state of being temporarily inactive, suspended, or set aside
ambivalent
(adj.) having opposite and conflicting feelings about someone or something
beleaguer
(v.) to set upon from all sides; to surround with an army; to trouble, harass
carte blanche
(n.) full freedom or authority to act at one's own discretion
cataclysm
(n.) a sudden, violent, or devastating upheaval; a surging flood, deluge
debauch
(v.) to corrupt morally, seduce; to indulge in dissipation; (n.) an act or occasion of dissipation or vice
eclat
(n.) dazzling or conspicuous success or acclaim; great brilliance (of performance or achievement)
fastidious
(adj.) overly demanding or hard to please; excessively careful in regard to details; easily disgusted
gambol
(v.) to jump or skip about playfully
imbue
(v.) to soak or stain thoroughly; to fill the mind
inchoate
(adj.) just beginning; not fully shaped or formed
lampoon
(n.) a malicious satire; (v.) to satirize, ridicule
malleable
(adj.) capable of being formed into different shapes; capable of being altered, adapted, or influenced
nemesis
(n.) an agent or force inflicting vengeance or punishment; retribution itself; an unbeatable rival
opt
(v.) to make a choice or decision
philistine
(adj.) lacking in, hostile to, or smugly indifferent to cultural and artistic values or refinements; (n.) such a person
picaresque
(adj.) involving or characteristic of clever rogues or adventures
queasy
(adj.) nauseated or uneasy; causing nausea or uneasiness; troubled
refractory
(adj.) stubborn; hard or difficult to manage; not responsive to treatment or cure
savoir-faire
(n.) the ability to say and do the right thing in any situation; social competence