abstruse
extremely difficult to understand
affront
an open or intentional insult; a slight; to insult to one's face; to face in defiance, confront
canard
a false rumor, fabricated story
captious
excessively ready to find fault; given to petty criticism; intended to trap, confuse, or show up
cognizant
aware, knowledgeable, informed; having jurisdiction
contrite
regretful for some misdeed or sin; plagued by a sense of guilt; thoroughly penitent
cynosure
the center of attraction, attention, or interest; something that serves to guide or direct
decorous
well behaved, dignified, socially proper
deign
to think it appropriate or suitable to one's dignity to do something; to condescend
desiccated
thoroughly dried out; divested of spirit or vitality; arid and uninteresting
efficacy
the power to produce a desired result
engender
to bring into existence, give rise to, produce; to come into existence, assume for
ethereal
light, airy, delicate; highly refined; suggesting what is heavenly (rather than earthbound)
facade
the front or face of a building; a surface appearance (as opposed to what may lie behind
ghoulish
revolting in an unnatural or morbid way; suggestive of someone who robs graves or otherwise preys on the dead
incongruous
not in keeping, unsuitable, incompatible
machination
a crafty, scheming, or underhanded action designed to accomplish some (usually evil) end
mesmerize
to hypnotize, entrance; to fascinate, enthrall, bewitch
opprobrium
disgrace arising from shameful conduct; contempt, reproach
putative
generally regarded as such; reputed; hypothesized, inferred
beatific
(adj) blissful; rendering or making blessed
behemoth
(n) a creature of enormous size, power, or appearance
blandishment
(n) anything designed to flatter or coax; sweet talk, apple-polishing
cacophonous
(adj) harsh-sounding, raucous, discordant, dissonant
chicanery
(n) trickery, deceptive practices or tactics, double-dealing
consign
(v) to give over to another's care, charge, or control; to entrust, deliver; to set apart for a special use
coup
(n) a highly successful stroke, masterstroke, tour de force, act, plan, or stratagem; a sudden takeover of power or leadership
euphemism
(n) a mild or inoffensive expression used in place of a harsh or unpleasant one; a substitute
febrile
(adj) feverish; pertaining to or marked by fever; frenetic
gainsay
(v) to deny, contradict, controvert; to dispute, oppose
imminent
(adj) about to happen, threatening
innate
(adj) natural, inborn, inherent; built-in
loath
(adj) unwilling, reluctant, disinclined
manifest
(adj) clear, evident to the eyes or mind; (v) to show plainly, exhibit, evince; (n) a list of cargo and/or passengers
minutiae
(pl. n) small or trivial details, trifling matters
moratorium
(n) a suspension of activity; an official waiting period; an authorized period of delay
nostrum
(n) an alleged cure-all; a remedy or scheme of questionable effectiveness
pariah
(n) one who is rejected by a social group or organization
visionary
(adj) not practical, lacking in realism; having the nature of a fantasy or dream; (n) one given to far-fetched ideas; a dreamer or seer characterized by vision or foresight
wizened
(adj) dry, shrunken, and wrinkled (often as the result of aging)
amenity
that which is pleasant or agreeable; attractive features, customs, etc.
aperture
an opening, gap, hole; orifice
dissidence
a difference of opinion; discontent
epicurean
devoted to the pursuit of pleasure; fond of good food, comfort, and ease; with discriminating tastes; a person with discriminating tastes
improvident
not thrifty; failing to plan ahead
iniquity
wickedness, sin; a grossly immoral act
inviolable
sacred; of such a character that it must not be broken, injured, or profaned
mutable
open to or capable of change, fickle
nascent
just beginning to exist or develop; having just come into existence
obeisance
a deep bow or other body movement indicating respect or submission; deference, homage
panegyric
formal or elaborate praise; a tribute
pillory
a device for publicly punishing offenders; a means for exposing one to public contempt or ridicule; to expose to public contempt or ridicule
pittance
a woefully meager allowance, wage, or portion
presage
to foreshadow or point to a future event; to predict; a warning or indication of the future
progeny
descendants, offspring, children, followers, disciples
promulgate
to proclaim or issue officially; to make known far and wide
rectitude
uprightness, righteousness; correctness
restive
restless, hard to manage, balky
seraphic
angelic, heavenly, celestial
subsist
to have existence; to remain alive, manage to make a living or maintain life; to persist or continue