abstruse
(adj) extremely difficult to understand
affront
(n) an open or intentional insult; a slight; (v) to insult to one's face; to face in defiance, confront
canard
(n) a false rumor, fabricated story
captious
(adj) excessively ready to find fault; given to petty criticism; intended to trap, confuse or show up
cognizant
(adj) aware, knowledgeable, informed
contrite
(adj) regretful for some misdeed or sin; plagued by a sense of guilt; thoroughly penitent
cynosure
(n) the center of attraction, attention, or interest; something that serves to guide or direct
decorous
(adj) well behaved, dignified, socially proper
deign
(v) to think it appropriate or suitable to one's dignity to do something; to condescend
desiccated
(adj/part) thoroughly dried out; divested of spirit or vitality; arid and uninteresting
efficacy
(n) the power to produce a desired result
engender
(v) to bring into existence, give rise to, produce; to come into existence, assume form
ethereal
(adj) light, airy, delicate; highly refined; suggesting what is heavenly (rather than earthbound)
facade
(n) the front or face of a building; a surface appearance (as opposed to what may lie behind)
ghoulish
(adj) revolting in an unnatural or morbid way; suggestive of someone who robs graves or otherwise preys on the dead
incongruous
(adj) not in keeping, unsuitable, incompatible
machination
(n) a crafty, scheming, or underhanded action designed to accomplish some (usually evil) end
mesmerize
(v) to hypnotize; to fascinate, enthrall
opprobrium
(n) disgrace arising from shameful conduct; infamy, comtempt, reproach
preempt
(v) to seize upon to the exclusion of others; take over or appropriate; to be presented in place of; displace
putative
(adj) generally regarded as such; reputed; hypothesized, inferred
simplistic
(adj) highly oversimplified; simpleminded