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 tactices, 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 harsh or unpleasant one; a substitute
Fenrile
(adj.) feverish; pertaining to or marked by fever; frenetic
Gainsay
(v.) to deny, contridict, 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 activitiy; an offical 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)
acuity
sharpness (particularly of the mind or senses)
delineate
to portray, sketch, or describe in accurate and vivid detail; to represent pictorially
depraved
marked by evil and corruption, devoid of moral principles
enervate
to weaken or lessen the mental, moral, or physical vigor of; enfeeble, hamstring
esoteric
intended for or understood by only a select few, private, secret
fecund
fruitful in offspring or vegetation; intellectually productive
fiat
an arbitrary order or decree; a command or act of will or consciousness
figment
a fabrication of the mind; an arbitrary notion
garner
to acquire as the result of effort; to gather and store away, as for future use
hallow
to set apart as holy or sacred, sanctify, consecrate; to honor greatly, revere
idiosyncrasy
a peculiarity that servers to distinguish or identify
ignominy
shame and disgrace
mundane
earthly, worldly, relating to practical and material affairs; concerned with what is ordinary
nuance
a subtle or slight vvariation (as in color, meaning, quality), delicate gradation or shade of difference
overweening
conceited, presumptuous; excessive, immoderate
penchant
a strong attraction or inclination
reputed
according to reputation or general belief; having widespread acceptance and good reputation
sophistry
reasoning that seems plausible but is acctually unsound; a fallacy
sumptuous
costly, rich, magnificent
ubiquitous
present or existing everywhere
atrophy
the wasting away of a body organ or tissue; any progressive decline or failure; (v.) to waste away
bastion
a fortified place, stronghold
concord
a state of agreement, harmony, unanimity; a treaty, pact, covenant
consummate
complete or perfect in the highest degree; (v.) to bring to a state of completion or perfection
disarray
disorder, confusion; (v.) to throw into disorder
exigency
urgency, pressure; urgent demand, pressing need; an emergency
flotsam
floating debris; homeless, impoverished people
frenetic
frenzied, highly agitated
glean
to gather bit by bit; to gather small quantities of gran left in a field by the reapers
grouse
a type of game bird; a compliant; (v.) to complain, grumble
incarcerate
to imprison, confine, jail
incumbent
obligatory, required; (n.) one who holds a specific office at the time spoken of
jocular
humorous, jesting, jolly, joking
ludicrous
ridiculous, laughable, absurd
mordant
biting or caustic in though, manner, or style; sharply or bitterly harsh
nettle
a prickly or stinging plant; (v.) to arouse displeasure, impatience, or anger; to vex or irritate severely
pecuniary
consisting of or measured in money; of or related to money
pusillanimous
contemptible cowardly or mean-spirited
recumbent
in a reclining position, lying down, in the posture of one sleeping or resting
stratagem
a scheme to outwit or deceive an opponent or to gain an end
articulate
to pronounce distinctly; to express well in words; to connect by a joint or joints; (adj) expressed clearly and forcefully; able to employ language clearly and forcefully; jointed
cavort
to romp or prance around exuberantly; to make merry
credence
belief, mental acceptance
decry
to condemn, express strong disapproval; to officially depreciate
dissemble
to disguise or conceal, deliberately give a false impression
distraught
very much agitated or upset as a result of emotion or mental conflict
eulogy
a formal statement of commendation; high praise
evince
to display clearly, to make evident, to provoke
exhume
to remove from a grave; to bring to light
feckless
lacking in spirit and strength; ineffective, weak; irresponsible, unreliable
murky
dark and gloomy, obscure; lacking in clarity and precision
nefarious
wicked, depraved, devoid of moral standards
piquant
stimulating to the taste or mind; spicy, pungent; appealingly provocative
primordial
developed or created at the very beginning; going back to the most ancient times or earliest stage; fundamental, basic
propinquity
nearness in place or time; kinship
unwonted
not usual or expected; not in character
utopian
founded upon or involving a visionary view of an ideal world; impractical
verbiage
language that is too wordy or inflated in proportion to the sense or content, wordiness; a manner of expressoin
verdant
green in tint or color; immature in experience or judgment
viscous
having a gelatinous or gluey quality, lacking in easy movement or fluidity
accost
to approach and speak to first; to confront in a challenging or aggressive way
animadversion
a comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval
avid
desirous of something to the point of greed; intensely eager
brackish
having a salty taste and unpleasant to drink
celerity
swiftness, rapidity of motion or action
devious
straying or wandering form a straight or direct course; done or acting in a shifty or underhanded way
gambit
in chess, an opening move that involves risk or sacrifice fo a minor piece in order to gain a later advantage; any opening move of this type
halcyon
a legendary bird identified with the king fisher; (adj) of or relating ot the halcyon; clam, peaceful; happy, golden; prosperous, affluent
histrionic
pertainig to actors and their techniques; theatrical, artificial; melodramatic
incendiary
deliberatelky setting or causing fires; designed to start fires; tending to stir up strife or rebellion; (n) one who deliberately sets fires, arsonist; one who cause strife
maelstrom
a whirlpool of great size and violence; a situation resembling a whirlpool in violence and destruction
myopic
nearsighted; lacking a broad, realistic view of a situation; lacking foresight or discernment
overt
open, not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized
pejorative
tending to make worse; expressing disapproval or disparagement, derogatory, deprecatory, belittling
propriety
the state of being proper, appropriateness; (pl) standards of what is proper or socially acceptable
sacrilege
improper or disrespectful treatment of something held sacred
summarily
without delay or formality; briefly, concisely
suppliant
asking humply and earnestly (n) one who makes a request humbly and earnestly, a petitioner, suitor
talisman
an object that serves as a charm or is believed to confer magical powers, an amulet, fetish
undulate
tomove in waves or with a wavelike motion; to have a wavelike appearance or form
acquisitive
able to get and retain ideas or information; concerned with acquiring wealth or property
arrogate
to claim or take without right
banal
hackneyed, trite, commonplace
belabor
to work on excessively; to thrash soundly
carping
tending to find fault, especially in a petty, nasty, or hairsplitting way
coherent
holding or sticking together; making a logical whole; comprehensible, meaningful
congeal
to change from liquid to solid, thicken; to make inflexible or rigid
emulate
to imitate with the intent of equaling or surpassing the model
encomium
a formal expression of praise, a lavish tribute
eschew
to avoid, shun, keep away from
germane
relevant, appropriate, apropos, fitting
insatiable
so great or demanding as not to be satisfied
intransigent
refusing to compromise, irreconcilable
invidious
offensive, hateful; tending to cause bitterness and resentment
largesse
generosity in giving; lavish or bountiful contributions
reconnaissance
a survey made for military purposes; any kind of preliminary inspection or examination
substantiate
to establish by evidence, prove; to give concrete or substantial form to
taciturn
habitually silent or quiet, inclined to talk very little
temporize
to stall or act evasively in order to gain time, avoid a confrontations, or postpone a decision; to compromise
tenable
capable of being held or defended
amenity
(n.) that which is pleasant or agreeable
aperture
(n.) an opening, gap, hole; orifice
dissidence
(n.) a difference of opinion; discontent
epicurean
(adj.) devoted to the pursuit of pleasure; fond of good food;comfort and ease; (n.) a person with discriminating taste
improvident
(adj.) not thrifty, failing to plan ahead
iniquity
(n.) wickedness, sin; a grossly immoral act
inviolable
(adj.) sacred; of such a character that it might not be broken, injured, or profaned
mutable
(adj.) open to or capable of change; fickle
nascent
(adj.) just beginning to exist or develop; having just come into existence
obeisance
(n.) a deep bow or other body movement indicating respect or submission; homage
panegyric
(n.) formal or elaborate praise; a tribute
pillory
(n.) a device for publicly punishing offenders; a means for exposing one to public contempt or ridicule
pittance
(n.) a woefully meager allowance, wage, or portion
presage
(v.) to foreshadow and point to a future event; to predict; (n.) a warning or indication of the future
progeny
(n.) descendants, offspring, children, followers
promulgate
(v.) to explain or issue officially; to make known far and wide
rectitude
(n.) uprightness, righteousness; correctness
restive
(adj.) restless, hard to manage, balky
seraphic
(adj.) angelic, heavenly, celestial
subsist
(v.) to have existence; to remain alive, manage to make a living or maintain life; to persist or continue
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; having jurisdiction
contrite
(adj.) regretful for some misdeed or sin; plagued by a sense of guilt
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
desiccated
(adj.) thoroughly dried out; 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
ethereal
(adj.) light, airy, delicate; highly refined; suggesting what is heavenly
facade
(n.) the front of a building; a surface appearance
ghoulish
(adj.) revolting in an unnatural or morbid way
incongruous
(adj.) not in keeping, unsuitable, incompatible
machination
(n.) a crafty, scheming, or underhanded action designed to accomplish some end
mesmerize
(v.) to hypnotize, entrance; to fascinate, enthrall, bewitch
opprobrium
(n.) disgrace arising from shameful conduct; contempt, reproach
putative
(adj.) generally regarded as such; reputed; inferred
aesthetic
(adj.) pertaining to beauty; sensitive or responsive to beauty
defunct
(adj.) no longer in existence or functioning, dead
discomfit
(v.) to frustrate, thrawt, or defeat; to confuse, perplex, or embarrass
espouse
(v.) to take up and support; to become attatched to, adopt; to marry
fetish
(n.) an object believed to have magical powers; an object of unreasoning devotion or reverence
gregarious
(adj.) living together in a herd or group; sociable, seeking the company of others
hapless
(adj.) marked by a persistent absence of good luck
impeccable
(adj.) faultless, beyond criticism or blame
importune
(v.) to trouble with demands; to beg for insistently
interpolate
(v.) to insert between other parts or things; to present as an addition or correction
irreparable
(adj.) incapable or being repaired or rectified
laconic
(adj.) concise, using few words
languish
(v.) to become weak, feeble, or dull; to droop; to be depressed or dispirited; to suffer neglect
mendacious
(adj.) given to lying or deception; untrue
nadir
(n.) the lowest point
omnipresent
(adj.) present in all places at all times
perfunctory
(adj.) done in a superficial or halfhearted manner; without interest or enthusiasm
plaintive
(adj.) expressive of sorrow or woe, melancholy
requite
(v.) to make suitable repayment, as for a kindness, service, or favor; to make retaliation, as for an injury or wrong; to reciprocate
tantamount
(adj.) equivalent, having the same meaning, value, or effect
abrogate
(v.) to repeal, cancel, declare null and void
ambient
(adj.) completely surrounding, encompassing
asperity
(n.) roughness, severity; bitterness or tartness
burnish
(v.) to make smooth or glossy by rubbing, polish; (n.) gloss, brightness, luster
cabal
(n.) a small group working in secret
delectable
(adj.) delightful, highly enjoyable,; deliciously flavored, savory; (n.) an appealing or appetizing food
deprecate
(v.) to express mild disapproval; to belittle
detritus
(n.) loose bits and pieces of material resulting from disintegration or wearing away; fragments that result from any destruction
ebullient
(adj.) overflowing with enthusiasm and excitement; boiling, bubbling
eclectic
(adj.) drawn from different sources; (n.) one whose beliefs are drawn from various sources
flaccid
(adj.) limp, not firm; lacking vigor or effectiveness
impecunious
(adj.) having little or no money
inexorable
(adj.) inflexible, beyond influence; relentless, unyielding
moribund
(adj.) dying, on the way out
necromancer
((n.) one who claims to reveal or influence the future through magic
onerous
(adj.) burdensome; involving hardship or difficulty
rife
(adj.) common, prevalent, widespread, happening often; full, abounding; plentiful, abundant
rudiments
(n.) the parts of any subject that are learned first; the earliest stages of anything
sequester
(v.) to set apart, separate for a special purpose; to take possession of and hold in custody
winnow
(v.) to get rid of something unwanted, delete; to sift through to obtain what is desirable; to blow on, fan
askance
(adj.) with suspicion, distrust, or disapproval
attenuate
(v.) to make thin or slender; to weaken or lessen in force, intensity, or value
benign
(adj.) gentle, kind; forgiving, understanding; having a favorable or beneficial effect; not malignant
cavil
(v.) to find fault in a petty way, carp; (n.) a trivial objection or criticism
charlatan
(n.) one who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender, impostor, or quack
decimate
(v.) to kill or destroy a large part of
foible
(n.) a weak point, failing, minor flaw
forgo
(v.) to do without, abstain from, give up
fraught
(adj.) full of or loaded with; accompanied by
inure
(v.) to toughen, harden; to render used to something by long subjection or exposure
luminous
(adj.) emitting or reflecting light, glowing; illuminating
obsequious
(adj.) marked by slavish attentiveness; excessively submissive
obtuse
(adj.) blunt, not coming to a point; slow or dull in understanding; not causing a sharp impression
oscillate
(v.) to swing back and forth with a steady rhythm; to fluctuate or waver
penitent
(adj.) regretful for one's sins or mistakes. (n.) one who is sorry for wrongdoing
peremptory
(adj.) having the nature of a command that leaves no opportunity for debate, denial, or refusal
rebuff
(v.) to snub; to repel, drive away; (n.) a curt rejection, a check
reconnoiter
(v.) to engage in reconnaissance; to make a preliminary inspection
shambles
(n.) a slaughterhouse; a place of mass bloodshed; a state of complete disorder and confusion
sporadic
(adj.) occurring at irregular intervals, having no set plan or order
acclamation
(n.) a shout of welcome; an overwhelming verbal vote of approval
bucolic
(adj.) characteristic of the countryside. rural; relating to shepherds and cowherds, pastoral
calumniate
(v.) to slander; to accuse falsely and maliciously
chary
(adj.) extremely cautious, hesitant or slow; reserved
collusion
(n.) secret agreement or cooperation
dilettante
(n.) a dabbler in the arts; one who engages in an activity in an ameteurish, trifling way; (adj.) superficial
imperturbable
(adj.) not easily excited; emotionally steady
increment
(n.) an enlargement, increase, addition
mandate
(n.) an authoritative command, formal order, authorization; (v.) to issue such an order
paltry
(adj.) trifling, insignificant; mean, despicable; inferior, trashy
paroxysm
(n.) a sudden outburst; a spasm, convulsion
pedantry
(n.) a pretentious display of knowledge; overly rigid attention to rules and details
peregrination
(n.) the act or traveling ; an excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign country
redolent
(adj.) fragrant, smelling strongly; tending to arouse memories or create an aura
refulgent
(adj.) shining, radiant, resplendent
shibboleth
(n.) a word, expression, or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others, a commonplace saying or truism
tyro
(n.) a beginner, novice; one with little or no background or skill
unremitting
(adj.) not stopping, maintained steadily, never letting up, relentless
vacillate
(v.) to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to waver weakly in mind or will
vituperative
(adj.) harshly abusive, severely scolding
allege
(v.) to assert without proof or confirmation
arrant
(adj.) out-and-out, shameless, blatant
badinage
(n.) light and playful conversation
concilliate
(v.) to overcome the distrust of, win over; to appease, pacify; to reconcile, make consistent
countermand
(v.) to cancel or reverse one order or command with another that is contrary to the first
echelon
(n.) one of a series of grades in an organization or field of activity; an organized military unit; a steplike formation or arrangement
exacerbate
(v.) to make more violent, severe, bitter, or painful
fatuous
(adj.) stupid or foolish in a self-satisfied way
irrefutable
(adj.) impossible to disprove; beyond arguement
juggernaut
(n.) a massive and inescapable force or object that crushes whatever is in its path
lackadaisical
(adj.) lacking spirit or interest; halfhearted
litany
(n.) a prayer consisting of short appeals to God recited by the leader alternating with responses from the congregation; any repetitive chant; a long list
macabre
(adj.) grisly, gruesome; horrible, distressing; having death as a subject
paucity
(n.) an inadequate quantity, scarcity, dearth
portend
(v.) to indicate beforehand that something is about to happen; to give advance warning of
raze
(v.) to tear down, destroy completely; to cut or scrape off or out
recant
(v.) to withdraw a statement or belief to which one has previously been committed, renounce, retract
saturate
(v.) to soak thoroughly, fill to capacity; to satisfy fully
saturnine
(adj.) of a gloomy or surly disposition; cold or sluggish in mood
slough
(v.) to cast off, discard; to get rid of something objectionable or unnecessary; to plod through as if through mud; (n.) a mire; a state of depression
allay
(v.) to calm or pacify, set to rest; to lessen or relieve
bestial
(adj.) beastlike; beastly, brutal; subhuman in intelligence and sensibility
convivial
(adj.) festive, sociable, having fun together, genial
coterie
(n.) a circle of aquaitances; a close-knit, often exclusive, group of people with a common interest
counterpart
(n.) a person or thing closely resembling or corresponding to another; a complement
demur
(v.) to object or take exception to; (n.) an objection
effrontery
(n.) shameless boldness, impudence
embellish
(v.) to decorate, adorn, touch up; to improve by adding details
ephemeral
(adj.) lasting only a short time, short-lived
felicitous
(adj.) appropriate, apt, well chosen; marked by well-being or good fortune, happy
furtive
(adj.) done slyly or stealthily, sneaky, secret, shifty; stolen
garish
(adj.) glaring; tastelessly showy or overdecorated in a vulgar or offensive way
illusory
(adj.) misleading, decemptive; lacking in or not based on reality
indigent
(adj.) needy, impoverished
inordinate
(adj.) far too great, exceeding reasonable limits, excessive
jettison
(v.) to cast overboard, get rid of as unnecessary or burdensome
misanthrope
(n.) a person who hates or despises people
pertinacious
(adj.) very persistent; holding firmly to a course of action or a set of beliefs; hard to get rid of, refusing to be put off or denied
picayune
(adj.) of little value or importance, paltry, measly; concerned with trifling matters, small-minded
raiment
(n.) clothing, garments
abject
(adj.) degraded; base, contemptible; cringing, servile; complete and unrelieved
agnostic
(n.)one who believes that nothnig can be known about god; a skeptic
complicity
(n.) involvement in wrongdoing; the state of being an accomplice
derelict
(n.) someone or something that is abandoned or neglected; (adj.) left abandoned; neglectful of duty
diatribe
(n.) a bitter and prolonged verbal attack
effigy
(n.) a crude image of a despised person
equity
(n.) the state or quality of being just or fair
inane
(adj.) silly, empty of meaning or value
indictment
(n.) the act of accusing, a formal accusation
indubitable
(adj.) certain, not to be doubted or denied
intermittent
(adj.) stopping and beginning again, sporadic
moot
(adj.) debatable, questionable
motif
(n.) a principal idea, theme or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design
neophyte
(n.) beginner, novice
perspicacity
(n.) keenness in observing and understanding
plenary
(adj.) complete in all aspects; absolute
surveillance
(n.) careful, close, and disciplined observation
sylvan
(adj.) pertaining to or characteristic of forests
testy
(adj.) easily irritated; characterized by impatience and exasperation
travesty
(n.) a grotesque or grossly inferior imitation