apostate
one who forsakes his or her religion, party, or cause
bravado
a display of falso or assumed courage
consensus
a collective or general agreement of opinion, feeling, or thinking
constrict
to make smaller or narrower, draw together, squeeze; to stop or cause to falter
dichotomy
a division into two contradictory or mutually exclusive parts; a branching or forking in an ancestral line
effusive
highly demonstrative; unrestrained
euphoria
a feeling of great happiness or well-being, often with no objective basis
gothic
characterized by or emphasizing a gloomy setting and grotesque or violent events; such a literary or artistic style; a type of medieval architecture
impasse
a dead end; a position from which there is no escape; a problem to which there is no solution
lugubrious
sad, mournful, or gloomy, especially to an exaggerated or ludicrous degree
metamorphosis
a complete transformation, as if by magic
mystique
an aura or attitude of mystery or veneration surrounding something or someone
non sequitur
an inference or conclusion that does not follow logically from the facts or premises
parlous
full of danger or risk, perilous
punctilio
a minute detail of conduct or procedure; an instant of time
quagmire
soft, soggy mud or slush; a difficult or entrapping situation
quixotic
extravagantly or romantically idealistic; visionary without regard to practical considerations
raconteur
a person who tells stories and anecdotes with great skill
sine qua non
an essential or indispensable element or condition
vendetta
a prolonged feud, often between two families, characterized by retaliatory acts of revenge; any act motivated by vengeance