atrophy
(n.) the wasting away of a body organ or tissue; any progressive decline or failure; (v.) to waste away
bastion
(n.) a fortified place, stronghold
concord
(n.) a state of agreement, harmony, unanimity; a treaty, pact, covenant
consummate
(adj.) complete or perfect in the highest degree; (v.) to bring to a state of completion or perfection
disarray
(n.) disorder, confusion; (v.) to throw into disorder
exigency
(n., often pl.) urgency, pressure; urgent demand, pressing need; an emergency
flotsam
(n.) floating debris; homeless, impoverished people
frenetic
(adj.) frenzied, highly agitated
glean
(v.) to gather bit by bit; to gather small quantities of grain left in a field by the reapers
grouse
(n.) a type of game bird; a complaint; (v.) to complain, grumble
incarcerate
(v.) to imprison, confine, jail
incumbent
(adj.) obligatory, required; (n.) one who holds a specific office at the time spoken of
jocular
(adj.) humorous, jesting, jolly, joking
ludicrous
(adj.) ridiculous, laughable, absurd
mordant
(adj.) biting or caustic in thought, manner, or style; sharply or bitterly harsh
nettle
(n.) a prickly or stinging plant; (v.) to arouse displeasure, impatience, or anger; to vex or irritate severely
percuniary
(adj.) consisting of or measured in money; of or related to money
pusillanimous
(adj.) contemptibly cowardly or mean-spirited
recumbent
(adj.) in a reclining position, lying down, in the posture of one sleeping or resting
stratagem
(n.) a scheme to outwit or deceive an opponent or to gain an end
acuity
(n.) sharpness (particularly of the mind or senses)
delineate
(v.) to portray, sketch, or describe in accurate and vivid detail; to represent pictorially
depraved
(adj.) marked by evil and corruption, devoid of moral principles
enervate
(v.) to weaken or lessen the mental, moral, or physical vigor of; enfeeble, hamstring
esoteric
(adj.) intended for or understood by only a select few, private, secret
fecund
(adj.) fruitful in offspring or vegetation; intellectually productive
fiat
(n.) an arbitrary order or decree; a command or act of will or consciousness
figment
(n.) a fabrication of the mind; an arbitrary notion
garner
(v.) to acquire as the result of effort; to gather and store away, as for future use
hallow
(v.) to set apart as holy or sacred, sanctify, consecrate; to honor greatly, revere
idiosyncrasy
(n.) a peculiarity that serves to distinguish or identify
ignominy
(n.) shame and disgrace
mundane
(adj.) earthly, worldly, relating to practical and material affairs; concerned with what is ordinary
nuance
(n.) a subtle or slight variation (as in color, meaning, quality), delicate gradation or shade of difference
overweening
(adj.) conceited, presumptuous; excessive, immoderate
penchant
(n.) a strong attraction or inclination
reputed
(adj.) according to reputation or general belief; having widespread acceptance and good reputation; (part.) alleged
sophistry
(n.) reasoning that seems plausible but is actually unsound; a fallacy
sumptuous
(adj.) costly, rich, magnificent
ubiquitous
(adj.) present or existing everywhere
abject
(adj.) degraded; base, contemptible; cringing, servile; complete and unrelieved
agnostic
(n.) one who believes that nothing can be known about God; a skeptic; (adj.) without faith, skeptical
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 of being just, fair, or impartial; fair and equal treatment; something that is fair; the money value of a property above and beyond any mortgage or other claim
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.) open to discussion and debate, unresolved; (v.) to bring up for discussion; (n.) a hypothetical law case argued by students
motif
(n.) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design
neophyte
(n.) a new convert, beginner, novice
perspicacity
(n.) keenness in observing and understanding
plenary
(adj.) complete in all aspects or essentials; absolute; attended by all qualified members
surveillance
(n.) a watch kept over a person; careful, close, and disciplined observation
sylvan
(adj.) pertaining to or characteristic of forests; living or located in a forest; wooded, woody
testy
(adj.) easily irritated; characterized by impatience and exasperation
travesty
a grotesque or grossly inferior imitation; a disguise, especially the clothing of the opposite sex; to ridicule by imitating in a broad or burlesque fashion