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
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
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
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
acquisitive
adj, able to get and retain ideas or information; conserned with acquiring wealth or property
arrogate
verb, to claim or take without right
banal
adj, hackneyed, trite, commonplace
belabor
verb, to work on excessively; to thrash around
carping
adj, tending to find fault, especially in a petty, nasty, or hairsplitting way; noun, petty, nagging criticism
coherent
adj, holding or sticking together; making a logical whole; comprehensible, meaningful
congeal
verb, to change from liquid to solid, thicken; to make inflexible or rigid
emulate
verb, to immitate with the intent of equaling or surpassing the model
encomium
verb, a formal expression of praise, a lavish tribute
eschew
verb, to avoid, shun, keep away from
germane
adj, relevant, appropriate, apropos, fitting
insatiable
adj, so great or demanding as not to be satisfied
intransigent
adj, refusing to compromise, irreconcilable
invidious
adj, offensive, hateful; tending to cause bitterness and resentment
largesse
noun, generosity in giving; lavish or bountiful countributions
reconnaissance
noun, a survery made for military purposes; any kind of preliminary inspection or examination
substantiate
verb, to establish by evidence, prove; to give concrete or substancial form to
taciturn
adj, habitually silent or quiet, inclined to talk very little
temporize
verb, to stall or act evasively in order to gain time, avoid a confrontation, or postpoe a decision; to compromise
tenable
adj, capable of being held or defended
acuity
noun, sharpness, particularly of mind or senses
delineate
verb, to portray, sketch, or describe in accurate and vivid detail; to represent pictorially
depraved
adjective, marked by evil and corruption, devoid of moral principles
enervate
verb, to weaken or lessen the mental, moral, or physical vigor of; enfeeble, hamstring
esoteric
adjective, intended for or understood by only a select few, private, secret
fecund
adjective, fruitful in offspring or vegetation; intellectually productive
fiat
noun, an arbitrary order or decree; a command or act of will or consciousness
figment
noun, a fabrication of the mind; an arbitrary notion
garner
verb, to acquire as the result of effort; to gather and store away, as for future use
hallow
verb, to set apart as holy or scared, sanctify, consecrate; to honor greatly, revere
idiosyncrasy
noun, a peculiarity that serves to distinguish or identify
ignominy
noun, shame and disgrace
mundane
noun,earthly, worldly, relating to practical and material affairs; concerned with what is ordinary
nuance
noun, a subtle or slight variation, as in color, meaning, quality; delicate gradation or shade or difference
overweening
adjective, conceited, presumptuous; excessive, immoderate
penchant
noun, a strong attraction or inclination
reputed
adjective, according to reputation or general belief; having widespread acceptance and good reputation; (part.) alleged
sophistry
noun, reasoning that seems plausible but is actually unsound; a fallacy
sumptuous
adjective, costly, rich, magnificent
ubiquitous
adjective, present or existing everywhere
articulate
verb, to pronounce distinctly; to express well in words; to connect by a joint or joints; adjective, expressed clearly and forcefully; able to employ language clearly and forcefully; jointed
cavort
verb, to romp or prance around exuberantly; to make merry
credence
noun, belief, mental acceptance
decry
verb, to condemn, express strong disapproval; to officially depreciate
dissemble
verb, to disguise or conceal, deliberately give a false impression
distraught
adjective, very much agaitated or upset as a result of emotion or mental conflict
eulogy
noun, a formal statement of commendation; high praise
evince
verb, to display clearly, to make evident, to provoke
exhume
verb, to remove from a grave; to bring to light
feckless
adjective, lacking in spirit and strength; ineffective, weak; irresponsible, unreliable
murky
adjective, dark and gloomy, obscure; lacking in clarity and precision
nefarious
adjective, wicked, depreaved, deoid of moral standards
piquant
adjective, stimulating to the tase or mind; spicy, pungent; appealingly provocative
primordial
adjective, developed or created at the very beginning; going back to the most ancient times or earliest stage; fundamental, basic
propinquity
noun, nearness in place or time; kinship
unwonted
adjective, not usual or expected; not in character
Utopian
adjective, founded upon or involving a visionarry view of an ideal world; impractical
verbiage
noun, language thaqt is too wordy or inflated in proportion to the sense or content, wordiness; a manner of expression
verdant
adjective, green in tint or color; immature in experience or judgement
viscous
adjective, having a gelatinour or gluey quality, lacking in easy movement or fluidity
atrophy
the wasting away of a body organ or tissue; any progressive decline or failure; verb, to waste away
concord
noun, a state of agreement, harmony, unanimity; a treaty, pact, covenant
consummate
adjective, complete or perfect in the highest degree; verb, to bring to a state of completion or perfection
disarray
noun, disorder, confusion ; verb, to throw into disorder
exigency
noun, urgency, pressure; urgent demand, pressuring need; an emergency
flotsam
noun, floating debris; homeless, impoverished people
frenetic
adjective, frenzied, highly agitated
glean
verb, to gather bit by bit; to gather small quantities of grain left in a field by the reapers
grouse
noun, a type of game bird; a complaint; verb, to complain, grumble
incarcerate
verb, to imprison, confine, jail
incumbent
adjective, obligatory, required; noun, one who holds a specific office at the time spoken of
jocular
adjective, humorous, jesting, jolly, joking
ludicrous
adjective, ridiculous, laughable, absurd
mordant
adjective, biting or caustic in thought, manner, or style; sharply or bitterly harsh
nettle
noun, a prickly or stinging plant; verb, to arouse displeasure, impatience, or anger; to vex or irritate severely
pecuniary
adjective, consisting of or measured in money; of or related to money
pusillanimous
adjective, contemptibly cowardly or mean-spirited
recumbent
adjective, in a reclining position, lying down, in the posture of one sleeping or resting
stratagem
noun, a scheme to outwit or deceive an opponent or to gain an end
accost
verb, to approach and speak to first; to confront in a challenging or aggressive way
animadversion
noun, a comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval
avid
adjective, desirous of something to the point of greed; intensely eager
brackish
adjective, having a salty taste and unpleasent to drink
celerity
noun, swiftness, rapidity of motion or action
devious
adjective, straying or wandering from a straight or direct course, done or acted in a shifty or underhanded way
gambit
noun, in chess, an opening move that involves risk or sacrifice of a minor piece in order to gain a later advantage; any opening move of this type
halcyon
noun, a legendary bird identified with the kingfisher; adjective, of or relating to the halcyon; calm, peaceful; happy, golden; prosperous, affluent
histrionic
adjective, pertaining to actors and their techniques; theatrical, artificial; melodramatic
incendiary
adjective, deliberately setting or causing fires; designed to start fires; tending to stir up strife or rebellion; noun, the one who deliberately sets fires, arsonist; one who causes strife
maelstrom
noun, a whirlpool of great size and violance; a situation resembling a whirlpool in violence and destruction
myopic
adjective, nearsighted; lacking a broad, realistic view of a situation; lacking foresight or discernment
overt
adjective, open, not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized
pejorative
adjective, tending to make worse; expressing disapproval or disparagement, derogatory, deprecatory, belittling
propriety
noun, the state ofm being proper, appropriateness
sacrilege
noun, improper or disrespectful treatment of something held sacred
summarily
adverb, without delay or formality; briefly, concisely
supplicant
adjective, asking humbly and earnestly; noun, one who makes a request humbly and earnestly, a petitioner, suitor
talisman
noun, an object that serves as a charm or is believed to confer magical powers, an amulet, fetish
undulate
verb, to move in waves or with a wavelike motion; to have a wavelike appearance or form
bastion
noun, a fortified place, stronghold