accolade
praise or approval; a ceremonial embrace or greeting
acerbity
sourness or bitterness of taste; harshness or severity of manner or expression
attrition
the process of wearing down by friction or gradual impairment
bromide
a trite or commonplace remark; a tiresome or boring person; a sedative
chauvinist
extravagantly patriotic; blindly devoted to a cause; such a person
chronic
continuing over a long period of time or recurring often
expound
to explain in detail
factionalism
party strife and intrigue
immaculate
spotless; without blemish or fault
imprecation
a curse; the act of cursing
ineluctable
not able to be avoided, changed, or overcome
mercurial
characterized by rapid and unpredictable changes of mood; fickle or inconstant
palliate
to make less serious or severe by glossing over; to relieve without actually curing, mitigate
protocol
customs and regulations dealing with official behavior and etiquette, as in a court or among diplomats; a type of international agreement; a memorandum, official account, or record
resplendent
shining or gleaming brilliantly; splendid or magnificent
stigmatize
to brand or mark as in some way discreditable, disgraceful, or ignominious
sub rosa
in secret; confidentially; privately; secretive
vainglory
excessive pride in and boastfulness about one's own accomplishments or qualities; a vain show or display
vestige
a trace or visible evidence of something that once existed but now is lost or vanished
volition
the power to choose, will, or decide; the act of choosing, willing, or deciding