adjunct
(n.) something added to something else as helpful or useful but not essential; an assistant or helper; a valuable quality or characteristic; (adj.) added or connected in a subordinate capacity; attached to a faculty or staff in an auxiliary capacity
bellwether
(n.) the male sheep that leads the flock to the slaughterhouse; a leader, as in a desperate or violent undertaking; an indicator of trends
caterwaul
(v.) to howl or screech like a cat; to quarrel; (n.) a harsh or noisy cry; a racket
chimerical
(adj.) absurd; wildly fantastic; impossible
effete
(adj.) lacking in wholesome vigor or energy; worn-out or exhausted; sterile or unable to produce; out-of-date
fait accompli
(n.) an accomplished and presumably irreversible deed, fact, or action
hidebound
(adj.) narrow-minded and rigid, especially in opinions or prejudices; stubbornly and unthinkingly conservative
hierarchy
(n.) any system of things or people arranged or graded one above another in order of rank, wealth, class, etc.
liturgy
(n.) a religious service or rite; the form of a ritual or other act of public worship
mirage
(n.) something illusory, without substance, or without a basis in reality; an illusion
morass
(n.) a patch of low, soft, wet ground; a swamp; a confusing situation in which one is entrapped, as in quicksand
noisome
(adj.) offensive or disgusting; foul-smelling; harmful or injurious
oblivious
(adj.) forgetful; unaware
poltroon
(n.) a base coward
proselyte
(n.) a convert; a disciple
quasi
(adj.) resembling but not actually being; seemingly but not actually or completely
raillery
(n.) good-humored ridicule; teasing
ribald
(adj.) irreverently mocking; coarse, vulgar, or indecent in language
supine
(adj.) lying flat on one's back; listless or lethargic; apathetic or passive
vignette
(n.) a short description or sketch; a picture or illustration with edges that gradually shade off; a decorative design on the title page of a book or at the beginning or end of a chapter
aegis
(n.) protection; patronage; sponsorship
apprise
(v.) to inform of; to make aware of by giving oral or written notice
bibulous
(adj.) fond of or inclined to drink; absorbent
claque
(n.) a group of people hired to applaud a performer or performance; enthusiastic or fawning admirers; an opera hat
deracinate
(v.) to pull up by the roots; to root out, uproot, or dislocate; to eliminate all traces of
eleemosynary
(adj.) charitable; dependent upon or supported by charity; derived from or provided by charity
indigenous
(adj.) originating in the country or region where found, native; inborn; inherent
lachrymose
(adj.) given to tears or weeping; causing to shed tears; mournful, lugubrious
lexicon
(n.) a dictionary of a language; the special vocabulary of a person, group, or subject; a compendium
melee
(n.) a confused struggle; a violent free-for-all; a tumultuous mingling
microcosm
(n.) a miniature world or universe; a group or system viewed as the model of a larger group or system
minuscule
(adj.) very small, tiny; (n.) a lowercase letter
obfuscate
(v.) to darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder
paternalism
(n.) the policy or practice of treating or governing people in the manner of a father dealing with his children
polarize
(v.) to cause to concentrate around two conflicting or contrasting positions; to cause light to vibrate in a pattern
purview
(n.) the range, extent, or scope of something; in law, the scope or limit of what is provided in a statute
sanguine
(adj.) having a ruddy complexion; of a naturally cheerful, confident, or optimistic outlook
solecism
(n.) a substandard or ungrammatical usage; a breach of etiquette; any impropriety or mistake
vassal
(n.) a person under the protection of a feudal lord to who he or she owes allegiance; a subordinate or dependent; a servant; (adj.) subservient
verisimilitude
(n.) the quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probable