abjure
to renounce
anomaly
a deviation from the norm; an odd or peculiar occurrence
equanimity
stability, calmness
estrange
to alienate
flay
to whip; to remove skin
florid
rosy-colored, reddish
interminable
tiresome and long
lugubrious
mournful, gloomy
nondescript
having no individuality
propitious
favorable; auspicious
rife
abundant, prevalent
truncate
to shorten
ubiquitous
occurring everywhere; omnipresent
vernacular
everyday language
zealous
fervent; fanatical
arable
fit for cultivation (land)
brigand
a robber or bandit
carte blanche
authority with no bounds
consomm�
a clear soup
contemptuous
scornful, haughty
cosmopolitan
worldly, sophicticated
discerning
distinguishing difference; detecting
donnybrook
a fight; an uproar
incantation
a charm; recited magical spell
interlocutor
a questioner; an on-stage speaker
metamorphosis
a transformation or dramatic change
nomenclature
a naming system in an art or science
serendipity
a fortunate discovery made by accident
stentorian
extremely loud
vestige
a trace; evidence
abstemious
eating and drinking moderately
archaic
no longer current or applicable; antiquated
dulcet
melodious, pleasant to hear
expurgate
to remove objectionable words from
idyllic
carefree, simple; nearly perfect
iniquity
sin; a wicked or evil act
lithe
supple; graceful in motion
patronizing
to treat in a condescending manner; talk down to
pellucid
transparent; clear
perspicacious
keen, mentally sharp
relegate
to assign
scapegoat
one who bears the blame for an offense
talisman
a magical charm for protection
usurp
to take over; to seize power
vacillate
to waver; to sway indecisively
acme
the highest point
apocryphal
of doubtful origin; fictitious
catharsis
an extremely emotional experience
desiccate
to dry up completely
dissipate
to waste; exhaust
efficacious
effective; producing the desired outcome
ineffable
inexpressible; beyond description
intrinsic
of or relating to the basic nature of a thing; inherent
inundate
to cover with; to be overwhelmed with
kudos
praise, fame, glory
maxim
fundamental principle; rule; familiar statement
putrid
partially decayed or decomposed; having a foul smell
revere
to regard with respect, awe, adoration
servile
submissive, slavish
superfluous
unnecessary; excessive
consternation
dismay or worry; concern
conundrum
a puzzle or dilemma; a problem
coterie
a small group of people who share interests and associate
emollient
something softening; soothing to the skin
expiate
to atone, to make amends for
extricate
to release, disentangle
flippancy
disrespect
foist
to pass off as worthy or real
incongruous
incompatible; not harmonious to the situation
innocuous
harmless
inveterate
habitual, continuing
plethora
an abundance; excess
preamble
a preliminary statement
soluble
easily dissolved
vitriolic
bitterly spiteful; caustic
camaraderie
rapport between friends; comradeship
haughty
proud, arrogant
hubris
arrogance resulting from excessive pride
imbroglio
a difficult situation
impetuous
impulsive; rash
malinger
to pretend to be ill or injured to avoid work
peregination
traveling on foot; walking
platitude
a cliche
sanctimonious
falsely pious or moral
scullion
a kitchen servant
sectarian
narrowly confined to a particular group
stringent
strict; rigorous
trite
hackneyed; cliched; lacking interest
venerate
to respect, worship, or revere
wrenching
violent, forceful twisting
anecdote
a short account or story
cerebral
relating to the brain; intelligent
churlish
boorish or vulgar; surly
cogent
convincing; sound
convoluted
intricate, difficult to discern
entreat
to ask or petition for ; plead
gibberish
nonsense; unintelligible speech
incumbent
obligatory; necessary
inimical
adverse; hostile
livid
angry; furious
lurid
sensational; ghastly
promulgate
to announce; to make known
spurious
false, incorrect
staid
sedate; dignified; proper
surfeit
an excessive amount
allay
to reduce the intensity of; relieve; pacify
ameliorate
to make better, improve
asperity
roughness or harshness; severity
exegesis
an analysis; interpretation of
extradite
to release an accused criminal to another jurisdiction
hypocrisy
duplicity, falseness
inveigh
to protest, oppose
lionize
to honor or celebrate
pander
to act as a go-between; to exploit weaknesses of others
profligate
wasteful; immoral
recalcitrant
stubbornly resistant
renunciation
rejection; abandonment
unimpeachable
beyond doubt; unquestionable
unwieldy
not easily held
vitiate
to reduce the value of; to corrupt or debase
benign
beneficial; favorable
blithe
carefree and lighthearted
bumpkin
an unsophisticated person
corroborate
to make more certain; add evidence to
culpable
blameable, responsible for
frenetic
frenzied
goad
to urge, prod
indecorous
lacking good taste, improper
indolent
lazy
pervasive
permeating; present throughout
provocative
stimulating; inciting to action
punitive
punishing
recrimination
an accusation made to counter another
soporific
something that induces sleep
toady
a person who flatters; sycophant
Circuitous
indirect, roundabout
circumlocution
an unnecessarily wordy or evasive form of expression
deleterious
having a harmful effect; injurious
extenuating
lessening or moderating
inchoate
unformed or undeveloped
largesse
generosity
luminous
bright; full of light
majordomo
a follower; butler
permabulate
to walk about, stroll
prevaricate
to lie, mislead
propriety
appropriateness
timorous
timid
tremulous
timid; fearful
untenable
incapable of being defended
veneer
any thin, attractive surface layer
bulwark
a wall or embankment for defense
crescendo
a steady increase in intensity or force
disingenuous
craft; not straightforward
dogged
unrelenting, persistent
etymology
the study of word origin and change
extant
in existence
impresario
a producer of entertainment; manager
intransigent
refusing to moderate a position; uncompromising
lachyrmose
inclined to shed many tears; mournful
malaise
discomfort; unease
pallid
pale, dull
palpable
able to be handled or touched; obvious
pundit
a critic
requisite
required; important
waive
to not enforce a rule; set aside
abrogate
to abolish, do away with or annul, especially by authority
analgesic
a medication to reduce or eliminate pain
conflagration
a large, destructive fire
cumulative
additional, increasing
discretionary
based on individual judgment; not compulsory
flummox
to confuse; perplex
fractious
troublesome, cranky, unruly
histrionics
exaggerated emotional behavior
implicate
to connect with; involve
moribund
near death
replete
full; abundant
turpitude
depravity
unpalatable
unpleasant; disagreeable; inedible
veritable
real or genuine
viscera
internal organs
artisan
a skilled manual worker, craftsperson
boondoggle
unnecessary, wasteful work
indiscernible
imperceptible; not able to be seen
opprobrium
disgrace,infamy
phlegmatic
unemotional
potentate
a monarch
protege
a person under the guidance or training of another
reciprocate
to give back in kind
repugnant
offensive; repulsive
schism
separation; discord
somnambulism
sleepwalking
supine
lying on one's back
tenable
defensible
virulent
extremelyinfectious
vituperative
fault-finding; verbal abuse
anthropocentrism
viewing the world only in terms of human values and experience
appellation
a name or a title
autonomy
independence
coagulation
the thickening of a liquid
jurisprudence
the study of law
malevolent
evil; malicious
misanthrope
one who hates or mistrusts humankind
prognosticate
to predict
prominence
importance
prosaic
straightforward; uninteresting
puissance
power; might
satiate
to fill completely; satisfy
scion
a descendant; heir
supercilious
contemptuous; haughty
utilitarian
emphasizing usefulness
ascetic
a person who renounces material comforts
attenuate
to reduce, weaken, or lessen
attribute
to ascribe; to relate to a cause or source
depravity
moral corruption; perversion
discourse
discussion
encomium
praise; a tribute
ethereal
delicate, insubstantial
extrinsic
foreign; not essential
megalomania
obsession with doing great things
mutable
subject to change
poignant
touching, sentimental
primordial
primitive, first, initial
remuneration
compensation, payment
tactile
able to be touched or felt
transient
remaining only a short time
arcane
known or understood by only a few; mysterious
bourgeois
conforming to middle-class or average standards
exculpate
to clear of guilt; declare inoocent
fulsome
insincere; overly flattering
masticate
to chew
matriculate
to be admitted into college
mercurial
volatile; quickly changing
nascent
emerging; beginning to exist
parity
equality
salubrious
healthful
squelch
to suppress; squash
tangential
digressive from the main point
trenchant
keen; incisive
tyro
a beginner; novice
venial
easily excused