abjunct
(n.) something added to something else as helpful or useful but not essential; an assistant
bellwether
(n.) the male sheep that leads the flock to the slaughterhouse
effete
(adj.) lacking in wholesome vigor or energy
fait accompli
(n.) an accomplished and presumably irreversible deed, fact, or action
hierarchy
(n.) any system of things or people arranged or graded one above another in order of rank, wealth, class, etc.
Liturgy
A religious service or right; ritual worship
Morass
(n.) a patch of low, soft, wet ground; a swamp; a confusing situation in which one is entrapped, as in quicksand
Quasi
(adj.) resembling but not actually being; seemingly but not actually or completely
Ribald
irreverently mocking; vulgar
supine
lying flat on one's back
vignette
(n.) a short description or sketch
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
indigenous
originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.
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
a miniature world or universe; a group or system viewed as the model of a larger group or system
minuscule
very small; tiny
Paternalism
(n.) the policy or practice of treating or governing people in the manner of a father dealing with his children
Polarize
to cause to concentrate around two conflicting or contrasting positions; to cause light to vibrate in a pattern
sanguine
(adj.) having a ruddy complexion
condescend
(v.) to come down or stoop voluntarily to a lower level; to deal with people in a patronizing manner
enclave
(n.) an enclosed district, region, or area inhabited by a particular group of people or having a special character
forte
a person's strong point; what a person does best
gratis
free; without charge
macrocosm
(n.) the universe considered as a whole; the entire complex structure of something
plethora
(n.) overfullness; superabundance; superfluity
pragmatic
(adj.) concerned with practical considerations or values; dealing with actions and results rather than with abstract theory; stiff in one's opinion
rapacity
(n.) inordinate greed; the disposition to obtain one's desires by force, extortion, or plunder
schism
(n.) a formal split within a religious organization; any division or separation of a group or organization into hostile factions
therapeutic
(adj.) having the power to heal or cure; beneficial
virtuoso
(n.) a brilliant performer; a person with masterly skill or technique; (adj.) masterly or brilliant
Affinity
(n.) a natural attraction to a person, thing, or activity; a relationship, connection
corollary
(n.) a proposition that follows from one already proven; a natural consequence or result; (adj.) resultant or consequent
cul-de-sac
(n.) a blind alley or dead-end street; any situation in which further progress is impossible; an impasse
divination
(n.) the art or act of predicting the future or discovering hidden knowledge
elixir
(n.) a potion once thought capable of curing all ills and maintaining life indefinitely; a panacea; a sweet liquid used as a vehicle in medicines
gamut
an entire range or series
lucubration
(n.) laborious study or thought, especially at night; the result of such work
mnemonic
(adj.) relating to or designed to assist the memory; (n.) a device to aid the memory
obloquy
(n.) public abuse indicating strong disapproval or censure; the disgrace resulting from such treatment
Parameter
(n.) a determining or characteristic element; a factor that shapes the total outcome; a limit, boundary
pundit
(n.) a learned person; one who gives authoritative opinions
risible
(adj.) pertaining to laughter; able or inclined to laugh; laughable
symptomatic
(adj.) typical or characteristic; being or concerned with a symptom of a disease
aficionado
an enthusiastic and usually expert follower or fan
browbeat
to intimidate by a stern or overbearing manner; to bully
commensurate
equal in size, extent, duration, or importance; proportionate; measurable by the same standards
diaphanous
very sheer and light; almost completely transparent
foray
(n.) a quick raid, especially for plunder; a venture into some field of endeavor; (v.) to make such a raid
Genre
(n.) a type, class, or variety, especially a distinctive category of literary composition; a style of painting in which everyday scenes are realistically depicted
homily
(n.) a sermon stressing moral principles; a tedious moralizing lecture or discourse
insouciant
(adj.) blithely indifferent or unconcerned; carefree; happy-go-lucky
Matrix
a mold; the surrounding situation or environment
obsequies
funeral rites or ceremonies
panache
a confident and stylish manner, dash; a strikingly elaborate or colorful display
commensurate
equal in size, extent, duration, or importance; proportionate; measurable by the same standards
diaphanous
very sheer and light; almost completely transparent
foray
(n.) a quick raid, especially for plunder; a venture into some field of endeavor; (v.) to make such a raid
Genre
(n.) a type, class, or variety, especially a distinctive category of literary composition; a style of painting in which everyday scenes are realistically depicted
homily
(n.) a sermon stressing moral principles; a tedious moralizing lecture or discourse
insouciant
(adj.) blithely indifferent or unconcerned; carefree; happy-go-lucky
Matrix
a mold; the surrounding situation or environment
obsequies
funeral rites or ceremonies
panache
a confident and stylish manner, dash; a strikingly elaborate or colorful display
Persona
a character in a novel or play; the outward character or role that a person assumes
vicissitude
a change or variation; ups and downs
abortive
failing to accomplish an intended aim or purpose; only partially or imperfectly developed
contumelious
insolent or rude in speech or behavior; insultingly abusive; humiliating
dictum
a short saying; an authoritative statement
ensconce
to settle comfortably and firmly in position; to put or hide in a safe place
iconoclastic
attacking or seeking to overthrow popular or traditional beliefs, ideas, or institutions
In medias res
in or into the middle of a plot; into the middle of things
internecine
mutually destructive; characterized by great slaughter and bloodshed
maladroit
(adj.) lacking skill or dexterity; lacking tact, perception, or judgment
modulate
(v.) to change or vary the intensity or pitch; to temper or soften; to regulate, adjust
quid pro quo
something given in exchange or return for something else
salubrious
conducive or favorable to health or well-being
touchstone
a means of testing worth or genuineness
ambivalent
having opposite and conflicting feelings about someone or something
carte blanche
full freedom or authority to act at one's own discretion
cataclysm
a sudden, violent, or devastating upheaval; a surging flood, deluge
eclat
(n.) dazzling or conspicuous success or acclaim; great brilliance (of performance or achievement)
fastidious
overly demanding or hard to please; excessively careful in regard to details; easily disgusted
gambol
to jump or skip about playfully
Imbue
to soak or stain thoroughly; to fill the mind
lampoon
a malicious satire
malleable
(adj.) capable of being formed into different shapes; capable of being altered, adapted, or influenced
philistine
(adj.) lacking in, hostile to, or smugly indifferent to cultural and artistic values or refinements; (n.) such a person
queasy
(adj.) nauseated or uneasy; causing nausea or uneasiness; troubled
savoir-faire
the ability to say and do the right thing in any situation; social competence
aberration
(n.) a departure from what is proper, right, expected, or normal; a lapse from a sound mental state
ad hoc
for a specific purpose or situation
bane
(n.) the source or cause of fatal injury, death, destruction, or ruin; death or ruin itself; poison
bathos
(n.) the intrusion of commonplace or trite material into a context whose tone is lofty or elevated; grossly insincere or exaggerated sentimentality; the lowest phase, nadir; an anticlimax, comedown
cantankerous
(adj.) ill-tempered, quarrelsome; difficult to get along or deal with
casuistry
(n.) the determination of right and wrong in questions of conduct or conscience by the application of general ethical principles; specious argument
empathy
a sympathetic understanding of or identification with the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of someone or something else
harbinger
(n.) a forerunner, herald
hedonism
the belief that the attainment of pleasure is life's chief aim; devotion to or pursuit of pleasure
lackluster
lacking brilliance or vitality; dull
malcontent
(adj.) discontented with or in open defiance of prevailing conditions
nepotism
(n.) undue favoritism to or excessive patronage of one's relatives
pander
To cater to or provide satisfaction for the low tastes or vices of others
remand
(v.) to send or order back; in law, to send back to jail or to a lower court
syndrome
A group of symptoms or signs that collectively characterizes or indicates a diseases, disorder, abnormality, etc.