abominate
to have an intense dislike or hatred for
acculturation
the modification of social patterns, traits, or structures of one group or society by contact with those of another; the resultant blend
adventitious
resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental, not essential; (medicine) aquired, congenital
affable
courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak
amnesty
a general pardon for an offense against a government; in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution
amorphous
shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character, without organization, unity, or cohesion
anomalous
abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual
archetype
an original model on which something was patterned or replicated; the ideal example of a particular type of person or thing
assuage
a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming
aura
that which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive air or personal quality
autonomy
self-government, political control
beneficent
preforming acts of kindness or charity; conferring benefits, doing good
bizarre
extremely strange, unusual, atypical
blazon
to adorn or embellish; to display conspicuously to publish or proclaim widely
bombastic
pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas
brusque
abrupt, blunt, with no formalities
cadaverous
pale, gaunt, resembling a corpse
cajole
to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises
coalition
a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose
commiserate
to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress
concoct
to prepare by combining ingredients, make up (as a dish), to devise, invent, fabricate
contraband
illegal traffic, smuggled goods; illegal, prohibited
contrive
to plan with ingenuity; to bring about through a plan
crass
coarse, unfeeling, stupid
decadence
decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay; excessive self-indulgence
desecrate
to commit sacrilege upon, treat irreverently; to contaminate, pollute
disabuse
to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking
drivel
saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense; to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to wast or fritter away foolishly
elicit
to draw forth, bring out from some source (such as another person)
enjoin
to direct or order; to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way
ennui
weariness of dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom
equitable
fair, just, embodying principles of justice
erudite
scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic
ex officio
a virtue of holding a certain office
exhort
to urge strongly, advice earnestly
expediate
to make easy, cause to progress faster
expostulate
to attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning
extricate
to free from entanglements or difficulties; to remove with effort
ferment
a state of great excitement, agitation, or turbulence; to be in or work into a state of great excitement, agitation or turbulence; to produce alcohol by chemical action
fetter
a chain or shackle placed on the feet (ofter used in plural) anything that confines or restrains; to chain or shackle; to render helpless or impotent
filch
to steal, especially in a sneaky way and in petty amounts
flout
to mock; treat with contempt
fractious
tending to be troublesome; unruly, quarrelsome, contrary, unpredictable
gossamer
thin, light, delicate, insubstantial; a very think, light cloth
grandiose
grand in an impressive or stately way; marked by pompous affection or grandeur, absurdly exaggerated
heinous
very wicked, offensive, hateful
hiatus
a gap, opening, break (in the sense of having an element missing)
immutable
not subject to change, constant
inadvertent
resulting from or marked by lack of attention; unintentional, accidental
inconsequential
trifling, unimportant
infringe
to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds
ingratiate
to make one's self agreeable and thus gaining favor or acceptance by others (sometimes used in critical or derogatory sense)
inscrutable
incapable of being understood; impossible to see through physically
insurgent
one who rebels or rises against authority; rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority; surging or rushing in or on
intercede
to plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party or go between in disagreement
intrinsic
belonging to someone or something by it's very nature, essential, inherit; organizing in a bodily organ or part
inveigh
to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval
irrevocable
incapable of being changed or called back
megalomania
a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc..., far in excess of reality
nominal
existing in name only, not real; too small to be considered or taken seriously
noncommital
not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clear position
occult
secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means; mysterious, magical uncanny
permeate
to spread through, penetrate, soak through
prate
to talk a great deal in a foolish or aimless fashion
precipitate
to fall as moisture; to bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to; characterized by excessive haste
prerogative
a special right of privilege; a quality showing excellence
querulous
peevish, complaining, fretful
punctilious
very careful and exact, attentive to fine points of etiquette
proclivity
a natural or habitual inclination or tendency (especially of human character or behavior)
remonstrate
to argue with someone against something, protest against
reprove
to find fault with, scold, rebuke
resilient
able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly
restitution
the act of restoring someone or something to the rightful owner or to a former state of position; making good on a loss or damage
salutary
beneficial, helpful; helpful, wholesom
sangfroid
composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances
scathing
bitterly sever, withering; causing great harm
scourge
to whip, punish severely; a cause of affliction or suffering; a source of severe punishment or critism
scurrilous
coarsely abusive, vulgar or low (especially in language), foul-mouthed
seditious
resistant to lawful authority; having the purpose of overthrowing an established government
sedulous
persistent, showing industry and determinantion
sepulchral
funeral, typical of the tomb; extremely gloomy or dismal
simluate
to make a pretense of, imitate; to show the outer sings of
sinecure
a position requiring little or no work; an easy job
soporific
tending to cause sleep, relating to sleepiness or lethargy
straitlaced
extremely strict in regard to moral standards and conduct; prudish, puritanical
surreptitious
stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud
tenuous
thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance, lacking a sound basis, poorly supported
transcend
to rise above or beyond, exceed
transgress
to go beyond limit or boundary; to sin, violate
transient
lasting only a short time, fleeting; one who stays only a short time
transmute
to change form one nature, substance, or form to another
umbrage
shade cast by trees; foliage giving shade; an overshadowing influence or power; offense, resentment; a vague substitution
vapid
dull, uninteresting, tiresome; lacking in sharpness, flavor, liveliness, or force
vicarious
preformed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another
vitriolic
bitter, sarcastic; highly caustic or biting (like a strong acid)
vulnerable
open to attack; capable of being wounded or damaged; unprotected
wheedle
to use coaxing or flattery to fain some desired end