aberrant: abnormal.
abjure: to renounce, reject, or shun.
ablution: the washing of the body or some part of it.
abrogate: to annul; to do away with.
accede: to agree or assent; also, to become a party.
acquiesce: to accept or consent passively or without objection.
acrid: sharp and harsh; bitter.
acumen: quickness or keenness of perception or discernment.
adamant: not susceptible to persuasion; unyielding.
admonition: gentle or friendly reproof; friendly warning.
adumbrate: to outline; also, to foreshadow; also, to suggest; also, to shade.
adventitious: added extrinsically; not essentially inherent.
aesthete: one who cultivates great sensitivity to beauty.
aestival: of or belonging to the summer.
affable: easy to speak to; also, gracious.
afflatus: a divine inspiration.
aggrandize: to make or make appear great or greater.
agog: in eager desire.
alacrity: a cheerful readiness, willingness, or promptness.
ambit: circuit or compass; also, sphere of action or influence.
ameliorate: to make or grow better.
amity: friendship; friendly relations.
anathema: a curse; a person or thing cursed, or intensely disliked.
animadversion: harsh criticism or disapproval.
animus: a feeling of ill will; also, animating spirit; disposition.
anodyne: serving to relieve pain.
antediluvian: extremely old.
aplomb: confidence; coolness.
apocryphal: of doubtful authority or authenticity.
apothegm: a short, witty, and instructive saying.
apparition: a ghost; also, an unexpected appearance.
apposite: of striking appropriateness and relevance.
arbitrage: the nearly simultaneous purchase and sale of an asset in order to profit from price discrepancies.
arcane: understood or known by only a few.
argot: a specialized vocabulary peculiar to a particular group.
ascetic: one who practices extreme self-denial; also, austere, severe.
ascribe: to attribute.
asperity: roughness of surface, sound, or manner.
assuage: to soften; to ease, or lessen.
atelier: a workshop; a studio.
atrabilious: irritable; ill-natured.
aubade: a song greeting the dawn.
augury: an omen; prediction.
auspicious: favorable; also, prosperous; fortunate.
autocrat: a ruler with unlimited authority.
autodidact: one who is self-taught.
avarice: an excessive desire of gain; greediness.
aver: to assert as true.
avoirdupois: weight; heaviness.

badinage: light, playful talk.
banal: commonplace; trivial.
bandog: a large and fierce dog.
bedaub: to besmear; also, to overdecorate.
beholden: obliged; indebted.
bellwether: a leader or leading indicator.
beneficence: the practice of doing good.
berate: to scold severely or angrily.
bestow: to give or confer.
bete noire: something or someone particularly detested or avoided.
bifurcate: to divide into two branches.
billingsgate: foul language.
bivouac: a usually temporary encampment; also, to encamp.
blandishment: flattering speech or action.
bombast: pompous or pretentious speech or writing.
bootless: unavailing; useless.
bravura: a showy display.
brio: vigor; vivacity.
Brobdingnagian: gigantic; enormous.
bromide: a commonplace or conventional saying.
bumptious: crudely, presumptuously, or noisily self-assertive.
busker: a street musician or performer.
buss: a kiss; to kiss.

cacophony: harsh or discordant sound.
cadre: a core or nucleus of trained or otherwise qualified personnel around which an organization is formed.
callow: immature.
calumny: malicious misrepresentation; slander.
canard: an unfounded or false report.
canorous: melodious; musical.
capacious: able to contain much.
capitulate: to surrender under agreed conditions.
capricious: whimsical; changeable.
captious: disposed to find fault or raise objections.
castigate: to punish or criticize severely.
caveat: a warning or caution.
cavil: to raise trivial objections; also, a trivial objection.
celerity: quickness; swiftness.
censure: to criticize severely; also, an expression of disapproval.
chagrin: acute vexation or embarrassment.
chary: wary; cautious.
chicanery: the use of trickery to deceive.
chichi: affectedly trendy.
chimerical: merely imaginary; fanciful.
circumambient: surrounding; encompassing.
circumlocution: the use of many words to express an idea that might be expressed by few.
circumspect: cautious; prudent.
coeval: existing during the same period of time; also, a contemporary.
cogent: appealing to the mind or to reason; convincing.
cogitate: to think; to ponder.
cognoscente: a person with special knowledge.
colloquial: characteristic of informal spoken language.
collude: to act in concert; to conspire.
comestible: suitable to be eaten.
comity: a state of mutual harmony, friendship, and respect.
complement: something that fills up or completes.
comport: to behave (oneself) in a particular manner.
compunction: anxiety or unease from guilt; also, a scruple.
concomitant: accompanying; attending.
concupiscence: lust.
condign: deserved; adequate.
confabulation: familiar talk.
confluence: a flowing or coming together.
congeries: a collection; an aggregation.
consanguineous: related by blood; descended from the same ancestor.
constitutional: a walk taken for one's health.
contradistinction: distinction by contrast.
contumacious: obstinate; stubbornly disobedient.
contumely: rudeness compounded of haughtiness and contempt.
conurbation: an aggregation or continuous network of urban communities.
convivial: relating to feasting, drinking, and good company; festive.
copious: large in quantity; also, affording an abundant supply.
coquette: a flirt.
cormorant: a gluttonous or greedy person.
cornucopia: the horn of plenty; also, an abundance.
coruscate: to give off or reflect bright beams or flashes of light.
cosset: to treat with excessive indulgence; to pamper.
coxcomb: a vain, showy fellow.
cozen: to deceive or obtain by deceit.
crapulous: sick from, or marked by, excessive drinking.
credulous: inclined to believe too readily.
crepuscular: pertaining to twilight.
cupidity: eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth.
cynosure: a center of attention.

daedal: skillful; artistic; ingenious.
dapple: a small contrasting blotch; also, to mark with spots.
defenestrate: to throw out of a window.
deign: to condescend.
deleterious: harmful.
demagogue: a leader who obtains power by means of appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace.
denizen: an inhabitant.
deprecate: to disapprove of; also, to belittle.
deride: to laugh at with contempt.
derogate: to deviate from expectation; also, to detract; also, to disparage.
descry: to catch sight of; to detect.
desideratum: something desired.
desuetude: disuse.
desultory: jumping from subject to subject; erratic; inconsistent.
deus ex machina: an agent who appears unexpectedly to solve an apparently insoluble difficulty.
diaphanous: allowing light to pass through.
didactic: conveying instruction; teaching some moral lesson.
diffident: bashful or unassertive.
dilatory: given to, or marked by, procrastination or delay.
dilettante: an amateur; also, an admirer or lover of the fine arts.
disconcert: to disturb the composure of.
disconsolate: hopelessly sad; also, saddening; cheerless.
disheveled: in loose disorder; disarranged.
disparate: fundamentally different; also, composed of dissimilar elements.
doppelganger: a ghostly double.
dour: stern or unyielding or gloomy.
dudgeon: a state or fit of intense indignation.

ebullient: high-spirited.
edacious: given to eating.
edify: to instruct and improve.
effulgence: the state of being bright and radiant.
egregious: outrageously bad.
eke: to gain or supplement with great effort or difficulty.
eleemosynary: relating to charity; charitable.
Elysium: paradise.
emblazon: to display pompously; to decorate.
emolument: the wages or perquisites arising from office, employment, or labor.
en masse: all together; as a whole.
encomium: expression of praise.
encumbrance: a burden, impediment, or hindrance.
enervate: to weaken.
ennui: a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction arising from lack of interest.
ephemeral: short-lived.
epigone: an inferior imitator.
equanimity: calmness; composure.
equipoise: equilibrium; also, counterbalance.
equivocate: to be deliberately ambiguous or unclear.
ergo: therefore; consequently.
erroneous: containing or characterized by error.
ersatz: being a substitute or imitation.
erudite: characterized by extensive reading or knowledge.
espy: to see at a glance.
euphonious: pleasing or sweet in sound.
evanescent: fleeting.
evince: to show in a clear manner.
exacerbate: to aggravate; to make worse.
exalt: to praise, glorify, or honor.
excoriate: to express strong disapproval of; also, to flay.
exculpate: to clear from alleged fault or guilt.
execrable: detestable; extremely bad.
exigency: state of requiring immediate action; also, an urgent situation; also, that which is required in a particular situation.
exiguity: smallness; thinness; the quality of being meager.
expatiate: to speak or write at length.
expiate: to make amends for; to atone for.
expropriate: to deprive of possession; also, to transfer (property) to oneself.
expunge: to strike out or erase; to obliterate.
extant: still existing.
extempore: without premeditation or preparation.
extirpate: to eradicate; to destroy.
extraneous: coming from the outside; also, not essential; also, irrelevant.

facetious: playfully jocular; humorous.
facile: easily done or performed.
factious: addicted to form parties and raise dissensions.
factitious: artificial; not authentic or genuine.
factotum: a person employed to do all kinds of work.
farrago: an assortment; a medley.
fatuous: inanely foolish; stupid; also, llusory.
febrile: feverish.
felicitous: apt or appropriate; also, delightful.
fetid: stinking.
fin de siecle: characteristic of the close of the century; sophisticated; world-weary.
firmament: the sky; the heavens.
flippant: showing inappropriate levity; pert.
flout: to treat with contempt and disregard.
flummox: to confuse; to perplex.
foment: to nurse to life or activity; to incite.
fop: a man who is vain about his dress and appearance.
fractious: tending to cause trouble; also, irritable.
frisson: a brief moment of intense excitement.
fugacious: lasting but a short time.
fulminate: to issue or utter verbal attacks or censures.
fulsome: offensive from excess of praise.
fustian: pompous or pretentious language.

gainsay: to contradict; to deny.
gamut: a complete extent or range.
garrulous: talkative; also, wordy.
gastronome: a lover of good food and drink.
gauche: lacking social polish; tactless.
genial: sympathetically cheerful and cheering; kindly.
gesticulate: to make gestures or motions.
gewgaw: a trinket; a bauble.
gimcrack: a showy but useless or worthless object.
gloaming: twilight; dusk.
glower: to stare angrily or with a scowl.
gnomic: uttering, containing, or characterized by maxims.
gourmand: one who enjoys good food in great quantities.
grandee: a man of elevated rank or station; a nobleman.
gravitas: high seriousness.
gregarious: seeking and enjoying the company of others.
grok: to understand.

habitue: one who habitually frequents a place.
halcyon: peaceful; undisturbed; happy.
harangue: a speech addressed to a public assembly; also, a noisy or pompous speech.
harbinger: a precursor; one that presages what is to come.
harridan: a scolding, vicious woman.
hauteur: haughtiness; arrogance.
hirsute: covered with hair or bristles.
hoary: white or gray with age; hence, extremely old.
Hobson's choice: a choice without an alternative.
hugger-mugger: secret; also, muddled, disorderly.

ignoramus: an ignorant person; a dunce.
imbue: to dye; to instill profoundly.
immure: to enclose within or as if within walls.
impassible: incapable of suffering; also, unfeeling or not showing feeling.
impecunious: habitually without money; poor.
impervious: impenetrable; also, not capable of being affected.
implacable: incapable of being pacified.
importunate: troublesomely urgent.
improvident: lacking foresight; negligent; thoughtless.
impugn: to call in question; to make insinuations against.
inamorata: a woman whom one is in love with.
inchoate: partly but not fully in existence or operation.
incipient: beginning to exist or appear.
inclement: harsh; severe -- especially said of the weather.
incongruous: lacking in harmony.
inculcate: to teach and impress by frequent repetition or instruction.
indolent: lazy; inactive.
indomitable: incapable of being subdued or overcome.
ineffable: incapable of being expressed.
ineffectual: without effect; weak; useless.
ineluctable: impossible to avoid or evade.
inimical: unfriendly; unfavorable.
innocuous: harmless; also, unlikely to offend or provoke.
inscrutable: difficult to fathom or understand.
insouciant: Marked by blithe unconcern; nonchalant.
interregnum: the interval between two reigns; also, any breach of continuity in an order.
intransigent: uncompromising.
introspection: the act or process of self-examination; reflection.
inveigh: to rail (against some person or thing).
inveigle: to persuade or obtain by ingenuity or flattery.
inveterate: deep-rooted; of long standing.
invidious: tending to provoke envy or ill will.
irascible: easily provoked to anger.
irrefragable: impossible to refute.
itinerant: traveling from place to place.

jejune: lacking in nutritional value; also, immature; also, dull.
jocund: light-hearted; mirthful.
jovial: merry; joyous; jolly.
juju: an object superstitiously believed to embody magical powers.
junta: a governmental council or committee, esp. one that rules after a revolution.

kismet: destiny; fate.
kitsch: art in pretentious bad taste.
knell: the stoke of a bell tolled at a funeral.
kobold: a kind of domestic spirit in German mythology.
kvetch: to complain habitually.

lachrymose: given to causing tears.
lackadaisical: lacking spirit or liveliness.
laconic: using or marked by the use of a minimum of words.
lambent: playing on the surface; flickering.
largess: generous giving; also, gifts of money or other valuables.
lascivious: lewd; lustful.
lassitude: lack of vitality or energy.
laudable: praiseworthy; commendable.
legerdemain: sleight of hand.
lexicography: the writing or compiling of dictionaries.
lexicon: a dictionary; also, the vocabulary of a person, group, etc.
libation: the act of pouring a liquid as a sacrifice; also, a beverage.
lissom: supple; nimble.
listless: having no desire or inclination.
logorrhea: excessive talkativeness.
lucre: money; profit.
lucubration: nocturnal study.
lugubrious: mournful; gloomy; dismal.

malaise: a condition of uneasiness or ill-being.
malcontent: one who is discontented or dissatisfied.
malinger: to feign illness or inability.
malleable: capable of being shaped; also, adaptable.
malodorous: having a bad odor.
manse: a large and imposing residence.
masticate: to chew.
maudlin: excessively sentimental.
mawkish: sickly or excessively sentimental.
megalomania: a mental disorder characterized by delusions of grandeur.
melee: a confused conflict.
mellifluous: flowing sweetly or smoothly.
mendacious: untruthful; also, untrue.
meretricious: tawdry.
metier: an occupation, especially in which one excels.
miasma: a thick vaporous atmosphere, often noxious.
microcosm: a smaller, representative system having analogies to a larger system.
mien: demeanor; also, aspect; appearance.
milieu: environment; setting.
miscreant: a scoundrel, a villain; also, a heretic.
misnomer: a misnaming.
missive: a written message; a letter.
modicum: a small or token amount.
moiety: a half; a small part.
monomania: obsession with a single subject.
mordant: biting; caustic; sarcastic.
moribund: dying.
mountebank: a quack; also, a charlatan.
multifarious: having great diversity or variety.
munificent: very generous.

nadir: the lowest point.
nefarious: wicked in the extreme.
neologism: a new word or expression; the use or creation of new words or expressions.
nescience: lack of knowledge or awareness.
noisome: offensive or disgusting; also, harmful; unwholesome.
nonage: a period of youth or immaturity.
nostrum: a questionable remedy.
nugatory: insignificant; also, ineffectual.
numismatics: the collection and study of coins.

obdurate: hardened in feelings or in wrongdoing; unyielding.
obeisance: an expression of deference.
obfuscate: to darken or obscure.
obtrude: to thrust out; also, to impose on others.
obviate: to anticipate and dispose of or make unnecessary.
officious: meddlesome.
oneiric: pertaining to or suggestive of dreams.
onus: burden; also, blame; stigma.
opprobrium: reproach mingled with contempt.
orotund: full in sound; also, bombastic.
ostracize: to banish or expel.
otiose: ineffective; also, being at leisure; also, of no use.

palaver: idle talk; also, to talk idly.
palimpsest: an object or place whose older layers or aspects are apparent.
palindrome: a word, verse, phrase, or sentence that reads the same backward or forward.
palliate: to extenuate; also, to relieve.
palpable: plain; distinct; obvious.
panacea: a cure-all.
panache: dash or flamboyance in manner or style.
pandemic: affecting a whole people or a number of countries.
panoply: a splendid or impressive array.
paragon: a model of excellence or perfection.
pari passu: at an equal pace or rate.
parlous: fraught with danger; hazardous.
paroxysm: an outburst; a fit.
parvenu: an upstart; one newly risen in class or economic status.
patina: a superficial layer.
paucity: fewness; insufficiency.
peccadillo: a slight offense; a petty fault.
pejorative: disparaging; belittling.
pellucid: transparent, clear; also, easily understandable.
penchant: a strong liking.
perambulate: to stroll; to walk through or over.
perdurable: very durable; long lasting.
peregrination: a traveling from place to place.
perfervid: ardent; impassioned.
perfidy: faithlessness; treachery.
perforce: by necessity.
perfunctory: done routinely.
perquisite: a benefit in addition to a salary.
persiflage: frivolous or bantering talk.
perspicacity: clearness of understanding.
pertinacious: holding obstinately to a belief, purpose or design; also, stubbornly persistent.
pettifogger: a petty, unscrupulous lawyer; also, who quibbles over trivia.
philomath: a lover of learning; a scholar.
physiognomy: the face or appearance.
plangent: beating with a loud or deep sound; also, expressing sadness.
platitude: a banal, trite, or stale thought or remark.
plenary: full; complete.
plethora: excess.
polyglot: speaking or containing many languages.
polymath: a person of great or varied learning.
portend: to foreshadow; to bode.
portentous: foreboding; ominous.
posit: to postulate; also, to suggest.
potable: drinkable; also, a beverage, especially an alcoholic one.
precocious: characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development.
prescience: knowledge of events before they take place.
prestidigitation: sleight of hand.
prevaricate: to depart from or evade the truth.
probity: complete and confirmed integrity.
proclivity: a natural inclination.
profligate: shamelessly immoral; also, recklessly wasteful.
prolix: wordy.
Promethean: of or pertaining to Prometheus; also, boldly original.
propinquity: nearness.
propitious: presenting favorable circumstances.
propound: to put forward for consideration.
proscribe: to forbid; to prohibit.
protean: readily assuming different shapes or forms.
provenance: origin; source.
puerile: juvenile; childish.
pugilist: a boxer.
pugnacious: combative; quarrelsome.
puissant: powerful.
purblind: having greatly reduced vision.
purdah: social seclusion.
pusillanimous: cowardly.
putative: commonly thought or deemed; supposed.

quaff: to drink with relish.
quandary: a state of difficulty or perplexity.
quash: to annul; also, to crush; to subdue.
querulous: habitually complaining; also, expressing complaint.
quiddity: the essence or nature of a thing.
quidnunc: a gossip; a busybody.
quiescent: at rest; still; inactive.
quondam: former; sometime.
quorum: such a number of the officers or members of any body as is legally competent to transact business.
quotidian: occurring daily; also, ordinary.

raconteur: one who excels in telling stories and anecdotes.
raffish: tawdry; also, rakish.
raillery: good-humored banter or teasing repartee.
rapacious: grasping; greedy.
rapport: relation characterized by sympathetic understanding.
rara avis: a rare or unique person or thing.
ratiocination: the process of reasoning.
raucous: unpleasantly loud and harsh.
rebarbative: repellent; irritating.
recondite: difficult to understand.
recrudescent: breaking out again.
recumbent: reclining; lying down.
redoubt: a stronghold.
redress: to set right.
regale: to entertain with something that delights.
repast: a meal.
requisite: required; indispensable.
respite: an interval of rest or relief.
restive: resisting control; stubborn.
reticent: inclined to keep silent.
ribald: characterized by, or given to, vulgar humor.
rictus: a gaping grin or grimace.
riparian: of or pertaining to the bank of a river.
risible: exciting or provoking laughter.
rubicund: inclining to redness; ruddy.
ruminate: to chew the cud; also, to ponder; to reflect.
rusticate: to go or send to the country.

salient: noticeable; also, projecting; also, leaping.
salubrious: healthful.
sapient: wise; sage; discerning.
sardonic: scornful, mocking.
scapegrace: one who is wild and reckless.
schadenfreude: a malicious satisfaction in the misfortunes of others.
scintilla: a tiny amount; a spark.
scion: a descendant; an heir.
sedulous: diligent in application or pursuit.
segue: to proceed without interruption.
sempiternal: everlasting; eternal.
seriatim: in a series; one after another.
sesquipedalian: (of words) long; having many syllables.
sine qua non: an indispensable thing.
sinecure: an office or position that involves little work or responsibility.
skulk: to hide in a sneaking manner.
slugabed: one who stays in bed until a late hour.
sobriquet: a nickname.
sojourn: to dwell for a time; also, a temporary stay.
solace: comfort in grief.
somniferous: causing or inducing sleep.
somnolent: drowsy; also, tending to cause sleepiness.
sonorous: yielding sound; impressive in sound.
soporific: causing sleep; also, something that causes sleep.
specious: apparently right but not so in reality.
spoonerism: the transposition of usually initial sounds in a pair of words.
sporadic: occurring singly, or occasionally, or in scattered instances.
stoic: indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; also, one who is stoic.
stolid: unexcitable; unemotional.
sublunary: situated beneath the moon; terrestrial.
subterfuge: a deceptive device or stratagem.
succinct: brief; concise.
sunder: to break apart.
superannuated: old; discharged or disqualified on account of old age.
supercilious: disdainfully arrogant.
supererogatory: going beyond what is required or expected; also, superfluous, unnecessary.
superfluous: more than is wanted or is sufficient.
supernal: being on high; celestial.
supernumerary: exceeding a necessary or usual number.
surcease: cessation; stop; end.
surfeit: an excessive amount; also, to supply to excess.
susurrus: a whispering or rustling sound.
sybarite: a person devoted to luxury and pleasure.
sycophant: one who seeks favor by flattery; a toady.

taciturn: not inclined to talk.
taw: a large marble.
tchotchke: a trinket; a knickknack.
temerity: unreasonable or foolhardy contempt of danger.
tendentious: marked by a strong tendency in favor of a particular point of view.
tenebrous: dark; gloomy.
tergiversation: evasion; also, desertion of a cause, party, etc.
termagant: a scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman.
thaumaturgy: the performing of miracles or magic.
titivate: to smarten up; to spruce.
tittle-tattle: idle, trifling talk.
tmesis: in grammar and rhetoric, the separation of the parts of a compound word. dwelling in or under the earth; also, pertaining to the underworld. to scold or rebuke sharply.
tocsin: a warning.
toothsome: delicious; attractive; luscious.
torpid: dull; sluggish; apathetic.
torrid: drying or scorching with heat; burning; parching.
tortuous: marked by repeated turns and bends.
tractable: docile; manageable, governable.
travail: painful, arduous work; also, agony, anguish.
trepidation: a state of dread or alarm; apprehension.
triskaidekaphobia: fear of the number 13.
truckle: to act in a subservient manner.
truculent: fierce; savage; ferocious.
tryst: an appointment (as between lovers) to meet.
tumult: the commotion or agitation of a crowd.
turgid: swollen, bloated; also, bombastic, pompous.
turpitude: baseness; depravity.
tutelage: guardianship; protection; also, instruction.
tutelary: guardian; protecting.
tyro: a novice.

ubiquitous: being everywhere.
ukase: an edict.
ululate: to howl; to wail.
umbrage: offense; resentment.
unctuous: marked by a false or smug earnestness or agreeableness.
undulate: to move in waves.
uxorious: excessively fond of or submissive to a wife.

vainglory: excessive pride or vain display.
variegated: having marks or patches of different colors; also, varied.
vehement: marked by intensity of emotions or convictions.
venal: capable of being bought; also, corruptible.
venial: capable of being forgiven; excusable.
verbiage: an overabundance of words.
verbose: wordy.
verdant: green.
verdure: greenness.
verisimilitude: the quality of seeming to be true.
vexillology: the study of flags.
vicissitude: a change in condition or fortune.
vim: energy; vigor.
virtu: love of or taste for fine objects of art; also, productions of art.
visage: the face; also, appearance; aspect.
vitiate: to make faulty or imperfect.
vituperate: to overwhelm with wordy abuse.
vivify: to endue with life; to enliven.
vociferous: clamorous; noisy.
voluble: characterized by a ready flow of speech.
voluptuary: a person devoted to luxury and the gratification of sensual appetites.

wassail: an expression of good wishes on a festive occasion, especially in drinking to some one.
wastrel: a person who wastes; a loafer.
wayworn: wearied by traveling.
wheedle: to entice by flattery.
Whig: a friend and supporter of the American Revolution.
winsome: light-hearted.
wizened: shriveled; withered.
woebegone: woeful; also, run-down.
wunderkind: one who achieves success or acclaim during youth.

xenophobia: fear or hatred of what is strange or foreign.

yen: a strong desire or inclination.
yeasty: frothy; foamy

Zeitgeist: the spirit of the time.