adulation n. excessive flattery or admiration; unmerited praise |
androgyny n. showing characteristics of both sexes |
apogee n. the highest point; point in orbit most distant from the body being orbited |
attenuate v. make slender, fine, or small; weaken; lessen density of |
betimes ad. in good time; before the usual or expected time |
billiards n. any of several games played on rectangular cloth-covered table in which long tapering cue sticks are used to propel ivory balls |
bumptious a. offensively self-assertive; liable to give or take offense; forward; pushing |
cajolery n. flattery intended to persuade |
caparison n. stable gear consisting of a decorated covering for a horse, especially for a warhorse |
chimerical a. fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; imaginative |
coddle v. treat gently; cook in water just below boiling point |
colloquy n. a conversation, especially a formal one |
concatenate v. combine two strings to form a single one; add by linking or joining so as to form a chain or series |
confederacy n. a league or compact for mutual support or common action; alliance |
conspirator n. one who engages in a conspiracy; plotter |
contrivance n. an artificial or unnatural arrangement of details or parts; inventive skill; skill to bring something about or create something |
corollary n. natural consequence or effect; result |
cosmogony n. the branch of astrophysics that studies the origin and evolution and structure of the universe |
debilitate v. make weak; enfeeble; impair the strength of |
degeneracy n. moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles |
dendrology n. the scientific study of trees |
derogation n. a communication that belittles somebody or something; a partial repeal or abolition of a law |
desultory a. aimless; haphazard; at random; not connected with subject |
didactic a. instructive, especially excessively |
disavowal n. denial of any connection with or knowledge of |
disputation n. a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement |
dissonant a. not in accord; lacking in harmony; characterized by musical dissonance |
diversity n. point or respect in which things differ; difference |
divination n. successful conjecture by unusual insight or good luck; the art or gift of prophecy by supernatural means |
ductile a. easily influenced; flexible; pliable |
eccentricity n. oddity; departure from that which is stated, regular, or usual; deviation from center |
effluvium n. a foul-smelling outflow or vapor, especially a gaseous waste |
elide v. omit a vowel, consonant, or syllable in pronunciation; leave or strike out |
emulate v. be a match or counterpart for; eager to equal or excel |
encomium n. high praise; formal expression of praise; tribute |
epicycle n. a circle that rolls around inside or outside another circle; generates an epicycloid or hypocycloid |
eulogize v. praise formally and eloquently |
execration n. hate coupled with disgust; an appeal to some supernatural power to inflict evil on someone; the object of cursing |
expeditious a. marked by speed and efficiency |
extrude v. force or push out; drive away; displace or remove, as a person from a place or office |
fervid a. extremely hot; eager; impassioned; burning |
flay v. strip off the skin or outer covering of |
freethinker n. a person who believes that God created the universe and then abandoned it |
gelid a. very cold, icy, or frosty |
hacienda n. the main house on a ranch or large estate |
immunosuppressant n. a drug that lowers the body's normal immune response |
inexpedient a. not appropriate to the purpose; not suitable or advisable |
interlocutor n. one who speaks in dialogue or takes part in conversation |
introspect v. reflect on one's own thoughts and feelings |
involution n. the shrinkage of an organ in old age or when inactive; the act of sharing in the activities of a group; the action of enfolding something |
irrefrangible a. not to be broken or violated; inviolable; incapable of being refracted |
jocular a. humorous, amusing or joking; sportive; not serious |
lariat n. a long noosed rope used to catch animals |
lethargy n. inactivity; showing an unusual lack of energy |
liege n. a feudal lord entitled to allegiance and service; a person holding a fief |
lithograph n. a flat surface, of stone or metal, is treated to absorb or repel ink in the desired pattern; a print produced by lithography |
luminescent a. emitting light not caused by heat |
mandibular a. relating to the lower jaw, either the upper or lower part of the bill of a bird |
merino n. white sheep originating in Spain and producing a heavy fleece of exceptional quality |
microscopy n. research with the use of microscopes |
missal n. a book containing all the prayers and responses needed to celebrate Mass throughout the year; any books of prayers or devotions |
monocracy n. a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator, not restricted by a constitution, laws or opposition |
muffle n. bare end of nose between nostrils |
nasalization n. the act of nasalizing; the utterance of sounds modulated by the nasal resonators |
neopaganism n. a modern religious movement that seeks to incorporate beliefs or ritual practices from traditions outside the main world religions |
nostrum n. patent medicine whose efficacy is questionable; quack medicine |
obstreperous a. noisily aggressive; making great noise or outcry |
opprobrium n. state of disgrace resulting from public abuse; state of extreme dishonor |
outrigger n. a stabilizer for a canoe; spars attach to a shaped log or float parallel to the hull |
pariah n. social outcast; person who is rejected from society or home |
pedant n. one who is overly concerned with formal rules and trivial points of learning |
pentameter n. a verse line having five metrical feet |
perspicacious a. having keen insight; mentally perceptive; astute |
pestilential a. tending to produce infectious disease; destructive |
planisphere n. a representation of the circles of the sphere on a plane surface, such as a polar projection of the celestial sphere onto a chart |
prattle v. speak about unimportant matters rapidly and incessantly; talk artlessly and childishly |
prehension n. the act of gripping something firmly with the hands or the tentacles |
pseudonymity n. the fact or state of being signed with a pseudonym |
rejuvenescence n. a renewal of youthfulness or vigor |
repugnance n. extreme dislike or aversion; opposition; conflict; resistance, in a physical sense |
runnel n. a small stream, brook, rivulet; a small channel, as for water |
saponaceous a. resembling or having the qualities of soap |
sinuosity n. having curves; a turn, curve, or intricacy |
submersible n. a warship designed to operate under wate; capable of being immersed in water or functioning while submerged |
unmitigated a. unrelieved or immoderate in intensity or severity; without exception; absolute |
vociferate v. utter in a very loud voice |