| apotheosis |
a perfect or ideal example; epitome. |
| asceticism |
self-discipline and self-denial as a means of spiritual improvement. |
| atavism |
the recurrence or reappearance of a particular trait, style, attitude, or behavior that seemed to have disappeared, or that which has recurred or reappeared after such an absence. |
| cavalier |
carefree and offhand; nonchalant. |
| conclave |
a secret, private, or confidential meeting or gathering. |
| dearth |
a shortage or scarcity of something; lack. |
| feckless |
weak or incompetent; ineffective. |
| inflection |
change that occurs in the form of words to show a grammatical characteristic such as the tense of a verb, the number of a noun, or the degree of an adjective or adverb. |
| laureate |
one honored for achievement in a particular field or by a particular award, especially in the arts or sciences. |
| liminal |
of or at the threshold of a physiological or psychological response or change of state. |
| lorgnette |
eyeglasses, such as opera glasses, that have a short handle by which one holds them in position. |
| mahatma |
(sometimes capitalized) in Buddhism and theosophy, any of a class of persons revered for their wisdom and love of humanity. |
| obfuscate |
to make (something) seem or be difficult to understand; obscure or darken. |
| proselytize |
to convert or try actively to convert (others) to one's own beliefs or religion. |
| salvo |
the firing of guns or other firearms simultaneously or in succession, especially as a salute. |