| alluvium |
sand, soil, gravel, or the like deposited by moving water, as along a river bed. |
| arrant |
complete; unmitigated; downright. |
| bathos |
a sudden descent from an exalted style or esteemed state to the commonplace. |
| deadeye |
an expert shooter. |
| denigrate |
to deny the worth of; sneer at; belittle. |
| discountenance |
to embarrass or disconcert. |
| ensconce |
to position (oneself) firmly or comfortably. |
| epigraph |
a pertinent quotation or motto, especially found at the beginning of a literary work or of a chapter. |
| incursion |
a raid or sudden invasion. |
| indistinct |
not clearly perceived or perceiving. |
| lorgnette |
eyeglasses, such as opera glasses, that have a short handle by which one holds them in position. |
| mélange |
a mixture, usually of very dissimilar elements. |
| nonfeasance |
in law, failure to perform a required duty, as by a public official. |
| parvenu |
a person who has suddenly acquired wealth or status, without acquiring the tastes, manners, customs, or the like of his or her new station. |
| reprise |
repetition of a musical phrase or theme in an identical or slightly altered way. |