| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| belabor |
to continue excessive efforts on or excessive discussion of. |
| collateral |
property or other security put forward to guarantee repayment of a loan. |
| desideratum |
something that is needed or wanted. |
| disquisition |
a formal, often lengthy, oral or written discussion of a subject. |
| fealty |
faithfulness or loyalty. |
| gloaming |
late evening; dusk; twilight. |
| indemnity |
insurance against damage, loss, or liability. |
| intelligentsia |
the elite class of highly learned people within a society, or those who consider themselves part of such a class. |
| oblivious |
not conscious or paying attention; unknowing or unaware (usually followed by "to" or "of"). |
| 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. |
| peripatetic |
walking or traveling around; going from place to place; itinerant. |
| picayune |
having little value or significance; small; paltry. |
| reprisal |
injury inflicted in retaliation for injury received, as in war; revenge. |
| shibboleth |
a slogan, phrase, or belief that characterizes or is held devotedly by a group. |