| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| accretion |
the process of gradual increase or growth, especially by additions from the outside. |
| Byzantine |
characterized by complexity and intrigue. |
| canny |
difficult to fool or take advantage of; shrewd; wary; clever. |
| condone |
to pardon, disregard, or overlook voluntarily or without condemning. |
| doyen |
the senior or highest-ranking male member of a group. |
| eidetic |
pertaining to or designating the ability to recall images in almost perfect detail. |
| epistolary |
established or continued through letters. |
| imbricate |
overlapping in an even sequence, as roof tiles or fish scales. |
| indurate |
to make hard in texture; harden. |
| mahatma |
(sometimes capitalized) in Buddhism and theosophy, any of a class of persons revered for their wisdom and love of humanity. |
| oligarchy |
a government or state in which only a relatively few people or members of a family have real power. |
| parturient |
giving birth or about to give birth; in labor. |
| pungent |
sharp and strong in taste or smell. |
| spurn |
to reject, refuse, or treat with scorn; disdain; despise. |