| abrogate |
to abolish, repeal, or nullify by authority. |
| apprise |
to inform (often followed by "of"). |
| castellated |
constructed with turrets and battlements like a castle. |
| cognoscente |
someone who has exceptional knowledge in a given area, especially of fashion, literature, or the fine arts; connoisseur. |
| comity |
mutual courtesy and respectful treatment among people or nations. |
| despoil |
to forcefully take belongings or goods from; plunder. |
| hagiography |
an admiring and uncritical biography of anyone. |
| halcyon |
tranquil; peaceful; calm. |
| highbrow |
one who has or pretends to have highly sophisticated intellectual and cultural interests and tastes (often used disparagingly). |
| idiosyncrasy |
a characteristic of temperament, habit, or physical structure particular to a given individual or group; peculiarity. |
| imprecation |
a curse, uttered or thought of. |
| lachrymose |
weeping, tending to weep readily, or being on the point of tears; tearful. |
| linguistics |
(used with a singular verb) the scientific and historical study of the form and structure of human language. |
| peremptory |
not permitting refusal or disobedience. |
| reprise |
repetition of a musical phrase or theme in an identical or slightly altered way. |