| canard |
a deliberately false story or rumor, usually defamatory to someone. |
| coddle |
to simmer in water that is almost at the boiling point. |
| coir |
the fiber made from coconut husks, used for matting, rope, or the like. |
| cyst |
a small pouch within body tissue that is filled with fluid or air. Some cysts are connected with serious disease, but most are not harmful at all. |
| demarcate |
to set apart or separate, as if with boundaries. |
| erratic |
not expected or predicted; not regular. |
| homily |
any discourse offering moral advice or admonitions. |
| malaise |
a state or condition of feeling generally unwell, mentally depressed, sluggish, or uneasy. |
| malapropism |
the humorous or ridiculous misuse of a word, especially by using a word that sounds similar to the correct word, but whose meaning is inappropriate. |
| mélange |
a mixture, usually of very dissimilar elements. |
| obviate |
to prevent or eliminate in advance; render unnecessary or irrelevant. |
| 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. |
| recondite |
involving profound concepts and complexities; not easily understood. |
| risible |
provoking laughter; laughable or funny. |
| sepsis |
infection, especially by pus-forming bacteria in the blood or tissues. |