| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| augury |
the art or practice or an instance of predicting the future or obtaining hidden knowledge by interpreting omens. |
| coir |
the fiber made from coconut husks, used for matting, rope, or the like. |
| colloquialism |
a word or phrase typically used in conversational, informal, or regional speech or writing, hence sometimes considered inappropriate in formal writing. |
| disingenuous |
not candid or sincere. |
| extenuate |
to reduce the magnitude or seriousness of (a fault or offense) by offering partial excuses. |
| heterodox |
deviating from an officially approved belief or doctrine, especially in religion. |
| imprimatur |
any official permission or sanction. |
| lambent |
glowing softly. |
| linguistics |
(used with a singular verb) the scientific and historical study of the form and structure of human language. |
| obfuscate |
to make (something) seem or be difficult to understand; obscure or darken. |
| obscurantism |
a deliberate lack of clarity or directness of expression, as in certain styles of art or literature. |
| pedagogy |
the act, process, or profession of teaching. |
| rebarbative |
tending to irritate or repel; forbidding or unattractive. |
| shyster |
a person, usually a lawyer, who uses underhanded, unethical methods. |