| acclivity |
a rising slope. |
| bathos |
a sudden descent from an exalted style or esteemed state to the commonplace. |
| blithe |
indifferent or casual; unconcerned. |
| brash |
rudely self-assertive; bold; impudent. |
| canny |
difficult to fool or take advantage of; shrewd; wary; clever. |
| delectation |
enjoyment; delight; pleasure. |
| espouse |
to take up, hold, or commit oneself to (a cause, idea, or belief); embrace. |
| inquest |
a legal investigation, usually involving a jury, especially a coroner's investigation of a suspicious death. |
| laureate |
one honored for achievement in a particular field or by a particular award, especially in the arts or sciences. |
| mésalliance |
marriage with someone of lower social standing than oneself. |
| otiose |
having no purpose or use; unnecessary or futile. |
| penumbra |
an indefinite, borderline area. |
| plaudit |
(often plural) an enthusiastic show of approval, such as a round of applause or a very favorable review. |
| putrefaction |
the act or process of rotting or decomposing. |
| trabeated |
using horizontal beams or lintels as supports instead of arches. |