| acclivity |
a rising slope. |
| apocryphal |
of dubious authorship or authority. |
| bathos |
a sudden descent from an exalted style or esteemed state to the commonplace. |
| blatant |
completely obvious or undisguised, sometimes offensively so. |
| constrict |
to pull or squeeze in; make smaller or more narrow; tighten. |
| discountenance |
to embarrass or disconcert. |
| euphoria |
a strong feeling of well-being or elation, sometimes unrealistic or unwarranted, and able to be induced by certain drugs. |
| extenuate |
to reduce the magnitude or seriousness of (a fault or offense) by offering partial excuses. |
| flange |
a collar or rim that projects from a pipe, housing, or the like to provide strength, stability, or a place for attaching other parts. |
| halcyon |
tranquil; peaceful; calm. |
| opprobrious |
expressing condemnation or scorn; accusing of shameful behavior. |
| paroxysm |
a sudden strong outburst of feelings or actions. |
| prolix |
wordy and boringly long. |
| pungency |
sharpness or bite in taste or smell. |
| reconnoiter |
to go through or over (an area) so as to gain information about it, as for military or engineering purposes. |