| aplomb |
great self-confidence, composure, or poise. |
| desideratum |
something that is needed or wanted. |
| epicene |
sharing the traits of both sexes. |
| expiation |
the act or the means of making amends, as for a sin or crime. |
| hagiography |
an admiring and uncritical biography of anyone. |
| heinous |
extremely wicked or despicable; atrocious. |
| lanugo |
fine, soft hair, especially that with which a human fetus or newborn is covered. |
| lenitive |
mitigating pain, discomfort, or distress; soothing. |
| lorgnette |
eyeglasses, such as opera glasses, that have a short handle by which one holds them in position. |
| macerate |
to soften (food or the like) by soaking, as in digestion. |
| maunder |
to speak in an aimless or foolish way; babble. |
| occlude |
to close or obstruct (a passage or opening, one's vision, or the like). |
| oligarchy |
a government or state in which only a relatively few people or members of a family have real power. |
| reprisal |
injury inflicted in retaliation for injury received, as in war; revenge. |
| vitiate |
to harm the quality of; mar; spoil. |