| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| canard |
a deliberately false story or rumor, usually defamatory to someone. |
| coalesce |
to grow together or unite to form a single body or organization; unify; fuse. |
| contumacious |
stubbornly disobedient; insubordinate; rebellious. |
| 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. |
| pandemic |
a widespread outbreak of disease that afflicts many people over different continents. |
| penury |
severe poverty; pennilessness. |
| plaudit |
(often plural) an enthusiastic show of approval, such as a round of applause or a very favorable review. |
| pliant |
easily flexed; supple. |
| recessional |
a piece of music that accompanies the exit of participants in a program or religious ceremony. |
| repine |
to express or feel unhappiness; complain; fret. |
| sanguine |
having an optimistic temperament or outlook. |
| sudorific |
causing or increasing sweat, as a medication. |
| tyro |
one who is beginning to learn a business, trade, sport, or the like; novice; neophyte. |