| animus |
a feeling or attitude of enmity. |
| bathos |
a sudden descent from an exalted style or esteemed state to the commonplace. |
| conversant |
familiar; acquainted; practiced (usually followed by "with" or "in"). |
| corporeal |
having to do with a physical body; bodily. |
| determinism |
the belief or teaching that every effect, including human thoughts and actions, is completely and predictably brought about by preceding causes and that, therefore, free will does not exist. |
| doyen |
the senior or highest-ranking male member of a group. |
| feckless |
weak or incompetent; ineffective. |
| figurehead |
a person whose title sounds important but who has no real power. |
| imbroglio |
a difficult, confused, or complicated situation, often involving a misunderstanding, disagreement, or quarrel. |
| lanugo |
fine, soft hair, especially that with which a human fetus or newborn is covered. |
| regicide |
the murderer of a king. |
| sagacious |
possessing or characterized by good judgment and common sense; wise. |
| sotto voce |
in a low voice or undertone, so as not to be overheard; softly (often used as a musical direction). |
| stipple |
a method of painting, drawing, or engraving by applying small points, dots, or dabs to a surface. |
| stridulate |
to produce a shrill grating, creaking, or chirping sound by rubbing certain parts of the body together, as some insects do. |