| abysmal |
of vast extent; unmeasurable; extreme. |
| assuage |
to make less severe or more bearable; alleviate. |
| bathos |
a sudden descent from an exalted style or esteemed state to the commonplace. |
| belie |
to give a false impression of. |
| conclave |
a secret, private, or confidential meeting or gathering. |
| contretemps |
an embarrassing or unfortunate happening; mishap; mischance. |
| desiccate |
to remove the moisture in (food) so as to preserve it. |
| disinter |
to dig up or remove from a place of burial; exhume. |
| fracas |
a noisy disturbance or quarrel. |
| imbroglio |
a difficult, confused, or complicated situation, often involving a misunderstanding, disagreement, or quarrel. |
| impediment |
an obstacle or hindrance. |
| kismet |
destiny, fortune, or fate. |
| naturalism |
in literature, a method of depicting life that reflects a philosophy of determinism. |
| quiescence |
a state of inaction, rest, or stillness; dormancy. |
| reconnoiter |
to go through or over (an area) so as to gain information about it, as for military or engineering purposes. |