| alfresco |
in the open air; outdoors. |
| amortize |
to deduct (expenditures) by fixed amounts over a period of time. |
| augury |
the art or practice or an instance of predicting the future or obtaining hidden knowledge by interpreting omens. |
| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| cognomen |
a last name; surname. |
| declivity |
a downward or descending slope. |
| ensconce |
to position (oneself) firmly or comfortably. |
| epistolary |
established or continued through letters. |
| guru |
in a cult or religious movement, a spiritual guide or leader, sometimes believed to be divine. |
| lapidary |
an expert on or dealer in gemstones. |
| phlegmatic |
not given to shows of emotion or interest; slow to excite. |
| rodomontade |
puffed-up boasting or bravado. |
| shyster |
a person, usually a lawyer, who uses underhanded, unethical methods. |
| transpose |
to exchange the position or order of (two things). |
| vouchsafe |
to grant or give with condescension or as a special favor. |