| acclivity |
a rising slope. |
| argot |
the vocabulary or jargon characteristic of a specific group or class, especially of criminals. |
| boorish |
rude; ill-mannered; crude. |
| cachet |
prestige. |
| collateral |
property or other security put forward to guarantee repayment of a loan. |
| colloquialism |
a word or phrase typically used in conversational, informal, or regional speech or writing, hence sometimes considered inappropriate in formal writing. |
| desideratum |
something that is needed or wanted. |
| idiosyncrasy |
a characteristic of temperament, habit, or physical structure particular to a given individual or group; peculiarity. |
| maladroit |
not skillful; clumsy; tactless. |
| nonpareil |
a person or thing whose excellence is unequaled; paragon. |
| putrefaction |
the act or process of rotting or decomposing. |
| quondam |
having been in the past; former. |
| recant |
to withdraw from commitment to (a former position or statement), especially publicly; retract. |
| sagacious |
possessing or characterized by good judgment and common sense; wise. |
| schadenfreude |
(often capitalized) pleasure derived from the misfortune of others. |