| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| atavism |
the recurrence or reappearance of a particular trait, style, attitude, or behavior that seemed to have disappeared, or that which has recurred or reappeared after such an absence. |
| banal |
lacking originality or liveliness; disappointingly ordinary; commonplace; trite. |
| doggerel |
trivial, crudely constructed verse. |
| ersatz |
serving as a substitute, especially when of inferior quality. |
| gadfly |
a persistent critic, especially of established institutions and policies. |
| insipid |
having a bland or uninteresting flavor; tasteless. |
| kismet |
destiny, fortune, or fate. |
| lattice |
a flat framework made with strips of wood or other material. The strips cross each other and have open spaces in between. A lattice is often used as a screen on a porch or in a garden. |
| luminary |
a famous, important, or inspirational person. |
| malaise |
a state or condition of feeling generally unwell, mentally depressed, sluggish, or uneasy. |
| recrudesce |
to become active again or break out anew, as a disease or harmful condition. |
| revetment |
a facing of stone, masonry, or the like to support or protect a wall, embankment, or mound of earth. |
| stately |
dignified. |
| travesty |
something so grotesque or inferior as to seem a parody. |