| apocryphal |
of dubious authorship or authority. |
| appellation |
a name, title, or other designation. |
| bathos |
a sudden descent from an exalted style or esteemed state to the commonplace. |
| discountenance |
to embarrass or disconcert. |
| electuary |
a drug mixed with honey, syrup, or the like to form a paste to be smeared on the teeth or gums of a sick animal. |
| ersatz |
serving as a substitute, especially when of inferior quality. |
| extenuate |
to reduce the magnitude or seriousness of (a fault or offense) by offering partial excuses. |
| fixation |
an obsession, especially one that interferes with normal functioning. |
| fracas |
a noisy disturbance or quarrel. |
| jeremiad |
a long complaint about life or one's situation; lamentation. |
| naturalism |
in literature, a method of depicting life that reflects a philosophy of determinism. |
| obviate |
to prevent or eliminate in advance; render unnecessary or irrelevant. |
| reconnaissance |
the act or process of examining an area, especially to gain militarily useful information. |
| sagacious |
possessing or characterized by good judgment and common sense; wise. |
| voluble |
characterized by a steady flow of words; fluent; talkative. |