| astute |
keen in understanding and judgment; shrewd. |
| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| bathos |
a sudden descent from an exalted style or esteemed state to the commonplace. |
| 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. |
| epigraph |
a pertinent quotation or motto, especially found at the beginning of a literary work or of a chapter. |
| eulogy |
a spoken or written tribute, especially to honor a dead person; high praise; formal commendation. |
| exponent |
one that expounds or interprets. |
| expound |
to discuss or explain in detail (usually followed by "on" or "upon"). |
| extort |
to extract or obtain (money or the like) by force, threats, or abuse of authority. |
| malaise |
a state or condition of feeling generally unwell, mentally depressed, sluggish, or uneasy. |
| oblivious |
not conscious or paying attention; unknowing or unaware (usually followed by "to" or "of"). |
| pleonasm |
a redundant word, phrase, or expression. |
| rapacious |
capable of capturing and eating live prey; predacious. |
| tyro |
one who is beginning to learn a business, trade, sport, or the like; novice; neophyte. |
| unadulterated |
unmixed with or undiluted by additives or extraneous elements; pure; complete. |