| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| concur |
to share the same opinion; agree. |
| contretemps |
an embarrassing or unfortunate happening; mishap; mischance. |
| delectation |
enjoyment; delight; pleasure. |
| devolve |
of a duty or the like, to be passed on to someone else. |
| 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. |
| figurehead |
a person whose title sounds important but who has no real power. |
| periphrasis |
an indirect or roundabout way of phrasing something; circumlocution. |
| pleonasm |
a redundant word, phrase, or expression. |
| pretentious |
assuming or marked by an air of importance or superiority that is unwarranted. |
| proselytize |
to convert or try actively to convert (others) to one's own beliefs or religion. |
| pusillanimous |
shamefully timid; cowardly. |
| saturnine |
gloomy, sullen, or cynical in temperament or appearance. |
| schadenfreude |
(often capitalized) pleasure derived from the misfortune of others. |
| tort |
in law, any civil rather than criminal harm or injury that violates the implicit duty of each citizen not to harm others, and for which one may bring a civil suit and collect compensation. |