| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| apocryphal |
of dubious authorship or authority. |
| baleful |
threatening harm; full of malice; ominous. |
| desiccate |
to remove the moisture in (food) so as to preserve it. |
| disabuse |
to free (a person) from misconception or deception; set straight. |
| disencumber |
to remove burdens or hindrances from. |
| guttural |
articulated in the back of the mouth; velar. |
| homily |
any discourse offering moral advice or admonitions. |
| ineluctable |
impossible to be avoided; inescapable. |
| paroxysm |
a sudden strong outburst of feelings or actions. |
| penumbra |
an indefinite, borderline area. |
| perquisite |
a payment or benefit in addition to the wages or salary associated with a position. |
| rapacious |
capable of capturing and eating live prey; predacious. |
| risible |
provoking laughter; laughable or funny. |
| seminal |
of critical importance; essential. |