| abrogate |
to abolish, repeal, or nullify by authority. |
| antediluvian |
hopelessly old-fashioned; primitive; outdated. |
| conclave |
a secret, private, or confidential meeting or gathering. |
| disallow |
to refuse to allow or admit; reject. |
| elide |
to leave out or slur, as a syllable or letter, in pronunciation. |
| festoon |
a decorative chain or strip of ribbons, flowers, leaves, or the like, suspended at the ends and hung in a curve. |
| imprimatur |
any official permission or sanction. |
| lanugo |
fine, soft hair, especially that with which a human fetus or newborn is covered. |
| linguistics |
(used with a singular verb) the scientific and historical study of the form and structure of human language. |
| magnum opus |
a great work of art, literature, or music, especially a particular person's masterpiece. |
| malapropism |
the humorous or ridiculous misuse of a word, especially by using a word that sounds similar to the correct word, but whose meaning is inappropriate. |
| repine |
to express or feel unhappiness; complain; fret. |
| schadenfreude |
(often capitalized) pleasure derived from the misfortune of others. |
| tyro |
one who is beginning to learn a business, trade, sport, or the like; novice; neophyte. |
| untoward |
unexpected and unfortunate. |