| aplomb |
great self-confidence, composure, or poise. |
| apprise |
to inform (often followed by "of"). |
| apropos |
appropriate; relevant; opportune. |
| cachet |
prestige. |
| contumacious |
stubbornly disobedient; insubordinate; rebellious. |
| curmudgeon |
an irritable or ill-tempered person. |
| foment |
to encourage the development of; instigate or foster. |
| frangible |
easy to break; breakable; fragile. |
| impediment |
an obstacle or hindrance. |
| indistinct |
not clearly perceived or perceiving. |
| insularity |
the condition of being closed to new ideas or outside influences; narrow-mindedness. |
| naturalism |
in literature, a method of depicting life that reflects a philosophy of determinism. |
| Saturnalia |
an occasion of unrestrained revelry. |
| stately |
dignified. |
| supine |
lying with the face upward. |