| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| apprise |
to inform (often followed by "of"). |
| argot |
the vocabulary or jargon characteristic of a specific group or class, especially of criminals. |
| berate |
to reproach or scold severely. |
| cyst |
a small pouch within body tissue that is filled with fluid or air. Some cysts are connected with serious disease, but most are not harmful at all. |
| distraught |
mentally or emotionally unbalanced; crazed. |
| ersatz |
serving as a substitute, especially when of inferior quality. |
| incumbent |
currently holding an office or position. |
| invidious |
tending to arouse feelings of resentment or animosity, especially because of a slight; offensive or discriminatory. |
| kibbutz |
an Israeli farming settlement whose ownership is shared by those who live and work there. |
| kismet |
destiny, fortune, or fate. |
| pungency |
sharpness or bite in taste or smell. |
| sententious |
using or marked by pompous, high-flown moralizing. |
| welter |
to roll about or wallow, as in mud or the open sea. |
| woebegone |
displaying or full of distress. |