| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| bibulous |
addicted to alcohol; alcoholic. |
| calumny |
a harmful statement, known by the maker to be false. |
| dearth |
a shortage or scarcity of something; lack. |
| disabuse |
to free (a person) from misconception or deception; set straight. |
| gadfly |
a persistent critic, especially of established institutions and policies. |
| inchoate |
partially or imperfectly developed. |
| indurate |
to make hard in texture; harden. |
| insipid |
having a bland or uninteresting flavor; tasteless. |
| linguistics |
(used with a singular verb) the scientific and historical study of the form and structure of human language. |
| neophyte |
a beginner or novice at any activity. |
| omnibus |
concerning or including a large collection of things. |
| recant |
to withdraw from commitment to (a former position or statement), especially publicly; retract. |
| regicide |
the murderer of a king. |
| shunt |
to turn or move aside or out of the way; divert. |