| apocryphal |
of dubious authorship or authority. |
| augury |
the art or practice or an instance of predicting the future or obtaining hidden knowledge by interpreting omens. |
| desiccate |
to remove the moisture in (food) so as to preserve it. |
| discomfit |
to upset or confuse. |
| feckless |
weak or incompetent; ineffective. |
| idiosyncrasy |
a characteristic of temperament, habit, or physical structure particular to a given individual or group; peculiarity. |
| idyllic |
charmingly simple and natural, as a scene or experience; suggestive of peaceful countryside. |
| knurled |
having small ridges. |
| malaise |
a state or condition of feeling generally unwell, mentally depressed, sluggish, or uneasy. |
| meretricious |
appealing or attracting in a cheap, showy, or shallow way. |
| plaudit |
(often plural) an enthusiastic show of approval, such as a round of applause or a very favorable review. |
| quondam |
having been in the past; former. |
| savor |
to give an impression; hint (usually followed by "of"). |
| shunt |
to turn or move aside or out of the way; divert. |
| stridulate |
to produce a shrill grating, creaking, or chirping sound by rubbing certain parts of the body together, as some insects do. |