| contretemps |
an embarrassing or unfortunate happening; mishap; mischance. |
| curmudgeon |
an irritable or ill-tempered person. |
| disheveled |
not neat; messy. |
| Draconian |
(often lower case) harshly cruel or rigorous. |
| espouse |
to take up, hold, or commit oneself to (a cause, idea, or belief); embrace. |
| extenuate |
to reduce the magnitude or seriousness of (a fault or offense) by offering partial excuses. |
| extirpate |
to get rid of completely, as if by pulling up the roots; root out. |
| glut |
a greater supply or amount than is needed. |
| inculcate |
to cause to accept an idea or value; imbue. |
| indistinct |
not clearly perceived or perceiving. |
| insipid |
having a bland or uninteresting flavor; tasteless. |
| lacuna |
a gap or omitted part. |
| obtrude |
to thrust or force (oneself, one's concerns, or one's opinions) on another or others without being asked. |
| reprise |
repetition of a musical phrase or theme in an identical or slightly altered way. |
| tort |
in law, any civil rather than criminal harm or injury that violates the implicit duty of each citizen not to harm others, and for which one may bring a civil suit and collect compensation. |