| calumny |
a harmful statement, known by the maker to be false. |
| decedent |
in law, one who has died. |
| disaffection |
an absence or loss of good will, faith, or loyalty, especially toward a government, principle, or the like. |
| feckless |
weak or incompetent; ineffective. |
| gnomic |
short and pithy, as an aphorism. |
| humanism |
a doctrine or mode of thought that gives highest importance to human dignity, values, potentials, and achievements. |
| inveigle |
to entice or ensnare by clever talk or flattery. |
| malapropism |
the humorous or ridiculous misuse of a word, especially by using a word that sounds similar to the correct word, but whose meaning is inappropriate. |
| maverick |
a person who thinks and behaves independently, especially one who refuses to adhere to the orthodoxy of the group to which he or she belongs. |
| parlance |
manner of speaking or writing, especially word choice; vernacular. |
| paroxysm |
a sudden strong outburst of feelings or actions. |
| redoubtable |
inspiring fear; formidable. |
| remonstrate |
to say in opposition, protest, or objection. |
| revetment |
a facing of stone, masonry, or the like to support or protect a wall, embankment, or mound of earth. |
| sanguine |
having an optimistic temperament or outlook. |