| aberration |
a deviation from what is considered normal or right; irregularity. |
| cession |
the act of formally giving up or signing over, as a territory; ceding. |
| coddle |
to simmer in water that is almost at the boiling point. |
| descant |
a secondary, usually higher, melody that is played or sung at the same time as the chief melody. |
| eulogy |
a spoken or written tribute, especially to honor a dead person; high praise; formal commendation. |
| inadvertent |
not planned or intended; unintentional. |
| indemnity |
insurance against damage, loss, or liability. |
| intransigence |
refusal to alter one's ideas or position in response to the wishes of others. |
| oligarchy |
a government or state in which only a relatively few people or members of a family have real power. |
| perilous |
causing or involving great danger; risky; hazardous. |
| preferment |
the act of promoting or being promoted to a higher position or office. |
| redoubtable |
inspiring fear; formidable. |
| risible |
provoking laughter; laughable or funny. |
| schadenfreude |
(often capitalized) pleasure derived from the misfortune of others. |
| splenetic |
ill-tempered or spiteful. |