| askance |
with distrust or suspicion. |
| canard |
a deliberately false story or rumor, usually defamatory to someone. |
| cavalier |
carefree and offhand; nonchalant. |
| dawdle |
to waste time; be slow. |
| deadeye |
an expert shooter. |
| dissimulate |
to hide one's true feelings, intentions, or the like by pretense or hypocrisy. |
| incessant |
never stopping; constant. |
| incumbent |
currently holding an office or position. |
| insularity |
the condition of being closed to new ideas or outside influences; narrow-mindedness. |
| lapidary |
an expert on or dealer in gemstones. |
| ligature |
a band or tie. |
| obfuscate |
to make (something) seem or be difficult to understand; obscure or darken. |
| panegyric |
a formal speech or piece of writing devoted to publicly praising a person or thing. |
| stickler |
one who must observe or conform to something (usually followed by "for"). |
| welter |
to roll about or wallow, as in mud or the open sea. |