| abstruse |
difficult to comprehend or understand; esoteric; arcane. |
| astute |
keen in understanding and judgment; shrewd. |
| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| cantankerous |
irritable, stubborn, and quarrelsome. |
| coeval |
coinciding in time of origin or existence; contemporary. |
| consternation |
surprise and alarm, leading to panic, deep disappointment, or total confusion. |
| daunt |
to lessen the determination of; intimidate; discourage. |
| epicure |
a person who has cultivated tastes, as in food or wine; connoisseur. |
| exceptionable |
likely to be objected to; objectionable. |
| gullible |
believing almost anything; easily tricked. |
| lambent |
glowing softly. |
| nonplus |
to cause (someone) to be unable to think of what to say, do, or decide; perplex; bewilder. |
| opprobrious |
expressing condemnation or scorn; accusing of shameful behavior. |
| sanctimony |
a pretense of righteousness or piety; feigned devotion or holiness. |
| seminal |
of critical importance; essential. |