| ashen1 |
of the color of ashes; very pale. |
| connoisseur |
a person with the experience, expertise, and sense of appreciation to make informed judgments in a fine art or in matters of taste. |
| deride |
to ridicule or treat with scornful mockery. |
| expedient |
suitable or advantageous for the purpose or in the circumstances. |
| fitful |
occurring at irregular intervals. |
| fodder |
feed for farm animals, such as stalks of corn cut and mixed with hay. |
| gallantry |
admirable courage. |
| genteel |
displaying traits such as refinement and politeness that are traditionally associated with wealth and education. |
| hypocrite |
a person who pretends to be different or better than he or she really is. Someone who does not act according to his or her stated beliefs is a hypocrite. |
| oscillate |
to swing steadily and repeatedly back and forth. |
| overture |
an opening move to begin something. |
| permissive |
allowing much, often excessive, freedom of behavior; lenient. |
| pessimism |
the belief that events will turn out badly; tendency to expect the worst. |
| traverse |
to go over, along, or through; cover or cross. |
| underrate |
to value or appreciate insufficiently; underestimate. |