| cognoscente |
someone who has exceptional knowledge in a given area, especially of fashion, literature, or the fine arts; connoisseur. |
| daunt |
to lessen the determination of; intimidate; discourage. |
| descant |
a secondary, usually higher, melody that is played or sung at the same time as the chief melody. |
| etiolate |
to weaken, especially through deprivation of normal development. |
| expound |
to discuss or explain in detail (usually followed by "on" or "upon"). |
| imprimatur |
any official permission or sanction. |
| impute |
to ascribe or attribute to a source or cause. |
| invidious |
tending to arouse feelings of resentment or animosity, especially because of a slight; offensive or discriminatory. |
| 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. |
| pungent |
sharp and strong in taste or smell. |
| shibboleth |
a slogan, phrase, or belief that characterizes or is held devotedly by a group. |
| tort |
in law, any civil rather than criminal harm or injury that violates the implicit duty of each citizen not to harm others, and for which one may bring a civil suit and collect compensation. |
| tyro |
one who is beginning to learn a business, trade, sport, or the like; novice; neophyte. |
| unadulterated |
unmixed with or undiluted by additives or extraneous elements; pure; complete. |
| welter |
to roll about or wallow, as in mud or the open sea. |