| adamantine |
firmly decided or fixed; unyielding. |
| bilge |
the rounded part of a ship's hull between the bottom and the sides. |
| blandishment |
(often plural) flattering or coaxing remarks or stratagems intended to persuade. |
| boudoir |
a woman's private sitting room or bedroom. |
| convoluted |
complex; intricate. |
| doyen |
the senior or highest-ranking male member of a group. |
| Draconian |
(often lower case) harshly cruel or rigorous. |
| emote |
to express or simulate feelings, especially in an exaggerated or theatrical manner. |
| ersatz |
serving as a substitute, especially when of inferior quality. |
| ineptitude |
incompetence; lack of skill. |
| naturalism |
in literature, a method of depicting life that reflects a philosophy of determinism. |
| ostentation |
a showy display to impress others. |
| picayune |
having little value or significance; small; paltry. |
| requite |
to retaliate for; strike back on account of. |
| shunt |
to turn or move aside or out of the way; divert. |