| assail |
to attack with vigor or violence; assault. |
| attenuate |
to cause to be thin, rarefied, or fine. |
| caste |
the status conferred by the class to which one belongs. |
| desideratum |
something that is needed or wanted. |
| dissimulate |
to hide one's true feelings, intentions, or the like by pretense or hypocrisy. |
| elide |
to leave out or slur, as a syllable or letter, in pronunciation. |
| incursion |
a raid or sudden invasion. |
| oligarchy |
a government or state in which only a relatively few people or members of a family have real power. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| rebarbative |
tending to irritate or repel; forbidding or unattractive. |
| recidivism |
chronic return to bad habits, especially criminal relapse. |
| recrudesce |
to become active again or break out anew, as a disease or harmful condition. |
| solecism |
a gross violation of convention in grammar, etiquette, or the like; impropriety. |
| stentorian |
extremely loud and powerful. |
| tummler |
an entertainer or social director who encourages participation by guests or audience. |