| apocryphal |
of dubious authorship or authority. |
| boudoir |
a woman's private sitting room or bedroom. |
| coddle |
to simmer in water that is almost at the boiling point. |
| credulous |
disposed to believe, especially on scanty evidence; gullible. |
| disallow |
to refuse to allow or admit; reject. |
| equipoise |
a state of balance or equal weight, importance, or the like; equilibrium. |
| expiation |
the act or the means of making amends, as for a sin or crime. |
| festoon |
a decorative chain or strip of ribbons, flowers, leaves, or the like, suspended at the ends and hung in a curve. |
| idyllic |
charmingly simple and natural, as a scene or experience; suggestive of peaceful countryside. |
| mirabile dictu |
(Latin) wonderful to say or relate. |
| oligarchy |
a government or state in which only a relatively few people or members of a family have real power. |
| requite |
to retaliate for; strike back on account of. |
| sepsis |
infection, especially by pus-forming bacteria in the blood or tissues. |
| sotto voce |
in a low voice or undertone, so as not to be overheard; softly (often used as a musical direction). |
| tummler |
an entertainer or social director who encourages participation by guests or audience. |