| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| collateral |
property or other security put forward to guarantee repayment of a loan. |
| consternation |
surprise and alarm, leading to panic, deep disappointment, or total confusion. |
| conversant |
familiar; acquainted; practiced (usually followed by "with" or "in"). |
| disencumber |
to remove burdens or hindrances from. |
| effrontery |
shameless impudence; insolence. |
| ensconce |
to position (oneself) firmly or comfortably. |
| idyllic |
charmingly simple and natural, as a scene or experience; suggestive of peaceful countryside. |
| immaculate |
not dirty; completely clean. |
| insularity |
the condition of being closed to new ideas or outside influences; narrow-mindedness. |
| intelligentsia |
the elite class of highly learned people within a society, or those who consider themselves part of such a class. |
| otiose |
having no purpose or use; unnecessary or futile. |
| parvenu |
a person who has suddenly acquired wealth or status, without acquiring the tastes, manners, customs, or the like of his or her new station. |
| somatic |
of or pertaining to the body itself; corporeal. |
| vitiate |
to harm the quality of; mar; spoil. |