| astute |
keen in understanding and judgment; shrewd. |
| atonement |
the act of making reparation for a sin, crime, error, or the like. |
| cloture |
in U.S. parliamentary procedure, a method of ending debate and causing an immediate vote on the matter being discussed. |
| descant |
a secondary, usually higher, melody that is played or sung at the same time as the chief melody. |
| desiccate |
to remove the moisture in (food) so as to preserve it. |
| exegesis |
a critical explanation or interpretive analysis, especially of religious texts. |
| extralegal |
not regulated or permitted by law; outside of legal authority. |
| hagiography |
an admiring and uncritical biography of anyone. |
| heterodox |
deviating from an officially approved belief or doctrine, especially in religion. |
| ligature |
a band or tie. |
| mirabile dictu |
(Latin) wonderful to say or relate. |
| misanthrope |
someone who hates or distrusts humanity. |
| schadenfreude |
(often capitalized) pleasure derived from the misfortune of others. |
| transpose |
to exchange the position or order of (two things). |
| truculent |
extremely hostile or belligerent; inclined to fight. |