| abysmal |
of vast extent; unmeasurable; extreme. |
| cognomen |
a last name; surname. |
| conjoin |
to combine for a common purpose. |
| conversant |
familiar; acquainted; practiced (usually followed by "with" or "in"). |
| descant |
a secondary, usually higher, melody that is played or sung at the same time as the chief melody. |
| doyen |
the senior or highest-ranking male member of a group. |
| epigraph |
a pertinent quotation or motto, especially found at the beginning of a literary work or of a chapter. |
| forbear |
to keep or abstain from (an action or utterance). |
| impediment |
an obstacle or hindrance. |
| lorgnette |
eyeglasses, such as opera glasses, that have a short handle by which one holds them in position. |
| luminary |
a famous, important, or inspirational person. |
| neologism |
a new word, phrase, or usage. |
| nonfeasance |
in law, failure to perform a required duty, as by a public official. |
| raffish |
carelessly unconventional or disreputable, sometimes appealingly so. |
| recrudesce |
to become active again or break out anew, as a disease or harmful condition. |