| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| antediluvian |
hopelessly old-fashioned; primitive; outdated. |
| asceticism |
self-discipline and self-denial as a means of spiritual improvement. |
| astute |
keen in understanding and judgment; shrewd. |
| baneful |
causing or leading to death, destruction, or ruin; harmful or deadly. |
| benign |
causing little or no harm. |
| cognoscente |
someone who has exceptional knowledge in a given area, especially of fashion, literature, or the fine arts; connoisseur. |
| cyst |
a small pouch within body tissue that is filled with fluid or air. Some cysts are connected with serious disease, but most are not harmful at all. |
| deadeye |
an expert shooter. |
| demulcent |
an oily or sticky substance used especially to soothe irritation in mucous membranes. |
| dissemble |
to disguise or hide behind a false semblance; conceal the true nature or state of. |
| guttural |
articulated in the back of the mouth; velar. |
| maunder |
to speak in an aimless or foolish way; babble. |
| ostentation |
a showy display to impress others. |
| raffish |
carelessly unconventional or disreputable, sometimes appealingly so. |