| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| ambidextrous |
able to use both the left and right hands with equal skill. |
| apprehensive |
feeling fearful about future events. |
| atavism |
the recurrence or reappearance of a particular trait, style, attitude, or behavior that seemed to have disappeared, or that which has recurred or reappeared after such an absence. |
| centripetal |
forced or moving inward toward a center point or axis. |
| coalesce |
to grow together or unite to form a single body or organization; unify; fuse. |
| cynosure |
a thing or person that is the center of attention and admiration. |
| extrude |
to force out; expel. |
| kismet |
destiny, fortune, or fate. |
| malinger |
to pretend illness or injury, especially in order to be excused from duty or work. |
| oligarchy |
a government or state in which only a relatively few people or members of a family have real power. |
| otiose |
having no purpose or use; unnecessary or futile. |
| plaudit |
(often plural) an enthusiastic show of approval, such as a round of applause or a very favorable review. |
| pleonasm |
a redundant word, phrase, or expression. |
| sanguine |
having an optimistic temperament or outlook. |