| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| cognizant |
aware; informed (usually followed by "of"). |
| contretemps |
an embarrassing or unfortunate happening; mishap; mischance. |
| denigrate |
to deny the worth of; sneer at; belittle. |
| entreat |
to beg for something, or to do something. |
| epicure |
a person who has cultivated tastes, as in food or wine; connoisseur. |
| epigraph |
a pertinent quotation or motto, especially found at the beginning of a literary work or of a chapter. |
| extrude |
to force out; expel. |
| flummox |
(informal) to confuse or puzzle. |
| laconic |
using very few words; succinct; terse. |
| lapidary |
an expert on or dealer in gemstones. |
| mirabile dictu |
(Latin) wonderful to say or relate. |
| solecism |
a gross violation of convention in grammar, etiquette, or the like; impropriety. |
| untoward |
unexpected and unfortunate. |
| uxorious |
excessively or foolishly devoted to one's wife, and often thereby submissive to her. |