| alluvium |
sand, soil, gravel, or the like deposited by moving water, as along a river bed. |
| apropos |
appropriate; relevant; opportune. |
| baneful |
causing or leading to death, destruction, or ruin; harmful or deadly. |
| cloture |
in U.S. parliamentary procedure, a method of ending debate and causing an immediate vote on the matter being discussed. |
| contretemps |
an embarrassing or unfortunate happening; mishap; mischance. |
| equivocal |
having at least two plausible alternative meanings, often intentionally so in order to deceive or avoid commitment; ambiguous. |
| guttural |
articulated in the back of the mouth; velar. |
| louche |
of questionable decency, morality, or taste; shady; disreputable. |
| meretricious |
appealing or attracting in a cheap, showy, or shallow way. |
| nonplus |
to cause (someone) to be unable to think of what to say, do, or decide; perplex; bewilder. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| pinchbeck |
false, sham, or counterfeit. |
| recidivism |
chronic return to bad habits, especially criminal relapse. |
| regicide |
the murderer of a king. |
| somatic |
of or pertaining to the body itself; corporeal. |