| abysmal |
of vast extent; unmeasurable; extreme. |
| acclivity |
a rising slope. |
| apotheosis |
a perfect or ideal example; epitome. |
| calumny |
a harmful statement, known by the maker to be false. |
| cynosure |
a thing or person that is the center of attention and admiration. |
| etiolate |
to weaken, especially through deprivation of normal development. |
| eulogy |
a spoken or written tribute, especially to honor a dead person; high praise; formal commendation. |
| extempore |
without plan or preparation; impromptu or improvised. |
| gossamer |
delicately fine, gauzelike, or filmy. |
| kismet |
destiny, fortune, or fate. |
| penury |
severe poverty; pennilessness. |
| peroration |
the concluding part of a speech in which there is a summing up of the principal points. |
| reprise |
repetition of a musical phrase or theme in an identical or slightly altered way. |
| reprobate |
an evil or lawless person, often beyond hope of redemption. |
| schadenfreude |
(often capitalized) pleasure derived from the misfortune of others. |