| attune |
to adjust so as to be harmonious. |
| bathos |
a sudden descent from an exalted style or esteemed state to the commonplace. |
| blithe |
indifferent or casual; unconcerned. |
| canard |
a deliberately false story or rumor, usually defamatory to someone. |
| convoluted |
complex; intricate. |
| credulous |
disposed to believe, especially on scanty evidence; gullible. |
| curmudgeon |
an irritable or ill-tempered person. |
| dawdle |
to waste time; be slow. |
| extenuate |
to reduce the magnitude or seriousness of (a fault or offense) by offering partial excuses. |
| mésalliance |
marriage with someone of lower social standing than oneself. |
| pandemic |
a widespread outbreak of disease that afflicts many people over different continents. |
| pedagogy |
the act, process, or profession of teaching. |
| quiescence |
a state of inaction, rest, or stillness; dormancy. |
| rebarbative |
tending to irritate or repel; forbidding or unattractive. |
| sotto voce |
in a low voice or undertone, so as not to be overheard; softly (often used as a musical direction). |