| aberration |
a deviation from what is considered normal or right; irregularity. |
| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| animus |
a feeling or attitude of enmity. |
| assail |
to attack with vigor or violence; assault. |
| conclave |
a secret, private, or confidential meeting or gathering. |
| declivity |
a downward or descending slope. |
| devolve |
of a duty or the like, to be passed on to someone else. |
| disinter |
to dig up or remove from a place of burial; exhume. |
| ensconce |
to position (oneself) firmly or comfortably. |
| entreat |
to beg for something, or to do something. |
| epicene |
sharing the traits of both sexes. |
| erudite |
having or showing a high level of scholarly knowledge; learned. |
| rodomontade |
puffed-up boasting or bravado. |
| shyster |
a person, usually a lawyer, who uses underhanded, unethical methods. |
| unadulterated |
unmixed with or undiluted by additives or extraneous elements; pure; complete. |