| astringent |
a substance or drug that contracts body tissue and slows discharge or secretion. |
| colloquialism |
a word or phrase typically used in conversational, informal, or regional speech or writing, hence sometimes considered inappropriate in formal writing. |
| consummate |
of the highest order or degree. |
| deadeye |
an expert shooter. |
| ersatz |
serving as a substitute, especially when of inferior quality. |
| expatiate |
to discuss something at great length; describe in great detail. |
| feckless |
weak or incompetent; ineffective. |
| flagitious |
viciously or shamefully wicked; infamous. |
| forbear |
to keep or abstain from (an action or utterance). |
| glean |
to gather or discover (facts, information, or the like) a little at a time. |
| heterodox |
deviating from an officially approved belief or doctrine, especially in religion. |
| ineptitude |
incompetence; lack of skill. |
| intransigence |
refusal to alter one's ideas or position in response to the wishes of others. |
| malapropism |
the humorous or ridiculous misuse of a word, especially by using a word that sounds similar to the correct word, but whose meaning is inappropriate. |
| voluble |
characterized by a steady flow of words; fluent; talkative. |