| bathos |
a sudden descent from an exalted style or esteemed state to the commonplace. |
| burgeon |
to start to grow; send forth shoots, leaves, buds, or the like (often followed by "out" or "forth"). |
| canny |
difficult to fool or take advantage of; shrewd; wary; clever. |
| decedent |
in law, one who has died. |
| desideratum |
something that is needed or wanted. |
| expostulate |
to argue earnestly with someone, usually against an intended action; remonstrate. |
| garble |
to mix up, distort, or confuse (a message, translation, or the like); cause to be disordered or unintelligible. |
| guru |
in a cult or religious movement, a spiritual guide or leader, sometimes believed to be divine. |
| harrow |
to go over or break up with a harrow. |
| highbrow |
one who has or pretends to have highly sophisticated intellectual and cultural interests and tastes (often used disparagingly). |
| inculcate |
to cause to accept an idea or value; imbue. |
| nonfeasance |
in law, failure to perform a required duty, as by a public official. |
| pelf |
money or wealth, usually regarded with disapproval or contempt. |
| prolix |
wordy and boringly long. |
| unabashed |
not feeling or showing embarrassment, uneasiness, or shame. |