| assail |
to attack with vigor or violence; assault. |
| assuage |
to make less severe or more bearable; alleviate. |
| beatify |
to admire or exalt as superior. |
| cachet |
prestige. |
| encomium |
a formal expression of praise. |
| equivocal |
having at least two plausible alternative meanings, often intentionally so in order to deceive or avoid commitment; ambiguous. |
| erudite |
having or showing a high level of scholarly knowledge; learned. |
| exegesis |
a critical explanation or interpretive analysis, especially of religious texts. |
| flagitious |
viciously or shamefully wicked; infamous. |
| highbrow |
one who has or pretends to have highly sophisticated intellectual and cultural interests and tastes (often used disparagingly). |
| imprecation |
a curse, uttered or thought of. |
| ligature |
a band or tie. |
| parlance |
manner of speaking or writing, especially word choice; vernacular. |
| preferment |
the act of promoting or being promoted to a higher position or office. |
| redoubtable |
inspiring fear; formidable. |