| abstruse |
difficult to comprehend or understand; esoteric; arcane. |
| ascertain |
to learn without question; determine. |
| austere |
having only what is needed; very simple or plain. |
| cognomen |
a last name; surname. |
| conclave |
a secret, private, or confidential meeting or gathering. |
| deracinate |
to pull up by or as if by the roots; uproot; isolate; exile. |
| fledge |
to grow flight feathers. |
| foible |
a minor flaw or weakness in personality, character, or behavior. |
| forswear |
to give up or renounce, often with an oath or pledge. |
| lapidary |
an expert on or dealer in gemstones. |
| laudatory |
expressing praise. |
| obscurantism |
a deliberate lack of clarity or directness of expression, as in certain styles of art or literature. |
| omnibus |
concerning or including a large collection of things. |
| perquisite |
a payment or benefit in addition to the wages or salary associated with a position. |
| shyster |
a person, usually a lawyer, who uses underhanded, unethical methods. |