| apocryphal |
of dubious authorship or authority. |
| Byzantine |
characterized by complexity and intrigue. |
| calumny |
a harmful statement, known by the maker to be false. |
| demulcent |
an oily or sticky substance used especially to soothe irritation in mucous membranes. |
| despoil |
to forcefully take belongings or goods from; plunder. |
| discountenance |
to embarrass or disconcert. |
| elide |
to leave out or slur, as a syllable or letter, in pronunciation. |
| espouse |
to take up, hold, or commit oneself to (a cause, idea, or belief); embrace. |
| facetious |
not serious; humorous or frivolous. |
| gamut |
the whole extent or range of anything. |
| obtrusive |
aggressive and self-assertive, or inclined to be so. |
| obviate |
to prevent or eliminate in advance; render unnecessary or irrelevant. |
| pandemic |
a widespread outbreak of disease that afflicts many people over different continents. |
| risible |
provoking laughter; laughable or funny. |
| syntax |
the word order or pattern of word order in a sentence. |