| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| adulteration |
the act or process of making worse or impure by adding unnecessary or inferior ingredients. |
| assuage |
to make less severe or more bearable; alleviate. |
| conduction |
the transmission or transfer, as of heat, electrical charges, or nervous impulses, through a medium. |
| dearth |
a shortage or scarcity of something; lack. |
| figurehead |
a person whose title sounds important but who has no real power. |
| hagiography |
an admiring and uncritical biography of anyone. |
| indolence |
the tendency to avoid exertion or effort; laziness. |
| obviate |
to prevent or eliminate in advance; render unnecessary or irrelevant. |
| ontogeny |
the process of biological growth and development of a particular living organism. |
| preferment |
the act of promoting or being promoted to a higher position or office. |
| pungent |
sharp and strong in taste or smell. |
| recondite |
involving profound concepts and complexities; not easily understood. |
| sanguine |
having an optimistic temperament or outlook. |
| tummler |
an entertainer or social director who encourages participation by guests or audience. |