| accretion |
the process of gradual increase or growth, especially by additions from the outside. |
| asterisk |
a sign (*). It is used to show that there is other information on the page that explains the information where the sign is placed. |
| bereft |
deprived or stripped of something. |
| chary |
not dispensing freely. |
| encomium |
a formal expression of praise. |
| extempore |
without plan or preparation; impromptu or improvised. |
| frangible |
easy to break; breakable; fragile. |
| intelligentsia |
the elite class of highly learned people within a society, or those who consider themselves part of such a class. |
| lorgnette |
eyeglasses, such as opera glasses, that have a short handle by which one holds them in position. |
| modus operandi |
a method of accomplishing something; way of working. |
| parlance |
manner of speaking or writing, especially word choice; vernacular. |
| solipsism |
the self-centered habit of interpreting and judging all things exclusively according to one's own concepts of meaning and value. |
| syntax |
the word order or pattern of word order in a sentence. |
| tyro |
one who is beginning to learn a business, trade, sport, or the like; novice; neophyte. |
| vitiate |
to harm the quality of; mar; spoil. |