| astute |
keen in understanding and judgment; shrewd. |
| barrage |
a great number of things coming one after another very quickly. |
| derision |
mockery or ridicule. |
| extrude |
to force out; expel. |
| frangible |
easy to break; breakable; fragile. |
| imprimatur |
any official permission or sanction. |
| impugn |
to call into question; challenge or try to discredit. |
| indulgent |
gratifying, or being inclined to gratify or yield to others' wishes, especially rather than enforcing discipline or strictness. |
| insouciant |
having no cares or anxieties; light-hearted; carefree. |
| lanugo |
fine, soft hair, especially that with which a human fetus or newborn is covered. |
| lorgnette |
eyeglasses, such as opera glasses, that have a short handle by which one holds them in position. |
| obviate |
to prevent or eliminate in advance; render unnecessary or irrelevant. |
| preferment |
the act of promoting or being promoted to a higher position or office. |
| pusillanimous |
shamefully timid; cowardly. |
| reprise |
repetition of a musical phrase or theme in an identical or slightly altered way. |