| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| argot |
the vocabulary or jargon characteristic of a specific group or class, especially of criminals. |
| banal |
lacking originality or liveliness; disappointingly ordinary; commonplace; trite. |
| cognoscente |
someone who has exceptional knowledge in a given area, especially of fashion, literature, or the fine arts; connoisseur. |
| contumely |
contemptuous insolence; rudeness. |
| disencumber |
to remove burdens or hindrances from. |
| emulous |
filled with the desire to equal or surpass. |
| macrocosm |
a large unit or entity that represents on a large scale one of its smaller components. |
| magnum opus |
a great work of art, literature, or music, especially a particular person's masterpiece. |
| phlegmatic |
not given to shows of emotion or interest; slow to excite. |
| precursory |
coming before and serving to indicate what will follow; premonitory. |
| rodomontade |
puffed-up boasting or bravado. |
| sententious |
using or marked by pompous, high-flown moralizing. |
| stanch1 |
to cause (a liquid, especially blood) to stop flowing. |
| veneration |
a feeling of great respect; awe; reverence. |