| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| astute |
keen in understanding and judgment; shrewd. |
| bilge |
the rounded part of a ship's hull between the bottom and the sides. |
| cession |
the act of formally giving up or signing over, as a territory; ceding. |
| consummate |
of the highest order or degree. |
| derision |
mockery or ridicule. |
| descant |
a secondary, usually higher, melody that is played or sung at the same time as the chief melody. |
| disquisition |
a formal, often lengthy, oral or written discussion of a subject. |
| erratic |
not expected or predicted; not regular. |
| foible |
a minor flaw or weakness in personality, character, or behavior. |
| inveigle |
to entice or ensnare by clever talk or flattery. |
| malfeasance |
an illegal act or wrongdoing, especially by a public official. |
| parsimonious |
excessively frugal; stingy. |
| stochastic |
of, or arising from chance or probability. |
| stridulate |
to produce a shrill grating, creaking, or chirping sound by rubbing certain parts of the body together, as some insects do. |