| animus |
a feeling or attitude of enmity. |
| assuage |
to make less severe or more bearable; alleviate. |
| berate |
to reproach or scold severely. |
| conversant |
familiar; acquainted; practiced (usually followed by "with" or "in"). |
| derision |
mockery or ridicule. |
| despoil |
to forcefully take belongings or goods from; plunder. |
| élan |
enthusiasm or vigor. |
| epistolary |
established or continued through letters. |
| expatiate |
to discuss something at great length; describe in great detail. |
| foible |
a minor flaw or weakness in personality, character, or behavior. |
| highbrow |
one who has or pretends to have highly sophisticated intellectual and cultural interests and tastes (often used disparagingly). |
| neologism |
a new word, phrase, or usage. |
| parlous |
full of dangers or risks; perilous. |
| pretentious |
assuming or marked by an air of importance or superiority that is unwarranted. |
| welter |
to roll about or wallow, as in mud or the open sea. |