| ambidextrous |
able to use both the left and right hands with equal skill. |
| appellation |
a name, title, or other designation. |
| apprise |
to inform (often followed by "of"). |
| cynosure |
a thing or person that is the center of attention and admiration. |
| descant |
a secondary, usually higher, melody that is played or sung at the same time as the chief melody. |
| Draconian |
(often lower case) harshly cruel or rigorous. |
| effrontery |
shameless impudence; insolence. |
| exegesis |
a critical explanation or interpretive analysis, especially of religious texts. |
| guttural |
articulated in the back of the mouth; velar. |
| indulgent |
gratifying, or being inclined to gratify or yield to others' wishes, especially rather than enforcing discipline or strictness. |
| meretricious |
appealing or attracting in a cheap, showy, or shallow way. |
| opiate |
something that induces relaxation, calm, or stupor. |
| plaudit |
(often plural) an enthusiastic show of approval, such as a round of applause or a very favorable review. |
| relict |
a plant, animal, or geological feature that has survived in a considerably changed environment. |
| stentorian |
extremely loud and powerful. |