| abut |
to adjoin or press against; be next to; border on. |
| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| cyst |
a small pouch within body tissue that is filled with fluid or air. Some cysts are connected with serious disease, but most are not harmful at all. |
| élan |
enthusiasm or vigor. |
| emote |
to express or simulate feelings, especially in an exaggerated or theatrical manner. |
| epistolary |
established or continued through letters. |
| gird |
to surround, bind, or encircle, as with a belt. |
| halcyon |
tranquil; peaceful; calm. |
| lugubrious |
sad or mournful, especially in an exaggerated way; gloomy. |
| luminary |
a famous, important, or inspirational person. |
| pastiche |
a work of visual art, music, or literature that consists mostly of materials and techniques borrowed from other works, sometimes done as an exercise to learn the technique of others. |
| perquisite |
a payment or benefit in addition to the wages or salary associated with a position. |
| preferment |
the act of promoting or being promoted to a higher position or office. |
| shyster |
a person, usually a lawyer, who uses underhanded, unethical methods. |
| stative |
in grammar, of or designating a category of verbs that express state or condition. |