| agog |
highly excited and full of anticipation. |
| asceticism |
self-discipline and self-denial as a means of spiritual improvement. |
| berate |
to reproach or scold severely. |
| colloquialism |
a word or phrase typically used in conversational, informal, or regional speech or writing, hence sometimes considered inappropriate in formal writing. |
| idiosyncrasy |
a characteristic of temperament, habit, or physical structure particular to a given individual or group; peculiarity. |
| intelligentsia |
the elite class of highly learned people within a society, or those who consider themselves part of such a class. |
| laudatory |
expressing praise. |
| naturalism |
in literature, a method of depicting life that reflects a philosophy of determinism. |
| nonpareil |
a person or thing whose excellence is unequaled; paragon. |
| occlude |
to close or obstruct (a passage or opening, one's vision, or the like). |
| picayune |
having little value or significance; small; paltry. |
| pinchbeck |
false, sham, or counterfeit. |
| proselytize |
to convert or try actively to convert (others) to one's own beliefs or religion. |
| spurn |
to reject, refuse, or treat with scorn; disdain; despise. |
| travesty |
something so grotesque or inferior as to seem a parody. |