| agog |
highly excited and full of anticipation. |
| bathos |
a sudden descent from an exalted style or esteemed state to the commonplace. |
| coalesce |
to grow together or unite to form a single body or organization; unify; fuse. |
| Draconian |
(often lower case) harshly cruel or rigorous. |
| effluvium |
an outflow of usually invisible, foul-smelling vapor or gas. |
| gadfly |
a persistent critic, especially of established institutions and policies. |
| goad |
something that spurs a person to action; stimulus. |
| impromptu |
without advance plan or preparation; spontaneously. |
| nonplus |
to cause (someone) to be unable to think of what to say, do, or decide; perplex; bewilder. |
| oligarchy |
a government or state in which only a relatively few people or members of a family have real power. |
| proselytize |
to convert or try actively to convert (others) to one's own beliefs or religion. |
| pusillanimous |
shamefully timid; cowardly. |
| reconnaissance |
the act or process of examining an area, especially to gain militarily useful information. |
| scion |
an offspring or heir. |
| sotto voce |
in a low voice or undertone, so as not to be overheard; softly (often used as a musical direction). |