| aberration |
a deviation from what is considered normal or right; irregularity. |
| abstruse |
difficult to comprehend or understand; esoteric; arcane. |
| amortize |
to deduct (expenditures) by fixed amounts over a period of time. |
| coddle |
to simmer in water that is almost at the boiling point. |
| conclave |
a secret, private, or confidential meeting or gathering. |
| effete |
marked by excessive refinement or delicateness of taste. |
| epigraph |
a pertinent quotation or motto, especially found at the beginning of a literary work or of a chapter. |
| gambit |
a tactic or maneuver designed to gain an advantage, especially one that involves some sacrifice on one's part. |
| gnomic |
short and pithy, as an aphorism. |
| imprimatur |
any official permission or sanction. |
| ontogeny |
the process of biological growth and development of a particular living organism. |
| ostentation |
a showy display to impress others. |
| pedantic |
making or characterized by an excessive display of learnedness, or overly insistent on scholarly details and formalities. |
| perilous |
causing or involving great danger; risky; hazardous. |
| peripatetic |
walking or traveling around; going from place to place; itinerant. |