| aplomb |
great self-confidence, composure, or poise. |
| cognizant |
aware; informed (usually followed by "of"). |
| disencumber |
to remove burdens or hindrances from. |
| dissimulate |
to hide one's true feelings, intentions, or the like by pretense or hypocrisy. |
| encomium |
a formal expression of praise. |
| epistemology |
the branch of philosophy dealing with the origin, nature, and limits of human knowledge. |
| extenuate |
to reduce the magnitude or seriousness of (a fault or offense) by offering partial excuses. |
| highbrow |
one who has or pretends to have highly sophisticated intellectual and cultural interests and tastes (often used disparagingly). |
| jeremiad |
a long complaint about life or one's situation; lamentation. |
| jubilate |
to feel joyful; rejoice; exult. |
| linguistics |
(used with a singular verb) the scientific and historical study of the form and structure of human language. |
| luminary |
a famous, important, or inspirational person. |
| macerate |
to soften (food or the like) by soaking, as in digestion. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| solipsism |
the self-centered habit of interpreting and judging all things exclusively according to one's own concepts of meaning and value. |