| adamantine |
firmly decided or fixed; unyielding. |
| deign |
to consider some act to be appropriate or in keeping with one's dignity; condescend. |
| derision |
mockery or ridicule. |
| desiccate |
to remove the moisture in (food) so as to preserve it. |
| 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. |
| goad |
something that spurs a person to action; stimulus. |
| hagiography |
an admiring and uncritical biography of anyone. |
| halcyon |
tranquil; peaceful; calm. |
| indemnity |
insurance against damage, loss, or liability. |
| indistinct |
not clearly perceived or perceiving. |
| malingerer |
one who pretends to be ill or injured, especially in order to avoid work or duty. |
| omnibus |
concerning or including a large collection of things. |
| pedantic |
making or characterized by an excessive display of learnedness, or overly insistent on scholarly details and formalities. |
| periphrasis |
an indirect or roundabout way of phrasing something; circumlocution. |