| appellative |
a descriptive name or title, as "Terrible" in "Ivan the Terrible". |
| centripetal |
forced or moving inward toward a center point or axis. |
| colloquialism |
a word or phrase typically used in conversational, informal, or regional speech or writing, hence sometimes considered inappropriate in formal writing. |
| conclave |
a secret, private, or confidential meeting or gathering. |
| desiccate |
to remove the moisture in (food) so as to preserve it. |
| dissimulate |
to hide one's true feelings, intentions, or the like by pretense or hypocrisy. |
| extrude |
to force out; expel. |
| flak |
(informal) irritating opposition, criticism, or dissent. |
| gloaming |
late evening; dusk; twilight. |
| impinge |
to encroach. |
| impugn |
to call into question; challenge or try to discredit. |
| neologism |
a new word, phrase, or usage. |
| nostrum |
a favorite but unproven scheme or theory, offered as a remedy for social or political problems; panacea. |
| reconnaissance |
the act or process of examining an area, especially to gain militarily useful information. |
| salacious |
excited by lust; lecherous. |