| baneful |
causing or leading to death, destruction, or ruin; harmful or deadly. |
| benign |
causing little or no harm. |
| curmudgeon |
an irritable or ill-tempered person. |
| decedent |
in law, one who has died. |
| desiccate |
to remove the moisture in (food) so as to preserve it. |
| epicure |
a person who has cultivated tastes, as in food or wine; connoisseur. |
| fealty |
faithfulness or loyalty. |
| highbrow |
one who has or pretends to have highly sophisticated intellectual and cultural interests and tastes (often used disparagingly). |
| inculcate |
to cause to accept an idea or value; imbue. |
| irrefragable |
impossible to refute or dispute; undeniable. |
| lien |
a legal claim on a piece of property when the current owner is in default on a debt or obligation. |
| mirabile dictu |
(Latin) wonderful to say or relate. |
| oppugn |
to oppose, contradict, criticize, or call into question. |
| penumbra |
an indefinite, borderline area. |
| tummler |
an entertainer or social director who encourages participation by guests or audience. |