| antediluvian |
hopelessly old-fashioned; primitive; outdated. |
| aplomb |
great self-confidence, composure, or poise. |
| arrant |
complete; unmitigated; downright. |
| assail |
to attack with vigor or violence; assault. |
| coddle |
to simmer in water that is almost at the boiling point. |
| desideratum |
something that is needed or wanted. |
| extenuate |
to reduce the magnitude or seriousness of (a fault or offense) by offering partial excuses. |
| flak |
(informal) irritating opposition, criticism, or dissent. |
| gamut |
the whole extent or range of anything. |
| garble |
to mix up, distort, or confuse (a message, translation, or the like); cause to be disordered or unintelligible. |
| halcyon |
tranquil; peaceful; calm. |
| malapropism |
the humorous or ridiculous misuse of a word, especially by using a word that sounds similar to the correct word, but whose meaning is inappropriate. |
| revetment |
a facing of stone, masonry, or the like to support or protect a wall, embankment, or mound of earth. |
| scion |
an offspring or heir. |
| tort |
in law, any civil rather than criminal harm or injury that violates the implicit duty of each citizen not to harm others, and for which one may bring a civil suit and collect compensation. |