| atonement |
the act of making reparation for a sin, crime, error, or the like. |
| colloquialism |
a word or phrase typically used in conversational, informal, or regional speech or writing, hence sometimes considered inappropriate in formal writing. |
| elide |
to leave out or slur, as a syllable or letter, in pronunciation. |
| figurehead |
a person whose title sounds important but who has no real power. |
| frangible |
easy to break; breakable; fragile. |
| intelligentsia |
the elite class of highly learned people within a society, or those who consider themselves part of such a class. |
| laconic |
using very few words; succinct; terse. |
| lapidary |
an expert on or dealer in gemstones. |
| neophyte |
a beginner or novice at any activity. |
| pandemic |
a widespread outbreak of disease that afflicts many people over different continents. |
| preferment |
the act of promoting or being promoted to a higher position or office. |
| sartorial |
of or pertaining to tailors or tailored clothing, especially men's clothing. |
| sepsis |
infection, especially by pus-forming bacteria in the blood or tissues. |
| stanch1 |
to cause (a liquid, especially blood) to stop flowing. |
| vouchsafe |
to grant or give with condescension or as a special favor. |