| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| berate |
to reproach or scold severely. |
| canard |
a deliberately false story or rumor, usually defamatory to someone. |
| comity |
mutual courtesy and respectful treatment among people or nations. |
| constrict |
to pull or squeeze in; make smaller or more narrow; tighten. |
| denigrate |
to deny the worth of; sneer at; belittle. |
| festoon |
a decorative chain or strip of ribbons, flowers, leaves, or the like, suspended at the ends and hung in a curve. |
| heterodox |
deviating from an officially approved belief or doctrine, especially in religion. |
| imprimatur |
any official permission or sanction. |
| incredulous |
not able to believe something. |
| lacuna |
a gap or omitted part. |
| lugubrious |
sad or mournful, especially in an exaggerated way; gloomy. |
| 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. |
| nonplus |
to cause (someone) to be unable to think of what to say, do, or decide; perplex; bewilder. |
| stately |
dignified. |