| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| apocryphal |
of dubious authorship or authority. |
| appellative |
a descriptive name or title, as "Terrible" in "Ivan the Terrible". |
| apprise |
to inform (often followed by "of"). |
| atavism |
the recurrence or reappearance of a particular trait, style, attitude, or behavior that seemed to have disappeared, or that which has recurred or reappeared after such an absence. |
| belabor |
to continue excessive efforts on or excessive discussion of. |
| diatribe |
a bitter, abusive attack in speech or writing. |
| foment |
to encourage the development of; instigate or foster. |
| lien |
a legal claim on a piece of property when the current owner is in default on a debt or obligation. |
| malaise |
a state or condition of feeling generally unwell, mentally depressed, sluggish, or uneasy. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| pinchbeck |
false, sham, or counterfeit. |
| quiescence |
a state of inaction, rest, or stillness; dormancy. |
| surcingle |
a girth or belt that wraps around the body of a horse to secure a saddle, pack, or the like to its back. |
| voluble |
characterized by a steady flow of words; fluent; talkative. |