| aberration |
a deviation from what is considered normal or right; irregularity. |
| askance |
with distrust or suspicion. |
| boudoir |
a woman's private sitting room or bedroom. |
| Byzantine |
characterized by complexity and intrigue. |
| conclave |
a secret, private, or confidential meeting or gathering. |
| descant |
a secondary, usually higher, melody that is played or sung at the same time as the chief melody. |
| despoil |
to forcefully take belongings or goods from; plunder. |
| elide |
to leave out or slur, as a syllable or letter, in pronunciation. |
| euphoria |
a strong feeling of well-being or elation, sometimes unrealistic or unwarranted, and able to be induced by certain drugs. |
| highbrow |
one who has or pretends to have highly sophisticated intellectual and cultural interests and tastes (often used disparagingly). |
| parlous |
full of dangers or risks; perilous. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| recessional |
a piece of music that accompanies the exit of participants in a program or religious ceremony. |
| requite |
to retaliate for; strike back on account of. |
| stanch1 |
to cause (a liquid, especially blood) to stop flowing. |