| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| adamantine |
firmly decided or fixed; unyielding. |
| apprehensive |
feeling fearful about future events. |
| belabor |
to continue excessive efforts on or excessive discussion of. |
| brash |
rudely self-assertive; bold; impudent. |
| cantankerous |
irritable, stubborn, and quarrelsome. |
| credulous |
disposed to believe, especially on scanty evidence; gullible. |
| doyen |
the senior or highest-ranking male member of a group. |
| gossamer |
delicately fine, gauzelike, or filmy. |
| hagiography |
an admiring and uncritical biography of anyone. |
| laconic |
using very few words; succinct; terse. |
| malfeasance |
an illegal act or wrongdoing, especially by a public official. |
| savor |
to give an impression; hint (usually followed by "of"). |
| stately |
dignified. |
| tyro |
one who is beginning to learn a business, trade, sport, or the like; novice; neophyte. |