| appurtenance |
(plural) equipment or instruments used for a given purpose; gear. |
| benign |
causing little or no harm. |
| disquisition |
a formal, often lengthy, oral or written discussion of a subject. |
| elide |
to leave out or slur, as a syllable or letter, in pronunciation. |
| equivocal |
having at least two plausible alternative meanings, often intentionally so in order to deceive or avoid commitment; ambiguous. |
| lanugo |
fine, soft hair, especially that with which a human fetus or newborn is covered. |
| naturalism |
in literature, a method of depicting life that reflects a philosophy of determinism. |
| obfuscate |
to make (something) seem or be difficult to understand; obscure or darken. |
| perquisite |
a payment or benefit in addition to the wages or salary associated with a position. |
| plaudit |
(often plural) an enthusiastic show of approval, such as a round of applause or a very favorable review. |
| rapacious |
capable of capturing and eating live prey; predacious. |
| recondite |
involving profound concepts and complexities; not easily understood. |
| scion |
an offspring or heir. |
| stridulate |
to produce a shrill grating, creaking, or chirping sound by rubbing certain parts of the body together, as some insects do. |
| sylph |
a slender, graceful woman or girl. |