| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| blandishment |
(often plural) flattering or coaxing remarks or stratagems intended to persuade. |
| blithe |
indifferent or casual; unconcerned. |
| declivity |
a downward or descending slope. |
| flange |
a collar or rim that projects from a pipe, housing, or the like to provide strength, stability, or a place for attaching other parts. |
| frangible |
easy to break; breakable; fragile. |
| imbroglio |
a difficult, confused, or complicated situation, often involving a misunderstanding, disagreement, or quarrel. |
| innocuous |
not capable of causing damage; harmless. |
| knurled |
having small ridges. |
| mésalliance |
marriage with someone of lower social standing than oneself. |
| misfeasance |
a normally lawful act performed in an unlawful way. |
| parvenu |
a person who has suddenly acquired wealth or status, without acquiring the tastes, manners, customs, or the like of his or her new station. |
| remonstrate |
to say in opposition, protest, or objection. |
| shyster |
a person, usually a lawyer, who uses underhanded, unethical methods. |
| topography |
the shape of the earth's surface across an area or region. The topography of an area includes the size and location of hills and dips in the land. |