| augury |
the art or practice or an instance of predicting the future or obtaining hidden knowledge by interpreting omens. |
| austere |
having only what is needed; very simple or plain. |
| banal |
lacking originality or liveliness; disappointingly ordinary; commonplace; trite. |
| corollary |
a readily drawn conclusion; deduction or inference. |
| disinter |
to dig up or remove from a place of burial; exhume. |
| elide |
to leave out or slur, as a syllable or letter, in pronunciation. |
| ensconce |
to position (oneself) firmly or comfortably. |
| extrinsic |
not inherent or essential; extraneous. |
| heterodox |
deviating from an officially approved belief or doctrine, especially in religion. |
| homily |
any discourse offering moral advice or admonitions. |
| 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. |
| scabrous |
characterized by a rough or scaly surface, as the leaf of a plant. |
| sotto voce |
in a low voice or undertone, so as not to be overheard; softly (often used as a musical direction). |
| spurn |
to reject, refuse, or treat with scorn; disdain; despise. |
| tamp |
to compress and pack tightly by repeated light taps. |