harangue Word: harangue Definition: lecture (someone) at length in an aggressive and critical manner. “the kind of guy who harangued total strangers about March 24, 2024 salad days Word: salad days Definition: the period when one is young and inexperienced. “the war seemed to be ending and so were my salad days” the peak or March 24, 2024 Roman à clef Word: Roman à clef Definition: Roman à clef (French pronunciation: ​[ʁɔmɑ̃ a kle], anglicised as /roʊˌmɒn ə ˈkleɪ/),[1] French for novel with a key, March 24, 2024 iconoclastic Word: iconoclastic Definition: characterized by attack on cherished beliefs or institutions. “a fresh, even an iconoclastic, influence could work March 24, 2024 elucidate Word: elucidate Definition: make (something) clear; explain. “work such as theirs will help to elucidate this matter” March 24, 2024 exposé Word: exposé Definition: a report of the facts about something, especially a journalistic report that reveals something scandalous. “a shocking March 24, 2024 despotism Word: despotism Definition: the exercise of absolute power, especially in a cruel and oppressive way. “the King’s arbitrary despotism” March 24, 2024 gravitas Word: gravitas Definition: dignity, seriousness, or solemnity of manner. “a post for which he has the expertise and the gravitas” March 24, 2024 cantankerous Word: cantankerous Definition: bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative. “a crusty, cantankerous old man” March 24, 2024 apotheosis Word: apotheosis Definition: the highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax. “his appearance as Hamlet was the apotheosis March 24, 2024 indolent Word: indolent Definition: wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy. “they were indolent and addicted to a life of pleasure” March 24, 2024 mire Word: mire Definition: involve someone or something in (a difficult situation). “the economy is mired in its longest recession since the war” March 24, 2024 wont Word: wont Definition: (of a person) in the habit of doing something; accustomed. “he was wont to arise at 5.30 every morning” March 24, 2024 idiosyncratic Word: idiosyncratic Definition: relating to idiosyncrasy; peculiar or individual. “she emerged as one of the great, idiosyncratic talents of the March 24, 2024 consummate Word: consummate Definition: showing a high degree of skill and flair; complete or perfect. “she dressed with consummate elegance” March 24, 2024 equanimity Word: equanimity Definition: mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation. “she accepted both the good March 24, 2024 panegyric Word: panegyric Definition: a public speech or published text in praise of someone or something. “Vera’s panegyric on friendship” March 24, 2024 demagogue Word: demagogue Definition: a political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using March 24, 2024 indignation Word: indignation Definition: anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment. “the letter filled Lucy with indignation” March 24, 2024 mercurial Word: mercurial Definition: (of a person) subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind. “his mercurial temperament” March 24, 2024 idiosyncrasy Word: idiosyncrasy Definition: a mode of behavior or way of thought peculiar to an individual. “one of his little idiosyncrasies was always March 24, 2024 inveterate Word: inveterate Definition: having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change. “he was an inveterate March 24, 2024 contrition Word: contrition Definition: the state of feeling remorseful and penitent. “to show contrition for his crime he offered to do community service” March 24, 2024 antipathy Word: antipathy Definition: a deep-seated feeling of dislike; aversion. “his fundamental antipathy to capitalism” March 24, 2024 heuristic Word: heuristic Definition: enabling someone to discover or learn something for themselves. “a “hands-on” or interactive heuristic approach to March 24, 2024 largesse Word: largesse Definition: generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others. “dispensing his money with such largesse” March 24, 2024 breastaurant Word: breastaurant Definition: A breastaurant is a restaurant that requires female waiting staff to be skimpily-dressed March 24, 2024 locus classicus Word: locus classicus Definition: a passage considered to be the best known or most authoritative on a particular subject March 24, 2024 finery Word: finery Definition: expensive or ostentatious clothes or decoration. “officers in their blue, gold, and scarlet finery” March 24, 2024 cachet Word: cachet Definition: the state of being respected or admired; prestige. “no other shipping company had quite the cachet of Cunard” March 24, 2024 disposition Word: disposition Definition: a person’s inherent qualities of mind and character. “your sunny disposition has a way of rubbing off on those around March 24, 2024 besmirched Word: besmirched Definition: damage the reputation of (someone or something) in the opinion of others. “he had besmirched the good name of his family” March 24, 2024 innocuous Word: innocuous Definition: not harmful or offensive. “it was an innocuous question” March 24, 2024 recalcitrant Word: recalcitrant Definition: having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline. “a class of recalcitrant March 24, 2024 wanton Word: wanton Definition: (of a cruel or violent action) deliberate and unprovoked. “sheer wanton vandalism” March 24, 2024 licentious Word: licentious Definition: promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters. “the ruler’s tyrannical and licentious behavior” March 24, 2024 rancor Word: rancor Definition: bitterness or resentfulness, especially when long-standing. “he spoke without rancor” March 24, 2024 panoply Word: panoply Definition: a complete or impressive collection of things. “a deliciously inventive panoply of insults” March 24, 2024 pallid Word: pallid Definition: (of a person’s face) pale, typically because of poor health. Definition 2: feeble or insipid. “an utterly pallid and March 24, 2024 chatoyant Word: chatoyant Definition: having a changeable luster or color with an undulating narrow band of white light March 24, 2024 abeyance Word: abeyance Definition: a state of temporary disuse or suspension. “matters were held in abeyance pending further inquiries” March 24, 2024 valor Word: valor Definition: great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle. “the medals are awarded for acts of valor” March 24, 2024 untenable Word: untenable Definition: If a theory or argument is untenable, it cannot be supported or defended against criticism. If three people in four no March 24, 2024 ad hominem Word: ad hominem Definition: (of an argument or reaction) directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining. “vicious ad March 24, 2024 spry Word: spry Definition: (especially of an old person) active; lively. “he continued to look spry and active well into his eighties” March 24, 2024 Epistemological rupture Word: Epistemological rupture Definition: Epistemological rupture (or epistemological break) is a notion introduced in 1938 by French philosopher March 24, 2024 terpsichorean Word: terpsichorean Definition: relating to dancing. “aside from singing, she shows her terpsichorean skills in some of the numbers” March 24, 2024 austere Word: austere Definition: severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance. “an austere man, with a rigidly puritanical outlook March 24, 2024 reticent Word: reticent Definition: not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily. “she was extremely reticent about her personal affairs” March 24, 2024 inchoate Word: inchoate Definition: just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary. “a still inchoate democracy” March 24, 2024