citizenkade

Words I've had to look up

adulation

Obsequious flattery; excessive admiration or praise.

alacrity

Brisk and cheerful readiness.

arable

an agricultural term, meaning land that can be used for growing crops.

bravura

A virtuosic passage intended to show off the skill of a performer, generally as a solo.

capricious

Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.

carnassial

Denoting the large upper premolar and lower molar teeth of a carnivore, adapted for shearing flesh.

colloquy

  1. A conversation.
  2. A gathering for discussion of theological questions.

countervail

Offset the effect of (something) by countering it with something of equal force.

cupidity

Greed for money or possessions.

deliquescent

having repeated division into branches (second definition I found, but it had been used with this meaning)

denude

Strip (something) of its covering, possessions, or assets; make bare.

discomfit

Make (someone) feel uneasy or embarrassed.

erudite

Having or showing great knowledge or learning.

expiation

Atonement for (guilt or sin).

facile

Appearing neat and comprehensive by ignoring the complexities of an issue; superficial.

fiduciary [responsibility]

A legal or ethical relationship of confidence or trust regarding the management of money or property between two or more parties.

fulminate

Express vehement protest.

gainsaid

Deny or contradict (a fact or statement), “the impact of the railroads cannot be gainsaid”.

hidebound

Unwilling or unable to change because of tradition or convention.

impecunious

Having little or no money.

infrangible

unbreakable, inviolable.

inveterate

Having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change.

magnate

From a Latin word for “a great man”.

obsequious

Obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree.

paroxysm

A sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity.

peccadilloes

Small, relatively unimportant offenses or sins.

phlegmatic

(of a person) Having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition.

piffle

nonsense

portmanteau

A blend of two (or more) words or morphemes into one new word, as in “smog” which is a blend of smoke and fog. The word portmanteau itself is an example, porte+manteaux.

prescient

Having or showing knowledge of events before they take place.

prosaic

Lacking poetic beauty; commonplace, unromantic.

prurience

Characterized by an inordinate interest in sex.

pusillanimous

Showing a lack of courage or determination; timid.

putative

Generally considered or reputed to be.

riparian (zone)

The interface between land and a river or stream. Along the banks of a natural water course.

scurrilous

Making or spreading scandalous claims about someone with the intention of damaging their reputation: “a scurrilous attack”.

shibboleth

Any distinguishing practice that is indicative of one’s social or regional origin.

sycophant

A person who acts obsequiously toward someone in order to gain advantage; a servile flatterer.

temerity

Excessive confidence or boldness; audacity: “no one had the temerity to question his conclusions”.

twee

chiefly British
affectedly or excessively dainty, delicate, cute, or quaint

untenable

(esp. of a position or view) Not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection.

vociferous

(esp. of a person or speech) Vehement or clamorous.