| asperity |
harshness or roughness, especially of tone or manner. |
| astute |
keen in understanding and judgment; shrewd. |
| boorish |
rude; ill-mannered; crude. |
| cognoscente |
someone who has exceptional knowledge in a given area, especially of fashion, literature, or the fine arts; connoisseur. |
| condign |
well-deserved or fitting, especially of punishment or reprimand. |
| consummate |
of the highest order or degree. |
| demulcent |
an oily or sticky substance used especially to soothe irritation in mucous membranes. |
| ensconce |
to position (oneself) firmly or comfortably. |
| epistemology |
the branch of philosophy dealing with the origin, nature, and limits of human knowledge. |
| gossamer |
delicately fine, gauzelike, or filmy. |
| indomitable |
too strong to be subdued or discouraged; unconquerable. |
| lapidary |
an expert on or dealer in gemstones. |
| peroration |
the concluding part of a speech in which there is a summing up of the principal points. |
| quondam |
having been in the past; former. |
| risible |
provoking laughter; laughable or funny. |