| acclivity |
a rising slope. |
| cognizant |
aware; informed (usually followed by "of"). |
| consummate |
of the highest order or degree. |
| desideratum |
something that is needed or wanted. |
| diatribe |
a bitter, abusive attack in speech or writing. |
| distraught |
mentally or emotionally unbalanced; crazed. |
| elide |
to leave out or slur, as a syllable or letter, in pronunciation. |
| imprimatur |
any official permission or sanction. |
| lenitive |
mitigating pain, discomfort, or distress; soothing. |
| mahatma |
(sometimes capitalized) in Buddhism and theosophy, any of a class of persons revered for their wisdom and love of humanity. |
| malapropism |
the humorous or ridiculous misuse of a word, especially by using a word that sounds similar to the correct word, but whose meaning is inappropriate. |
| pusillanimous |
shamefully timid; cowardly. |
| reprisal |
injury inflicted in retaliation for injury received, as in war; revenge. |
| sepsis |
infection, especially by pus-forming bacteria in the blood or tissues. |
| sere1 |
dried up or withered. |