| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| antediluvian |
hopelessly old-fashioned; primitive; outdated. |
| conversant |
familiar; acquainted; practiced (usually followed by "with" or "in"). |
| cyst |
a small pouch within body tissue that is filled with fluid or air. Some cysts are connected with serious disease, but most are not harmful at all. |
| discomfit |
to upset or confuse. |
| disinter |
to dig up or remove from a place of burial; exhume. |
| exceptionable |
likely to be objected to; objectionable. |
| extenuate |
to reduce the magnitude or seriousness of (a fault or offense) by offering partial excuses. |
| flagitious |
viciously or shamefully wicked; infamous. |
| guttural |
articulated in the back of the mouth; velar. |
| louche |
of questionable decency, morality, or taste; shady; disreputable. |
| peremptory |
not permitting refusal or disobedience. |
| pungency |
sharpness or bite in taste or smell. |
| solipsism |
the self-centered habit of interpreting and judging all things exclusively according to one's own concepts of meaning and value. |
| vouchsafe |
to grant or give with condescension or as a special favor. |