| apotheosis |
a perfect or ideal example; epitome. |
| barrage |
a great number of things coming one after another very quickly. |
| extenuate |
to reduce the magnitude or seriousness of (a fault or offense) by offering partial excuses. |
| forswear |
to give up or renounce, often with an oath or pledge. |
| impinge |
to encroach. |
| luminary |
a famous, important, or inspirational person. |
| occlude |
to close or obstruct (a passage or opening, one's vision, or the like). |
| paroxysm |
a sudden strong outburst of feelings or actions. |
| penumbra |
an indefinite, borderline area. |
| preferment |
the act of promoting or being promoted to a higher position or office. |
| pungency |
sharpness or bite in taste or smell. |
| raffish |
carelessly unconventional or disreputable, sometimes appealingly so. |
| recidivism |
chronic return to bad habits, especially criminal relapse. |
| reprise |
repetition of a musical phrase or theme in an identical or slightly altered way. |
| splenetic |
ill-tempered or spiteful. |