| brevity |
shortness of duration. |
| constituent |
forming a part of something. |
| contortion |
a straining or twisting by the intellect; mental gymnastics. |
| douse1 |
to place or plunge in water or another liquid; immerse. |
| dross |
anything that is worthless or useless; rubbish. |
| entourage |
a group of people who accompany another person as attendants or associates; retinue. |
| guise |
external appearance or semblance, especially if deceptive. |
| incantation |
the words or sounds that are uttered or chanted as part of a magical ritual or spell, or the act of uttering such words or sounds. |
| incendiary |
causing or having the potential to cause a fire. |
| inexcusable |
unable to be justified; unpardonable. |
| mellifluous |
flowing and sweet, as though with honey. |
| ruffian |
one who is tough and violent; bully; thug. |
| skeptic |
one who is inclined to question or doubt assertions that are made or accepted by others. |
| tangential |
barely connected to or touching a subject. |
| torpid |
dormant or inactive, as in hibernation. |