| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| acclivity |
a rising slope. |
| decedent |
in law, one who has died. |
| derision |
mockery or ridicule. |
| effrontery |
shameless impudence; insolence. |
| epicene |
sharing the traits of both sexes. |
| guttural |
articulated in the back of the mouth; velar. |
| hackneyed |
made trite or commonplace by overuse, as an expression or phrase. |
| halcyon |
tranquil; peaceful; calm. |
| heinous |
extremely wicked or despicable; atrocious. |
| impediment |
an obstacle or hindrance. |
| intransigence |
refusal to alter one's ideas or position in response to the wishes of others. |
| maunder |
to speak in an aimless or foolish way; babble. |
| mésalliance |
marriage with someone of lower social standing than oneself. |
| raffish |
carelessly unconventional or disreputable, sometimes appealingly so. |