| abut |
to adjoin or press against; be next to; border on. |
| apprise |
to inform (often followed by "of"). |
| bathos |
a sudden descent from an exalted style or esteemed state to the commonplace. |
| caparison |
decorative trappings to cover a horse's saddle or harness. |
| gambit |
a tactic or maneuver designed to gain an advantage, especially one that involves some sacrifice on one's part. |
| garble |
to mix up, distort, or confuse (a message, translation, or the like); cause to be disordered or unintelligible. |
| highbrow |
one who has or pretends to have highly sophisticated intellectual and cultural interests and tastes (often used disparagingly). |
| lacuna |
a gap or omitted part. |
| nonplus |
to cause (someone) to be unable to think of what to say, do, or decide; perplex; bewilder. |
| parlous |
full of dangers or risks; perilous. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| pliant |
easily flexed; supple. |
| reprisal |
injury inflicted in retaliation for injury received, as in war; revenge. |
| stentorian |
extremely loud and powerful. |
| vouchsafe |
to grant or give with condescension or as a special favor. |