| abstruse |
difficult to comprehend or understand; esoteric; arcane. |
| aleatory |
pertaining to or depending on luck, chance, or contingency. |
| arrant |
complete; unmitigated; downright. |
| austere |
having only what is needed; very simple or plain. |
| beatify |
to admire or exalt as superior. |
| bellicose |
easily incited to quarrel or fight; belligerent. |
| caparison |
decorative trappings to cover a horse's saddle or harness. |
| cloture |
in U.S. parliamentary procedure, a method of ending debate and causing an immediate vote on the matter being discussed. |
| contretemps |
an embarrassing or unfortunate happening; mishap; mischance. |
| convoluted |
complex; intricate. |
| extenuate |
to reduce the magnitude or seriousness of (a fault or offense) by offering partial excuses. |
| flak |
(informal) irritating opposition, criticism, or dissent. |
| flummox |
(informal) to confuse or puzzle. |
| preferment |
the act of promoting or being promoted to a higher position or office. |
| quotidian |
happening every day or once a day. |