| adulteration |
the act or process of making worse or impure by adding unnecessary or inferior ingredients. |
| cognoscente |
someone who has exceptional knowledge in a given area, especially of fashion, literature, or the fine arts; connoisseur. |
| collateral |
property or other security put forward to guarantee repayment of a loan. |
| consternation |
surprise and alarm, leading to panic, deep disappointment, or total confusion. |
| doggerel |
trivial, crudely constructed verse. |
| exceptionable |
likely to be objected to; objectionable. |
| forswear |
to give up or renounce, often with an oath or pledge. |
| goad |
something that spurs a person to action; stimulus. |
| linguistics |
(used with a singular verb) the scientific and historical study of the form and structure of human language. |
| misanthrope |
someone who hates or distrusts humanity. |
| pastiche |
a work of visual art, music, or literature that consists mostly of materials and techniques borrowed from other works, sometimes done as an exercise to learn the technique of others. |
| pliant |
easily flexed; supple. |
| Saturnalia |
an occasion of unrestrained revelry. |
| tummler |
an entertainer or social director who encourages participation by guests or audience. |
| unabashed |
not feeling or showing embarrassment, uneasiness, or shame. |