| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| conclave |
a secret, private, or confidential meeting or gathering. |
| discountenance |
to embarrass or disconcert. |
| epistolary |
established or continued through letters. |
| erratic |
not expected or predicted; not regular. |
| impute |
to ascribe or attribute to a source or cause. |
| inadvertent |
not planned or intended; unintentional. |
| incessant |
never stopping; constant. |
| mendicant |
living on charity; begging. |
| mirabile dictu |
(Latin) wonderful to say or relate. |
| parvenu |
a person who has suddenly acquired wealth or status, without acquiring the tastes, manners, customs, or the like of his or her new station. |
| recondite |
involving profound concepts and complexities; not easily understood. |
| redoubtable |
inspiring fear; formidable. |
| rodomontade |
puffed-up boasting or bravado. |
| spurn |
to reject, refuse, or treat with scorn; disdain; despise. |