| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| animus |
a feeling or attitude of enmity. |
| canard |
a deliberately false story or rumor, usually defamatory to someone. |
| despoil |
to forcefully take belongings or goods from; plunder. |
| epistemology |
the branch of philosophy dealing with the origin, nature, and limits of human knowledge. |
| expiation |
the act or the means of making amends, as for a sin or crime. |
| gadfly |
a persistent critic, especially of established institutions and policies. |
| imbroglio |
a difficult, confused, or complicated situation, often involving a misunderstanding, disagreement, or quarrel. |
| intersperse |
to place or scatter among other things. |
| kismet |
destiny, fortune, or fate. |
| louche |
of questionable decency, morality, or taste; shady; disreputable. |
| ontogeny |
the process of biological growth and development of a particular living organism. |
| pungency |
sharpness or bite in taste or smell. |
| sanguine |
having an optimistic temperament or outlook. |
| trabeated |
using horizontal beams or lintels as supports instead of arches. |