| attenuate |
to cause to be thin, rarefied, or fine. |
| belie |
to give a false impression of. |
| cognomen |
a last name; surname. |
| convoluted |
complex; intricate. |
| curmudgeon |
an irritable or ill-tempered person. |
| demulcent |
an oily or sticky substance used especially to soothe irritation in mucous membranes. |
| discountenance |
to embarrass or disconcert. |
| gird |
to surround, bind, or encircle, as with a belt. |
| heinous |
extremely wicked or despicable; atrocious. |
| imprecation |
a curse, uttered or thought of. |
| mélange |
a mixture, usually of very dissimilar elements. |
| periphrasis |
an indirect or roundabout way of phrasing something; circumlocution. |
| sequester |
to remove into protection and isolation; seclude. |
| stative |
in grammar, of or designating a category of verbs that express state or condition. |
| virago |
a shrewish, domineering woman; nag or scold. |