| baneful |
causing or leading to death, destruction, or ruin; harmful or deadly. |
| Byzantine |
characterized by complexity and intrigue. |
| cyst |
a small pouch within body tissue that is filled with fluid or air. Some cysts are connected with serious disease, but most are not harmful at all. |
| encomium |
a formal expression of praise. |
| idyllic |
charmingly simple and natural, as a scene or experience; suggestive of peaceful countryside. |
| imbricate |
overlapping in an even sequence, as roof tiles or fish scales. |
| impromptu |
without advance plan or preparation; spontaneously. |
| inflection |
change that occurs in the form of words to show a grammatical characteristic such as the tense of a verb, the number of a noun, or the degree of an adjective or adverb. |
| malapropism |
the humorous or ridiculous misuse of a word, especially by using a word that sounds similar to the correct word, but whose meaning is inappropriate. |
| modus operandi |
a method of accomplishing something; way of working. |
| nonplus |
to cause (someone) to be unable to think of what to say, do, or decide; perplex; bewilder. |
| panegyric |
a formal speech or piece of writing devoted to publicly praising a person or thing. |
| parturient |
giving birth or about to give birth; in labor. |
| pusillanimous |
shamefully timid; cowardly. |
| rapacious |
capable of capturing and eating live prey; predacious. |