| appellative |
a descriptive name or title, as "Terrible" in "Ivan the Terrible". |
| curmudgeon |
an irritable or ill-tempered person. |
| discountenance |
to embarrass or disconcert. |
| Draconian |
(often lower case) harshly cruel or rigorous. |
| ersatz |
serving as a substitute, especially when of inferior quality. |
| expiation |
the act or the means of making amends, as for a sin or crime. |
| expostulate |
to argue earnestly with someone, usually against an intended action; remonstrate. |
| flummox |
(informal) to confuse or puzzle. |
| gird |
to surround, bind, or encircle, as with a belt. |
| incredulous |
not able to believe something. |
| lapidary |
an expert on or dealer in gemstones. |
| oblivious |
not conscious or paying attention; unknowing or unaware (usually followed by "to" or "of"). |
| remonstrate |
to say in opposition, protest, or objection. |
| scabrous |
characterized by a rough or scaly surface, as the leaf of a plant. |
| travesty |
something so grotesque or inferior as to seem a parody. |