| ambidextrous |
able to use both the left and right hands with equal skill. |
| apposite |
fitting; pertinent; appropriate. |
| belie |
to give a false impression of. |
| cantankerous |
irritable, stubborn, and quarrelsome. |
| cession |
the act of formally giving up or signing over, as a territory; ceding. |
| daunt |
to lessen the determination of; intimidate; discourage. |
| demotic |
of or relating to the common people; popular. |
| glean |
to gather or discover (facts, information, or the like) a little at a time. |
| hackneyed |
made trite or commonplace by overuse, as an expression or phrase. |
| highbrow |
one who has or pretends to have highly sophisticated intellectual and cultural interests and tastes (often used disparagingly). |
| mélange |
a mixture, usually of very dissimilar elements. |
| minatory |
presenting a threat; menacing. |
| oppugn |
to oppose, contradict, criticize, or call into question. |
| sotto voce |
in a low voice or undertone, so as not to be overheard; softly (often used as a musical direction). |
| syntax |
the word order or pattern of word order in a sentence. |