| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| astringent |
a substance or drug that contracts body tissue and slows discharge or secretion. |
| demotic |
of or relating to the common people; popular. |
| distraught |
mentally or emotionally unbalanced; crazed. |
| élan |
enthusiasm or vigor. |
| entreat |
to beg for something, or to do something. |
| equivocal |
having at least two plausible alternative meanings, often intentionally so in order to deceive or avoid commitment; ambiguous. |
| flagitious |
viciously or shamefully wicked; infamous. |
| hackneyed |
made trite or commonplace by overuse, as an expression or phrase. |
| hypocrisy |
the practice or an instance of stating or pretending to hold beliefs or principles that one does not actually live by; insincerity. |
| immiscible |
not able to be mixed or blended. |
| lacuna |
a gap or omitted part. |
| laudatory |
expressing praise. |
| pinchbeck |
false, sham, or counterfeit. |
| recidivism |
chronic return to bad habits, especially criminal relapse. |