| Byzantine |
characterized by complexity and intrigue. |
| disheveled |
not neat; messy. |
| elide |
to leave out or slur, as a syllable or letter, in pronunciation. |
| flout |
to show scorn or contempt for, especially by openly or deliberately disobeying. |
| harbinger |
someone or something that signals or foreshadows a later arrival or occurrence; herald; forerunner. |
| impromptu |
without advance plan or preparation; spontaneously. |
| indulgent |
gratifying, or being inclined to gratify or yield to others' wishes, especially rather than enforcing discipline or strictness. |
| louche |
of questionable decency, morality, or taste; shady; disreputable. |
| malfeasance |
an illegal act or wrongdoing, especially by a public official. |
| nonfeasance |
in law, failure to perform a required duty, as by a public official. |
| recondite |
involving profound concepts and complexities; not easily understood. |
| rodomontade |
puffed-up boasting or bravado. |
| schadenfreude |
(often capitalized) pleasure derived from the misfortune of others. |
| shunt |
to turn or move aside or out of the way; divert. |
| vouchsafe |
to grant or give with condescension or as a special favor. |