| consternation |
surprise and alarm, leading to panic, deep disappointment, or total confusion. |
| curmudgeon |
an irritable or ill-tempered person. |
| devolve |
of a duty or the like, to be passed on to someone else. |
| disallow |
to refuse to allow or admit; reject. |
| engender |
to create or give rise to. |
| foment |
to encourage the development of; instigate or foster. |
| highbrow |
one who has or pretends to have highly sophisticated intellectual and cultural interests and tastes (often used disparagingly). |
| ineptitude |
incompetence; lack of skill. |
| intelligentsia |
the elite class of highly learned people within a society, or those who consider themselves part of such a class. |
| internecine |
of or pertaining to conflict, discord, or struggle within a group. |
| lapidary |
an expert on or dealer in gemstones. |
| ligature |
a band or tie. |
| malinger |
to pretend illness or injury, especially in order to be excused from duty or work. |
| rodomontade |
puffed-up boasting or bravado. |
| uxorious |
excessively or foolishly devoted to one's wife, and often thereby submissive to her. |