| assail |
to attack with vigor or violence; assault. |
| disencumber |
to remove burdens or hindrances from. |
| effrontery |
shameless impudence; insolence. |
| encomium |
a formal expression of praise. |
| equivocal |
having at least two plausible alternative meanings, often intentionally so in order to deceive or avoid commitment; ambiguous. |
| gloaming |
late evening; dusk; twilight. |
| impermeable |
not permitting passage or penetration. |
| insinuate |
to suggest (something derogatory) subtly and indirectly. |
| nonplus |
to cause (someone) to be unable to think of what to say, do, or decide; perplex; bewilder. |
| pinchbeck |
false, sham, or counterfeit. |
| pungency |
sharpness or bite in taste or smell. |
| recant |
to withdraw from commitment to (a former position or statement), especially publicly; retract. |
| reprise |
repetition of a musical phrase or theme in an identical or slightly altered way. |
| savor |
to give an impression; hint (usually followed by "of"). |
| vitiate |
to harm the quality of; mar; spoil. |