| alluvium |
sand, soil, gravel, or the like deposited by moving water, as along a river bed. |
| argot |
the vocabulary or jargon characteristic of a specific group or class, especially of criminals. |
| encomium |
a formal expression of praise. |
| figurehead |
a person whose title sounds important but who has no real power. |
| flange |
a collar or rim that projects from a pipe, housing, or the like to provide strength, stability, or a place for attaching other parts. |
| goad |
something that spurs a person to action; stimulus. |
| immaculate |
not dirty; completely clean. |
| inadvertent |
not planned or intended; unintentional. |
| lugubrious |
sad or mournful, especially in an exaggerated way; gloomy. |
| ontogeny |
the process of biological growth and development of a particular living organism. |
| opiate |
something that induces relaxation, calm, or stupor. |
| pinchbeck |
false, sham, or counterfeit. |
| proselytize |
to convert or try actively to convert (others) to one's own beliefs or religion. |
| rebarbative |
tending to irritate or repel; forbidding or unattractive. |
| tummler |
an entertainer or social director who encourages participation by guests or audience. |