| astute |
keen in understanding and judgment; shrewd. |
| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| brash |
rudely self-assertive; bold; impudent. |
| cognoscente |
someone who has exceptional knowledge in a given area, especially of fashion, literature, or the fine arts; connoisseur. |
| curmudgeon |
an irritable or ill-tempered person. |
| deterge |
to cleanse, wash, or wipe off. |
| extempore |
without plan or preparation; impromptu or improvised. |
| garble |
to mix up, distort, or confuse (a message, translation, or the like); cause to be disordered or unintelligible. |
| humanism |
a doctrine or mode of thought that gives highest importance to human dignity, values, potentials, and achievements. |
| impediment |
an obstacle or hindrance. |
| nostrum |
a favorite but unproven scheme or theory, offered as a remedy for social or political problems; panacea. |
| putrefaction |
the act or process of rotting or decomposing. |
| savor |
to give an impression; hint (usually followed by "of"). |
| somatic |
of or pertaining to the body itself; corporeal. |
| sylph |
a slender, graceful woman or girl. |