| apotheosis |
a perfect or ideal example; epitome. |
| atavism |
the recurrence or reappearance of a particular trait, style, attitude, or behavior that seemed to have disappeared, or that which has recurred or reappeared after such an absence. |
| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| cognomen |
a last name; surname. |
| erratic |
not expected or predicted; not regular. |
| indolence |
the tendency to avoid exertion or effort; laziness. |
| innocuous |
not capable of causing damage; harmless. |
| insipid |
having a bland or uninteresting flavor; tasteless. |
| knurled |
having small ridges. |
| macrocosm |
a large unit or entity that represents on a large scale one of its smaller components. |
| misanthrope |
someone who hates or distrusts humanity. |
| obtrusive |
aggressive and self-assertive, or inclined to be so. |
| pungent |
sharp and strong in taste or smell. |
| reconnoiter |
to go through or over (an area) so as to gain information about it, as for military or engineering purposes. |
| stickler |
one who must observe or conform to something (usually followed by "for"). |