| barrage |
a great number of things coming one after another very quickly. |
| collateral |
property or other security put forward to guarantee repayment of a loan. |
| contretemps |
an embarrassing or unfortunate happening; mishap; mischance. |
| credulous |
disposed to believe, especially on scanty evidence; gullible. |
| cynosure |
a thing or person that is the center of attention and admiration. |
| feckless |
weak or incompetent; ineffective. |
| forswear |
to give up or renounce, often with an oath or pledge. |
| gnomic |
short and pithy, as an aphorism. |
| iatrogenic |
caused by a physician or medical treatment, especially from drugs or surgery. |
| idiosyncrasy |
a characteristic of temperament, habit, or physical structure particular to a given individual or group; peculiarity. |
| lapidary |
an expert on or dealer in gemstones. |
| pandemic |
a widespread outbreak of disease that afflicts many people over different continents. |
| quondam |
having been in the past; former. |
| sotto voce |
in a low voice or undertone, so as not to be overheard; softly (often used as a musical direction). |
| welter |
to roll about or wallow, as in mud or the open sea. |