| apprehensive |
feeling fearful about future events. |
| blandishment |
(often plural) flattering or coaxing remarks or stratagems intended to persuade. |
| conjoin |
to combine for a common purpose. |
| derision |
mockery or ridicule. |
| descant |
a secondary, usually higher, melody that is played or sung at the same time as the chief melody. |
| dissemble |
to disguise or hide behind a false semblance; conceal the true nature or state of. |
| élan |
enthusiasm or vigor. |
| imbricate |
overlapping in an even sequence, as roof tiles or fish scales. |
| imbroglio |
a difficult, confused, or complicated situation, often involving a misunderstanding, disagreement, or quarrel. |
| linguistics |
(used with a singular verb) the scientific and historical study of the form and structure of human language. |
| obscurantism |
a deliberate lack of clarity or directness of expression, as in certain styles of art or literature. |
| penury |
severe poverty; pennilessness. |
| proselytize |
to convert or try actively to convert (others) to one's own beliefs or religion. |
| triage |
a system of determining priority of medical treatment, on the basis of need, chances of survival, and the like, to victims on a battlefield or in a hospital emergency ward. |
| untoward |
unexpected and unfortunate. |