| apocryphal |
of dubious authorship or authority. |
| berate |
to reproach or scold severely. |
| conversant |
familiar; acquainted; practiced (usually followed by "with" or "in"). |
| cravat |
a scarf or band of cloth tied loosely about the neck. |
| engender |
to create or give rise to. |
| exceptionable |
likely to be objected to; objectionable. |
| frangible |
easy to break; breakable; fragile. |
| imprecation |
a curse, uttered or thought of. |
| intransigence |
refusal to alter one's ideas or position in response to the wishes of others. |
| malfeasance |
an illegal act or wrongdoing, especially by a public official. |
| maverick |
a person who thinks and behaves independently, especially one who refuses to adhere to the orthodoxy of the group to which he or she belongs. |
| naturalism |
in literature, a method of depicting life that reflects a philosophy of determinism. |
| ontogeny |
the process of biological growth and development of a particular living organism. |
| perquisite |
a payment or benefit in addition to the wages or salary associated with a position. |
| sotto voce |
in a low voice or undertone, so as not to be overheard; softly (often used as a musical direction). |