| adamantine |
firmly decided or fixed; unyielding. |
| caparison |
decorative trappings to cover a horse's saddle or harness. |
| cravat |
a scarf or band of cloth tied loosely about the neck. |
| daunt |
to lessen the determination of; intimidate; discourage. |
| electuary |
a drug mixed with honey, syrup, or the like to form a paste to be smeared on the teeth or gums of a sick animal. |
| engender |
to create or give rise to. |
| humanism |
a doctrine or mode of thought that gives highest importance to human dignity, values, potentials, and achievements. |
| nonfeasance |
in law, failure to perform a required duty, as by a public official. |
| nonplus |
to cause (someone) to be unable to think of what to say, do, or decide; perplex; bewilder. |
| parlous |
full of dangers or risks; perilous. |
| raffish |
carelessly unconventional or disreputable, sometimes appealingly so. |
| shibboleth |
a slogan, phrase, or belief that characterizes or is held devotedly by a group. |
| sotto voce |
in a low voice or undertone, so as not to be overheard; softly (often used as a musical direction). |
| stridulate |
to produce a shrill grating, creaking, or chirping sound by rubbing certain parts of the body together, as some insects do. |
| woebegone |
displaying or full of distress. |