aggregate |
a sum, combination, or composite of separable elements. |
conversant |
familiar; acquainted; practiced (usually followed by "with" or "in"). |
cynosure |
a thing or person that is the center of attention and admiration. |
denigrate |
to deny the worth of; sneer at; belittle. |
deterge |
to cleanse, wash, or wipe off. |
elide |
to leave out or slur, as a syllable or letter, in pronunciation. |
engender |
to create or give rise to. |
expatiate |
to discuss something at great length; describe in great detail. |
foible |
a minor flaw or weakness in personality, character, or behavior. |
harbinger |
someone or something that signals or foreshadows a later arrival or occurrence; herald; forerunner. |
highbrow |
one who has or pretends to have highly sophisticated intellectual and cultural interests and tastes (often used disparagingly). |
insinuate |
to suggest (something derogatory) subtly and indirectly. |
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. |
misanthrope |
someone who hates or distrusts humanity. |
parlous |
full of dangers or risks; perilous. |