capitulate
(kuh-PICH-uh-layt)
v.: to surrender under agreed conditions

pugnacious
(puhg-NAY-shuhs)
adj.: Disposed to fight; inclined to fighting; quarrelsome;  fighting.

dapple
(DAP-uhl)
1. n.: A small contrasting spot or blotch 2.adj.: Marked with spots of different shades of color; spotted.

incipient
(in-SIP-ee-unt)
Beginning to be, or to show itself; commencing; initial

umbrage
(UHM-brij)
n.: suspicion of injury or wrong; offense; resentment

emolument
(i-MAHL-yuh-muhnt)
n.: The profit arising from office, employment,  or labor; gain;  compensation; advantage;  perquisites, fees, or salary

palindrome
(PAL-uhn-drohm)
n.: a word or phrase that reads the same backward as forward

deprecate
(DEP-ri-kayt)
v. 1: to disapprove of strongly; deplore  2: belittle; 3 archaic:  To pray against, as an evil; to seek to avert by prayer

bivouac
(Biv-o-Ak)
1: The watch of a whole army by night, when in danger  of surprise or attack   2: An encampment for the night usually without tents or covering.  --v.i.; To encamp for the night under little or no shelter.

susurrus
(su-SUHR-uhs)
n.: The act of whispering; a whisper;  a murmur; a rustling

thaumaturgy
(THAW-muh-tuhr-jee)
n.: The act or art of performing something wonderful; magic

capacious
(kuh-PAY-shuhs)
adj.: Having capacity; able to contain much; large; roomy;  spacious; extended; broad; as, a capacious vessel, room, bay, or harbor.

abdicate
(Ab di*cate)
v: 1. To surrender or relinquish, as sovereign power; to withdraw definitely from filling or exercising, as a high office, station, dignity;  (Civil Law) To disclaim and expel from the family, as a father his child; to disown; to disinherit

glower
(GLAU-uhr)
v. i.: to stare angrily or with a scowl

canorous
(kan-OR-uhs)
adj.: Melodious; musical

effulgence
(i-FUL-juhn(t)s)
n.: The state of being effulgent; extreme brilliancy; a flood of light;  great luster or brightness; splendor.

assuage
(uh-SWAYJ)
To soften; to allay, mitigate, ease, or lessen,  as heat, pain, or grief;  to appease or pacify, as passion or tumult.

repast
(ri-PAST)
n.1. Something taken as food; a meal;  figuratively, any refreshment.  2. The act of taking food.

tenebrous
(TEN-uh-bruhs)
adjective: Dark; gloomy; dusky

nescience
(NESH-(ee-)uhn(t)s)
noun: Lack of knowledge; ignorance

exiguity
(ek-suh-GYOO-uht-ee)
noun: Scantiness; smallness; thinness; the quality of being meager

seriatim
(sir-ee-AY-tim)
adverb and adjective: in a series; one after another.

chthonic
(THONE-ik)
adjective: dwelling in or under the earth;  also, pertaining to the underworld

objurgate
(AHB-juhr-gayt)
verb: 1: express strong disapproval of; 2: censure severely

plethora
(PLETH-uh-ruh)
noun. State of being overfull; excess; superabundance.

lissom
(LISS-uhm)
adjective: 1. Limber; supple; flexible; lithe; lithesome  2. Light; nimble; active

propitious
(pruh-PISH-uhs)
adjective: presenting favorable circumstances; as, a propitious season; a propitious breeze, a propitious sign, propitious omens

inclement
(in-KLEM-uhnt)
1.Physically severe or harsh (generally restricted to the elements or weather); rough; boisterous; stormy; rigorously cold, etc. 2.Not clement; destitute of a mild and kind temper; void of tenderness; unmerciful; severe; harsh.

knell
(NEL)
noun: The stoke of a bell tolled at a funeral or at the death of a person; a death signal; a passing bell; hence, figuratively, a warning of, or a sound indicating, the passing away of anything.

cogent
(KOH-juhnt)
Having the power to compel conviction or move the will; constraining; conclusive; forcible; powerful; not easily resisted.

regale
(ri-GAY(uh)L)
To entertain in a regal or sumptuous manner; to entertain with something that delights; to gratify; to refresh; as, to regale the taste, the eye, or the ear.

mordant
(MORD-uhnt)
biting; caustic; sarcastic; keen; severe

agog
uh-GAHG
in eager desire; eager; highly excited; astir

captious
KAP-shuhs
adjective: 1. Apt to catch at faults; disposed to find fault or to cavil; eager to object; difficult to please.

arbitrage
AHR-buh-trahzh
The simultaneous purchase of a good or asset in one market where the price is low, and sale of the same good or asset in another market where the price is higher.

quorum
KWOR-uhm
a gathering of members of an organization large enough to transact business

virtu
(vuhr-TOO)
noun 1: love of or taste for fine objects of art 2: artistic quality 3: productions of art (especially fine antiques)

gamut
(GAM-uht)
1: a complete extent or range; 2: the entire scale of musical notes 

lexicon
(LEK-suh-kahn)
noun: A vocabulary, or book containing an alphabetical arrangement of the words in a language or of a considerable number of them, with the definition of each; a dictionary; especially, a dictionary of the Greek, Hebrew, or Latin language.

desultory
(DES-uhl-tor-ee)
1. Jumping, or passing, from one thing or subject to another, without order or rational connection; without logical sequence; disconnected; immethodical; aimless; 2. Out of course; by the way; as a digression; not connected with the subject.

irascible
(ir-AS-uh-buhl)
1: quickly aroused to anger 2: characterized by anger

acumen
(uh-KYOO-muhn)
Quickness of perception or discernment; penetration of mind; the faculty of nice discrimination; shrewdness shown by keen insight 

scion
SY-uhn
1. (Botany) (a) A shoot or sprout of a plant (b) A piece of a slender branch or twig cut for grafting 2. Hence, a descendant; an heir

multifarious
(muhl-tuh-FER-ee-uhs)
adjective: Having multiplicity; having great diversity or variety; of various kinds; diversified; made up of many differing parts; manifold.

ebullient
(i-BUL-yuhnt)
1: boiling up or over; hence, 2: joyously unrestrained; manifesting exhilaration or excitement, as of feeling; effervescing.

trepidation
(trep-uh-DAY-shuhn)
1. An involuntary trembling, sometimes an effect of paralysis, but usually caused by terror or fear; quaking; quivering. 2. Hence, a state of terror or alarm; fear; confusion; fright;  

torrid
(TOR-uhd)
adjective: 1: Violenty hot; drying or scorching with heat; burning; parching; 2: characterized by intense emotion; 3: emotionally charged and vigorously energetic;

extant
\EK-stuhnt\
adjective: still in existence; not extinct or destroyed or lost;

verdant
\VUHRD-uhnt\
1. Covered with growing plants or grass; green; fresh; flourishing; as, verdant fields; 2. Unripe in knowledge or judgment; unsophisticated; raw; green; 

comity 
\KAHM-uh-tee\
noun: a state or atmosphere of harmony or mutual civility and respect. 

ameliorate 
\uh-MEEL-yuh-rayt\
verb: 1. transitive: to make better; to improve 2. intransitive: to grow better 

bestow 
\bih-STOH\ 
verb: To give or confer; to impart; -- with on or upon.

comestible 
\kuh-MES-tuh-buhl\
adjective: Suitable to be eaten; eatable; esculent -- noun: Something suitable to be eaten; -- usually in the plural. 

requisite 
\REK-wiz-it\ 
adjective: required by the nature of things, or by circumstances; necessary, indispensable -- noun: that which is required, or is necessary; something indispensable 

prolix 
\proh-LIKS; \ PROLIXITY noun. PROLIXLY, adverb 
adjective: 1. Extending to a great length; unnecessarily long; minute in narration or argument; excessively particular in detail; -- usually used with reference to discourse written or spoken; 2. Indulging in protracted discourse; tedious; wearisome; -- applied to a speaker or writer.

palpable 
\PAL-puh-buhl\
adjective: 1. Capable of being touched and felt; perceptible by the touch 2. Easily perceptible; plain; distinct; obvious; readily perceived and detected; gross; 

listless 
\LIST-lis\ LISTLESSLY, adverb -- LISTLESSNESS, noun 
adjective: Having no desire or inclination; indifferent; heedless; spiritless. 

antediluvian 
\an-ti-duh-LOO-vee-uhn\
adjective: 1: of or relating to the period before the Biblical flood 2: so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period; noun: 1: one who lived before the Deluge 2: a very old (or old-fashioned) person 

melee 
\MAY-lay; may-LAY\
noun: A fight in which the combatants are mingled in one confused mass; a hand to hand conflict; an affray. 

genial 
\JEEN-yuhl\ 
adjective: Contributing to, and sympathizing with, the enjoyment of life; sympathetically cheerful and cheering; jovial and inspiring joy or happiness; exciting pleasure and sympathy; enlivening; kindly; 

raucous 
\RAWK-uhs\ 
adjective: 1. unpleasantly loud and harsh; strident. 2. disturbing the public peace; loud and rough.

aberrant 
\ab-AIR-uhnt; AB-er-uhnt\
adjective: markedly different from an accepted norm; 

diffident 
\DIFF-i-duhnt; DIFF-i-dent\
adjective: 1: showing modest reserve; 2: lacking self-confidence; 

numismatics 
\noo-miz-MAT-iks; -mis-; nyoo-\
noun: the collection and study of money (and coins in particular). 

superfluous 
\soo-PER-floo-us\ 
adjective: more than is wanted or is sufficient; rendered unnecessary by superabundance; unnecessary; useless; excessive

gregarious 
\gri-GAIR-ee-us\
adjective: 1: tending to form a group with others of the same kind; 2: seeking and enjoying the company of others; 

erudite 
\ER-uh-dyt; ER-yuh-dyt\
adjective: characterized by extensive reading or knowledge; well instructed; learned; 

insouciant 
\in-SOO-see-uhnt\
adjective: marked by blithe unconcern; nonchalant; 

salubrious 
\suh-LOO-bree-us\ 
adjective: Favorable to health; healthful; promoting health; as, salubrious air, water, or climate.

verbiage 
\VUR-bee-ij\ 
noun: The use of many words without necessity, or with little sense; a superabundance of words; verbosity; wordiness. 

ascribe 
\uh-SKRYB\
verb: 1. To attribute, as to a cause; 2. To attribute, as a quality; to consider or allege to belong; 

jovial 
\JOH-vee-uhl\
adjective: merry; joyous; jolly; mirth-inspiring; characterized by mirth or jollity;

adamant 
\AD-uh-muhnt\ adamantly, adverb
adjective: not capable of being swayed or diverted from a course; unsusceptible to persuasion 

desideratum 
\di-sid-uh-RAIT-uhm; di-sid-uh-RAHT-uhm\ plural desiderata
noun: anything desired; that of which the lack is felt; something considered a necessity. 

ersatz 
\er-ZAHTS; ER-zahts\ 
adjective: being a substitute or imitation (usually, an inferior article instead of the real thing); artificial; 

solace 
\SOL-is\
noun: comfort in grief; alleviation of grief or anxiety; also, that which relieves in distress; that which cheers or consoles; relief. verb: 1. To cheer in grief or under calamity; to comfort; to relieve in affliction, solitude, or discomfort; to console; 

triskaidekaphobia 
\tris-ky-dek-uh-FOH-bee-uh\ 
noun: a morbid fear of the number 13 

stoic 
\STOH-ik\ 
noun: 1. Stoic. Philosophy. A disciple of the philosopher Zeno; one of a Greek sect which held that men should be free from passion, unmoved by joy or grief, and should submit without complaint to unavoidable necessity, by which all things are governed. 2. Hence, a person not easily excited; an apathetic person; one who is apparently or professedly indifferent to pleasure or pain.

encumbrance 
\en-KUM-bruns\ 
noun: that which encumbers; burdensome and troublesome load; anything that impedes motion or action, or renders it difficult or laborious; clog; impediment; hindrance; check. 

puerile 
\PYOO-uhr-uhl; PYOOR-uhl\
adjective: displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity; juvenile; childish; trifling 

innocuous 
\i-NOK-yoo-us\
adjective: Harmless; producing no ill effect 

colloquial 
\kuh-LOH-kwee-uhl\
adjective: characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation; 

dour 
\DOOR; DOW-er\
adjective: 1: stubbornly unyielding;  2: harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance; 3: showing a brooding ill humor; 

incongruous 
\in-KONG-groo-us\
adjective: 1. lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness; 

winsome 
\WIN-sum\ 
adjective: 1. Cheerful; merry; gay; light-hearted. 2. Causing joy or pleasure; gladsome; pleasant. 

apposite 
\A-puh-zit\ 
adjective: Being of striking appropriateness and pertinence; very applicable; well adapted; suitable or fit.

tumult 
\TOO-mult; TYOO-mult\
noun: 1. The commotion or agitation of a crowd, usually accompanied with great noise, uproar, and confusion of voices; hurly-burly; noisy confusion. 2. Violent commotion or agitation, with confusion of sounds; 

parvenu 
\PAR-vuh-noo; PAR-vuh-nyoo\
noun: a person who has suddenly risen to a higher economic status but has not gained social acceptance of others in that class

dilatory 
\DIL-uh-tor-ee\
adjective: 1. Inclined to defer or put off what ought to be done at once; given the procrastination; delaying; procrastinating 2. Marked by procrastination or delay; tardy; slow; sluggish; 

edify 
\ED-uh-fy\ --edifying, adjective 
verb: To instruct and improve, especially in moral and religious knowledge; to teach.

impecunious 
\im-pi-KYOO-nee-us\
adjective: Not having money; habitually without money; poor. 

polyglot 
\POL-ee-glot\
adjective: 1. Containing, or made up, of, several languages 2. Versed in, or speaking, many languages.

sedulous 
\SEJ-uh-lus\
adjective: marked by care and persistent effort; steadily industrious; assiduous;

chagrin 
\shuh-GRIN\
noun: Acute vexation, annoyance, or embarrassment, arising from disappointment or failure

perforce 
\pur-FORS\
adverb: by necessity; by force of circumstance 

evanescent 
\ev-uh-NESS-uhnt\
adjective: Liable to vanish or pass away like vapor; vanishing; fleeting; 

quotidian 
\kwoh-TID-ee-uhn\
adjective: 1. Occurring or returning daily; 2. Of an everyday character; ordinary, commonplace, trivial. 

specious 
\SPEE-shus\
adjective: 1. Apparently right; superficially fair, just, or correct, but not so in reality; appearing well at first view; plausible;  2. deceptively pleasing 

munificent 
\myoo-NIF-i-suhnt\ 
adjective: Very liberal in giving or bestowing; very generous; lavish. 

indolent 
\IN-duh-luhnt\ 
adjective: 1. Indulging in ease; avoiding labor and exertion; habitually idle; lazy; inactive. 2. (Medicine) Causing little or no pain or annoyance; 

intransigent 
\in-TRAN-suh-juhnt\ in-TRAN-zuh-juhnt\
adjective: Uncompromising; irreconcilable; not capable of being swayed or diverted from a course; unsusceptible to persuasion. 
 
tortuous 
\TOR-choo-us\
adjective: 1. marked by repeated turns and bends; 2. not straightforward; devious; as, "his tortuous reasoning" 3. highly involved or intricate;

paucity 
\PO-si-tee\
noun: 1. Fewness; smallness of number; scarcity. 2. Smallness of quantity; insufficiency. 

autodidact
\o-toh-DY-dakt\
noun: a person who is self-taught. 

fatuous 
\FACH-oo-us\
adjective: 1. Feeble in mind; weak; silly; stupid; foolish. 2. Without reality; illusory

complement 
\KOM-pluh-muhnt\ 
noun: That which fills up or completes; the quantity or number required to fill a thing or make it complete.

taciturn 
\TAS-i-turn\
adjective: Habitually silent; not given to converse; not apt to talk or speak. 

en masse 
\en MASS; on MASS\
adverb: all together 

confluence 
\KON-floo-uhns\
noun: 1. The act of flowing together; the meeting or junction of two or more streams; the place of meeting. 2. Any running together of separate streams or currents; the act of meeting and crowding in a place; hence, a crowd; a coming together of people; a concourse; an assemblage. 

maudlin 
\MOD-lin\ 
adjective: Tearful; easily moved to tears; exciting to tears; excessively sentimental. 

enervate 
\EN-ur-vayt\  
verb: To deprive of nerve, force, or strength; to weaken; to impair the moral powers of. 

recondite 
\REK-un-dyt\
adjective: 1. Difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge. 2. Dealing in things abstruse; profound; searching; 

paroxysm 
\PAIR-uck-siz-um\
noun: 1. (Medicine) The fit, attack, or exacerbation, of a disease that occurs at intervals, or has decided remissions or intermissions. 2. Any sudden and violent emotion; spasmodic passion or action; a convulsion; a fit. 

copious 
\KOH-pee-us\ 
adjective: 1. large in number or quantity; 2. affording an abundant supply 

exalt 
\ig-ZOLT\ 
verb: 1. To praise, glorify, or honor 2. To heighten or intensify 3. To raise in rank, character, or status; 

prescience 
\PREE-shuns; PREE-shee-uns\ 
noun: Knowledge of events before they take place; foresight. 

ineluctable 
\in-i-LUCK-tuh-bul\ 
adjective: Impossible to avoid or evade; inevitable. 

obdurate 
\OB-du-rit; OB-dyu-rit\
adjective: 1. Hardened in feelings, especially against moral or mollifying influences; unyielding; hard-hearted; stubbornly wicked. 2. Hard; harsh; rugged; rough; intractable. 

banal 
\BAY-nul; buh-NALL; buh-NAHL\
adjective: Commonplace; trivial; hackneyed; trite.