More Cool Words

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  1. alarmist
  2. mores - 1. The fixed customs of a particular group that are morally binding upon all members of the group. 2. Moral attitudes. 3. Customs; habits; ways. <"Usually the laws mirror the mores of the populace in this regard, though at times they run ahead, and at times they lag behind." ... "grasping the deeper mores and etiquettes prevailing in my new surroundings." ... "Artists rebelled against the stodgy mores of the bourgeoisie."
  3. stodgy - 1 : having a rich filling quality : heavy <stodgy bread> 2 : moving in a slow plodding way especially as a result of physical bulkiness 3 : boring, dull <out on a peaceful rather stodgy Sunday boat trip — Edna Ferber> 4 : extremely old-fashioned : hidebound <received a pompously Victorian letter from his stodgy father — E. E. S. Montagu> 5 a : drab b : dowdy — stodg·i·ly \ˈstä-jə-lē\ adverb — stodg·i·ness \ˈstä-jē-nəs\ noun
  4. drab 1 a : of the dull brown color of drab b : of the color drab 2 : characterized by dullness and monotony : cheerless <a drab life>
  5. tepid - (esp. of a liquid) Only slightly warm; lukewarm. Showing little enthusiasm: Lacking passion, force, or zest "tepid applause". Middle English teped, from Latin tepidus, from tepēre to be moderately warm; akin to Sanskrit tapati it heats, Old Irish tess heat
  6. fiddlesticks
  7. Jesus H. tap-dancin Christ
  8. tunnel vision
  9. charmless
  10. milieu - : the physical or social setting in which something occurs or develops : environment. mean the place, time, and circumstances in which something occurs. milieu applies especially to the physical and social surroundings of a person or group of persons <an intellectual milieu conducive to artistic experimentation>.
  11. passe - 1 : past one's prime 2 a : outmoded b : behind the times
  12. melange - ("maylanzh" - : a mixture often of incongruous elements
  13. convolve - tr.: to roll together : writhe. intr: to roll together or circulate involvedly. Latin convolvere, from com- + volvere to roll.
  14. voluble - characterized by ready or rapid speech : glib, fluent. Middle English, from Latin volubilis, from volvere to roll; akin to Old English wealwian to roll, Greek eilyein to roll, wrap
  15. ramifications - consequence, outgrowth <the ramifications of the decision>
  16. inclement heather
  17. nifty
  18. Luddite - (Ned Ludd) one of a group of early 19th century English workmen destroying laborsaving machinery as a protest; broadly : one who is opposed to especially technological change
  19. sick nasty
  20. reave - to rob
  21. pristine
  22. quotidian - 1 : occurring every day <quotidian fever> 2 a : belonging to each day : everyday <quotidian routine> b : commonplace, ordinary <quotidian drabness>. Latin quotidianus, from quotidie every day, from quot (as) many as + dies day
  23. rigamarole - 1 : confused or meaningless talk 2 : a complex and sometimes ritualistic procedure. A long and complicated and confusing procedure; "all that academic rigmarole was a waste of time"
  24. retrofit
  25. halitosis
  26. unassailable - : not assailable : not liable to doubt, attack, or question <an unassailable argument> <an unassailable alibi>
  27. solipsism - a theory holding that the self can know nothing but its own modifications and that the self is the only existent thing; also : extreme egocentrism; Latin solus alone + ipse self
  28. useful/useless discussion
  29. cognitive dissonance - is an uncomfortable feeling caused by holding two contradictory ideas simultaneously.
  30. immaterial - of no substantial consequence : unimportant
  31. schmo - Yiddish for an idiot or a cuckold. Essential loan word in New Yorkese English, along with all the other Yiddish insults. See also schmuck
  32. edgy - having a bold, provocative, or unconventional quality <an edgy film>
  33. kludge - a workaround, a quick-and-dirty solution, a clumsy or inelegant, yet effective, solution to a problem, typically using parts that are cobbled together.
  34. bleary - 1 of the eyes or vision : dull or dimmed especially from fatigue or sleep 2 : poorly outlined or defined : dim <a bleary view> 3 : very tired <bleary travelers>
  35. rankle - : to cause anger, irritation, or deep bitterness.
  36. unseemly - : not seemly: as a : not according with established standards of good form or taste <unseemly bickering> b : not suitable for time or place. Adds a suggestion of special inappropriateness to a situation or an offensiveness to good taste <remarried with unseemly haste>. Like how I felt when I wore the Ozma hoodie with the hammer and sickle to that buddhist gathering.
  37. indelicate - : not delicate: a (1) : lacking in or offending against propriety : improper (2) : verging on the indecent : coarse b : marked by a lack of feeling for the sensibilities of others : tactless. Implies a lack of modesty or of tact or of refined perception of feeling <indelicate expressions for bodily functions>.
  38. unbecoming - : not becoming <an unbecoming dress>; especially : not according with the standards appropriate to one's position or condition of life <unbecoming conduct>. Suggests behavior or language that does not suit one's character or status <conduct unbecoming to an officer>.
  39. precipitous - a : very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging in rise or fall <a precipitous slope> b : having precipitous sides <a precipitous gorge> c : having a very steep ascent <a precipitous street>. Applies to an incline approaching the vertical <the river winds through a precipitous gorge>.
  40. journeyman - 1. A worker who has learned a trade and works for another person usually by the day. 2. An experienced reliable worker, athlete, or performer especially as distinguished from one who is brilliant or colorful <a good journeyman trumpeter — New Yorker> <a journeyman outfielder>
  41. shrimpy
  42. sappy - a : overly sweet or sentimental b : lacking in good sense : silly
  43. priggish - 3 : one who offends or irritates by observance of proprieties (as of speech or manners) in a pointed manner or to an obnoxious degree
  44. mellifluous - 1 : having a smooth rich flow <a mellifluous voice> 2 : filled with something (as honey) that sweetens. Latin mell-, mel honey + fluere to flow
  45. heuristic - : involving or serving as an aid to learning, discovery, or problem-solving by experimental and especially trial-and-error methods <heuristic techniques> <a heuristic assumption>; also : of or relating to exploratory problem-solving techniques that utilize self-educating techniques (as the evaluation of feedback) to improve performance
    • adjective for experience-based techniques that help in problem solving, learning and discovery.
    • A heuristic method is particularly used to rapidly come to a solution that is hoped to be close to the best possible answer, or 'optimal solution'.
    • Heuristics are "rules of thumb", educated guesses, intuitive judgments or simply common sense.
    • A heuristic is a general way of solving a problem. Heuristics as a noun is another name for heuristic methods.
    • In more precise terms, heuristics stand for strategies using readily accessible, though loosely applicable, information to control problem solving in human beings and machines.
  46. ream, ream out
  47. you'll never get away with it
  48. blithe - 1 : of a happy lighthearted character or disposition 2 : lacking due thought or consideration : casual, heedless <blithe unconcern>. Suggests carefree, innocent, or even heedless gaiety <arrived late in his usual blithe way>
  49. warble - 1 : to sing in a trilling manner or with many turns and variations 2 : to become sounded with trills, quavers, and rapid modulations in pitch 3 : sing
  50. interleave - : to arrange in or as if in alternate layers
  51. burly : strongly and heavily built : husky <a burly man>
  52. intransigent - : characterized by refusal to compromise or to abandon an extreme position or attitude : uncompromising <intransigent in their opposition> <an intransigent attitude>. Spanish intransigente, from in- + transigente, present participle of transigir to compromise, from Latin transigere to come to an agreement (like transact).
  53. contingent -
  54. cocksure - 1 : feeling perfect assurance sometimes on inadequate grounds 2 : marked by overconfidence or presumptuousness : cocky
  55. kismet - fate
  56. irascible - : marked by hot temper and easily provoked anger. Latin irasci to become angry, be angry, from ira
  57. abscond - : to depart secretly and hide oneself. Latin abscondere to hide away, from abs- + condere to store up, conceal
  58. ensconce - 1 : shelter, conceal <ensconced themselves within the protection of three great elms — Mark Twain> 2 : establish, settle <ensconced in a new job>.
  59. artifact - 2 : a product of artificial character (as in a scientific test) due usually to extraneous (as human) agency
  60. bohemian - 2 often not capitalized a : vagabond, wanderer; especially : gypsy b : a person (as a writer or an artist) living an unconventional life usually in a colony with others. Bohemianism is a way of life, a state of mind, an atmosphere. It is not a trend, its a timeless movement. It is about living beyond convention. BOHEMIAN MANIFESTO explores and joyfully celebrates the creativity, the originality, and the splendor of a lifestyle and spirit shared by free-thinking, free-living artists, poets, writers, sculptors, musicians, and intellectuals.
  61. philistine - a derogatory term used to describe a particular attitude or set of values. A person called a Philistine (in the relevant sense), is said to despise or undervalue art, beauty, intellectual content, and/or spiritual values. Philistines are also said to be materialistic, to favor conventional social values unthinkingly, and to favor forms of art that have a cheap and easy appeal (e.g. kitsch).
  62. bon vivant (plural bons vivants) - a person who enjoys the good things in life, especially good food and drink
  63. man about town (plural men about town) 1. A worldly, social man who gets "about".
  64. ignoble
  65. disjointed - : being thrown out of orderly function <a disjointed society, disjointed household> b : lacking coherence or orderly sequence <an incomplete and disjointed history> - to disjoint - to disturb the orderly structure or arrangement of
  66. presage - 1 : to give an omen or warning of : foreshadow 2 : foretell, predict - Latin praesagium, from praesagus having a foreboding, from prae- + sagus prophetic
  67. rickety - a : lacking stability or firmness : shaky 2a <a rickety coalition> b : in unsound physical condition <rickety veterans> <rickety stairs>
  68. ramshackle - 1 : appearing ready to collapse <ramshackle house>: rickety 2 : carelessly or loosely constructed <a ramshackle plot>
  69. extant - a : currently or actually existing <the most charming writer extant — G. W. Johnson> b : still existing : not destroyed or lost <extant manuscripts>
  70. delightful
  71. to interlope - 1 : to encroach on the rights (as in trade) of others 2 : intrude, interfere
  72. interloper - : one that interlopes: as a : an illegal or unlicensed trader b : one that intrudes in a place or sphere of activity
  73. shiksa - 1 often disparaging : a non-Jewish girl or woman 2 : a Jewish girl or woman who does not observe Jewish precepts —used especially by Orthodox Jews. Hebrew sheqeṣ blemish, abomination
  74. saucy - impertinently bold and impudent b : amusingly forward and flippant : irrepressible
  75. cheeky - insolently bold : impudent
  76. impudent - marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others. Latin in- + pudent-, pudens, present participle of pudēre to feel shame
  77. insolent - showing scorn for inferiors 1 : insultingly contemptuous in speech or conduct : overbearing 2 : exhibiting boldness or effrontery : impudent. Implies contemptuous haughtiness <ignored by an insolent waiter>.
  78. haughty - blatantly and disdainfully proud. Suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position <a haughty aristocrat>.
  79. overbearing - harshly and haughtily arrogant. Suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence <an overbearing supervisor>.
  80. supercilious - : coolly and patronizingly haughty <an aloof and supercilious manner>. Latin supercilium, eyebrow, haughtiness.
  81. petulant - 1 : insolent or rude in speech or behavior 2 : characterized by temporary or capricious ill humor : peevish. Akin to Latin petere to go to, attack, seek.
  82. anathema - b : someone or something intensely disliked or loathed — usually used as a predicate nominative <this notion was anathema to most of his countrymen — S. J. Gould>
  83. frivolous
  84. regurgitate
  85. allegory
  86. misguided - : led or prompted by wrong or inappropriate motives or ideals <well-meaning but misguided do-gooders>
  87. burning question
  88. cavalier - 1 : debonair 2 : marked by or given to offhand and often disdainful dismissal of important matters <a cavalier attitude toward money>
  89. flippant - lacking proper respect or seriousness
  90. chimera - 3 : an individual, organ, or part consisting of tissues of diverse genetic constitution 2 : an illusion or fabrication of the mind; especially : an unrealizable dream <a fancy, a chimera in my brain, troubles me in my prayer — John Donne> 1 : an imaginary monster compounded of incongruous parts
  91. debonair - 2 a : suave, urbane <a debonair performer> b : lighthearted, nonchalant - Anglo-French deboneire, from de bon aire of good family or nature
  92. urbane - : notably polite or polished in manner. Implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience <an urbane traveler>. Latin urbanus urban, urbane
  93. suave - 1 : smoothly though often superficially gracious and sophisticated. Suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction <a suave public relations coordinator>. Pleasantly tactful and well-mannered.
  94. pillory - noun : a device formerly used for publicly punishing offenders consisting of a wooden frame with holes in which the head and hands can be locked. Verb : to expose to public contempt, ridicule, or scorn
  95. veneer - : a superficial or deceptively attractive appearance, display, or effect : facade, gloss <a veneer of tolerance>. A layer of wood of superior value or excellent grain to be glued to an inferior wood
  96. besot - infatuate - to muddle or stupefy, as with alcoholic liquor or infatuation
  97. searching for a punchline
  98. serendipity - : the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for; also : an instance of this. Etymology: from its possession by the heroes of the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip
  99. unflinching - : not flinching or shrinking : steadfast, uncompromising <unflinching determination>
  100. trappings - : outward decoration or dress : ornamental equipment : outward signs <conventional men with all the trappings…of banality — Robert Plank>
  101. dichotomy - : a division into two especially mutually exclusive or contradictory groups or entities <the dichotomy between theory and practice>; also : the process or practice of making such a division <dichotomy of the population into two opposed classes>
  102. madcap - : marked by capriciousness, recklessness, or foolishness
  103. never the twain shall meet
  104. tremendous
  105. cabal - 1 : the artifices and intrigues of a group of persons secretly united in a plot (as to overturn a government); also : a group engaged in such artifices and intrigues 2 : club, group <a cabal of artists>. cabal typically applies to political intrigue involving persons of some eminence <a cabal among powerful senators>. French cabale cabala, intrigue, cabal, from Medieval Latin cabbala cabala, from Late Hebrew qabbālāh, literally, received (lore)
  106. artifice - 1 a : clever or artful skill : ingenuity <believing that characters had to be created from within rather than with artifice — Garson Kanin> b : an ingenious device or expedient 2 a : an artful stratagem : trick b : false or insincere behavior <social artifice>. artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention <the clever artifices of the stage>.
  107. megalomaniac - 1 : a mania for great or grandiose performance 2 : a delusional mental disorder that is marked by feelings of personal omnipotence and grandeur
  108. middling - 1 : of middle, medium, or moderate size, degree, or quality 2 : mediocre, second-rate 3 : of, relating to, or being a middle class
  109. multi-faceted
  110. goodwill - 1 a : a kindly feeling of approval and support : benevolent interest or concern b (1) : the favor or advantage that a business has acquired especially through its brands and its good reputation
  111. nefarious - : flagrantly wicked or impious : evil. Latin nefarius, from nefas crime, from ne- not + fas right, divine law; nefarious suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct <the nefarious rackets of organized crime>.
  112. prosaic - 1 a : characteristic of prose as distinguished from poetry : factual b : dull, unimaginative <prosaic advice> 2 : everyday, ordinary <heroic characters wasted in prosaic lives — Kirkus Reviews>
  113. abate, subside, wane, ebb mean to die down in force or intensity. abate stresses the idea of progressive diminishing <the storm abated>.
  114. harlot - prostitute
  115. bootstrap - noun - plural : unaided efforts —often used in the phrase by one's own bootstraps. Adjective 1 : designed to function independently of outside direction : capable of using one internal function or process to control another <a bootstrap operation to load a computer> 2 : carried out with minimum resources or advantages : self-reliant <bootstrap efforts>. Tr. v. : to promote or develop by initiative and effort with little or no assistance <bootstrapped herself to the top>
  116. winsome - 1 : generally pleasing and engaging often because of a childlike charm and innocence <a winsome smile> 2 : cheerful, lighthearted. Old English wynsum, from wynn joy;
  117. irksome - : tending to irk : tedious <an irksome task>: to make weary, irritated, or bored. irk stresses difficulty in enduring and the resulting weariness or impatience of spirit <careless waste irks the boss>.
  118. milquetoast - : a timid, meek, or unassertive person. Caspar Milquetoast, comic strip character created by H. T. Webster
  119. at loggerheads : in or into a state of quarrelsome disagreement
  120. conniption - A fit of violent emotion, such as anger or panic. Also called conniption fit.
  121. bevy - 1 : a large group or collection <a bevy of girls> 2 : a group of animals and especially quail
  122. pedantic - 1. Like a pedant, overly concerned with formal rules and trivial points of learning. 2. Being showy of one’s knowledge, often in a boring manner. 3. Being finicky or picky with language. (like a pedant): (informal, derogatory) anal-retentive, fussy, nit-picky (knowledge-peacock): (sometimes applicable) nit-picky, ostentatious, pedagogical, pretentious (linguistically affected): fussy, nit-picky
  123. hokey - 1 : corny 3 <the usual hokey melodrama> 2 : obviously contrived : phony <the plots are tricky but not hokey — Cleveland Amory>
  124. counterexample
  125. Epicureanism - a : the philosophy of Epicurus who subscribed to a hedonistic ethics that considered an imperturbable emotional calm the highest good and whose followers held intellectual pleasures superior to transient sensualism b : a way of life in accord with Epicureanism- Epicurus believed that the greatest good was to seek modest pleasures in order to attain a state of tranquility and freedom from fear (ataraxia) as well as absence of bodily pain (aponia) through knowledge of the workings of the world and the limits of one's desires. In the Epicurean view, the highest pleasure (tranquility and freedom from fear) was obtained by knowledge, friendship and living a virtuous and temperate life.
  126. epicurean - like bon vivant, taking pleasure in good food, good drink, and good friends
  127. cop - 1 slang : to get hold of : catch, capture; also : purchase 2 slang : steal, swipe 3 : adopt 2 <cop an attitude>intransitive verb slang : admit 2b —used with to <these small-timers would…cop to the smallest offense their attorney could negotiate — Tom Clancy> — cop a plea : to plead guilty to a lesser charge in order to avoid standing trial for a more serious one; broadly : to admit fault and plead for mercy
  128. indignant - : filled with or marked by indignation <became indignant at the accusation>. : anger aroused by something unjust, unworthy, or mean. Stresses righteous anger at what one considers unfair, mean, or shameful <a comment that caused general indignation>. Latin in- + dignus "worthy"
  129. lovely - 1 : delightful for beauty, harmony, or grace : attractive 2 : grand, swell <what a lovely morning>
  130. foist - 1 a : to introduce or insert surreptitiously or without warrant b : to force another to accept especially by stealth or deceit <the amendment to the bill was foisted upon the congress> 2 : to pass off as genuine or worthy <foist costly and valueless products on the public — Jonathan Spivak>
  131. demystify - 1 : to perplex the mind of : bewilder 2 : to make mysterious or obscure <mystify an interpretation of a prophecy>
  132. persnickety - 1 a : fussy about small details : fastidious <a persnickety teacher> b : having the characteristics of a snob 2 : requiring great precision <a persnickety job> (also related to pedantic)
  133. finesse - 1 : refinement or delicacy of workmanship, structure, or texture 2 : skillful handling of a situation : adroit maneuvering
  134. fulsome - ful·some·ly (adv.) ful·some·ness (n.) 1 a : characterized by abundance : copious <describes in fulsome detail — G. N. Shuster> <fulsome bird life. The feeder overcrowded — Maxine Kumin> b : generous in amount, extent, or spirit <the passengers were fulsome in praise of the plane's crew — Don Oliver> <a fulsome victory for the far left — Bruce Rothwell> <the greetings have been fulsome, the farewells tender — Simon Gray> c : being full and well developed <she was in generally fulsome, limpid voice — Thor Eckert, Jr.> 2 : aesthetically, morally, or generally offensive <fulsome lies and nauseous flattery — William Congreve> <the devil take thee for a…fulsome rogue — George Villiers> 3 : exceeding the bounds of good taste : overdone <the fulsome chromium glitter of the escalators dominating the central hall — Lewis Mumford> 4 : excessively complimentary or flattering : effusive <an admiration whose extent I did not express, lest I be thought fulsome — A. J. Liebling> The senses shown above are the chief living senses of fulsome. Sense 2, which was a generalized term of disparagement in the late 17th century, is the least common of these. Fulsome became a point of dispute when sense 1, thought to be obsolete in the 19th century, began to be revived in the 20th. The dispute was exacerbated by the fact that the large dictionaries of the first half of the century missed the beginnings of the revival. Sense 1 has not only been revived but has spread in its application and continues to do so. The chief danger for the user of fulsome is ambiguity. Unless the context is made very clear, the reader or hearer cannot be sure whether such an expression as “fulsome praise” is meant in sense 1b or in sense 4.
  135. egads! - ("ye gods")
  136. acerbic - : acid in temper, mood, or tone <acerbic commentary> <an acerbic reviewer>
  137. spoon-fed - 2. To treat (another) in a way that discourages independent thought or action, as by overindulgence. 3. a. To provide (another) with knowledge or information in an oversimplified way. b. To provide (knowledge or information) in an oversimplified way.
  138. navel-gazing - useless or excessive self-contemplation. being too self-absorbed.
  139. out of the mouths of babes oft times come gems
  140. extemporaneous - 1 a (1) : composed, performed, or uttered on the spur of the moment : impromptu <an extemporaneous comment> (2) : carefully prepared but delivered without notes or text b : skilled at or given to extemporaneous utterance c : happening suddenly and often unexpectedly and usually without clearly known causes or relationships <a great deal of criminal and delinquent behavior is…extemporaneous — W. C. Reckless> 2 : provided, made, or put to use as an expedient : makeshift <an extemporaneous shelter>
  141. beset - 1 : trouble, harass <inflation besets the economy> 2 a : to set upon : assail <the settlers were beset by savages> b : to hem in : surround
  142. regale - 1 : to entertain sumptuously : feast with delicacies 2 : to give pleasure or amusement to <regaled us with tall tales>
  143. edgy - 2 a : being on edge : tense, irritable b : characterized by tension <edgy negotiations> 3 : having a bold, provocative, or unconventional quality <an edgy film>
  144. tantamount - : equivalent in value, significance, or effect <a relationship tantamount to marriage>
  145. piss and moan
  146. resplendent - shining brilliantly : characterized by a glowing splendor <meadows resplendent with wildflowers — Outdoor World>
  147. temperamental - marked by excessive sensitivity and impulsive mood changes <a temperamental child> b : unpredictable in behavior or performance <a temperamental computer>
  148. ruminate - mull over. to engage in contemplation : reflect. Latin ruminari to chew the cud, muse upon. Implies going over the same matter in one's thoughts again and again but suggests little of either purposive thinking or rapt absorption <ruminated on past disappointments>.
  149. arrogant - 1. Having or displaying a sense of overbearing self-worth or self-importance. 2. Marked by or arising from a feeling or assumption of one's superiority toward others: an arrogant contempt for the weak.
  150. hootenanny - Old country word for "party". Now, most commonly, it refers to a folk-music party.
  151. panache - dash or flamboyance in style and action : verve. Late Latin pinnaculum small wing
  152. reticent - inclined to be silent or uncommunicative in speech : reserved; restrained in expression, presentation, or appearance; reluctant; from the verb "reticere," meaning "to keep silent." reticent implies a reluctance to speak out or at length, especially about one's own affairs <was reticent about his plans>.
  153. reserved implies reticence and suggests the restraining influence of caution or formality in checking easy informal conversational exchange <greetings were brief, formal, and reserved>.
  154. crestfallen - feeling shame or humiliation : dejected
  155. burgher - 1 : an inhabitant of a borough or a town 2 : a member of the middle class : a prosperous solid citizen <many of the college students are regarded by the local burghers as obnoxious louts>
  156. ravishing - unusually attractive, pleasing, or striking < 1. She is a ravishing beauty. 2. a ravishing view of the ocean >
  157. slipshod - careless, slovenly
  158. slovenly 1a : untidy especially in personal appearance b : lazily slipshod <slovenly in thought> 2: characteristic of a sloven <slovenly habits>
  159. ornery - 1. ugly and unpleasant in disposition or temper: No one can get along with my ornery cousin. 2. stubborn: I can't do a thing with that ornery mule. 3. low or vile. 4. inferior or common; ordinary. 1. mean, ill-tempered, ill-natured, surly, testy.
  160. threshold
  161. dint - force, power. "by dint of hard work"
  162. fusty - 1 British : impaired by age or dampness : moldy 2 : saturated with dust and stale odors : musty 3 : rigidly old-fashioned or reactionary 1. The trunk was full of fusty clothing. 2. <couldn't stay too long in the fusty attic without sneezing>
  163. steeplechase - 1 a : a horse race across country b : a horse race over a closed course with obstacles (as hedges and walls) 2 : a footrace of usually 3000 meters over hurdles and a water jump <a must-see movie in communities where the kindergarten-to-Harvard steeplechase is most competitive>
  164. enfilade - 1 : an interconnected group of rooms arranged usually in a row with each room opening into the next 2 : gunfire directed from a flanking position along the length of an enemy battle line <Uncle Charles, a truly unparalleled slinger of shit, is laying down an enfilade of the same... -David Foster Wallace>
  165. ensnared -
  166. contrived - : having an unnatural or false appearance or quality : artificial, labored <a contrived plot>
  167. predilection - A preference or special liking for something; a bias in favor of something
  168. inauspicious - Not conducive to success; unpromising; Unlucky; not auspicious; boding ill;
  169. auspicious - Conducive to success; favorable; Giving or being a sign of future success; Characterized by success; prosperous
  170. inscrutable - Impossible to understand or interpret; impenetrable; mysterious. of an obscure nature; "the new insurance policy is written without cryptic or mysterious terms"; "a deep dark secret"; "the inscrutable workings of Providence"; "in its mysterious past it encompasses all the dim origins of life"- Rachel Carson; "rituals totally mystifying to visitors from other lands"
  171. swarthy - of a dark color or complexion
  172. freewheeling - : free and loose in form or manner: as a : heedless of social norms or niceties <the raider style of his freewheeling father — Garry Wills> b : not repressed or restrained <freewheeling promiscuity> <a freewheeling competitive spirit> c : not bound by formal rules, procedures, or guidelines <a freewheeling investigation> d : loose and undisciplined : not defensive <a freewheeling style of hockey>
  173. avuncular - 1: of or relating to an uncle 2: suggestive of an uncle especially in kindliness or geniality <avuncular indulgence>
  174. coterie - A small group of people with shared interests or tastes, esp. one that is exclusive of other people
  175. "of that ilk" - The sense of “type”, “kind” is from the application of the phrase ‘of that ilk’ to families: the word thus came to mean ‘family’.
  176. wankery
  177. panoply - a wide-ranging and impressive array or display: <the dazzling panoply of the maharaja's procession; the panoply of European history>
  178. eschew - : to avoid habitually especially on moral or practical grounds : shun from Anglo-French eschiver (3d present eschiu) of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German sciuhen to frighten off — more at shy
  179. kerfuffle - disturbance, fuss - N.B. spelling is -fuffle, not -fluffle
  180. talkin jive
  181. chaste - refraining from sexual intercourse that is regarded as contrary to morality or religion; virtuous. 2. virgin. 3. not engaging in sexual relations; celibate. 4. free from obscenity; decent: chaste conversation. 5. undefiled or stainless: chaste, white snow.
  182. wizened - to become dry, shrunken, and wrinkled often as a result of aging or of failing vitality - <a face wizened by age>
  183. forthwith - immediately, without delay
  184. withering
  185. imprimatur - Latin, "let it be printed" In the proper sense, a declaration authorizing publication of a book. The term is also applied loosely to any mark of approval or endorsement.
  186. benighted - existing in a state of intellectual, moral, or social darkness : unenlightened. — be·night·ed·ly adverb.
  187. sublimate - to divert the expression of (an instinctual desire or impulse) from its unacceptable form to one that is considered more socially or culturally acceptable <Hillary Clinton sublimated any resentment that had come between her and Obama during their fight for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.>
  188. sublime a : lofty, grand, or exalted in thought, expression, or manner b : of outstanding spiritual, intellectual, or moral worth c : tending to inspire awe usually because of elevated quality (as of beauty, nobility, or grandeur) or transcendent excellence; complete, utter <sublime ignorance>
  189. patois - ("patwah") 1a. A dialect other than the standard or literary dialect. 1b. Uneducated or provincial speech. 2. the characteristic special language of an occupational or social group : jargon
  190. sociopath - Adolf Hitler, Jim Jones, Charles Manson, Marshall Applewhite. Charming, intriguing, hypnotic; highly intelligent; seek to dominate others and "win" at all costs; manipulative, incapable of feeling shame or remorse; eratic, spontaneous, intense; invent outrageous lies about their experience; incapable of love; speak poetically; delusional. They never answer facts, always attack the messenger.
  191. debunk
  192. quackery
  193. patina - 1 a : a usually green film formed naturally on copper and bronze by long exposure or artificially (as by acids) and often valued aesthetically for its color b : a surface appearance of something grown beautiful especially with age or use 2 : an appearance or aura that is derived from association, habit, or established character 3 : a superficial covering or exterior
  194. countervailing - 1. To act against with equal force; counteract. 2. To compensate for; offset. v.intr. To act against an often detrimental influence or power.
  195. in flagrante - Caught red-handed, caught in the act; caught with one's pants down;
  196. improvident - not having or showing foresight; spendthrift or thoughtless. "improvident and undisciplined behavior" synonyms: spendthrift, thriftless, wasteful, prodigal, profligate, extravagant, lavish, free-spending, immoderate, excessive; imprudent, irresponsible, careless, reckless, heedless "one consequence of a healthy economy may be a generation of improvident youth"
  197. cromulent - (humorous, made up word from The Simpsons) - Fine, acceptable or normal; excellent, realistic, legitimate or authentic.
  198. roman virtues - gravitas, pietas, dignitas, virtus
  199. gravitas - dignity, seriousness, or solemnity of manner. Also importance, and connotes a certain substance or depth of personality.
  200. pietas - duty, loyalty, devotion, religious piety, filial piety, the virtue "which admonishes us to do our duty to our country or our parents or other blood relations." - Cicero
  201. dignitas - Sum of the personal clout and influence that a person acquires throughout life, personal reputation, moral standing, and ethical worth, entitlement to respect and proper treatment. Prestige, charisma, good name, accomplishments, "two houses, alike in dignity."
  202. virtus - from vir "man", valor, manliness, excellence, courage, character, and worth, perceived as masculine strengths
  203. apotheosis - divinization, deification, the glorification of a subject to divine level. In art, the treatment of any subject (a figure, group, locale, motif, convention or melody) in a particularly grand or exalted manner. The painting on the dome of the Rotunda in the U.S. Capital building is called "The Apotheosis of Washington"
  204. mien - a person's look or manner, esp. one of a particular kind indicating their character or mood. "he has a cautious, academic mien" synonyms: appearance, look, expression, countenance, aura, demeanor, attitude, air, manner, bearing
  205. elide - omit (a sound or syllable) when speaking; to gloss over.
  206. stricture - something that closely restrains or limits : restriction <moral strictures>
  207. carp - v. to complain in an annoying way, to find fault or complain querulously <He's always carping about his boss.> <He's tired of always being carped at by his critics.> Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Icelandic karpa to dispute. bellyache, kvetch, bitching. n. = a complaint.
  208. vivacious - happy and lively in a way that is attractive. lively in temper, conduct, or spirit. Latin vivac-, vivax long-lived, vigorous, high-spirited, from vivere to live
  209. shambolic - obviously disorganized or confused (as in "in shambles")
  210. bête noire - plural bêtes noires from French, literally “black beast” - An anathema; someone or something which is particularly disliked or avoided; an object of aversion, the bane of one’s existence.
  211. Hoi polloi (Ancient Greek: οἱ πολλοί, hoi polloi, "the many" "the great unwashed", "the plebeians" or "plebs", "the rabble", "the dregs of society", "riffraff", "the herd", "the proles" (proletariat) and "peons"
  212. callow - (especially of a young person) inexperienced and immature. "earnest and callow undergraduates" synonyms: immature, inexperienced, juvenile, adolescent, naive, green, raw, untried, unworldly, unsophisticated; wet behind the ears. "she toyed with the emotions of Laughton when he was a callow and insecure young man"
  213. dastardly - wicked and cruel
  214. addle - to throw into confusion, confound; to become rotten, spoil <It's a dangerous poison that's strong enough to addle the brain.> <Their brains were addled with fear>
  215. cagey - 1. hesitant about committing oneself <officials are cagey about giving out details> 2 a : wary of being trapped or deceived : shrewd <a cagey consumer> b : marked by cleverness <a cagey reply>
  216. gossamer - Fine spider silk used by spiderlings for ballooning or kiting. (fabric), very light, sheer, gauze-like fabric. used to refer to something very light, thin, and insubstantial or delicate.
  217. pell-mell - in mingled confusion or disorder, in confused haste.
  218. chauvinism - Belief in the superiority or dominance of one's own group or people, who are seen as strong and virtuous, while others are considered weak or unworthy. Fanatical devotion and undue partiality to any group or cause to which one belongs, especially when such partisanship includes prejudice against or hostility toward outsiders or rival groups and persists even in the face of overwhelming opposition. "male chauvinist," "western chauvinist," etc.