a priori
"from the earlier" (Latin)
alacrity
eagerness
approbation
commendation; praise
aquiline
curved, like an eagle's beak
ascetic
practicing strict self-denial out of spiritual discipline
assiduous
showing great perseverance
Bedlam
a place, state, or scene of uproar and confusion; chaotic
bonhomie
good cheer; friendliness
calenture
delirious fever
capricious
whimsical; wayward; fickle
catechising
instructing by asking questions
cavil
disagreement over petty or unnecessary objections
chiaroscuro
"light-dark" (Italian); having an interplay between dissimilar qualities
compendious
concise and comprehensive
croft
small area of farmland next to a house
da capo
a musical term meaning "from the beginning" (Italian)
disburthened
unburdened
dolorous
sad; mournful
dubitative
doubtful
eidolon
apparition (Greek)
fallacious
false; faulty; untrue
fetish
a token or object that is imbued with mystical power
franzy
frenzied
fromenty
a boiled wheat porridge that is sweetened and spiced
hagiographer
a person who studies saints
Harpagons
misers
ignomy
disgrace; shame; dishonor
imperious
arrogant; domineering
impetuous
passionate, vehement
implacable
unable to be soothed
importunate
persistent
imputation
negative attribution
incubus
a demon that sexually preys on sleeping women
insipid
lacking flavor or depth
irascible
easily angered
jejune
naive; simplistic
jocosely
cheerfully
loquacity
talkativeness
maladroit
unskillful; awkward; tactless
mangled
pressed
Manichaeism
An ancient gnostic religion that centered on the struggle between the good, spiritual world of light and the evil, material world of darkness.
murrain
a pestilence or plague affecting domestic animals
nash
soft, delicate
nidus
a nest; cavity for spores
obfuscated
made obscure, darkened
obloquy
strong public criticism or abuse
Old Harry
the devil
opprobrium
harsh criticism or censure
oracular
enigmatic
paroxysm
sudden violent attack
perspicacity
penetrating discernment
pillory
a punishment device made of wood or metal that binds head and hands
poultice
a medicinal porridge used on inflamed skin
propitious
favorable
prosaic
banal; unromantic
Providence
divine guidance
remonstrance
protest, objection
Rhadamanthine
inflexibly just
sagacity
wisdom
salutary
wholesome
sanative
healing or curative
sang froid
"cold blood" (French); self-possession
sanguinary
bloody, violent
Saturnalian
from Saturnalia, an ancient Roman festival where, through role-reversal, slaves were treated to honors typically bestowed on their masters
sententiously
tersely
sonorous
loud
supercilious
haughty; arrogant
supernal
heavenly; celestial; divine
suretyship
a security; a pledge or formal promise made to secure against loss, damage, or default
tumulus
ancient grave mound
vicissitude
a change of fortune or circumstance - typically unwelcome
vituperative
bitter and abusive
withy
willow
