aberration
something (such as a problem or a type of behavior) that is unusual or unexpected
austere
simple or plain, not fancy; (of a person) having a serious and unfriendly quality; (of a place or setting) having few pleasures, simple and harsh
beatnik
a young person who was part of a social group in the 1950s and early 1960s that rejected the traditional rules of society and encouraged people to express themselves through art
chivalrous
behaving in an honorable or polite way, especially toward women; showing respect and politeness in accordance with a code of honor
connoisseur
a person who knows a lot about something (such as art, wine, food, etc.): an expert in a particular subject involving human culture
culmination
the end or final result of something
draughtman
British version of "draftsman": a person whose job is to make drawings that will be used to make machines, buildings, etc.
duenna
an elderly woman serving as governess and companion to the younger ladies in a Spanish or a Portuguese family
elusive
hard to find or capture; hard to understand, define, or remember
entomology
a branch of zoology that deals with insects
fey
excessively refined
ghastly
very shocking or horrible: very bad
gloat
to observe or think about something with triumphant and often malicious satisfaction, gratification, or delight
golliwog
a grotesque doll based on racial stereotypes about Africans or African-Americans
oblique
not direct: not stated directly
obsequious
too eager to help or obey someone important
odious
arousing or deserving hatred or repugnance: hateful
photogenic
tending to look good in photographs
prowl
to move through a place or area, especially while searching for something, often in a quiet yet determined way
retaliate
to repay (as an injury) in kind
sarcastic (here: sarcasm)
the use of words that mean the opposite of what you really want to say, employed especially in order to insult someone, to show irritation, or to be funny
smithereens
small broken pieces: tiny bits
sordid
very bad or dishonest: very dirty
sporadic
happening often but not regularly: not constant or steady
teetotaler
one who abstains from drinking
tripe
something that is worthless, unimportant, or of poor quality
vile
evil or immoral, very bad or unpleasant
