Uncommon

martinet

[mahr-tn-et]

a strict disciplinarian, especially a military one; someone who stubbornly adheres to methods or rules

ascribe

[uh-skrahyb]

to credit or assign, as to a cause or source; attribute; impute

intrepid

[in-trep-id]

resolutely fearless; dauntless

pithy

[pith-ee]

brief, forceful, and meaningful in expression; full of vigor, substance, or meaning; terse; forcible

monotonous

[muh-not-n-uhs]

having very little inflection; limited to a narrow pitch range

misgiving

[mis-giv-ing]

a feeling of doubt, distrust, or apprehension

ember

[em-ber]

a small live piece of coal, wood, etc., as in a dying fire; the smoldering remains of a fire

credulity

[kruh-doo-li-tee]

willingness to believe or trust too readily, especially without proper or adequate evidence; gullibility

precipice

[pres-uh-pis]

a cliff with a vertical, nearly vertical, or overhanging face

banal

[buh-nal]

devoid of freshness or originality; hackneyed; trite

deference

[def-er-uhns]

respectful submission or yielding to the judgment, opinion, will, etc., of another

aficionado

[uh-fish-yuh-nah-doh]

a person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity, subject, or pastime

palliate

[pal-ee-eyt]

to relieve or lessen without curing; mitigate; alleviate

milieu

[mil-yoo]

surroundings, especially of a social or cultural nature

repugnant

[ri-puhg-nuhnt]

in conflict with; incompatible with

inimical

[ih-nim-i-kuhl]

adverse in tendency or effect; unfavorable; harmful

promptitude

[promp-ti-tood]

the quality of acting quickly and without delay; promptness

pugnacious

[puhg-ney-shuhs]

inclined to quarrel or fight readily; quarrelsome; belligerent; combative

descry

[dih-skrahy]

to see (something unclear or distant) by looking carefully; discern; espy

orotund

[awr-uh-tuhnd]

(of the voice or speech) characterized by strength, fullness, richness, and clearness

soliloquy

[suh-lil-uh-kwee]

an utterance or discourse by a person who is talking to himself or herself or is disregardful of or oblivious to any hearers present

brusque

[bruhsk]

abrupt in manner; blunt; rough

languid

[lang-gwid]

displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed

infatuated

[in-fat-u-at-ed]

possessed by a foolish or extravagant passion, especially for another person