Uncommon
flummox
[fluhm-uhks]
to bewilder; confound; confuse
epitome
[ih-pit-uh-mee]
a person or thing that is typical of or possesses to a high degree the features of a whole class
petrichor
[pet-ri-kawr, pe-trahy-kawr]
a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather
nefarious
[ni-fair-ee-uhs]
extremely wicked or villainous; iniquitous
chthonic
[tha-nik]
of or relating to the deities, spirits, and other beings dwelling under the earth
prosaic
[proh-zey-ik]
commonplace or dull; matter-of-fact or unimaginative
campanile
[kam-puh-nee-lee]
a bell tower, especially one freestanding from the body of a church
wanton
[won-tn]
a sexually unrestrained woman
legless
[leg-less]
without legs
deft
[deft]
dexterous; nimble; skillful; clever
lampoon
[lam-poon]
publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule, irony, or sarcasm
succedaneum
[suhk-si-dey-nee-uhm]
a substitute
knoll
[nohl]
a small, rounded hill or eminence; hillock
dearth
[durth]
an inadequate supply; scarcity; lack
venal
[veen-l]
willing to sell one's influence, especially in return for a bribe; open to bribery; mercenary
maudlin
[mawd-lin]
tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental
donnybrook
[don-ee-brook]
an inordinately wild fight or contentious dispute; brawl; free-for-all
provident
[prov-i-duhnt]
having or showing foresight; providing carefully for the future
ephemeral
[ih-fem-er-uhl]
lasting a very short time; short-lived; transitory
mores
[mawr-eyz]
folkways of central importance accepted without question and embodying the fundamental moral views of a group
attenuate
[uh-ten-yoo-eyt]
to weaken or reduce in force, intensity, effect, quantity, or value
tomfoolery
[tom-foo-luh-ree]
a silly act, matter, or thing
infamy
[in-fuh-mee]
extremely bad reputation, public reproach, or strong condemnation as the result of a shameful, criminal, or outrageous act
bandersnatch
[ban-der-snach]
an imaginary wild animal of fierce disposition