Anecdotal [an·ec·dot·al] adj. Based on casual observations or indications rather than rigorous or scientific analysis: “There is anecdotal evidence that the stock will soon double in price.”
Synergism [syn·er·gism] n.
Interaction of discrete agencies or conditions where the total effect
is greater than the sum of the individual parts. “The directors saw
considerable synergism in the business merger.” (also Synergy).
Haughty [haugh·ty] adj. Condescending: behaving in a superior, condescending, or arrogant way. “He always seemed haughty in company meetings.”
Prolific [pro·lif·ic] adj. Productive: Producing abundant works or results. “A prolific artist.” “A prolific writer.
Extrapolate [ex·trap·o·late] To infer or estimate by extending or projecting known information. “He extrapolated the historical data to determine the projected outcome.”
Specificity [spec·i·fic·i·ty ] n. 1. The condition or state of being specific rather than general. “His input added a desirable note of specificity to the discussion.”
Avarice [av·a·rice] n.
Immoderate desire, greed for wealth: an unreasonably strong desire to
obtain and keep money. “His life was consumed by ambition and avarice.”
Precipitous [pre·cip·i·tous] adj. Done rashly: acting too quickly and without sufficient thought. “Excessive spending caused the precipitous demise of the company.”
Hubris [hu·bris] n. 1. Overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance. 2. A strong belief in a person’s own importance. “He was disciplined for his hubris.”
Systemic [sys·tem·ic] adj.
Relating to or common to a system. A problem, risk, or change that is a
basic one, experienced by the whole of a system or organization and not
just particular parts of it. “The systemic risks of the investment.”
Garish [gar·ish] adj. 1. Marked by strident color or excessive ornamentation; gaudy. 2. Loud and flashy. “Garish makeup.”
Exponential [ex·po·nen·tial] adj. Characterized by an extremely rapid increase (as in size or extent). “The company enjoyed an exponential growth rate.”
Supercilious [su·per·cil·i·ous] adj.
1. Full of contempt and arrogance. 2. Behaving as if or showing that a
person thinks they are better than other people, and that their
opinions, beliefs or ideas are not important, condescending. “He spoke
in a haughty, supercilious voice.”
Benevolent [be·nev·o·lent] adj.
1. Charitable: performing good or charitable acts and not seeking to
make a profit. 2. Characterized by or suggestive of doing good; showing
kindness or goodwill.
Pervasive [per·va·sive] adj. Having the quality or tendency to pervade or permeate. “The pervasive odor of garlic.
Divisive [di·vi·sive] adj.
Creating dissension or discord; Causing disagreement or hostility
within a group so that it is likely to split. “Divisive politics.”
Demure [de·mure] adj. 1. Modest and reserved in manner or behavior. “Despite her demure appearance, she is an accomplished mountain climber.”
Acrimonious [ac·ri·mo·ni·ous] adj. 1. Bitter and sharp in language or tone; rancorous: “An acrimonious debate between the two candidates.”
Intrepid [in·trep·id] adj. 1. Resolutely courageous; fearless. Persistent in the pursuit of something. “A team of intrepid explorers.”
Obtuse [ob·tuse] adj. 1. Lacking quickness of perception or intellect. 2. Characterized by a lack of intelligence or sensitivity. “An obtuse remark.” 3. Not distinctly felt. “An obtuse pain.”
Guile [guile] n. Treacherous cunning; skillful deceit. Particular skill and cleverness in tricking or deceiving people. “Considerable guile was involved in the transaction.”
Assiduous [as·sid·u·ous] adj. 1. Constant in application or attention; diligent: “An assiduous worker who strove for perfection.” 2. Unceasing; persistent: “Assiduous cancer research.”
Vexatious [vex·a·tious] adj. 1. Full of annoyance or distress; harassed. 2. Causing or creating vexation; annoying. “Her ex-husband put her in a vexatious situation.”
Pedantic [pe·dan·tic] adj. 1. Characterized by a narrow, often ostentatious concern for book learning and formal rules. “A pedantic attention to details.”
Paradigm [par·a·digm] n. A typical example or pattern of something; a model. “The economic paradigm was flawed.”
Vernacular [ver·nac·u·lar] n.
The language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular
country or region. An idiomatic word, phrase, or expression. The idiom
of a particular trade or profession: “In the legal vernacular.”
Precarious [pre·car·i·ous] adj. 1. Dangerously lacking in security or stability: “The precarious
life of an undercover cop.” 2. Subject to chance or unknown conditions.
3. Based on uncertain, unwarranted, or unproved premises. “A precarious solution to a difficult problem.”
Accoutrement [ac·cou·tre·ment] n.
Additional items of dress or equipment, carried or worn by a person or
used for a particular activity. The General dressed for battle in
shining accoutrements.”
Pervicacious [per·vi·ca·cious] adj. Stubborn, extremely willful, obstinate. “He became quite pervicacious in his old age.”
Oxymoron [ox·y·mo·ron] n.pl.
A phrase in which two words of contradictory meaning are used together
for special effect, for example, “wise fool” or “to make haste slowly.”
Antithesis [an·tith·e·sis] n.pl. 1. Direct contrast; opposition. 2. The direct or exact opposite. “Hope is the antithesis of despair.”
Arduous [ar·du·ous] adj. 1. Demanding great effort or labor; difficult. “An arduous undertaking.” 2. Testing severely the powers of endurance; strenuous. “A long and arduous process.”
Secular [sec·u·lar] adj. 1. Worldly rather than spiritual. 2. Not specifically relating to religion or to a religious body. “A secular book.”
Aplomb [a·plomb] n. Self-confident assurance, skill, and poise – especially in difficult or challenging circumstances.
Gratuitous [gra·tu·i·tous] adj. 1. Given or granted without return or recompense; unearned. 2. Unnecessary or unwarranted; unjustified: A gratuitous remark.
Litigious [li·ti·gious] adj. Of, relating to, or characterized by litigation.Tending to engage in lawsuits. A litigious celebrity.
Ambivalence [am·biv·a·lence] n.
1. Uncertainty or indecisiveness as to which course to follow. 2. The
coexistence of opposing attitudes or feelings, such as love and hate,
toward a person, object, or idea.
Causative [caus·a·tive] adj. 1. Indicative that the subject causes an act to be performed or a condition to come into being. “A causative factor of war.”
Progeny [prog·e·ny] n.pl. 1. Something that originates or results from something else; outcome; issue. 2. A result of creative effort; a product
Savant [sa·vant] n. A person of learning; wise or scholarly
Indigenous [in·dig·e·nous] adj. Originating and living or occurring naturally in an area or environment. “The cactus is indigenous to Arizona.”
Metaphor [met·a·phor] n.
A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates
one thing is used to designate something else. Example: “She was
drowning in money.”
Analogous [a·nal·o·gous] adj. 1. Similar or alike in such a way as to permit the drawing of an analogy. “The brain and the Acme 1000 supercomputer are analogous to each other.”
Embellish [em·bel·lish] tr.v.
1. To make beautiful, as by ornamentation; decorate. 2. To add
fictitious details to exaggerate the truth: “A dramatic account that embellished the true story.”
Salient [sa·li·ent] adj. 1. Strikingly conspicuous; prominent. “A salient argument.
Auspices [aus·pi·ces] n.pl.
1. With the protection or support of someone or something, especially
an organization: “Financial aid is being provided under the auspices of NATO.”
Limpid : Clear; transparent
Accidence : The fundamentals of any subject
Episodic [ep·i·sod·ic] adj. Happening at irregular intervals. “He has Episodic migraines.”
Egregious [e·gre·gious] adj. Conspicuously bad or offensive. “The judge’s conduct was egregious.”
Venality [ve·nal·i·ty] n. 1. The condition of being susceptible to bribery or corruption. 2. The use of a position of trust for dishonest gain: “The venality of a corrupt judge.”
Effusive [ef·fu·sive] adj. 1. Unrestrained or excessive in emotional expression; gushy: “An effusive manner.” 2. Profuse; overflowing: “effusive praise.”
Voracity; Voracious [vo·ra·cious] adj.
Consuming or eager to consume great amounts of food; ravenous. 2.
Having or marked by an insatiable appetite for an activity or pursuit;
greedy: “A voracious reader.”
Epochal [ep·och·al] adj. 1. Highly significant or important; momentous: “Epochal decisions made by the president.” 2. Without parallel: “Epochal stupidity.”
Opine [o·pine] v.tr. To state as an opinion. Latin: opinari – to have an opinion
Repugnant [re·pug·nant] adj. Arousing disgust or aversion; offensive or repulsive
Redact(ed) [re·dact] tr.v. Edit something: to edit, revise, or delete content in preparation for publication. “The documents were redacted so personal information wasn’t released to the public.”
Intuitive [in·tu·i·tive] adj. Known automatically: known directly and instinctively, without being discovered or consciously perceived. “He intuitively knew that one day she would become a movie star.”
Circuitous [cir·cu·i·tous] adj. Being or taking a roundabout, lengthy course: “He took a circuitous route to avoid traffic.”
Cathartic [ca·thar·tic] adj.
Producing a feeling of being purified emotionally, spiritually, or
psychologically as a result of an intense emotional experience or
therapeutic technique. “The strength of the movie had a cathartic effect on her.”
Insidious [in·sid·i·ous] adj. 1. Working or spreading harmfully in a subtle or stealthy manner: insidious rumors; an insidious disease. 2. Beguiling but harmful; alluring: insidious pleasures.
Apathetic [ap·a·thet·ic] adj.
1. Feeling or showing little or no emotion; unresponsive. 2. Feeling or
showing a lack of interest or concern; indifferent. “He seemed very apathetic about the company’s closure.”
Cornucopia [cor·nu·co·pi·a] n. A large amount of something; a great supply, an abundance: “A cornucopia of employment opportunities.”
Solicitous [so·lic·i·tous] adj. 1. Marked by or given to anxious care and often hovering attentiveness. 2. Extremely careful; meticulous: “solicitous in matters of behavior.” 3. Anxious or concerned: “a solicitous parent.”
Attenuate [at·ten·u·ate] v. 1. To reduce in force, value, amount, or degree; weaken: “The layoffs attenuated the company’s sales forecast.”
Caveat [ca·ve·at] n. 1. A warning or proviso: something said as a warning, caution, or qualification. “The agreement contains the usual caveats.”
Axiom [ax·i·om] n.
1. An established rule, principle, or law. 2. A self-evident or
universally recognized truth; a maxim. 3. A self-evident principle or
one that is accepted as true without proof as the basis for argument.
Attrition [at·tri·tion] n.
1. A gradual, natural reduction in membership or personnel, as through
retirement, resignation, or death. 2. A gradual diminution in number or
strength. “The company’s attrition rate was quite high.”
Tempestuous [tem·pes·tu·ous] adj. Tumultuous; stormy: “A tempestuous relationship.”
Aesthetic(s) [aes·thet·ic] adj. 1. Of or concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste. 2. Characterized by a heightened sensitivity to beauty. “The aesthetic design of the building is amazing!”
Enervate [en·er·vate] tr.v.
1. To weaken or destroy the strength or vitality. 2. Lacking physical,
mental, or moral vigor. “Prolonged exposure to the sun and dehydration enervated the desert racing team.”
Nocturnal [noc·tur·nal] adj. Occurring or coming out at night: “A nocturnal lifestyle.
Gothic [Goth·ic] adj.
1. Relating to an architectural style reflecting the influence of the
medieval Gothic. 2. Relating to a style of fiction characterized by the
use of desolate or remote settings and macabre, mysterious, or violent
incidents.
Prognosticate [prog·nos·ti·cate] tr.v. To predict according to present indications or signs; foretell. “The armchair quarterback tried to prognosticate the play from his recliner.”
Erudite [er·u·dite] adj. Deep, extensive learning. “He has a reputation as an erudite intellectual with a deep understanding of the issues.”
Impugn [im·pugn] tr.v. To attack as false or questionable; challenge in argument: “To impugn a political opponent’s record
Dexterous [dex·ter·ous] adj. Skillful in the use of the hands. Having mental skill or adroitness; clever. Done with dexterity. “A dexterous wood craftsman.”
Eccentric [ec·cen·tric] adj. 1. Departing from a recognized, conventional, or established norm or pattern. 2. n. One that deviates markedly from an established norm, especially a person of odd or unconventional behavior. “His eccentricities now extend to never leaving his home.”
Eponym [ep·o·nym ] n.
A person whose name is or is thought to be the source of the name of
something, such as a city or country. “George Washington is the eponym of Washington DC.”
Monolithic [mon·o·lith·ic] adj. 1. Massive, solid, and uniform: “The monolithic cathedral.” 2. Large and unchanging: massive, uniform in character, and slow to change.
Diatribe [di·a·tribe] n. 1. A bitter, sharply abusive denunciation, attack, or criticism: “Repeated diatribes against the candidates.”
Cavernous [cav·ern·ous] adj. Resembling a cavern, as in depth, vastness, or effect: a cavernous hole; cavernous echoes.
Homogeneous [ho·mo·ge·ne·ous] adj. 1. Uniform in structure or composition. 2. Of the same or similar nature or kind: “The corporation maintains tight-knit, homogeneous board members.”
Egalitarian [e·gal·i·tar·i·an] adj. Affirming, promoting, or characterized by belief in equal political, economic, social, and civil rights for all people.
Bloviate [blo·vi·ate] i.v. To speak or write at length in a pompous or boastful manner.
Rhetorical [rhe·tor·i·cal] adj. Of or relating to rhetoric. Characterized by language that is elaborate, pretentious, insincere, or intellectually vacuous.
Transitory [tran·si·to·ry] adj. 1. Not lasting, enduring, permanent, or eternal. 2.Lasting only a short time; brief; short-lived; temporary. “It was a transitory stage in the actor’s career.”
Vicarious [vi·car·i·ous] adj. 1. Experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person: “A vicarious thrill.” 2. Acting or done for another: “A vicarious atonement.”
Assuage [uh·sweyj] v. 1. To make milder or less severe; relieve; ease; mitigate: “to assuage one’s pain.” 2. to appease, satisfy, or relieve: “To assuage one’s hunger.” 3. to soothe or calm: “To assuage his fears;” “To assuage her anger.”
Fastidious [fas·tid·i·ous] adj.
1. Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail. 2.
excessively particular, critical, or demanding; hard to please: “A fastidious eater.” 3. Very concerned about matters of cleanliness.
Juxtapose [jux·ta·pose] tr.v. 1. To place side by side, especially for comparison or contrast. “The exhibition juxtaposes Picasso’s early drawings with some of his later works.”
Alchemy [al·che·my] n.
1. A power or process of transforming something common into something
special. 2. An inexplicable or mysterious process by which paradoxical
results are achieved with no obvious rational explanation.
Ignominious [ig·no·min·i·ous] adj. Deserving or causing public disgrace or shame; humiliating: “An ignominious defeat.”
Temerity [te·mer·i·ty] n. Excessive confidence or boldness; audacity: “No one had the temerity to question her decision.”
Colloquialism [col·lo·qui·al·ism] n.
1. An informal word or phrase that is more common in conversation than
in formal speech or writing. Colloquialisms can include words such as
“gonna” and phrases such as “ain’t nothin’” and “dead as a doornail.”
Vacillate [vac·il·late] v. Alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive. “Her tendency to vacillate made her a poor director.”
Garrulous [gar·ru·lous] adj. Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters. “A garrulous reprimand.”
Agnostic [ag·nos·tic] n.
A person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the
existence or nature of God or of anything beyond material phenomena.
Tenacious [te·na·cious] adj. 1. Not readily letting go of, giving up, or separated from an object that one holds, a position, or a principle: “A tenacious hold.” 2. Not easily dispelled or discouraged; persisting in existence or in a course of action: “A tenacious legend.”
Insolent [in·so·lent] adj. Showing a rude or arrogant lack of respect. “The child’s insolent behavior was unacceptable.”
Innervate [in·ner·vate] v. To stimulate or supply nervous energy.
Decadent [dec·a·dent] n.
A person who is luxuriously self-indulgent. (adj.) Characterized by or
reflecting a state of decay or cultural decline, as in being
self-indulgent or morally corrupt.
Superfluous [su·per·flu·ous] adj. Unnecessary, being beyond what is required or sufficient. “The repeated warnings were superfluous.” “Superfluous details.”
Lascivious [las·civ·i·ous] adj. Feeling or revealing an overt and often offensive sexual desire. “He gave her a lascivious wink.” Inclined to lustfulness; wanton; lewd. “The lascivious old man.”
Masticate [mas·ti·cate] v. To chew (as in food). To reduce to pulp by crushing, grinding or kneading. “The patient was unwilling to masticate or swallow his food.”
Didactic [di·dac·tic] adj.
(1) Intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an
ulterior motive. (2) In the manner of a teacher, particularly so as to
treat someone in a patronizing way. “The didactic speech influenced the weaker members of the audience.”
Paradox [par·a·dox] n.
A statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but
in reality expresses a possible truth. An opinion or statement contrary
to commonly accepted opinion, but may be factual
Endemic [en·dem·ic] adj. Native to a specific region or environment and not occurring naturally anywhere else. “Malaria is endemic in tropical climates.” (n.) An endemic plant or animal.
Abysmal [a·bys·mal] adj. Extremely bad; appalling. “The results were pretty abysmal;” “Abysmal failure.”
Luminous [lu·mi·nous] adj. Bright or shining, esp. in the dark. Glowing with health, vigor, or a particular emotion: “Her eyes were luminous with joy.”
Austerity [aus·ter·i·ty] n. (1) Sternness or severity of manner or attitude. (2) Extreme plainness and simplicity of style or appearance.
Fractious [frac·tious] adj.
(1) Easily irritated; bad-tempered: “they fight and squabble like
fractious kids.” (2) (of an organization) Difficult to control; unruly
Mitigate [mit·i·gate] v.
(1) Make less severe, serious, or painful: “he wanted to mitigate the
damages in court.” (2) Lessen the gravity of (an offense or mistake).
Determinate [de·ter·mi·nate] adj. Having exact and discernible limits or form.
Divergence [di·ver·gence] n. (1) A difference or conflict in opinions, interests, wishes, etc. (2) The process or state of diverging
Propitious [pro·pi·tious] adj.
(1) Indicating a good chance of success; favorable. “It was a
propitious time to leave the party without offending the host.” (2)
Favorably disposed toward someone.
Tactile [tac·tile] adj. (1) Of or connected with the sense of touch. (2) Perceptible by touch or apparently so; tangible: “A tactile keyboard.”
Facetious [fa·ce·tious] adj. Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant.
Existential [ex·is·ten·tial] adj.
(1) Of or relating to existence. (2) Concerned with existence, esp.
human existence as viewed in the theories of existentialism. “An
existential threat.”
Caprice [ca·price] n. A sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behaviour
Indolent; Indolence [in·do·lent] n. Having or showing a disposition to avoid exertion; slothful, lazy: “an indolent person.”
Vacuous [vac·u·ous] adj. Having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless: “a vacuous smile.
Vitriol; Vitriolic [vit·ri·ol] n. Cruel, bitter, scathing criticism; Abusive feeling or expression. “A vitriolic tone of voice.”
Capacious [ca·pa·cious] adj. Having a lot of space inside; roomy. “A capacious closet.
Predacious [pre·da·cious] adj. Predatory; Given to victimizing, plundering, or destroying for one’s own gain. “A victim of predacious behavior.”
Vitiate [vi·ti·ate] v.
Spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of. “The government programs
were vitiated by excessive red tape.” Destroy or impair the legal
validity of.
Spurious [spu·ri·ous] adj.
Not genuine, authentic, or true; not from the claimed, pretended, or
proper source; counterfeit. Not being what it purports to be; false or
fake. “Spurious claims.”
Labyrinth [lab·y·rinth] n.
A complicated irregular network of passages or paths in which it is
difficult to find one’s way; a maze. “Exploring the labyrinth of
waterways.” An intricate and confusing arrangement.
Abstruse [ab·struse] adj. Difficult to understand; obscure. “An abstruse argument presented by the lawyers.”
Veracity [ve·rac·i·ty] n. Conformity to facts; accuracy. “What is the veracity of these allegations.” Habitual truthfulness. “Her veracity and character
Sardonic [sar·don·ic] adj. Grimly mocking or cynical. “His sardonic smile.”
Pejorative [pe·jo·ra·tive] adj. Expressing contempt or disapproval. Disparaging; belittling. “He used pejorative overtones in his speech.”
protean - readily assuming different forms or characters; extremely variable /changeable in shape or form, as an amoeba.
argy-bargy - a vigorous discussion or dispute.
mnemonic
- something intended to assist the memory, as a verse or formula /
Computers. a programming code that is easy to remember, as STO for
“store.”
well-nigh - very nearly; almost:
coincident - happening at the same time / coinciding; occupying the same place or position .
afebrile - without fever; feverless
ogdoad - the number eight / a group of eight
heliolatry - worship of the sun
atrabilious - gloomy; morose; melancholy; morbid / irritable; bad-tempered; splenetic.
mundane
- common; ordinary; banal; unimaginative / of or relating to this world
or earth as contrasted with heaven; worldly; earthly: mundane affairs.
swimmingly - without difficulty / with great success / effortlessly eg: She passed the exam swimmingly
Tommy-rot - nonsense; utter foolishness.
too-too - Informal / excessively and tastelessly affected: The movie was simply too-too
mollify - to soften in feeling or temper, as a person; pacify; appease /to mitigate or reduce; soften: to mollify one's demands
peripeteia - a sudden turn of events or an unexpected reversal, especially in a literary work
anomia - Medicine/Medical. the inability to name objects or to recognize the written or spoken names of objects
wayworn - worn or wearied by travel
genesis - an origin, creation, or beginning.
minimax - a strategy of game theory employed to minimize a player's maximum possible loss
galumph
- to move along heavily and clumsily eg: It is at this point that one
begins to feel embarrassed while other passengers galumph by with their
luggage.
parvenu - a person who has recently or suddenly acquired wealth, importance, position
flummox - Informal. to bewilder; confound; confuse
scorbutic - Pathology. pertaining to, of the nature of, or affected with scurvy
penitent - feeling or expressing sorrow for sin or wrongdoing
Ateliers - a workshop or studio, especially of an artist, artisan, or designer
amphigory - a meaningless or nonsensical piece of writing, especially one intended as a parody
enervated - to deprive of force or strength; destroy the vigor of; weaken
shibboleth
- a peculiarity of pronunciation, behavior, mode of dress, etc., that
distinguishes a particular class or set of persons/ a slogan; catchword.
timocracy - a form of government in which love of honor is the dominant motive of the rulers
crackerjack - Informal. a person or thing that shows marked ability or excellence
Bromide [bro·mide] n.
A commonplace remark or notion; a platitude. “Her speech contained the
usual bromides about teamwork.” A tiresome or dull person; a bore.
tumescent - pompous and pretentious, especially in the use of language; bombastic
jejune - without interest or significance; dull; insipid: a jejune novel
divulgate - to make publicly known; publish
Doleful [dole·ful] adj Expressing sorrow; mournful. “A doleful look.” Causing misfortune or grief. “Doleful consequences
Incorrigible [in·cor·ri·gi·ble] adj. Not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed. “His bad habits were incorrigible.
Malicious [ma·li·cious] adj. Characterized by malice; intending or intended to do harm. “Malicious rumors.”
Provenance [prov·e·nance] n.
The beginning of something’s existence; something’s origin. The place
of origin or earliest known history of something. “An exquisite vase of
Chinese provenance.”
Efficacious [ef·fi·ca·cious] adj. Successful in producing a desired or intended result; effective. “Efficacious treatment for the disease.”
Tepid [tep·id] adj. Showing little enthusiasm: “The president had a tepid response to the proposal.
obstreperous
= resisting control or restraint in a difficult manner; unruly.
[Unfortunately the facts were refusing to fit her theory. They were
being highly obstreperous--appearing, disappearing and reappearing in
all the wrong places ]
bromide
= platitude or trite saying. [ There have been many remarks made about
time, and life, and most of these have become bromides. What writers
call clichés.]
cognoscenti
= persons who have superior knowledge and understanding of a particular
field, especially in the fine arts, literature, and world of fashion.
[There in Jefferson's "President's Palace" were laureates of achievement
in the pursuit of peace, literature and science: 49 winners of the
Nobel Prize, plus other cognoscenti--those who know.]
shirk = to evade work, duty, etc. [Mr. T said he understood his duty and said it's not his style to shirk responsibilities.]
haplography
= the accidental omission of a letter or letter group that should be
repeated in writing, as in Missippi for Mississippi. [May I add a note
to John Kidd’s “The scandal of Ulysses” on the related ruckus over
textual corruptions in the Gilbert and Ellmann edition of Joyce’s
letters … in the novel the disappearance of an aposiopesis and a
dieresis, dittography replacing what had been mistaken as haplography,
etc.]
Onerous [on·er·ous] adj. Involving heavy obligations. Involving a burdensome amount of effort and difficulty. “The court’s stipulations were onerous.”
Dismal [dis·mal] adj Gloomy. Depressing; dreary. “The business was a dismal failure;” “Dismal weather.
Incendiary [in·cen·di·ar·y] adj. Designed to cause fires. “An incendiary device.”
dithyramb : any wildly enthusiastic speech or writing
mawkish
: characterized by sickly sentimentality; weakly emotional; maudlin.
having a mildly sickening flavor; slightly nauseating.