Uncommon

pharaonic

[fair-ey-on-ik]

impressively or overwhelmingly large, luxurious, etc.

oeillade

[œ-yad]

an amorous glance; ogle

policy

[pol-uh-see]

a course of action adopted or proposed by an organization or government; a set of principles or rules.

decorous

[de-cor-ous]

socially proper, appropriate

infamy

[in-fuh-mee]

extremely bad reputation, public reproach, or strong condemnation as the result of a shameful, criminal, or outrageous act

volitional

[voh-lish-uh-nl]

done of one’s own will or choosing; deliberately decided or chosen

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

chthonic

[tha-nik]

of or relating to the deities, spirits, and other beings dwelling under the earth

scurrilous

[skur-uh-luhs]

making or spreading scandalous claims about someone with the intention of damaging their reputation

charlatan

[shahr-luh-tn]

a person who pretends or claims to have more knowledge or skill than he or she possesses; quack

precocious

[pr-eco-ous]

advanced, developing ahead of time

schadenfreude

[shahd-n-froi-duh]

satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune

humbug

[huhm-buhg]

deceptive or false talk or behavior

blithe

[blahyth]

showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper

eucatastrophe

[yoo-kuh-ta-struh-fee]

a sudden and favorable resolution of events in a story; a happy ending

corroborate

[kuh-rob-uh-reyt]

confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding)

collateral

[co-lla-ral]

secondary

cite

[syt]

to refer to or mention as evidence or support

militate

[mil-i-teyt]

to have a substantial effect; weigh heavily

forestall

[fohr-stawl]

to prevent, hinder, or thwart by action in advance

ken

[ken]

know

deference

[def-er-uhns]

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

redoubtable

[ri-dou-tuh-buhl]

that is to be feared; formidable

orotund

[awr-uh-tuhnd]

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