Uncommon

cravat

[kruh-vat]

a short, wide strip of fabric worn by men around the neck and tucked inside an open-necked shirt

contrived

[kuhn-trahyvd]

obviously planned or forced; artificial; strained

vigorous

[vig-er-us]

strong, healthy, and full of energy

alacrity

[uh-lak-ri-tee]

cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness

evolution

[ev-uh-loo-shun]

a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage)

flimflam

[flim-flam]

a trick or deception, especially a swindle or confidence game involving skillful persuasion or clever manipulation of the victim

antediluvian

[an-tee-di-loo-vee-uhn]

a person who lived before the Flood; a very old or old-fashioned person or thing

umami

[oo-mah-mee]

a strong meaty taste imparted by glutamate and certain other amino acids: often considered to be one of the basic taste sensations along with sweet, sour, bitter, and salty

giant

[jy-unt]

an extremely large or powerful being or thing

satiate

[sey-shee-eyt]

to supply something with excess, such as disgust or weary

impecunious

[im-pi-kyoo-nee-uhs]

having little or no money; penniless; poor

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

abject

[ab-jekt]

(of a person or their behavior) completely without pride or dignity; self-abasing

repetition

[r-ep-et-ishun]

the act of doing, saying, or showing something again, often to emphasize or reinforce.

deference

[def-er-uhns]

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

largesse

[lar- jes]

the generous bestowal of gifts, favors, or money

attenuate

[uh-ten-yoo-eyt]

to weaken or reduce in force, intensity, effect, quantity, or value

confabulate

[kuhn-fab-yuh-leyt]

to converse informally; chat

parallel

[par-uh-lel]

extending in the same direction, never meeting

verisimilitude

[ver-uh-si-mil-i-tood]

the appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true

decorous

[de-cor-ous]

socially proper, appropriate

kith

[kith]

acquaintances, friends, neighbors, or the like; persons living in the same general locality and forming a more or less cohesive group

methodical

[m-eth-od-ik-al]

done in an orderly, systematic, or logical way.

inveigh

[in-vey]

to protest or complain bitterly or vehemently

ambrosial

[am-broh-zhuhl]

exceptionally pleasing to taste or smell; especially delicious or fragrant