Interesting Words and Phrases 1

Acquiesce – Accept something reluctantly but without protest.

Adroit – Clever or skilful.

Amidst - Surrounded by; in the middle of.

Anodyne – Not likely to cause offence or disagreement and somewhat dull.

Antic – grotesque or bizarre.

Aplomb – self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation.

Apostasy – The abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief or principle.

Asinine – Extremely stupid or foolih.

Assuage – Make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense. Satisfy (an appetite or desire)

Avow – Assert or confess openly.

Canny – Having or showing a shrewdness and good judgement, especially in money or business matters.

Churlish – Rude in a mean-spirited and surly way.

Disbar – Expel (a barrister) from the Bar, so that they no longer have the right to practice law. Exclude (someone) from something.

Disparage – Regard or represent as being of little worth.

Esoteric – Intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest.

Felicitous – Well chosen or suited to the circumstances. Pleasing and fortunate.

Folly - Lack of good sense; foolishness. A foolish act, idea, or practice. A costly ornamental building with no practical purpose especially a tower or mock-Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park. A theatrical revue with glamorous female performers.

Gaffe – An unintentional act or remark causing embarrassment to its originator; a blunder.

Genuflect - Lower one’s body briefly by bending one knee to the ground, typically in worship or as a sign of respect. Show Deference or servility.

grande dame– a woman of influential position with in a particular sphere.

Hyperesthesia – Excessive physical sensitivity, especially of the skin.

Intransigent - Unwilling or refusing to change one’s views or to agree about something.

Legerdemain – Skilful use of one’s hands when performing conjuring tricks. Deception; trickery.

Lurid – Unpleasantly bright in colour, especially so as to create a harsh or unnatural effect. Presented in a vividly shocking or sensational terms.

Mimeograph – A duplication machine which produces copies from a stencil now superseded by the photocopier.

Petulant – (of a person or their manner) childish, sulky, or bad-tempered.

Recess – A small space created by building part of a wall further back from the rest. A hollow space inside something. A remote, secluded, or secret place. A period of time when the proceedings of a parliament, committee, court of law, or other official body are temporarily suspended. A break between school classes.

Subterfuge – Deceit used in order to achieve one’s goal.

Termagant – A harsh-tempered or overbearing woman. An imaginary deity of violent and turbulent character, often appearing in morality plays.