Studied by 2 people
aberration
a departure from what is proper, right, expected, or normal; a lapse from sound mental state
ad hoc
for this specific purpose; improvised; (adv.) with respect to this
bane
the source or cause of fatal injury, death, destruction, or ruin; death of ruin itself; poison
bathos
the intrusion of commonplace or trite material into a context whos tone is lofty or elevated; grossly insincere or exaggerated sentimentally; the lowest phase, nadir; an anticlimax, comedown
cantankerous
ill-tempered, quarrelsome; difficult to get along or deal with
casuistry
the determination of right and wrong in question of conduct or conscience by the application of general ethical principals; specious argument
de facto
actually existing or in effect, although not legally required or sanctioned; (adv.) in reality, actually
depredation
the act of preying upon or plundering
empathy
a sympathetic understand of or identification with the feelings, thoughts or attitudes of someone or something else
harbinger
a forerunner, herald; (v.) to herald the approach of
hedonism
the belief that the attainment of pleasure is life’s chief aim; devotion to or pursuit of pleasure
lackluster
lacking brilliance or vitality; dull
malcontent
discontented with or in open defiance or prevailing conditions; (n.) such a person
mellifiuous
flowing sweetly or smoothly; honeyed
nepotism
undue favoritism to or excessive patronage of one’s relatives
pander
to cater to or provide satisfaction for the low tastes or vices of others; (n.) a person who does this
peccadillo
a minor sin or offense; a trifling fault or shortcoming
piece de resistance
the principal dish of a meal; the principal event, incident, or item; an outstanding accomplishment
remand
to send or order back; in law, to send back to jail or to a lower court
syndrome
a group of symptoms or signs that collectively characterize or indicate a disease, disorder, abnormality, etc
