Uncommon

insouciance

[in-soo-see-uhns]

the quality of being insouciant; lack of care or concern; indifference

widdershins

[with-er-shinz]

in a direction contrary to the sun's course, considered as unlucky; counterclockwise

rufescent

[roo-fes-uhnt]

somewhat reddish; tinged with red; rufous

plangent

[plan-junt]

loud and resonant, often with a mournful quality.

despondent

[dis-pon-dent]

feeling hopeless or discouraged

sartorial

[sahr-tawr-ee-uhl]

of or relating to tailors or their trade

sanguine

[sang-gwin]

reddish; ruddy

intimacy

[in-tuh-muh-see]

close familiarity or friendship

acerbic

[uh-sur-bik ]

sour or astringent in taste

grok

[grok]

to communicate sympathetically

unscrupulous

[uhn-skroo-pyuh-luhs]

having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair

pleonasm

[plee-uh-naz-uhm]

the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea; redundancy

hector

[hek-ter]

to act in a blustering, domineering way; be a bully

bereft

[bih-reft]

deprived

mordant

[mawr-dnt]

sharply caustic or sarcastic, as wit or a speaker; biting

morbid

[mawr-bid]

relating to or appealing to abnormal or disturbing subjects

abscond

[ab-skond]

to depart in a sudden and secret manner, especially to avoid capture and legal prosecution

pule

[pyool]

to cry in a thin voice; whine; whimper

ethereal

[ih-theer-ee-uhl]

extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world

astringent

[uh-strin-juhnt]

causing contraction of body tissues; sharp or severe in manner

gape

[gayp]

to stare with an open mouth in amazement

trenchant

[tren-chuhnt]

incisive or keen, as language or a person; caustic; cutting

raze

[reyz]

to shave or scrape off

portent

[pawr-tent]

an indication or omen of something about to happen, especially something momentous