Uncommon

pretentious

[pri-ten-shuhs]

characterized by assumption of dignity or importance, especially when exaggerated or undeserved

disrepute

[di-sre-ute]

a state of being held in low regard

boorish

[boor-ish]

crude, insensitive

zephyr

[zef-er]

a gentle, mild breeze

syrup

[sir-up]

a thick, sweet liquid often used in cooking or drinks

polysyllabic

[p-olysyll-ab-ik]

consisting of several syllables, often used to describe long or complex words.

peignoir

[peyn-whar]

a woman’s dressing gown

cross

[kr-oss]

annoyed, angry, or irritated.

abdicate

[ab-di-kayt]

to give up a position, usually one of leadership

shocked

[shokt]

greatly surprised or disturbed

feckless

[fek-lis]

lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible

gourmand

[goor-mahnd]

a person who is fond of good eating, often indiscriminatingly and to excess

antithesis

[an-tith-uh-sis]

opposition; contrast

winsome

[win-suhm]

sweetly or innocently charming; winning; engaging

callow

[kal-oh]

(of a young bird) featherless; unfledged

nimiety

[ni-mahy-i-tee]

excess; overabundance

acerbic

[uh-sur-bik ]

sour or astringent in taste

retort

[ri-twart]

to return (an accusation, epithet, etc.) upon the person uttering it

illusory

[il-loo-suh-ree]

based on illusion; not real

pleiades

[plee-uh-deez]

a cluster of stars in the constellation taurus that includes six stars in the form of a very small dipper.

glower

[glow-er]

to stare angrily or with discontent

campanile

[kam-puh-nee-lee]

a bell tower, especially one freestanding from the body of a church

melancholia

[mel-uhn-koh-lee-uh]

a mental condition characterized by great depression of spirits and gloomy forebodings

lugubrious

[loo-goo-bree-us]

mournful, gloomy, or sad in an exaggerated way