Uncommon

age

[ayj]

the length of time someone or something has existed

remonstrate

[ri-mon-streyt]

to say or plead in protest, objection, or disapproval

ingratiating

[in-grey-shee-ey-ting]

charming; agreeable; pleasing; deliberately meant to gain favor

perdure

[per-door]

remain in existence throughout a substantial period of time; endure

vociferate

[voh-sif-uh-reyt]

to speak or cry out loudly or noisily; shout; bawl

picaresque

[pik-uh-resk]

pertaining to or characterized by a form of prose fiction originally developed in Spain in which the adventures of a roguish hero are described in a series of usually humorous or satiric episodes often depicting the everyday life of the common people

caseous

[key-see-uhs]

cheeselike, especially in appearance, smell, or consistency

known

[kn-own]

recognized or familiar to others, often for a specific quality or achievement.

propinquity

[proh-ping-kwi-tee]

the state of being close to someone or something; proximity

equanimity

[ee-kwuh-nim-i-tee]

mental or emotional stability or composure, especially under tension or strain; calmness; equilibrium

pervade

[per-veyd]

to become spread throughout all parts of

redoubtable

[ri-dou-tuh-buhl]

that is to be feared; formidable

bitterness

[bit-er-ness]

sharpness of taste or feeling of anger and disappointment

talisman

[tal-is-muhn]

any amulet or charm

vespertine

[ves-per-tin]

of, relating to, or occurring in the evening

insolent

[in-suh-luhnt]

impudent, contemptuous

rapt

[rapt]

deeply engrossed or absorbed

fiddlehead

[fid-l-hed]

one of the young unfurling fronds of certain ferns that are often eaten as greens.

assertion

[uh-sur-shuhn]

a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief

chockablock

[chok-uh-blok]

extremely full; crowded; jammed

cringle

[krin-gul]

a reinforced loop in a sail used to attach ropes

tarnish

[tahr-nish]

to lose or cause to lose luster, especially as a result of exposure to air or moisture

decay

[d-ek-ay]

the process of rotting or breaking down; also refers to a decline in quality or power.

illusory

[il-loo-suh-ree]

based on illusion; not real