assimilate

v

to absorb and incorporate into one’s thinking; to absorb (groups of different cultures) into the main cultural body

ascribe

v

to assign (to a supposed cause); impute; attribute

epigram

n

any terse, witty, pointed statement

lagniappe

n

a small present given to a customer with a purchase

diatribe

n

a bitter, abusive criticism or denunciation

evanescent

adj

tending to fade from sight; vanishing; ephemeral

flaunt

v

to show of proudly, defiantly, or impudently

foray

v, n

to raid for spoils; plunder; pillage; a sudden attack or raid in order to seize or steal things

jargon

n

the specialized vocabulary and idioms of those in the same profession; speech or writing full of long, unfamiliar words

minuscule

adj

very small, tiny, minute

perfidious

adj

treacherous, characterized by the breaking of trust

proscribe

v

to denounce or prohibit the use or practice of

punctilious

adj

very careful about every detail; very exact; scrupulous

skittish

adj

easily frightened; jumpy; fickle or undependable

inveigh

v

to make a violent verbal attack; talk or write bitterly about

surrogate

n, v

a substitute; to put in another’s place as a substitute or deputy

wistful

adj

longing pensively; showing or expressing vague yearnings

waive

v

to give up or forgo a right, claim, or privilege; to refrain from insisting on or taking advantage of

cynosure

n

any person or thing that is the center of interest or attention

wane

v

to gradually grow less in extent; to decline in importance, prosperity or intensity