alchemy
a medieval science aimed at the transmutation of metals
acerbic
having a sour or bitter taste or character; sharp; biting
amendable
agreeable; responsive to suggestion
astringent
harsh; severe effect on tissue
contiguous
sharing a border; touching; neighbor
convection
generally agreed-upon practice or attitude
cynicism
an attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness
derision
scorn, ridicule, contemptuous treatment
disparage
to slight or belittle
divulge
to disclose something secret
fawn
to flatter or praise excessively
flout
to show contempt for, as in a rule or convention
hubris
overbearing presumption or pride; arrogance
imminent
about to happen; impending
immutable
not capable of change
inimical
harmful; injurious
maverick
independent individual who does not go along with a group or party
mercurial
characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood
obfuscate
to deliberately obscure; to make confusing
presumptuous
overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy); taking liberties
profligate
excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant
propensity
a natural inclination or tendency; penchant
prosaic
dull; lacking in spirit or imagination
quixotic
foolishly impractical; marked by lofty romantic ideals
recondite
hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure
refulgent
radiant; shiny; brilliant
renege
to fail to honor a commitment; to go back on a promise
sedulous
diligent; persistent; hard-working
shard
a piece of broken pottery or glass
sparse
thin; not dense; arranged at widely spaced intervals
spendthrift
one who spends money wastefully
tacit
implied; not explicitly stated
terse
brief and concise in wording
Tout
to publicly praise or promote
unfeigned
genuine; not false or hypocritical
untenable
indefensible; not viable; uninhabitable
vigilant
alertly watchful