Opus
n. an artistic work
Patricians
n. a member of a long-established wealthy family; an aristocrat or nobleman
Farce
n. an absurd event
Mirth
n. amusement esp. as expressed in laughter
Tare
n. allowance made for container when weighing
Palliate
v. to make less severe or unpleasant without removing the cause;
Desultory
adj. lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm; aimless; inconsistent with effort
Pugnacious
adj. eager or quick to argue or quarrel; aggressive, ready to fight
Garland
v. adorn or crown with a garland; n. a wreath of flowers and leaves
Puffery
n. exaggerated or false praise
Pathos
n. a quality that evokes pity or sadness evoking sadness or pity
Equable
adj. calm and even-tempered
Ensconce
v. establish or settle someone in a comfortable, safe, or secret place
Seminal
adj. essential; formative
Belletristic
adj. of or relating to essays, particularly of literary and artistic criticism, written and read primarily for aesthetic effect
Efface
v. to erase from the surface
Parity
n. equality
Milieu
n. a person's social environment
Vim
n. energy or enthusiasm
Coltish
adj. energetic but awkward in one’s movements or behavior
Emollient
adj. something that softens
Salutary
adj. (esp. with reference to something unqelcome or unpleasant) producing good effects; beneficial
Vagary
n. something unaccountable; an inexplicable change in a situation or in someone's behavior; freak
Discrepancy
n. something which does not match up; inconsistency
Provenance
n. something’s origin
Liniment
n. soothing lotion intended to relieve pain
Urbane
adj. (of a person, esp. a man) sauve, courteous, and refined in manner; sophisticated
Plaintive
adj. sounding sad or mournful
Capacious
adj. spacious
Mince
v. speak in an affected manner; walk with an affected delicacy or fastidiousness