Uncommon
abject
[ab-jekt]
(of something bad) experienced or present to the maximum degree
conundrum
[kuh-nuhn-druhm]
a riddle, the answer to which involves a pun or play on words, as: "What is black and white and read all over? A newspaper."
limerence
[li-mer-uhns]
the state of being infatuated or obsessed with another person, typically experienced involuntarily and characterized by a strong desire for reciprocation of one's feelings but not primarily for a sexual relationship
flummox
[fluhm-uhks]
to bewilder; confound; confuse
valorous
[val-er-uhs]
showing great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle
assertion
[uh-sur-shuhn]
a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief
sycophant
[sik-uh-fuhnt, sik-uh-fant]
a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite
palfrey
[pawl-free]
a docile horse used for ordinary riding, especially by women
perspicacious
[pur-spi-key-shuhs]
having a ready insight into and understanding of things
descry
[dih-skrahy]
to see (something unclear or distant) by looking carefully; discern; espy
breviloquent
[bre-vil-uh-kwuhnt]
speaking or expressed in a concise or terse style; using brevity of speech
swarthy
[swawr-thee]
dark (of skin color, complexion, etc.)
bandersnatch
[ban-der-snach]
an imaginary wild animal of fierce disposition
peregrinate
[per-i-gruh-neyt]
to travel or journey, especially to walk on foot
pellucid
[puh-loo-sid]
allowing the maximum passage of light, as glass; translucent; clear
dogged
[daw-gid, dog-id]
persistent in effort; stubbornly tenacious
jocund
[jok-uhnd]
cheerful; merry; blithe; glad
resplendent
[ri-splen-duhnt]
attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous
remonstrate
[ri-mon-streyt]
to say or plead in protest, objection, or disapproval
carouse
[kuh-rouz]
drink plentiful amounts of alcohol and enjoy oneself with others in a noisy, lively way
flimflam
[flim-flam]
a trick or deception, especially a swindle or confidence game involving skillful persuasion or clever manipulation of the victim
febrile
[fee-bruhl]
pertaining to or marked by fever; feverish
penumbra
[pi-nuhm-bruh]
the partial or imperfect shadow outside the complete shadow of an opaque body, as a planet, where the light from the source of illumination is only partly cut off
irascible
[ih-ras-uh-buhl]
having or showing a tendency to be easily angered