Uncommon

draconian

[drey-koh-nee-uhn]

excessively harsh and severe

feckless

[fek-lis]

lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible

expurgate

[ek-sper-geyt]

to amend by removing words, passages, etc., deemed offensive or objectionable

trenchant

[tren-chuhnt]

incisive or keen, as language or a person; caustic; cutting

chthonic

[tha-nik]

of or relating to the deities, spirits, and other beings dwelling under the earth

licentious

[lahy-sen-shuhs]

unrestrained by law or general morality; lawless; immoral

nimiety

[ni-mahy-i-tee]

excess; overabundance

nadir

[ney-der]

the lowest point; point of greatest adversity or despair

inimical

[ih-nim-i-kuhl]

adverse in tendency or effect; unfavorable; harmful

capricious

[kuh-prish-uhs]

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior

clinometer

[klahy-nom-i-ter]

an instrument used for measuring the angle or elevation of slopes

cavil

[kav-uhl]

to raise irritating and trivial objections; find fault with unnecessarily

oeillade

[œ-yad]

an amorous glance; ogle

inchoate

[in-koh-it]

not organized; lacking order

aubade

[oh-bad; oh-bahd]

a poem or piece of music appropriate to the dawn or early morning

perspicacious

[pur-spi-key-shuhs]

having a ready insight into and understanding of things

maudlin

[mawd-lin]

tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental

spurious

[spyoor-ee-uhs]

not being what it purports to be; false or fake

comminatory

[kom-uh-ney-tuh-ree]

a threat of punishment or vengeance

diffidence

[dif-i-duhns]

modesty or shyness resulting from a lack of self-confidence

ken

[ken]

one's range of knowledge or sight

desideratum

[dih-sid-uh-rey-tuhm]

something wanted or needed

perdure

[per-door]

remain in existence throughout a substantial period of time; endure

propinquity

[proh-ping-kwi-tee]

the state of being close to someone or something; proximity