Uncommon

hebetude

[heb-i-tood]

the state of being dull; lethargy

puissant

[pyoo-uh-suhnt; pwis-uhnt]

powerful; mighty; potent

aubade

[oh-bad; oh-bahd]

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

diffidence

[dif-i-duhns]

modesty or shyness resulting from a lack of self-confidence

cravat

[kruh-vat]

a short, wide strip of fabric worn by men around the neck and tucked inside an open-necked shirt

impecunious

[im-pi-kyoo-nee-uhs]

having little or no money; penniless; poor

nadir

[ney-der]

the lowest point; point of greatest adversity or despair

riposte

[ri-pohst]

a quick, clever reply to an insult or criticism

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

wanton

[won-tn]

a sexually unrestrained woman

indissoluble

[in-di-sol-yuh-buhl]

not dissoluble; incapable of being dissolved, decomposed, undone, or destroyed

woebegone

[woh-bi-gawn, woh-bi-gon]

beset with woe; affected by woe, especially in appearance; showing or indicating woe

ubuntu

[oo-boon-too]

humanity or fellow feeling; kindness

spurious

[spyoor-ee-uhs]

not being what it purports to be; false or fake

hegira

[hi-jahy-ruh]

any flight or journey to a more desirable or congenial place

perspicacious

[pur-spi-key-shuhs]

having a ready insight into and understanding of things

inchoate

[in-koh-it]

not organized; lacking order

ambrosial

[am-broh-zhuhl]

exceptionally pleasing to taste or smell; especially delicious or fragrant

adversary

[ad-ver-ser-ee]

one's opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute

micawber

[mi-caw-ber]

one who is poor but lives in optimistic expectation of better fortune

inimical

[ih-nim-i-kuhl]

adverse in tendency or effect; unfavorable; harmful

zeitgeist

[tsahyt-gahyst]

the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time

arcane

[ahr-keyn]

known or understood by very few; mysterious; secret; obscure; esoteric

tutelary

[toot-l-er-ee]

serving as a protector, guardian, or patron