Uncommon

micawber

[mi-caw-ber]

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

plashy

[plash-ee]

marshy; wet

badinage

[bad-n-ahzh]

light, playful banter or raillery

tessellate

[tes-uh-leyt]

to form small squares or blocks, as floors or pavements; form or arrange in a checkered or mosaic pattern

perdure

[per-door]

remain in existence throughout a substantial period of time; endure

staid

[steyd]

of settled or sedate character; not flighty or capricious

susurrus

[soo-sur-uhs]

a soft murmuring or rustling sound; whisper

irenic

[ahy-ren-ik]

tending to promote peace or reconciliation; peaceful or conciliatory

alimentation

[al-uh-men-tey-shuhn]

the provision of nourishment or other necessities of life

cromlech

[krom-lek]

(no longer in technical use) a megalithic chamber tomb

valorous

[val-er-uhs]

showing great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle

rigmarole

[rig-muh-rohl]

confused, incoherent, foolish, or meaningless talk

skedaddle

[ski-dad-ld]

to run away hurriedly; flee

gasconade

[gas-kuh-neyd]

extravagant boasting

austere

[aw-steer]

severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance

quire

[kwahyuhr]

a collection of 24 or sometimes 25 sheets of paper of the same size and quality: one twentieth of a ream

lucubrate

[loo-kyoo-breyt]

to work, write, or study laboriously, especially at night and by lamplight

belabor

[bih-ley-ber]

to explain, worry about, or work at (something) repeatedly or more than is necessary

taradiddle

[tar-uh-did-l]

a small lie; fib

imbroglio

[im-brohl-yoh]

a misunderstanding, disagreement, etc. of a complicated or bitter nature, as between persons or nations

oligopoly

[ol-i-gop-uh-lee]

the market condition that exists when there are few sellers, as a result of which they can greatly influence price and other market factors

ubuntu

[oo-boon-too]

humanity or fellow feeling; kindness

descant

[des-kant ]

to comment or discourse at great length

zeitgeist

[tsahyt-gahyst]

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