Red Mcguire

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Accretion

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ac·cre·tion/əˈkriʃən/ Show Spelled [uh-kree-shuhn]
noun
1. an increase by natural growth or by gradual external addition; growth in size or extent.
2. the result of this process.
3. an added part; addition: The last part of the legend is a later accretion.
4. the growing together of separate parts into a single whole.
5. Law. increase of property by gradual natural additions, as of land by alluvion.

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Acerbic

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a·cer·bic/əˈsɜrbɪk/ Show Spelled [uh-sur-bik]
adjective
1. sour or astringent in taste: Lemon juice is acerbic.
2. harsh or severe, as of temper or expression: acerbic criticism.

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Acrid

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a·cer·bic/əˈsɜrbɪk/ Show Spelled [uh-sur-bik]
adjective
1. sour or astringent in taste: Lemon juice is acerbic.
2. harsh or severe, as of temper or expression: acerbic criticism.

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Adroit

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a·droit/əˈdrɔɪt/ Show Spelled [uh-droit]
adjective
1. expert or nimble in the use of the hands or body.
2. cleverly skillful, resourceful, or ingenious: an adroit debater.

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Alacrity

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a·lac·ri·ty/əˈlækrɪti/ Show Spelled [uh-lak-ri-tee]
noun
1. cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness: We accepted the invitation with alacrity.
2. liveliness; briskness.

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Ameliorate

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a·mel·io·rate/əˈmilyəˌreɪt, əˈmiliə-/ Show Spelled [uh-meel-yuh-reyt, uh-mee-lee-uh-]
verb (used with object), verb (used without object), a·mel·io·rat·ed, a·mel·io·rat·ing.
to make or become better, more bearable, or more satisfactory; improve; meliorate

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Asperity

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as·per·i·ty/əˈspɛrɪti/ Show Spelled [uh-sper-i-tee]
noun, plural as·per·i·ties.
1. harshness or sharpness of tone, temper, or manner; severity; acrimony: The cause of her anger did not warrant such asperity.
2. hardship; difficulty; rigor: the asperities of polar weather.
3. roughness of surface; unevenness.
4. something rough or harsh.

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Aver

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a·ver/əˈvɜr/ Show Spelled [uh-vur]
verb (used with object), a·verred, a·ver·ring.
1. to assert or affirm with confidence; declare in a positive or peremptory manner.
2. Law. to allege as a fact.

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Bucolic

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bu·col·ic/byuˈkɒlɪk/ Show Spelled [byoo-kol-ik]
adjective Also, bu·col·i·cal.
1. of or pertaining to shepherds; pastoral.
2. of, pertaining to, or suggesting an idyllic rural life.

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cadge

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cadge1 /kædʒ/ Show Spelled [kaj] verb, cadged, cadg·ing.
verb (used with object)
1. to obtain by imposing on another's generosity or friendship.
2. to borrow without intent to repay.
3. to beg or obtain by begging.

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cacophony

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ca·coph·o·ny/kəˈkɒfəni/ Show Spelled [kuh-kof-uh-nee] noun, plural ca·coph·o·nies.
1. harsh discordance of sound; dissonance: a cacophony of hoots, cackles, and wails.
2. a discordant and meaningless mixture of sounds: the cacophony produced by city traffic at midday.
3. Music. frequent use of discords of a harshness and relationship difficult to understand.

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chary

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char·y/ˈtʃɛəri/ Show Spelled [chair-ee] adjective, char·i·er, char·i·est.
1. cautious or careful; wary: He was chary of investing in oil wells.
2. shy; timid.
3. fastidious; choosy: She is excessively chary about her friends.
4. sparing (often followed by of ): chary of his praise.

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complaisant

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com·plai·sant/kəmˈpleɪsənt, -zənt, ˈkɒmpləˌzænt/ Show Spelled [kuhm-pley-suhnt, -zuhnt, kom-pluh-zant]
adjective
inclined or disposed to please; obliging; agreeable or gracious; compliant: the most complaisant child I've ever met.

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convival

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con·viv·i·al/kənˈvɪviəl/ Show Spelled [kuhn-viv-ee-uhl]
adjective
1. friendly; agreeable: a convivial atmosphere.
2. fond of feasting, drinking, and merry company; jovial.
3. of or befitting a feast; festive.

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derth

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dearth/dɜrθ/ Show Spelled [durth]
noun
1. an inadequate supply; scarcity; lack: There is a dearth of good engineers.
2. scarcity and dearness of food; famine.

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desiccate

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des·ic·cate/ˈdɛsɪˌkeɪt/ Show Spelled [des-i-keyt] verb, des·ic·cat·ed, des·ic·cat·ing.
verb (used with object)
1. to dry thoroughly; dry up.
2. to preserve (food) by removing moisture; dehydrate.

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disabuse

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dis·a·buse/ˌdɪsəˈbyuz/ Show Spelled [dis-uh-byooz]
verb (used with object), dis·a·bused, dis·a·bus·ing.
to free (a person) from deception or error.

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dissemble

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dis·sem·ble/dɪˈsɛmbəl/ [dih-sem-buhl] verb, dis·sem·bled, dis·sem·bling.
verb (used with object)
1. to give a false or misleading appearance to; conceal the truth or real nature of: to dissemble one's incompetence in business.
2. to put on the appearance of; feign: to dissemble innocence.
3. Obsolete . to let pass unnoticed; ignore.

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ebullience

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e·bul·lience/ɪˈbʌlyəns, ɪˈbʊl-/ [ih-buhl-yuhns, ih-bool-] noun
1. high spirits; exhilaration; exuberance.
2. a boiling over; overflow.

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elegy

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el·e·gy/ˈɛlɪdʒi/ [el-i-jee]
noun, plural el·e·gies.
1. a mournful, melancholy, or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.
2. a poem written in elegiac meter.
3. a sad or mournful musical composition.

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Emollient

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e·mol·lient/ɪˈmɒlyənt/[ih-mol-yuhnt]
adjective
1. having the power of softening or relaxing, as a medicinal substance; soothing, especially to the skin: emollient lotions for the face. Synonyms: relieving, palliative, healing, assuasive.

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Enervate

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en·er·vate/v. ˈɛnərˌveɪt; adj. ɪˈnɜrvɪt/ [v. en-er-veyt; adj. ih-nur-vit] verb, en·er·vat·ed, en·er·vat·ing, adjective
verb (used with object)
1. to deprive of force or strength; destroy the vigor of; weaken. Synonyms: enfeeble, debilitate, sap, exhaust.

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Equivocal

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e·quiv·o·cal/ɪˈkwɪvəkəl/ [ih-kwiv-uh-kuhl]
adjective
1. allowing the possibility of several different meanings, as a word or phrase, especially with intent to deceive or misguide; susceptible of double interpretation; deliberately ambiguous: an equivocal answer.
2. of doubtful nature or character; questionable; dubious; suspicious: aliens of equivocal loyalty.
3. of uncertain significance; not determined: an equivocal attitude.

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Erudite

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erudite (ˈɛrʊˌdaɪt)
— adj
having or showing extensive scholarship; learned

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Evanescent

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ev·a·nes·cent/ˌɛvəˈnɛsənt/ [ev-uh-nes-uhnt]
adjective
1. vanishing; fading away; fleeting.
2. tending to become imperceptible; scarcely perceptible.

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Exculpate

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ex·cul·pate/ˈɛkskʌlˌpeɪt, ɪkˈskʌlpeɪt/ [ek-skuhl-peyt, ik-skuhl-peyt]
verb (used with object), ex·cul·pat·ed, ex·cul·pat·ing.
to clear from a charge of guilt or fault; free from blame; vindicate.

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Exigent

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ex·i·gent/ˈɛksɪdʒənt/ Show Spelled [ek-si-juhnt] Show IPA
adjective
1. requiring immediate action or aid; urgent; pressing.
2. requiring a great deal, or more than is reasonable.

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Facetious

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fa·ce·tious/fəˈsiʃəs/ fuh-see-shuhs] adjective
1. not meant to be taken seriously or literally: a facetious remark.
2. amusing; humorous.
3. lacking serious intent; concerned with something nonessential, amusing, or frivolous: a facetious person.

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Fulminate

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verb (used without object)
1. to explode with a loud noise; detonate.
2. to issue denunciations or the like (usually followed by against ): The minister fulminated against legalized vice.

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Furtive

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fur·tive/ˈfɜrtɪv/ [fur-tiv] 1. taken, done, used, etc., surreptitiously or by stealth; secret: a furtive glance.
2. sly; shifty: a furtive manner

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Gainsay

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gain·say/ˈgeɪnˌseɪ, geɪnˈseɪ/ [geyn-sey, geyn-sey] verb (used with object), gain·said, gain·say·ing.
1. to deny, dispute, or contradict.
2. to speak or act against; oppose.

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Garrulous

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gar·ru·lous/ˈgærələs, ˈgæryə-/[gar-uh-luhs, gar-yuh-]
adjective
1. excessively talkative in a rambling, roundabout manner, especially about trivial matters.
2. wordy or diffuse: a garrulous and boring speech.

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Impecunious

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Having little of no money- poor.

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Implacable

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Impossible to placate or apease

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Inchoate

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1. In an initial or early stage; incipient.

2. Imperfectly formed or developed: a vague, inchoate idea.

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Infelicitous

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1. Inappropriate; ill-chosen: an infelicitous remark.

2. Not happy; unfortunate.

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Inimical

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1. Injurious or harmful in effect; adverse: habits inimical to good health.

2. Unfriendly; hostile: a cold, inimical voice.

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Intrepid

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Resolutely courageous; fearless. See Synonyms at brave.

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Inured

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To habituate to something undesirable, especially by prolonged subjection; accustom: "Though the food became no more palatable, he soon became sufficiently inured to it" (John Barth).

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Inveigle

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1. To win over by coaxing, flattery, or artful talk. See Synonyms at lure.

2. To obtain by cajolery: inveigled a free pass to the museum.

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Irascible

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1. Prone to outbursts of temper; easily angered.

2. Characterized by or resulting from anger

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Laconic

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using few words; expressing much in few words; concise: a laconic reply.

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Loquacious

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1. talking or tending to talk much or freely; talkative; chattering; babbling; garrulous: a loquacious dinner guest.
2. characterized by excessive talk; wordy: easily the most loquacious play of the season.

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Mendacity

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1. the quality of being mendacious; untruthfulness; tendency to lie.

2. an instance of lying; falsehood.

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Mercurial

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1. changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic: a mercurial nature.
2. animated; lively; sprightly; quick-witted.
3. pertaining to, containing, or caused by the metal mercury.

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Mettle

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1. courage and fortitude: a man of mettle.

2. disposition or temperament: a man of fine mettle.

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Misanthrope

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a hater of humankind.

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Munificence

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the quality of being munificent, or showing unusual generosity: The museum's collection was greatly increased by the munificence of the family's gift.

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Neologism

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1. a new word, meaning, usage, or phrase.
2. the introduction or use of new words or new senses of existing words.
3. a new doctrine, especially a new interpretation of sacred writings.

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Obdurate

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1. unmoved by persuasion, pity, or tender feelings; stubborn; unyielding.

2. stubbornly resistant to moral influence; persistently impenitent: an obdurate sinner.

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Obfuscate

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1. to confuse, bewilder, or stupefy.

2. to make obscure or unclear: to obfuscate a problem with extraneous information.

3. to darken.

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Obsequious

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1. characterized by or showing servile complaisance or deference; fawning: an obsequious bow.

2. servilely compliant or deferential: obsequious servants.

3. obedient; dutiful.

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Obviate

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to anticipate and prevent or eliminate (difficulties, disadvantages, etc.) by effective measures; render unnecessary: to obviate the risk of serious injury.

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Opprobrium

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noun
1. the disgrace or the reproach incurred by conduct considered outrageously shameful; infamy.

2. a cause or object of such disgrace or reproach.

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Ostentatious

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1. characterized by or given to pretentious or conspicuous show in an attempt to impress others: an ostentatious dresser.
2. (of actions, manner, qualities exhibited, etc.) intended to attract notice: Lady Bountiful's ostentatious charity.

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Paean

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1. any song of praise, joy, or triumph.

2. a hymn of invocation or thanksgiving to Apollo or some other ancient Greek deity.

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Penury

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noun
1. extreme poverty; destitution.

2. scarcity; dearth; inadequacy; insufficiency.

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Perfidy

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1. deliberate breach of faith or trust; faithlessness; treachery: perfidy that goes unpunished.

2. an act or instance of faithlessness or treachery.

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Peripatetic

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1. walking or traveling about; itinerant.

2. ( initial capital letter ) of or pertaining to Aristotle, who taught philosophy while walking in the Lyceum of ancient Athens.

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Perspicacious

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1. having keen mental perception and understanding; discerning: to exhibit perspicacious judgment.

2. Archaic. having keen vision.

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Preen

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verb (used with object)
1. (of animals, especially birds) to trim or dress (feathers, fur, etc.) with the beak or tongue: The peacock preened itself on the lawn.
2. to dress (oneself) carefully or smartly; primp: The king preened himself in his elaborate ceremonial robes.
3. to pride (oneself) on an achievement, personal quality, etc.: He preened himself on having been graduated with honors.

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Prescience

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knowledge of things before they exist or happen; foreknowledge; foresight.

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Predilection

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a tendency to think favorably of something in particular; partiality; preference: a predilection for Bach.

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Prevaricate

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to speak falsely or misleadingly; deliberately misstate or create an incorrect impression; lie.

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Probity

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integrity and uprightness; honesty.

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Profligate

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1. utterly and shamelessly immoral or dissipated; thoroughly dissolute.

2. recklessly prodigal or extravagant.

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Prosaic

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1. commonplace or dull; matter-of-fact or unimaginative: a prosaic mind.

2. of or having the character or form of prose rather than poetry.

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Putrefy

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1. to render putrid; cause to rot or decay with an offensive odor.

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Quaff

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1. to drink a beverage, especially an intoxicating one, copiously and with hearty enjoyment.

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Querulous

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1. full of complaints; complaining.
2. characterized by or uttered in complaint; peevish: a querulous tone; constant querulous reminders of things to be done.

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Quixotic

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1. ( sometimes initial capital letter ) resembling or befitting Don Quixote.
2. extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary, impractical, or impracticable.
3. impulsive and often rashly unpredictable.

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Quotidian

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1. daily: a quotidian report.
2. usual or customary; everyday: quotidian needs.
3. ordinary; commonplace: paintings of no more than quotidian artistry.
4. (of a fever, ague, etc.) characterized by paroxysms that recur daily.

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Rarefy

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1. to make rare or rarer; make less dense: to rarefy a gas.
2. to make more refined, spiritual, or exalted.

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Recondite

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1. dealing with very profound, difficult, or abstruse subject matter: a recondite treatise.
2. beyond ordinary knowledge or understanding; esoteric: recondite principles.
3. little known; obscure: a recondite fact.

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redoubtable

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1. that is to be feared; formidable.
2. commanding or evoking respect, reverence, or the like.

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Refulgent

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shining brightly; radiant; gleaming: Crystal chandeliers and gilded walls made the opera house a refulgent setting for the ball.

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Salubrious

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favorable to or promoting health; healthful: salubrious air.

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Sedulous

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1. diligent in application or attention; persevering; assiduous.
2. persistently or carefully maintained: sedulous flattery.

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Soporific

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1. causing or tending to cause sleep.

2. pertaining to or characterized by sleep or sleepiness; sleepy; drowsy.

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Specious

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1. apparently good or right though lacking real merit; superficially pleasing or plausible: specious arguments.
2. pleasing to the eye but deceptive.
3. Obsolete . pleasing to the eye; fair.

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Surfeit

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1.excess; an excessive amount: a surfeit of speechmaking.
2.excess or overindulgence in eating or drinking.
3.an uncomfortably full or crapulous feeling due to excessive eating or drinking.
4.general disgust caused by excess or satiety.

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Torpid

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1. inactive or sluggish.
2. slow; dull; apathetic; lethargic.
3. dormant, as a hibernating or estivating animal.

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Torpor

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1. sluggish inactivity or inertia.
2. lethargic indifference; apathy.
3. a state of suspended physical powers and activities.
4. dormancy, as of a hibernating animal.

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Trenchant

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1. incisive or keen, as language or a person; caustic; cutting: trenchant wit.
2. vigorous; effective; energetic: a trenchant policy of political reform.
3. clearly or sharply defined; clear-cut; distinct.

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Truculent

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1. fierce; cruel; savagely brutal.
2. brutally harsh; vitriolic; scathing: his truculent criticism of her work.
3. aggressively hostile; belligerent.

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Unstinting

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1. to be frugal; get along on a scanty allowance: Don't stint on the food. They stinted for years in order to save money.
2. Archaic. to cease action; desist.

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verisimilitude

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1. the appearance or semblance of truth; likelihood; probability: The play lacked verisimilitude.
2. something, as an assertion, having merely the appearance of truth.

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vituperate

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to use or address with harsh or abusive language; revile.

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xenophobic

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unreasonably fearful of or hating anyone or anything foreign or strange.