Unusual

whilom

[hwahy-luhm]

former; erstwhile

bastion

[bas-chuhn]

fortification; a projecting portion of a rampart or fortification that forms an irregular pentagon attached at the base to the main work

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

propitiate

[pruh-pish-ee-eyt]

to make favorably inclined; appease; conciliate

quandary

[kwon-duh-ree]

a state of perplexity or uncertainty, especially as to what to do; dilemma

proliferate

[pruh-lif-uh-reyt]

to grow or produce by multiplication of parts, as in budding or cell division, or by procreation

jeremiad

[jer-uh-mahy-uhd]

a prolonged lamentation or mournful complaint

stultify

[stuhl-tuh-fahy ]

to render absurdly or wholly futile or ineffectual, especially by degrading or frustrating means

redolent

[red-l-uhnt ]

having a pleasant odor; fragrant

torrid

[tawr-id]

ardent; passionate

collywobbles

[kol-ee-wob-uhlz]

intestinal cramps or other intestinal disturbances due to anxiety

rebarbative

[ree-bahr-buh-tiv]

causing annoyance, irritation, or aversion; repellent.

adamantine

[ad-uh-man-teen]

utterly unyielding or firm in attitude or opinion

insipid

[in-sip-id]

without distinctive, interesting, or stimulating qualities; vapid

sophistry

[sof-uh-stree]

a false argument; sophism

fulminate

[fuhl-muh-neyt]

to issue denunciations or the like

volplane

[vol-pleyn]

to glide toward the earth in an airplane, with no motor power or with the power shut off

suffuse

[suh-fyooz]

to overspread with or as with a liquid, color, etc.

ribald

[rib-uhld]

vulgar or indecent in speech, language, etc.; coarsely mocking, abusive, or irreverent; scurrilous

felicitate

[fi-lis-i-teyt]

to compliment upon a happy event; congratulate.

hegemonic

[hej-uh-mon-ik]

having hegemony or dominance

collude

[kuh-lood]

to conspire in a fraud

fisticuffs

[fis-tuh-kuhfs]

combat with the fists

hygge

[hoog-uh]

(especially in reference to the Danish lifestyle) the feeling of coziness and contentment evoked by simple comforts, as being wrapped in a blanket, having good conversations, enjoying food, etc.