Uncommon

contrived

[kuhn-trahyvd]

obviously planned or forced; artificial; strained

maudlin

[mawd-lin]

tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental

arcane

[ahr-keyn]

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

darg

[dahrg]

a day's work

ambrosial

[am-broh-zhuhl]

exceptionally pleasing to taste or smell; especially delicious or fragrant

saudade

[soh-dah-duh]

a deep emotional state of melancholic longing for a person or thing that is absent

monotonous

[muh-not-n-uhs]

having very little inflection; limited to a narrow pitch range

snickersnee

[snik-er-snee]

a knife, especially one used as a weapon.

haughty

[haw-tee]

arrogantly superior and disdainful

cognizance

[kog-nuh-zuhns]

awareness, realization, or knowledge; notice; perception

spurious

[spyoor-ee-uhs]

not being what it purports to be; false or fake

ignominious

[ig-nuh-min-ee-uhs]

marked by or attended with ignominy; discreditable, humiliating

fetching

[fech-ing]

charming; captivating

inchoate

[in-koh-it]

not organized; lacking order

ubuntu

[oo-boon-too]

humanity or fellow feeling; kindness

alembic

[uh-lem-bik]

anything that transforms, purifies, or refines

plumbeous

[pluhm-bee-uhs]

resembling or containing lead; leaden

feckless

[fek-lis]

lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible

succedaneum

[suhk-si-dey-nee-uhm]

a substitute

bonhomie

[bon-uh-mee]

frank and simple good-heartedness; a good-natured manner; friendliness; geniality

hegira

[hi-jahy-ruh]

any flight or journey to a more desirable or congenial place

anime

[an-uh-mey]

a style of Japanese film and television animation, typically aimed at adults as well as children

prothalamion

[proh-thuh-ley-mee-on]

a song or poem celebrating an upcoming wedding

blandishment

[blan-dish-muhnt]

a flattering or pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone gently to do something