Uncommon

obeisance

[oh-bey-suhns]

deference or homage

stymie

[stahy-mee]

to hinder, block, or thwart

petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr, pe-trahy-kawr]

a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather

alacrity

[uh-lak-ri-tee]

cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness

ubiquitous

[yoo-bik-wi-tuhs]

existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time; omnipresent

marred

[mahr-d]

damaged or spoiled to a certain extent; rendered less perfect, attractive, useful, etc.; impair or spoil

foist

[foist]

to force upon or impose fraudulently or unjustifiably (usually followed by on or upon)

draconian

[drey-koh-nee-uhn]

excessively harsh and severe

infamy

[in-fuh-mee]

extremely bad reputation, public reproach, or strong condemnation as the result of a shameful, criminal, or outrageous act

detectorist

[dɪˈtɛktərɪst]

a person whose hobby is using a metal detector

censorious

[sen-sawr-ee-uhs]

severely critical; fault-finding; carping

maudlin

[mawd-lin]

tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental

nadir

[ney-der]

the lowest point; point of greatest adversity or despair

penchant

[pen-chuhnt]

a strong inclination, taste, or liking for something

chthonic

[tha-nik]

of or relating to the deities, spirits, and other beings dwelling under the earth

loquacious

[loh-kwey-shuhs]

talking or tending to talk much or freely; talkative; chattering; babbling; garrulous

plashy

[plash-ee]

marshy; wet

hegira

[hi-jahy-ruh]

any flight or journey to a more desirable or congenial place

persiflage

[pur-suh-flahzh]

light and slightly contemptuous mockery or banter

obfuscate

[ob-fuh-skeyt, ob-fuhs-keyt]

to confuse, bewilder, or stupefy; to make obscure or unclear

astute

[uh-stoot]

having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage

girandole

[jir-uhn-dohl]

a brooch or earring consisting of a central ornament with usually three smaller ornaments hanging from it

penumbra

[pi-nuhm-bruh]

the partial or imperfect shadow outside the complete shadow of an opaque body, as a planet, where the light from the source of illumination is only partly cut off

redoubtable

[ri-dou-tuh-buhl]

that is to be feared; formidable