Uncommon

maudlin

[mawd-lin]

tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental

diffidence

[dif-i-duhns]

modesty or shyness resulting from a lack of self-confidence

chthonic

[tha-nik]

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

monotonous

[muh-not-n-uhs]

having very little inflection; limited to a narrow pitch range

gasconade

[gas-kuh-neyd]

extravagant boasting

abstruse

[ab-stroos]

difficult to understand; obscure

anime

[an-uh-mey]

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

perspicacious

[pur-spi-key-shuhs]

having a ready insight into and understanding of things

crapulous

[krap-yuh-luhs]

given to or characterized by gross excess in drinking or eating

valorous

[val-er-uhs]

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

micawber

[mi-caw-ber]

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

woebegone

[woh-bi-gawn, woh-bi-gon]

beset with woe; affected by woe, especially in appearance; showing or indicating woe

gelid

[jel-id]

very cold; icy

tarantism

[tar-uhn-tiz-uhm]

a mania characterized by an uncontrollable impulse to dance, especially as prevalent in southern Italy from the 15th to the 17th century, popularly attributed to the bite of the tarantula

minacious

[mi-ney-shuhs]

menacing; threatening

perdure

[per-door]

remain in existence throughout a substantial period of time; endure

taradiddle

[tar-uh-did-l]

a small lie; fib

petrichor

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

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

surmise

[ser-mahyz]

to think or infer without certain or strong evidence; conjecture; guess

blandishment

[blan-dish-muhnt]

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