Bad Grammarian Posts

faux pas \ noun [foh pah] an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation.

adroit \ adjective \ [uh-droit] clever or skillful in using the hands or mind.

ascetic \ adjective \ characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons. noun \ a person who practices severe self-discipline and abstention.

surfeit \ noun an excessive amount of something.

vilify \ verb speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner.

aspersion \ noun an attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something.

suave \ adjective (especially of a man) charming, confident, and elegant.

antithesis \ noun a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else.

idiosyncrasy \ noun a mode of behavior or way of thought peculiar to an individual.

eerie \ adjective strange and frightening.

hedonist \ noun a person who believes that the pursuit of pleasure is the most important thing in life; a pleasure-seeker.

debacle \ noun a sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco.

charisma \ noun compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others. a divinely conferred power or talent.

hypnosis [hip-noh-sis] noun \ the induction of a state of consciousness in which a person apparently loses the power of voluntary action and is highly responsive to suggestion or direction.

irony [ahy-ruh-nee] noun \ the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.