scrupulous

adj. painstakingly careful to do what is right; heeding moral scruples

caprice

n. a sudden, impulsive action

surmise

vt. to suppose based on slight evidence

n. a guess

dispatch

vt. to send off or away with speed

n.

1) an official message

2) haste, promptness

fastidious

adj. hard to please; fussy

affectation

n. an artificial or insincere manner

pliant

adj.

1) flexible

2) yielding easily

supercilious

adj. arrogant, haughty

impertinent

adj. rude

pedantic

adj. needlessly and tediously displaying learning; insisting on trivial details

effusion

n.

1) an outpouring of emotions or words

2) a pouring fourth, as of fluids

solicitude

n. anxious care and protectiveness

indolent

adj. lazy; disinclined to move

decorum

n. appropriateness and good taste in conduct

civility

n. courtesy, politeness; the behaviour of civilized people

panegyric

n. formal, elaborate praise, in oratory or writing

celerity

n. swiftness

expostulate

vi. to reason earnestly esp. in disagreement

alacrity

n. promptness in response; cheerful readiness

affront

vt. to offend or insult

laconic

adj. consice in expression to the point of seeming rude or mysterious

iniquitous

adj. wicked, evil, unjust

beneficent

adj. doing good; charitable

asperity

n. harshness of surface, sound, or manner

affability

n. friendliness; pleasant manner

veracity

n. truthfullness, accuracy

taciturn

adj. reluctant to speak; silent, stern (not to be confused with tacit, which means unspoken)

posterity

n. future generations

éclat

n. brilliant effect, publicity, dazzling success

hauteur

n. arrogance or haughtiness

upbraid

vt. to reproach severely, scold

probity

n. honesty, integrity

derision

n. ridicule, mockery

entreat

vt. to plead

complaisance

n. friendliness; eagerness to please (not to be confused with complacence)

incumbent

n. the holder of an office

repine

vi. to be dejected, especially to long for something

incredulous

adj. skeptical, disbelieving

circumspect

adj. careful to consider all consequences; prudent

spleen

n.

1) ill-will, esp. when surpressed and released

2) an organ that helps regulate blood supply

deference

n. respectful yielding to a superior

deportment

n. bearing, manner

arch

adj. mischieveously ironic

propriety

n. approprietness; conformity to what is socially acceptable

trepidation

n. fear or anxiety

misrepresent

vt. to give a false impression of, usu. with intent to deceive

propensity

n. strong natural tendency or preference

pecuniary

adj. of or pertaining to money

lieu

n. stead or place, usu. in lieu of

accede

vi. to agree or yield to a request or a demand

corroborate

vt. to support with evidence or authority; to confirm

chagrin

n. annoyance due to embarrassment, failure, etc.

vt. to vex, disappoint, humiliate

consternation

n. amazement or display that hinders or confuses

equivocal

adj.

1) subject to different interpretations; misleading (often intentionally)

2) hard to classify or judge

tumult

n. disorder, commotion

allay

vt. to calm, relieve, soothe

voluble

adj. freely talkative

injunction

n.

1) an order or command

2) a legal writ requiring or forbidding someone to do something

querulous

adj. habitually complaining or whining

acquiesce

vi. to accept or submit without opposition (used with in or to)

tête-à-tête

n. private conversation between to persons

impute

vt. to accuse; to attribute blame

petulance

n. peeveishness, irritability, ill temper

acrimony

n. harshness or sharpness of speech or disposition

palliate

vt. to make less serious; to ease

engross

vt. to take the full attention of; to occupy completely

profligate

adj. sinfully pleasure-seeking; recklessly wasteful

n. a self-indulgent person who spends recklessly

insufferable

adj. intolerable, unbearable

dilatory

adj.

1) intended to delay

2) tending to procrastinate

alleviate

vt. to relieve, lessen; to make more bearable

premeditation

n. planning beforehand to commit an act

forbearance

n. tolerance or restraint when provoked

divert

vt.

1) to amuse, esp. as relief from worry

2) to distract

3) to turn aside

arrears

n. (usu. plural) tardiness in meeting obligations

pleasantry

n.

1) a joke; playful conversation

2) a polite social remark