Unique

cicerone

[sis-uh-roh-nee]

a guide who gives information about antiquities and places of interest to sightseers

ameliorate

[uh-meel-yuh-reyt]

make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better

skedaddle

[ski-dad-ld]

to run away hurriedly; flee

ennui

[ahn-wee]

a feeling of utter weariness and discontent resulting from satiety or lack of interest; boredom

paucity

[paw-si-tee]

smallness of quantity; scarcity; scantiness

diaphanous

[dahy-af-uh-nuhs]

very sheer and light; almost completely transparent or translucent

dollop

[dol-uhp]

to dispense in dollops

elegy

[el-i-jee]

a mournful, melancholy, or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead

platitude

[plat-i-tood]

a flat, dull, or trite remark, especially one uttered as if it were fresh or profound

ostensible

[o-sten-suh-buhl]

outwardly appearing as such; professed; pretended

philanthropic

[fil-uhn-throp-ik]

of, pertaining to, engaged in, or characterized by philanthropy; benevolent

meretricious

[mer-i-trish-uhs]

alluring by a show of flashy or vulgar attractions; tawdry

propitious

[pruh-pish-uhs]

presenting favorable conditions; favorable

ensconce

[en-skons]

to settle securely or snugly; to cover or shelter; hide securely

cajole

[kuh-johl]

to persuade by flattery or promises; wheedle; coax

salubrious

[suh-loo-bree-uhs]

favorable to or promoting health; healthful

pleonasm

[plee-uh-naz-uhm]

the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea; redundancy

perfidy

[perfidy]

deliberate breach of faith or trust; faithlessness; treachery

effete

[ih-feet]

lacking in wholesome vigor; decadent

quire

[kwahyuhr]

a collection of 24 or sometimes 25 sheets of paper of the same size and quality: one twentieth of a ream

dowdy

[dou-dee]

not stylish; drab; old-fashioned

impute

[im-pyoot]

to attribute or ascribe

staid

[steyd]

of settled or sedate character; not flighty or capricious

pulchritude

[puhl-kri-tood]

physical beauty; comeliness