Unique

quintessence

[kwin-tes-uhns]

the pure and concentrated essence of a substance

sashay

[sa-shey]

to glide, move, or proceed easily or nonchalantly

friable

[frahy-uh-buhl]

easily crumbled or reduced to powder; crumbly

standoffish

[stand-aw-fish]

somewhat aloof or reserved; cold and unfriendly

mordant

[mawr-dnt]

sharply caustic or sarcastic, as wit or a speaker; biting

irenic

[ahy-ren-ik]

tending to promote peace or reconciliation; peaceful or conciliatory

arabesque

[ar-uh-besk]

fine arts; a sinuous, spiraling, undulating, or serpentine line or linear motif

cynosure

[sahy-nuh-shoor]

something that strongly attracts attention by its brilliance, interest, etc.

myriad

[mir-ee-uhd]

a very great or indefinitely great number of persons or things

impute

[im-pyoot]

to attribute or ascribe

perfidy

[perfidy]

deliberate breach of faith or trust; faithlessness; treachery

bellicose

[bel-i-kohs]

inclined or eager to fight; aggressively hostile; belligerent; pugnacious

dowdy

[dou-dee]

not stylish; drab; old-fashioned

jejune

[ji-joon]

(of ideas or writings) dry and uninteresting

ennui

[ahn-wee]

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

rigmarole

[rig-muh-rohl]

confused, incoherent, foolish, or meaningless talk

cromlech

[krom-lek]

(no longer in technical use) a megalithic chamber tomb

expatiate

[ik-spey-shee-eyt]

to enlarge in discourse or writing; be copious in description or discussion

pusillanimous

[pyoo-suh-lan-uh-muhs]

lacking courage or resolution; cowardly; faint-hearted; timid

miscreant

[mis-kree-uhnt]

a vicious or depraved person; villain

exhort

[ig-zawrt]

to urge, advise, or caution earnestly; admonish urgently

skedaddle

[ski-dad-ld]

to run away hurriedly; flee

garrulous

[gar-uh-luhs]

excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters

widdershins

[with-er-shinz]

in a direction contrary to the sun's course, considered as unlucky; counterclockwise