Transitory adj. 1. Not lasting, enduring, permanent, or eternal. 2.Lasting only a short time; brief; short-lived; temporary. “It was a transitory stage in the actor’s career.”

Rhetorical adj. Of or relating to rhetoric. Characterized by language that is elaborate, pretentious, insincere, or intellectually vacuous.

Egalitarian [e·gal·i·tar·i·an] adj. Affirming, promoting, or characterized by belief in equal political, economic, social, and civil rights for all people.

Colloquialism [col·lo·qui·al·ism] n. 1. An informal word or phrase that is more common in conversation than in formal speech or writing. Colloquialisms can include words such as “gonna” and phrases such as “ain’t nothin’” and “dead as a doornail.”

Temerity [te·mer·i·ty] n. Excessive confidence or boldness; audacity: “No one had the temerityto question her decision.”

Ignominious [ig·no·min·i·ous] adj. Deserving or causing public disgrace or shame; humiliating: “An ignominious defeat.”

Homogeneous [ho·mo·ge·ne·ous] adj. 1. Uniform in structure or composition. 2. Of the same or similar nature or kind: “The corporation maintains tight-knit, homogeneous board members.”

It's sad when someone you know becomes someone you knew.

Clandestine adj. 1. Kept or done in secret, often in order to conceal an illicit or improper purpose. “The CIA maintains clandestine operations in many countries.”

Monolithic [mon·o·lith·ic] adj. 1. Massive, solid, and uniform: “The monolithic cathedral.” 2. Large and unchanging: massive, uniform in character, and slow to change.