Qua is a preposition used in formal speech or writing that means “in the capacity or character of (someone or something).” It is used synonymously with as to indicate that someone or something is being referred to or thought about in a particular way.

// The artist qua artist is less interesting to me than the artist as a human being.

not dense; few and scattered

Something considered inalienable is impossible to take away or give up.

// The American ethos is built on the belief that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are inalienable rights.

To purloin is to take something that belongs to someone else—that is, to steal it. Purloin is much more formal-sounding than steal, but is often—though not always—encountered in humorous contexts, suggesting that the theft is not serious.

// The puppy managed to purloin a few cookies from the plate when no one was looking.

// The studio stepped up security, fearing that someone might attempt to purloin a copy of the script for the show’s season finale.

A person may be described as brusque when they are talking or behaving in a very direct, brief, and unfriendly way. Brusque can also describe speech that is noticeably short and abrupt.

// We knew something was wrong when our normally easygoing professor was brusque and impatient with our class.

// She asked for a cup of coffee and received a brusque reply: “We don't have any.”

To discomfit someone is to make them confused or upset. Discomfit is a formal synonym of the also formal (but slightly less so) disconcert.

// Jacob was discomfited by the new employee’s forward, probing questions.

A vicarious emotion or experience is one felt by watching, hearing about, or reading about someone else rather than by doing something yourself.

// He felt a vicarious thrill as his daughter crossed the stage to accept her diploma.

To describe something, such as an idea or remark, as fatuous is to say that it is foolish or silly rather than sensible or logical.

// Our hopes for an apology and a reasonable explanation for the error were met with fatuous platitudes.

Something or someone described as meticulous shows extreme or excessive care in the consideration or treatment of details.

// He is meticulous about keeping accurate records.

Praxis is a formal word referring to the practical application of a theory—in other words, what one does to act on a theory (such as feminist theory) to which one is committed. Praxis is also used synonymously with action or practice to refer to the exercise of an art, science, or skill, or to customary conduct within a given sphere.

// Many gardeners promote composting as being good environmental praxis.

To lambaste something or someone is to criticize them very harshly. Lambaste is also sometimes used as a synonym of beat meaning “to assault.”

// The coach lambasted the team for its poor play.

Ethereal means "of or relating to the regions beyond the earth" or "of or resembling heaven." It can also mean "lacking material substance" and "relating to, containing, or resembling a chemical ether."

// The windows give the church an ethereal glow.

// The images of the underwater cave show a strange world of ethereal beauty.

Shambles refers to a place or state in which there is great confusion, disorder, or destruction.

// The house party they had over the weekend left the entire living room in shambles.

To flout something, such as a law or rule, is to treat it with contemptuous disregard. A teenager flouting a curfew, for example, will not hide the fact that they are out past the time they are required to be home.

// The court found that the company had continued to flout the law despite multiple warnings.

In general use, auxiliary describes someone or something available to provide extra help, power, etc., when it is needed. In linguistics, an auxiliary verb (also called a “helping verb”) is used with another verb to do things like show a verb’s tense or form a question. In nautical contexts, auxiliary can describe a sailboat equipped with a supplementary inboard engine, or a vessel that provides supplementary assistance to other ships.

// The auditorium has an auxiliary cooling system used only on particularly sweltering days.

// “Are” in “They are arriving soon” is an auxiliary verb.

To genuflect is to kneel, or nearly kneel, on one knee and then rise again in worship or as an act of respect. In figurative use, genuflect means "to be humbly obedient or respectful."

// Churchgoers genuflected before the altar.

// The politician was criticized for genuflecting to corporate interests.

Pedantic describes someone or something that exhibits the characteristics of a pedant—that is, a person who often annoys other people by correcting small errors and giving too much attention to minor details. Pedantic also means “narrowly, stodgily, and often ostentatiously learned.”

// Their habit of reminding fellow birders that the bird is called a “Canada goose” and not a “Canadian goose” came across as pedantic rather than helpful. // Several attendees walked out of the lecture due to the pedantic nature of the presentation.

Knowledge is the eye of desire and can become the pilot of the soul.

When used with into, dragoon means "to force or convince someone to do something." Without into, dragoon means "to subjugate or persecute by harsh use of troops."

// Employees complained that they had been dragooned into working overtime without adequate compensation.

Scurrilous is a formal adjective that most often describes language that contains obscenities, abuse, or, especially, slander—that is, a false statement that damages a person’s reputation. Scurrilous can also describe someone who uses or tends to use scurrilous language, or it can describe a person or thing as evil or vulgar.

// The press secretary made a point at the briefing not to address the scurrilous rumors surrounding the senator.

To allege something is to assert it without proof or before proving it.

// Consumer advocates allege that the company knew about the faulty switches but sold the product anyway.

Something described as tawdry is cheap and gaudy in appearance or quality. Tawdry is also often used to describe something considered morally bad or distasteful, as in "a tawdry tale of political skulduggery."

// Tawdry decorations cluttered the tiny house.

to deck oneself out.

If you emulate someone or something, you try to be like that person or thing. The word is used especially when one is trying to equal or surpass someone in accomplishment or achievement.

// She grew up emulating her sports heroes.

// Younger children will often try to emulate the behavior of their older siblings.

A cacophony is a mixture of loud and usually harsh unpleasant sounds. Cacophony can also refer to an incongruous or chaotic mixture.

// The sounds of shouting added to the cacophony on the streets.

// A cacophony of aromas wafted through the air.

a condition that is part of an agreement

To refurbish something is to brighten or freshen it up, or to repair and make improvements to it.

// They are refurbishing the old house with the hopes of selling it for a profit.

// The store refurbishes and sells computers that can often meet the needs of those who don't need the latest technology.

Germane is a formal synonym of relevant that describes something related to a subject in an appropriate way.

// Her comments were not germane to the discussion. // While these facts about the witness may interest the jury, they are not in fact germane.

Descry is a literary word that, like discover or find out, means “to come to realize or understand something.” Descry can also mean “to catch sight of.”

// In their research, the bryologists descried an association between a moss and the iron content of the rock it typically grows on.

// From the tops of the high dunes, we could just descry the ship coming over the horizon.

Salubrious is a formal word that means “favorable to or promoting health or well-being.”

// They picked up several salubrious habits on their wellness retreat in Bali.

Proximity is the quality or state of being near or proximate. The word proximity is synonymous with closeness.

// The apartment's proximity to hiking trails is a definite plus.

Inveterate is a formal word used to describe someone who is always or often doing something specified. For instance, a person could be an inveterate liar or an inveterate prankster. Inveterate can also mean "firmly established by long persistence," as in "an inveterate tendency to overlook the obvious."

// She's an inveterate traveler who constantly searches for flight deals to her next destination.

// Carla’s inveterate optimism keeps her going during challenging times.

1. having the nature of a transitional space, phase, or experience

2. (psychology) relating to the threshold beyond which sensation cannot be perceived

Jeopardy is defined as "exposure to or imminence of death, loss, or injury"; it is synonymous with danger. In legal contexts, jeopardy refers specifically to the danger that an accused person is subjected to when on trial for a criminal offense.

// Rather than risk placing passengers in jeopardy, the pilot waited for the storm to pass before taking off.

A retinue is a group of helpers, supporters, or followers.

// The venue relies on a retinue of workers to carry out large events.

To caterwaul is to make a very loud and unpleasant sound. Caterwaul can also mean “to protest or complain noisily.”

// The woods were quiet until the sound of a chainsaw caterwauling in the distance broke the calm.

// They continue to caterwaul about having to take the blame.

Voracious describes someone who has a huge appetite. It can also be used figuratively to mean "excessively eager," as in "a voracious reader."

// It seemed like the voracious kitten was eating her weight in food every day.

// She has her voracious appetite for knowledge to thank for graduating at the top of her class.

Someone described as haggard appears tired or thin especially as if because of hunger, worry, or pain. Haggard can also describe someone who looks wild or otherwise disheveled.

// After a disastrous rafting trip, Robin emerged from the woods looking haggard but otherwise unscathed.

Something described as prestigious has the respect and admiration that someone or something gets for being successful or important.

// Chelsea’s mom often bragged about her daughter’s job at the prestigious company.

To fathom something is to understand the reason for its existence or occurrence.

// Even those close to him can't always fathom why he repeatedly risks his life to climb the world’s tallest mountains.

When you have a rapport with someone, your relationship is characterized by agreement, mutual understanding, or empathy that makes communication possible or easy.

// Once our daughter had developed a rapport with her piano teacher, she began to show some real enthusiasm for learning and practicing the piano.

a musical instrument, consisting of a flat sounding box with numerous strings stretched over it, that is placed on a horizontal surface and played with a plectrum and the fingertips.