An emollient is something, such as a lotion, that softens or soothes.

// She keeps a number of oils in the bathroom—argan, almond, and coconut—to use as emollients.

Draconian describes something (often a law, policy, restriction, etc.) that is very severe or cruel.

// The editorial criticizes the draconian measures being taken by city hall to rein in spending.

Transpire is a formal verb that means “to happen,” or in other words “to take place or occur.” It can also mean “to come to light” or “to become known,” as in “It transpired that they had met previously.” In botany, to transpire is to give off or exude watery vapor especially from the surfaces of leaves.

// The monument will ensure that posterity will not soon forget the historic events that transpired on that day.

A factoid is a brief and usually unimportant or trivial fact. Factoid may also refer to an invented fact believed to be true because it appears in print.

// The book is really just a collection of interesting factoids.

To doff a hat or other piece of clothing is to take it off.

// They doffed their coats when they came inside the house.

An ignoramus is an utterly ignorant or stupid person.

// I can't believe they let an ignoramus like that run the company.