noun
1. a person who flouts the law, especially one who fails to pay fines owed.
2. a person who flouts rules, conventions, or accepted practices.
1. an insufficient quantity or number
2. an acute insufficiency
Quiddity refers to the essence of a thing—that is, whatever makes something the type of thing that it is. Quiddity can also refer to a small and usually trivial complaint or criticism, or to a quirk or eccentricity in someone's behavior.
// The novelist’s genius was her unparalleled ability to capture the quiddity of the Maine seacoast in simple prose.
// He portrayed the character's quirks and quiddities with tender playfulness.
Elicit is a formal word meaning “to get (a response, information, etc.) from someone.”
// The announcement of the final amount raised by the charity walk elicited cheers from the crowd.
// The teacher’s question elicited no response.
Notorious describes people and things that are well-known or famous, especially for something bad or unfavorable.
// Their city is notorious for its extremely hot and humid summers.
Vendetta refers to an active and mutual hatred between two families or groups, also known as a blood feud. It can also refer to an often prolonged series of retaliatory, vengeful, or hostile acts, or to a commitment to carrying out such acts.
// The student insisted that the principal had a personal vendetta against her.
Cloying is used disapprovingly to describe something that is too sweet, pleasant, or sentimental.
// She finds most romantic comedies cloying and predictable.
Umbrage refers to a feeling of being offended by what someone has said or done. It is often used in the phrase “take umbrage.”
// Some listeners took umbrage at the podcaster’s remarks about the event.
Brackish, meaning “somewhat salty,” usually describes water or bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, and estuaries. The word can also mean “not appealing to the taste” or “repulsive.”
// The river becomes brackish as we approach the tidemark.