purdah \PUR-duh\ (noun) - 1 : A curtain, screen, or veil shielding women from the sight of men or strangers in Hindu and Muslim communities. 2 : A striped cotton cloth from which a curtain is made, often blue and white. 3 ...Read More

sycophant \SIK-uh-fuhnt\ (noun) - A person who seeks favor by flattering people of wealth or influence; a parasite; a toady.

"But many wiser than McGonagle succumb to the blandishments of the sycophant because, as is well...Read More

chimerical \ky-MER-ih-kuhl; -MIR-; kih-\ (adjective) - 1 : Merely imaginary; produced by or as if by a wildly fanciful imagination; fantastic; improbable or unrealistic. 2 : Given to or indulging in unrealistic fantasies ...Read More

inculcate \in-KUHL-kayt; IN-kuhl-kayt\, transitive verb) - To teach and impress by frequent repetition or instruction.

"As we have said, Franval was generously endowed with all the charm of youth and all the talents which...Read More

edacious \i-DAY-shus\ (adjective) - Given to eating; voracious; devouring.

"Occasionally the road must be set back, and once the lighthouse was moved back from the cliffs, eaten away by the edacious tooth of the sea." -- ...Read More

surfeit \SUR-fit\ (noun) - 1 : An excessive amount or supply. 2 : Overindulgence, as in food or drink. 3 : Disgust caused by overindulgence or excess.

(transitive verb) - To feed or supply to excess.

"It is from boredom,...Read More