Words

nabob (n.) — a person of conspicuous wealth or high status

sobriquet (n.) — a person’s nickname

skulduggery (n.) — underhanded or unscrupulous behavior; trickery

beetle (v.) — make one’s way hurriedly or with short, quick steps

nettle (v.) — irritate or annoy (someone)

umbrageous (adj.) — having shade

junket (n.) — attend or go on a trip or celebration at public expense

massy (adj.) — consisting of a large mass; massive

megrim (n.) — depression; low spirits

equipoise (n.) — balance of forces or interests

prolix (adj.) — (of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy

sop (n.) — a thing given or done as a concession of no great value to appease someone whose main concerns or demands are not being met

jongleur (n.) — an itinerant minstrel

fin de siecle (adj.) — relating to or characteristic of the end of the century, especially the 19th century

detritus (n.) — waste or debris of any kind

modus vivendi (n.) — an arrangement or agreement allowing conflicting parties to coexist peacefully, either indefinitely or until a final settlement is reached

weir (n.) — a low dam built across a river to raise the level of water upstream or regulate its flow

facile (adj.) — (of a person) having a superficial or simplistic knowledge or approach

cofferdam (n.) — a watertight enclosure pumped dry to permit construction work below the waterline, as when building bridges or repairing a ship

bends (n.) — decompression sickness, especially in divers