Uncommon
alacrity
[uh-lak-ri-tee]
cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness
arcane
[ahr-keyn]
known or understood by very few; mysterious; secret; obscure; esoteric
stymie
[stahy-mee]
to hinder, block, or thwart
clinometer
[klahy-nom-i-ter]
an instrument used for measuring the angle or elevation of slopes
bonhomie
[bon-uh-mee]
frank and simple good-heartedness; a good-natured manner; friendliness; geniality
impecunious
[im-pi-kyoo-nee-uhs]
having little or no money; penniless; poor
eucatastrophe
[yoo-kuh-ta-struh-fee]
a sudden and favorable resolution of events in a story; a happy ending
ingratiating
[in-grey-shee-ey-ting]
charming; agreeable; pleasing; deliberately meant to gain favor
perdure
[per-door]
remain in existence throughout a substantial period of time; endure
serendipity
[ser-uhn-dip-i-tee]
an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident
rove
[rohv]
to wander about without definite destination; move hither and thither at random, especially over a wide area
zephyr
[zef-er]
a gentle, mild breeze
torpor
[tawr-per]
a state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy
persiflage
[pur-suh-flahzh]
light and slightly contemptuous mockery or banter
demarcate
[dih-mahr-keyt]
to determine or mark off the boundaries or limits of
conundrum
[kuh-nuhn-druhm]
a confusing and difficult problem or question
matutinal
[muh-toot-n-l]
pertaining to or occurring in the morning; early in the day
micawber
[mi-caw-ber]
one who is poor but lives in optimistic expectation of better fortune
abscond
[ab-skond]
to depart in a sudden and secret manner, especially to avoid capture and legal prosecution
pristine
[pris-teen]
having its original purity; uncorrupted or unsullied
timorous
[tim-er-uhs]
characterized by or indicating fear
woebegone
[woh-bi-gawn, woh-bi-gon]
beset with woe; affected by woe, especially in appearance; showing or indicating woe
remonstrate
[ri-mon-streyt]
to say or plead in protest, objection, or disapproval
dilatory
[dil-uh-tawr-ee]
tending to delay or procrastinate; slow; tardy