Unusual

elixir

[ih-lik-ser]

a sweetened, aromatic solution of alcohol and water containing, or used as a vehicle for, medicinal substances

droke

[drohk]

a valley with steeply sloping sides

retort

[ri-twart]

to reply to, usually in a sharp or retaliatory way

nostrum

[nos-truhm]

a medicine sold with false or exaggerated claims and with no demonstrable value; quack medicine

lucid

[loo-sid]

easily understood; completely intelligible or comprehensible

gourmand

[goor-mahnd]

a person who is fond of good eating, often indiscriminatingly and to excess

obnubilate

[ob-noo-buh-leyt]

to cloud over; becloud; obscure

neutralize

[noo-truh-lahyz]

to make (something) ineffective; counteract; nullify

recondite

[ri-kon-dahyt]

dealing with very profound, difficult, or abstruse subject matter

spurn

[spurn]

to reject with disdain; scorn

militate

[mil-i-teyt]

to have a substantial effect; weigh heavily

dissent

[dih-sent]

to differ in sentiment or opinion, especially from the majority; withhold assent; disagree (often followed by from)

hector

[hek-ter]

to treat with insolence; bully; torment

toadstool

[toad-​stool]

a kind of fungus similar to a mushroom, consisting of a round cap on a short stem, and that is often poisonous

philosophize

[fi-los-uh-fahyz]

to speculate or theorize, usually in a superficial or imprecise manner

inculcate

[in-kuhl-keyt]

to implant by repeated statement or admonition; teach persistently and earnestly (usually followed by upon or in)

caterwaul

[kat-er-wawl]

to quarrel like cats

cherubic

[chuh-roo-bik]

having a plump, pretty innocence

scamper

[skam-per]

to run or go hastily or quickly

mephitic

[muh-fit-ik]

offensive to the smell

dubious

[doo-bee-uhs]

doubtful; marked by or occasioning doubt

zealous

[zel-uhs]

full of, characterized by, or due to zeal; ardently active, devoted, or diligent

gormandize

[gawr-muhn-dahyz]

to eat greedily or ravenously

ensue

[en-soo]

to follow in order; come afterward, especially in immediate succession