CAT

disclaim = renounce, to deny, disavow
use = the terrorists disclaimed responsibility for the bomb blast


aver = to declare to be true
use = The lawyer averred her client's innocence


ragamuffin = person wearing tattered clothes
use = a ragamuffin was begging for food


perceptive = discerning
use = perceptive insights


maudlin = weepy, sentimental



scruples = misgivings
use = Robin Hood had no scruples about robbing the rich to give to the poor


ichthyology = study of fish
use = *


simper = smile foolishly, smirk
use = She gave her teacher a simpering smile


succulent = juicy, delicious
use = a succulent mango


aviary = cage where birds are kept
use = the zoo had an aviary




enigmatic = puzzling, inexplicable
use = The Mona Lisa has a famously enigmatic smile


indite = write, compose
use = indite letters





odorous = Having an odor, especially a fragrant one
use = the new plant is more odorous





painstaking = taking great care
use = painstaking research


magnum opus = masterpiece
use = the painting is considered to be his magnum opus


prosody = study of poetic structure
use = the book on prosody contains a rhyming dictionary


austere = stern, strict, unadorned, harsh, Spartan
use = an austere room


surmise = to guess
use = The police surmise that the robbers have fled the country


bellicose = Warlike, aggressive
use = a bellicose situation





stupor = lethargy
use = in a drunken stupor


captious = fond of finding fault in others
use = the criticisms were always captious and frivolous


satanic = pertaining to the Devil
use = a satanic cult