sang·froid säN-frwä'

1. (n.) Coolness and composure, especially in trying circumstances.

[syn: aplomb, assuredness, cool, poise, self-possession]

mal·e·fac·tor

1: (n.) One that has committed a crime; a criminal.

2: (n.) An evildoer.

male·faction (n.)

dic·ey

1: (adj.) Involving or fraught with danger or risk: “an extremely dicey future on a brave new world of liquid nitrogen, tar, and smog” (New Yorker).

dic·i·er, dic·i·est (adj.).

[syn: chancy, chanceful, dodgy]

quag·mire

1: (n.) Land with a soft muddy surface.

2: (n.) A difficult or precarious situation; a predicament.

a·droit

1: (adj.) Dexterous; deft: An exceptionally adroit pianist.

2: (adj.) Skillful and adept under pressing conditions in adapting means to ends: "His adroit replies to hecklers won him many followers."

a·droitly (adv.), a·droitness (n.).

[syn: ingenious] [ant: maladroit]

pre·scient

1: (adj.) Possessing knowledge of actions or events before they occur; foresight. "...had shown himself sensible, and almost prescient, of this event." "extraordinarily prescient memoranda on the probable course of postwar relations."

prescient·ly (adv.), pre·science (n.)

meal·y-mouthed

1: (adj.) Hesitant to state facts or opinions simply and directly as from e.g. timidity or hypocrisy; a mealymouthed politician.

dem·a·gogue

1a.: (n.) A leader who obtains power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace.

1b.: (n.) A leader of the rabble; one who attempts to control the multitude by specious or deceitful arts; an unprincipled and factious mob orator or political leader.

2: (n.) A leader of the common people in ancient times.

dem·a·gogued, dem·a·gogu·ing (v.), dem·a·gogues (n.).

[syn: rabble-rouser]

sec·tar·i·an

1: (adj.) Of, relating to, or characteristic of a sect. A sectarian mind; the negations of sectarian ideology.

2: (adj.) Adhering or confined to the dogmatic limits of a sect or denomination; partisan.

3: (adj.) Narrow-minded; parochial.

4: (n.) A member of a sect.

5: (n.) One characterized by bigoted adherence to a factional viewpoint; intolerant of views of any other group/sect.

sec·tari·an·ism (n.)

[syn: heretic]

linch·pin, lynch·pin

1: (n.) A central cohesive element: Reduced spending is the linchpin of their economic program.

ac·ri·mo·ni·ous

1: (adj.) Bitter and sharp in language or tone; marked by strong resentment or cynicism, rancorous: an acrimonious debate between the two candidates.

acri·moni·ous·ly (adv.), acri·moni·ous·ness (n.).

his·tri·on·ic

1: (adj.) Of or relating to actors or acting: histrionic gestures.

2: (adj.) Excessively dramatic or emotional; affected.

histri·oni·cal·ly (adv.)

pur·port·ed

1: (adj.) Assumed to be such; reputed to be the case; supposed: the purported author of the story.

pur·ported·ly (adv.)

[syn: supposed]

as·cet·ic

1: (adj.) Leading a life of self-discipline and self-denial, especially for spiritual improvement.

2: (adj.) Pertaining to or characteristic of an ascetic; self-denying and austere: an ascetic existence.

3: (n.) A person who renounces material comforts and leads a life of austere self-discipline, especially as an act of religious devotion..

as·ceti·cal·ly (adv.)

[syn: austere, spartan]