hal·cy·on

1. Calm and peaceful; tranquil. Deep, halcyon repose.

2. Prosperous; golden: halcyon years.

de·tri·tus

1. Loose fragments or grains that have been worn away from rock.

2. Disintegrated or eroded matter: the detritus of past civilizations.

3. Accumulated material; debris: “Poems, engravings, press releases - he eagerly scrutinizes the detritus of fame” (Carlin Romano).

de·trital (adj).

[syn: debris, dust, junk, rubble]

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]