missive \MIS-iv\ (noun) - A written message; a letter.

"A missive! Yes, he would to his beloved, to the pure-as-the-whitest-snow queen of his heart, pen a missive. It took him a week to think about it, draft it, polish it...Read More

effrontery \ih-FRUN-tuh-ree\ (noun) - Insulting presumptuousness; shameless boldness; insolence.

"There was no doubt but that she was telling the truth; what astonished her was the effrontery, the sheer, naked effrontery ...Read More

vade mecum \vay-dee-MEE-kuhm; vah-dee-MAY-\ (noun) - 1 : A book for ready reference; a manual; a handbook. 2 : A useful thing that one regularly carries about.

"The same day the youth set out on his journey equipped with ...Read More

dictum \DIK-tuhm\ (noun) - 1 : An authoritative statement; a formal pronouncement. 2: Law) A judicial opinion expressed by judges on points that do not necessarily arise in the case, and are not involved in it.

"Some ...Read More

cabal \kuh-BAHL; kuh-BAL\ (noun) - 1 : A secret, conspiratorial association of plotters or intriguers whose purpose is usually to bring about an overturn especially in public affairs. 2 : The schemes or plots of such an ...Read More

maunder \MON-duhr\ (intransitive verb) - 1 : To talk incoherently; to speak in a rambling manner. 2 : To wander aimlessly or confusedly.

"But if it be given to a man 'to maunder away his mind in softness,' he cannot live ...Read More