Last Edited:  05 Jun 2008

Lexicon

copyright © MM through MMVIII, by Wm. B. Steele

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A a -

abject - ()adj
            allowing no hope of improvement or relief

abnegate - ()vt
            to give up or renounce something

abrogate  - ()vt
            to repeal or abolish something

abscond  - ()vi
            to leave quickly and secretly, often to avoid arrest or prosecution

absquatulate  - ()vi
            to leave, especially in a hurry or under suspicious circumstances (abscond) -or- die -or- argue

abstemious - ()adj
            Eating and drinking in moderation -or- sparingly used or consumed

abstruse - ()adj
            obscure and not easily understood (ambiguous/recondite)

accede - ()vi
            to give consent or agreement to something

accelerate - ()vti
            (vi) to move or occur increasingly quickly
            (vt) cause something to move or occur faster

accolade - ()n
            a sign or expression of high praise and esteem

acquiesce - ()vi
            to agree to or comply with something passively rather than expressing approval or support

ad hoc - ()adv
            done or set up solely in response to a particular situation or problem and without considering wider issues

ad hominem - ()adj
            appealing to feelings and prejudices especially through an attack on a person's character rather than on the person's arguments

admonish - ()vt
            to warn

aggrandize - ()vt
            to increase the size or scope of something

albeit - ()conj
            although it be

allegiance - ()n
            fidelity to a person, group, or government

altruism - ()n
            the belief that sacrificing or acting for the benefit of others is right and good

ambition - ()n
            an eager or strong desire to achieve something, such as fame or power

ameliorate - ()adj
            to improve something or make it better (formal)

amenable - ()adj
            responsive to suggestion and likely to cooperate

amend - ()vti
            to make changes to something, especially a piece of text, in order to improve or correct it

amenity - ()n
            a useful or attractive feature or service

amerce - ()vt
            to punish somebody in an arbitrary way

amicable - ()adj
            characterized by or done in friendliness, without anger or bad feelings

amity - ()n
            friendliness and peaceful relations (formal)

amok - ()adv
            frenzied and out of control

angst - ()n
            a feeling of anxiety or apprehension often accompanied by depression

animadversion - ()n
            a critical comment or comments, especially those reproaching somebody

antipode - ()n
            an exact or diametrical opposite

approbation - ()n
            approval, consent, or appreciation

appurtenance - ()n
            accessory, or an accompanying part or feature of something -or- a legal right or privilege attached to a property and inherited with it

aphorism - ()n
            a succinct statement expressing an opinion or a general truth

apophasis - ()n
            the rhetorical device of alluding to something by denying that it will be mentioned, for example, in "I will not bring up the question of age now that you are forty"

apoplectic - ()adj
            overcome with anger -or- symptoms of a stroke

a posteriori - ()adj
            applied to knowledge and conceptions which are based upon or derived from facts through induction or experiment; inductive or empirical

apothegm - ()n
            a terse saying that embodies an important truth, for example, "Haste makes waste"

a prior - ()adj
            applied to knowledge and conceptions assumed, or presupposed, as prior to experience, in order to make experience rational or possible; axiomatic; based on hypothesis or theory rather than experiment

arbiter - ()n
            someone or something that has the power and authority to settle a dispute or decide an issue

arbitrary - ()adj
            based solely on personal wishes, feelings, or perceptions, rather than on objective facts, reasons, or principles -or- chosen or determined at random

arrogate - ()vt
            to claim or seize without right

artifice - ()n
            the deceiving of people in a clever or subtle way

assiduous - ()vt
            persistent application

assuage - ()vt
            to provide relief from something distressing or painful

atavism - ()n
            the recurrence of a genetically controlled feature in an organism after it has been absent for several generations, usually because of an accidental recombination of genes

Atheist - ()n
            a person that rejects the notion of supernatural events and beings

attainder - ()n
            the removal of rights or the confiscation of the property from someone

auspicious - ()adj
            marked by lucky signs or good omens, and therefore by the promise of success or happiness

autarchy - ()n
            absolute power, especially such power wielded by a despotic ruler; an independent country with its own government, as distinct from a colony or dependency

autism - ()n
            a disturbance in psychological development in which use of language, reaction to stimuli, interpretation of the world, and the formation of relationships are not fully established and follow unusual patterns

autocracy - ()n
            a country governed by a single ruler who has unlimited power

autocrat - ()n
            a ruler who holds unlimited power and is answerable to no other person

autonomy - ()n
            independence and the capacity to make moral decisions and act on them

aver - ()vt
            to state or allege that something is true

avoirdupois - ()n
            a system for measuring weights based on the pound

axiom - ()n
            a statement or concept accepted as self-evidently true

B b -

barbette - ()n
            a metal cylinder giving armored protection to a gun turret on a warship -or- a mound of earth inside a fortress used as a platform for cannons

beguile - ()vt
            to mislead or deceive somebody

benighted - ()adj
            surrounded by darkness -or- ignorant

bellicose - ()adj
            inclined to battle, pugnacious

benefice - ()n-or-vt
            a church office that provides a living for its holder -or- to provide a member of the clergy with a church office that will yield a living

bequeath - ()vt
            to hand down to future generations

bereft - ()adj
            deprived of, or lacking in something desirable or necessary

bloviate - ()vi
            to discourse at length in a pompous or boastful manner

bromide - ()n
            a saying that lacks originality or significance

bourgeoisie - ()n (bourgeois = member of the bourgeoisie)
            social class between the very wealthy and the working class; middle class

C c -

caprice - ()n
            a tendency to sudden impulsive decisions or changes of mind; whimsy

captious - ()adj
            intended to confuse or entrap an opponent in an argument -or- tending to find fault and make trivial and excessive criticisms

cardinal - ()adj
            fundamentally important

carnivore - ()n
            an animal that eats other animals.

casuistry - ()n
            the use of sophisticated and subtle but false reasoning intended to rationalize or mislead, especially on moral issues; sophistry

catalogue - ()(also catalog) n -or- vti
            (n) a complete list
            (vti) to classify and list into a catalog

catechism - ()n
            a body of basic beliefs and principles followed unthinkingly -or- a close and intense session of questioning on a particular subject, especially forming part of an examination or an interrogation

catechize - ()vt
            to question somebody closely, for example, in an examination or interrogation

causality - ()n
            the principle of, or relationship between, cause and effect

causa sine qua non - ()Latin
            an indispensable cause or condition

caveat - ()n
            something said as a warning, caution, or qualification

cavil - ()n -or- vi
            (n) a trivial and unreasonable objection
            (vi) to make objections about something on small and unimportant points

certain - ()adj
            definitely known to exist or be true

charity - ()n
            benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity

chimera - ()n
            a figment of the imagination, for example, a wildly unrealistic idea or hope or a completely impractical plan - (genetics: an organism, or part of one, with at least two genetically different tissues resulting from mutation, the grafting of plants, or the insertion of foreign cells into an embryo)

chimerical - ()adj
            nonexistent, existing only in somebody's imagination, or wildly improbable or unrealistic

clique - ()n
            a close group of friends or colleagues having similar interests and goals, and whom outsiders regard as excluding them

codex - ()n
            a collection of ancient manuscript texts in book form

code - ()n -or- vt
            (n) a systematic collection of rules of procedure or conduct
            (vt) to systematize and arrange rules into a code

coerce - ()vt
            to make someone do something that he does not choose, through physical force, threat, or deceit

cognition - ()n
            the faculty of acquiring knowledge through the process of reason

cognitive - ()adj
            relating to the process of acquiring knowledge by the use of reasoning

commensurable - ()adj
            related by virtue of sharing the same system of measurement or by being measurable using the same units

concept - ()n
            a broad abstract idea or a guiding general principle, such as one that determines how a person or culture behaves, or how nature, reality, or events are perceived

concise - ()adj
            using as few words as possible to give the necessary information, or compressed in order to be brief

concision - ()n
            the state or quality of being concise; elegance of language; terseness and economy in writing and speaking achieved by expressing a great deal in just a few words

concomitant - ()adj
            happening or existing along with or at the same time as something else

consanguinity - ()n
            relationship by blood or by a common ancestor -or- a close affinity or connection

conscience - ()n
            the uniquely human instinct of the mind; it is the source of all misery and joy.  Containing the internal sense of what is right and wrong (good and evil), the conscience is an instinct of natural morality.  An ethical standard contrary to the natural morality of the conscience will lead an individual to nothing but misery.

conscious - ()adj
            concerned with or relating to a part of the mind that is capable of thinking, choosing, or perceiving

contentious - ()adj
            causing or likely to cause disagreement and disputes between people with differing views

context - ()n
            that which surrounds, and gives meaning to, something else

contumacious - ()adj
            flagrantly insubordinate or rebellious

copious - ()adj
            produced or existing in large quantities -or- using many words in writing or speech

corollary - ()n -or- adj
            (adj/n) something that is a natural consequence of or accompaniment to something else -or- (n) something that is very obviously or easily deduced from something already proven

corpus - ()n
            the main part of something

corpus callosum - ()Latin
            the thick band of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain in higher mammals and allows the hemispheres to communicate

corpus delicti - ()Latin
            the body of facts that show that a crime has been committed, including physical evidence such as a corpse

corpus luteum - ()Latin
            a scab on the ovary, formed after ovulation in mammals, which secretes the hormone progesterone

corruption - ()n
            dishonest exploitation of power for personal gain -or- extreme immorality or depravity

coterie - ()n
            a small exclusive group of people who share the same interests

countenance - ()vt -or- n
            (vt) to tolerate, accept, or give approval to something -or- (n) composure or self-control

courteous - ()adj
            marked by respect for and consideration of others

criterion - ()n (pl - criteria)
            an accepted standard used in making decisions or judgments about something

culpable - ()adj
            deserving blame or punishment for a wrong

culture - ()n
            the prevalent metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics of a particular nation or people

cypher - ()vt -or- n (also spelled cipher)
            (n) a written code in which the letters of a text are substituted according to a system -or- (vt) to write a text or message in code (decipher = to read a cypher or coded message)

D d -

deceit - ()n
            the communication of a falsehood; deception; a lie; the opposite of verity

declaim - ()vti
            (vi) to say something in a formal and dramatic way
            (vt) to make a formal forceful speech about something 

declamation - ()n
            a speech or presentation spoken in a formal and theatrical style

deduction - ()n
            a conclusion reached by applying the rules of logic to a premise -or- the subtracting of an amount for some particular purpose

de facto - ()adj
            acting or existing in fact, with or without legal sanction

defalcate - ()vt
            to misuse something, especially money or property, that belongs to somebody else and is held in trust

deference - ()n
            submission to the judgment, opinion, or wishes of another person

delusion - ()n
            a persistent false belief held in the face of strong contradictory evidence

demagogue - ()n
            a political leader who gains power by appealing to people's emotions and prejudices rather than their rationality and reason

denigrate - ()vt
            to criticize something harshly, while attempting to make others think it has no importance -or- to defame somebody's character or reputation

denouement - ()n
            a final part in which everything is made clear and no questions or surprises remain

deprecate - ()vt
            to express condemnation of something or somebody

depredation - ()n
            an attack involving plunder and pillage

dereliction - ()n
            deliberate neglect of duty or obligations

deride - ()vt
            show contempt for somebody or something

derision - ()n
            contempt and mockery

desideratum - ()n
            something that is desired or felt to be essential

despot - ()n
            a tyrant or ruler with absolute powers

dialectic - ()n
            the investigation of the truth through discussion -or- the tension that exists between two conflicting or interacting forces, elements, or ideas

diaphanous - ()adj
            fragile or insubstantial because extremely faint or slight

dichotomy - ()n
            a separation into two divisions that differ widely or contradict each other

dictum - ()n
            an authoritative saying, statement, or pronouncement

didactic - ()adj
            tending to give instruction or advice, even when it is not welcome or not needed

diffuse - ()vti
            (vi) to become spread throughout something else
            (vt) to spread something throughout something else

dilatory - ()adj
            tending to waste time, move slowly, or delay

dilettante - ()n
            somebody who is interested in an art or a specialized field of knowledge but who has only a superficial understanding of it

diligence - ()n
            persistent and hard-working effort in doing something

dire - ()adj
            characterized by severe, serious, or desperate circumstances

dirge - ()n
            a song of mourning or lament, especially one about death or intended for a funeral

disabuse - ()vt
            to tell somebody or make somebody realize that an idea is not true

disaffected - ()vt
            to make somebody dissatisfied with somebody or something, especially somebody to whom respect or loyalty is owed

disarray - ()n
            a disorganized and confused state

discipline - ()vt -or- n
            (vt) to train or develop by instruction and exercise especially in self-control
            (n) training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character

discomfit - ()vt
            to make somebody feel confused, uneasy, or embarrassed

discreet - ()adj
            discernment or good judgment in conduct; especially in speech when preserving prudent silence

discrete - ()adj
            completely separate and unconnected

discretion - ()n
            the quality of being discreet

discursive - ()adj
            using logic rather than intuition to reach a conclusion

disdain - ()n
            extreme contempt or disgust for something or somebody

disjunction - ()n
            disjuncture -or- a proposition of the form "p or q" that is false if both p and q are false, but true if at least one of them is true

disjunctive - ()adj
            pertaining or resembling a proposition of the form "p or q" that is false if both p and q are false, but true if at least one of them is true

disjuncture - ()n
            a disconnection of joined parts or things

disparage - ()adj
            to refer disapprovingly to somebody or something

disparate - ()adj
            used to describe things or people so completely unlike each other that they cannot be compared

disquisition - ()n
            a long formal essay or discussion on a subject

dissemble - ()v
            to put on a false appearance in order to conceal facts, feelings, or intentions

dissever - ()vti
            (vi) to come apart or become disunited
            (vt) to separate or sever something

dissimulate - ()vti
            to disguise or hide your true feelings, thoughts, or intentions (formal)

dissolute - ()adj
            overindulging in physical pleasures in a way or to an extent that is considered immoral or harmful

dissonant - ()adj
            incompatible or inconsistent

dissuade - ()vt
            to persuade somebody not to do something or not to believe, think, or feel something

distinct - ()adj
            clearly different and separate -or- strong enough, large enough, or definite enough to be noticed

divagate - ()vi
            to wander off the subject under discussion

diverse - ()n
            essentially different

doctrine - ()n
            a rule or principle that forms the basis of a belief, theory, or policy

dogma - ()n
            a belief or set of beliefs that a political, philosophical, or moral group holds to be true

dogmatic - ()adj
            prone to expressing strongly held beliefs and opinions

domesticate - ()vt
            to adapt to life in association with and to the use of humans

dregs - ()n
            the least valuable or most unpleasant part of something, especially a group of people

dystopia - ()n
            an imaginary place where everything is as bad as it possibly can be, or a vision or description of such a place

dystrophy - ()n
            progressive degeneration of a body tissue

E e -

effete - ()adj
            lacking or having lost the strength or ability to get things done -or- characterized by decadence, overrefinement, or overindulgence

efficacious - ()adj
            having the power to produce the desired result

effrontery - ()n
            behavior or an attitude that is so bold or arrogant as to be insulting

egalitarian - ()adj
            based on a belief that all people should be socially, politically, and economically equal (equal outcome and access to resources, regardless of an individual's ability to produce or create)

elegance - ()adj
           scientific precision, neatness, and simplicity

elegant - ()adj
            ingeniously neat, simple, or concise -or- executed or made with a combination of skill, ease, and grace

elide - ()vt
            to omit, delete, or ignore something

elision - ()n
            the suppression, omission, or deletion of something, or what has been suppressed, omitted, or deleted

eloquent - ()adj
            expressing a thought in a forceful, expressive, and persuasive way

Elysium - ()n
           also known as the Elysian Fields, in Greek mythology, a pre-Hellenic paradise, a land of perfect peace and happiness.  Regarded as the abode of the blessed dead, where the souls of the courageous dead lived in perfect happiness, surrounded by grass, trees, and gentle winds and enveloped in rose-tinted, perpetual light.

emend - ()vt
            to make corrections or alterations to improve a text

empirical - ()adj
            verifiable or provable by means of observation or experiment; derived from experiment and observation rather than theory

endeavor - ()vt
            to volitionally attempt the achievement of a goal

enmity - ()n
            the extreme ill will or hatred that exists between enemies

ennui - ()n
            weariness and dissatisfaction with life that results from a loss of interest

entreat - ()vti
            to beg for something, often repeatedly

envisage - ()vt
            to conceive of something and/or contemplate a future possibility

ephemeral - ()adj
            lasting for only a short period of time

epicene - ()adj
            lacking vigor and strength -or- having both male and female characteristics

epigram - ()n
            a concise, witty, and often paradoxical remark or saying

epigraph - ()n
            quotation on or at the beginning of something, usually related to its theme

epistemic - ()adj
            relating to knowledge

epistemology - ()n
            the study of the qualities, basic constitution, and limits of knowledge

equanimity - ()n
            evenness of temper especially under stress

equivocal - ()adj
            deliberately expressed in an ambiguous way in an attempt to mislead somebody -or- arousing doubts and suspicions, especially about somebody's honesty or sincerity (abstruse/recondite)

erudition - ()n
            knowledge acquired through study and reading

escapism - ()n
            the act of indulging in fantasies to escape from volition and reality

escapist - ()n
            someone that practices escapism

eschatology - ()n
            the study of religious doctrines concerning the human soul in its relation to death, judgment, heaven, and hell

eschew - ()vt
            to avoid doing or using something on principle or as a matter of course

esoteric - ()adj
            difficult to understand or understood by only an initiated few

ethic - ()n
            system of moral standards or principles used in defining values or virtue

ethical - ()adj
            based on adherence to one's ethic; virtuous 

ethics - ()n
            the study of moral standards or principles used in defining values or virtue

ethnic - ()n
            any of the basic divisions of mankind 

ethnology - ()n
            study of any of the basic divisions of mankind 

etiology - ()n
            investigation of causes and origins

etymology - ()n
            the study of the origins of words or parts of words and how they have arrived at their current form and meaning

eugenicist - ()n
            same as eugenist

exegesis - ()n
            the critical explanation or interpretation of texts

exigency - ()n (same as exigence)
            a difficult situation requiring urgent action -or- something that a situation demands or makes urgently necessary and that puts pressure on the people involved

exiguous - ()adj
            scanty or meager

exoteric - ()adj
            capable of being understood by most people

expatiate - ()vi
            to speak or write about something at length

explicit - ()adj
            expressing all details in a clear and obvious way

exposition - ()n
            a setting forth of meaning or intent

extant - ()adj
            still in existence

faith - ()n
            fidelity to one's promises; sincerity of intentions -or- firm belief in something for which there is no proof

fidelity - ()n
            the quality or state of being faithful -or- accuracy and exactness in producing the truth

Fifth Column - ()n
            any clandestine group of people which works inside a nation to undermine its strength (psychological warfare), while at the same time the nation suffers a direct attack from a foreign power (coined by Gen. Emilio Mola Vidal, during the Spanish Civil War, attacking Madrid with four columns of soldiers, he referred to his hidden supporters inside the capital as his fifth column)

fortitude - ()n
            strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage

fountainhead - ()n
            the primary source of something abstract

freebooter - ()n
            somebody who lives by plundering others, especially a pirate

G g -

goal - ()n
            a value which serves as a target for achievement

grapple - ()vi
            to struggle with something that is difficult to deal with, for example, a concept or theory that is difficult to grasp

grift - ()n
            a swindle or confidence game

guile - ()n
            a cunning, deceitful, and treacherous quality or type of behavior

H h -

hedonism - ()n
            doctrine that physical pleasure is the principle good or the source of moral values

hegemony - ()n
            control or dominating influence by one person or group over others, especially by one political group over society or one nation over others

herbivore - ()n
            an animal that feeds only or mainly on grass and other plants

hominid - ()n [from a Latin word for "man"]
            a primate belonging to a family of which the modern human being is the only species still in existence (Family Hominidae)

honor - ()n
            strength in adherence to ethical conduct; integrity

hope - ()n
            expectation of fulfillment or success

I i -

i.e. - abbrev. id est (Latin)

ibid. - abbrev. ibidem

ibidem - ()adv
            in the same place; the same book, publication, chapter, or page previously cited

id est - (Latin)
            that is (its abbreviation "i.e." is most often used to preface an example)

ideology - ()n
            the philosophy of social and political doctrine, governing the association of men

ignoble - ()adj
            low in character; base; dishonorable

ignominious - ()adj
            causing or deserving disgrace, humiliation, or public contempt

ignorance - ()n
            cognitive failure due to the act of evading or ignoring the truth

ignore - ()vt
            to evade the truth -or- to refuse to notice or pay attention to somebody or something

illusion - ()n
            something that deceives the senses or mind -or- a mistaken perception or belief

immolate - ()vt
            to kill as a sacrifice

implicit - ()adj
            not stated, but understood as a necessary part of something

importune - ()vt
            to urge or entreat persistently or repeatedly

impunity - ()n
            exemption from punishment, harm, or recrimination

impute - ()vt
            to attribute to another, especially fault or misconduct

inculcate - ()vt
            to impress upon the mind through frequent and forceful repetition

indenture - ()n
            a written contract, especially one binding one person to work for another

induce - ()vt
            to persuade -or- to draw a conclusion from pertinent facts

induction - ()n
            reasoning from facts to a conclusion

infamous - ()adj
            having an extremely bad reputation; famous for evil behavior

inimical - ()adj
            unfavorable or hostile

inimitable - ()adj
            impossible to imitate

iniquity - ()n
            great injustice or extreme immorality; wicked

inquisition - ()n
            a thorough inquiry or investigation -or- a tribunal suppressing heresy and heretics by harsh and relentless questioning (first used by the Roman Catholic Church)

insipid - ()adj
            without excitement; tasteless; dull

instauration - ()n
            the institution or establishment of something -or- renovation; restoration

integrate - ()n
            to make into a whole by bringing all parts together; unify

integrity - ()n
            firm adherence to a code of ethics -or- being complete, undivided, sound, or undamaged; unified

intellect - ()n
            the ability to reason

intellectual - ()adj
            relating to or involving the mental processes of abstract thinking and reasoning rather than the emotions; pertaining to intellect

interdict - ()vt
            to prohibit, forbid, or place under an ecclesiastical or legal sanction

interdiction - ()n
            prohibition or an ecclesiastical or legal sanction

invective - ()n
            a violent verbal attack -or- denunciatory or abusive language (vituperation)

investiture - ()
            Definition

inveigle - ()vt
            to charm, entice, or trick into doing something

invidious - ()adj
            producing resentment, ill will, or jealousy; offensive

inviolable - ()adj
            secure from violence, attack, infringement, or breaking

inviolate - ()adj
            not subject to change, damage, or destruction

irrational - ()adj
            not rational; marked by a lack of accord with reason or sound judgment; affected by loss of usual or normal mental clarity

J j -

jabberwocky - ()n
            speech or writing that is meaningless and often deliberately whimsical or humorous

jingo - ()n
            a zealous and bellicose patriot

jingoism - ()n
            zealous and bellicose patriotism

just - ()adj
            conforming to the truth, fact, or reason

justice - ()n
            conformity to truth, fact, or reason

K k -

know - ()vti
            (vi) to have information firmly in the mind or committed to memory
            (vt) to believe firmly in the truth or certainty of something

L l -

lacuna - ()n
            a gap or place where something is missing, especially in a manuscript or a line of argument

laissez-faire - ()n
            noninterference; absence of governmental control over business or industry

lascivious - ()adj
            characterized by or expressing lust

laudable - ()adj
            admirable and worthy of praise

legerdemain - ()n
            a display of skill or cleverness, especially for deceitful purposes

leitmotif  - ()n
            a recurring theme, for example, in literature or history

lexicon  - ()n
            a dictionary, especially one of specialized terminology or language

licentious  - ()adj
            lacking moral discipline, especially in sexual conduct; amoral pursuing of desires

limpid - ()adj
            clear or transparent - or- expressing something in a way that is clear and easy to understand -or- emotionally calm and composed

loyal  - ()adj
            inviolate or steadfast in allegiance

loyalty  - ()n
            the quality or state of being loyal

lugubrious - ()adj
            very sad or mournful, especially in an exaggerated way

M m -

malediction - ()n
            slander or evil speech; curse

malefic - ()adj
            having a harmful or evil effect or influence

maleficent - ()adj
            causing or capable of intentionally doing harm or evil 

malicious - ()adj
            motivated by or resulting from a desire to cause harm or pain to others

martinet - ()
            somebody who imposes strict discipline on others

mawkish - ()adj
            sentimental in a weak, insipid way

maxim - ()n
            a general rule, principle, or truth

meliorate - ()vti
            to become or make something better

meritorious - ()adj
            deserving accolade and recognition

meretricious - ()
            attractive in a superficial or vulgar manner but without real value -or- seemingly plausible or significant, but actually insincere or false; specious

metaphysics - ()n
            the branch of philosophy studying the nature of existence and causality

mountebanks - ()n
            a flamboyant charlatan -or- a hawker of quack medicines who attracts customers with stories, jokes, or tricks

minutiae - ()n (plural)
            small or trivial details

miscegenation - ()
            sexual relations between people of different races, especially when it produces hybrid offspring

miscellaneous - ()adj
            consisting of various kinds or qualities

moral - ()adj
            based on adherence to one's values; virtuous

Multiculturalism : (noun)
           The concept that one society may exist with many different and diverse cultures.  This concept is implausible by the definition of culture, and is used as a tool to hide sweeping cultural changes that occur when one culture is being supplanted by another.  Normally indicative of social decay through mystic sophism and altruism, leading to demagogic hegemony and a totalitarian state.