results from rapid and irregular muscular contractions of the heart (Latin)
What is fibrillation
a confused jumble or medley of things; a hodgepodge (Middle French)
What is gallimaufry
a person who regularly frequents a particular place; a habitual visitor (French)
What is a habitué
a fixed, dominating idea that occupies the mind; an obsession (French from Latin)
What is an idée fixe
relating to the era of James I of England; characteristic of that period’s style (Latin)
What is Jacobean
threadlike (Latin)
What is filiform
excessive admiration or imitation of French culture (Latin/French)
What is Gallomania
a tragic flaw or fatal error leading to a character’s downfall (Greek)
What is hamartia
unshakably calm and unable to be upset or agitated (Latin)
What is imperturbable
a false boast or claim; slander made to harm another’s reputation (Latin)
What is jactitation
a pause of unspecified length on a note or rest (Italian)
What is fermata
excessively talkative, especially about trivial matters (Latin)
What is garrulous
harsh, dusty, dry wind occurring in West Africa (Arabic)
What is harmattan
physically or mentally impossible to satisfy or appease; unforgivable (Latin)
What is inexpiable
government corruption or misuse of public office for personal gain (English; possibly Anglo-French)
What is jobbery
floating wreckage or debris found on water (Old French/Norse)
What is flotsam
awkwardly or crudely; without social grace (French)
What is gauchely
loud, dramatic, and exaggerated behavior meant to attract attention (Latin/Greek)
What are histrionics
lacking physical substance; not composed of matter (Latin)
What is incorporeal
fond of joking; playful or humorous (Latin)
What is jocular
capable of being replaced by another identical item; interchangeable (Latin)
What is fungible
a storyteller, especially one from West African oral tradition (West African; French)
What is a griot
intense fear of sleep (Greek)
What is hypnophobia
in a story, beginning “in the middle of things” without chronological introduction (Latin)
What is in medias res
a sworn statement added to a legal document attesting to its authenticity (Latin)
What is a jurat