Decorum as a Forum
Propriety
the state or quality of being correct or proper
Deride
to express contempt for; ridicule
Fervid
intensely enthusiastic or passionate
Vestige
a trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists
Synonyms: remnant, remainder, fragment
“He said this would remove a 'lingering vestige of the cold war.' “
Laudable
deserving praise and commendation
Prevaricate
avoid telling the truth by not directly answering a question
Listless
lacking energy or enthusiasm
Synonyms: lethargic, enervated,
“Ukraine is brimming with weapons and thousands of militiamen, angry with a corrupt and listless government they feel has hijacked the revolution.”
Ingenuous
innocent and unsuspecting
Reticence
the quality of not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily
Synonyms: reserve, introversion, restraint
“Mr. Harding is more comfortable with facts; with classic English reticence, he buries his family’s responses in footnotes and summaries.”
Gossamer
Used to refer to something very light, thin, and insubstantial or delicate
“Like a saintly relic, the gossamer threads that tie the two halves offer the promise of miraculous healing by evoking the vulnerability of the suffering body.”
Grouse
complain pettily; grumble
Synonyms: moan, groan, protest
“Some economists grouse about such rules, which can interfere with the smooth functioning of competitive labour markets...”
Wanton
(of a cruel or violent action) deliberate and unprovoked
Synonyms: malicious, malevolent, spiteful
“Over the decades these Muslim non-people, without legal or any other sort of protection, have been the victims of wanton discrimination and violence…”
Contrite
Feeling or expressing remorse or penitence
Synonyms: regretful, sorry, apologetic
“As the election results were coming in, a contrite Mr. Turnbull took 'full responsibility' for the government’s poor performance.”
Circumspect
Wary and unwilling to take risks
Synonyms: cautious, wary, careful
“'This is an area where we need to be extraordinarily careful and circumspect', he said. 'We’re literally talking about life and death.'”
Florid
using unusual words or complicated rhetorical constructions
Synonyms: extravagant, grandiloquent
“A victorious Governor Jerry Brown, his voice gruffer, his pate sparer and his metaphors more florid than during his first stint in office...”
Whitewash
Deliberately attempt to conceal unpleasant facts about (a person or organization)
Synonyms: cover up, sweep under the carpet
“Indeed, in trying to whitewash the past, the government may stir up prejudice instead.”
Epithet
an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing; a term of abuse
Synonyms: name, label, smear
“Preposterous’ and ‘absurd’ were among the milder epithets that could be overheard in the multilingual din.”
Maudlin
Self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental
Synonyms: emotional, tearful, lachrymose
“Alas, he never really fixed his state’s finances, and voters at home have tired of his maudlintheatrics...”
Coda
a concluding event, remark or section
Synonyms: ending, finale
“With distinct ballad, opera and hard rock sections—and a pensive intro and coda, for good measure—the song was not for listeners in a hurry.”
Salient
Most noticeable or important
Synonyms: conspicuous, noticeable, obvious
“The reason for that emphasis may in part be because of the salient threat of terrorism…”
Posit
Put forward as fact or as a basis for argument
Synonyms: postulate, propound, submit
“Mr. Ansar and his co-authors assume this margin is 40%: they posit a ratio of expected benefits to costs of 1.4 for every project.”
Anodyne
not likely to cause offence or disagreement and somewhat dull
Synonyms: bland, inoffensive, innocuous
“The prospect of a day spent milling around... at the G20 summit this week, with nothing to show for it but an anodyne communiqué, must be depressing enough.”
Nonplussed
(Of a person) surprised and confused so much that they are unsure how to react
Synonyms: baffled, confounded
“And as usual, internet commenters seemed nonplussed by what seemed to be a venerable institution (i.e., Oxford) validating teenage slang.”
Presage
be a sign or warning of (an imminent event, typically an unwelcome one)
Synonyms: point to, mean, signify
“Stock markets are set to open down today, and the election could presage a longer slump if investors feel that the uncertainty generated... will harm growth and corporate profits.”
Whet
Excite or stimulate (someone's desire, interest, or appetite)
Synonyms: arouse, rouse, trigger
“But sham democracy often whets people’s appetite for the real thing.”