An Exceptionally Simple Theory of Everything.

mordant 

adjective 

(especially of humor)

having or showing a sharp or critical quality; biting: a mordant sense of humor. 

noun 

a substance, typically an inorganic oxide, that combines with a dye or stain and thereby fixes it in a material. 

• an adhesive compound for fixing gold leaf. 

• a corrosive liquid used to etch the lines on a printing plate. 

verb [with object] 

impregnate or treat (a fabric) with a mordant: mordanting a fiber is simple | (mordanted as adjective) :  mordanted wool. 

derivatives 

mordancy  noun mordantly adverb 

origin 

de rigueur

adjective

phylogenesis 

noun Biology

the evolutionary development and diversification of a species or group of organisms, or of a particular feature of an organism. 

Compare with ontogenesis 

origin 

synchronic 

adjective 

concerned with something, especially a language, as it exists at one point in time. Often contrasted with diachronic: synchronic linguistics. 

derivatives 

synchronically adverb 

origin 

Adjective

Janusian

Relating to Janus.

Having or relating to the ability to conceive and use multiple antithetical or opposite thoughts simultaneously.

caterwaul

verb [no object] 

make a shrill howling or wailing noise like that of a cat: he seems to think that singing soulfully is to whine and caterwaul tunelessly 

(caterwauling as noun) :  the caterwauling of a pair of bobcats 

(caterwauling as adjective) :  a caterwauling guitar. 

noun 

a shrill howling or wailing noise: the song ended in a caterwaul of feedback. 

origin 

cognoscenti 

plural 

noun 

people who are considered to be especially well informed about a particular subject: it was hailed by the cognoscenti as one of the best golf courses in Europe. 

origin

leitmotif

(also leitmotiv) 

noun 

a recurrent theme throughout a musical or literary composition, associated with a particular person, idea, or situation: there are two leitmotifs in his score marking the heroine and her Fairy Godmother. 

origin