<p>The magician prognosticated that the apocalypse would occur in 10 days</p>
<p>quintessential</p>
<p>Robbie Fowler's fair play against Arsenal in 1997 was a quintessential example of sportsmanship.</p>
<p>contumely</p>
<p>Since his early years he has always been a terribly contumely boy; even his mother cannot put up with his insolence and haughtiness. </p>
<p>tawdry</p>
<p>Contumely is actually a noun, by the way. It sounds like an adjective or adverb, but it isn't. </p>
<p>Many people would rather spend less money on a tawdry no-name brand than spend more on a clearly superior brand name.</p>
<p>Dilettante</p>
<p>That guy always thinks he's an expert in relationships, but actually he's only a dilettante who has no friends.</p>
<p>torpor</p>
<p>After cramming for his calculus final for 18 hours, he entered a state of torpor and simply didn't have the energy to continue.</p>
<p>Lascivious</p>
<p>His lascivious comments shocked the whole world as many expected him to develop an appropriate speech.</p>
<p>Bureaucracy</p>
<p>Bureaucracies are in charge of everything from a country's immigration to its armed forces.</p>
<p>Axiom</p>
<p>He makes his words sound like axioms so that you can never argue with him. </p>
<p>ostracize</p>
<p>He was miserably ostracized by others because of his obesity.</p>
<p>stigma</p>
<p>It is difficult to overcome the stigma of a handicap.</p>
<p>Rancor</p>
<p>Jabba the Hutt was shocked when Luke managed to defeat his fearsome Rancor.</p>
<p>(Are we going Star Wars now?)</p>
<p>Wampa.</p>
<p>The wampa ate.</p>
<p>Conflagration</p>
<p>The battle brought about a conflagration within the deathstar, burning it into ashes. </p>
<p>syndicate</p>
<p>Many crime <em>syndicates</em> are claiming themselves to be legitimate business entities. </p>
<p>ephemeral</p>
<p>Beauty is ephemeral. </p>
<p>Insidious</p>
<p>The insidious merchant tried to sell me a LCD screen without the liquid crystal. </p>
<p>Err</p>
<p>I think John McCain had erred in his decision to pick Palin as his VP.</p>
<p>immaculate</p>
<p>Obama addressed the nation with an immaculate speech on "Change" yesterday.</p>
<p>Sycophant.</p>
<p>Most politicians are sycophants.</p>
<p>abstruse</p>