1. po-faced — [British] humorless, over-serious, disapproving
Alain’s attempts at defusing the tense standoff between the two culinary students only elicited a po-faced shake of the head from Chef Arnie.
2. auscultation — diagnosis through listening to bodily sounds, usually with a stethoscope
Though the pulse diagnosis of Chinese medicine has been compared with the Western practice of auscultation, due in part to the significant training required to acquire either skill, the fact remains that pulse assessment remains unreliable and highly subjective in contradistinction to use of the stethoscope.
3. rede — counsel, advice
I thank you sincerely for your rede, even though I shall now proceed to ignore it.
4. lipophilic — having strong affinity for fats or lipids
The lipophilic nature of cannabinoids was doubtless the reason this doctor wished to cut out a chunk of my ass.
5. miniver — white fur lining or trim
But her straitened situation was betrayed by the miniver lining the long sleeves of her best velvet surcote, which an observant eye could note had become worn from many repairs and washings.
6. drag hunt — equestrian hunting in which hounds follow an artificial scent lain along a predetermined trail
Jemma is still puzzled as to why these activists are protesting so vociferously against drag hunts.
7. piscina — basin with drain used for ablutions, particularly for washing communion vessels
After quickly though reverently rinsing the vessels in the piscina Father Xavier placed them back in the aumbry.
8. yarak — (of a hawk) in prime condition for hunting
It will take some not so little work of imping before your favorite is returned to yarak, milord.
9. transude — to ooze through
The Deadheads transuded past security like sweat through a tie-dye bandana.
10. cittern — wire-string instrument similar to guitar, having a flat pear-shaped soundbox and asymmetric neck
Like some jongleurs in the Tyrol he played his cittern using a plectrum.
Bonus Vocabulary
(British or Pennsylvanian dialect)
nebby — meddlesome, nosy
“You’re not listening to every tale that nebby old broad has been telling you, have you?”