Rara avis

An unusual or extraordinary person or thing; rarity; literally, "strange bird."

A sweet haze veiled the sunset: cherries roasting in the Maricopas. He whispered, "Rara avis."

by Morgan T November 10, 2006

reluctance

unwillingness, not willing to do something.

The mother's reluctance to let her son attend the concert stemmed from a fear of peer pressure.

by Morgan T November 10, 2006

bafflement

confusing or puzzling.

He was in complete bafflement over who this new girl was trying to be.

by Morgan T November 10, 2006

oratorical

Relating to one distinguished for skill and power as a public speaker.

After participating on the debate team for three years, I decided to partake in an oratorical contest.

by Morgan T November 10, 2006

Paleocene

Relating to the earliest epoch of the Tertiary or the corresponding system of rocks; period of great development of primitive mammals.

She's as real as"-he looked around; he picked up the tiny, wedgelike skull of Barney, a 60-million-year-old Paleocene rodent, and held it up-"as real as Barney."

by Morgan T November 10, 2006

unshackle

free from shackles.

After years of feeling weighed down with my secret, I felt unshackled and alive after revealing it.

by Morgan T November 10, 2006

confer

Compare different views.

After watching the skater perform, the judges took 10 minutes to confer before announcing their score.

by Morgan T November 10, 2006