sesquipedalian	polysyllabic
paraphernalia	stuff
alas	oh, snap!
minutiae	little details
perplexing	baffling
cachinnate	laugh
woe is me	i am unfortunate
assiduous	persistent
veritably	actually
abjure	reject
atrocious day	bad day
parry back and forth	retort
nostrum	remedy for all
svelte	slender
leitmotiv	theme
dainty	delicate; picky
of cheerful mien	of cheerful demeanour
defiant	provocative
soothsayer	prophet