anachronism - a person/thing that is chronologically out of date
droll - having a humourous whimsical quality
quis custodiet ipsos custodes - latin for who guards the guards
Bennite solution - a term referring to a radical left wing approach to solving a problem. Coined after Tony Benn a radical leftist MP.
primus inter pares - laing for first among equals
sticky wicket - unfavourable situation
decorous - characterized by show of decorum
tautology - needless repetition of an idea
sublime - to elevate/exalt in honour
fawning - to court favour by flattery
servility - slavish/submissive
quid pro quo - lating for something for something
fob - deceive

"I recommend that we set up an interdepartmental committee with fairly broad terms of reference so that at the end of the day we would be in a position to think through all the implications and take a decision based on long-term considerations rather than rush prematurely into precipitate and possibly ill-conceived action that might well have unforeseen repercussions."
- Sir Humphry Appleby, Yes Minister - Doing the honours.

specious - deceptive
privy - admitted as one sharing a secret
egalitarian - assertive

fortitude - courage/firmness of spirit
ignominy - humiliation
bumptious - crudely/ aggressively loud
cathartic - purgative

sycophant - a self seeking flatterer
servitude - a condition where one lacks the liberty to determines ones way of life
harangue - speech with strong feeling/expression

"So I got all these things, but so what?
In the end you can't take them with you
You think you can save my soul? Well OK...
Tell me, with all your conviction
What happens now?

Well I could be boarding an aircraft
With a bomb concealed in somebody's briefcase
And my body will spread through the heavens, across the sky
And my ashes will fall through the cloudburst
What happens now?
What happens now?"
- Porcupine Tree, What happens now?

visceral - not intellectual; crude or elemental emotions
suave - smoothly gracious and sophisticated
aplomb - complete and confident composure with self assurance

"When you go home tell them of us and say,
That for your tomorrow,
We gave our today ..."
- Inscription on the Kohima War Memorial

innuendo - remarks of a derogatory nature
blubbing - to cry/whine with snuffling

"Only the dead have seen the end of the war."
- Plato