insouciance |inˈso͞osēəns, ˌaNso͞oˈsyäNs| noun casual lack of concern; indifference: an impression of boyish insouciance. ORIGIN late 18th cent.: French, from insouciant, from in- ‘not’ + souciant ‘worrying’ (present participle of soucier). portent |ˈpôrˌtent| noun 1 a sign or warning that something, esp. something momentous or calamitous, is likely to happen: they believed that wild birds in the house were portents of death | JFK’s political debut was a portent of the fame to come. • future significance: an omen of grave portent for the tribe. 2 archaic an exceptional or wonderful person or thing: what portent can be greater than a pious notary? simulacrum |ˌsimyəˈlākrəm, -ˈlak-| noun ( pl. simulacra |-ˈlākrə, -ˈlakrə| or simulacrums ) an image or representation of someone or something: a small-scale simulacrum of a skyscraper. • an unsatisfactory imitation or substitute: a bland simulacrum of American soul music. ORIGIN late 16th cent.: from Latin, from simulare (see simulate) . hepcat |ˈhepˌkat| noun informal, dated a stylish or fashionable person, esp. in the sphere of jazz or popular music. falsetto |fôlˈsetō| noun ( pl. falsettos ) Music a method of voice production used by male singers, esp. tenors, to sing notes higher than their normal range: he sang in a piercing falsetto | he was singing falsetto in this role. • a singer using this method. • a voice or sound that is unusually or unnaturally high. carnal |ˈkärnl| adjective relating to physical, esp. sexual, needs and activities: carnal desire. mien |mēn| noun literary a person’s look or manner, esp. one of a particular kind indicating their character or mood: he has a cautious, academic mien. soidisant : self-proclaimed cavalier |ˌkavəˈli(ə)r| noun 1 ( Cavalier ) historical a supporter of King Charles I in the English Civil War. • archaic or literary a courtly gentleman, esp. one acting as a lady’s escort. • archaic a horseman, esp. a cavalryman. 2 (also Cavalier King Charles )a small spaniel of a breed with a moderately long, noncurly, silky coat. adjective showing a lack of proper concern; offhand: Anne was irritated by his cavalier attitude. petulant |ˈpeCHələnt| adjective (of a person or their manner) childishly sulky or bad-tempered: he was moody and petulant | a petulant shake of the head.