caliber

(n.) quality
The caliber of talent at the show was excellent.

callow
(adj.) being young or immature
With the callow remark the young man demonstrated his age

canard
(n.) a false statement or rumor

candid
(adj.) honest; truthful; sincere

caprice
(n.) a sudden, unpredictable or whimsical change
The caprice with which thecouple approached the change of plans was evidence to their
young age.

captious
(adj.) disposed to find fault

carte blanche
(n.) unlimited authority
The designer was given carte blanche to create a new line for the fall.

castigate
(v.) to punish through public criticism

cataclysm
(n.) an extreme natural force

caustic
(adj.) eating away at; sarcastic words
The caustic chemicals are dangerous.
His caustic sense of humordoesn’t go over so well when people don’t know what they’re in for.

cavil
(v.) to bicker

cessation
(n.)ceasing; a stopping

chagrin
(n.) a feeling of embarrassment due to failure or disappointment
charlatan
(n.) a person who pretends to have knowledge; an impostor; fake

chary
(adj.) cautious; being sparing in giving

chaste
(adj.) virtuous; free of obscenity,without unnecessary ornamentation; simple or restrained.

choleric (adj.)
cranky; cantankerous; easily moved to feeling displeasure
The choleric man wascontinually upset by his neighbors.  

churlishness
(n.) crude or surlybehavior;

Circumlocution
(n.) a roundabout or indirect way of speaking; not to the point

clandestine
(adj.) secret
The clandestine plan must be kept between the two of us!

citadel
(n.) a fortress set up high to defend a city
A citadel sat on the hill to protect the city below.

clemency
(n.) mercy toward an offender; mildness
The governor granted the prisoner clemency.
The weather’s clemency made for a perfect picnic.

coalesce
(v.) to grow together
The bride and groom coalesced their funds to increase their collateral.

coddle
(v.) to treat with tenderness
A baby needs to be coddled.

cogitate
(v.) to think hard; ponder; meditate

cognizant
(adj.) aware of; perceptive
cohesion
(n.) the act of holding together

collusion
(n.) secret agreement for an illegal purpose

commiserate
(v.) to show sympathy for

communal
(adj.) shared or common ownership

complacent
(adj.) content; self-satisfied; smug

complaisance
(n.) the quality of being agreeable or eager to please

comport
(v.) fitting in
It was easy to comport to the new group of employees.

comprehensive
(adj.) all-inclusive; complete; thorough

conceit
(n.) an exaggerated personal opinion

conciliation
(n.) an attempt to make friendly or placate

conclave
(n.) any private meeting or closed assembly

condone
(v.) to overlook; to forgive

confluence
(n.) a thing which is joined together

conglomeration
(n.) a collection or mixture of various things

conjure
(v.) to call upon or appeal to; to cause to be, appear, come
The smell of the dinnerconjured images of childhood.  
Connotative
(adj.) containing associated meanings in addition to the primary one

consort
(n.; v.) a companion, spouse; to associate