QUISLING

After being invited to serve on a committee, Joe Schmoe wondered whether others would consider him to be a quisling or a stooge to the administration if he did serve on the committee.

DEF:
n. A traitor who serves as the puppet of the enemy occupying his or her country.

[After Vidkun Quisling (1887-1945), head of Norway's government during the Nazi occupation (1940-1945).]

VITUPERATION

Much vituperation has been aimed at the Provost's office since its sneak sweep of state personnel funds that "accidentally" took non-state funds as well.

DEF:

1. The act or an instance of vituperating; abusive censure.
2. Sustained, harshly abusive language; invective.

(American Heritage)

PANJANDRUM

Thanks to Tom Miller, I am now able to use today's word.

I was unsure how I would recognize a panjandrum until I attended yesterday's meeting; as the meeting progressed it quickly became clear that there was one panjandrum in attendance.

DEF: a self-important or pretentious official.(dictionary.com)

Etymology of panjandrum: mock name for a pompous personage, 1755, invented by Samuel Foote (1720-77) to test the memory of actor old Macklin (who said he could repeat anything after hearing it once) in a long passage full of nonsense.