I’ve gotten to the genius level for today’s puzzle, but there’s more to go. Today I’m starting the breakdown of what I missed the day before. That way maybe I’ll start to get those words, too.

APORT: on the left side of a ship Makes sense. Shouldn’t miss this one again.
APPARAT: The administrative system of a communist party, especially in a communist country. I should get used to this word if Trump wins again.
ARHAT: (in Buddhism and Jainism) someone who has attained the goal of the religious life. I probably will miss this one again.
ATTAR: rose petal perfume. I may miss this one again, but I don’t know.
HATHA: This does not exist as a standalone word, so shenanigans.
HORTATORY: I hadn’t heard this word before, but the etymology is interesting, so here it is:

hortatory (adj.)
1580s, from Middle French hortatoire and directly from Late Latin hortatorius “encouraging, cheering,” from hortatus, past participle of hortari “exhort, encourage, urge, incite, instigate,” intensive of horiri “urge, incite, encourage,” from PIE root *gher- (2) “to like, want.” Older in English is hortation (1530s), from Latin hortationem.

OATY: What it sounds like. This one is on me for sure.
PARATROOP:

PORTRAY: Yup. My bad.
RAPPORT: Dang.
RATTRAP: And I make fun of restaurants with C’s in the windows!
ROTATORY: I hadn’t known this word wouldn’t receive a red squiggly.
TAPA: The food. I don’t think I’ve ever had tapas. But asking if someone wants to go to a tapas bar with you can get you into trouble if not heard correctly.
TARTAR: “I got so much tartar, I don’t gotta dip my fish sticks in shit!” -Mitch Hedberg z”l
TROTH: The etymology (now obviously) is truth. I have no familiarity with this word.

So there’s a lot to improve upon. I didn’t go much beyond genius level today, so there will be a list tomorrow, too.