| abeyance |
temporary suspension or cessation. |
| atonement |
the act of making reparation for a sin, crime, error, or the like. |
| brash |
rudely self-assertive; bold; impudent. |
| canard |
a deliberately false story or rumor, usually defamatory to someone. |
| castellated |
constructed with turrets and battlements like a castle. |
| coalesce |
to grow together or unite to form a single body or organization; unify; fuse. |
| disaffection |
an absence or loss of good will, faith, or loyalty, especially toward a government, principle, or the like. |
| encomium |
a formal expression of praise. |
| espouse |
to take up, hold, or commit oneself to (a cause, idea, or belief); embrace. |
| exponent |
one that expounds or interprets. |
| gird |
to surround, bind, or encircle, as with a belt. |
| imbroglio |
a difficult, confused, or complicated situation, often involving a misunderstanding, disagreement, or quarrel. |
| ineptitude |
incompetence; lack of skill. |
| parturient |
giving birth or about to give birth; in labor. |
| penumbra |
an indefinite, borderline area. |