| aberration |
a deviation from what is considered normal or right; irregularity. |
| aggregate |
a sum, combination, or composite of separable elements. |
| ascertain |
to learn without question; determine. |
| devolve |
of a duty or the like, to be passed on to someone else. |
| discomfit |
to upset or confuse. |
| elide |
to leave out or slur, as a syllable or letter, in pronunciation. |
| festoon |
a decorative chain or strip of ribbons, flowers, leaves, or the like, suspended at the ends and hung in a curve. |
| gadfly |
a persistent critic, especially of established institutions and policies. |
| impromptu |
without advance plan or preparation; spontaneously. |
| indemnity |
insurance against damage, loss, or liability. |
| kibbutz |
an Israeli farming settlement whose ownership is shared by those who live and work there. |
| laureate |
one honored for achievement in a particular field or by a particular award, especially in the arts or sciences. |
| macrocosm |
a large unit or entity that represents on a large scale one of its smaller components. |
| penumbra |
an indefinite, borderline area. |
| stanch1 |
to cause (a liquid, especially blood) to stop flowing. |