| acclivity |
a rising slope. |
| alluvium |
sand, soil, gravel, or the like deposited by moving water, as along a river bed. |
| askance |
with distrust or suspicion. |
| cognizant |
aware; informed (usually followed by "of"). |
| duress |
intimidation or coercion. |
| fungible |
interchangeable. |
| hackneyed |
made trite or commonplace by overuse, as an expression or phrase. |
| highbrow |
one who has or pretends to have highly sophisticated intellectual and cultural interests and tastes (often used disparagingly). |
| interdict |
to deter or impede by the steady use of firepower. |
| limn |
to paint or draw. |
| linguistics |
(used with a singular verb) the scientific and historical study of the form and structure of human language. |
| lorgnette |
eyeglasses, such as opera glasses, that have a short handle by which one holds them in position. |
| macrocosm |
a large unit or entity that represents on a large scale one of its smaller components. |
| oppugn |
to oppose, contradict, criticize, or call into question. |
| pedagogy |
the act, process, or profession of teaching. |