| affidavit |
a written statement that is sworn in the presence of an authorized official to be true, used as legal evidence. |
| appellative |
a descriptive name or title, as "Terrible" in "Ivan the Terrible". |
| barrage |
a great number of things coming one after another very quickly. |
| cloture |
in U.S. parliamentary procedure, a method of ending debate and causing an immediate vote on the matter being discussed. |
| deify |
to raise to the rank of a god; consider to be a god. |
| deter |
to stop or discourage from some action by creating doubt or fear. |
| discomfit |
to upset or confuse. |
| disquisition |
a formal, often lengthy, oral or written discussion of a subject. |
| emulous |
filled with the desire to equal or surpass. |
| equipoise |
a state of balance or equal weight, importance, or the like; equilibrium. |
| expostulate |
to argue earnestly with someone, usually against an intended action; remonstrate. |
| extort |
to extract or obtain (money or the like) by force, threats, or abuse of authority. |
| homily |
any discourse offering moral advice or admonitions. |
| quiescence |
a state of inaction, rest, or stillness; dormancy. |
| tort |
in law, any civil rather than criminal harm or injury that violates the implicit duty of each citizen not to harm others, and for which one may bring a civil suit and collect compensation. |