| amortize |
to deduct (expenditures) by fixed amounts over a period of time. |
| apotheosis |
a perfect or ideal example; epitome. |
| augury |
the art or practice or an instance of predicting the future or obtaining hidden knowledge by interpreting omens. |
| cachet |
prestige. |
| colloquialism |
a word or phrase typically used in conversational, informal, or regional speech or writing, hence sometimes considered inappropriate in formal writing. |
| corollary |
a readily drawn conclusion; deduction or inference. |
| disencumber |
to remove burdens or hindrances from. |
| distraught |
mentally or emotionally unbalanced; crazed. |
| expiation |
the act or the means of making amends, as for a sin or crime. |
| expound |
to discuss or explain in detail (usually followed by "on" or "upon"). |
| impugn |
to call into question; challenge or try to discredit. |
| inveigle |
to entice or ensnare by clever talk or flattery. |
| libertine |
acting without restraint; dissolute; amoral. |
| naturalism |
in literature, a method of depicting life that reflects a philosophy of determinism. |
| precursory |
coming before and serving to indicate what will follow; premonitory. |