| compunction |
uneasiness about the propriety or suitability of an action; qualm. |
| cynosure |
a thing or person that is the center of attention and admiration. |
| decedent |
in law, one who has died. |
| desiccate |
to remove the moisture in (food) so as to preserve it. |
| devolve |
of a duty or the like, to be passed on to someone else. |
| epicure |
a person who has cultivated tastes, as in food or wine; connoisseur. |
| equivocal |
having at least two plausible alternative meanings, often intentionally so in order to deceive or avoid commitment; ambiguous. |
| exponent |
one that expounds or interprets. |
| fealty |
faithfulness or loyalty. |
| froward |
unwilling to agree or obey; stubborn; perverse. |
| lacuna |
a gap or omitted part. |
| linguistics |
(used with a singular verb) the scientific and historical study of the form and structure of human language. |
| mésalliance |
marriage with someone of lower social standing than oneself. |
| misanthrope |
someone who hates or distrusts humanity. |
| recant |
to withdraw from commitment to (a former position or statement), especially publicly; retract. |