| aberration |
a deviation from what is considered normal or right; irregularity. |
| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| bathos |
a sudden descent from an exalted style or esteemed state to the commonplace. |
| boorish |
rude; ill-mannered; crude. |
| engender |
to create or give rise to. |
| etiolate |
to weaken, especially through deprivation of normal development. |
| expound |
to discuss or explain in detail (usually followed by "on" or "upon"). |
| fixation |
an obsession, especially one that interferes with normal functioning. |
| flange |
a collar or rim that projects from a pipe, housing, or the like to provide strength, stability, or a place for attaching other parts. |
| highbrow |
one who has or pretends to have highly sophisticated intellectual and cultural interests and tastes (often used disparagingly). |
| kibbutz |
an Israeli farming settlement whose ownership is shared by those who live and work there. |
| lien |
a legal claim on a piece of property when the current owner is in default on a debt or obligation. |
| parlance |
manner of speaking or writing, especially word choice; vernacular. |
| stative |
in grammar, of or designating a category of verbs that express state or condition. |
| truculent |
extremely hostile or belligerent; inclined to fight. |