| apprehensive |
feeling fearful about future events. |
| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| canny |
difficult to fool or take advantage of; shrewd; wary; clever. |
| conversant |
familiar; acquainted; practiced (usually followed by "with" or "in"). |
| dearth |
a shortage or scarcity of something; lack. |
| deign |
to consider some act to be appropriate or in keeping with one's dignity; condescend. |
| desiccate |
to remove the moisture in (food) so as to preserve it. |
| disencumber |
to remove burdens or hindrances from. |
| jejune |
lacking interest or liveliness; dull. |
| ligature |
a band or tie. |
| liminal |
of or at the threshold of a physiological or psychological response or change of state. |
| munificent |
having or showing great generosity. |
| saturnine |
gloomy, sullen, or cynical in temperament or appearance. |
| trabeated |
using horizontal beams or lintels as supports instead of arches. |
| welter |
to roll about or wallow, as in mud or the open sea. |