| abrade |
to rub away by friction; erode. |
| acrid |
bitter in taste or smell; sharply irritating. |
| beneficent |
tending to do good; kindly; charitable. |
| denote |
to be a mark or sign of. |
| diffident |
unsure of oneself; shy; demure. |
| discourse |
verbal communication; conversation. |
| expedient |
suitable or advantageous for the purpose or in the circumstances. |
| filch |
to steal (usually something of slight value) in a sly manner; pilfer. |
| namesake |
one who has been named after another. |
| nurture |
to care for and encourage the growth and development of (a living thing). |
| polemic |
an emphatic statement of a controversial viewpoint, usually criticizing or refuting an existing position. |
| precipitous |
very steep or sudden; rising or dropping abruptly. |
| uncharted |
not recorded on any map; unexplored or unknown, as some geographical area or field of research. |
| vantage |
a position or situation that offers a broad or especially good view, comprehension, or the like. |
| winnow |
to sift through, or separate out the desired or worthwhile from the undesired or worthless part of, as by critical analysis. |