| alluvium |
sand, soil, gravel, or the like deposited by moving water, as along a river bed. |
| atavism |
the recurrence or reappearance of a particular trait, style, attitude, or behavior that seemed to have disappeared, or that which has recurred or reappeared after such an absence. |
| corollary |
a readily drawn conclusion; deduction or inference. |
| deign |
to consider some act to be appropriate or in keeping with one's dignity; condescend. |
| denigrate |
to deny the worth of; sneer at; belittle. |
| epigraph |
a pertinent quotation or motto, especially found at the beginning of a literary work or of a chapter. |
| idiosyncrasy |
a characteristic of temperament, habit, or physical structure particular to a given individual or group; peculiarity. |
| indurate |
to make hard in texture; harden. |
| louche |
of questionable decency, morality, or taste; shady; disreputable. |
| minatory |
presenting a threat; menacing. |
| omnibus |
concerning or including a large collection of things. |
| pedantic |
making or characterized by an excessive display of learnedness, or overly insistent on scholarly details and formalities. |
| picayune |
having little value or significance; small; paltry. |
| plaudit |
(often plural) an enthusiastic show of approval, such as a round of applause or a very favorable review. |
| splenetic |
ill-tempered or spiteful. |