| caparison |
decorative trappings to cover a horse's saddle or harness. |
| coir |
the fiber made from coconut husks, used for matting, rope, or the like. |
| constrict |
to pull or squeeze in; make smaller or more narrow; tighten. |
| contumely |
contemptuous insolence; rudeness. |
| dissemble |
to disguise or hide behind a false semblance; conceal the true nature or state of. |
| equivocal |
having at least two plausible alternative meanings, often intentionally so in order to deceive or avoid commitment; ambiguous. |
| expound |
to discuss or explain in detail (usually followed by "on" or "upon"). |
| extort |
to extract or obtain (money or the like) by force, threats, or abuse of authority. |
| flout |
to show scorn or contempt for, especially by openly or deliberately disobeying. |
| impinge |
to encroach. |
| incumbent |
currently holding an office or position. |
| innocuous |
not capable of causing damage; harmless. |
| parvenu |
a person who has suddenly acquired wealth or status, without acquiring the tastes, manners, customs, or the like of his or her new station. |
| tort |
in law, any civil rather than criminal harm or injury that violates the implicit duty of each citizen not to harm others, and for which one may bring a civil suit and collect compensation. |
| uxorious |
excessively or foolishly devoted to one's wife, and often thereby submissive to her. |