| accretion |
the process of gradual increase or growth, especially by additions from the outside. |
| apprehensive |
feeling fearful about future events. |
| apprise |
to inform (often followed by "of"). |
| coeval |
coinciding in time of origin or existence; contemporary. |
| determinism |
the belief or teaching that every effect, including human thoughts and actions, is completely and predictably brought about by preceding causes and that, therefore, free will does not exist. |
| disquisition |
a formal, often lengthy, oral or written discussion of a subject. |
| gnomic |
short and pithy, as an aphorism. |
| goad |
something that spurs a person to action; stimulus. |
| halcyon |
tranquil; peaceful; calm. |
| imbricate |
overlapping in an even sequence, as roof tiles or fish scales. |
| imprecation |
a curse, uttered or thought of. |
| intelligentsia |
the elite class of highly learned people within a society, or those who consider themselves part of such a class. |
| plaudit |
(often plural) an enthusiastic show of approval, such as a round of applause or a very favorable review. |
| recant |
to withdraw from commitment to (a former position or statement), especially publicly; retract. |
| reconnaissance |
the act or process of examining an area, especially to gain militarily useful information. |