| alluvium |
sand, soil, gravel, or the like deposited by moving water, as along a river bed. |
| coalesce |
to grow together or unite to form a single body or organization; unify; fuse. |
| cognizant |
aware; informed (usually followed by "of"). |
| ersatz |
serving as a substitute, especially when of inferior quality. |
| espouse |
to take up, hold, or commit oneself to (a cause, idea, or belief); embrace. |
| fungible |
interchangeable. |
| homily |
any discourse offering moral advice or admonitions. |
| impugn |
to call into question; challenge or try to discredit. |
| inveigle |
to entice or ensnare by clever talk or flattery. |
| macerate |
to soften (food or the like) by soaking, as in digestion. |
| maladroit |
not skillful; clumsy; tactless. |
| ontogeny |
the process of biological growth and development of a particular living organism. |
| parsimonious |
excessively frugal; stingy. |
| stanch1 |
to cause (a liquid, especially blood) to stop flowing. |
| stipple |
a method of painting, drawing, or engraving by applying small points, dots, or dabs to a surface. |