| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| conversant |
familiar; acquainted; practiced (usually followed by "with" or "in"). |
| dawdle |
to waste time; be slow. |
| deposition |
a sworn statement, usually in writing, for use as testimony by an absent witness in a court of law. |
| effluvium |
an outflow of usually invisible, foul-smelling vapor or gas. |
| encomium |
a formal expression of praise. |
| ensconce |
to position (oneself) firmly or comfortably. |
| ersatz |
serving as a substitute, especially when of inferior quality. |
| expiation |
the act or the means of making amends, as for a sin or crime. |
| extrude |
to force out; expel. |
| forbear |
to keep or abstain from (an action or utterance). |
| heinous |
extremely wicked or despicable; atrocious. |
| regicide |
the murderer of a king. |
| reprobate |
an evil or lawless person, often beyond hope of redemption. |
| solecism |
a gross violation of convention in grammar, etiquette, or the like; impropriety. |