| abash |
to cause to feel embarrassed, uneasy, or ashamed. |
| accretion |
the process of gradual increase or growth, especially by additions from the outside. |
| colloquialism |
a word or phrase typically used in conversational, informal, or regional speech or writing, hence sometimes considered inappropriate in formal writing. |
| conclave |
a secret, private, or confidential meeting or gathering. |
| equivocal |
having at least two plausible alternative meanings, often intentionally so in order to deceive or avoid commitment; ambiguous. |
| glut |
a greater supply or amount than is needed. |
| hirsute |
covered with hair or stiff hairs; hairy or shaggy. |
| iatrogenic |
caused by a physician or medical treatment, especially from drugs or surgery. |
| indolence |
the tendency to avoid exertion or effort; laziness. |
| inflection |
change that occurs in the form of words to show a grammatical characteristic such as the tense of a verb, the number of a noun, or the degree of an adjective or adverb. |
| naturalism |
in literature, a method of depicting life that reflects a philosophy of determinism. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| raffish |
carelessly unconventional or disreputable, sometimes appealingly so. |
| stipple |
a method of painting, drawing, or engraving by applying small points, dots, or dabs to a surface. |
| virago |
a shrewish, domineering woman; nag or scold. |