| beatify |
to admire or exalt as superior. |
| burgeon |
to start to grow; send forth shoots, leaves, buds, or the like (often followed by "out" or "forth"). |
| centripetal |
forced or moving inward toward a center point or axis. |
| cession |
the act of formally giving up or signing over, as a territory; ceding. |
| condign |
well-deserved or fitting, especially of punishment or reprimand. |
| curmudgeon |
an irritable or ill-tempered person. |
| daunt |
to lessen the determination of; intimidate; discourage. |
| denigrate |
to deny the worth of; sneer at; belittle. |
| ensconce |
to position (oneself) firmly or comfortably. |
| figurehead |
a person whose title sounds important but who has no real power. |
| foment |
to encourage the development of; instigate or foster. |
| intransigence |
refusal to alter one's ideas or position in response to the wishes of others. |
| mésalliance |
marriage with someone of lower social standing than oneself. |
| recidivism |
chronic return to bad habits, especially criminal relapse. |
| voluble |
characterized by a steady flow of words; fluent; talkative. |