| collateral |
property or other security put forward to guarantee repayment of a loan. |
| Draconian |
(often lower case) harshly cruel or rigorous. |
| ensconce |
to position (oneself) firmly or comfortably. |
| guttural |
articulated in the back of the mouth; velar. |
| heterodox |
deviating from an officially approved belief or doctrine, especially in religion. |
| hypocrisy |
the practice or an instance of stating or pretending to hold beliefs or principles that one does not actually live by; insincerity. |
| iatrogenic |
caused by a physician or medical treatment, especially from drugs or surgery. |
| internecine |
of or pertaining to conflict, discord, or struggle within a group. |
| irrefragable |
impossible to refute or dispute; undeniable. |
| lacuna |
a gap or omitted part. |
| lapidary |
an expert on or dealer in gemstones. |
| munificent |
having or showing great generosity. |
| parturient |
giving birth or about to give birth; in labor. |
| prerogative |
an exclusive right or privilege derived from one's office, position, age, citizenship, birth, or the like. |
| recondite |
involving profound concepts and complexities; not easily understood. |