| cantankerous |
irritable, stubborn, and quarrelsome. |
| disquisition |
a formal, often lengthy, oral or written discussion of a subject. |
| elide |
to leave out or slur, as a syllable or letter, in pronunciation. |
| expostulate |
to argue earnestly with someone, usually against an intended action; remonstrate. |
| fealty |
faithfulness or loyalty. |
| foible |
a minor flaw or weakness in personality, character, or behavior. |
| gadfly |
a persistent critic, especially of established institutions and policies. |
| germane |
having relevance to a given matter; pertinent; significant. |
| guttural |
articulated in the back of the mouth; velar. |
| imprecation |
a curse, uttered or thought of. |
| interdict |
to deter or impede by the steady use of firepower. |
| intransigence |
refusal to alter one's ideas or position in response to the wishes of others. |
| lacuna |
a gap or omitted part. |
| lattice |
a flat framework made with strips of wood or other material. The strips cross each other and have open spaces in between. A lattice is often used as a screen on a porch or in a garden. |
| untoward |
unexpected and unfortunate. |