| alluvium |
sand, soil, gravel, or the like deposited by moving water, as along a river bed. |
| ambidextrous |
able to use both the left and right hands with equal skill. |
| asperity |
harshness or roughness, especially of tone or manner. |
| conduction |
the transmission or transfer, as of heat, electrical charges, or nervous impulses, through a medium. |
| deterge |
to cleanse, wash, or wipe off. |
| laureate |
one honored for achievement in a particular field or by a particular award, especially in the arts or sciences. |
| malaise |
a state or condition of feeling generally unwell, mentally depressed, sluggish, or uneasy. |
| maverick |
a person who thinks and behaves independently, especially one who refuses to adhere to the orthodoxy of the group to which he or she belongs. |
| opiate |
something that induces relaxation, calm, or stupor. |
| pandemic |
a widespread outbreak of disease that afflicts many people over different continents. |
| pedantic |
making or characterized by an excessive display of learnedness, or overly insistent on scholarly details and formalities. |
| perquisite |
a payment or benefit in addition to the wages or salary associated with a position. |
| recondite |
involving profound concepts and complexities; not easily understood. |
| reconnoiter |
to go through or over (an area) so as to gain information about it, as for military or engineering purposes. |
| scion |
an offspring or heir. |