| backwater |
any place that is seen as primitive, unchanging, or stagnant. |
| brusque |
impolitely abrupt in speech or actions; curt. |
| caustic |
bitingly critical. |
| clemency |
the inclination to be merciful or forgiving; leniency. |
| copious |
abundant in number or quantity; plentiful. |
| defray |
to pay or assist in the payment of (costs or the like). |
| dirge |
a song or hymn for a funeral or memorial for the dead. |
| finicky |
exceptionally fussy or hard to satisfy. |
| flail |
to cause to move wildly. |
| impiety |
lack of reverence or respect, especially for what others consider sacred. |
| profane |
irreverent or irreligious; blasphemous. |
| skepticism |
distrust or disbelief, or a general tendency to doubt and question. |
| soliloquy |
an act of talking or a speech by one who is, or is considered to be, alone. |
| vacuous |
characterized by lack of intelligence or serious intent; devoid of ideas or emotion. |
| winnow |
to sift through, or separate out the desired or worthwhile from the undesired or worthless part of, as by critical analysis. |