| appellative |
a descriptive name or title, as "Terrible" in "Ivan the Terrible". |
| cloture |
in U.S. parliamentary procedure, a method of ending debate and causing an immediate vote on the matter being discussed. |
| demulcent |
an oily or sticky substance used especially to soothe irritation in mucous membranes. |
| derision |
mockery or ridicule. |
| diatribe |
a bitter, abusive attack in speech or writing. |
| etiolate |
to weaken, especially through deprivation of normal development. |
| exegesis |
a critical explanation or interpretive analysis, especially of religious texts. |
| gadfly |
a persistent critic, especially of established institutions and policies. |
| insipid |
having a bland or uninteresting flavor; tasteless. |
| macerate |
to soften (food or the like) by soaking, as in digestion. |
| misanthrope |
someone who hates or distrusts humanity. |
| picayune |
having little value or significance; small; paltry. |
| stipple |
a method of painting, drawing, or engraving by applying small points, dots, or dabs to a surface. |
| surcingle |
a girth or belt that wraps around the body of a horse to secure a saddle, pack, or the like to its back. |
| tamp |
to compress and pack tightly by repeated light taps. |