| ascendant |
moving upward; rising. |
| canvass |
to conduct a survey of; poll. |
| encumbrance |
something or someone that hinders or burdens; impediment. |
| felicity |
an instance or condition of great happiness; bliss. |
| fluency |
the ability to speak or write smoothly and easily in another language. |
| imbue |
to inspire or permeate, as with an idea or emotion; deeply influence. |
| incipient |
starting to exist or become apparent; in an early stage of development. |
| inquisitive |
given to asking and inquiring; eager to learn. |
| irony |
a manner of using language so that it conveys a different or opposite meaning to that which is literally expressed in the words themselves. Irony is used in ordinary conversation and also as a literary technique, especially to express criticism or to produce humor or pathos. |
| perspicacity |
keenness of mental perception or grasp; astuteness. |
| populist |
a person, especially a political leader, who represents, or claims to represent, the interests and concerns of the common people rather than the privileged, the politically powerful, or the intelligentsia. |
| resplendent |
full of splendor; radiant; shining. |
| squalor |
living conditions that are filthy, or the state of being dirty or foul. |
| strident |
harsh-sounding or loud; raucous; grating. |
| traverse |
to go over, along, or through; cover or cross. |