| cavalier |
carefree and offhand; nonchalant. |
| constrict |
to pull or squeeze in; make smaller or more narrow; tighten. |
| cynosure |
a thing or person that is the center of attention and admiration. |
| espouse |
to take up, hold, or commit oneself to (a cause, idea, or belief); embrace. |
| extralegal |
not regulated or permitted by law; outside of legal authority. |
| homily |
any discourse offering moral advice or admonitions. |
| incredulous |
not able to believe something. |
| indistinct |
not clearly perceived or perceiving. |
| lien |
a legal claim on a piece of property when the current owner is in default on a debt or obligation. |
| nonfeasance |
in law, failure to perform a required duty, as by a public official. |
| penury |
severe poverty; pennilessness. |
| phlegmatic |
not given to shows of emotion or interest; slow to excite. |
| plaudit |
(often plural) an enthusiastic show of approval, such as a round of applause or a very favorable review. |
| prolix |
wordy and boringly long. |
| salvo |
the firing of guns or other firearms simultaneously or in succession, especially as a salute. |