| cantankerous |
irritable, stubborn, and quarrelsome. |
| conjoin |
to combine for a common purpose. |
| constrict |
to pull or squeeze in; make smaller or more narrow; tighten. |
| ersatz |
serving as a substitute, especially when of inferior quality. |
| exponent |
one that expounds or interprets. |
| gird |
to surround, bind, or encircle, as with a belt. |
| heterodox |
deviating from an officially approved belief or doctrine, especially in religion. |
| idyllic |
charmingly simple and natural, as a scene or experience; suggestive of peaceful countryside. |
| impermeable |
not permitting passage or penetration. |
| imprimatur |
any official permission or sanction. |
| indemnity |
insurance against damage, loss, or liability. |
| mahatma |
(sometimes capitalized) in Buddhism and theosophy, any of a class of persons revered for their wisdom and love of humanity. |
| obtrude |
to thrust or force (oneself, one's concerns, or one's opinions) on another or others without being asked. |
| unabashed |
not feeling or showing embarrassment, uneasiness, or shame. |
| uxorious |
excessively or foolishly devoted to one's wife, and often thereby submissive to her. |