| acclivity |
a rising slope. |
| alluvium |
sand, soil, gravel, or the like deposited by moving water, as along a river bed. |
| bilge |
the rounded part of a ship's hull between the bottom and the sides. |
| deadeye |
an expert shooter. |
| debauch |
to lead or seduce into immorality or intemperance; corrupt. |
| deify |
to raise to the rank of a god; consider to be a god. |
| epigraph |
a pertinent quotation or motto, especially found at the beginning of a literary work or of a chapter. |
| equipoise |
a state of balance or equal weight, importance, or the like; equilibrium. |
| insouciant |
having no cares or anxieties; light-hearted; carefree. |
| magnum opus |
a great work of art, literature, or music, especially a particular person's masterpiece. |
| perilous |
causing or involving great danger; risky; hazardous. |
| periphrasis |
an indirect or roundabout way of phrasing something; circumlocution. |
| plaudit |
(often plural) an enthusiastic show of approval, such as a round of applause or a very favorable review. |
| recant |
to withdraw from commitment to (a former position or statement), especially publicly; retract. |
| scabrous |
characterized by a rough or scaly surface, as the leaf of a plant. |