| acerbic |
sharp, sour, or harsh in manner, tone, or the like. |
| apostate |
a person who abandons his or her religious faith, principles, cause, or the like. |
| bevy |
a group of birds or other animals, especially quail or larks. |
| carouse |
to revel in a boisterous and drunken manner. |
| dalliance |
a wasting away of time; loitering; dawdling. |
| elaboration |
the act or an instance of adding explanatory material or detail, or the material or detail so added. |
| expulsion |
an act or instance of forcing out, or the state of being forced out. |
| incisive |
marked by clear, penetrating thought; sharp. |
| iridescent |
emitting or reflecting a lustrous play of colors covering the spectrum, like a rainbow. |
| parameter |
any of a set of specifications or limits, the value or variations of which determine the form or behavior of something. |
| quibble |
an unimportant, petty, or trivial disagreement or objection. |
| refractory |
obstinately disobedient; difficult to control, as a child or animal. |
| sustenance |
nourishment that maintains life; food. |
| valediction |
a farewell speech, especially one given by a student of the highest honors at a graduation ceremony. |
| wean |
to cause to be free of a habit, activity, or the like, often by means of a distraction or substitute. |