| amortize |
to deduct (expenditures) by fixed amounts over a period of time. |
| astute |
keen in understanding and judgment; shrewd. |
| atavism |
the recurrence or reappearance of a particular trait, style, attitude, or behavior that seemed to have disappeared, or that which has recurred or reappeared after such an absence. |
| berate |
to reproach or scold severely. |
| cognizant |
aware; informed (usually followed by "of"). |
| comity |
mutual courtesy and respectful treatment among people or nations. |
| conversant |
familiar; acquainted; practiced (usually followed by "with" or "in"). |
| doggerel |
trivial, crudely constructed verse. |
| expiation |
the act or the means of making amends, as for a sin or crime. |
| impromptu |
without advance plan or preparation; spontaneously. |
| ineluctable |
impossible to be avoided; inescapable. |
| jeremiad |
a long complaint about life or one's situation; lamentation. |
| ontogeny |
the process of biological growth and development of a particular living organism. |
| relict |
a plant, animal, or geological feature that has survived in a considerably changed environment. |
| tummler |
an entertainer or social director who encourages participation by guests or audience. |