| cavalier |
carefree and offhand; nonchalant. |
| conduction |
the transmission or transfer, as of heat, electrical charges, or nervous impulses, through a medium. |
| declivity |
a downward or descending slope. |
| desideratum |
something that is needed or wanted. |
| dilatory |
used to cause a delay. |
| elide |
to leave out or slur, as a syllable or letter, in pronunciation. |
| intransigence |
refusal to alter one's ideas or position in response to the wishes of others. |
| lacuna |
a gap or omitted part. |
| limn |
to paint or draw. |
| linguistics |
(used with a singular verb) the scientific and historical study of the form and structure of human language. |
| macrocosm |
a large unit or entity that represents on a large scale one of its smaller components. |
| recidivism |
chronic return to bad habits, especially criminal relapse. |
| recondite |
involving profound concepts and complexities; not easily understood. |
| sotto voce |
in a low voice or undertone, so as not to be overheard; softly (often used as a musical direction). |
| symbiosis |
a close association, usually a mutually beneficial relationship, between two dissimilar organisms. |