| attrition |
a gradual erosion of strength or morale. |
| bifurcation |
the act or result of dividing into two branches, or the state of being so divided. |
| callous |
not having kindness; not sensitive; having a hard heart. |
| contentious |
inclined to argue; quarrelsome; belligerent. |
| cubicle |
any very small room or partitioned space, as in an office or dormitory. |
| delude |
to cause to hold a false belief; mislead; deceive. |
| heretofore |
prior to this time; before now. |
| mimicry |
an act, instance, or the art of imitating or copying the speech, behavior, or expressions of others. |
| mores |
the behaviors and manners accepted and expected in a social group, embodying its fundamental moral standards. |
| paraphrase |
a restatement of a passage or text in somewhat different words so as to simplify, clarify, or amplify. |
| provisional |
adopted on a temporary or tentative basis until something permanent is established; conditional. |
| senile |
showing certain characteristics of old age, especially a deterioration of mental faculties or emotional control. |
| sensual |
related to or providing pleasure from the ways humans perceive stimuli, such as through touch, taste, or smell. |
| stymie |
throw an obstacle in the way of (something or someone); impede; thwart. |
| universality |
the quality, character, or condition of being universal. |