| accretion |
the process of gradual increase or growth, especially by additions from the outside. |
| caparison |
decorative trappings to cover a horse's saddle or harness. |
| colloquialism |
a word or phrase typically used in conversational, informal, or regional speech or writing, hence sometimes considered inappropriate in formal writing. |
| deify |
to raise to the rank of a god; consider to be a god. |
| disabuse |
to free (a person) from misconception or deception; set straight. |
| doyen |
the senior or highest-ranking male member of a group. |
| duress |
intimidation or coercion. |
| epicene |
sharing the traits of both sexes. |
| goad |
something that spurs a person to action; stimulus. |
| humanism |
a doctrine or mode of thought that gives highest importance to human dignity, values, potentials, and achievements. |
| opprobrious |
expressing condemnation or scorn; accusing of shameful behavior. |
| precursory |
coming before and serving to indicate what will follow; premonitory. |
| rapacious |
capable of capturing and eating live prey; predacious. |
| symbiosis |
a close association, usually a mutually beneficial relationship, between two dissimilar organisms. |
| tyro |
one who is beginning to learn a business, trade, sport, or the like; novice; neophyte. |