| acclivity |
a rising slope. |
| diatribe |
a bitter, abusive attack in speech or writing. |
| Draconian |
(often lower case) harshly cruel or rigorous. |
| epigraph |
a pertinent quotation or motto, especially found at the beginning of a literary work or of a chapter. |
| ersatz |
serving as a substitute, especially when of inferior quality. |
| erudite |
having or showing a high level of scholarly knowledge; learned. |
| flout |
to show scorn or contempt for, especially by openly or deliberately disobeying. |
| humanism |
a doctrine or mode of thought that gives highest importance to human dignity, values, potentials, and achievements. |
| iatrogenic |
caused by a physician or medical treatment, especially from drugs or surgery. |
| insinuate |
to suggest (something derogatory) subtly and indirectly. |
| luminary |
a famous, important, or inspirational person. |
| macrocosm |
a large unit or entity that represents on a large scale one of its smaller components. |
| raffish |
carelessly unconventional or disreputable, sometimes appealingly so. |
| saturnine |
gloomy, sullen, or cynical in temperament or appearance. |
| stochastic |
of, or arising from chance or probability. |