| affidavit |
a written statement that is sworn in the presence of an authorized official to be true, used as legal evidence. |
| apprehensive |
feeling fearful about future events. |
| asperity |
harshness or roughness, especially of tone or manner. |
| 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. |
| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| expiation |
the act or the means of making amends, as for a sin or crime. |
| glabrous |
having no hair or fuzz; bald; smooth. |
| homily |
any discourse offering moral advice or admonitions. |
| ineptitude |
incompetence; lack of skill. |
| linguistics |
(used with a singular verb) the scientific and historical study of the form and structure of human language. |
| maunder |
to speak in an aimless or foolish way; babble. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| prerogative |
an exclusive right or privilege derived from one's office, position, age, citizenship, birth, or the like. |
| refulgent |
shining brilliantly; radiant. |
| uxorious |
excessively or foolishly devoted to one's wife, and often thereby submissive to her. |