| apotheosis |
a perfect or ideal example; epitome. |
| caste |
the status conferred by the class to which one belongs. |
| chary |
not dispensing freely. |
| condign |
well-deserved or fitting, especially of punishment or reprimand. |
| doyen |
the senior or highest-ranking male member of a group. |
| humanism |
a doctrine or mode of thought that gives highest importance to human dignity, values, potentials, and achievements. |
| impediment |
an obstacle or hindrance. |
| macrocosm |
a large unit or entity that represents on a large scale one of its smaller components. |
| obtrude |
to thrust or force (oneself, one's concerns, or one's opinions) on another or others without being asked. |
| parvenu |
a person who has suddenly acquired wealth or status, without acquiring the tastes, manners, customs, or the like of his or her new station. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| rebarbative |
tending to irritate or repel; forbidding or unattractive. |
| relict |
a plant, animal, or geological feature that has survived in a considerably changed environment. |
| stickler |
one who must observe or conform to something (usually followed by "for"). |
| topography |
the shape of the earth's surface across an area or region. The topography of an area includes the size and location of hills and dips in the land. |