| atonement |
the act of making reparation for a sin, crime, error, or the like. |
| barrage |
a great number of things coming one after another very quickly. |
| boudoir |
a woman's private sitting room or bedroom. |
| brash |
rudely self-assertive; bold; impudent. |
| coddle |
to simmer in water that is almost at the boiling point. |
| cravat |
a scarf or band of cloth tied loosely about the neck. |
| deter |
to stop or discourage from some action by creating doubt or fear. |
| equivocal |
having at least two plausible alternative meanings, often intentionally so in order to deceive or avoid commitment; ambiguous. |
| fracas |
a noisy disturbance or quarrel. |
| maverick |
a person who thinks and behaves independently, especially one who refuses to adhere to the orthodoxy of the group to which he or she belongs. |
| nostrum |
a favorite but unproven scheme or theory, offered as a remedy for social or political problems; panacea. |
| oligarchy |
a government or state in which only a relatively few people or members of a family have real power. |
| otiose |
having no purpose or use; unnecessary or futile. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| vouchsafe |
to grant or give with condescension or as a special favor. |