| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| cavalier |
carefree and offhand; nonchalant. |
| consummate |
of the highest order or degree. |
| dearth |
a shortage or scarcity of something; lack. |
| discomfit |
to upset or confuse. |
| epistolary |
established or continued through letters. |
| equivocal |
having at least two plausible alternative meanings, often intentionally so in order to deceive or avoid commitment; ambiguous. |
| exceptionable |
likely to be objected to; objectionable. |
| extrude |
to force out; expel. |
| impermeable |
not permitting passage or penetration. |
| mahatma |
(sometimes capitalized) in Buddhism and theosophy, any of a class of persons revered for their wisdom and love of humanity. |
| parlance |
manner of speaking or writing, especially word choice; vernacular. |
| pedagogy |
the act, process, or profession of teaching. |
| raffish |
carelessly unconventional or disreputable, sometimes appealingly so. |
| salacious |
excited by lust; lecherous. |