| abstruse |
difficult to comprehend or understand; esoteric; arcane. |
| affidavit |
a written statement that is sworn in the presence of an authorized official to be true, used as legal evidence. |
| ascertain |
to learn without question; determine. |
| cachet |
prestige. |
| canard |
a deliberately false story or rumor, usually defamatory to someone. |
| cloture |
in U.S. parliamentary procedure, a method of ending debate and causing an immediate vote on the matter being discussed. |
| duress |
intimidation or coercion. |
| extenuate |
to reduce the magnitude or seriousness of (a fault or offense) by offering partial excuses. |
| gadfly |
a persistent critic, especially of established institutions and policies. |
| jubilate |
to feel joyful; rejoice; exult. |
| lachrymose |
weeping, tending to weep readily, or being on the point of tears; tearful. |
| macrocosm |
a large unit or entity that represents on a large scale one of its smaller components. |
| modular |
designed with standardized units that may be arranged or connected in a variety of ways. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| sepsis |
infection, especially by pus-forming bacteria in the blood or tissues. |