| arrant |
complete; unmitigated; downright. |
| astute |
keen in understanding and judgment; shrewd. |
| conclave |
a secret, private, or confidential meeting or gathering. |
| cynosure |
a thing or person that is the center of attention and admiration. |
| disallow |
to refuse to allow or admit; reject. |
| Draconian |
(often lower case) harshly cruel or rigorous. |
| expostulate |
to argue earnestly with someone, usually against an intended action; remonstrate. |
| gird |
to surround, bind, or encircle, as with a belt. |
| humanism |
a doctrine or mode of thought that gives highest importance to human dignity, values, potentials, and achievements. |
| indolence |
the tendency to avoid exertion or effort; laziness. |
| malingerer |
one who pretends to be ill or injured, especially in order to avoid work or duty. |
| pandemic |
a widespread outbreak of disease that afflicts many people over different continents. |
| perquisite |
a payment or benefit in addition to the wages or salary associated with a position. |
| shunt |
to turn or move aside or out of the way; divert. |
| truculent |
extremely hostile or belligerent; inclined to fight. |