| assertion |
a declaration or statement, often without support or proof. |
| assumption |
something that is supposed or believed without questioning. For example, if you ask someone whether she is allowed to watch TV during dinner, you have made an assumption that there is a TV in her house. Assumptions are ideas people have that are not based on proven facts. An assumption can be correct or incorrect. |
| contemporary |
happening in or belonging to the same period of time. |
| debate |
to discuss the different sides of a subject or issue. |
| discard |
to throw out or away; cast off. |
| discriminate |
to judge or treat someone unfairly because he or she belongs to a particular group or category of people (usually followed by "against"). |
| dwindle |
to become or cause to become gradually smaller or less until almost nothing remains; shrink. |
| humane |
showing kindness or mercy. |
| intrigue |
to draw the strong interest of; puzzle; fascinate. |
| obstruction |
something that blocks the way or prevents progress. |
| offset |
to make up for or balance. |
| perceive |
to become aware of through the senses. |
| perception |
the ability to become aware of or know through the senses. |
| quarry |
a large open hole or pit dug for mining stone, marble, gravel, or the like. |
| transit |
the act of passing over, across, or through; passage. |