| abysmal |
of vast extent; unmeasurable; extreme. |
| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| cloture |
in U.S. parliamentary procedure, a method of ending debate and causing an immediate vote on the matter being discussed. |
| curmudgeon |
an irritable or ill-tempered person. |
| demulcent |
an oily or sticky substance used especially to soothe irritation in mucous membranes. |
| diatribe |
a bitter, abusive attack in speech or writing. |
| disallow |
to refuse to allow or admit; reject. |
| epistolary |
established or continued through letters. |
| exponent |
one that expounds or interprets. |
| impinge |
to encroach. |
| kismet |
destiny, fortune, or fate. |
| malfeasance |
an illegal act or wrongdoing, especially by a public official. |
| redoubtable |
inspiring fear; formidable. |
| reprisal |
injury inflicted in retaliation for injury received, as in war; revenge. |
| triage |
a system of determining priority of medical treatment, on the basis of need, chances of survival, and the like, to victims on a battlefield or in a hospital emergency ward. |