| amortize |
to deduct (expenditures) by fixed amounts over a period of time. |
| banal |
lacking originality or liveliness; disappointingly ordinary; commonplace; trite. |
| deadeye |
an expert shooter. |
| decedent |
in law, one who has died. |
| epistolary |
established or continued through letters. |
| extempore |
without plan or preparation; impromptu or improvised. |
| frangible |
easy to break; breakable; fragile. |
| highbrow |
one who has or pretends to have highly sophisticated intellectual and cultural interests and tastes (often used disparagingly). |
| humanism |
a doctrine or mode of thought that gives highest importance to human dignity, values, potentials, and achievements. |
| imbroglio |
a difficult, confused, or complicated situation, often involving a misunderstanding, disagreement, or quarrel. |
| panegyric |
a formal speech or piece of writing devoted to publicly praising a person or thing. |
| recant |
to withdraw from commitment to (a former position or statement), especially publicly; retract. |
| reprobate |
an evil or lawless person, often beyond hope of redemption. |
| shunt |
to turn or move aside or out of the way; divert. |
| tort |
in law, any civil rather than criminal harm or injury that violates the implicit duty of each citizen not to harm others, and for which one may bring a civil suit and collect compensation. |