| bereft |
deprived or stripped of something. |
| caste |
the status conferred by the class to which one belongs. |
| cyst |
a small pouch within body tissue that is filled with fluid or air. Some cysts are connected with serious disease, but most are not harmful at all. |
| epistemology |
the branch of philosophy dealing with the origin, nature, and limits of human knowledge. |
| gird |
to surround, bind, or encircle, as with a belt. |
| impermeable |
not permitting passage or penetration. |
| laureate |
one honored for achievement in a particular field or by a particular award, especially in the arts or sciences. |
| luminary |
a famous, important, or inspirational person. |
| maverick |
a person who thinks and behaves independently, especially one who refuses to adhere to the orthodoxy of the group to which he or she belongs. |
| munificent |
having or showing great generosity. |
| penumbra |
an indefinite, borderline area. |
| recrudesce |
to become active again or break out anew, as a disease or harmful condition. |
| repine |
to express or feel unhappiness; complain; fret. |
| sotto voce |
in a low voice or undertone, so as not to be overheard; softly (often used as a musical direction). |
| 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. |