| abeyance |
temporary suspension or cessation. |
| assail |
to attack with vigor or violence; assault. |
| cloture |
in U.S. parliamentary procedure, a method of ending debate and causing an immediate vote on the matter being discussed. |
| 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. |
| deposition |
a sworn statement, usually in writing, for use as testimony by an absent witness in a court of law. |
| descant |
a secondary, usually higher, melody that is played or sung at the same time as the chief melody. |
| determinism |
the belief or teaching that every effect, including human thoughts and actions, is completely and predictably brought about by preceding causes and that, therefore, free will does not exist. |
| eidetic |
pertaining to or designating the ability to recall images in almost perfect detail. |
| facsimile |
an exact copy or duplicate of something printed or of a picture. |
| flout |
to show scorn or contempt for, especially by openly or deliberately disobeying. |
| invidious |
tending to arouse feelings of resentment or animosity, especially because of a slight; offensive or discriminatory. |
| laureate |
one honored for achievement in a particular field or by a particular award, especially in the arts or sciences. |
| linguistics |
(used with a singular verb) the scientific and historical study of the form and structure of human language. |
| oligarchy |
a government or state in which only a relatively few people or members of a family have real power. |
| topography |
the shape of the earth's surface across an area or region. The topography of an area includes the size and location of hills and dips in the land. |