| adamantine |
firmly decided or fixed; unyielding. |
| bilge |
the rounded part of a ship's hull between the bottom and the sides. |
| canard |
a deliberately false story or rumor, usually defamatory to someone. |
| caste |
the status conferred by the class to which one belongs. |
| corporeal |
having to do with a physical body; bodily. |
| effete |
marked by excessive refinement or delicateness of taste. |
| exegesis |
a critical explanation or interpretive analysis, especially of religious texts. |
| hagiography |
an admiring and uncritical biography of anyone. |
| incumbent |
currently holding an office or position. |
| opiate |
something that induces relaxation, calm, or stupor. |
| pandemic |
a widespread outbreak of disease that afflicts many people over different continents. |
| peremptory |
not permitting refusal or disobedience. |
| prerogative |
an exclusive right or privilege derived from one's office, position, age, citizenship, birth, or the like. |
| recidivism |
chronic return to bad habits, especially criminal relapse. |
| recondite |
involving profound concepts and complexities; not easily understood. |