| adamant |
unlikely to change in response to any request or argument; firmly decided or fixed; unyielding. |
| benign |
causing little or no harm. |
| berate |
to reproach or scold severely. |
| 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. |
| devolve |
of a duty or the like, to be passed on to someone else. |
| epistemology |
the branch of philosophy dealing with the origin, nature, and limits of human knowledge. |
| guru |
in a cult or religious movement, a spiritual guide or leader, sometimes believed to be divine. |
| heinous |
extremely wicked or despicable; atrocious. |
| indomitable |
too strong to be subdued or discouraged; unconquerable. |
| lachrymose |
weeping, tending to weep readily, or being on the point of tears; tearful. |
| malaise |
a state or condition of feeling generally unwell, mentally depressed, sluggish, or uneasy. |
| shyster |
a person, usually a lawyer, who uses underhanded, unethical methods. |
| stickler |
one who must observe or conform to something (usually followed by "for"). |
| tamp |
to compress and pack tightly by repeated light taps. |
| tyro |
one who is beginning to learn a business, trade, sport, or the like; novice; neophyte. |