| ascertain |
to learn without question; determine. |
| asceticism |
self-discipline and self-denial as a means of spiritual improvement. |
| brash |
rudely self-assertive; bold; impudent. |
| caparison |
decorative trappings to cover a horse's saddle or harness. |
| colloquialism |
a word or phrase typically used in conversational, informal, or regional speech or writing, hence sometimes considered inappropriate in formal writing. |
| curmudgeon |
an irritable or ill-tempered person. |
| demulcent |
an oily or sticky substance used especially to soothe irritation in mucous membranes. |
| epicure |
a person who has cultivated tastes, as in food or wine; connoisseur. |
| epistolary |
established or continued through letters. |
| liminal |
of or at the threshold of a physiological or psychological response or change of state. |
| lupine2 |
fierce; greedy. |
| nonplus |
to cause (someone) to be unable to think of what to say, do, or decide; perplex; bewilder. |
| plaudit |
(often plural) an enthusiastic show of approval, such as a round of applause or a very favorable review. |
| quadrant |
any of the four parts that result when an area is divided by two lines, real or imaginary, that intersect each other at right angles. |
| solecism |
a gross violation of convention in grammar, etiquette, or the like; impropriety. |