| abrogate |
to abolish, repeal, or nullify by authority. |
| cloture |
in U.S. parliamentary procedure, a method of ending debate and causing an immediate vote on the matter being discussed. |
| coddle |
to simmer in water that is almost at the boiling point. |
| coir |
the fiber made from coconut husks, used for matting, rope, or the like. |
| eidetic |
pertaining to or designating the ability to recall images in almost perfect detail. |
| epistolary |
established or continued through letters. |
| fixation |
an obsession, especially one that interferes with normal functioning. |
| fledge |
to grow flight feathers. |
| lattice |
a flat framework made with strips of wood or other material. The strips cross each other and have open spaces in between. A lattice is often used as a screen on a porch or in a garden. |
| linguistics |
(used with a singular verb) the scientific and historical study of the form and structure of human language. |
| lugubrious |
sad or mournful, especially in an exaggerated way; gloomy. |
| naturalism |
in literature, a method of depicting life that reflects a philosophy of determinism. |
| otiose |
having no purpose or use; unnecessary or futile. |
| parvenu |
a person who has suddenly acquired wealth or status, without acquiring the tastes, manners, customs, or the like of his or her new station. |
| pungency |
sharpness or bite in taste or smell. |