| amalgamation |
the act, process, or result of combining two or more, often disparate, things. |
| bereavement |
the condition or fact of being deprived of something or someone, especially by the death of a loved one. |
| castigation |
the act of rebuking, severely criticizing, or punishing, especially in a public forum. |
| devious |
not the straightest, most direct way; winding; roundabout. |
| gnarl |
to knot or twist. |
| homogeneous |
having all parts of the same or a similar type. |
| indolent |
inclined to avoid exertion or effort; lazy. |
| microcosm |
a small, complete whole; tiny world. |
| mores |
the behaviors and manners accepted and expected in a social group, embodying its fundamental moral standards. |
| prohibitive |
serving as a preventative. |
| recluse |
a person who lives in voluntary isolation from others. |
| stark |
in all respects; total; extreme. |
| ulterior |
beyond or excluded from what is openly admitted or shown, especially when concealed for the purposes of deception. |
| unctuous |
excessively or falsely earnest or amiable. |
| vicarious |
experienced through imagined participation in someone else's actions, sufferings, or the like. |