| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| caste |
the status conferred by the class to which one belongs. |
| contretemps |
an embarrassing or unfortunate happening; mishap; mischance. |
| corporeal |
having to do with a physical body; bodily. |
| deadeye |
an expert shooter. |
| dearth |
a shortage or scarcity of something; lack. |
| encomium |
a formal expression of praise. |
| exponent |
one that expounds or interprets. |
| indolence |
the tendency to avoid exertion or effort; laziness. |
| lachrymose |
weeping, tending to weep readily, or being on the point of tears; tearful. |
| pedantic |
making or characterized by an excessive display of learnedness, or overly insistent on scholarly details and formalities. |
| recidivism |
chronic return to bad habits, especially criminal relapse. |
| redoubtable |
inspiring fear; formidable. |
| shunt |
to turn or move aside or out of the way; divert. |
| vitiate |
to harm the quality of; mar; spoil. |