| adamantine |
firmly decided or fixed; unyielding. |
| attune |
to adjust so as to be harmonious. |
| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| Byzantine |
characterized by complexity and intrigue. |
| erratic |
not expected or predicted; not regular. |
| heinous |
extremely wicked or despicable; atrocious. |
| incessant |
never stopping; constant. |
| oligarchy |
a government or state in which only a relatively few people or members of a family have real power. |
| prerogative |
an exclusive right or privilege derived from one's office, position, age, citizenship, birth, or the like. |
| profligate |
totally given over to immoral and shameful pursuits; dissolute. |
| quondam |
having been in the past; former. |
| sagacious |
possessing or characterized by good judgment and common sense; wise. |
| sotto voce |
in a low voice or undertone, so as not to be overheard; softly (often used as a musical direction). |
| surcingle |
a girth or belt that wraps around the body of a horse to secure a saddle, pack, or the like to its back. |
| virago |
a shrewish, domineering woman; nag or scold. |