| adage |
an old familiar saying that shows the wisdom of a group of people; proverb. |
| bulwark |
a wall or wall-like structure, often made of earth and used for defense; rampart. |
| distill |
to subject (a substance) to heat to the point of vaporization, and then to cooling to produce condensation. |
| douse1 |
to place or plunge in water or another liquid; immerse. |
| fleck |
a small patch of light or color. |
| hallow |
to respect or honor highly; venerate. |
| inglorious |
bringing shame or disgrace; shameful; dishonorable. |
| nicety |
a subtle distinction; fine point. |
| nonchalance |
cool confidence and unconcern; casual indifference. |
| ostracism |
an exclusion or rejection, as from a social group. |
| paragon |
a model of excellence or of a particular admirable quality. |
| precedent |
an action that may serve as an example for future acts of the same nature. |
| recast |
to rewrite, reconstruct, or conceive again in a different form. |
| rhetoric |
the art, ability, or study of using language effectively in speech or writing, especially to influence or persuade one's audience. |
| solicitous |
anxiously or tenderly concerned or attentive (usually followed by about, of, or for.) |