| atavism |
the recurrence or reappearance of a particular trait, style, attitude, or behavior that seemed to have disappeared, or that which has recurred or reappeared after such an absence. |
| burgeon |
to start to grow; send forth shoots, leaves, buds, or the like (often followed by "out" or "forth"). |
| cloture |
in U.S. parliamentary procedure, a method of ending debate and causing an immediate vote on the matter being discussed. |
| curmudgeon |
an irritable or ill-tempered person. |
| debouch |
to advance out of a confined or narrow space such as a canyon into open country. |
| derelict |
failing to fulfill one's responsibilities or obligations; remiss. |
| gird |
to surround, bind, or encircle, as with a belt. |
| halcyon |
tranquil; peaceful; calm. |
| immaculate |
not dirty; completely clean. |
| opprobrious |
expressing condemnation or scorn; accusing of shameful behavior. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| penumbra |
an indefinite, borderline area. |
| reprise |
repetition of a musical phrase or theme in an identical or slightly altered way. |
| syntax |
the word order or pattern of word order in a sentence. |
| triage |
a system of determining priority of medical treatment, on the basis of need, chances of survival, and the like, to victims on a battlefield or in a hospital emergency ward. |