| austere |
having only what is needed; very simple or plain. |
| expound |
to discuss or explain in detail (usually followed by "on" or "upon"). |
| glean |
to gather or discover (facts, information, or the like) a little at a time. |
| imbricate |
overlapping in an even sequence, as roof tiles or fish scales. |
| inanition |
a state of exhaustion caused by a lack of nourishment. |
| kibbutz |
an Israeli farming settlement whose ownership is shared by those who live and work there. |
| knurled |
having small ridges. |
| maverick |
a person who thinks and behaves independently, especially one who refuses to adhere to the orthodoxy of the group to which he or she belongs. |
| mésalliance |
marriage with someone of lower social standing than oneself. |
| parsimonious |
excessively frugal; stingy. |
| peremptory |
not permitting refusal or disobedience. |
| preferment |
the act of promoting or being promoted to a higher position or office. |
| sudorific |
causing or increasing sweat, as a medication. |
| tamp |
to compress and pack tightly by repeated light taps. |
| unscathed |
not hurt or harmed; completely uninjured. |