| affidavit |
a written statement that is sworn in the presence of an authorized official to be true, used as legal evidence. |
| antediluvian |
hopelessly old-fashioned; primitive; outdated. |
| argot |
the vocabulary or jargon characteristic of a specific group or class, especially of criminals. |
| asceticism |
self-discipline and self-denial as a means of spiritual improvement. |
| burgeon |
to start to grow; send forth shoots, leaves, buds, or the like (often followed by "out" or "forth"). |
| caste |
the status conferred by the class to which one belongs. |
| compunction |
uneasiness about the propriety or suitability of an action; qualm. |
| laudatory |
expressing praise. |
| lenitive |
mitigating pain, discomfort, or distress; soothing. |
| 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. |
| modular |
designed with standardized units that may be arranged or connected in a variety of ways. |
| pedagogy |
the act, process, or profession of teaching. |
| pungent |
sharp and strong in taste or smell. |
| reconnoiter |
to go through or over (an area) so as to gain information about it, as for military or engineering purposes. |
| vouchsafe |
to grant or give with condescension or as a special favor. |