| 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. |
| cloture |
in U.S. parliamentary procedure, a method of ending debate and causing an immediate vote on the matter being discussed. |
| duress |
intimidation or coercion. |
| extirpate |
to get rid of completely, as if by pulling up the roots; root out. |
| humanism |
a doctrine or mode of thought that gives highest importance to human dignity, values, potentials, and achievements. |
| hypocrisy |
the practice or an instance of stating or pretending to hold beliefs or principles that one does not actually live by; insincerity. |
| impute |
to ascribe or attribute to a source or cause. |
| laudatory |
expressing praise. |
| louche |
of questionable decency, morality, or taste; shady; disreputable. |
| lugubrious |
sad or mournful, especially in an exaggerated way; gloomy. |
| minatory |
presenting a threat; menacing. |
| pronate |
to turn or rotate (the hand or forearm) so that the palm of the hand faces down or backwards. |
| recondite |
involving profound concepts and complexities; not easily understood. |
| requite |
to retaliate for; strike back on account of. |
| vouchsafe |
to grant or give with condescension or as a special favor. |