| ascertain |
to learn without question; determine. |
| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| bereft |
deprived or stripped of something. |
| cynosure |
a thing or person that is the center of attention and admiration. |
| cyst |
a small pouch within body tissue that is filled with fluid or air. Some cysts are connected with serious disease, but most are not harmful at all. |
| disinter |
to dig up or remove from a place of burial; exhume. |
| extrude |
to force out; expel. |
| flout |
to show scorn or contempt for, especially by openly or deliberately disobeying. |
| hypocrisy |
the practice or an instance of stating or pretending to hold beliefs or principles that one does not actually live by; insincerity. |
| impediment |
an obstacle or hindrance. |
| linguistics |
(used with a singular verb) the scientific and historical study of the form and structure of human language. |
| parlance |
manner of speaking or writing, especially word choice; vernacular. |
| solecism |
a gross violation of convention in grammar, etiquette, or the like; impropriety. |
| spurn |
to reject, refuse, or treat with scorn; disdain; despise. |
| stickler |
one who must observe or conform to something (usually followed by "for"). |