| asceticism |
self-discipline and self-denial as a means of spiritual improvement. |
| caste |
the status conferred by the class to which one belongs. |
| extort |
to extract or obtain (money or the like) by force, threats, or abuse of authority. |
| facetious |
not serious; humorous or frivolous. |
| froward |
unwilling to agree or obey; stubborn; perverse. |
| idiosyncrasy |
a characteristic of temperament, habit, or physical structure particular to a given individual or group; peculiarity. |
| maunder |
to speak in an aimless or foolish way; babble. |
| mésalliance |
marriage with someone of lower social standing than oneself. |
| noisome |
offensive or disgusting, especially in smell; foul. |
| parlous |
full of dangers or risks; perilous. |
| seminal |
of critical importance; essential. |
| stentorian |
extremely loud and powerful. |
| stickler |
one who must observe or conform to something (usually followed by "for"). |
| travesty |
something so grotesque or inferior as to seem a parody. |
| uxorial |
of, pertaining to, or befitting a wife. |