| accretion |
the process of gradual increase or growth, especially by additions from the outside. |
| adamant |
unlikely to change in response to any request or argument; firmly decided or fixed; unyielding. |
| amortize |
to deduct (expenditures) by fixed amounts over a period of time. |
| appellation |
a name, title, or other designation. |
| canny |
difficult to fool or take advantage of; shrewd; wary; clever. |
| curmudgeon |
an irritable or ill-tempered person. |
| 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. |
| indurate |
to make hard in texture; harden. |
| intelligentsia |
the elite class of highly learned people within a society, or those who consider themselves part of such a class. |
| oligarchy |
a government or state in which only a relatively few people or members of a family have real power. |
| oppugn |
to oppose, contradict, criticize, or call into question. |
| phlegmatic |
not given to shows of emotion or interest; slow to excite. |
| quadrant |
any of the four parts that result when an area is divided by two lines, real or imaginary, that intersect each other at right angles. |
| recant |
to withdraw from commitment to (a former position or statement), especially publicly; retract. |
| stanch1 |
to cause (a liquid, especially blood) to stop flowing. |