| asperity |
harshness or roughness, especially of tone or manner. |
| belabor |
to continue excessive efforts on or excessive discussion of. |
| berate |
to reproach or scold severely. |
| Byzantine |
characterized by complexity and intrigue. |
| epigraph |
a pertinent quotation or motto, especially found at the beginning of a literary work or of a chapter. |
| extort |
to extract or obtain (money or the like) by force, threats, or abuse of authority. |
| gamut |
the whole extent or range of anything. |
| gloaming |
late evening; dusk; twilight. |
| guru |
in a cult or religious movement, a spiritual guide or leader, sometimes believed to be divine. |
| hirsute |
covered with hair or stiff hairs; hairy or shaggy. |
| incursion |
a raid or sudden invasion. |
| laureate |
one honored for achievement in a particular field or by a particular award, especially in the arts or sciences. |
| preferment |
the act of promoting or being promoted to a higher position or office. |
| prolix |
wordy and boringly long. |
| sanctimony |
a pretense of righteousness or piety; feigned devotion or holiness. |