| asceticism |
self-discipline and self-denial as a means of spiritual improvement. |
| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| berate |
to reproach or scold severely. |
| boudoir |
a woman's private sitting room or bedroom. |
| coeval |
coinciding in time of origin or existence; contemporary. |
| condone |
to pardon, disregard, or overlook voluntarily or without condemning. |
| guttural |
articulated in the back of the mouth; velar. |
| hagiography |
an admiring and uncritical biography of anyone. |
| halcyon |
tranquil; peaceful; calm. |
| inquest |
a legal investigation, usually involving a jury, especially a coroner's investigation of a suspicious death. |
| luminary |
a famous, important, or inspirational person. |
| maverick |
a person who thinks and behaves independently, especially one who refuses to adhere to the orthodoxy of the group to which he or she belongs. |
| omnibus |
concerning or including a large collection of things. |
| penumbra |
an indefinite, borderline area. |
| untoward |
unexpected and unfortunate. |