| affidavit |
a written statement that is sworn in the presence of an authorized official to be true, used as legal evidence. |
| asceticism |
self-discipline and self-denial as a means of spiritual improvement. |
| assuage |
to make less severe or more bearable; alleviate. |
| crass |
lacking in sensitivity or refinement; crude. |
| duress |
intimidation or coercion. |
| ersatz |
serving as a substitute, especially when of inferior quality. |
| flagitious |
viciously or shamefully wicked; infamous. |
| inadvertent |
not planned or intended; unintentional. |
| peroration |
the concluding part of a speech in which there is a summing up of the principal points. |
| perquisite |
a payment or benefit in addition to the wages or salary associated with a position. |
| pretentious |
assuming or marked by an air of importance or superiority that is unwarranted. |
| quiescence |
a state of inaction, rest, or stillness; dormancy. |
| trabeated |
using horizontal beams or lintels as supports instead of arches. |
| tummler |
an entertainer or social director who encourages participation by guests or audience. |
| welter |
to roll about or wallow, as in mud or the open sea. |