| amity |
friendly and peaceful relations; good will. |
| descry |
to see or make out, especially something obscured or at a distance. |
| effluvium |
an outflow of usually invisible, foul-smelling vapor or gas. |
| emulous |
filled with the desire to equal or surpass. |
| ensconce |
to position (oneself) firmly or comfortably. |
| feckless |
weak or incompetent; ineffective. |
| figurehead |
a person whose title sounds important but who has no real power. |
| froward |
unwilling to agree or obey; stubborn; perverse. |
| gadfly |
a persistent critic, especially of established institutions and policies. |
| idiosyncrasy |
a characteristic of temperament, habit, or physical structure particular to a given individual or group; peculiarity. |
| luminary |
a famous, important, or inspirational person. |
| naturalism |
in literature, a method of depicting life that reflects a philosophy of determinism. |
| parvenu |
a person who has suddenly acquired wealth or status, without acquiring the tastes, manners, customs, or the like of his or her new station. |
| remonstrate |
to say in opposition, protest, or objection. |
| virago |
a shrewish, domineering woman; nag or scold. |