| alluvium |
sand, soil, gravel, or the like deposited by moving water, as along a river bed. |
| apotheosis |
a perfect or ideal example; epitome. |
| caparison |
decorative trappings to cover a horse's saddle or harness. |
| centripetal |
forced or moving inward toward a center point or axis. |
| cession |
the act of formally giving up or signing over, as a territory; ceding. |
| deter |
to stop or discourage from some action by creating doubt or fear. |
| effete |
marked by excessive refinement or delicateness of taste. |
| gambit |
a tactic or maneuver designed to gain an advantage, especially one that involves some sacrifice on one's part. |
| granulate |
to make into small particles or grains. |
| imbricate |
overlapping in an even sequence, as roof tiles or fish scales. |
| imprecation |
a curse, uttered or thought of. |
| lien |
a legal claim on a piece of property when the current owner is in default on a debt or obligation. |
| macerate |
to soften (food or the like) by soaking, as in digestion. |
| ontogeny |
the process of biological growth and development of a particular living organism. |
| pretentious |
assuming or marked by an air of importance or superiority that is unwarranted. |