| cantankerous |
irritable, stubborn, and quarrelsome. |
| disallow |
to refuse to allow or admit; reject. |
| ensconce |
to position (oneself) firmly or comfortably. |
| exegesis |
a critical explanation or interpretive analysis, especially of religious texts. |
| gird |
to surround, bind, or encircle, as with a belt. |
| idyllic |
charmingly simple and natural, as a scene or experience; suggestive of peaceful countryside. |
| indomitable |
too strong to be subdued or discouraged; unconquerable. |
| jejune |
lacking interest or liveliness; dull. |
| kibbutz |
an Israeli farming settlement whose ownership is shared by those who live and work there. |
| modular |
designed with standardized units that may be arranged or connected in a variety of ways. |
| nonplus |
to cause (someone) to be unable to think of what to say, do, or decide; perplex; bewilder. |
| pronate |
to turn or rotate (the hand or forearm) so that the palm of the hand faces down or backwards. |
| sartorial |
of or pertaining to tailors or tailored clothing, especially men's clothing. |
| Saturnalia |
an occasion of unrestrained revelry. |
| shibboleth |
a slogan, phrase, or belief that characterizes or is held devotedly by a group. |