| astringent |
a substance or drug that contracts body tissue and slows discharge or secretion. |
| caparison |
decorative trappings to cover a horse's saddle or harness. |
| contumely |
contemptuous insolence; rudeness. |
| deadeye |
an expert shooter. |
| demulcent |
an oily or sticky substance used especially to soothe irritation in mucous membranes. |
| equipoise |
a state of balance or equal weight, importance, or the like; equilibrium. |
| fungible |
interchangeable. |
| hackneyed |
made trite or commonplace by overuse, as an expression or phrase. |
| indistinct |
not clearly perceived or perceiving. |
| mésalliance |
marriage with someone of lower social standing than oneself. |
| penumbra |
an indefinite, borderline area. |
| perilous |
causing or involving great danger; risky; hazardous. |
| salvo |
the firing of guns or other firearms simultaneously or in succession, especially as a salute. |
| stickler |
one who must observe or conform to something (usually followed by "for"). |
| topography |
the shape of the earth's surface across an area or region. The topography of an area includes the size and location of hills and dips in the land. |