| adamantine |
firmly decided or fixed; unyielding. |
| assail |
to attack with vigor or violence; assault. |
| collateral |
property or other security put forward to guarantee repayment of a loan. |
| decedent |
in law, one who has died. |
| diatribe |
a bitter, abusive attack in speech or writing. |
| duress |
intimidation or coercion. |
| foible |
a minor flaw or weakness in personality, character, or behavior. |
| forbear |
to keep or abstain from (an action or utterance). |
| heterodox |
deviating from an officially approved belief or doctrine, especially in religion. |
| inchoate |
partially or imperfectly developed. |
| linguistics |
(used with a singular verb) the scientific and historical study of the form and structure of human language. |
| penumbra |
an indefinite, borderline area. |
| pliant |
easily flexed; supple. |
| repine |
to express or feel unhappiness; complain; fret. |
| scion |
an offspring or heir. |