| assail |
to attack with vigor or violence; assault. |
| blithe |
indifferent or casual; unconcerned. |
| convoluted |
complex; intricate. |
| effrontery |
shameless impudence; insolence. |
| epigraph |
a pertinent quotation or motto, especially found at the beginning of a literary work or of a chapter. |
| erudite |
having or showing a high level of scholarly knowledge; learned. |
| expound |
to discuss or explain in detail (usually followed by "on" or "upon"). |
| flange |
a collar or rim that projects from a pipe, housing, or the like to provide strength, stability, or a place for attaching other parts. |
| impediment |
an obstacle or hindrance. |
| impromptu |
without advance plan or preparation; spontaneously. |
| lien |
a legal claim on a piece of property when the current owner is in default on a debt or obligation. |
| ostentation |
a showy display to impress others. |
| penumbra |
an indefinite, borderline area. |
| sepsis |
infection, especially by pus-forming bacteria in the blood or tissues. |
| stately |
dignified. |