| adamant |
unlikely to change in response to any request or argument; firmly decided or fixed; unyielding. |
| alluvium |
sand, soil, gravel, or the like deposited by moving water, as along a river bed. |
| asceticism |
self-discipline and self-denial as a means of spiritual improvement. |
| collateral |
property or other security put forward to guarantee repayment of a loan. |
| frangible |
easy to break; breakable; fragile. |
| garrulous |
given to talking excessively. |
| heinous |
extremely wicked or despicable; atrocious. |
| lapidary |
an expert on or dealer in gemstones. |
| oppugn |
to oppose, contradict, criticize, or call into question. |
| plaudit |
(often plural) an enthusiastic show of approval, such as a round of applause or a very favorable review. |
| pungent |
sharp and strong in taste or smell. |
| sagacious |
possessing or characterized by good judgment and common sense; wise. |
| saturnine |
gloomy, sullen, or cynical in temperament or appearance. |
| sententious |
using or marked by pompous, high-flown moralizing. |
| shunt |
to turn or move aside or out of the way; divert. |