| berate |
to reproach or scold severely. |
| compunction |
uneasiness about the propriety or suitability of an action; qualm. |
| disencumber |
to remove burdens or hindrances from. |
| ensconce |
to position (oneself) firmly or comfortably. |
| epistemology |
the branch of philosophy dealing with the origin, nature, and limits of human knowledge. |
| espouse |
to take up, hold, or commit oneself to (a cause, idea, or belief); embrace. |
| garrulous |
given to talking excessively. |
| hypocrisy |
the practice or an instance of stating or pretending to hold beliefs or principles that one does not actually live by; insincerity. |
| irrefragable |
impossible to refute or dispute; undeniable. |
| lattice |
a flat framework made with strips of wood or other material. The strips cross each other and have open spaces in between. A lattice is often used as a screen on a porch or in a garden. |
| macrocosm |
a large unit or entity that represents on a large scale one of its smaller components. |
| parvenu |
a person who has suddenly acquired wealth or status, without acquiring the tastes, manners, customs, or the like of his or her new station. |
| peremptory |
not permitting refusal or disobedience. |
| remonstrate |
to say in opposition, protest, or objection. |
| 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. |