| cantankerous |
irritable, stubborn, and quarrelsome. |
| caste |
the status conferred by the class to which one belongs. |
| engender |
to create or give rise to. |
| expatiate |
to discuss something at great length; describe in great detail. |
| facsimile |
an exact copy or duplicate of something printed or of a picture. |
| germane |
having relevance to a given matter; pertinent; significant. |
| gnomic |
short and pithy, as an aphorism. |
| lambent |
glowing softly. |
| lien |
a legal claim on a piece of property when the current owner is in default on a debt or obligation. |
| limn |
to paint or draw. |
| meretricious |
appealing or attracting in a cheap, showy, or shallow way. |
| parlous |
full of dangers or risks; perilous. |
| pliant |
easily flexed; supple. |
| savor |
to give an impression; hint (usually followed by "of"). |
| sequester |
to remove into protection and isolation; seclude. |