| avow |
to assert or affirm. |
| boorish |
rude; ill-mannered; crude. |
| comity |
mutual courtesy and respectful treatment among people or nations. |
| derelict |
failing to fulfill one's responsibilities or obligations; remiss. |
| determinism |
the belief or teaching that every effect, including human thoughts and actions, is completely and predictably brought about by preceding causes and that, therefore, free will does not exist. |
| disallow |
to refuse to allow or admit; reject. |
| epigraph |
a pertinent quotation or motto, especially found at the beginning of a literary work or of a chapter. |
| equivocal |
having at least two plausible alternative meanings, often intentionally so in order to deceive or avoid commitment; ambiguous. |
| exponent |
one that expounds or interprets. |
| 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. |
| germane |
having relevance to a given matter; pertinent; significant. |
| jeremiad |
a long complaint about life or one's situation; lamentation. |
| lugubrious |
sad or mournful, especially in an exaggerated way; gloomy. |
| sepsis |
infection, especially by pus-forming bacteria in the blood or tissues. |
| tummler |
an entertainer or social director who encourages participation by guests or audience. |