| aberration |
a deviation from what is considered normal or right; irregularity. |
| alluvium |
sand, soil, gravel, or the like deposited by moving water, as along a river bed. |
| assail |
to attack with vigor or violence; assault. |
| bilge |
the rounded part of a ship's hull between the bottom and the sides. |
| cognomen |
a last name; surname. |
| convoluted |
complex; intricate. |
| disaffection |
an absence or loss of good will, faith, or loyalty, especially toward a government, principle, or the like. |
| extenuate |
to reduce the magnitude or seriousness of (a fault or offense) by offering partial excuses. |
| forbear |
to keep or abstain from (an action or utterance). |
| inveigle |
to entice or ensnare by clever talk or flattery. |
| macrocosm |
a large unit or entity that represents on a large scale one of its smaller components. |
| nonplus |
to cause (someone) to be unable to think of what to say, do, or decide; perplex; bewilder. |
| oppugn |
to oppose, contradict, criticize, or call into question. |
| penury |
severe poverty; pennilessness. |
| reconnaissance |
the act or process of examining an area, especially to gain militarily useful information. |