| ascertain |
to learn without question; determine. |
| deadeye |
an expert shooter. |
| elide |
to leave out or slur, as a syllable or letter, in pronunciation. |
| eulogy |
a spoken or written tribute, especially to honor a dead person; high praise; formal commendation. |
| festoon |
a decorative chain or strip of ribbons, flowers, leaves, or the like, suspended at the ends and hung in a curve. |
| flout |
to show scorn or contempt for, especially by openly or deliberately disobeying. |
| foment |
to encourage the development of; instigate or foster. |
| forswear |
to give up or renounce, often with an oath or pledge. |
| heterodox |
deviating from an officially approved belief or doctrine, especially in religion. |
| idyllic |
charmingly simple and natural, as a scene or experience; suggestive of peaceful countryside. |
| mélange |
a mixture, usually of very dissimilar elements. |
| recrudesce |
to become active again or break out anew, as a disease or harmful condition. |
| remonstrate |
to say in opposition, protest, or objection. |
| vitiate |
to harm the quality of; mar; spoil. |
| woebegone |
displaying or full of distress. |