| blithe |
indifferent or casual; unconcerned. |
| debauch |
to lead or seduce into immorality or intemperance; corrupt. |
| 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. |
| ersatz |
serving as a substitute, especially when of inferior quality. |
| gadfly |
a persistent critic, especially of established institutions and policies. |
| halcyon |
tranquil; peaceful; calm. |
| jeremiad |
a long complaint about life or one's situation; lamentation. |
| 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. |
| liminal |
of or at the threshold of a physiological or psychological response or change of state. |
| 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. |
| pinchbeck |
false, sham, or counterfeit. |
| quadrant |
any of the four parts that result when an area is divided by two lines, real or imaginary, that intersect each other at right angles. |
| reprise |
repetition of a musical phrase or theme in an identical or slightly altered way. |
| Saturnalia |
an occasion of unrestrained revelry. |