| crony |
a close friend or ally (often used pejoratively). |
| discourse |
verbal communication; conversation. |
| heretic |
a person who maintains unorthodox religious opinions or beliefs, especially a baptized Roman Catholic who dissents from official church doctrine. |
| impale |
to pierce and hold fast with a sharp-pointed instrument such as a spear. |
| moderation |
the avoidance of excesses or extremes, especially in behavior. |
| objectivity |
the quality of being unbiased or without prejudice. |
| pacifist |
one who opposes war and refuses to practice or acknowledge violence as a way of settling disputes or resisting aggression. |
| podium |
a raised platform, as for a speaker or orchestra conductor; dais. |
| posit |
to propose or suggest as an account of something or as a contribution to an understanding of something. |
| reprove |
to criticize, usually mildly, for wrongdoing. |
| rhetoric |
the art, ability, or study of using language effectively in speech or writing, especially to influence or persuade one's audience. |
| scanty |
barely adequate; meager. |
| spurious |
not genuine, authentic, or valid; false. |
| trepidation |
a condition of anxiety or dread; alarm. |
| unqualified |
lacking the appropriate knowledge or qualifications. |