| alluvium |
sand, soil, gravel, or the like deposited by moving water, as along a river bed. |
| aplomb |
great self-confidence, composure, or poise. |
| apocryphal |
of dubious authorship or authority. |
| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| coir |
the fiber made from coconut husks, used for matting, rope, or the like. |
| convoluted |
complex; intricate. |
| demotic |
of or relating to the common people; popular. |
| feckless |
weak or incompetent; ineffective. |
| glabrous |
having no hair or fuzz; bald; smooth. |
| lacuna |
a gap or omitted part. |
| naturalism |
in literature, a method of depicting life that reflects a philosophy of determinism. |
| obfuscate |
to make (something) seem or be difficult to understand; obscure or darken. |
| penury |
severe poverty; pennilessness. |
| triage |
a system of determining priority of medical treatment, on the basis of need, chances of survival, and the like, to victims on a battlefield or in a hospital emergency ward. |
| tummler |
an entertainer or social director who encourages participation by guests or audience. |