| affidavit |
a written statement that is sworn in the presence of an authorized official to be true, used as legal evidence. |
| asceticism |
self-discipline and self-denial as a means of spiritual improvement. |
| belabor |
to continue excessive efforts on or excessive discussion of. |
| bellicose |
easily incited to quarrel or fight; belligerent. |
| collateral |
property or other security put forward to guarantee repayment of a loan. |
| divergence |
the act of separating and moving or leading in different directions. |
| ensconce |
to position (oneself) firmly or comfortably. |
| espouse |
to take up, hold, or commit oneself to (a cause, idea, or belief); embrace. |
| expatiate |
to discuss something at great length; describe in great detail. |
| hackneyed |
made trite or commonplace by overuse, as an expression or phrase. |
| insularity |
the condition of being closed to new ideas or outside influences; narrow-mindedness. |
| opiate |
something that induces relaxation, calm, or stupor. |
| pretentious |
assuming or marked by an air of importance or superiority that is unwarranted. |
| 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. |
| reconnoiter |
to go through or over (an area) so as to gain information about it, as for military or engineering purposes. |