| asceticism |
self-discipline and self-denial as a means of spiritual improvement. |
| asperity |
harshness or roughness, especially of tone or manner. |
| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| epigraph |
a pertinent quotation or motto, especially found at the beginning of a literary work or of a chapter. |
| erudite |
having or showing a high level of scholarly knowledge; learned. |
| inanition |
a state of exhaustion caused by a lack of nourishment. |
| maverick |
a person who thinks and behaves independently, especially one who refuses to adhere to the orthodoxy of the group to which he or she belongs. |
| meretricious |
appealing or attracting in a cheap, showy, or shallow way. |
| occlude |
to close or obstruct (a passage or opening, one's vision, or the like). |
| paroxysm |
a sudden strong outburst of feelings or actions. |
| plaudit |
(often plural) an enthusiastic show of approval, such as a round of applause or a very favorable review. |
| 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. |
| stickler |
one who must observe or conform to something (usually followed by "for"). |
| sudorific |
causing or increasing sweat, as a medication. |
| syntax |
the word order or pattern of word order in a sentence. |