| buttress |
a structure built to give support to the outside of a building or a wall. |
| capitulate |
to surrender or acquiesce. |
| constituent |
forming a part of something. |
| cupidity |
exceptional desire for money or other material possessions; greed. |
| disputatious |
inclined to quarrel or provoke argument. |
| glacial |
of, concerning, coming from, or marked by the presence of glaciers or other large ice masses. |
| idealism |
the pursuit of or belief in noble ideals, principles, and values. |
| misjudge |
to hold an unjustified opinion of. |
| oscillate |
to swing steadily and repeatedly back and forth. |
| retention |
the act or process of maintaining the possession or use of. |
| solstice |
either of the two times in the year when the sun is furthest from the celestial equator, occurring in June and December. |
| touchstone |
a test or standard by which to evaluate the worth of something. |
| vacillate |
to hesitate or waver in giving an opinion or making a decision; be indecisive. |
| vagary |
an erratic, unpredictable, or extravagant occurrence, action, or idea; whim. |
| venial |
able to be excused, pardoned, or forgiven, as a minor error, offense, or sin. (Cf. mortal.) |