| aberration |
a deviation from what is considered normal or right; irregularity. |
| ascertain |
to learn without question; determine. |
| asperity |
harshness or roughness, especially of tone or manner. |
| cognizant |
aware; informed (usually followed by "of"). |
| convoluted |
complex; intricate. |
| deposition |
a sworn statement, usually in writing, for use as testimony by an absent witness in a court of law. |
| deter |
to stop or discourage from some action by creating doubt or fear. |
| guru |
in a cult or religious movement, a spiritual guide or leader, sometimes believed to be divine. |
| hackneyed |
made trite or commonplace by overuse, as an expression or phrase. |
| lupine2 |
fierce; greedy. |
| mahatma |
(sometimes capitalized) in Buddhism and theosophy, any of a class of persons revered for their wisdom and love of humanity. |
| pusillanimous |
shamefully timid; cowardly. |
| sanctimony |
a pretense of righteousness or piety; feigned devotion or holiness. |
| sere1 |
dried up or withered. |
| voluble |
characterized by a steady flow of words; fluent; talkative. |