| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| blatant |
completely obvious or undisguised, sometimes offensively so. |
| cachet |
prestige. |
| caste |
the status conferred by the class to which one belongs. |
| conversant |
familiar; acquainted; practiced (usually followed by "with" or "in"). |
| élan |
enthusiasm or vigor. |
| epistemology |
the branch of philosophy dealing with the origin, nature, and limits of human knowledge. |
| flummox |
(informal) to confuse or puzzle. |
| gamut |
the whole extent or range of anything. |
| gossamer |
delicately fine, gauzelike, or filmy. |
| imprecation |
a curse, uttered or thought of. |
| impromptu |
without advance plan or preparation; spontaneously. |
| penumbra |
an indefinite, borderline area. |
| proselytize |
to convert or try actively to convert (others) to one's own beliefs or religion. |
| untoward |
unexpected and unfortunate. |