| baneful |
causing or leading to death, destruction, or ruin; harmful or deadly. |
| bellicose |
easily incited to quarrel or fight; belligerent. |
| consternation |
surprise and alarm, leading to panic, deep disappointment, or total confusion. |
| descry |
to see or make out, especially something obscured or at a distance. |
| disaffection |
an absence or loss of good will, faith, or loyalty, especially toward a government, principle, or the like. |
| ensconce |
to position (oneself) firmly or comfortably. |
| epistemology |
the branch of philosophy dealing with the origin, nature, and limits of human knowledge. |
| innocuous |
not capable of causing damage; harmless. |
| intelligentsia |
the elite class of highly learned people within a society, or those who consider themselves part of such a class. |
| obviate |
to prevent or eliminate in advance; render unnecessary or irrelevant. |
| oppugn |
to oppose, contradict, criticize, or call into question. |
| penury |
severe poverty; pennilessness. |
| peripatetic |
walking or traveling around; going from place to place; itinerant. |
| precursory |
coming before and serving to indicate what will follow; premonitory. |
| virago |
a shrewish, domineering woman; nag or scold. |