| abut |
to adjoin or press against; be next to; border on. |
| Byzantine |
characterized by complexity and intrigue. |
| demulcent |
an oily or sticky substance used especially to soothe irritation in mucous membranes. |
| denigrate |
to deny the worth of; sneer at; belittle. |
| derision |
mockery or ridicule. |
| engender |
to create or give rise to. |
| exceptionable |
likely to be objected to; objectionable. |
| festoon |
a decorative chain or strip of ribbons, flowers, leaves, or the like, suspended at the ends and hung in a curve. |
| laureate |
one honored for achievement in a particular field or by a particular award, especially in the arts or sciences. |
| obfuscate |
to make (something) seem or be difficult to understand; obscure or darken. |
| obtrusive |
aggressive and self-assertive, or inclined to be so. |
| oligarchy |
a government or state in which only a relatively few people or members of a family have real power. |
| prerogative |
an exclusive right or privilege derived from one's office, position, age, citizenship, birth, or the like. |
| pronate |
to turn or rotate (the hand or forearm) so that the palm of the hand faces down or backwards. |
| relict |
a plant, animal, or geological feature that has survived in a considerably changed environment. |