| affidavit |
a written statement that is sworn in the presence of an authorized official to be true, used as legal evidence. |
| bathos |
a sudden descent from an exalted style or esteemed state to the commonplace. |
| centripetal |
forced or moving inward toward a center point or axis. |
| dawdle |
to waste time; be slow. |
| deign |
to consider some act to be appropriate or in keeping with one's dignity; condescend. |
| deterge |
to cleanse, wash, or wipe off. |
| divergence |
the act of separating and moving or leading in different directions. |
| exceptionable |
likely to be objected to; objectionable. |
| flummox |
(informal) to confuse or puzzle. |
| imprecation |
a curse, uttered or thought of. |
| imprimatur |
any official permission or sanction. |
| insularity |
the condition of being closed to new ideas or outside influences; narrow-mindedness. |
| shyster |
a person, usually a lawyer, who uses underhanded, unethical methods. |
| sudorific |
causing or increasing sweat, as a medication. |
| tort |
in law, any civil rather than criminal harm or injury that violates the implicit duty of each citizen not to harm others, and for which one may bring a civil suit and collect compensation. |