| affidavit |
a written statement that is sworn in the presence of an authorized official to be true, used as legal evidence. |
| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| dilatory |
used to cause a delay. |
| disheveled |
not neat; messy. |
| equivocal |
having at least two plausible alternative meanings, often intentionally so in order to deceive or avoid commitment; ambiguous. |
| etiolate |
to weaken, especially through deprivation of normal development. |
| flak |
(informal) irritating opposition, criticism, or dissent. |
| gambit |
a tactic or maneuver designed to gain an advantage, especially one that involves some sacrifice on one's part. |
| hypocrisy |
the practice or an instance of stating or pretending to hold beliefs or principles that one does not actually live by; insincerity. |
| innocuous |
not capable of causing damage; harmless. |
| irrefragable |
impossible to refute or dispute; undeniable. |
| lanugo |
fine, soft hair, especially that with which a human fetus or newborn is covered. |
| pelf |
money or wealth, usually regarded with disapproval or contempt. |
| prolix |
wordy and boringly long. |
| sylph |
a slender, graceful woman or girl. |