| alluvium |
sand, soil, gravel, or the like deposited by moving water, as along a river bed. |
| centripetal |
forced or moving inward toward a center point or axis. |
| conjoin |
to combine for a common purpose. |
| daunt |
to lessen the determination of; intimidate; discourage. |
| debouch |
to advance out of a confined or narrow space such as a canyon into open country. |
| determinism |
the belief or teaching that every effect, including human thoughts and actions, is completely and predictably brought about by preceding causes and that, therefore, free will does not exist. |
| disheveled |
not neat; messy. |
| exegesis |
a critical explanation or interpretive analysis, especially of religious texts. |
| garble |
to mix up, distort, or confuse (a message, translation, or the like); cause to be disordered or unintelligible. |
| glut |
a greater supply or amount than is needed. |
| guttural |
articulated in the back of the mouth; velar. |
| halcyon |
tranquil; peaceful; calm. |
| linguistics |
(used with a singular verb) the scientific and historical study of the form and structure of human language. |
| quondam |
having been in the past; former. |
| reprisal |
injury inflicted in retaliation for injury received, as in war; revenge. |