| caparison |
decorative trappings to cover a horse's saddle or harness. |
| cavalier |
carefree and offhand; nonchalant. |
| colloquialism |
a word or phrase typically used in conversational, informal, or regional speech or writing, hence sometimes considered inappropriate in formal writing. |
| contumely |
contemptuous insolence; rudeness. |
| epistemology |
the branch of philosophy dealing with the origin, nature, and limits of human knowledge. |
| exceptionable |
likely to be objected to; objectionable. |
| imbricate |
overlapping in an even sequence, as roof tiles or fish scales. |
| intransigence |
refusal to alter one's ideas or position in response to the wishes of others. |
| obfuscate |
to make (something) seem or be difficult to understand; obscure or darken. |
| scabrous |
characterized by a rough or scaly surface, as the leaf of a plant. |
| stickler |
one who must observe or conform to something (usually followed by "for"). |
| sylph |
a slender, graceful woman or girl. |
| symbiosis |
a close association, usually a mutually beneficial relationship, between two dissimilar organisms. |
| topography |
the shape of the earth's surface across an area or region. The topography of an area includes the size and location of hills and dips in the land. |
| vouchsafe |
to grant or give with condescension or as a special favor. |