| alluvium |
sand, soil, gravel, or the like deposited by moving water, as along a river bed. |
| argot |
the vocabulary or jargon characteristic of a specific group or class, especially of criminals. |
| astringent |
a substance or drug that contracts body tissue and slows discharge or secretion. |
| belie |
to give a false impression of. |
| benign |
causing little or no harm. |
| cachet |
prestige. |
| demotic |
of or relating to the common people; popular. |
| expiation |
the act or the means of making amends, as for a sin or crime. |
| extort |
to extract or obtain (money or the like) by force, threats, or abuse of authority. |
| fixation |
an obsession, especially one that interferes with normal functioning. |
| idyllic |
charmingly simple and natural, as a scene or experience; suggestive of peaceful countryside. |
| naturalism |
in literature, a method of depicting life that reflects a philosophy of determinism. |
| oblique |
not direct or straightforward in intent, means, or achievement; indirect or devious. |
| sagacious |
possessing or characterized by good judgment and common sense; wise. |
| welter |
to roll about or wallow, as in mud or the open sea. |