| aberration |
a deviation from what is considered normal or right; irregularity. |
| amortize |
to deduct (expenditures) by fixed amounts over a period of time. |
| appellative |
a descriptive name or title, as "Terrible" in "Ivan the Terrible". |
| atavism |
the recurrence or reappearance of a particular trait, style, attitude, or behavior that seemed to have disappeared, or that which has recurred or reappeared after such an absence. |
| bereft |
deprived or stripped of something. |
| cavalier |
carefree and offhand; nonchalant. |
| disquisition |
a formal, often lengthy, oral or written discussion of a subject. |
| divergence |
the act of separating and moving or leading in different directions. |
| espouse |
to take up, hold, or commit oneself to (a cause, idea, or belief); embrace. |
| gullible |
believing almost anything; easily tricked. |
| maverick |
a person who thinks and behaves independently, especially one who refuses to adhere to the orthodoxy of the group to which he or she belongs. |
| minatory |
presenting a threat; menacing. |
| modular |
designed with standardized units that may be arranged or connected in a variety of ways. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| relict |
a plant, animal, or geological feature that has survived in a considerably changed environment. |