| cabal |
a small group of people engaged in a secret plot, usually of a political nature. |
| chattel |
any article of property not attached to lands or buildings; movable property. |
| compile |
to gather information together to form one written work. |
| compulsive |
driven by an obsession or compulsion. |
| contention |
a point asserted in argument or debate. |
| denote |
to be a mark or sign of. |
| emulate |
to try to be the same as or better than (another person), especially by imitating. |
| equilibrium |
a state of balance between two or more forces. |
| hypocrite |
a person who pretends to be different or better than he or she really is. Someone who does not act according to his or her stated beliefs is a hypocrite. |
| incision |
a cut made during surgery. |
| malice |
the wish to harm others; ill will. |
| rancor |
bitter, continuing resentment; hatred. |
| testy |
easily annoyed or angered; irritable; touchy. |
| uncritical |
not making critical judgments or discriminations, especially those based on standards. |
| winnow |
to sift through, or separate out the desired or worthwhile from the undesired or worthless part of, as by critical analysis. |