| alluvium |
sand, soil, gravel, or the like deposited by moving water, as along a river bed. |
| conversant |
familiar; acquainted; practiced (usually followed by "with" or "in"). |
| denigrate |
to deny the worth of; sneer at; belittle. |
| duress |
intimidation or coercion. |
| eulogy |
a spoken or written tribute, especially to honor a dead person; high praise; formal commendation. |
| foment |
to encourage the development of; instigate or foster. |
| goad |
something that spurs a person to action; stimulus. |
| halcyon |
tranquil; peaceful; calm. |
| hirsute |
covered with hair or stiff hairs; hairy or shaggy. |
| inquest |
a legal investigation, usually involving a jury, especially a coroner's investigation of a suspicious death. |
| lacuna |
a gap or omitted part. |
| mahatma |
(sometimes capitalized) in Buddhism and theosophy, any of a class of persons revered for their wisdom and love of humanity. |
| putrefaction |
the act or process of rotting or decomposing. |
| Saturnalia |
an occasion of unrestrained revelry. |
| voluble |
characterized by a steady flow of words; fluent; talkative. |