| apotheosis |
a perfect or ideal example; epitome. |
| cantankerous |
irritable, stubborn, and quarrelsome. |
| daunt |
to lessen the determination of; intimidate; discourage. |
| debouch |
to advance out of a confined or narrow space such as a canyon into open country. |
| disabuse |
to free (a person) from misconception or deception; set straight. |
| disingenuous |
not candid or sincere. |
| dissimulate |
to hide one's true feelings, intentions, or the like by pretense or hypocrisy. |
| facetious |
not serious; humorous or frivolous. |
| macrocosm |
a large unit or entity that represents on a large scale one of its smaller components. |
| 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. |
| perilous |
causing or involving great danger; risky; hazardous. |
| rodomontade |
puffed-up boasting or bravado. |
| seminal |
of critical importance; essential. |
| tamp |
to compress and pack tightly by repeated light taps. |
| veneration |
a feeling of great respect; awe; reverence. |