| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| belabor |
to continue excessive efforts on or excessive discussion of. |
| cachet |
prestige. |
| deposition |
a sworn statement, usually in writing, for use as testimony by an absent witness in a court of law. |
| dilatory |
used to cause a delay. |
| facsimile |
an exact copy or duplicate of something printed or of a picture. |
| flummox |
(informal) to confuse or puzzle. |
| modular |
designed with standardized units that may be arranged or connected in a variety of ways. |
| penury |
severe poverty; pennilessness. |
| perquisite |
a payment or benefit in addition to the wages or salary associated with a position. |
| reprobate |
an evil or lawless person, often beyond hope of redemption. |
| requite |
to retaliate for; strike back on account of. |
| sagacious |
possessing or characterized by good judgment and common sense; wise. |
| somatic |
of or pertaining to the body itself; corporeal. |
| stridulate |
to produce a shrill grating, creaking, or chirping sound by rubbing certain parts of the body together, as some insects do. |