| clique |
a small, often aggressively exclusive group of friends or associates. |
| concentric |
of circles or spheres, having the same middle point. |
| discordant |
in conflict or disagreement. |
| fodder |
feed for farm animals, such as stalks of corn cut and mixed with hay. |
| indiscretion |
lack of judgment, prudence, or restraint, especially in regard to the rights or feelings of other people. |
| nonconformity |
refusal or failure to adjust one's behavior and actions to accord or comply with societal customs, values, or the like. |
| onslaught |
a forceful, often sudden, offensive maneuver; attack. |
| paucity |
smallness of number or amount; scarcity. |
| perseverance |
steadfast continuance in a course of action, task, or belief. |
| pique |
to cause (a feeling or action) to be aroused or incited. |
| polemic |
an emphatic statement of a controversial viewpoint, usually criticizing or refuting an existing position. |
| stoical |
showing little or no emotion in reaction to painful or pleasant experiences. |
| terse |
effectively brief and to the point; concise; pithy. |
| tome |
a large thick book, often one of a multivolume scholarly work. |
| wean |
to cause to be free of a habit, activity, or the like, often by means of a distraction or substitute. |