| abasement |
the act of bringing down or the state of being brought down in rank, status, or reputation. |
| circuitous |
having or taking a long and winding course or procedure; roundabout; indirect. |
| discretion |
the freedom or authority to use one's own judgment. |
| eddy |
to move or turn in circles or eddies. |
| entail |
to call for or bring about as a necessary accompaniment; necessarily involve. |
| invalidate |
to deprive a claim of force or effect by negating its factual or legal basis. |
| omnivorous |
living on a diet of both plant and animal food. |
| pall1 |
an atmosphere of gloom or despair. |
| prevalent |
generally accepted; pervasive; widespread. |
| proletariat |
the working class, especially those who lack capital and must sell their usually unskilled labor in order to survive. |
| referent |
anything in the real world or in the imagination that is symbolized or referred to by a word or other symbol. |
| repercussion |
(usually plural) a result or effect of an action or event, often occurring indirectly or unexpectedly. |
| rift |
a break in social relations, because of a difference of opinion, quarrel, or the like; breach. |
| sardonic |
bitterly mocking; derisive; scornful. |
| seamy |
disreputable; sordid. |