| accretion |
the process of gradual increase or growth, especially by additions from the outside. |
| amity |
friendly and peaceful relations; good will. |
| disallow |
to refuse to allow or admit; reject. |
| erudite |
having or showing a high level of scholarly knowledge; learned. |
| fixation |
an obsession, especially one that interferes with normal functioning. |
| humanism |
a doctrine or mode of thought that gives highest importance to human dignity, values, potentials, and achievements. |
| nonplus |
to cause (someone) to be unable to think of what to say, do, or decide; perplex; bewilder. |
| obfuscate |
to make (something) seem or be difficult to understand; obscure or darken. |
| pandemic |
a widespread outbreak of disease that afflicts many people over different continents. |
| raffish |
carelessly unconventional or disreputable, sometimes appealingly so. |
| recondite |
involving profound concepts and complexities; not easily understood. |
| seminal |
of critical importance; essential. |
| shyster |
a person, usually a lawyer, who uses underhanded, unethical methods. |
| stately |
dignified. |
| surcingle |
a girth or belt that wraps around the body of a horse to secure a saddle, pack, or the like to its back. |