| Byzantine |
characterized by complexity and intrigue. |
| cession |
the act of formally giving up or signing over, as a territory; ceding. |
| collateral |
property or other security put forward to guarantee repayment of a loan. |
| denigrate |
to deny the worth of; sneer at; belittle. |
| diurnal |
occurring or active during, or belonging to, the daytime rather than nighttime. |
| divergence |
the act of separating and moving or leading in different directions. |
| doggerel |
trivial, crudely constructed verse. |
| guru |
in a cult or religious movement, a spiritual guide or leader, sometimes believed to be divine. |
| ligature |
a band or tie. |
| linguistics |
(used with a singular verb) the scientific and historical study of the form and structure of human language. |
| preferment |
the act of promoting or being promoted to a higher position or office. |
| proselytize |
to convert or try actively to convert (others) to one's own beliefs or religion. |
| redoubtable |
inspiring fear; formidable. |
| sepsis |
infection, especially by pus-forming bacteria in the blood or tissues. |
| tort |
in law, any civil rather than criminal harm or injury that violates the implicit duty of each citizen not to harm others, and for which one may bring a civil suit and collect compensation. |