| ascertain |
to learn without question; determine. |
| asperity |
harshness or roughness, especially of tone or manner. |
| astute |
keen in understanding and judgment; shrewd. |
| boorish |
rude; ill-mannered; crude. |
| cognizant |
aware; informed (usually followed by "of"). |
| condign |
well-deserved or fitting, especially of punishment or reprimand. |
| curmudgeon |
an irritable or ill-tempered person. |
| epistemology |
the branch of philosophy dealing with the origin, nature, and limits of human knowledge. |
| flange |
a collar or rim that projects from a pipe, housing, or the like to provide strength, stability, or a place for attaching other parts. |
| germane |
having relevance to a given matter; pertinent; significant. |
| iatrogenic |
caused by a physician or medical treatment, especially from drugs or surgery. |
| insipid |
having a bland or uninteresting flavor; tasteless. |
| parvenu |
a person who has suddenly acquired wealth or status, without acquiring the tastes, manners, customs, or the like of his or her new station. |
| preferment |
the act of promoting or being promoted to a higher position or office. |
| virago |
a shrewish, domineering woman; nag or scold. |