| aerate |
to expose to the circulation or chemical action of air in order to ventilate or cleanse. |
| bogus |
not authentic; counterfeit. |
| convergent |
tending to move toward a common point or intersection. |
| cozen |
to deceive or trick; swindle. |
| crony |
a close friend or ally (often used pejoratively). |
| escalation |
increase in amount, scope, or intensity. |
| gauche |
deficient in manners or other conventions of social behavior; boorish; crude. |
| gawk |
to look at someone or something fixedly and somewhat dopily; gape. |
| insecurity |
the condition or quality of having insufficient protection or not being safe. |
| limbo1 |
(often capitalized) in theology, a place neither in heaven nor hell for souls neither saved nor condemned, such as those of unbaptized infants. |
| lummox |
(informal) someone who is especially clumsy, slow, and unintelligent. |
| maul |
to hurt by beating or through other rough treatment. |
| mutable |
able or likely to change. |
| retrospect |
reflection on the past or on past events or achievements. |
| vehement |
intensely emotional; impassioned; heated. |