| ascertain |
to learn without question; determine. |
| dissemble |
to disguise or hide behind a false semblance; conceal the true nature or state of. |
| epistolary |
established or continued through letters. |
| feckless |
weak or incompetent; ineffective. |
| forbear |
to keep or abstain from (an action or utterance). |
| forswear |
to give up or renounce, often with an oath or pledge. |
| gambit |
a tactic or maneuver designed to gain an advantage, especially one that involves some sacrifice on one's part. |
| indomitable |
too strong to be subdued or discouraged; unconquerable. |
| maladroit |
not skillful; clumsy; tactless. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| pedagogy |
the act, process, or profession of teaching. |
| penumbra |
an indefinite, borderline area. |
| prerogative |
an exclusive right or privilege derived from one's office, position, age, citizenship, birth, or the like. |
| savor |
to give an impression; hint (usually followed by "of"). |
| vouchsafe |
to grant or give with condescension or as a special favor. |