| asperity |
harshness or roughness, especially of tone or manner. |
| calumny |
a harmful statement, known by the maker to be false. |
| constrict |
to pull or squeeze in; make smaller or more narrow; tighten. |
| deadeye |
an expert shooter. |
| duress |
intimidation or coercion. |
| epistemology |
the branch of philosophy dealing with the origin, nature, and limits of human knowledge. |
| exceptionable |
likely to be objected to; objectionable. |
| extirpate |
to get rid of completely, as if by pulling up the roots; root out. |
| fealty |
faithfulness or loyalty. |
| fledge |
to grow flight feathers. |
| hypocrisy |
the practice or an instance of stating or pretending to hold beliefs or principles that one does not actually live by; insincerity. |
| lachrymose |
weeping, tending to weep readily, or being on the point of tears; tearful. |
| rebarbative |
tending to irritate or repel; forbidding or unattractive. |
| saturnine |
gloomy, sullen, or cynical in temperament or appearance. |
| sotto voce |
in a low voice or undertone, so as not to be overheard; softly (often used as a musical direction). |