| cavil |
to make petty criticisms or objections; carp (usually followed by "at" or "about"). |
| choleric |
having a quick temper; easily angered. |
| compulsion |
coercion or constraint; act of using force to bring about another's action. |
| discrepancy |
lack of agreement; difference; inconsistency. |
| felon1 |
a person who has committed a serious crime, such as murder, rape, or burglary, as opposed to a misdemeanor. |
| habituate |
to make accustomed to. |
| mores |
the behaviors and manners accepted and expected in a social group, embodying its fundamental moral standards. |
| nascent |
coming into being or starting to develop. |
| palpitate |
of the heart, to pulsate rapidly; flutter; quiver. |
| precarious |
so unstable or insecure as to be dangerous; risky. |
| reputable |
known to be held in esteem; respected. |
| sodden |
drenched with liquid; saturated; soaked. |
| transitory |
lasting for only a short time; brief. |
| underscore |
to emphasize by, or as if by, drawing a line beneath. |
| waif |
a child without a home or friends. |