| austere |
having only what is needed; very simple or plain. |
| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| centripetal |
forced or moving inward toward a center point or axis. |
| cognizant |
aware; informed (usually followed by "of"). |
| duress |
intimidation or coercion. |
| entreat |
to beg for something, or to do something. |
| epigraph |
a pertinent quotation or motto, especially found at the beginning of a literary work or of a chapter. |
| opiate |
something that induces relaxation, calm, or stupor. |
| parlous |
full of dangers or risks; perilous. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| pedantic |
making or characterized by an excessive display of learnedness, or overly insistent on scholarly details and formalities. |
| proselytize |
to convert or try actively to convert (others) to one's own beliefs or religion. |
| sententious |
using or marked by pompous, high-flown moralizing. |
| symbiosis |
a close association, usually a mutually beneficial relationship, between two dissimilar organisms. |
| tyro |
one who is beginning to learn a business, trade, sport, or the like; novice; neophyte. |