| adulteration |
the act or process of making worse or impure by adding unnecessary or inferior ingredients. |
| affidavit |
a written statement that is sworn in the presence of an authorized official to be true, used as legal evidence. |
| agog |
highly excited and full of anticipation. |
| ambidextrous |
able to use both the left and right hands with equal skill. |
| atavism |
the recurrence or reappearance of a particular trait, style, attitude, or behavior that seemed to have disappeared, or that which has recurred or reappeared after such an absence. |
| belie |
to give a false impression of. |
| deterge |
to cleanse, wash, or wipe off. |
| discomfit |
to upset or confuse. |
| extort |
to extract or obtain (money or the like) by force, threats, or abuse of authority. |
| idiosyncrasy |
a characteristic of temperament, habit, or physical structure particular to a given individual or group; peculiarity. |
| impediment |
an obstacle or hindrance. |
| opprobrious |
expressing condemnation or scorn; accusing of shameful behavior. |
| pliant |
easily flexed; supple. |
| risible |
provoking laughter; laughable or funny. |
| stickler |
one who must observe or conform to something (usually followed by "for"). |