aegis
(n.) protection; patronage; sponsorship
apprise
(v.) to inform of; to make aware of by giving oral or written notice
bibulous
(adj.) fond of or inclined to drink; absorbent
claque
(n.) a group of people hired to applaud a performer or performance; enthusiastic or fawning admirers; an opera hat
deracinate
(v.) to pull up by the roots; to root out, uproot, or dislocate; to eliminate all traces of
exegesis
(n.) an explanation or critical interpretation (especially of a text)
indigenous
(adj.) originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.
lachrymose
(adj.) given to tears or weeping; causing to shed tears; mournful, lugubrious
lexicon
(n.) a dictionary of a language; the special vocabulary of a person, group, or subject; a compendium
melee
(n.) a confused struggle; a violent free-for-all; a tumultuous mingling
microcosm
(n.) a miniature world or universe; a group or system viewed as the model of a larger group or system
minuscule
(adj.) very small, tiny; (n.) a lowercase letter
obfuscate
(v.) to darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder
paternalism
(n.) the policy or practice of treating or governing people in the manner of a father dealing with his children
polarize
(v.) to cause to concentrate around two conflicting or contrasting positions; to cause light to vibrate in a pattern
purview
(n.) the range, extent, or scope of something; in law, the scope or limit of what is provided in a statute
sanguine
(adj.) having a ruddy complexion; of a naturally cheerful, confident, or optimistic outlook
solecism
(n.) a substandard or ungrammatical usage; a breach of etiquette; any impropriety or mistake
vassal
(n.) a person under the protection of a feudal lord to whom he or she owes allegiance; a subordinate or dependent; a servant; (adj.) subservient
verisimilitude
(n.) the quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probable