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intrepid
brave, adventurous
balk
hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking
gaunt
extremely thin and bony, as in suffering from hunger or illness
persnickety
placing too much emphasis on trivial or minor details
whet
to sharpen the point of something
brusque
slightly rude in speech or manner
hone
to make more pointed (could be used for skills)
espouse
adopt or support
odious
arousing or deserving hatred
posterity
all future generations