lugubrious
excessively mournful
metamorphosis
striking change in appearance or character or circumstances
mitosis
the process by which a cell divides into two smaller cells
moiety
one of two approximately equal parts
nanotechnology
engineering dealing with things smaller than 100 nanometers
nihilism
complete denial of established authority and institutions
nomenclature
a system of words used to name things in a discipline
nonsectarian
not restricted to one school or party
notarize
authenticate by someone empowered to witness signatures
obsequious
attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
oligarchy
a political system governed by a few people
omnipotent
having unlimited power
orthography
representing the sounds of a language by written symbols
oxidize
enter into a combination with oxygen
parabola
a curve formed by an object thrown in the air and falling
paradigm
a standard or typical example
parameter
a constant in the equation of a curve that can be varied
pecuniary
relating to or involving money
photosynthesis
synthesis of compounds in plants aided by radiant energy
plagiarize
take without referencing from someone's writing or speech
plasma
the watery fluid in which blood cells are suspended
polymer
a naturally occurring or synthetic compound
precipitous
extremely steep
quasar
a starlike object that may send out radio waves
quotidian
found in the ordinary course of events
recapitulate
summarize briefly
reciprocal
concerning each of two or more persons or things
reparation
something done or paid in expiation of a wrong
respiration
a single complete act of breathing in and out
sanguine
confidently optimistic and cheerful
soliloquy
speech you make to yourself
subjugate
make subservient; force to submit or subdue
suffragist
an advocate of the extension of voting rights
supercilious
having or showing arrogant superiority to
tautology
useless repetition
taxonomy
a classification of organisms based on similarities
tectonic
pertaining to the structure or movement of the earth's crust
tempestuous
characterized by violent emotions or behavior
thermodynamics
the branch of physics concerned with the conversion of different forms of energy
totalitarian
of a government with an authority exerting absolute control
unctuous
unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating
usurp
seize and take control without authority
vacuous
devoid of matter
vehement
marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions
vortex
a powerful circular current of water
winnow
the act of separating grain from chaff
wrought
shaped to fit by altering the contours of a pliable mass
xenophobia
a fear of foreigners or strangers
yeoman
a free man who owns his own farm