Colonialism Multiple Choice

panache (pe+naash)

an ornamental tuft (a bunch of soft fluffy threads cut off short and used as ornament) (as of feathers) especially on a helmet || dash (flashy display) or flamboyance (marked by or given to strikingly elaborate or colorful display or behavior) in style and action : verve (the spirit and enthusiasm animating artistic composition or performance; vivacity)

apologia (eh+pe-(low)+jee+ah)

a defense especially of one's opinions, position, or actions; a formal written defense of one's opinions or conduct || [apology]

supine (soo+(pine))

lying on the back or with the face upward || marked by supination (rotation of the forearm and hand so that the palm faces forward or upward) || exhibiting indolent or apathetic inertia (indisposition to motion, exertion, or change) or passivity; especially : mentally or morally slack (not using due diligence, care, or dispatch (promptness and efficiency in performance or transmission)) || [up]

vitriol (vit-ri+all)

bitterly harsh or caustic (marked by incisive sarcasm) language or criticism || a sulfate (a heavy corrosive oily dibasic strong acid) of any of various metals (such as copper, iron, or zinc); especially : a glassy hydrate (a compound formed by the union of water with some other substance) of such a sulfate; oil of vitriol (concentrated sulfuric acid)

inquest

a judicial or official inquiry or examination especially before a jury (a body of persons sworn to give a verdict on some matter submitted to them); a body of people (such as a jury) assembled to hold such an inquiry; the finding of the jury upon such inquiry or the document recording it || an inquiry, investigation || [inquire]

anthology (N-(th)o+le+jee)

a collection of selected literary pieces or passages or works of art or music || assortment (a collection of assorted (consisting of various kinds) things or persons) || [An anthology series is a type of television show, film, or other media where each episode, season, or segment tells a different story with different characters]

riposte (ri-paw+st)

a fencer's quick return thrust following a parry (to ward off (something, such as a blow)) (also verb) || a retaliatory verbal sally (a witty or imaginative saying; quip) : retort (also verb) || a retaliatory maneuver or measure

conflate

to bring together : BLEND || to confuse (e.g. conflate name A with name B) || to combine (things, such as two versions of a text) into a composite (made up of distinct parts or elements) whole || [DYK]

truant ((true)+ent)

one who shirks (to evade the performance of an obligation) duty; especially : one who stays out of school without permission || (adj.) shirking responsibility || (adj.) being, resembling, or characteristic of a truant || to idle away time especially while playing truant (to miss school without permission; stay away from school or work without permission or explanation)

penultimate (pe-n+(all)-te+met)

next to the last || of or relating to the next to the last syllable of a word || [ultimate - last in a progression or series; peninsula - a portion of land nearly surrounded by water; penult and penultima are synonymous with penultimate]

restitute, restitution (res+te-toot)

to restore to a former state or position || give back; especially : refund (to return (money) in restitution (a making good of or giving an equivalent for some injury), repayment, or balancing of accounts (might involve returning money to correct an error in a transaction)) && an act of restoring or a condition of being restored: such as - a restoration of something to its rightful owner; a making good of or giving an equivalent for some injury || a legal action serving to cause restoration of a previous state; the restoration of something to its original state || [institute - to establish in a position or office]

directorate (de+rek-te+ret)

the office of director || a board of directors (one of a group of persons entrusted with the overall direction of a corporate enterprise) (as of a corporation); membership on a board of directors || an executive staff (as of a department); a section of a government department in charge of a particular activity

ferocious (fe-row+shes)

exhibiting or given to extreme fierceness (violently hostile or aggressive in temperament) and unrestrained violence and brutality || (of a conflict) characterized by or involving aggression, bitterness, and determination || extremely intense; extreme and unpleasant

rebut (ri-(but))

to contradict or oppose by formal legal argument, plea, or countervailing (to exert force against) proof || to expose the falsity of : REFUTE || to drive or beat back : REPEL

tendentious (ten-den+shes)

(disapproving) marked by a tendency in favor of a particular point of view : biased || [tendency]

rump (ram+p)

the upper rounded part of the hindquarters (the hind pair of legs of a quadruped) of a quadruped (an animal having four feet) mammal || buttocks || a small or inferior remnant or offshoot (a collateral or derived branch, descendant, or member; outgrowth); especially : a group (such as a parliament) carrying on in the name of the original body after the departure or expulsion of a large number of its members

rapacious (re-(pay)+shes)

excessively grasping (desiring material possessions urgently and excessively and often to the point of ruthlessness) or covetous (marked by inordinate desire for wealth or possessions or for another's possessions) || living on prey (e.g. rapacious animals) || ravenous

swat

to hit with a sharp slapping blow usually with an instrument (such as a bat or flyswatter) || a powerful or crushing blow || a long hit in baseball; especially : home run || to make a false report of an ongoing serious crime in order to elicit a response from law enforcement (such as the dispatch of a SWAT unit) || (SWAT - special weapons and tactics) a police or military unit specially trained and equipped to handle unusually hazardous situations or missions

tractable, intractable

capable of being easily led, taught, or controlled : DOCILE (easily led or managed) || easily handled, managed, or wrought : MALLEABLE (capable of being altered or controlled by outside forces or influences) && not easily governed, managed, or directed || not easily relieved or cured || not easily manipulated (to treat or operate with or as if with the hands or by mechanical means especially in a skillful manner) or shaped

culpable (cul-pa+b+all)

meriting condemnation or blame especially as wrong or harmful || [culprit - one accused of or charged with a crime; one guilty of a crime or a fault; from culpare to blame, from culpa guilt]

aboriginal (eh+be-ri+jen+all)

being the first or earliest known of its kind present in a region || aborigine (a member of the original people to inhabit an area especially as contrasted with an invading or colonizing people) || of or relating to the people who have been in a region from the earliest time : of or relating to aborigines; specifically, often capitalized : of or relating to the indigenous peoples of Australia || (often capitalized) aborigine (a member of any of the indigenous peoples of Australia)

swath (swaa+(th))

a row of cut grain or grass left by a scythe or mowing machine || the sweep (to remove from a surface with or as if with a broom or brush) of a scythe or a machine in mowing or the path cut in one course || a stroke of or as if of a scythe || a space devastated as if by a scythe || a long broad strip (a long narrow piece of a material) or belt (e.g. swaths of fabric)

moot

open to question : debatable || subjected to discussion : disputed || deprived of practical significance : made abstract (theoretical) or purely academic (theoretical, speculative; having no practical or useful significance) || to bring up for discussion : broach (to open up (a subject) for discussion) || to debate || a deliberative assembly primarily for the administration of justice; especially : one held by the freemen (one enjoying civil or political liberty; one having the full rights of a citizen) of an Anglo-Saxon community || moot courts (a mock court in which law students argue hypothetical cases for practice)

privateer (pry-ve+teer)

an armed private ship licensed to attack enemy shipping; also : a sailor on such a ship || to engage in the activities of a privateer

parochial (pa+row-kee+all)

of or relating to a church parish (a local church community composed of the members or constituents of a Protestant church) || confined or restricted as if within the borders of a parish (county; the ecclesiastical unit of area committed to one pastor) : limited in range or scope (as to a narrow area or region) : PROVINCIAL, NARROW || of or relating to a parish as a unit of local government

fleece (flee+s)

the coat of wool covering a wool-bearing animal (such as a sheep) || the wool obtained from a sheep at one shearing || to remove the fleece from : shear || any of various soft or woolly coverings || a soft bulky (having great volume in proportion to weight) deep-piled (a coat or surface of usually short close fine furry hairs) knitted or woven fabric used chiefly for clothing || to dot or cover with fleecy masses; cover as if with a fleece (e.g. sky fleeced with clouds) || to strip of money or property by fraud or extortion || to charge excessively for goods or services

brigand (bri+gend)

one who lives by plunder usually as a member of a band : bandit (an outlaw who lives by plunder; especially : a member of a band of marauders); a member of a gang that ambushes and robs people in forests and mountains || [brigade (a large body of troops); from brigare to fight, from briga strife]

cupidity (Q-pi-di+dee)

inordinate desire for wealth : avarice, greed || a strong desire : lust || [cupid - the Roman god of erotic love; a figure that represents Cupid as a naked usually winged boy often holding a bow and arrow]

exonerate (exo-ne+(rate))

to relieve of a responsibility, obligation, or hardship || to clear from accusation or blame || [That verb combines the prefix ex- with onus, meaning "load" or "burden"; onerous - involving, imposing, or constituting a burden]

polyglot, monoglot (poly-glaat)

speaking or writing several languages : multilingual || composed of numerous linguistic groups (e.g. population) || containing matter in several languages || composed of elements from different languages (e.g. English language) || widely diverse (as in ethnic or cultural origins) || a mixture or confusion of languages or nomenclatures (a system or set of terms or symbols especially in a particular science, discipline, or art) || (capitalized) a book containing versions of the same text in several languages; esp. : the Scriptures in several languages && monolingual (having or using only one language) || a person who speaks only one language

advised

(adjective) thought out; considered (often used in combination) (e.g. ill-advised (resulting from or showing lack of wise and sufficient counsel or deliberation) plans)

jitter (G+der)

(jitters) a sense of panic or extreme nervousness || the state of mind or the movement of one that jitters (is anxious or in panic) || irregular random movement (as of a pointer or an image on a television screen); also : vibratory motion || to make continuous fast repetitive movements || to be nervous or act in a nervous way

ransack

to look through thoroughly in often a rough way || to search through and steal from in a forceful and damaging way : plunder || [sack - to plunder (a place, such as a town) especially after capture; to strip of valuables; loot]

modus vivendi (mow+des ve+ven-di) (plural - modi vivendi)

a feasible (capable of being done or carried out; capable of being used or dealt with successfully; suitable) arrangement or practical compromise; esp. : one that bypasses difficulties || a manner of living : a way of life

shire ((shy)-er)

an administrative subdivision; esp. : a county in England; used in reference to parts of England regarded as strongholds of traditional rural culture, especially the rural Midlands || (sh+er) forming the names of counties (e.g. Oxfordshire; Hampshire) || any of an old breed of large heavy draft (used or adapted for drawing loads) horses of British origin having heavily feathered legs

inroad

an advance or penetration often at the expense of someone or something (usually used in plural) (e.g. making inroads in the U.S. market) || progress; an advance || a sudden hostile incursion : raid

lacustrine (la-ka+stren)

of, relating to, formed in, living in, or growing in lakes || [lagoon, lacuna]

comptroller (pronounced controller)

a royal-household official who examines and supervises expenditures || a public official who audits (a formal examination of an organization's or individual's accounts or financial situation) government accounts and sometimes certifies (confirm) expenditures || controller (the chief accounting officer of a business enterprise or an institution (such as a college))

default, in default of (di-(fault))

failure to do something required by duty or law : neglect || (economics) a failure to pay financial debts (also verb) || (law) failure to appear at the required time in a legal proceeding (also verb) || failure to compete in or to finish an appointed contest (also verb) || to exclude (a player or a team) from a contest by default || a selection made usually automatically or without active consideration due to lack of a viable alternative || (computers) a selection automatically used by a program in the absence of a choice made by the user (also verb) || something that is usual or standard || adopt or revert to (something that is usual, customary, or standard, especially a behavior or course of action) && in the absence of

confrere (con-frer) (or less commonly confrère)

colleague, comrade || [Medieval Latin confrater ; Frater, the root of this term, shares an ancient ancestor with our word brother (fraternity)]

remunerate, remunerative (ri-m+U-ne+(rate))

to pay an equivalent for || to pay an equivalent to for a service, loss, or expense : recompense && (adj.) serving to remunerate || providing remuneration (something that remunerates; an act or fact of remunerating) : profitable

insolvent, solvent (in-saal+vent)

unable to pay debts as they fall due (having reached the date at which payment is required) in the usual course of business || having liabilities (something for which one is liable; debt) in excess of (to an amount or degree beyond; over) a reasonable market value of assets held || insufficient to pay all debts (e.g. insolvent estate) || an insolvent debtor : a person or entity that is unable to pay debts as they fall due && able to pay all legal debts || that dissolves or can dissolve (e.g. water) || a usually liquid substance capable of dissolving or dispersing one or more other substances || something that provides a solution (e.g. solvent of mystery) || the liquid in which a solute is dissolved to form a solution || something that eliminates or attenuates something especially unwanted

suzerain (soo-ze+ren)

a superior feudal lord to whom fealty (the fidelity of a vassal or feudal tenant to his lord; intense fidelity) is due : overlord (a lord over other lords; one having great power or authority) || a dominant state controlling the foreign relations of a vassal state but allowing it sovereign authority in its internal affairs || [clue - sounds like 'sovereign'; Latin soverain = sovereign]

hew (pronounced like 'hue')

to cut with blows of a heavy cutting instrument; to cut down by blows of an ax || to give form or shape to with or as if with heavy cutting blows || conform, adhere (often used in the phrase hew to the line)

insouciance (in-soo+si+ens)

lighthearted unconcern : nonchalance (having an air of easy unconcern or indifference) || [insouciant - adj.; DYK]

probity (pro-be+dee)

adherence to the highest principles and ideals : uprightness (marked by strong moral rectitude (moral integrity)) || [Probity, which descends from Latin probus (prove), meaning "honest," implies tried and proven honesty or integrity]

forthwith

without any delay : immediately

travail (tra-vay+l)

work especially of a painful or laborious nature : TOIL || to labor hard : TOIL || a physical or mental exertion or piece of work : TASK, EFFORT || AGONY, TORMENT || LABOR, CHILDBIRTH || to be in the labor of giving birth

forensic (fo-ren-zik)

belonging to, used in, or suitable to courts of judicature (a court of justice) or to public discussion and debate || (forensics - plural in form but singular or plural in construction) the art or study of argumentative discourse || an argumentative exercise || argumentative, rhetorical || relating to or dealing with the application of scientific knowledge to legal problems (e.g. forensic medicine) || (forensics - plural in form but singular or plural in construction) the application of scientific knowledge to legal problems; esp. : scientific analysis of physical evidence (as from a crime scene) || a laboratory or department responsible for tests used in detection of crime || showing great attention to detail; very precise

indenture (in-den-cher)

a document or a section of a document that is indented (to set (something, such as a line of a paragraph) in from the margin) || a formal or official document usually executed in two or more copies || a contract binding one person to work for another for a given period of time; the fact of being bound to service by an agreement of indenture || a formal certificate (such as an inventory (an itemized list of current assets) or voucher (a documentary record of a business transaction)) prepared for purposes of control || to bind (someone, such as an apprentice (one bound by indenture to serve another for a prescribed period with a view to learning an art or trade)) by or as if by indentures || indentation (an angular cut (such as a notch) or something resembling such a cut in an edge) || a dent

duress (doo-res)

(law) forcible restraint or restriction (e.g. held in duress by the Versailles treaty) || (law) compulsion by threat; specifically : unlawful constraint (e.g. gave the statement under duress; held under duress) || [Duress is ultimately from Latin durus, meaning "hard," source too of durable and endure]

corsair (kor-ser)

pirate; esp. : a privateer (an armed private ship licensed to attack enemy shipping; also : a sailor on such a ship) of the Barbary Coast (coastal regions of central and western North Africa)

gall

brazen (marked by shameless or disrespectful boldness) boldness often with brash (aggressively self-assertive; impudent) self-confidence : nerve, effrontery (shameless boldness; insolence) (usually used in the phrase have the gall) || something bitter to endure || bitterness of spirit; rancor (bitter deep-seated ill will) || to irritate, vex || to fret (rub, chafe) and wear away by friction : chafe || a skin sore caused by chronic irritation (cause inflammation or other discomfort in (a part of the body)) || a cause or state of exasperation (having or showing strong feelings of irritation or annoyance) || an abnormal outgrowth of plant tissue usually due to insect or mite parasites or fungi and sometimes forming an important source of tannin; denoting insects or mites that produce galls

latrine (la-treen)

a receptacle (container) (such as a pit in the earth) for use as a toilet || toilet; a room or small building having a bench with holes through which the user may defecate or urinate || [lavatory = toilet]

chattel (che-d+all)

an item of tangible movable or immovable property except real estate and things (such as buildings) connected with real property (property consisting of land, buildings, crops, or other resources still attached to or within the land or improvements or fixtures permanently attached to the land or a structure on it); transportable items that one owns || an enslaved person held as the legal property of another : bondman (slave, serf) || [cattle - domesticated quadrupeds (an animal having four feet) held as property or raised for use]

ringleader

a leader of a ring (an exclusive combination of persons for a selfish and often corrupt purpose (as to control a market); gang) of individuals engaged especially in improper or unlawful activities

manumit ((man)-ye+met)

to release from slavery || [manumit derives ultimately from the Latin noun manus, meaning "hand," and the Latin verb mittere (submit), meaning "to let go" or "send"; manumit implies emancipation from slavery]

redress (ri-(dress))

to set right : REMEDY (something that corrects or counteracts) (also noun) || to make up for : COMPENSATE || to exact reparation for : AVENGE (also noun) || a relief from distress || means or possibility of seeking a remedy || compensation for wrong or loss : reparation || an act or instance of redressing; retribution (recompense), correction || [from re- + dresser (address) to set straight]

debilitate (di-bi-le-tay+t)

to impair the strength of : ENFEEBLE || [debility = weakness, infirmity (the condition of being feeble; frailty)]

corpus (kor-pes)

the body of a human or animal especially when dead [corpse] || the main part or body of a bodily structure or organ || the main body or corporeal (having, consisting of, or relating to a physical material body) substance of a thing (e.g. the corpus of the lawsuit) || all the writings or works of a particular kind or on a particular subject; especially : the complete works of an author || a collection or body of knowledge or evidence; especially : a collection of recorded utterances (an oral or written statement) used as a basis for the descriptive analysis of a language

maroon

(adjective & noun) a dark red || to put ashore on a desolate (devoid of inhabitants and visitors; deserted) island or coast and leave to one's fate || to place or leave in isolation or without hope of ready escape || a person who is marooned || (maroon or Maroon) a Black person of the Americas who escaped slavery and formed or joined a free and often secluded settlement or a descendant of such a person; esp., usually Maroon : a maroon of the West Indies or Guiana in the 17th and 18th centuries or a descendant of such a person

baroque (ba+(row)+k)

(art) of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a style of artistic expression prevalent especially in the 17th century that is marked generally by use of complex forms, bold ornamentation, and the juxtaposition of contrasting elements often conveying a sense of drama, movement, and tension || characterized by grotesqueness, extravagance, complexity, or flamboyance (marked by or given to strikingly elaborate or colorful display or behavior) || (of gems) irregularly shaped || (often capitalized) (art) the baroque style or the period in which it flourished || [DYK]

choler, choleric (kaa+ler) (kaa-le+rik)

ready disposition to irritation : irascibility; also : anger || [the one of the four humors (one of the four fluids that were believed to enter into the constitution of the body and to determine by their relative proportions a person's health and temperament) in ancient and medieval physiology that was believed to be hot and dry and to cause anger and irritability] && easily moved to often unreasonable or excessive anger : hot-tempered || angry, irate (intense and usually openly displayed anger)

voluptuous (va-lap+choo+es)

suggesting sensual pleasure by fullness and beauty of form; sexually attractive || full of delight or pleasure to the senses : conducive to or arising from sensuous or sensual (of, relating to, or characterized by indulgence of bodily appetites; especially : lascivious) gratification : luxurious (giving self-indulgent or sensuous pleasure) || given to or spent in enjoyment of luxury (an indulgence in something that provides pleasure, satisfaction, or ease), pleasure, or sensual gratifications

indemnify, indemnity (in-dem-ne+fy) (in-dem-ne+tee)

to secure against hurt, loss, or damage || secure (someone) against legal liability for their actions || to make compensation to for incurred hurt, loss, or damage && security against hurt, loss, or damage || exemption from incurred penalties or liabilities || INDEMNIFICATION (the action of indemnifying; the condition of being indemnified) || something that indemnifies || (usually used attributively) FEE-FOR-SERVICE (separate payment to a health-care provider for each medical service rendered to a patient)

plaudit (pl+(aw)-det)

an act or round of applause || enthusiastic approval (usually used in plural) || [laud - praise, acclaim]

plea

a legal suit or action || an allegation (to assert without proof or before proving) made by a party in support of a cause: such as - an allegation of fact; a defendant's answer to a plaintiff's declaration in common-law practice; an accused person's answer to a charge or indictment in criminal practice (e.g. investigation); a plea of guilty to an indictment || something offered by way of excuse or justification || an earnest entreaty : appeal

harem (eh+ram)

a usually secluded house or part of a house allotted to women in some Muslim households; the wives, concubines (a woman with whom a man cohabits without being married), female relatives, and servants occupying a harem || (informal) a group of women associated with one man || a group of females associated with one male (used of polygamous (having more than one mate at one time) animals)

amnesia (em+ni-(zh)a)

loss of memory due usually to brain injury, shock, fatigue, repression (a mental process by which distressing thoughts, memories, or impulses that may give rise to anxiety are excluded from consciousness and left to operate in the unconscious), or illness || a gap in one's memory || the selective overlooking or ignoring of events or acts that are not favorable or useful to one's purpose or position || [amnesty - the act of an authority (such as a government) by which pardon is granted to a large group of individuals (as if the person granting pardon forgot the crimes committed); from New Latin amnēsia, borrowed from Greek amnēsía "forgetfulness"]

pejorative (pe-jo+re-ti+v)

having negative connotations; esp. : tending to disparage or belittle : depreciatory (to lower in honor or esteem) || a word or phrase that has negative connotations or that is intended to disparage or belittle : a pejorative word or phrase

loaf ((low)+f)

a shaped or molded mass of bread || a shaped or molded often symmetrical mass of food (e.g. chocolate-cake loaf) || to spend time in idleness

ham (at the beginning like 'hamburger')

the hollow of the knee || a buttock with its associated thigh (the part of the human leg between the hip and the knee) (usually used in plural) || a cut of meat consisting of a thigh; esp. : one from a hog || a showy performer; esp. : an actor performing in an exaggerated theatrical style; excessively theatrical acting || someone who enjoys performing and who tends to behave in an exaggerated or playful way when people are watching || a licensed operator of an amateur radio station || to execute with exaggerated speech or gestures : overact || a cushion used especially by tailors for pressing curved areas of garments

expatriate (ex-pay+tri+(ate)) (noun + adj - ex-pay+tri+et)

to banish, exile || to withdraw (oneself) from residence in or allegiance (the fidelity owed by a subject or citizen to a sovereign or government) to one's native country || living in a foreign land || a person who lives in a foreign country || [repatriate - to restore or return to the country of origin, allegiance, or citizenship]

jib

to refuse to proceed further : balk || (of a person) be unwilling to do or accept something || a triangular sail set on a stay (a large strong rope usually of wire used to support a mast) extending usually from the head of the foremast to the bowsprit (a large spar (a stout pole) projecting forward from the stem (prow) of a ship) or the jibboom; also : the small triangular headsail on a sloop || the projecting arm of a crane

ballad (baa+led)

a narrative composition in rhythmic verse suitable for singing || an art song (a usually through-composed (having new music provided for each stanza) song for solo voice and accompaniment) accompanying a traditional ballad || a simple song : air (tune, melody) || a popular song; especially : a slow romantic or sentimental song

imbricate (eem-bre+ket; verb - (eem-bre+(kate))

lying lapped (to place over and cover a part of; overlap) over each other in regular order (e.g. imbricate scales of a fish) || overlap; esp. : to overlap like roof tiles

overhaul (over-h+(aw)+l)

to examine thoroughly || to repair || to renovate, remake, revise, or renew thoroughly || to haul or drag over || to overtake (e.g. in a race) || [also NOUN in all definitions]

foremost

first in a series or progression (also adverb) || of first rank or position : preeminent || (adverb) most importantly

aver (ah+vur)

to declare positively (fully assured; confident) || (law) to verify or prove to be true in pleading (to argue a case or cause in a court of law) a cause || (law) to allege or assert in pleading || [verify]

inveigh, invective (in-vay) (in-vek-tiv)

to protest or complain bitterly or vehemently : rail (to revile (to subject to verbal abuse) or scold in harsh, insolent, or abusive language) && insulting or abusive language : vituperation (containing or characterized by verbal abuse) || an abusive expression or speech || of, relating to, or characterized by insult or abuse

immolate (E+me-(late))

to kill or destroy especially by fire || to offer in sacrifice; especially : to kill as a sacrificial victim especially by burning

irrupt (pronounced like 'erupt')

to rush in forcibly or violently || (of a natural population) to undergo a sudden upsurge in numbers especially when natural ecological balances and checks are disturbed || erupt (to become active or violent especially suddenly) || (of a bird or other animal) migrate into an area in abnormally large numbers || [irrupt has affixed to it the prefix ir- (in the sense "into") while erupt begins with the prefix e- (meaning "out"). So "to irrupt" was originally to rush in, and "to erupt" was to burst out]

eschew (es-choo)

to avoid habitually especially on moral or practical (concerned with voluntary action and ethical decisions) grounds : shun (to avoid deliberately and especially habitually) || [eschewal is the noun]

breech

(breeches) short pants covering the hips and thighs and fitting snugly (fitting closely and comfortably) at the lower edges at or just below the knee || pants || the hind end (buttocks, rump) of the body : buttocks || (medical) a fetus that is presented with the buttocks first (also adjective - relating to or denoting presentation of a fetus in which the buttocks, rump, or legs are nearest the cervix and emerge first at birth) || the part of a firearm at the rear of the barrel; the part of a cannon behind the bore (the long usually cylindrical hollow part of something (such as a tube or gun barrel))

ingress, egress (E-gress)

the act of entering : entrance; the unwanted introduction of water, foreign bodies, contaminants, etc. || the power or liberty of entrance or access || a place or means of access; an entrance && a place or means of going out : exit || to go or come out || the action or right of going or coming out || [transgress - to violate a command or law; to go beyond a boundary or limit]

preemption (pree-eh+mp+shen)

the right of purchasing before others; especially : one given by the government to the actual settler upon a tract of public land; the purchase of something under this right || a prior seizure or appropriation (to take exclusive possession of; to take or make use of without authority or right) : a taking possession before others || (called also federal preemption) a doctrine (a principle of law established through past decisions) in law according to which federal law supersedes (to cause to be set aside; to force out of use as inferior) state law when federal law is in conflict with a state law || a doctrine in law according to which the legislation of a superior government (such as a state government) supersedes that of an inferior government (such as a municipal government) in conflicts of law || a policy of launching a preemptive (marked by the seizing of the initiative; initiated by oneself) attack in order to prevent a suspected imminent attack || the action of preempting or forestalling (to exclude, hinder, or prevent (something) by prior occupation or measures), especially of making a preemptive attack

preempt (pree-eh+mpt)

to acquire (something, such as land) by preemption (the right of purchasing before others) || to seize upon to the exclusion of others : take for oneself || to replace with something considered to be of greater value or priority : take precedence over || (law) to replace or supersede (to force out of use as inferior) (a law) or bar (prevent, forbid) (an action) by the doctrine of preemption (a doctrine in law according to which federal law supersedes state law when federal law is in conflict with a state law) || to gain a commanding (drawing attention or priority) or preeminent place in || to prevent from happening or taking place : forestall (to exclude, hinder, or prevent (something) by prior occupation or measures), preclude (rule out in advance)

vendetta (ven-de+da)

blood feud (a feud between different clans or families) || an often prolonged series of retaliatory, vengeful, or hostile acts or exchange of such acts || [DYK]

musket, musketeer (mas+ket) (mas-ke+tir)

a heavy large-caliber muzzle-loading (the discharging end of a weapon) usually smoothbore shoulder firearm; broadly : a shoulder gun carried by infantry && a soldier armed with a musket || [from the musketeers' friendship in the novel Les Trois Mousquetaires (1844) by Alexandre Dumas] a good friend : buddy

regatta (re-gaa+da)

a rowing, speedboat, or sailing race or a series of such races || [originally the name of a boat race among gondoliers held on the Grand Canal in Venice]

levee (le-vee)

a reception held by a person of distinction on rising from bed || an afternoon assembly at which the British sovereign or his or her representative receives only men || a reception usually in honor of a particular person || an embankment (a raised structure (as of earth or gravel) used especially to hold back water or to carry a roadway) for preventing flooding || a river landing place : pier || to provide with a levee || a continuous dike (a bank usually of earth constructed to control or confine water) or ridge (as of earth) for confining the irrigation areas of land to be flooded

constituency (cons+tit-U+N+si)

a body of citizens entitled to elect a representative (as to a legislative or executive position) || the residents in an electoral district || an electoral district || a group or body that patronizes, supports, or offers representation || the people involved in or served by an organization (such as a business or institution)

forage (fo+rej)

food for animals especially when taken by browsing or grazing || to secure forage (as for horses) by stripping the country || to wander in search of forage or food; to secure by foraging || the act of foraging : search for provisions (a stock of needed materials or supplies; especially : a stock of food) || to ravage (affect destructively), raid || to make a search : rummage (to make a thorough search through)

patchwork

something composed of miscellaneous or incongruous (not harmonious; incompatible) parts : hodgepodge (a heterogeneous mixture; jumble) (also adj.) || pieces of cloth of various colors and shapes sewn together to form a covering; also : something resembling such a covering (e.g. a patchwork of fields) || the craft of sewing in which small pieces of cloth in different designs, colors, or textures are sewn together

cavil (ke-v+all)

to raise trivial and frivolous (lacking in seriousness) objection || an objection seen as petty or unnecessary

prima facie (pry-ma fay-sha)

(adverb) at first view : on the first appearance || true, valid, or sufficient at first impression : apparent || self-evident || legally sufficient to establish a fact or a case unless disproved || [borrowed from Latin prīmā faciē, from prīmā, ablative singular feminine of prīmus "first, foremost" + faciē, ablative singular of faciēs "appearance, sight"]

litigate, litigation (li+di-(gate)) (le+de-gay+shen)

to decide and settle in a court of law; be a party to a lawsuit && the act, process, or practice of settling a dispute in a court of law : the act or process of litigating; also : a legal action or proceeding (such as a lawsuit)

retention (ree-tention)

the act of retaining : the state of being retained || abnormal retaining of a fluid or secretion (material either functionally specialized (such as saliva) or isolated for excretion (such as urine)) in a body cavity (an unfilled space within a mass; especially : a hollowed-out (to make an empty space in (something)) space) || power of retaining : retentiveness (having the power, property (virtue), or capacity of retaining; especially : retaining knowledge easily) || an ability to retain things in mind; specifically : a preservation of the aftereffects of experience and learning that makes recall or recognition possible || something retained

opprobrium, opprobrious (oh+pro-bri+em)

something that brings disgrace || public disgrace or ill fame that follows from conduct considered grossly wrong or vicious || contempt, reproach (the act or action of reproaching or disapproving) && expressive of opprobrium : scurrilous (using or given to coarse language; containing obscenities, abuse, or slander) || deserving of opprobrium : infamous (causing or bringing infamy; disgraceful)

oscillate ((aw)+se-(late))

to swing backward and forward like a pendulum || to move or travel back and forth between two points || to vary between opposing beliefs, feelings, or theories || to vary above and below a mean (occupying a position about midway between extremes; especially : being the mean of a set of values; average) value || (Physics) vary in magnitude (size or extent of the motion) or position in a regular manner around a central point