aegis
Protection; patronage; sponsorship
SYN: auspices
apprise
To inform of; to make aware of by giving oral or written notice
SYN: acquaint
bibulous
Fond or inclined to drink; absorbent
SYN: inebrious
claque
A group of people hired to applaud a performer or performance; enthusiatic or fawning admirers; an opera hat
SYN: fan club, flatterers
deracinate
To pull up by the roots; to root out, uproot, or dislocate; to eliminate all traces of
SYN: extirpate, eradicate, expunge
exegesis
An explanation or critical interpretation (especially of a text)
SYN: analysis, explication
indigenous
Originating in the country or region where found, native; inborn; inherent
SYN: endemic, domestic, homegrown
lachrymose
Given to tears or weeping; causing to shed tears; mournful, lugubrious
SYN: tearful, doleful, dolorous
lexicon
A dictionary of a language; the special vocabulary of a person, group, or subject; a compendium
SYN: wordbook, glossary
melee
A confused struggle; a violent free-for-all; a tumultuous mingling
SYN: fracas, brawl, scuffle, donnybrook
microcosm
A miniature world or universe; a group or system viewed as the model of a larger group or system
SYN: epitome, world in little
miniscule
Very small, tiny
SYN: infinitesimal, insignificant
obfuscate
To darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder
SYN: muddy the waters
paternalism
The policy or practice of treating or governing people in the manner of a father dealing with his children
SYN: benevolence, solicitude, fatherliness
polarize
To cause to concentrate around two conflicting or contrasting positons; to cause light to vibrate in a pattern
SYN: split, alienate, estrange
purview
The range, extent, or scope of something; in law, the scope or limit of what is provided im a statue
SYN: orbit
sanguine
Having a ruddy complexion; of a naturally cheerful, confident, or optimistic outlook
SYN: flushed, rosy
solecism
A substandard or ungrammatical usage; a breach of etiquette; a mistake
SYN: misusage, blunder
vassal
a person under the protection of a feudal lord to whom he or she owes alliegiance; a subordinate or dependent; a servant
SYN: minion
verisimilitude
The quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probable
SYN: realism, lifelikeness, authenticity