Aegis
(N) protection; patronage; sponsoring (auspices)
Apprise
(V) to inform of; to make aware of by giving oral or written notice (acquaint)
Bibulous
(Adj) fond of or inclined to drink (inebrious)
Claque
(N) group of people hired to applaud a performer/performance; fawning admirers; an opera hat (fan club)
Deracinate
(V) to pull up by the roots; to root out, uproot, or eliminate all traces; dislocate (expunge)
Exegesis
(N) an explanation or critical interpretation--especially of a text (analysis)
Indigenous
(Adj) originating in the country or region where found, native; inborn; inherent (homegrown)
Lachrymose
(Adj) given to tears or weeping; causing to shed tears; mournful, lugubrious (tearful)
Lexicon
(N) a dictionary of language; special vocabulary of a person/group or subject (glossary)
Melee
(N) a confused struggle; a violent free-for-all; a tumultuous mingling (scuffle)
Microcosm
(N) a miniature world or universe; group or system viewed as the model of a larger group or system
Minuscule
(Adj) very small; tiny;
(N) a lowercase letter (insignificant)
Obfuscate
(V) to darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder (muddy the waters)
Paternalism
(N) the policy or practice of treating/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 (split)
Purview
(N) the range, extent, or scope of something; in law, the scope or limit of what is provided in a statue (orbit)
Sanguine
(Adj) having a ruddy complexion; of naturally cheerful, confident, or optimistic outlook (rosy)
Solecism
(N) a substandard or ungrammatical usage; a breach or etiquette; any impropriety or mistake (blunder)
Vassal
(N) a person under the protection of a feudal lord to whom he or she owes allegiance; a subordinate or dependent; servant (minion)
Verisimilitude
(N) the quality of appearing to be true, really likely, or probable (realism)