ethnicity
(n) characteristic of a group of people who share common traditions, learned behavior, customs, religion, origin, etc. Can be changed.
race
(n) your biological, physical features like skin color, skin tone, eye and hair color. Can not be changed.
nationality
(n) a group of people who share the same history, traditions, and language, and who usually live together in a particular country
provincial
(adj) often used in a disapproving way to suggest that a person has narrow or limited concerns or interests. (n) a person who comes from a place far away from large cities
disparate
(adj) made up of fundamentally different and often unexpected elements
unclassifiable
(adj) unable to be arranged into groups based on ways that they (people or things) are alike
ascetic
(adj/n) having a strict and simple way of living that avoids physical pleasure; self-denying
confound
(v) to throw a person into confusion or bewilderment
portent
(n) a sign or warning that something usually bad or unpleasant is about to happen
sharecropper
(n) a farmer especially in the Southern U.S. who raises crops for the owner of a piece of land and is paid a portion of the money from the sale of the crops.
assimilation
(n) to adopt the ways of another culture: to fully become a part of a different society, country, etc.
discerning
(adj) having or showing good judgement or understanding
legacy
(n) a) something (such as property or money) that is received from someone who has died b) something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past
totem
(n) an object or symbol (such as an animal or plant) that serves as an emblem of a family or tribe reminding them of their ancestry; also: a usually carved or painted representation of such an object
hedonistic
(adj) the belief that pleasure or happiness is the only or most important goal in life
innocuous
(adj) not likely to give offense or arouse strong feelings or hostility
insularity
(n) not knowing or interested in new or different ideas; having a narrow viewpoint
cacophony
(n) unpleasant, loud sounds
eclectic
(adj) selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles
anachronistic
(adj) something (such as a word, object, or event) that is mistakenly placed in a time where it does not belong in a story, movie, etc.
equivocate
(v) to use language that can be interpreted in two or more possible ways
diatribe
(n) an angry and usually long speech or piece of writing that strongly criticizes someone or something
quandary
(n) a state of perplexity or doubt; a situation in which you are confused about what to do
iconoclast
(n) a person who criticizes or attacks beliefs and practices that are widely accepted; a person who destroys religious images or opposes their status
iconic
(adj) very famous and well known; an image that is important or impressive because it seems to be a symbol of something
analogy
(n) a comparison between two things based on their being alike in some way
cryptic
(adj) having a hidden or ambiguous meaning; mysterious
sanctity
(n) the quality or state of being holy or sacred
constituents
(n) the people involved in or served by an organization or elected official; one of the parts that forms something
allotment
(n) a portion of something that is assigned or shared; a plot of land rented to an individual for cultivation
perpetrator
(n) one who commits a crime
indictment
(n) a formal charge of a crime, a written accusation
jurisdiction
(n) the right to use an official power to make legal decisions, or the area where this right exists; the power or right to arrest and punish criminals
entrepreneurs
(n) a person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks in order to do so
entitled
(adj) the feeling or believing that you deserve special privileges or treatment
reverent
(adj) showing a lot of respect or admiration
condoned
(v) accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue
contingent
(adj) dependent on something that may or may not happen in the future (plus "on"/"upon")
sublimate
(v) to express a desire or feeling by changing it into a form that is socially accpetable
salvage
(v) the act of saving something (such as a building, ship, or cargo) that is in danger of being completely destroyed
abhorred
(v) disliked or hated very much
restitution
(n) the act of giving back something that was lost, stolen, or damaged to its proper owner
sovereignty
(n) complete freedom and power to govern
impasse
(n) a situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement; a deadlock
mitigate
(v) to lessen the effect or severity of something, to make milder
formidable
(adj) inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, or capable; hard to overcome
providentially
(adv) happening just when you need it because of luck or God's involvement
compunctions
(n) a feeling deep regret, usually for some misdeed
contempt
(n) a feeling that someone or something is not worthy of any respect or approval
doctrine
(n) a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group
enigma
(n) a person or thing that is mysterious, or difficult to understand
precedent
(n) something done or said that can be used as an example or rule to be followed in the future
impasse
(n) a situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement; a deadlock
mitigate
(v) to lessen the effect or severity of something, to make milder
formidable
(adj) inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable; hard to overcome
providentially
(adv) happening just when you need it because of good luck or God's involvement
compunctions
(n) a feeling of deep regret, usually for some misdeed
contempt
(n) a feeling that someone or something is not worthy of any respect or approval
doctrine
(n) a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group.
enigma
(n) a person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand
precedent
(n) something done or said that can be used as an example or rule to be followed in the future