| A | B |
|---|
| brusque | (adj) abrupt in manner or speech; blunt |
| microcosm | (noun) a miniature world; a small system or community regarded a representative of a larger world |
| acquisition | (noun) the act of obtaining something, especially as an addition to a larger collection; something obtained |
| debacle | (noun) a sudden collapse or overthrow |
| wily | (adj) crafty; sly; full of trickery |
| ulterior | (adj) beyond what is seen or expressed; intentionally concealed in order to deceive |
| alleviate | (verb) to calm; to ease suffering of the body or mind |
| tenacity | (noun) perseverance; persistence; cohesiveness |
| thwart | (verb) to oppose; to keep from doing something; to obstruct or hinder |
| rigorous | (adj) very strict; exact; difficult and demanding; severe |
