acuity
keenness of hearing, sight, or intellect
agnostics
those who believe that the truth of religious or spiritual claims are impossible to prove or disprove
amenable
willing to cooperate; responsive to suggestion
anemic
suffering from a lack of hemoglobin in the blood, usually caused by a deficiency in iron
anthropomorphized
when nonhuman things have been treated or considered as human-like
arboreal
relating to trees
archipelago
a group or chain of islands
arduous
difficult and demanding
artesian well
a pumpless well that allows water to rise to the surface that has traveled through porous rock from a higher elevation
ashram
a community formed primarily for the spiritual uplifting of its members
attrition
slow destruction through wear and tear, weakening by persistent attack
brackish
salty
bracts
the plant parts from which the flowers grow
buoyant
able to float
cantankerous
easily angered and difficult to get along with
carapace
shell
carrion
the rotting flesh of a dead animal
cataleptic
in a state resembling a trance or unconsciousness, often associated with schizophrenia, epilepsy, or drug use
catholicity
wideness of range and inclusiveness, as in taste
chimera
a wildly unrealistic idea or hope
chromatic
relating to color
commensal
describing a relationship between two species in which one derives benefit from the association while the other is unharmed but also not benefited
cordate
heart-shaped
cosmogony
a theory of the creation of the universe
craw
throat or gullet
deputation
a group of people chosen to represent a larger group and act on their behalf
discordant
consisting of sounds that are clashing or harsh
dissembling
the adoption of a false appearance or pretending in order to conceal facts, feelings, or intentions
diurnal
active in daytime
durian
a foul-smelling but deliciously flavored fruit
feral
animals that live in the wild after having been domestically reared
ferment
an opening between two organs caused by disease or injury
founders
sinks or crumples
frugivorous
feeding primarily on fruit
gaff
a hooked fish pole, or to catch and hold with a hooked fish pole
garden of Gethsemane
believed to be the place where Jesus and the disciples prayed the night before Jesus' crucifixion
heijira
the emigration of Muhammad and his followers to Medina in 622CE
herald
something that gives an indication of something that is going to happen; a sign
in situ
in place
incongruously
unsuitably or inconsistently
ineluctably
inescapably
insousciant
having lighthearted unconcern; nonchalant
Kathakali dancer
a dancer in a highly stylized classical form of Indian dance-drama
kinetic
relating to motion
Kumkum powder
a powder used for social and religious markings in Hinduism
lampoonery
the ridicule or satirizing of someone or something
lasciviousness
lewdness
licit
allowed by law
lithesome
flexible; easily bendable
maharaja
a Hindu ruler
mange
an infectious skin disease of animals and sometimes humans
marauder
one who raids for plunder
memento mori
a work of art that is designed to remind the viewer of their imminent death, and the general brevity and fragility of human life
menagerie
a collection of animals, usually for royalty
mien
general air or bearing
nadaswaram
a wind instrument that is highly popular in South India
oestrous
in heat
olfactory
relating to the sense of smell
onanists
those who practice masturbation
ordnance
military weapons and supplies
pandit
a scholar killed in Sanskrit and Hindu law, religion, music, or philosophy
porosity
the porous nature of something
prusten
the quietest tiger call, a puff through the nose used to express friendliness and harmless intentions
raiments
clothing
rambutan
a medium-sized tropical tree
rufous
of a reddish-brown color
ruminants
hoofed animals that chew cud
sambar
a dish common in South Indian and Sri Lankan communities
sanguinary
bloodthirsty
scimitars
an Arab or Turkish sword with a curved blade
ungulates
hoofed mammals
unpalatably
unpleasantly, in terms of taste
vagaries
unpredictable changes
venerable
worthy of respect; revered
virulent
extremely infectious or damaging
viscera
internal organs
wallah
one who sells or peddles something
