acquisitive

(adj.)

able to get and retain ideas

greedy, grasping

arrogate

(v.)

to take claim or take without right

banal

(adj.)

stale, inspired, overused, hackneyed

belabor

(v.)

to work on excessively, to thrash soundly, overwork

carping

(adj.)

tending to find fault, in a petty, nasty way

nit-picking

coherent

(adj.)

holding or sticking together, making a logical whole, connected

congeal

(v.)

to change from liquid to solid, thicken, harden

emulate

(v.)

to imitate with the intent of equaling or surpassing the model

encomium

(n.)

a formal expression of praise, a lavish tribute

eschew

(v.)

to avoid, shun, keep away from

germane

(adj.)

relevent, appropriate fitting

instatiable

(adj.)

so great of demaning as not to be satisfied

intransigent

(adj.)

refusing to compromise, irreconcilable

invidious

(adj.)

offensive, hateful; tending to cause bitterness and resentment

largesse

(n.)

generously in giving; lavish or bountiful contributions

reconnaissance

(n.)

a survey made for military purpose; any kind of preliminary inspection or examination

substantiate

(v.)

to establish by evidence, prove, verify, confirm

tactiturn

(adj.)

habitually silent of quiet, inclined to talk very little

temporize

(v.)

to stall or act evasively in order to gain time, delay

tenable

(adj.)

capable of being held or defended