Indians in Unexpected Places

From Indians in Unexpected Places byPhilip J. Deloria
Chapter 1


apogee

–noun

1.	Astronomy. the point in the orbit of a heavenly body, esp. the moon, or of a man-made satellite at which it is farthest from the earth.

2.	the highest or most distant point; climax.

obsolescence
–noun

the state, process, or condition of being or becoming obsolete.

pathos
–noun

1.	the quality or power in an actual life experience or in literature, music, speech, or other forms of expression, of evoking a feeling of pity or compassion.

2.

pity.

3.	Obsolete. suffering.

depredation
–noun

the act of preying upon or plundering; robbery; ravage.

polity
–noun, plural -ties.

1.	a particular form or system of government: civil polity; ecclesiastical polity.

2.	the condition of being constituted as a state or other organized community or body: The polity of ancient Athens became a standard for later governments.

3.	government or administrative regulation: The colonists demanded independence in matters of internal polity.

4.	a state or other organized community or body.

codify
tr.v. cod·i·fied, cod·i·fy·ing, cod·i·fies

1. To reduce to a code: codify laws.
2. To arrange or systematize.

repudiate
–verb (used with object), -at‧ed, -at‧ing.

1.	to reject as having no authority or binding force: to repudiate a claim.

2.	to cast off or disown: to repudiate a son.

3.	to reject with disapproval or condemnation: to repudiate a new doctrine.

4.	to reject with denial: to repudiate a charge as untrue.

5.	to refuse to acknowledge and pay (a debt), as a state, municipality, etc.

referendum
–noun

1.	the principle or practice of referring measures proposed or passed by a legislative body to the vote of the electorate for approval or rejection. Compare initiative (def. 4a).

2.	a measure thus referred.

3.	a vote on a such a measure.