#1- Cultural Artifacts

known or understood by only a few

The dusty archive includes an arcane treasure trove of nautical charts from the Age of Discovery.

to absorb or become absorbed; to make or become similar

Keisha assimilated so quickly at her new school that she was named head of the social committee a month after enrolling.

independence; self determination

Candice gained autonomy upon moving out of her parents' house into her own apartment.

worldly; widely sophisticated

Inga was surprisingly cosmopolitan considering that she had never left her tiny hometown in Norway.

something that come from another source

Special Victims Units and Criminal Intent are derivatives of the original Law and Order drama series.

a group of attendants or associates; a retinue

Top celebrities travel with extensive entourages, which often include security guards, assistants, stylists, managers, and publicists.

intended for or understood by only a small group

Esme's play is extremely esoteric; someone not raised in Estonia would find it difficult to follow.

a clumsy social error, a faux pas

Geoff committed the gaffe of telling his date that he'd gone out with her sister the night before.

characteristics peculiar to an individual or group

She had many idiosyncrasies, one of which was washing her socks in the dishwasher.

isolated; narrow or provincial

The family was so insular that no one else could get near them.

adhering to the traditional and established, especially in religion

My father had held an orthodox view of baseball; he believed that the field should be outside and made of real grass.

one who the power and position to rule over others; monarch

An omnipotent potentate is a person to be reckoned with; great power in the hands of a great leader is a powerful combination.