Horizontal Fall

The indigenous tribes' acculturation cankered their hopes, though a passel of families were not discomfited and clung to the élan of their ancestors' petroglyphs' depiction of a general uprising.

acculturation (uh-KUHL-chuh-RAY-shuhn) n. 1. The modification of the culture of a group or individual as a result of contact with a different culture. 2. The process by which the culture of a particular society is instilled in a human from infancy onward. —acculturational adj. —acculturative adj.

canker (KANG-kuhr) v 1. To become infested with erosive or spreading sores. 2. To corrupt the spirit of. 3. To become corrupted.

passel (PAS-uhl) n. Informal A large quantity or group.

discomfit (dis-KUM-fit) tr.v. 1. To make uneasy or perplexed; disconcert. 2. To thwart the plans of; frustrate. 3. Archaic To defeat in battle; vanquish. —n. Discomfiture.
USAGE NOTE: It is true that discomfit originally meant “to defeat, frustrate” and that its newer use meaning “to embarrass, disconcert” probably arose in part through confusion with discomfort. But the newer sense is now the most common use of the verb in all varieties of writing and should be considered entirely standard.

élan (ay-LAHN, ay-LAHN) n. 1. Enthusiastic vigor and liveliness. 2. Distinctive style or flair.

petroglyph (PET-ruh-GLIF) n. A carving or line drawing on rock, especially one made by prehistoric people. —petroglyphic adj.