The oysters were sour, and excessively alcoholic.

It would have gradually demuslimized Muslim children by subjecting them to the philosophy that Hinduism and Islam were not too different and then exposing them to Hindu social influence and political domination.

(cricket) declare (an innings) closed

Pye had never forgotten or forgiven the ingenious fraud. It had taught him secretiveness, made him even more lone and separative. He had withdrawn from the world of men, academic and otherwise.