last rites
the ceremony performed in some religions, especially the Catholic religion, for people who are dying
conspicuous
very easy to notice
raucous
impolite, noisy, and sometimes violent
to be/become inured to
to become used to something unpleasant so that you are no longer upset by it
scrounge
to gather something you need from what is available
axiomatic
obviously true and therefore not needing to be proved
bleak
cold, not welcoming, or without hope
rickety
in bad condition and therefore weak and likely to break
zest
enthusiasm, energy, and eagerness
conspirator
a person who plans secretly with other people to do something bad, illegal, or against someone's wishes
garish
showy or too brightly colored (negative)
translucent
almost transparent (see-through), allowing some light through it
cynical
not trusting the goodness of other people and their actions, but believing people are only interested in themselves
meander
(river, road, etc.) to have a lot of bends instead of a straight line; to walk somewhere in a slow and relaxed way rather than take the most direct way possible
terse
using few words, sometimes in a way that seems rude or unfriendly
sterilization
the process of having a medical operation to make it impossible to have children
tantalizing
making you feel a strong desire to have or do something
smug
too pleased or satisfied about something you have achieved or something you know
skew
to cause something to be not straight or exact; to twist or distort
arid
very dry and without enough rain for plants
ruthless
cruel; not thinking or worrying about any pain caused to others
trudge
to walk slowly with a lot of effort, especially over a difficult surface or while carrying something heavy
brisk
quick and full of energy
melodramatic
showing much stronger emotions than are necessary or usual for a situation
morose
unhappy, annoyed, and unwilling to speak or smile
listless
tired and weak, lacking enery or interest
vociferous
repeatedly and loudly expressing your opinions and complaints
dissuade
to persuade someone not to do something
reticence
an unwillingness to talk about what you feel or what you know
subdue
to reduce the force of something or to prevent something from existing or developing
sulk
to be silent and refuse to smile or be pleasant to people because you are angry about something that they have done:
subtle
not loud, bright, noticeable or obvious in any way; achieved in a quiet way that does not attract attention to itself
plausible
seeming likely to be true, or able to be believed
turf
a surface that consists of soil with grass on top; (informal) an area that you think of as being your own
pompous
feeling or showing that you think you are better or more important than other people
resilience
the ability to be happy, successful, etc. again after something difficult or bad has happened
aversion
a feeling of strong dislike or of not wishing to do something
obstinate
unwilling to change your opinion or action despite argument or persuasion; stubborn
sturdy
physically strong and solid or thick, and therefore unlikely to break or be hurt
cajole
to persuade someone to do something they might not want to do, by pleasant talk and (sometimes false) promises
apathy
lack of interest, or the attitude of not caring resulting from it
coax
to try to persuade someone to do something by gently asking or patiently encouraging the person
blot out
to cause something to disappear, or to remove something unpleasant from your thoughts
precarious
likely to fall; likely to get worse; in a dangerous state because of not being safe or not being held in place firmly
fester
(a problem or feeling) to get worse because it has not been dealt with; (injury) to become infected
kin
family members
arduous
difficult, needing a lot of effort and energy
coarse
rough and not smooth or soft
laden with
carrying or holding a lot of something
damp
slightly wet