milquetoast
(noun) a person who is timid or submissive
hackneyed
(adj) lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite
macabre
(adj) dark, morbid, disturbing/mortifying bc it has to do w death/injury; gruesome
assuage
(verb) to make easier or milder, relieve; to put an end to, appease
myriad
(noun/adj) a very large number
juxtaposition
(noun) two things being seen or placed close together w contrasting effect
nuance
(noun) a subtle difference in meaning; fine distinction; not black and white
volatile
(adj) things liable to change rapidly and unpredictably
fascism
(noun) an authoritarian and nationalistic (racist) system of government; totalitarianism
microcosm
(noun) a community, place, or situation regarded as a smaller version of something much larger
peregrinate
(verb) to travel or wander around
schlep
(verb) to haul something around
kibitz
(verb) to talk informally w ppl offer/give unwanted advice
sobriquet
(noun) nickname
affirm
(verb) state or assert positively; maintain as true
altruistic
(adjective) selfless, thinking of others before yourself; magnanimous
ascertain
(verb) to determine if something is certain
colossus
(noun) something that is huge in size or importance
constraint
(noun) a restriction or limitation
constrain
(verb) to compel or force someone to do something; require; pressure
delusion
(noun) a false belief or opinion, an idea not based on reality
disheveled
(adjective) looking untidy
imprudent
(adjective) not showing care for the consequence of an action; foolish
oblivion
(noun) a state of nothingness
preoccupied
(adjective) absorbed in thought
prominent
(adjective) important or well-known
rescind
(verb) to cancel or withdraw
unprecedented
(adjective) never done or known before
anti-semitic
(adjective) hating or discriminating against Jewish people
camaraderie
(noun) a good friendship
exalted
(adjective) held in high regard or in high status
exalt
(verb) to praise or hold in high regard
gallows
(noun) a structure for the hanging of people
invectives
(noun) abusive, insulting language
paternal/maternal
(adjective) related to father/mother
ration
(noun) an amount of food, water, or other supplies given to a person, usually when they are scarce
redemption
(noun) being saved from sin or error
redeem
(verb) having been saved from sin or error
sanctify
(verb) declared holy
sublime
(adjective) of such excellence, grandeur or beauty to inspire great admiration
surreptitiously
(adverb) done in a secretive or sneaky manner
surreptitious
(adjective) a sneaky or secretive manner
vigor
(noun) active strength or force
juxtapose
(verb) place two things next to each other with contrasting effect
nuance
(noun) a subtle difference in meaning; fine distinction; variation
nuanced
(adjective) complex; complicated; characterized by subtle shades of meaning or expression
fascist
(noun) someone who supports fascism idealogy
hearth
(noun) the floor around a fireplace or the area near the fireplace
strew
(verb) to scatter or spread things untidily over a surface or area
supplication
(noun) action of asking or begging someone earnestly
suppliant
(noun) beggar
garland/chaplet
(noun) wreath of flowers & leaves worn on head for decoration
affliction
(noun) something that causes pain or suffering; disease; plague
defilement
(noun) desecration; impurity; corrupting; pollution
enquiry
(noun) act of asking for information; investigation; query; search
pilgrimage
(noun) a religious journey
augury
(noun) a sign of something that will happen
compunction
(noun) feeling of guilt; worries; doubts
edict
(noun) official order or command
lustration
(noun) process of making someone pure
beget
(verb) bring something into existence
clairvoyant
(noun) person who can see into the future; oracle; prophet
expedient
(noun) means of attaining an end; scheme
pestilence
(noun) a fatal epidemic, disease
temperate
(adjective) showing moderation or self-restraint
opportune
(adjective) favorable
prudent
(adjective) act of being careful
insolence
(noun) rude or disrespectful behavior
infamy
(noun) being famous for something bad
infamous
(adjective) being famous for something bad
decrepit
(adjective) feeble; weak; bad shape
acrimonious
(adj) (typically out of speech or a debate) angry and bitter; vitriolic; rancorous; nasty
harbinger
(noun) a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another; sign
ubiquitous
(adj) present, appearing, or found everywhere; universal
magnanimous
(adj) very generous or forgiving, especially towards rival or someone less powerful; benevolent
omniscient
(adj) all knowing
omnipotent
(adj) all powerful
nefarious
(adj) wicked or criminal; heinous
anachronistic
(adj) belonging to a period other than it appears
abhor
(verb) regard with disgust & hatred; loathe
bon vivant
(noun) person who enjoys a luxurious lifestyle
aberration
(noun) deviating from standard; anomaly; oddity
sagacity
(noun) wisdom; being sagacious (opposite of naivete)
sagacious
(adj) wise; sage; shrewd (opposite of naive)
demagogue
(noun) political leader who seeked support by making false promises and preying on fear
pretentious
(adj) attempting to impress by showing off; snobbish
deluge
(verb) to overwhelm with great quantity of something; to flood; bombard
deluge (noun)
(noun) severe flood(literal or metaphorical)
subdued
(adj) quiet and rather reflective or depressed; somber; woebegone; lowkey
subdued (verb)
(verb) to overcome, quiet, or bring under control
dossier
(noun) collection of documents about particular person/event; data; report
evanescent
(adj) soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; vanishing
haughty
(adj) arrogant or pompous
venerable
(adj) respected due to age
laud
(verb) to praise, applaud
laudable
(adj) deserving praise
obstinate
(adj) refusing to change
mundane
(adj) lacking excitement
rancorous
(adj) characterized by bitterness or resentment
rancor
(noun) bitterness