1. allege (verb): to assert without proof; to declare with positiveness; affirm; to declare or plead in support of 2. arrant [variant of errant] (ad].): downright; thorough; unmitigated; notorious; 3. badinage (noun): light, playful banter; (verb): to banter with or tease playfully 4. countermand (verb): to revoke or cancel; to recall or stop by a contrary order; (noun): a command or order revoking a previous one 5. echelon (noun): a level of command or authority or rank; a level of worthiness or achievement or reputation; (military) = a formation of troops, ships, etc. 6. exacerbate (verb): to increase the severity, bitterness, or violence of; to embitter the feelings of a person; irritate; exasperate 8. macabre (adj.): gruesome and horrifying; ghastly; horrible; of or pertaining to death 9. paucity (noun): smallness of quantity; scarcity; scantiness; fewnessi 10. portend (verb): warn; foreshadow; signify (mean) 11. recant (verb): to withdraw or take back; retract 12. saturnine (adi): sluggish in temperament; gloomy; taciturn; suffering from lead poisoning exacerbate oh

allege

to assert without proof; to declare with positiveness; affirm; to declare or plead in support of

arrant

downright; thorough; unmitigated; notorious;

badinage

light, playful banter; (verb): to banter with or tease playfully

countermand

to revoke or cancel; to recall or stop by a contrary order; (noun): a command or order revoking a previous one

exacerbate

to increase the severity, bitterness, or violence of; to embitter the feelings of a person; irritate; exasperate

juggernaut

a huge, powerful, and overwhelming force or institution.

macabre

gruesome and horrifying; ghastly; horrible; of or pertaining to death

paucity

smallness of quantity; scarcity; scantiness; fewness

portend

warn; foreshadow; signify (mean)

recant

to withdraw or take back; retract

saturnine

sluggish in temperament; gloomy; taciturn; suffering from lead poisonin

echelon

a level of command or authority or rank; a level of worthiness or

achievement or reputation; (military) = a formation of troops, ships, etc.