Things Fall Apart

coiffure

the arrangement of the hair (especially a woman's hair)

improvident

not provident; not providing for the future

callow

young and inexperienced

pestle

a club-shaped hand tool for grinding and mixing substances in a mortar

harbinger

something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone

esoteric

confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle

voluble

marked by a ready flow of speech

effeminate

having unsuitable feminine qualities

incipient

only partly in existence; imperfectly formed

specious

plausible but false

deft

skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands

listless

lacking zest or vivacity

atone

turn away from sin or do penitence

ultimatum

a final peremptory demand

plait

a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair

wily

marked by skill in deception

plaintive

expressing sorrow

luxuriant

produced or growing in extreme abundance

emissary

someone sent on a mission to represent the interests of someone else

poignant

keenly distressing to the mind or feelings

dogged

stubbornly unyielding

capricious

determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason

tremulous

(of the voice) quivering as from weakness or fear

subdue

put down by force or intimidation

arduous

characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort

imperious

having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy

haggard

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

clamber

climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling

prowess

a superior skill that you can learn by study and practice and observation

benevolent

showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity

dialect

the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people

kindred

group of people related by blood or marriage

vigor

forceful exertion

potent

having or wielding force or authority

tumult

a state of commotion and noise and confusion

ostracize

expel from a community or group

desecrate

violate the sacred character of a place or language

amulet

a trinket or piece of jewelry usually hung about the neck and thought to be a magical protection against evil or disease

irreparable

impossible to repair, rectify, or amend

perturb

disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed

discordant

not in agreement or harmony

unseemly

not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society

sonorous

full and loud and deep

impotent

unable to take effective action; helpless or powerless

degenerate

a person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable especially in sexual behavior

deter

turn away from by persuasion

profane

grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred

superfluous

more than is needed, desired, or required

rebuke

an act or expression of criticism and censure

quarry

animal hunted or caught for food

adherent

someone who believes and helps to spread the doctrine of another

wan

become pale and sickly

zealous

marked by active interest and enthusiasm

prestige

a high standing achieved through success or influence or wealth etc

resolute

firm in purpose or belief; characterized by firmness and determination

ensure

make certain of

beget

make children

caste

a hereditary social class among Hindus; stratified according to ritual purity

expedient

appropriate to a purpose; practical

desolate

providing no shelter or sustenance

orator

a person who delivers a speech or oration

breadth

the extent of something from side to side

forsake

leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

discern

detect with the senses

zeal

a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)

commisioner

member of a commision