cumulative (crucible and TBE)

crucible

crucible

a severe test or trial

overture

an introductory part (prologue, prelude)

rankle

to cause irritation or resentment, to fester

paradox

a statement or situation that contradicts itself but is nonetheless true

theocracy

a form of government where religious leaders have authority

ideological

of or relating to doctrine, guiding values, beliefs, ideas

manifestation

materialization, outward indication

dissembling

disguising one's true feelings/nature under a false appearance

vindictive

vengeful

formidable

causing fear, intimidating, of great strength, powerful

trill

the act/sound of trilling (making a vibratory sound)

prodigious

extraordinary in size, amount, or degree

canny

cautious, shrewd, prudent

exude

to project/display, radiate

partisans

supporters of a person/party/cause

iniquity

gross injustice, wickedness, sin

quail

to feel or show fear, to lose courage in difficulty

writ

a formal order under seal

bemused

bewildered, confused

diametrically

completely, utterly (opposed)

methodical

deliberate, performed/acting systematically

inculcation

the act of teaching by repeated statements

enthrall

to captivate, charm

abrogation

the act of repealing, formally abolishing

arbiter

someone with the power to decide matters

diabolism

action caused/aided by the devil, witchcraft

loftily

in an elevated, superior manner

ameliorate

to make more bearable, to improve

jabberer

someone who likes to talk/chatter nonsensically

daft

senseless, stupid, foolish

calamity

a great disaster, grievous affliction

vengeance

revenge or the desire for revenge

lechery

unrestrained or excessive indulgence of sexual desire/lust

pretense

pretending, feigning, make-believe

remorseless

w/o remorse, merciless, pitiless

contentious

quarrelsome, characterized by controversy

effrontery

shameless boldness, audacity

qualm

a sudden pang of uneasiness

ipso facto

by the fact itself, in its very nature

probity

integrity, honesty

deposition

a written statement under oath in place of verbal testimony

gulling

cheating, deceiving

gibbet

the gallows from which criminals are hanged

beguile

to influence/delude through flattery or charm

sibilance

a hissing sound/hissing quality in a sound

penitence

regret for one's wrongdoing, repentance

chafe

to wear/make sore by rubbing

strident

making/having a harsh/grating sound, having a shrill/irritating quality

peripheral

concerned with relatively minor, irrelevant, or superficial aspects of the subject in question

plaintive

mournful, expressing sorrow or melancholy

chagrin

to cause to feel shame, a feeling of vexation marked by disappointment

foist

to force/impose upon another fraudulently

fester

to cause to rankle

furtive

taken, done, used secretly

shroud

a covering/concealing garment, specifically one used for covering corpses for burial

extemporize

to speak without preparation/improvise

macabre

gruesome, horrifying, relating to death in a grim/ugly way

placid

pleasantly calm/tranquil, showing a lack of energy/concern

gainful

profitable, lucrative

surreptitious

done so as to escape being seen/known; stealthy

ostensibly

apparently, seemingly

unabashed

not ashamed or apologetic

idle

not active/working, doing nothing

infirmity

a physical weakness or ailment

linger

to remain, continue, persist longer than is usual/expected

solicitude

anxiety or concern

oblivion

the state of being completely forgotten/unknown

mar

to damage, disfigure, impair, scar

predilection

a tendency to think favorably of something; preference

poignant

emotionally affecting, moving