allege
(v.) to assert without proof or confirmation
arrant
(adj.) out-and-out, shameless, blatant
badinage
(n.) light and playful conversation
concilliate
(v.) to overcome the distrust of, win over; to appease, pacify; to reconcile, make consistent
countermand
(v.) to cancel or reverse one order or command with another that is contrary to the first
echelon
(n.) one of a series of grades in an organization or field of activity; an organized military unit; a steplike formation or arrangement
exacerbate
(v.) to make more violent, severe, bitter, or painful
fatuous
(adj.) stupid or foolish in a self-satisfied way
irrefutable
(adj.) impossible to disprove; beyond arguement
juggernaut
(n.) a massive and inescapable force or object that crushes whatever is in its path
lackadaisical
(adj.) lacking spirit or interest; halfhearted
litany
(n.) a prayer consisting of short appeals to God recited by the leader alternating with responses from the congregation; any repetitive chant; a long list
macabre
(adj.) grisly, gruesome; horrible, distressing; having death as a subject
paucity
(n.) an inadequate quantity, scarcity, dearth
portend
(v.) to indicate beforehand that something is about to happen; to give advance warning of
raze
(v.) to tear down, destroy completely; to cut or scrape off or out
recant
(v.) to withdraw a statement or belief to which one has previously been committed, renounce, retract
saturate
(v.) to soak thoroughly, fill to capacity; to satisfy fully
saturnine
(adj.) of a gloomy or surly disposition; cold or sluggish in mood
slough
(v.) to cast off, discard; to get rid of something objectionable or unnecessary; to plod through as if through mud; (n.) a mire; a state of depression