dagen - crucible vocab

indictment

(n.) a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime

deference

(n.) humble submission and respect

pretense

(n.) an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true; a purposeful false, deceiving claim

parochial

1. (adj.) relating to a church parish/community

2. (adj.) restricted to a small area or scope; narrow, limited (outlook)

prodigious

1. (adj.) remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree

2. (adj.) unnatural or abnormal

vindictive

(adj.) having or showing a strong, malicious desire for revenge

qualms

(n.) a feeling of uneasiness, or a sense that something one is doing is wrong

inept

(adj.) having or showing no skill; clumsy

gaunt

1. (adj.) thin and bony from hunger or suffering (of a person)

2. (adj.) grim or desolate in appearance (of a building or place)

trepidation

(n.) worry or anxiety about something that may happen

pious

(adj.) devoutly religious

evasive

(adj.) to avoid something; not straightforward and responding indirectly

dissembling

(v.) to conceal one’s true motives, feelings, or beliefs

wily

(adj.) crafty and cunning; skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully

probity

(n.) the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency

prevail

(v.) to be victorious; overcome

quavers

(v.) shake or tremble in speaking, typically through nervousness or emotion (of a person’s voice)

iniquity

(n.) unfair, immoral behavior or sin

condemn

1. (v.) to expressive complete disapproval of

2. (v.) to sentence to a particular punishment, typically death

factions

(n.) small organized dissenting groups within a larger one

apprehensive

(adj.) uneasy or fearful about something that might happen

lechery

(n.) excessive or offensive sexual desire; lustfulness

predilection

(n.) a preference or special liking for something; a bias in favor of something

calumny

(n.) an untrue statement intended to harm another’s reputation

hypocrisy

(n.) behavior that contradicts what one claims to believe or feel

contentious

(adj.) likely to cause disagreement or argument

contention

(n.) a heated disagreement

quail

(v.) to feel or show fear; give way to; falter

beguile

1. (v.) to charm or enchant in a deceptive way

2. (v.) to help time pass pleasantly

guile

(n.) sly or cunning intelligence

ambiguous

(adj.) unclear; capable of being understood in two or more possible ways

licentiousness

(n.) a disregard for moral norms or lawless behavior

incredulous

(adj.) unwilling or unable to believe something

conjure

1. (v.) to call upon something to appear by means of a magic ritual

2. (v.) to implore someone to do something

formidable

(adj.) inspiring fear or respect due to size or strength

notorious

(adj.) famous or well known for some bad quality or deed

delusion

(n.) a false belief or judgement, usually as a symptom of a serious mental illness

exaltation

1. (n.) a state of extreme happiness

2. (n.) the action of elevating someone in rank, power, or character

affidavit

(n.) a voluntarily made written statement for use as evidence in court

undermine

(v.) to weaken gradually

covenanted

(v.) to have made a formal agreement or promise

plaintiff

(n.) a person who brings a case against another in a court of law

deposition

(n.) the process of giving sworn evidence; a sworn testimony

gait

(n.) a person’s manner of walking

base

(adj.) shallow, low, deserving of contempt due to the absence of higher values

slovenly

(adj.) messy and dirty (typically of a person’s appearance)

denounce

(v.) publicly declare to be wrong or evil

providence

(n.) the guardianship and care provided by a deity or god

adamant

(adj.) refusing to be persuaded or change one’s mind