caged bird

reneged

to go back on a promise

thwarted

prevent (someone) from accomplishing something.

rancor

bitter resentment or ill-will

eke

to supplement; to manage to make a living with difficulty; to use frugally

recess

remote part or corner

pacified

to bring into submission; to soothe someone who is upset; to quiet or calm

jest

joke, prank

rakishly

With a careless, casual look; dashing

nonchalance

lack of concern

tedious

long and tiresome

heinous

hatefully or shockingly evil

lulled

calmed or soothed by a gentle sound or motion

opulent

wealthy, luxurious; ample; grandiose

impudent

disrespectful

servile

overly submissive

pillars

a person or thing regarded as reliably providing essential support for something

agitation

a state of anxiety or nervous excitement

imperative

absolutely necessary

ominous

threatening

loathing

strong dislike or disgust

pandemonium

a wild disorder, noise, or confusion

infused

fill; pervade

dais

raised platform

aversion

strong dislike

change of venue

change in location

pallet

straw mattress

insolently

boldly rude or disrespectful

gaffe

an embarrassing public mistake or remark

lavishly

In a rich or plentiful way; abundantly

liberally

generously

milled

moved around in confusion

assailed

to attack violently

decorum

proper behavior

lofty

of imposing height

vied

competed, struggled, fought for

feat

achievement

unrelenting

never giving up; non-stop

flamboyant

Excessively showy; unrestrained

droll

amusingly odd

chided

scolded

query

question

lurid

causing shock or horror

quandary

a puzzling situation; a dilemma

adversary

an enemy, opponent

eluded

avoided or escaped by cleverness or speed

waifs

homeless orphans

abated

lessened

wrath

intense anger

sullenness

gloominess

morose

having a gloomy or sullen manner; not friendly or sociable

regaled

entertained or amused

rapier

long, slender sword

pining

suffer a mental and physical decline, especially because of a broken heart.

taut

tight

benign

kind and gentle

gait

a person's manner of walking

incessantly

without interruption; constantly

sacrilegious

Against religion

pacifying

quieting; calming

ludicruous

ridiculous

berated

to scold

affluent

wealthy

masochists

obtain sexual pleasure from having pain and/or humiliation inflicted on them

blasphemous

sacrilegious against God or sacred things; profane

din

a loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise

epicure

someone who appreciates good food and drink

aromatic

fragrant

rivaled

be or seem to be equal or comparable to

oblivious

unaware

invalid

a person made weak or disabled by illness or injury

wizened

shriveled or wrinkled with age

placatingly

make (someone) less angry or hostile

dirge

a funeral hymn or mournful speech

tithed

Church tax

solicitous

concerned and attentive; eager

eerie

strange and frightening

reminiscences

memories

forfeit

to give up

wafted

moved lightly through the air

farcical

absurd; ludicrous

palpable

able to be touched or felt

obliterated

destroy utterly; wipe out

calaboose

prison

enigma

a puzzle; a mystery

limbo

period awaiting change

arrested

stop or check (progress or a process)

traverse

travel across or through

lax

careless; not strict

pretentious

making an extravagant outward show, self-important

belied

contradicted

animosities

hostilities

gauche

lacking social grace

dauntless

fearless

sour grapes

to disparage something that you cannot have

gilt

covered thinly with gold leaf or gold paint

provincials

inhabitants of a province of a country or empire; unsophisticated people

festered

become worse or more intense

colloquial

Characteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing

bourgeoisie

middle class

cajoled

persuade someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery