vocab

facile

easily done or attained; superficial; ready, fluent; easily shown but not sincerely felt

indomitable

unconquerable, refusing to yield

infallible

free from error; absolutely dependable

plod

to walk heavily or slowly; to work slowly

pungent

causing a sharp sensation; stinging, biting

remiss

neglectful in performance of one's duty, careless

repose

to rest; lie; place; (n.) relaxation, peace of mind, calmness

temerity

rashness, boldness

truculent

fierce and cruel; aggressive; deadly, destructive; scathingly harsh

unfeigned

sincere, real, without pretense

virulent

extremely poisonous; full of malice; spiteful

accede

to yield to; to assume an office or dignity

brandish

to wave or flourish in a menacing or vigorous fashion

comprise

to include or contain; to be made up of

deft

skillful, nimble

destitute

deprived of the necessities of life; lacking in

explicit

definite, clearly stated

extirpate

to tear up by the roots; to destroy totally

inopportune

coming at a bad time; not appropriate

ironic

suggesting an incongruity between what might be expected and what actually happens; given to irony, sarcastic

musty

stale, moldy; out-of-date

officious

meddling; excessively forward in offering services or assuming authority

ominous

unfavorable, threatening, of bad omen

pinnacle

a high peak or point

premeditated

considered beforehand, deliberately planned

rampant

growing without check, running wild

solace

comfort, relief; (v.) to comfort, console

stately

dignified, majestic

supple

bending easily; bending with agility; readily adaptable; servile

suppress

to stop by force, put down

venal

open to or marked by bribery or corruption

adversary

an enemy, opponent

alienate

to turn away; to make indifferent or hostile; to transfer, convey

artifice

a skillful or ingenious device; a clever trick; a clever skill; trickery

coerce

to compel, force

craven

cowardly; (n.) a coward

culinary

of or related to cooking or the kitchen

delete

to erase, wipe out, cut out

demise

a death, especially of a person in a lofty position

exhilarate

to enliven, cheer, give spirit or liveliness to

fallow

plowed but not seeded; inactive; reddish-yellow; (n.) land left unseeded; (v.) to plow but not seed

harass

to disturb, worry; to trouble by repeated attacks

inclement

stormy, harsh; severe in attitude or action

muse

to think about in a dreamy way, ponder

negligible

so unimportant that it can be disregarded

perpetuate

to make permanent or long lasting

precedent

an example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later action

punitive

inflicting or aiming at punishment

redress

to set right, remedy; (n.) relief from wrong or injury

sojourn

a temporary stay; (v.) to stay for a time

urbane

refined in manner or style, suave

altruistic

unselfish, concerned with the welfare of others

assent

to express agreement; (n.) agreement

benefactor

one who does good to others

chivalrous

marked by honor, courtesy, and courage: knightly

clemency

mercy, humaneness; mildness, moderateness

dearth

a lack, scarcity, inadequate supply; a famine

diffident

shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved

discrepancy

a difference; a lack of agreement

embark

to go aboard; to make a start; to invest