adulterate
(v.) to corrupt, make worse by the addiction of something or lesser value
ambidextrous
(adj.) able to use both hands equally well; very skillful; deceitful, hypocritical
augment
(v.) to make larger, increase
bereft
(adj., part.) deprived of; made unhappy through a loss
deploy
(v.) to position or arrange; to utilize; to form up
dour
(adj.) stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored
fortitude
(n.) courage in facing difficulties
gape
(v.) to stare with open mouth; to open the mouth wide; to open wide
gibe
(v.) to utter taunting words n. an expression of scorn
guise
(n.) an external appearance, cover, mask
insidious
(adj.) intended to deceive or entrap; sly, treacherous
intimation
(n.) a hint, indirect suggestion
opulent
(adj.) wealthy, luxurious; ample; grandiose
pliable
(adj.) easily bent, flexible; easily influenced
reiterate
(v.) to say again, repeat
stolid
(adj.) not easily moved mentally or emotionally; dull, unresponsive
tentative
(adj.) experimental in nature; uncertain, hesitant
unkempt
(adj.) not combed; untidy; not properly maintained; unpolished, rude
verbatim
(adj., adv.) word for word; exactly as written or spoken
warily
(adv.) cautiously, with great care
adroit
(adj.) skillful, expert in the use of the hands or mind
amicable
(adj.) peaceable, friendly
averse
(adj.) having a deep-seated distaste; opposed, unwilling
belligerent
(adj.) given to fighting, warlike; combative, aggressive (n.) one at war, one engaged in war
benevolent
(adj.) kindly, charitable
cursory
(adj.) hasty, not thorough
duplicity
(n.) treachery, deceitfulness
extol
(v.) to praise extravagantly
feasible
(adj.) possible, able to be done
grimace
(n.) a wry face, facial distortion (v.) to make a wry face
holocaust
(n.) a large-scale destruction, especially by fire; a vast slaughter; a burnt offering
impervious
(adj.) not affected or hurt by; admitting of no passage or entrance
impetus
(n.) a moving force, impulse, stimulus
jeopardy
(n.) danger
meticulous
(adj.) extremely careful; particular about details
nostalgia
(n.) a longing for something past; homesickness
quintessence
(n.) the purest essence or form of something; the most typical example
retrogress
(v.) to move backward; to return to an earlier condition
scrutinize
(v.) to examine closely
tepid
(adj.) lukewarm; unenthusiastic, marked by an absence of interest
adversary
(n.) an enemy, opponent
alienate
(v.) to turn away; to make indifferent or hostile; to transfer, convey
artifice
(n.) a skillful or ingenious device; a clever trick; a clever skill; trickery
coerce
(v.) to compel, force
craven
(adj.) cowardly (n.) a coward
culinary
(adj.) of or related to cooking or the kitchen
demise
(n.) a death, especially of a person in a lofty position
exhilarate
(v.) to enliven, cheer, give spirit or liveliness to
fallow
(adj.) plowed but not seeded; inactive; reddish-yellow (n.) land left unseeded (v.) to plow but not seed
harass
(v.) to disturb, worry; to trouble by repeated attacks
inclement
(adj.) stormy, harsh; severe in attitude or action
liquidate
(v.) to pay a debt, settle an account; to eliminate
muse
(v.) to think about in a dreamy war, ponder
negligible
(adj.) so unimportant that it can be disregarded
perpetuate
(v.) to make permanent or long lasting
precedent
(n.) an example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later action
punitive
(adj.) inflicting or aiming at punishment
redress
(v.) to set right, remedy (n.) relief from wrong or injury
sojourn
(n.) a temporary stay (v.) to stay for a time
urbane
(adj.) refined in manner or style, suave
affiliated
(adj., part.) associated, connected
ascertain
(v.) to find out
attainment
(n.) an accomplishment, the act of achieving
bequeath
(v.) to give or pass on as an inheritance
cogent
(adj.) forceful, convincing; relevant, to the point
converge
(v.) to move toward one point, approach nearer together
disperse
(v.) to scatter, spread far and wide
esteem
(v.) to regard highly (n.) a highly favorable opinion or judgement
expunge
(v.) to erase, obliterate, destroy
finite
(adj.) having limits; lasting for a limited time
invulnerable
(adj.) not able to be wounded or hurt; shielded against attack
malevolent
(adj.) spiteful, showing ill will
nonchalant
(adj.) cool and confident, unconcerned
omniscient
(adj.) knowing everything; having unlimited awareness or understanding
panacea
(n.) a remedy of all ills; cure-all, an answer to all problems
scrupulous
(adj.) exact, careful, attending thoroughly to details; having high moral standards, principled
skulk
(v.) to move about stealthily; to lie in hiding
supercilious
(adj.) proud and contemptuous; showing scorn because of feeling or superiority
uncanny
(adj.) strange, mysterious, weird, beyond explanation
venial
(adj.) easily excused; pardonable
altruistic
(adj.) unselfish, concerned with the welfare of others
assent
(v.) to express agreement; (n.) agreement
benefactor
(n.) one who does good to others
chivalrous
(adj.) marked by honor, courtesy, and courage; knightly
clemency
(n.) mercy, humaneness; mildness, moderateness
dearth
(n.) a lack, scarcity, inadequate supply; a famine
diffident
(adj.) shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved
discrepancy
(n.) a difference; a lack of agreement
embark
(v.) to go aboard; to make a start; to invest
facile
(adj.) easily done or attained; superficial; ready, fluent; easily shown but not sincerely felt
indomitable
(adj.) unconquerable, refusing to yield
infallible
(adj.) free from error; absolutely dependable
plod
(v.) to walk heavily or slowly; to work slowly
pungent
(adj.) causing a sharp sensation; stinging, biting
remiss
(adj.) neglectful in performance of one's duty, careless
repose
(v.) to rest; lie; place (n.) relaxation, peace of mind, calmness
temerity
(n.) rashness, boldness
truculent
(adj,) fierce and cruel; aggressive; deadly, destructive; scathingly harsh
unfeigned
(adj.) sincere, real, without pretense
virulent
(adj.) extremely poisonous; full of malice; spiteful