askance
adv) with suspicion, distrust, or disapproval
attenuate
v) to make thin or slender, to weaken or lessen in force, intensity, or value
benign
adj) gentle, kind, forgiving, understanding; having a favorable or beneficial effect; not malignant
cavil
v) to find fault in a petty way, carp; n) a trivial objection or criticism
charlatan
n) one who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender, impostor, or quack
decimate
v) to kill or destroy a large part of
foible
n) a weak point, failing, minor flaw
forgo
v) to do without, abstain from, give up
fraught
adj) full of or loaded with; accompanied by
inure
v) to toughen, harden, render used to something by long subjection or exposure
luminous
adj) emitting or reflecting light, glowing; illuminating
obsequious
adj) marked by slavish attentiveness; excessively submissive, often for purely self-interested reasons
obtuse
adj) blunt, not coming to a point, slow or dull in understanding; measuring between 90 and 180 degrees, not causing a sharp impression
oscillate
v) to swing back and forth with a steady rhythm; to fluctuate or waver
penitent
adj) regretful for one's sins or mistakes; n) one who is sorry for wrong doing
peremptory
adj) having the nature of a command that leaves no opportunity for debate, denial, or refusal; offensively self assured, dictorial; determined, resolute
rebuff
v) to snub; to repel, drive away. n) a curt rejection, a check
reconnoiter
v) to engage in reconnaissance; to a make a preliminary inspection
shambles
n) a slaughterhouse; a place of mass bloodshed; a state of complete disorder and confusion, mess
sporadic
adj) occurring at irregular intervals, having no set plan or order