abut
(v.) to join at one end or be next to; to support, prop up
attire
(n.) clothes, apparel, garb; (v.) to dress, adorn, or bedeck
avail
(v.) to be of use or benefit to; to make use of; to take advantage of; to profit or benefit; (n.) use, benefit, or value
crony
(n.) a very close friend, pal, chum, buddy
cryptic
(adj.) puzzling, mystifying, or enigmatic
divergent
(adj.) going in different directions; different from each other; departing from conversation, deviant
enmity
(n.) hatred, ill-will
fervent
(adj.) very earnest, emotional, passionate; extremely hot
gaunt
(adj.) thin and bony, starved looking; bare, barren
infiltrate
(v.) to pass through or gain entrance to gradually or stealthily
nullify
(v.) to make of no value or consequence, cancel, wipe out
perceptible
(adj.) capable of being grasped by the senses or mind
plummet
(v.) to plunge straight down; (n.) a weight fastened to a line
proclaim
(v.) to declare publicly or officially
proxy
(n.) an agent, substitute; a written permission allowing one person to act in another's place
rankle
(v.) to cause anger, irritation, or bitterness (with the suggestion that the pain grows worse with time)
scavenger
(n.) a person who collects or removes usable items from waste materials; an animal that feeds on refuse or dead bodies
stint
(v.) to limit, be sparing or frugal; (n.) a limit or restriction; a fixed share of work or duty; a period of activity
stoical
(adj.) self-controlled, not showing feeling in response to pleasure or pain
unflagging
(v.) tireless, continuing with vigor