persepolis vocab

obligatory

required by compulsion or convention

decadence

the state of being degenerate in mental or moral qualities

avant-garde

radically new or original

celestial

of heaven or the spirit

tyranny

a government in which a single person assumes absolute control

perpetrate

perform an act, usually with a negative connotation

secular

not concerned with or devoted to religion

rabble

common people, lower classes

bleak

offering little or no hope

frivolity

something of little value or significance

cadaver

a dead body, esp. a human body to be dissected

subversive

in opposition to an established system or government

diabolical

showing cunning or ingenuity or wickedness

astray

away from the right path or direction

emanate

proceed or issue forth, as from a source

stupor

marginal consciousness

pretext

a fictitious reason that conceals the real reason

Coup d'etat

sudden and decisive change of government by force

carnage

the savage and excessive killing of many people

belligerent

characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight

blunt

characterized by directness in manner or speech

ransack

steal goods; take as spoils

fatalism

a doctrine that all events are predetermined in advance

circumspect

careful to consider potential consequences and avoid risk

veritable

being truly so called; real or genuine