Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., once observed that he did not wish to lead a(n) ____ life far from the conflicts of his times.
sequestered
Though she entered this country as a(n) ____ child, she eventually made a fortune in the garment industry.
impecunious
The ____ march of the years," said the aged speaker, "decrees that this is the last time I will address you.
inexorable
The old adage that "one man's meat is another man's poison" simply means that what is considered ____ is often quite subjective.
onerous
The charm of this musical comedy lies in its slam-bang pacing, its sprightly music, and its generally ____ good cheer.
ebullient
What appeared to be an informal study group was in reality a highly organized ____ determined to overthrow the establishment.
cabal
Though the presidency confers great powers on the person who holds the office, it also saddles that person with ____ responsibilities,
onerous
It is one thing to ____human follies and pretensions; it is quite another to correct them.
deprecate
The ____ helmets and breastplates of the warriors gleamed and twinkled in the morning sunlight.
burnished
No on, however powerful or dominant, can ____ the basic moral laws on which civilization rests.
abrogate
Writing that is so full of cliches, gummy sentence structure, and excessive wordiness can best be described as ____.
flaccid
____ schools of art are typical of a period when there is little original inspiration or bold experimentation.
Eclectic
Since archaeologists spend a lot of time rummaging through the ____ of vanished civilizations, they bear a triking resemblance to junk collectors and ragpickers.
detritus
Though skeptics insist that patriotism is ____ in America, I believe that it is alive and well in the hearts of the people.
moribund
The investigating commitee spent long hours trying to ____ fact from fiction in the witnesses' testimony.
winnow
As we sat in the locker room after our heartbreaking loss, the ____ gloom was so thick you could almost cut it.
ambient
Any political party that is ____ with petty jealousies and backbiting can never hope to present a united front in an election.
ebullient
____ and other forms of witchcraft were punishable by death during the Middle Ages.
Necromancy
As one veteran aptly observed, aa soldier had to be hardy to cope with the ____ of life in the trenches during World War I.
asperities
Anyone who has the slightest aquaintance with the ___ of economic theory understands that we cannot solve our financial problems simply by borrowing more and more money.
rudiments
Despite our prodding, Aunt Eileen would not disclose the secret ingredients that makes her marinara sauce so _____.
delectable
THe film critic complained that some of the ____ tension in the original film has been lost in this year's milder remake.
inexorable
The unconventional artist like to incorporate glass shards, plastic strips, pieces of string, and assorted ___ into his sculptures.
detritus
Did you use a cotton or a velvet cloth to ____ the antique mirror?" Bryan inquired.
burnish
The _____ of the stones in the patio hurt the soles of my feet.
asperity