benediction
A prayer that asks for God's blessing, especially a prayer that concludes a worship service.
benefactor
Someone who helps another person or group, especially by giving money.
beneficiary
A person or organization that benefits or is expected to benefit from something, especially one that receives money or property when someone dies.
benevolence
Kindness, generosity.
amicable
Friendly, peaceful.
enamored
Charmed or fascinated; inflamed with love.
antebellum
Existing before a war, especially before the American Civil War (1861-1865).
bellicose
Warlike, aggressive, quarrelsome.
belligerence
Aggressiveness, combativeness.
rebellion
Open defiance and opposition, sometimes armed, to a person or thing in authority.
pacify
1. To soothe anger or agitation. 2. To subdue by armed action.
pacifist
A person opposed to war or violence, especially someone who refuses to bear arms or to fight, on moral or religious grounds.
pact
An agreement between two or more people or groups; a treaty or formal agreement between nations to deal with a problem or to resolve a dispute.
pace
Contrary to the opinion of.
criminology
The study of crime, criminals, law enforcement and punishment.
decriminalize
To remove or reduce the criminal status of.
incriminate
To show evidence of involvement in a crime or a fault.
recrimination
1. An accusation in answer to an accusation made against oneself. 2. The making of such an accusation.
approbation
A formal act of approving; praise, usually given with pleasure or enthusiasm.
probate
The process of proving in court that the will of someone who has died is valid, and of administering the estate of a dead person.
probity
Absolute honesty and uprightness.
reprobate
A person of thoroughly bad character.
grave
1. Requiring serious thought or concern. 2. Serious and formal in appearance or manner.
gravitas
Great or very dignified seriousness.
gravitate
To move or be drawn toward something, especially by natural tendency or as if by an invisible force.
aggravate
1. To make (an injury, problem, etc) more serious or severe. 2. To annoy or bother.
alleviate
To lighten, lessen, or relieve, especially physical or mental suffering.
elevation
1. The height of a place. 2. The act or result of lifting or raising someone or something.
cantilever
A long piece of wood, metal, etc., that sticks out from a wall to support something above it.
levity
Lack of appropriate seriousness.
cicerone
A guide, especially one who takes tourists to museums, monuments, or architectural sites and explains what is being seen.
hector
To bully or harass by bluster or personal pressure.
hedonism
An attitude or way of life based on the idea that pleasure or happiness should be the chief goal.
nestor
A senior figure or leader in one's field.
spartan
Marked by simplicity, avoidance of luxury, and often strict self-discipline or self-denial.
stentorian
Extremely loud, often with especially deep richness of sound.
stoic
Seemingly indifferent to pleasure or pain.
sybaritic
Marked by a luxurious or sensual way of life.
paramour
A lover, often secret, not allowed by law or custom.
amorous
Having or showing strong feelings of attraction or love.