atrophy
the wasting away of a body organ or tissue; any progressive decline or failure; (v.) to waste away
bastion
a fortified place, stronghold
concord
a state of agreement, harmony, unanimity; a treaty, pact, covenant
consummate
complete or perfect in the highest degree; (v.) to bring to a state of completion or perfection
disarray
disorder, confusion; (v.) to throw into disorder
exigency
urgency, pressure; urgent demand, pressing need; an emergency
flotsam
floating debris; homeless, impoverished people
frenetic
frenzied, highly agitated
glean
to gather bit by bit; to gather small quantities of gran left in a field by the reapers
grouse
a type of game bird; a compliant; (v.) to complain, grumble
incarcerate
to imprison, confine, jail
incumbent
obligatory, required; (n.) one who holds a specific office at the time spoken of
jocular
humorous, jesting, jolly, joking
ludicrous
ridiculous, laughable, absurd
mordant
biting or caustic in though, manner, or style; sharply or bitterly harsh
nettle
a prickly or stinging plant; (v.) to arouse displeasure, impatience, or anger; to vex or irritate severely
pecuniary
consisting of or measured in money; of or related to money
pusillanimous
contemptible cowardly or mean-spirited
recumbent
in a reclining position, lying down, in the posture of one sleeping or resting
stratagem
a scheme to outwit or deceive an opponent or to gain an end
acuity
sharpness (particularly of the mind or senses)
delineate
to portray, sketch, or describe in accurate and vivid detail; to represent pictorially
depraved
marked by evil and corruption, devoid of moral principles
enervate
to weaken or lessen the mental, moral, or physical vigor of; enfeeble, hamstring
esoteric
intended for or understood by only a select few, private, secret
fecund
fruitful in offspring or vegetation; intellectually productive
fiat
an arbitrary order or decree; a command or act of will or consciousness
figment
a fabrication of the mind; an arbitrary notion
garner
to acquire as the result of effort; to gather and store away, as for future use
hallow
to set apart as holy or sacred, sanctify, consecrate; to honor greatly, revere
idiosyncrasy
a peculiarity that servers to distinguish or identify
ignominy
shame and disgrace
mundane
earthly, worldly, relating to practical and material affairs; concerned with what is ordinary
nuance
a subtle or slight vvariation (as in color, meaning, quality), delicate gradation or shade of difference
overweening
conceited, presumptuous; excessive, immoderate
penchant
a strong attraction or inclination
reputed
according to reputation or general belief; having widespread acceptance and good reputation
sophistry
reasoning that seems plausible but is acctually unsound; a fallacy
sumptuous
costly, rich, magnificent
ubiquitous
present or existing everywhere
abject
degraded; base, contemptible; cringing, servile; complete and unrelieved
agnostic
one who believes that nothing can be know about God; a skeptic; (adj) without faith, skeptical
complicity
involvement in wrongdoing; the state of being an accomplice
derelict
someone or something that is abandoned or neglected; (adj) left abandoned; neglectful of duty
diatribe
a bitter and prolonged verbal attack
effigy
a crude image of a despised person
equity
the state of quality of being just, fair, or impartial; fiar and equal treatment; something that is fair; the money value of a property above and beyond any mortgage or other claim
inane
silly, empty of meaning or value
indictment
the act of accusing; a formal accusation
indubitable
certain, not to be doubted or denied
intermittent
stopping and beginning again, sporadic
moot
open to discussion and debate, unresolved; (v) to bring up for discussion; (n.) a hypothetical law case argued by students
motif
a principle idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design
neophyte
a new convert, beginner, novice
perspicacity
keenness in observing and understanding
plenary
complete in all aspects or essentials; absolute; attended by all qualified members
surveillance
a watch kept over a person; careful, close, and disciplined observation
sylvan
pertaining to or characteristic of forests; living or located in a forest; wooded, woody
testy
easily irritated; characterized by impatience and exasperation
travesty
a grotesque or grossly inferior imitation; a disquise, especially the clothing of the opposite sex; (v) to ridicule by imitation in a broad or burlesque fashion