ardent (adj)
intensely devoted, eager, or enthusiastic
baleful (adj)
harmful, menacing, or vindictive
begot (v)
(past tense) to procreate or generate (offspring) or to cause; produce as an effect
buttress (v)
to make stronger or defensible
buttress (n)
an architectural feature that supports the wall of a building (often "flying")
capitulate (v)
to stop resisting (especially to surrender under formal terms)
circumspect (adj)
cautious, prudent, or discreet
collusion (n)
the act of conspiring; the act of working together at others' expense
concede (v)
to yield or admit, usually after a dispute
convention (n)
something regarded as normal or typical
deference (n)
polite respect, often when submitting to another's wishes ("in deference to")
fractious (adj)
easily irritated and resistant to authority or control
gauzy (adj)
transparently thin and light
guile (n)
cunning/shrewdness/cleverness
impropriety (n)
lack of propriety; indecency; indecorum
intractable (adj)
difficult:
- Of people: difficult to manage or control
- Of problems or disease: difficult to solve or
cure
- Of materials: difficult to manipulate
jaunty (adj)
smart, trim (in clothing or a hat); self-confident, brisk, cheerful (in a walk or step)
lithe (adj)
characterized by moving or bending with ease
perfunctory (adj)
done without much interest or effort, especially when dispensing with a formality
primogeniture (n)
the system of inheritance or succession by the firstborn, specifically the eldest son
rancor (n)
feel of deep and bitter anger or ill-will
retinue (n)
a body of aides and retainers attending an important person, royalty
ribald (adj)
vulgar, irreverent or indecent in speech, language
sardonic (adj)
mocking, cynical
supplicant (n)
one who petitions, often through prayer